The Ogun State Police Command has arrested three women allegedly linked to a child-stealing syndicate and rescued three children during an intelligence-led operation in the Ibafo, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were identified as Kikelomo Jimoh, 36; Kayode Elizabeth; and Blessing Anochike, 60.

The command, in a statement issued on Friday by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babasiyi, said detectives attached to Ibafo Division made the breakthrough while investigating a reported case of child stealing.

According to the statement, Jimoh was initially arrested during the investigation and allegedly confessed to the crime, subsequently leading detectives to the residence of Anochike, where three children were rescued.

The rescued children were identified as Christiana Olowokere, 14; Olamilekan Abdurusheed, 16; and Adeniji Rebecca, 12.

The police said preliminary findings indicated that Christiana was allegedly sold for N500,000, while Olamilekan, who had earlier absconded from his parents, was subsequently allegedly abducted.

“The circumstances surrounding the movement and custody of Adeniji Rebecca are also under investigation,” the command said.

The police said the three children were rescued safely and are currently in safe custody, while the suspects remain in detention.

The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for what the command described as a “discreet and comprehensive investigation”.

The investigation, according to the police, is aimed at establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident, determining the individual roles of the suspects and identifying other persons who may be connected to the alleged criminal enterprise.

The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the detectives of Ibafo Division for what he described as their “swift response, investigative diligence and commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons.”

Ojajuni also assured residents that the command remained “proactive and resolute in detecting, disrupting and dismantling criminal networks that target vulnerable members of society.”

He urged parents, guardians, neighbours, community leaders, schools, transport operators and other members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities involving children.

The commissioner specifically urged the public to report “any unexplained disappearance, suspicious movement, unusual custody arrangement or activity suggesting the sale, abduction or exploitation of a child.”

“A child’s safety is everyone’s responsibility. See something. Say something. Stay safe,” the command stated.

Ibrahim, a meat seller, allegedly attacked his wife with a machete during an attempt to resolve their marital disagreement on Wednesday.

Sources who spoke about the incident on Thursday said the couple, who hailed from Kogi State, had been experiencing domestic challenges before the disagreement reportedly culminated in the fatal attack.

One of the sources said the deceased had previously left her husband’s home following what was described as irreconcilable differences between the couple.

The source said, “I am aware they had issues in the marriage to the extent that the lady had left the man’s house due to some irreconcilable differences.

“But recently, there were efforts by the suspect to resolve the issue with her, which the deceased was not comfortable with.”

The disagreement reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation during which Ibrahim allegedly attacked Kehinde repeatedly with a machete, inflicting severe injuries that led to her death.

The suspect reportedly fled the scene after the incident and remained at large as of Thursday.

The deceased’s body was said to have been deposited in a mortuary.

A cousin to the deceased, Yussuf Lawrence, said the family was devastated by the incident and appealed to the police and other relevant authorities to intensify efforts to apprehend the suspect.

Lawrence said the killing occurred during an attempt by some individuals to mediate in the couple’s marital dispute.

He said, “While Kehinde was preparing to leave Ado Ekiti, she was invited to the residence of her father’s friend, who they said wanted to see her. Kehinde went to the residence on Wednesday morning, unaware that her husband would also be present.

“An attempt to resolve the couple’s marital disagreement subsequently degenerated into the fatal attack.”

Lawrence alleged that some persons had been taken into police custody in connection with the incident, although Ibrahim was still at large.

He also alleged that Ibrahim fled with Kehinde’s mobile phone, which he said the family believed could contain information that might assist the police in their investigation.

“We want Sadiq (Ibrahim) to be found and arrested. We want justice for Kehinde. Her parents are in pain, and my family is in serious agony. She didn’t deserve this,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, said the Commissioner of Police had ordered a thorough investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure that the perpetrator is apprehended and brought to justice,” Abutu said.

Chilaka reportedly died on June 14, 2026, in circumstances the family believes may have involved murder at a compound where she lived in Anambra State.

Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the family’s legal representative, Euphemia Eleonu, expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the investigation by the Anambra State Police Command.

Eleonu particularly faulted the release from detention of a prime suspect in the case, Ogochukwu Ugoeze, while, according to her, the investigation had yet to be concluded.

The family also alleged bias and compromise on the part of the investigating police officer, Supol Nwaije Francis of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, and his immediate superior, CSP Ayorinde David, who is in charge of the Homicide Section of the SCID.

The allegations have not been independently verified.

The family further expressed concern that the police had not invited them to brief them on the progress of the investigation since Chilaka’s death.

Eleonu called for the two officers to recuse themselves from the case and for a new investigation team to be constituted.

She said, “In the interest of justice and to preserve the integrity of the investigation, we respectfully request that the following steps be taken: That in reference to the letter dated July 21, 2026, to the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, and duly acknowledged on July 27, 2026, the Investigating Police Officer, Supol Francis, based on shown bias and interest in the matter in favour of the suspect, Mr Ogochukwu Ugoeze, should recuse himself and the case be reassigned to another IPO/team.”

The lawyer also asked the police to give the deceased’s immediate family a briefing on the status of the investigation, subject to legitimate investigative confidentiality.

