Category Archives: Crime

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NAFDAC deploys tech strategy to curb fake drugs

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has empowered stakeholders with technology-driven strategies to identify and combat substandard and falsified medical products across Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Prof. Moji Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, made this known during a two-day sensitisation and awareness workshop on the Greenbook, Traceability Project, and Paediatric Policy, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Adeyeye, represented by her Special Assistant, Dr Gbenga Fajemirokun, described fake and substandard medicines as a growing menace that threatens human life, public health, and the nation’s overall dignity.

According to her, in spite of various strategies already deployed to curb these threats, counterfeit drugs persist nationwide, hence the adoption of modern technologies and innovative regulatory approaches to stay ahead.

“This workshop is designed to sensitise stakeholders and provide hands-on training on the NAFDAC Greenbook, Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulations 2024, and the NAFDAC Paediatric Policy,” she stated.

She explained that the NAFDAC Greenbook served as an online verification platform enabling users to confirm the registration status and authenticity of medical products approved for sale within Nigeria.

Adeyeye added that the Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulations 2024 establish a legal framework for tracking medicines and related items throughout the supply chain using globally recognised unique identifiers.

Read Also: Unmasking Nigeria’s Food Safety Crisis: A Dual Pathway to Public Health and Global Competitiveness

She further stated that the Paediatric Regulation 2024 focused on addressing the unique healthcare and safety needs of children through improved access to quality and age-appropriate medical products.

“Combating substandard and falsified medical products is a collective responsibility.

“I call on all stakeholders in the healthcare sector to fully support these innovative initiatives.

“Together, we can ensure every medicine in Nigeria is safe, effective, and traceable, thereby safeguarding public health and promoting confidence in the nation’s pharmaceutical system,” she added.

Mr Jama Medan, Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), FCT Council, emphasised the critical role nurses and midwives play in healthcare service delivery.

“Our understanding of traceability, environmental health, and child-focused policies directly affects the quality of care we deliver to patients across communities.

“The knowledge gained here will enhance professional capacity, improve transparency and accountability, and lead to better health outcomes for the people we serve,” he further noted.

Mrs Wosilat Abdulhameed, Deputy Director, Narcotics and Drug Abuse Division, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, stressed the need for strict sanctions against perpetrators of counterfeit products.

“As much as efforts are being made to address counterfeit products, effective sanctions must be instituted to deter individuals and organisations involved in such illegal activities.

“We need to review our legislation and laws to identify areas requiring amendment, ensuring stringent penalties for those engaging in counterfeiting and holding them accountable for their actions,” she stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop drew participants from diverse sectors, including pharmaceutical companies, laboratory scientists, medical doctors, nurses, and media professionals nationwide. (NAN)

EFCC declares former Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva wanted

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted over alleged involvement in a $14.8 million fraud case.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC said Sylva is being sought in connection with allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.

According to the anti-graft agency, the funds were part of an investment made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.

The EFCC revealed that it obtained a warrant of arrest for Sylva from the Federal High Court in Lagos on November 6, 2025.

Read Also: EFCC drops fraud cases against Oba Otudeko

Justice D. I. Dipeolu, who issued the order, ruled that:

“An order is made issuing a warrant to the applicant or any officer of the Commission, police, or any law enforcement officer for the arrest of the respondent for the purpose of bringing him before the Commission to answer to the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed.”

The Commission urged anyone with useful information regarding Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices, the nearest police station, or other security agencies.

As of the time of this report, Sylva has not released any official statement regarding the EFCC’s declaration.

Amnesty calls for full exoneration of Ogoni Nine on 30th anniversary of execution

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Abuja, Nigeria — Marking 30 years since the brutal execution of nine leading environmental activists, the Ogoni Nine, Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian government to fully exonerate the men, who were executed for fighting to protect the Niger Delta from oil giant Shell. The anniversary coincides with the start of COP 30 in Brazil.

The Ogoni Nine, led by writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, were executed in 1995 following a sham trial, bringing international attention to the devastating social, environmental, and economic impacts of oil production in the Niger Delta.

While the Nigerian government granted a pardon in June 2025, Amnesty International says this falls short of the justice the activists and their families deserve.

