Members of a child trafficking syndicate arrested by the operatives of Ondo State Police Command have confessed that they usually sell each stolen child at the rate of N500,000 to their receivers.

The suspects, 43-year-old as Lukman Isiaka, Abosede Olanipekun, 23; and Mrs Sabira Izuorah, 68, were arrested by the police while in possession of 14 babies and toddlers stolen from Akure, Ondo State and Ilesa in Osun State.

The children were recovered from Izuorah who claimed to operate an orphanage in Ihiala in Anambra State.

Among the children recovered from the suspects are four three-week old babies, two weeks old, two months old, and ten other children.

Izuorah who was a former Director from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in Anambra State, admitted to having received the children from the other suspects.

Speaking with journalists at the Ondo State Police headquarters in Akure, Izuorah said, “I have a registered orphanage. I took care of the children. The name of my orphanage is Clarion Children’s Care and Reforms Initiatives, and it started full operation in 2020.

“Lukman and his wife brought a total of 11 children to me. I don’t pay them; it is the adoptive parents who pay them. The adoptive parents don’t pay me; they give us food items and supplies.

“I stopped Lukman and his wife from bringing children for me in November 2024. All the children were no longer with me, but I went to recover them from their adoptive parents. It didn’t start with me, and it will not end with me.”

However, Lukman who claimed to be a bricklayer said he had been involved in the business since 2023.

He said Izuorah introduced him and his wife to the illicit trade when he left Ondo State to work in Anambra.

While saying Izuorah always paid him N500,000 per child, which she in turn sold to her prospective buyers for N1 million and above, Lukman said, “I have been stealing children since 2023.

“I have given a total of 11 children to Izuorah. The method my wife and I use to steal the children is when we are going, and we see any child roaming about, we call them and say we will buy soft drinks and biscuits for them.

“After telling them that, they will follow us. After walking for about 10 minutes, we will board a bike to the park, where we will board a vehicle to Anambra State to give Izuorah the children.

“She normally gives us N500,000 for each child that we bring to her. I met Izuorah when we went to Anambra to work. I’m a bricklayer. She was the one who introduced me to the business after training me, and since then, I have been giving her children.

“I don’t know anything about the two-month-old and four-month-old babies. She is the one who can say where she got them from. I only operate in Akure, Ondo State, and Ilesa, Osun State.”

Parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, stated that intelligence-led policing made the operation a success when Lukman and Abosede were traced to Ottah village in Edo State, where they were arrested.

Afolabi said the arrested couple led the police operatives to Anambra State, where Izuorah was arrested and moved to Akure.

“A case of a missing child was reported at Okuta Elerin-Nla Division in Akure. A complainant reported that Abosede deceived her by claiming she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby.

“Meanwhile, Lukman distracted the complainant by engaging her in a personal conversation and requested that she follow him to Olukayode Plaza in the market to get a mobile phone. On getting to the market area, he abandoned her and left.

“When the complainant returned to the shop, she discovered that her child was missing, with no trace of Abosede, the supposed sister of the man she followed to the market; thus, a report was made at the Division.

“During interrogation, the suspects admitted to abducting the child and other children from Ondo and Osun States and selling them to Sabira Izuorah, aged 62 years, in Ihiala, Anambra State, at the rate of One Million Naira (₦1,000,000) per child,” the CP narrated.

The police boss added, “The following babies were found in her custody: Baby Favour (female, 3 weeks old), Baby Chidera (female, 2 weeks old), Baby Chinyere (female, 2 months and 5 days old), and Baby Uzoma (male, 1 week old).”

The CP added that on January 14, 2025, 10 children sold by Mrs Izuorah were rescued from various locations.

He stressed that their parents identified their children which include Dauda Alarape, male, 3½ years; Babalola David, male, 4 years; Asaolu Pamilerin, 7 years; Ayomide Abass, male, 2 years who was stolen from Orita-Obele in Akure; Komolafe Oluwasekemi, female, 4 years who was stolen from Igado in Ilesha and Adedeji Olalekan, male, 6½ years.

