Twenty-nine suspects have been paraded by the Imo State Police Command over their alleged involvement in kidnapping within the state.

The police also recovered AK-47 rifles and other dangerous items from them.

Among those paraded were four female suspects.

A press statement issued by the command’s public relations officer, ASP Henry Okoye, informed that the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects was carried out by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit on October 19, 2024, dislodging the camp said to belong to the suspects in Nempi, Oru West Local Government Area of the state, leading to the arrest of 29 suspects—25 males and four females.

He stated that the operation was initiated following the apprehension of a 25-year-old male suspect, Anukuru Nnana Emmanuel, at Mgbidi in Oru East Local Government Area of the state.

The police spokesperson hinted that information obtained from the suspect during cross-examination enabled police operatives to locate and dismantle the camp.

ASP Okoye further hinted that during the operation several dangerous items were recovered from the suspects, including 4 pump-action guns, two locally-made revolvers, five locally-made pistols, three AK-47 magazines, a Point of Sale (POS) machine, and 20 rounds of live cartridges. Also recovered were one white SUV and local bulletproof charms said to have been used by the suspects.

He added that over N200,000, allegedly extorted from kidnapping victims, was also recovered from them.

“Investigation is ongoing; efforts are in progress to apprehend the manufacturers of the locally made guns. The destruction of this camp is part of the command’s ongoing efforts to combat violent crimes and restore peace within the state,” he stated.

In a shocking incident in Masvingo, an 18-year-old student has been arrested for kidnapping his 10-year-old neighbour with the intention of using him for a money ritual. 

The young boy, named Tawana, disappeared for three days, only to be found after a police investigation led to the arrest of the suspect, a Form 4 student at Vision Academy, identified as Peter.

Peter admitted during a police interrogation that he had planned to take Tawana to clients in Chipinge, who had requested the child’s head for ritual purposes. 

In a disturbing confession, Peter said; “When I took this child, they had told me to find a head and bring it.”

The confession, recorded on video, shows Tawana’s grandmother wailing in the background as the child’s mother, filled with shock and rage, confronts the suspect. She demands answers from Peter, questioning his motives.

""So, you wanted to sacrifice my child? Peter, did you really plan to do this? What did Tawana do to you? What did we do to deserve this? You have no shame!"

In the same video, Tawana’s mother also reprimands her son for ignoring warnings about befriending older individuals like Peter,"Tawana, you hear what your friend was up to? We always warned you not to play with this older guy. Look what he wanted to do—he wanted to get you killed." she said 

The video ends abruptly, but the incident has left the local community in shock, raising concerns about the safety of children and the people parents trust with their well-being.

Watch the video below…

The Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has revealed that Nigeria incurs an annual loss of $3 billion due to importing Ankara fabrics, a widely recognized wax print in West and Central Africa.

Musawa noted that fabrics such as Adire, Kente, Bogolan, and Ankara represent Africa’s pride, history, and cultural identity.

However, she regretted that despite this rich heritage, many of the continent’s favourite fabrics, including Ankara, are primarily manufactured outside Africa.

Naija News reports that Musawa made this remark in Algiers last week during the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2024.

According to a statement from the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Nneka Anibeze, Musawa emphasized the importance of strengthening Africa’s fashion and textile industry.

She stated, “Nearly 90 percent of the Ankara consumed on our continent is imported, leading to an annual loss of approximately $3 billion to foreign manufacturers. We must change this.

“We must reclaim our fashion narrative by strengthening local production capacities and ensuring that the benefits of this vibrant industry remain within our borders.”

Musa further stated that Africa’s fashion industry is projected to grow to $15.5 billion by 2025 and called for actions to address structural challenges hindering local production.

“Fashion is far more than a form of expression. It is an economic powerhouse. The global fashion industry is valued at approximately $2.5 trillion. In Nigeria alone, the fashion industry contributes approximately $6.1 billion to GDP, while South Africa’s textile sector employs over 140,000 people, demonstrating the sector’s capacity for job creation.

“Investments in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth. By expanding local production, we will not only add value within our borders but also position Africa as a global hub for fashion,” she stated.

Musawa stated that the ministry is actively engaged in developing manufacturing hubs and training programs in craftsmanship as part of the Design Nexus and Destination 2030 initiative throughout Africa.

She further noted that this initiative seeks to elevate Nigeria’s arts, culture, and creative economy to a leading position.

The suspended Jigawa State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Auwal Sankara, is set to be arraigned in a Kano court today following allegations of infidelity.

This development was confirmed by the Director-General of the Hisbah Commission in Kano, Mr. Abba Sufi, during a press briefing on Sunday.