“The Ogoni Nine were executed for a crime they did not commit,” said Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Nigeria Country Director. “Their friends and family have suffered for decades and deserve full exoneration.”

Esther Kiobel, widow of Dr. Barinem Kiobel, one of the Ogoni Nine, emphasized the importance of clearing her husband’s name.

“My husband was killed like a criminal. All I wanted was for his name to be exonerated – it is what I still want,” she said.

The executions followed a violent crackdown on the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), which protested against oil spills and gas flaring in Ogoniland. Amnesty International has documented Shell’s role in encouraging the Nigerian military’s actions, including raids on 43 villages in 1994 that led to multiple deaths.

The legacy of oil spills and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta continues to devastate communities. Poorly maintained pipelines and inadequate clean-ups by Shell and other companies have destroyed farmland, contaminated water sources, and left millions struggling to survive in poverty.

Read Also: Thousands of climate-displaced Somalis abandoned by authorities, Amnesty Int’l claims

“The execution of these activists set a precedent that allowed oil companies and the government to intimidate communities demanding justice and environmental protection,” Sanusi added.

Despite ongoing pollution, affected communities remain defiant. This year, residents of Ogale and Bille have filed a case against Shell in the UK’s Royal Courts of Justice, seeking cleanup of oil spills that have ravaged their livelihoods. Their case is set to be heard in March 2027.

Amnesty International’s report, Extraction Extinction, to be released on 12 November, highlights the threats fossil fuels pose to life, nature, and human rights. It includes a case study on the Niger Delta and a dedication to the Ogoni Nine.

Amnesty calls on Shell to engage affected communities in meaningful consultations, provide full remediation of environmental damage, and offer adequate compensation, in line with international human rights standards.

Background: The Ogoni Nine included Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Baribor Bera, Felix Nuate, Paul Levula, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbokoo, and Ken Saro-Wiwa. They were executed after a flawed trial for allegedly being involved in murders, though their true “crime” was challenging Shell’s environmental destruction in Ogoniland.

Ochanya: Family urges IGP to arrest fleeing rape suspect 7yrs after

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The Ogbanje family of Ogene-Amejo, Okpowu Local Government,  Benue, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (I-G) to arrest  Victor Ogbuja, for allegedly raping their late teenage daughter, Ochanya Ogbanje, and fleeing.

This is contained in a petition written by the family to the I-G, titled: “Petition on police refusal to arrest and prosecute Victor Ogbuja over the gruesome rape to death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje after seven years.”

The family’s petition, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, urged the I-G to declare the fleeing suspect wanted, put him on watchlist, manhunt and arrest him.

According to the family, in spite of the outrage that greeted the sordid circumstances that surrounded Ochanya’s death, the police have failed to arrest the suspect and bring him to justice seven years after.

“We write to bring to your knowledge the blatant refusal of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to apprehend and prosecute a fleeing suspected rapist, Victor Ogbuja, seven long years after he absconded when it was made public that he repeatedly raped Ochanya Ogbanje.

“Ochanya, then a Junior Secondary School student of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Gboko, Benue, died on Oct. 17, 2018, due to health complications from years of prolonged rape at the hands of the Ogbujas, while she lived with them.

“We urge the I-G to declare the fleeing suspect Ogbuja wanted, put him on the watchlist and launch a manhunt to arrest him,” the petition filed by the family’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, reads in part.

The family, which also claimed that the suspect is living in Lagos, requested the I-G to recall the case file from the Police Command in Benue to the Force Headquarters for further investigation.

The Ogbanje family further claimed that the suspect’s family continued to insult, intimidate, and threaten their family on the ground that they were responsible for the abscondment of their son.

They are also seeking police protection for their family members because of the persistent and enduring threats from the Ogbuja family, who they claim are relatively influential and politically connected.

Read Also: NCAA petitions IGP, AGF to arrest, prosecute K1 over Airport incident

“It is our considered view that the seemingly outright refusal of the  Police to apprehend Victor Ogbuja for prosecution has occasioned a grievous act of injustice, not only to the late Ochanya, but also patently poses a danger to innocent girls and women unaware of his predatory habit and antecedents.

