Nigeria security forces rescue kidnapping victims, arrest cultists

The Ondo State Amotekun Corps rescued a kidnap victim in Oba‑Akoko and arrested a 56‑year‑old father, Iliasu, together with his three sons, Usman (33), Wahab (27) and Yakubu (18). The operation recovered more than 75 % of the ransom paid, as well as drugs, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and a blindfold used on the victim.

In Oyo State, police, aided by Amotekun, the Army and local vigilantes, rescued two children abducted from Ebinpejo village. Four suspects – Umaru Usman (25), Abdullahi Ahmed (28), Sunday Idowu (30) and Muhammed Ibrahim Shina (29) – were arrested after a gun battle in a forest hideout. The operation also yielded three mobile phones and, in a separate raid, a cache of sophisticated firearms including double‑barrel shotguns, a pump‑action rifle, a revolver and 36 live cartridges.

Lagos State police arrested five suspected members of the Aye Confraternity during an intelligence‑led stop‑and‑search on the Ago/Festac Bridge. Seized items included military‑style camouflage, two machetes, a battle axe, a knife, 500 SIM cards, five mobile phones, five laptops, charms and substances believed to be hard drugs.