Sankara was reportedly apprehended by Hisbah operatives while allegedly in an uncompleted building with a married woman.

However, the commissioner has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling the reports as mischief aimed at damaging his political career.

In response to the serious nature of the allegations, Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has formed a five-member committee to investigate the claims against Sankara.

The committee will be chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim, and will include the Commissioners for Information, Basic Education, and the Special Adviser on Security Matters.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Malam Ibrahim emphasized the significance of the allegations, stating that they have caused considerable embarrassment to the government.

He explained that the media coverage surrounding the issue has led to a degradation of the state’s reputation, prompting the government to take decisive action.

“To ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the state, the government is compelled to set up a committee to investigate the allegations,” Ibrahim said.

As part of the investigation process, the Jigawa State government has suspended Sankara to facilitate a thorough examination of the matter.

The committee is expected to submit its findings within two weeks, as the state seeks to address the concerns raised by the allegations and restore public trust.

In a statement on Saturday, Ibrahim, said “The decision comes in light of recent claims that necessitate a thorough examination to ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of the State Administration.

“The suspension is a precautionary measure intended to facilitate a fair investigation. We take all allegations seriously and are dedicated to upholding the trust of Jigawa citizens in the government.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered more than ₦200 billion and secured around 3,000 convictions in just one year under the leadership of its chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

Naija News reports that President Bola Tinubu appointed Olukoyede to head the anti-corruption agency in October 2023.

Since then, the EFCC has made significant strides in the fight against corruption, according to the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren.

Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast show The Morning Brief on Monday, Uwujaren highlighted the impressive recovery figures and conviction rates achieved within Olukoyede’s first year in office.

“In terms of naira recovery, we have recovered over ₦200bn in one year of Ola Olukoyede’s administration. That is not to talk about the dollar and the euro components of the recoveries.

“The figures are actually humongous. In terms of the conviction returns, we have over 3,000 convictions in one year of his administration. That for us is interesting,” Uwujaren said.

Despite these achievements, Uwujaren emphasized that the EFCC’s primary focus is on preventing crime rather than merely securing convictions.

He noted that a large percentage of the convictions—about 70%—were related to cybercrime, with young people representing the majority of those convicted.

“But we are not emphasising records of convictions per se because our focus, for now, is to prevent corruption.

“Of those conviction figures I have just given, 70 per cent of those convictions pertain to cybercrime cases.

“The style of this leadership of the EFCC is that there is a major emphasis on the prevention of corruption,” he said.

The EFCC has implemented various initiatives, including sensitization campaigns, to raise awareness among young Nigerians about the dangers of fraud, particularly cybercrime.

In addition to cybercrime, Uwujaren identified corruption in the public sector as a major challenge, especially concerning contract and procurement processes.

He stressed the EFCC’s commitment to addressing these issues before they escalate into larger fraud cases.

“You will agree with me that the major source of corruption especially in the public sector largely pertains to contract and procurement processes and the commission is determined to ensure that these practices are checked before they occur.

“The popular maxim is that prevention is better than cure and once you are able to prevent procurement fraud before they happen, we would be able to save a lot of resources for this country,” the agency’s spokesman added.

A married man from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Moses Remayi, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after violently assaulting his girlfriend, leading to her death. The attack, triggered by Remayi’s suspicion of infidelity over a missed phone call, left the victim suffering for days before she succumbed to her injuries.

The tragic incident unfolded when Remayi became enraged after his girlfriend refused to answer a call from an unknown number. He believed the call was from another man, sparking an argument that quickly turned violent. Testifying in court, Remayi admitted his anger intensified when he dialed the number and a man answered.

"I dialled the number using my phone, and a man answered. This made me angry, as I suspected she was cheating on me,” Remayi told the court.

Remayi's brutal assault on his girlfriend included beating her with a steel chair, fists, and feet. According to witnesses, he locked the door and continued the attack for nearly an hour. A co-tenant, Evidence Denhere, testified that despite hearing the victim’s screams and attempting to intervene, Remayi refused to stop.

"No one could stop him as he had locked the door," Denhere said.

After the attack, a neighbor, Cynthia Chaleka, found the woman severely injured and half-naked. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the victim succumbed to her injuries days later.

Remayi was arrested by the police, who recovered the iron bar used in the attack. In his defense, Remayi claimed that the violence began after his girlfriend bit him during their argument. However, the court rejected his explanation, finding him guilty of murder.

Appearing before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa, Remayi was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the crime, despite pleading not guilty.

The senseless killing has shocked the local community, with many expressing outrage over the brutality of the attack. Remayi now faces nearly two decades in prison for his actions.