She further urged the authorities to preserve all physical, forensic, documentary and electronic evidence relating to Chilaka’s death in accordance with proper chain-of-custody procedures.

Eleonu stressed that the determination of criminal responsibility should ultimately be made by a competent court based on admissible evidence.

She said, “Ultimately, the question whether any person is criminally responsible for Chiamaka’s death should be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction on admissible evidence and in accordance with the Constitution and not by media trial or administrative body.”

She also called for Ugoeze to be rearrested, arguing that suspects should not be treated as guilty or innocent outside the judicial process.

The lawyer said the family had suffered a devastating loss and deserved answers about the circumstances surrounding Chilaka’s death.

Eleonu said the family wanted to know what happened to their daughter, how she died, who was responsible and whether every reasonable line of investigation had been pursued.

“For this reason, we respectfully urge the Nigeria Police Force, the Anambra State Government, the relevant prosecutorial authorities and the media to approach this matter with restraint, utmost professionalism and humanity,” she said.

Eleonu expressed confidence that the Inspector-General of Police would intervene and direct a fresh investigation.

“We have 99 per cent confidence in the IG to direct that the Police Commissioner of Anambra State Command directs that the IPO recuse himself and disband the entire team investigating this case,” she said.

The deceased’s elder brother, Ikenna Chilaka, said the family had been devastated since her death and appealed to the IGP to intervene and help them secure justice.

He said, “I call on the Inspector-General of Police to come to our aid, to help us find justice for my sister. All suspects should be re-arrested. Every suspect should be in custody.

“The court is the only one that has the authority to exonerate or release anybody. I am not happy with the way the investigation has been going.”

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has landed at the Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, Anambra State for an official visit to the state.

In a significant engagement at the airport on Thursday, the president’s wife was warmly received by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, his wife, Dr Nonye Soludo as well as other state leaders upon disembarking from the aircraft.

Soludo and his wife officially received Senator Tinubu alongside her delegation at the tarmac and, after exchanging pleasantries, proceeded to the next item on the protocol marking a significant milestone.

The welcoming delegation included top government dignitaries who gathered to honor her visit to the region, as she is expected to perform certain functions in the state today.

The visit of the First Lady, essentially for the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme – South  East Zone, the commissioning of an ICT Centre – Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

The Director Southem-East Zone, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Samuel Obasi, explained that the National Community Food Bank is an initiative of Senator Tinubu aimed at addressing the high number of children and women nationwide falling under the scourge of malnutrition.

Obasi explained that the President’s wife is running the programme in collaboration with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and her partners in each geopolitical zone.

He revealed that the National Community Food Bank, which will be established tomorrow in Amawbia Primary Health Centre and will serve Anambra Central Senatorial District and feed other centres in Anambra South and North Senatorial zones, is designed for children and women who have been identified to have either moderate or severe acute ml

The regulatory disclosure, titled “NOTIFICATION OF SHARE DEALING BY INSIDERS,” was filed on the bourse as part of statutory governance requirements designed to enforce market transparency and full disclosure regarding stock transactions conducted by key management personnel.

According to the official filing released on Tuesday, and signed by Company Secretary, Edward Imoedemhe, the company’s Head of Treasury, Omode Emmanuel Oladimeji, acquired a total of 986 ordinary shares of Dangote Cement Plc valued at N996,491.01.

The corporate document was categorised as an initial notification of insider dealing in compliance with Rule 111 of the NGX Rules Governing Director and Insider Dealings, which mandates listed entities to publicly declare all equities transactions executed by internal stakeholders.

The deal took place on the floor of the market in Lagos on 4 May, 2026, and was structured across two distinct price tranches.

The filing revealed a “PURCHASE OF DANGOTE CEMENT PLC SHARES” involving a first tranche of “263 UNITS OF SHARES AT #1,008.15 PER UNIT,” followed immediately by a secondary tranche of “723 UNITS OF SHARES AT #1,013.13 PER UNIT”.

Aggregated together, the cumulative purchase of 986 ordinary shares reflects a volume-weighted average acquisition price of N1,010.64 per unit.

Insider share purchases are routinely tracked by equity analysts and retail investors as a marker of internal sentiment and executive confidence in a corporate entity’s long-term earnings trajectory.

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate Seyi Makinde for choosing former Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General Lawal Daura as his running mate for the 2027 election.

Olayinka noted that Makinde selected Daura, who was dismissed as DSS Director-General by then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

Osinbajo first assumed the role of Acting President on February 5, 2016, during a short vacation by the late President Muhammadu Buhari. He later served in the same capacity during Buhari’s subsequent medical leaves, including periods in January 2017 and from May 7 to August 19, 2017.

On August 7, 2018, Osinbajo sacked Daura following an unauthorised siege and blockade of the National Assembly complex by masked security operatives.

In a post on X, Olayinka wrote: “Una remember this man? He is Lawal Daura, the former DSS Director-General. As DG DSS under Buhari’s government, Lawal Daura tried to sack the National Assembly until Osinbajo, who was acting President then, blocked and later sacked him.“That’s the man Ibadan Gomina General, Seyi Makinde picked as his running mate to contest for the president of Iwo Road and Bodija.“Sebi it is birds of the same feather that flock together nah.