Others are Ahmed Abdulrasaq, male, 5½ years, stolen from Ibodi Town, Osun State; Mary Wuraola, female, 2 years, stolen from Ilesha, Osun State; Mubarak Akinwunmi, male, 6 years, stolen from Osogbo, Osun State; and an unknown child whose name and parents have not been identified but stolen from Osun State.

He added that some children are currently on the missing list while efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue them.

In the first of such public declarations ahead of elections, six politicians have taken to the stage of an event in Yola, Adamawa State to declare their ambitions to run for governor.

The aspirants seized the inauguration of the Council of Elders by the Gongola People’s Forum, GPF, to express their desires to fill the gaps in the governance of the state.

The aspirants, Senator Ishaku Abbo, Mr Denis Habila Gapsiso, Dr Ishaya Inuwa Durkwa, Mr Yuguda Garba, Dr Musa Maigana, and Mr Kube Dwana each stepped forward to articulate their vision for Adamawa State.

The most widely known of the six, Ishaku Abbo, the senator for Adamawa Central Zone between 2019 and 2023, said he is driven by a sense of commitment to fill gaps in governance.

In their separate speeches, the aspirants said they were poised to address the many challenges currently troubling the state.

DAILY POST reports that the Gongola People’s Forum which was formed last year to unite the minority ethnicities mostly within Old Gongola State, particularly the part now called Adamawa State, has been waxing in popularity among its vast membership.

It is unclear now whether the forum would try to endorse any of the known aspirants and more to come or allow everyone to test their individual strengths at the polls.

Other politicians within the fold of GPF who are rumoured to be equally interested in the Adamawa guber race but were not at the GPF meeting include Chief Maurice Vunobolki, Wafari Theman, Caleb Andrew Myebangara, and Alhaji Bello Ibrahim Hong

Tragedy struck on Sunday when gunmen suspected to be hired assassins shot and killed the Shepherd-in-charge of a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) in Idiroko Border town of Ipokia local government area of Ogun State.

The deceased, identified as Yomi Adetula was shot dead right inside his church during the Sunday service around 11a.m. while preaching.

An eyewitness at the scene told LEADERSHIP that Adetula’s assailants, wielding AK-47 rifles and numbering about six, all clad in Celestial Church’s garments, stormed the Hebrew Celestial Church located at the Odo Eran area of the Old Garrage Road in Idiroko where they rained bullets on the deceased pastor, waiting to certify him dead and dismembering his body inside the church before leaving the scene.

LEADERSHIP further gathered that the deceased was the Idiroko Unit Commander of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-SAFE Corps; one of the community security outfits established and funded by the Ogun State government.

While the reasons behind the murder could not be immediately ascertained, our correspondent however, gathered that late Adetula had for the past few months been having running battles with certain smuggling cartel in Idiroko Border town, which necessitated his transfer to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in December 2024.

Sources within his church in Idiroko also confided in this newspaper that the development led to the forceful closure of his church in December by some suspected smugglers.

The State Commander of So-SAFE Corps, Soji Ganzalo, who confirmed the incident said that he received the news of Adetula’s assassination with a rude shock.

Ganzalo however, assured that the Corp would not relent until the matter is properly investigated, while also promising to assist appropriate security agencies with necessary information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.

Attempt by 26-year-old Esther Onyinyechi Uzodinma, a 200-level student of nursing at the Noida International University, Uttar Pradesh, India, to swallow 76 wraps of cocaine hours before her return flight to the South Asian country through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, has been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Esther was scheduled to return to Delhi, India from MAKIA in Kano on Qatar Airways flight 1432 on Friday, January 17, 2025, but was arrested in her room at 11:30pm on Thursday January 16 at Royal Park Hotel, Sabon Gari, Kano, while awaiting the cocaine consignment she was to ingest before her flight the following morning.

Her lid was blown open when NDLEA operatives on patrol along Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State on Thursday, January 16 intercepted 31-year-old Cosmas Okorie in a commuter bus coming from Lagos enroute Kano. Inside his black polythene bag was an audio speaker, which was used to conceal 76 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.340 kilograms, which he was going to deliver to Esther in Kano. A swift follow-up operation in Kano led to the arrest of the female university student later same day.

