DAILY POST gathered that the suspected kidnappers also abducted one person whose identity was yet to be ascertained at press time.

The Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, SP Moses Yamu confirmed the incident.

Yamu said operatives of the command were combing the bush since the incident took place to ensure that the victims were released unhurt.

“The police are on the trail of the kidnappers and will soon effect the release of the victim and arrest the perpetrators”, he said.

DAILY POST learnt that the victims were kidnapped on Sunday at about 7pm by gunmen along Fugar-Ekperi road in the locality.

The victims were said to be returning to their village after attending an event.

It was further gathered that one of the victims escaped from captivity in the process of moving them from one location to another, leaving the couple in the kidnappers’ den.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that hunters in the area are currently combing the bush with a view to rescuing the victims.

According to an eyewitness, soldiers deployed to the area refused to respond to the invaders attack. The gunmen later attacked the soldiers’ base after attacking the community.

The eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, said the bandits took four of the soldiers’ motorcycles and killed two of them.

“The entire community has been deserted. There is nobody left behind again, except for the few soldiers that are remaining there.

“The caretaker committee chairman of Agatu LGC has drawn the attention of the state government to this attack and we are still waiting for them to do the needful so as to avert further attacks.

“The bandits had before now attacked this same community in the past and killed 12 people before soldiers were drafted to the area. I don’t know why they still came back to attack our people even with the presence of armed soldiers.

“This is a terrible situation, we need more presence of armed security personnel in the community. Nobody knows the mission of these invaders,” the eyewitness said.

Efforts to get reaction of the military on the incident were not successful.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations’ Office said in a text message, ‘I don’t have this report please’.

The police also rescued a three day baby from the suspects.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

“On 1/10/2024, at about 1830hours, a tricycle rider (name withheld) came to Ekpan Police Station and reported that while he was on his daily commercial operation, four women boarded his tricycle, on reaching Efurrun Roundabout, two of them alighted from the tricycle.

“One of the two women who alighted handed over a newborn baby boy to the women left in his tricycle and he heard one of them saying ‘the balance has been paid’ while saying that when they get to their destination, they should inform her.

“The tricycle rider smartly diverted the two women, Tessi Ikechukwu and Lauretta Akomen, and the newborn baby to Ekpan Police Station.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects Lauretta Akomen, aged 38 years, bought the baby for the sum of N2 million from a traditional home located in Port Harcourt where they harbour teenage girls, and got men to have sex with them till they are pregnant after which they sell the babies to people looking for children.

“The suspect also revealed that she was given a drug which she took for some time to make her look pregnant. She later led the DPO CSP Aliyu Shaba and operatives to the house of one Gloria (surname unknown) who acted as an agent between her and the traditional home.

“Suspects are in custody while a manhunt for the other accomplices is ongoing,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has thanked the tricycle rider for being a patriotic citizen, just as he urged others to emulate him.

Other members of the criminal gang escaped with gunshot wounds, according to a statement by the Delta State Police Command, signed by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe.

The statement read, “On 27/9/2024, at about 1700 hours, acting on intelligence gathered on one of the dreaded Kidnappers terrorizing Udu LGA, Warri, and environs, who was part of the syndicate responsible for a series of robbing and kidnapping operation within Udu axis some of which includes the robbery operation at wetland microfinance bank in UDU LGA on 26th February 2021 as well as the assassination of prince Eric Takerere ‘m’ the son of Urhowhrun Monarch alongside the two police escort on the 3rd of April 2021 at Efurrun Sapele road.

“The DPO Owvain Aldaja Division CSP Bulus Musa led the surveillance team of the division and embarked on a sting operation at the hideout of the suspect Benson Oghenevwaire ‘m’ aged 34yrs located at Orereokpe in Okpe LGA, where the suspect and his gang members engaged the Police in a fierce gun duel.

“During the gun duel, the police overpowered the suspects, some of them escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries while the said Benson Oghenevwaire was arrested with severe gunshot injuries.

“He was taken to Warri central hospital where he died while receiving treatment. During the operation, one English-made Beretta pistol and two rounds of live ammunition were recovered.

“A serious manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is ongoing.”

The operatives when killed in Nnewi during a gun duel with the hoodlums on Thursday morning.

It was gathered that during the duel, the hoodlums tossed an improvised explosive device (IED) at the police operatives, and it exploded, killing two of the men in the squad.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command has confirmed the incident.

The spokesperson of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement, said a manhunt for the attackers is ongoing.

He said: “Joint Security Force, begins manhunt operation on armed men who murdered two police operatives on investigation activities in the early hours of today 3/10/2024 at Uruagu, Nnewi North.

“Preliminary information reveals that the armed men started shooting sporadically on sighting the police operatives and threw an improvised explosive into their operational vehicle.

“Unfortunately, two of the operatives paid the supreme price while the vehicle caught fire.

“Given the above, the Command calls on members of the public especially the eyewitnesses and others to aid the ongoing Police operations in the area.

“You can call the Command Control Room at 07039194332 or the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) at 08039334002 for any necessary assistance and be assured the utmost confidentiality in this regard.”

