By Anifowoshe Oladipupo

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a suspected member of a notorious cult group linked to the killing of a former Divisional Police Officer (DPO), of Ahoada Police Division, SP Bako Angbashim.

In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, the suspect identified as a member of the Iceland cult group was apprehended following credible intelligence.

The group has reportedly been terrorizing the Ahoada area of Rivers State.

According to Iringe-Koko, in May, police operatives received information about the whereabouts of the suspect, popularly known as K1.

He is believed to be a member of the Iceland cult led by the late Gift David Okpara, alias 2Baba, who was implicated in the brutal murder of SP Angbashim.

The police team swiftly stormed a camp in Ikata Community, Ahoada East Local Government Area, and arrested one Lovegod Goodluck, a male resident of the community.

During the operation, a locally made single-barrel gun and two live cartridges were recovered.

In a separate but related operation, another male suspect, Precious Olumini, who had previously escaped arrest was also apprehended.

Police recovered an English-made pump-action gun and a locally made pistol from him.

Iringe-Koko confirmed that both suspects confessed to being members of the Iceland cult group that has been terrorizing the Ahoada East axis. They are currently in police custody.

“Suspects and exhibits are in custody. Investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional weapons,” the statement added.

By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata

Operatives of the Niger State Police Command have arrested two suspected kidnappers, Japhta James, 28, and Usman Ibrahim, 30, with a cache of weapons in their possession.

The suspects, who reside in Ijah-Gwari, Tafa, and Sabon-Gari in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were apprehended after allegedly breaking into a victim’s home in Kata via New-Bwari.

They reportedly attempted to abduct the victim’s sister before police operatives from the Tafa Division, acting on a tip-off, swiftly intervened and arrested them.

Items recovered from the suspects include a locally made pistol, two knives, a walkie-talkie, two live cartridges, four mobile phones, an ATM card, two electric tasers, a canister of pepper spray, and various charms.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to plotting the abduction in order to demand a ransom.

They also revealed that the weapons and other items were obtained from one of their accomplices, who posed as a member of a civilian Joint Task Force (JTF).

Confirming the arrest in a statement on Monday night, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said:

“On 13th June 2025, at about 8 p.m., based on a distress call, operatives attached to Tafa Division arrested two suspects; Japhta James of Ijah-Gwari, Tafa, and Usman Ibrahim of Sabon-Gari, Bwari area of FCT for attempted kidnapping in Kata via New-Bwari.”

He added, “The suspects were arrested with dangerous weapons and confessed during interrogation that they conspired to abduct a young woman to demand ransom. They claimed the items found with them were supplied by an associate posing as a member of the civilian JTF.”

Abiodun further stated that the suspects are currently under investigation and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), for further action and prosecution.

By Huldah Shado

A 25-year-old Nigerian woman, Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, has been arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch in Bengaluru, India, for allegedly trafficking a large quantity of drugs.

Akinwunmi, a self-identified hairstylist and nail artist, was apprehended last Tuesday at Tarahunase village along Rajanukunte Main Road with 5.325 kilograms of MDMA crystals.

The seized drugs are estimated to be worth approximately ₹10 crore, or over ₦1.8 billion.

According to the police, Akinwunmi claimed she had come to India to establish a beauty salon.

However, investigators suspect she was serving as a drug courier, tasked with delivering the illicit substances to a syndicate of African drug dealers.

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted her after she arrived from Delhi carrying a suspicious bag. Inside were the drugs concealed along with 11 newly purchased traditional Indian outfits.

During interrogation, Akinwunmi denied knowledge of the bag’s contents, saying a friend in Delhi had asked her to deliver it to a man “wearing a black hat.”

She identified herself as the daughter of a Nigerian civil servant but declined to provide further personal details.

Further investigation revealed that she entered India in October 2021 on a business visa and later acquired a student visa for a university in Telangana.

However, she never enrolled in the institution and has remained in India illegally since her visa expired in 2022.

Authorities also disclosed that they have credible leads on her boyfriend in Delhi, who is believed to be connected to the drug network and is currently on the run.

Akinwunmi has been transferred to the jurisdictional Chikkajala Police Station for further investigation.

Police said she will remain in custody while efforts to apprehend her accomplices continue.

Her arrest comes just two days after another Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako, was detained by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau in a separate drug-related case.