In her statement, Esther claimed the drug cartel she was working for recruited her in India and paid for her trip to Nigeria to enjoy her Christmas and New Year holidays. To avoid her parents knowing she was in Nigeria, Esther did not travel to her home state, Imo but was lodged for two weeks in a hotel in Enugu, from where she was flown to Abuja and then Kano where she was lodged at Royal Park Hotel to swallow the 76 pellets of cocaine sent to her from Lagos before taking her Qatar Airways flight to India on Friday morning. She said she was promised over $5,000 upon successful delivery of the illicit consignment in India.

In other operations along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja highway, NDLEA officers arrested four suspects: Abdullahi Umar; Tijjani Samaila; Lucky Obotte and Abubakar Haruna, who were heading to Maiduguri, Borno state, Kano, and Abuja in commuter vehicles with over 38,000 pills of tramadol 225mg, 250mg and 100mg concealed in audio speakers and cloths.

In Lagos, operatives of a special operations unit of the Agency on Tuesday, January 14 raided the hideout of a 59-year-old Nwokedi Emeka Jonas in Ojodu-Berger area of the state where they recovered 10 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 4.9kg as well as different paper bags he uses in dispensing the psychoactive substance in retail quantities. Printed on them include street names and codes such as ‘Dead man’; ‘Gelato top shelf smoke’; ‘Topshelf’; and ‘Gelato cake’
In other operations in Lagos, operatives of the state Command of the Agency on Wednesday 15th January raided a house in Igando New Town area of Alimosho where they arrested three suspects: Isaac Vincent, 32; Ebube Ikechi, 25; and Christopher Usifoh, 43, from whom 1,610kg skunk, a strain of cannabis and 6kg pills of tramadol were recovered. Also recovered from the house were a delivery van and three other vehicles used for distributing the illicit drugs.

Two suspects: Olashile Okoya and Mohammed Ibrahim were arrested on Saturday, January 18 when NDLEA officers raided their home at 5A Addison Palmer, Cadogan Estate, Castle Rock Avenue, Osapa, Lekki Lagos, where 28 kilograms of Cannadian Loud were recovered following credible intelligence.

Not less than 67kg skunk was seized from Saheed Sulaiman on Thursday, January 16 when NDLEA operatives raided his Edumare street, Lagos Island hideout, while various quantities of assorted illicit substances were recovered from Adamu Abdullahi on Tuesday, January 14 when Jerry Irabi Estate, Lekki hideout was raided by NDLEA officers. They include 3.7 litres of codeine syrup; 10,000 pills of tramadol; 1,670 tablets of rohypnol; 6.5kg cannabis; 3,100 tablets of diazepam; 10,090 tablets of Molly; 5,500 tabs of Exol-5; 1.2kg crisps of wrapped methamphetamine and a monetary exhibit of ₦623,650.00.

In Kano, two suspects: Usama Adamu, 25, and Isah Ibrahim, 29, were on Friday, January 17
arrested at Dawanau, Dawakin Tofa LGA where a total of 7.6kg skunk, 78 tubes of rubber solution and 356 bottles of ‘suck and die’, a new psychoactive substance were recovered from them. In another raid in Kano, Usman Isa, 29, was nabbed along Zaria road with 114 blocks of skunk weighing 49.8kg.

Three suspects: Lawali Isiaka, Umoru Isiaka and Mohammed Kabiru were on Wednesday, January 15 arrested by NDLEA operatives with 390 tablets of Molly and 65.5kg of cannabis at Bode Saadu in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, while Samuel Ogbu, 24, was nabbed with 25,000 pills of tramadol by operatives along Wukari- Zaki Ibiam road, Wukari LGA, Taraba state.

In series of raids in Abuja, a suspect, Rufa’i Hashimu, 27, was arrested at Gwarimpa village area of the FCT with 118 bottles of codeine-based syrup, while 13 others were nabbed in other locations such as: Area1 IDP camp, Gishiri, Zuba, Dei -Dei, AYA, Lagos Street Garki, Karu, and Lugbe. Recovered from them include different quantities of tramadol, diazepam, and methamphetamine.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of NUD Basic Primary School, Orile-Igbon, Oyo state; Corpus Christi College, Ilawe Ekiti; Holy Family International Schools, Calabar; Kudam Islamic School, Osogbo; Business Apprenticeship Training Centre, Kankia, Katsina, while Abia state command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to Governor Alex Otti, among others.

