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Suspected human trafficking syndicate busted in Abuja sting operation

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NAPTIP headquarters Abuja
NAPTIP Headquarters Abuja
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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested two suspects in Abuja over alleged human trafficking.

The suspects are Awulonu Franklin and Joseph Ukaluo.

The agency’s director-general, Fatima Waziri-Azi, disclosed on Friday that officers of the agency busted the trafficking syndicate on June 9 at about 11:00 a.m.

She said the suspects are part of a syndicate that specialises in moving young female Nigerians between 16 to 26 to India for sexual exploitation and possible organ harvesting.

Ms Waziri-Azi said a sting operation was conducted after several days of undercover activity by operatives of the agency.

She said two female victims between 16 and 22 were rescued just as they were taken to the embassy.

The DG disclosed that the suspects forced the victims to swear an oath of allegiance in two shrines in Delta and Imo.

Ms Waziri-Azi stated that one of the victims also revealed how her very close friend, who had already been trafficked to India, was subjected to having sex with a minimum of 10 men daily.

She further said the agency was on the trail of the suspects’ accomplices in India.

The DG said that the two suspects, who claimed to be operating a mobile tour company at the time of their arrest, were found in possession of 28 passports.

She said some passports indicated that the victims were from Ghana, the Republic of Benin, Niger Republic and other countries.

Ms Waziri-Azi listed other materials found in the suspects’ possession as laptop, phones, which are under forensic examination, and other equipment related to the commission of the crime.

She disclosed that 10 letter-headed papers belonging to different companies were also recovered from the suspects.

The DG said the agency had placed the hotel where the victims were harboured on red alert as money was paid on behalf of the victims.

She said the agency had collaborated with many organisations and governments to launch a fresh angle to the fight against crime.

However, Mr Franklin, believed to be a prime suspect in the offence, denied involvement in trafficking, saying he only operates a travel and tour company through which he had assisted many people.

He said some passports recovered belonged to some of his clients travelling to study in some countries, including a University in India.

“My company is registered as ‘Endless travel and tour agent’, and I have been in this business since 2018,” he said.

Mr Ukaluo also said he knew Mr Franklin as a travel agent and nothing more than that, adding that they had both lived in the same neighbourhood for many years.

Daniel Atokolo, Director, Investigation and Monitoring Department, told journalists that an investigation is ongoing into the matter.

(NAN)

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Crime

Kogi CP Confirms Death Of Alleged Gunrunner Resisting Arrest

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From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye has confirmed the death of Muhammed Kassim, popularly known as Enemi, a suspected gunrunner from Idah, Kogi State.

According to the police, Kassim died while attempting to evade arrest.

The confirmation was issued to counter widespread claims circulating on social media alleging that Kassim died in police custody due to torture.

A statement issued by Kogi State Police Command’s Spokesman, SP William Ovye Aya, read:
“The Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Command, wishes to set the record straight regarding the unverified report being circulated on social media about the death of one Muhammed Kassim, a.k.a. Enemi, of Idah, Kogi State.”

The police said Kassim was allegedly part of a syndicate involved in arms and ammunition trafficking across and beyond Kogi State. The case, they noted, is currently under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lokoja.

The statement explained that the investigation followed a legal directive from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Abuja, which implicated one Mohammed Amedu as a member of the arms trafficking ring. Amedu was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on June 22, 2025, and later handed over to the Kogi State Police Command on June 28.

The suspect, Amedu, reportedly confessed to the crime and implicated Kassim and others as members of the syndicate. Investigations further revealed that Kassim allegedly purchased 20 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition to test an AK-47 rifle in his possession.

“On July 7, 2025, operatives from SCID were deployed to Idah to invite Kassim for questioning. However, on sighting the officers, he jumped the fence of his residence and fled,” the police said. “Despite being given the opportunity to turn himself in, Kassim refused to cooperate.”

According to the police, upon receiving credible intelligence about his whereabouts, officers from Idah Division moved to arrest him. However, Kassim, reportedly surrounded by suspected gang members, resisted arrest.

“To facilitate his escape, his associates attacked the police with cutlasses, stones, and other dangerous weapons. In the commotion, Kassim attempted to seize a rifle from one of the officers. During the struggle, the rifle discharged, striking him in the leg,” the police said.

His accomplices then allegedly whisked him away from the scene despite his gunshot wound. The police said Kassim later died from the injury in an undisclosed location while in the custody of his gang members.

The command assured that investigations are ongoing and that all suspects currently in custody will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of the investigation.

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Police Arrests Two Suspected Kidnappers Informants In Kogi West

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From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

Two more Kidnappers informants have been arrested in the last 48 hours by the police in Kogi West Senatorial District

They are; Dare Okegbe and
Lakutu Omobab Ajelesimi

Kogi State’s Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo in a statement disclosed that the arrest was made possible through confessional statements by Babatunde Aledare, the suspected kidnapping informant earlier arrested in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area who revealed the identities of other collaborators involved in aiding kidnapping operations in the area.

According to the commissioner, both suspects are also from Ayetoro Kiri and have confessed to working with kidnappers to set up members of their own community for abduction.Kogi kidnapper informantKogi kidnapper informant

“This development marks another significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks in Okunland. More arrests may follow as investigations continue.

“The Kogi State Government remains committed to ensuring the safety of all citizens and will leave no stone unturned in the fight against criminality”

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EFCC Arrests Woman For Spraying Naira At Party

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The operatives of the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a young woman, Janty Emmanuel, for allegedly abusing the naira.

EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale disclosed this via a statement issued on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Oyewale said the woman was arrested on Monday, May 20, following intelligence that spotted her spraying naira notes at a social event in Gombe State.

Court jails varsity student for internet fraud

He noted: “Upon arrest, the suspect was shown the video where she was dancing at G-Connect, Tumfure, Gombe State, and spraying N1,000 denomination of the naira notes.

“She admitted committing the crime and shall be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”

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