“Furthermore, the failure to arrest Victor Ogbuja portrays Nigeria in the eyes of the international community as a lawless country where the rights of vulnerable people are trampled upon at will by powerful people and the elite.

“In light of the renewed calls by Nigerians, both at home and abroad, the Nigeria Police Force has an opportunity not only to redeem its image in this case but to assert itself as Nigeria’s foremost law enforcement agency,” the family added.

Ochanya was said to be five years old, when she was taken from Ogene-Amejo village by her mother, to live with Mrs Felicia Ogbuja, her relative, in Ugbokolo in search of a better primary school.

From age seven, the suspect allegedly started raping her repeatedly through the vagina and anus until she developed a medical condition diagnosed as “faecal and urinary incontinence.”

At the age of 13 years, when her health condition became aggravated, Ochanya revealed the cause of her medical predicament to her caregiver, Evangelist  Enuwa Soo, in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue.

On realising the gravity of her health condition, her caregiver moved Ochanya to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, for proper diagnosis.

In spite of efforts to cure her, Ochanya’s health condition continued to worsen as she was uncontrollably urinating and defecating on herself. Ochanya subsequently passed away on Oct. 17, 2018.

The medical report from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital  given to police command, stated that Ochanya suffered “faecal and urinary incontinence, which was initially mild and it progressively worsened” before her tragic death.

The suspect’s mother, Mrs Felicia Ogbuja was, however, convicted and sentenced to five months imprisonment for her abdication of responsibility to Ochanya, which permitted the sexual assault against the teenager.

(NAN

UN genocide prevention chief warns of atrocity crimes in Sudan’s El Fasher

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The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Chaloka Beyani, has raised serious concerns over reports of mass atrocities and potential war crimes committed in El Fasher, Sudan, following the city’s capture by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after more than 500 days of siege.

Beyani said his office is closely monitoring the situation, citing “massive violations of international human rights law” and “direct attacks on civilians.” He confirmed that he had spoken with UN Resident Coordinator Denise Brown and plans to issue an advisory to Secretary-General António Guterres, the Security Council, and other UN bodies.

“When our office sounds the alarm, it indicates that the threshold is about to be crossed, and early action must be taken,” Beyani told UN News.

Read Also: Ghana President Mahama commissions Damongo camp prison

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the humanitarian crisis in North Darfur is worsening, with thousands of displaced families lacking food, water, and shelter. Many are sleeping in the open in areas such as Tawila, Daba Al Naira, and Um Jangour.

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) said it is urgently gathering evidence of alleged war crimes, including mass killings and sexual violence, as part of its ongoing investigation into atrocities committed since the conflict erupted in April 2023.

In response to growing international pressure, the RSF has reportedly agreed to a humanitarian ceasefire, brokered by mediators from the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the truce, UN officials warn that “the horror is continuing,” with civilians in Darfur enduring escalating violence and severe humanitarian deprivation.

Suspected IPOB sponsor died of Illness, not torture – Police 

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The Imo Police Command has denied the social media report that operatives of its Anti-kidnapping Unit (Tiger Base) tortured a terror suspect, Magnus Ejiogu, to death.

The command described the report as “false, unfounded, and deliberately aimed at maligning the image of the Nigeria Police Force”.

The command’s Spokesman, DSP Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement issued in Owerri and made available to newsmen on Sunday.

Okoye stated that the deceased, popularly called Emu, aged 49, from Obudi Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area (LGA), was identified as a major sponsor and financier of the proscribed IPOB/ESN.

He added that the deceased was responsible for multiple deadly attacks, including the assassination of the traditional ruler of Abudi Agwa in Oguta LGA, Eze Ignatius Asor, in 2022.

He was also linked to the attack on Agwa Police Station in 2022, which resulted in the killing of five police officers, including a pregnant policewoman.

“Investigation into Ejiogu’s case had been concluded, and the report was duly approved for prosecution on Monday, October 20, 2025.

“The command confirmed that his arraignment was delayed only because of the ongoing warning strike by members of the judiciary,” he stated.