While commending the officers and men of Lagos, Kogi, SOPU, Kano, Kwara, FCT, and Taraba Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, chairman/chief executive officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged them and their compatriots across the country not to rest on their oars as they intensify their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts

The death toll from the petrol tanker explosion at Dikko Junction, Niger State, on Saturday has risen to 86, while 55 people were injured and taken to hospital.

As of Saturday, the death toll was reported as 70, with 50 injured.

However, more corpses have since been recovered, and all have been given a mass burial in Dikko, Niger State.

The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.

He stated that the agency, alongside Gurara Local Government Area and brave, kind-hearted volunteers, conducted the mass burial between 5 pm and midnight.

“A total of 86 persons have been confirmed dead, with their corpses recovered and buried.

“Eighty of them were buried in a mass grave at Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre premises, while five were taken by their relatives for burial in the town, and one died at Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre.

“The mass burial was carried out by NSEMA in collaboration with Gurara LGA and courageous volunteers between the hours of 5pm and midnight.

“The number of injured now stands at 55, with one death recorded at Dikko PHC,” Baba-Arah stated.

A speeding fuel tanker crashed on Saturday morning at Dikko Junction, located between Niger and Kaduna states.

While some residents attempted to scoop fuel spilling onto the tarred road from the tanker, it exploded in a massive blaze. The explosion killed both those collecting fuel and others attempting to rescue them.

Meanwhile, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago visited the scene of the tragic explosion on Saturday and has issued a ban on vehicles coming from the Maje axis from passing over the Dikko Bridge.

The governor gave the directive while inspecting the scene of the tanker explosion at Dikko Junction, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.

Bago, decrying the recklessness of some drivers, stated that it was unacceptable for vehicles coming from Maje to use the bridge, directing them instead to follow the underpass and take the appropriate U-turn.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, confirmed the directive in a statement on Sunday.

“Niger State Government has directed that no vehicle coming from the Maje axis should be allowed to pass over the Dikko Bridge.

“Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago issued this directive during his visit to the scene of the tanker explosion at Dikko Junction, Gurara LGA.

“The governor, who criticised the recklessness of certain drivers, said vehicles from Maje must use the underpass and make the U-turn correctly.

“He also urged the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps to establish a detachment in the area to enforce the directive and called on all relevant transport unions to cooperate with the Road Safety Corps,” Ibrahim stated.

The governor expressed his gratitude to NSEMA, the Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Union of Road Transport Workers, among others, for their roles in evacuating the victims.

He also announced that doctors from Minna hospitals would be redeployed to assist in treating the injured victims currently receiving care at Suleja General Hospital.

Fuji music legend, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, shared a touching yet humorous exchange with President Bola Tinubu during a phone call on Saturday.

The President reached out to commiserate with the music icon over the loss of his beloved mother.

President Tinubu extended his condolences and prayed for the repose of K1’s mother’s soul, urging him to accept the loss as the will of God. The President, who has long shared a cordial relationship with the Fuji maestro, spoke with empathy and offered words of comfort.

“May her soul rest in perfect peace,” Tinubu said warmly. “I know how painful it is to lose a mother, but I pray that God grants you the fortitude to bear this loss. Take heart, Wasiu.

As the conversation unfolded, Tinubu, known for his witty sense of humour, lightened the mood with a jovial remark. “You will not suffer because you have lost your mother. God will protect you. Don’t forget you have me, your President.

The comment drew laughter from K1, who reciprocated with his own dose of humour and gratitude.

“Akanbi, you are the President of Nigeria. I can’t ever suffer because my mother is gone. I am your son, and you are my father. It’s your duty to take care of me!” he replied, his voice brimming with playful affection.

“As long as you are President, I cannot suffer. Nigeria cannot suffer,” he declared, adding, “With you in charge, there is hope for all of us.”

Their light-hearted banter continued as K1 jokingly threatened to hold Tinubu accountable if he ever found himself in distress. “You can’t be President and watch me suffer, o. It’s not possible! You’re my backbone now,” he quipped, prompting another burst of laughter on both ends.