Justice Oyindamola Ogala in her judgement convicted Olukunle of the charge of conspiracy and abduction.

Ogala, however, discharged the convict of the charge of defilement.

The court held that the prosecution was unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt the charge of defilement because the key witnesses were not in court to testify.

She said the court relied on the confessional statement of the convict to find him guilty of conspiracy and abduction.

The judge said: “The alleged victim did not testify or identify the defendant.

“It is instructive that neither the persons who arrested the defendant, the alleged friend nor the chairman of the estate testified in respect of the charge of defilement linking the defendant with the direct act.

“These witnesses are vital witnesses in establishing the guilt of the defendant.

“This Honourable court, therefore, finds that the prosecution failed to satisfy that the defendant indeed defiled the said victim.”

The court further held that the evidence of prosecution witness two and three sufficiently corroborated the fact of the confession of the convict.

The court said the attempt to dissociate him from the entirety of the events of the incident was an afterthought which did not hold waters.

The judge ordered that the convict term should commence from Sept.30, 2022.

The prosecution called three witnesses through whom several documents were tendered and the convict solely defended himself.

The prosecution submitted that the convict with others still at large committed the offences on Sept. 30, 2022 on Ralitu Daramola Street, Abogunleko, Ikotun in Lagos.

The operation that led to their apprehension was carried out by the detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department in Owerri.

In a press release issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye disclosed that the detectives through intelligent gathering swung into action that led to the smashing of the syndicate that specialized in child trafficking between Imo – Abia axis.

“The syndicate involved in the abduction of children from unsuspecting parents. The operation led to the rescue of three children, who were abducted on July 4, 2024, in Ndinwegbu Umuoma, Onicha, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA.

“The suspects arrested include: Ifeoma Anyanwu, age, 41 from Oloko Ikwuano LGA, Abia State, Chibuzor Lucky, age 42, from Umuezeala Umuerim, Ubakala, Umuahia, Abia State, 24 years Charity Kalu from Okono, Ohiafia LGA, Abia State and 56 years Isidore Ozioma from Umuhu Onicha, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Imo State.

“Investigations revealed that the suspects lured the children into their tricycle while they were playing outside, subsequently transporting them to a hidden location in Aba where they were sold for 1,000,000 Nair,” he said.

The police spokesperson further stated that the suspects were currently undergoing a thorough investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, as they continue efforts to locate additional missing children.

Magistrate M.A. Yahaya, found the suspect guilty and sentenced him to one year imprisonment at Mandala Correctional Centre without the option of a fine.

He was charged to court by the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC.

On Wednesday, last week, at 1200hrs, the suspect broke into a three-bedroom bungalow belonging to Mrs. Bolatito Adebayo at No. 50, Afenifere Community, Onireke, Upper Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin South LGA.

During the invasion, he reportedly stole items such as foodstuffs, groceries, and clothing, and subsequently set the residential building ablaze, according to the spokesman of the NSCDC, Ayoola Michael Shola in a statement in Ilorin.

Upon being apprehended at the scene, the suspect attempted to evade capture by igniting the fire as a diversion.

Despite his efforts, he was ultimately captured and handed over to the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution.

The state Commandant, NSCDC, Dr. Umar Mohammed, reiterated the command’s relentless onslaught against criminal activities in the state and vowed to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.

The venue was earlier announced as the state’s gathering point for the ‘FearlessInOctober’ demonstration against economic hardship in the country.

Cane-wielding hoodlums, however, took over the ground, saying they don’t want any protest in Rivers State.

The thugs allegedly threatened to beat up any journalist who dared film them.

Similar protests are being held in other parts of the country like Lagos and Abuja as Nigeria celebrates its 64th independence anniversary.

The protesters demand that President Bola Tinubu’s administration reverse petrol subsidy removal and forex unification, twin policies that they claimed were responsible for soaring inflation and living costs in the country.

The bus was returning from a school trip in the northern province of Uthai Thani when the tragic accident occurred.

Out of the 41 passengers, 16 children and three teachers managed to escape the burning bus. However, 22 children and three teachers are still missing, according to Thailand’s Transport Minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit.

Rescue efforts have been hampered due to the intense heat from the fire, and investigators have not yet been able to fully examine the charred vehicle.

Eyewitness reports and photographs from the scene show the bus completely engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke rising as firefighters battled the blaze. Eight survivors were sent to the hospital for treatment, with many suffering from severe injuries.

Transport Minister Juangroongruangkit pointed to the use of compressed natural gas as a key factor in the severity of the fire, labeling the fuel as “extremely risky” for passenger vehicles. He called for a review of regulations regarding its use.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her deep condolences to the victims’ families, stating, “The government will cover medical costs and provide compensation for those who lost their lives.” She also ordered ministers to visit the site.

The accident is believed to have been caused by a tyre blowout that sent the bus crashing into a barrier on the highway.

Rescue workers confirmed the fire started at the front of the bus, with many of the victims trapped towards the back.

The driver of the bus fled the scene but authorities are confident he will be apprehended soon. The ages of the children onboard range from 3 to 15, but exact details remain unclear.

Thailand is known for its poor road safety record, with roughly 20,000 road fatalities per year.