Okoye, who detailed the events leading to the suspect’s death, stated: “On 23rd October, 2025, while awaiting arraignment, the suspect suddenly took ill.

Read Also: Police detain tricyclist over officer’s death

“He was immediately rushed to the Police Clinic, Amakohia, Owerri, before being referred to the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH), Owerri, for medical attention.

“In spite the best efforts of the medical team, a qualified medical practitioner later confirmed the suspect dead.

“His body has been deposited in the hospital mortuary for a full autopsy to determine the definitive medical cause of his death.”

According to Okoye, the command firmly maintains its position that at no point was the suspect subjected to torture, maltreatment, or denied access to his family or legal representative.

“All necessary actions taken during his custody were strictly consistent with professional policing ethics and due process,” Okoye added.

He stated that for transparency, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aboki Danjuma, had already directed the Homicide Section of the state Criminal Investigation Department to establish the precise medical cause of his death.

“The command strongly condemns sensational and unverified reports that seek to undermine public confidence in law enforcement.

“The command remains resolutely committed to justice, professionalism, and accountability in the discharge of its constitutional duties,” Okoye added.

(NAN)

Digital Platforms Turn Dangerous: How online exploitation is targeting women in Kenya

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In Kenya, the internet has become both a lifeline and a landmine for women and girls. As digital access expands, so too has a darker trend — the rise of online sexual exploitation and abuse (OSEA). A new wave of research by Equality Now and KICTANet exposes how digital tools, once meant for connection and opportunity, are being weaponised by predators to recruit, groom, and abuse women across the country.

The report, Experiencing Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Kenya: Survivor Narratives and Legal Responses, draws on testimonies from twenty survivors, uncovering deeply personal accounts of trauma and a justice system struggling to keep pace with technology-driven crime. Partner organisations HAART Kenya, Life Bloom Services International, and Trace Kenya helped document the experiences, revealing how social media, encrypted apps, and mobile money platforms have become powerful tools in the hands of abusers.

Technology Turned Against Women

From Facebook and TikTok to WhatsApp and dating sites, digital spaces are increasingly used to lure women with false promises of jobs, love, or financial help. The reports show how perpetrators exploit vulnerabilities — particularly economic hardship — to manipulate and trap their victims. Mobile payment systems like M-Pesa are even used to send small sums to gain trust before the abuse begins.

One survivor recounted being trafficked after responding to a job offer in Malaysia. Once there, she was sexually assaulted and threatened into silence. “I only reported when I returned to Kenya,” she said, “but the police asked for proof of the rape or DNA evidence, which I didn’t have.” Her story mirrors that of many others who face disbelief, humiliation, or requests for bribes when they seek justice.

A System That Fails Survivors

For victims like Ivy* — a schoolgirl deceived by a man she met online — the trauma doesn’t end with the abuse. “The police told me to pay KSh 8,000 if I wanted them to track the two men,” she recalled. “I’d already lost so much. The system that was supposed to help me felt like another betrayal.”

Such stories reflect systemic failures across Kenya’s justice system. Survivors are often shamed, pressured by families to drop cases, or face dismissive law enforcement officers. Weak enforcement, limited digital forensic capacity, and corruption further erode trust, leaving many perpetrators unpunished. In court, adversarial proceedings and repeated retelling of traumatic events re-victimize women seeking redress.

Read Also: Tinubu to meet Trump over alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria – Presidency

Legal Gaps and the Need for Reform

Kenya has made legislative strides with the Sexual Offences Act (2006), Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act (2010), and the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (2018, amended in 2024). Yet, the reports note that the laws remain fragmented and outdated in addressing new forms of digital abuse such as deepfakes, livestreamed assaults, and image-based sexual exploitation. Enforcement also lags behind, with many police and judicial officers lacking training in handling OSEA cases or collecting digital evidence.

Experts and advocacy groups are calling for urgent reforms — including trauma-informed, survivor-centred justice processes; better inter-agency coordination; and stronger accountability from tech companies hosting harmful content. Kenya’s recent cybercrime law amendments are seen as a step forward but must be implemented with care to protect human rights and prevent censorship.