The call, which could have been a somber moment, was infused with warmth and camaraderie, reflecting the strong bond between the two figures. K1, who has always been vocal about his admiration for Tinubu, used the opportunity to reaffirm his support for the President’s vision for Nigeria.

“Baba, with you as President, we are on the path to greatness. My mother may be gone, but I am at peace knowing Nigeria is in your hands,” K1 said with conviction.

K1’s response was both heartfelt and humorous: “If I ever feel like suffering, I’ll just remind you of this call! Thank you, Mr. President.”

Nollywood actor Lateef Adedimeji has opened up about the constant online trolling he and his wife, actress Mo Bimpe, face daily, including harsh comments labeling her barren. Despite the negativity, the couple has chosen to remain unshaken, with Lateef stressing that such remarks hold no weight in their lives.

In a recent interview, Lateef revealed that ever since they tied the knot, many critics have taken to social media to speculate about their personal lives, including their decision to have children. However, he clarified that these trolls know nothing about their private choices or the plans they are building as a family.

“People don’t know our decision or what we are building. They call my wife barren, but such comments don’t bother us,” Lateef said. “We’ve grown a thick skin, and we refuse to let these words weigh us down.”

The actor, whose latest film Lisabi is currently streaming on Netflix, noted that dealing with public scrutiny is part of being in the spotlight. He shared that he and his wife have learned to prioritise their happiness and block out the noise.

“Negative comments come with the territory when you’re in the public eye. What matters is how you handle them, and for us, it’s by focusing on what’s important—our love and our goals,” he added.

Mo Bimpe, who is also a prominent figure in Nollywood, has faced her share of criticisms, with some people even questioning their compatibility as a couple. Despite this, the pair continue to show unwavering support for each other, often sharing heartfelt messages on social media that demonstrate their bond.

Lateef acknowledged that being in the limelight can attract both love and hate but maintained that they choose to focus on the positive aspects of their journey. “We understand that not everyone will be happy for us, and that’s okay. We won’t give energy to negativity,” he said.

The couple’s resilience and refusal to engage in online battles have earned them admiration from fans who praise their maturity and strength.

Lisabi, Lateef’s latest Netflix project, has also garnered attention for its gripping storyline and his stellar performance. The actor expressed gratitude for the support he continues to receive from his loyal fanbase, noting that this motivates him to keep raising the bar in his craft.

The Police in Ondo State says it has apprehended a three person syndicate, 62 year-old woman, Sabira Izuorah, and couple, Isiaka Lukman and Abosede Lukman, allegedly specialised in child stealing and trafficking.

Mr Wilfred Afolabi, state Commissioner of Police (CP), made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Akure.

He said that the suspects were arrested after a case of a missing child was reported at Okuta Elerin-Nla Division in Akure.

Afolabi said that four babies between one week and two months old, and 10 children between two and seven years, were recovered.

The CP explained that Izuorah, from Ihiala in Anambra State, was the buyer, while Isiaka aged 42 and Abosede aged 23, from Ibadan, Oyo State, were the seller.

He said that the couple were arrested through intelligence-led policing when traced to Ottah Village in Edo State.

“During interrogation, the suspects (couple) admitted to abducting the child and other children from Ondo and Osun States.

He said that the couple admitted to sell their victims to Sabira in Ihiala, Anambra State, at the rate of N1 million per child.

The police boss said that Sabina was arrested in Ihiala and four babies were found in her custody.

“A complainant reported that a man, Samuel Adejobi (real name: Lukman Isiaka and a woman, Ewatomi (real name: Abosede Olanipekun), came to her shop pretending to be siblings to eat.

“While playing with the complainant’s child, Abosede deceived her by claiming she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby.

“Meanwhile, Lukman distracted the complainant by engaging her in a personal conversation and requested she followed her to Olukayode plaza in the market to get a mobile phone.

“On getting to the market area, he abandoned her and left.

“The complainant, on getting back to the shop, discovered that her child was missing with no trace of Abosede, the supposed sister of the man she followed to the market,” he said.

Afolabi said the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations, while efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue some children. currently on the missing list.