No fewer than 125 businessmen operating in some of Lagos’ major markets have been pencilled down as potential victims by suspected fraud syndicates, in what the police described as a disturbing web of calculated targeting.

According to the police, the gang studied successful traders, identified the commodities they dealt in and devised different schemes to lure them into what appeared to be lucrative business deals.

But the operation reportedly went beyond fraud. In some cases, victims were kidnapped and held hostage until their families or associates paid ransom.

One such case involved a tyre merchant who, according to the police, was lured to the Aiyetoro-Itele area of Ogun State, where members of one of the syndicates held him captive and collected about N24 million in ransom before releasing him.

Arrests expose wider operation

The development came to light following the arrest of seven suspected members of two fraud syndicates by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Lagos State Police Command, headed by CSP Sunday Cirman.

The breakthrough reportedly came when one of the gangs lured a cloth seller to Ayobo, Lagos, apparently unaware that the police were already closing in. Three members of the gang were arrested in the ensuing operation, leading investigators to uncover a list containing the names of more than 125 business operators lined up for similar schemes.

The suspects reportedly described themselves as “local 419”, a Nigerian slang for fraudsters who obtain money or property through deception.

A police source said: “The two groups use different tactics but their mode of operation is that they target prospective investors or traders but ended up defrauding them in the process.”

From failed business to ‘caller’

One of the suspects, 61-year-old Patrick Nwankwo, the journey into the fraud business began, by his account, with a failed business, the death of his wife and the struggle to survive afterwards.

He said: “I was into second hand cloth selling at the popular Katangua Market. At a time, the business failed and at that time, I lost my wife. I used the small money that was remaining with me to bury my late wife.

“I started as a ‘Caller’. A caller is a person who goes out to identify and speak with our prospective victims. We identify businessmen. After this, we lied to them that someone was in need of large supply of any particular commodity and for them to supply. We usually use bicycle spare parts as the needed commodity.

“Another member of the gang will serve as the receiver. Once they supplied those items to him, we will disappear from that address. Our base is in Ogun State but we target businessmen at popular market, including: Oshodi, Arena, Idumota, Alaba Trade Fair markets. We already have our target and what they sell.

“We don’t pray for gullible people to finish. Gullible people cannot finish in Nigeria. They want to get very rich quick and we take advantage of that.”

‘I get 10% of their proceeds’ – Obi

Sixty-year-old Emeka Obi also said he became involved after falling victim to another gang.

According to him: “After serving my boss for six years and I had my own shop, somebody told me that they had drugs in large quantity but, when I got to where I was to get the drugs, I saw large quantity of American dollar. I didn’t know that they were fake. I was asked to deposit the N400,000 that was with me. That was a large money then in 1990.

“Initially, after collecting my money, they ran away but after they came back, I asked to join them and since then I have made more than the N400,000 that I lost to them.

“I used to be a caller but now I am old. I only allow them to use my office for their operations and I get only ten percent of whatever they get from their victims”.

‘My wife left me because of hardship – Okeke

Another suspect, 47-year-old Charles Okeke, a shoemaker in Aba, Abia State, said the journey followed a failed attempt to travel abroad.

Hear him: “I joined the syndicate in 2018, when I was duped, while trying to travel out. One Mr Eze took me to Ghana. He promised to take me to Europe or America but abandoned me in Ghana.

“I started looking for something to do. I met some Nigerians there. I was into shoe making but the money was nothing to write home about. I met a boy, Chukwudi and a Ghanaian, Jojome. They invited me to join them and we duped people, under the guise of washing money for them. They lured people with gold.

“Later my mother died and I had to come back to Nigeria for her burial. When my family saw my situation, they advised that I should not return to Ghana. They said that I was not doing well.

“Because of hardship, my wife left with my two children. It was while I was looking for what to do that I met Emeka, through one of our town brothers, who was also into the fraud business but had quit,” the suspect said.

Fifty-three-year-old Emmanuel Ekenta, an indigene of Awka, Anambra State, said he was once a successful businessman exporting plates to Ghana.

“I was exporting plates to Ghana then and I was doing well. Problem started, when I was duped at the Togo border. Ghana people and some Nigerians duped me. They lied to me that they wanted to wash dollar for me in 2006.”

“After I was duped, I requested to join them and they directed me to their boss in Lagos. He is the one who taught me how to dupe and I worked with him for six years”, he stated.

How the ‘catcher’ and ‘sitter’ worked

Ekenta also described the roles played by different members of the group.

He explained that “What we do is that one of us, usually the catcher, will pose as a sailor and a foreigner, who just arrived Lagos with goods for sale. We would then tell our prospective victim that he would make huge money by selling these non existent goods.

“After agreeing to sell the goods, the catcher will pretend to take them to the place, where the goods are kept but instead take them to our base, where we introduce them to dollar washing business. It is the normal thing of telling them that we have dollar but we need chemical to wash it.

They will be asked to pay for the chemical. That is how we collect money from them.

“There is also usually the ‘sitter’, who sits at our base. He would corroborate whatever the ‘catcher’ already told the victims. He would lie to them. He would pretend to be the younger brother of the Customs officer that cleared the goods.”

Another suspect, 46-year-old Uchenna Paul, a former foodstuffs seller, said he joined the group after being duped of his master’s money while on a trip from Abia State to Lagos to buy stockfish.

No room for criminals – Police

For the more than 125 business operators identified as potential targets, the arrests may have disrupted a carefully planned operation.

Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the development reaffirmed Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani’s determination to make the state uninhabitable for criminals.

The PUNCH had earlier predicted that there could be a fresh hike in fuel prices following the rise in oil prices.

The latest adjustment is the fourth upward review of Dangote refinery’s petrol gantry price since August 21.

The refinery had increased the price from N1,165 to N1,185 per litre on August 21 before raising it to N1,200 on August 26. It subsequently increased the price to N1,265 on August 29 and has now added another N85 per litre, taking the gantry price to N1,350.

The successive increases have raised the refinery’s petrol price by N185 per litre, or about 15.9 per cent, in 22 days.

In a circular issued late on Friday by the Group Commercial Operations of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, the company notified customers of the revised prices.

The circular read, “Dear Valued Customer, please find below the revised DPRP PMS gantry and coastal prices, which are effective from 12th September 2026:

“Coastal (MT): The old price of ₦1,669,545 has been revised to ₦1,783,530. Gantry (LTR): The old price of ₦1,265 per litre has been revised to ₦1,350 per litre.

“You are advised to return all ATCs for repricing, and a new volume contract will be issued for immediate resumption of loading.

“Should you require any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.”

Petroleumprice.ng also confirmed that the new gantry price stands at N1,350 per litre, while the coastal delivery price was also adjusted from N1,669,545 to N1,783,530 per metric tonne.

Customers were directed to return all existing Authority to Collect documents for repricing. A new volume contract will be issued to allow immediate resumption of loading.

The circular advised customers to contact the company for any further clarification.

The adjustment comes against the backdrop of elevated international crude oil prices. Brent crude recently climbed above $104 a barrel and had earlier surged past $107 as the prolonged confrontation between the United States and Iran continued to disrupt oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil flows through the strategic waterway have fallen sharply in recent weeks, with volumes dropping well below the levels recorded during the earlier recovery period.

Attacks on tankers and restricted shipping have intensified supply concerns, keeping global benchmarks firm and placing upward pressure on refined product costs worldwide.

Officials of the Dangote refinery have yet to respond to messages seeking further details about the new hike.

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.