A Call for Action

Equality Now’s accompanying policy brief, Not Just Online: Addressing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Across Digital and Physical Realities, highlights the need for stronger protection mechanisms and regional cooperation. Advocates urge Kenya to ratify the Malabo Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection to improve cross-border evidence sharing and platform accountability.

For many survivors, hope lies in a justice system that listens and acts. Until then, the internet remains a double-edged sword — one that can connect, empower, or destroy, depending on how society chooses to respond.

Tinubu to meet Trump over alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria – Presidency

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The Presidency has confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days to discuss allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria.

The planned meeting follows recent comments by Trump accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from targeted attacks.

Trump had threatened military action against Nigeria and warned that the United States could suspend aid to the country over alleged persecution of Christians.

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, disclosed the development in a post on X on Saturday.

Read Also: Ohanaeze Lagos backs Tinubu’s 2027 bid

According to him, the discussions will center on strengthening counterterrorism cooperation and addressing misconceptions about the nature of terrorist attacks in Nigeria.

“Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have shared interests in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity,” Bwala wrote.

He added: “President Trump has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms, and President Tinubu has adequately utilised that opportunity in the fight against terrorism, with massive results to show for it.

“As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or all faiths, those would be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet in the coming days, either in the State House or White House.”

Police detain five armed robbery suspects in Enugu

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The Police Command in Enugu State says it has detained five male suspects for armed robbery and related offences in separate operations within the state.

In a statement on Sunday in Enugu, the command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said that police operatives recovered two firearms and seven ammunition from the suspects.

He said that on Oct. 29, at about 5:45p.m. operatives of the Distress Response Squad (DRS), intercepted a shuttle bus from Enugu to Abakaliki, during a stop-and-search operation along the Enugu–Abakaliki road.

“Upon searching, the occupant was found in unlawful possession of a cut-to-size locally made single-barrelled gun and was immediately detained.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was travelling from Awka, Anambra State,” he said.

Read Also: Police detain tricyclist over officer’s death

The spokesman said that also on Oct. 28, at about 10:30p.m., operatives of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, acting on credible intelligence, stormed New Garriki by Ukwu-Achara in Enugu, and detained another.

“A locally fabricated Beretta-like pistol loaded with one round of .9mm calibre ammunition was recovered from him,” he said.

Ndukwe also stated that on Oct. 20, at about 2p.m., police operatives in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch members, raided a black spot at Amechi-Awkunanaw in Enugu.

He said that the operatives detained three suspects, while six live cartridges were recovered from them, adding that the suspects will be arraigned upon conclusion of investigations

According to him, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, commended the command for a successful operation, and urged residents to be law-abiding, vigilant, and support the police especially during the ‘ember’ months”

“As a command, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to sustaining the fight against unrepentant criminals and ensuring the continued safety and security of residents of the state,” he said.

(NAN) 

Police arrest six armed robbery suspects in Oyo, recovers items

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The Oyo State Police Command on Sunday, says it has arrested six armed robbery and kidnapping suspects in a hideout located at Ikoyi-ile in Orire Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, CSP Adewale Osifeso, disclosed this in a statement to newsmen in Ibadan.

The spokesperson said that the suspects, who have been terrorising residents of the community, were arrested on Saturday by officers of the Ikoyi-Ile Divisional Police Headquarters.

He said that the officers were supported by various security agencies as well as vigilant local intelligence.

“At 0600 hrs Nov. 1, 2025, a coordinated operation was executed in the Igbo-Awe forest, near Iboran village, leading to the arrest of six suspected key members of the armed group.

Read Also: Police detain tricyclist over officer’s death

“During the operation, officials recovered several significant items,” he said.

Osifeso itemised the recovered items to include: one AK-47 rifle with 15 rounds of ammunition, one Infinix Android phone, one Itel phone, four empty AK-47 magazines, one Nigerian Army jungle hat, one army life jacket and a pair of army uniforms.

According to him, the recovered items indicated that the suspects had organised criminal intent and were prepared for chaos.

He, however, reaffirmed the cmmand’s commitment to providing security and combating such threats in a bid to ensure the safety of residents.

The PPRO urged residents to ensure that they promptly report any suspicious activities to the police at all times.
(NAN)