New Post Africa

Category: Crime Diary

  • FBI arrests Bangladeshi national in international child exploitation case

    FBI arrests Bangladeshi national in international child exploitation case

    Lagos, Nigeria (NPA) — March 6, 2026 — The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced the arrest of a 28-year-old Bangladeshi national, wanted since 2022 for allegedly operating an international child sexual exploitation enterprise.

    In a statement released Friday, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the suspect, identified as Zobaidul Amin, was apprehended in Malaysia and subsequently transferred to the United States.

    “The FBI, working closely with our international partners, has arrested Zobaidul Amin, 28, a Bangladeshi national who has been wanted since 2022 on charges including running an international child sexual exploitation enterprise,” Patel said.

    According to the FBI, Amin was flown from Malaysia to Alaska on Thursday night, where he is expected to face formal charges later today.

    Director Patel expressed gratitude to both U.S. and international agencies for their cooperation in the operation.

    “We thank Legat Kuala Lumpur, the Government of Malaysia, and our local partners across the country for their invaluable assistance in this investigation and arrest. Special recognition goes to FBI Anchorage for their outstanding work in this case,” he added.

    Sex trafficking and child exploitation are treated as serious federal crimes in the United States. Convictions can carry penalties ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment, along with substantial fines and restitution to victims. In aggravated cases involving minors, offenders may face automatic life sentences.

  • Azerbaijan warns of retaliation after drone strike blamed on Iran

    Azerbaijan warns of retaliation after drone strike blamed on Iran

    Baku, Azerbaijan, March 5, 2026 (Agency Report) — Azerbaijan said Thursday it is preparing retaliatory measures after four Iranian drones allegedly crossed its border into the Nakhchivan exclave, injuring four people and striking civilian infrastructure. The incident has heightened fears that the Middle East war could spill further into the Caucasus.

    President Ilham Aliyev, addressing his Security Council, condemned the attack as “an unprovoked act of terror and aggression against Azerbaijan.” He ordered the armed forces to prepare a response, warning Tehran: “We are ready to demonstrate our strength against any hostile force — and they should not forget this in Iran.”

    Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected the accusation, telling local media: “We do not attack our neighbouring countries.” Azerbaijani officials said investigations are underway to identify the drones, noting that one struck the terminal at Nakhchivan International Airport, another landed near a school, a third was shot down by the army, and a fourth damaged civilian infrastructure.

    The Foreign Ministry has demanded clarification from Tehran and lodged a formal protest with Iran’s ambassador. Officials warned that any threat to Azerbaijan’s energy infrastructure — a major supplier to Turkey and Europe via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline — could further drive up global oil prices already rattled by the U.S.–Iran war.

    Relations between Baku and Tehran have long been strained, with Azerbaijan deepening ties to Turkey and Israel. There is a growing fear that the conflict risks igniting violence between the neighbours, particularly given the presence of nearly 20 million ethnic Azerbaijanis inside Iran, the country’s largest minority group.

  • Nigeria Police Force Removes PRO Benjamin Hundeyin Amid Leadership Reshuffle

    Nigeria Police Force Removes PRO Benjamin Hundeyin Amid Leadership Reshuffle

    ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 5, 2026 — The Nigeria Police Force has reportedly removed its Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, following the appointment of Acting Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu.

    Hundeyin, who assumed the role barely six months ago, was relieved of his duties as part of an ongoing restructuring ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The official reason for his removal has not been disclosed, though sources suggest it is linked to the broader reorganisation within the force.

    A source quoted by The Whistler confirmed the development, stating: “The Force Public Relations Officer has been removed this morning. We don’t know who will take over from him, although we thought he would last longer, considering his expertise. However, when a new IGP is appointed, it is not unusual for some positions to be vacated. Unfortunately, he was affected.”

    President Tinubu formally decorated Disu as Acting Inspector General of Police on March 25, 2026, following the resignation of his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun. During the ceremony, the President charged Disu to restore peace, strengthen security nationwide, and rebuild public trust in the police.Expressing confidence in the new appointee, Tinubu urged him to lead firmly but fairly, uphold professionalism, and prioritise the protection of lives and property. “It’s a daunting challenge. I know you can do it. You have my word, you have my full support,” Tinubu said.

  • Boko Haram Attacks Military Base in Borno, Killing Soldiers and Civilians

    Boko Haram Attacks Military Base in Borno, Killing Soldiers and Civilians

    Maiduguri, Nigeria (NPA) — March 5, 2026 — Suspected Boko Haram fighters launched a deadly assault on a Nigerian Army base in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State in the early hours of Wednesday. The attack left several soldiers and civilians dead, with many others abducted.

    Eyewitnesses reported that the insurgents, armed with motorcycles and gun trucks, operated for hours. 

    ASP Nahum Daso, spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, confirmed the incident, noting that while the military repelled the attackers, casualties remain unconfirmed. “An unknown number of civilians were killed, and some survivors were abducted toward the Mandara Mountains,” Daso said.

    Local sources indicated that at least nine soldiers were killed, while residents fled to Pulka town for safety. Witnesses added that women were among those abducted during the raid.

    Boko Haram, notorious for bombings, kidnappings, and massacres—including the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction—continues to destabilise Nigeria’s northeast despite sustained military offensives.

  • Lagos Police Command Invites Applicants for Screening Starting Monday

    Lagos Police Command Invites Applicants for Screening Starting Monday

    Lagos, Nigeria (NPA) — March 5, 2026 — The Lagos State Police Command has urged indigenes of Lagos State who completed the online registration for the 2025/2026 recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force as General Duty and Specialist Constables to present themselves for the Physical and Credential Screening Exercise.

    The screening will run from April 9 to April 18, 2026, at the Police College, Ikeja, in the Centre of Excellence.

    In a statement issued on March 5, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, emphasised that the exercise is free of charge and will be conducted strictly on merit, in line with the highest standards of professionalism and transparency.

    Applicants are required to appear in clean white T-shirts and white shorts and must present the following mandatory documents, neatly arranged in two white flat files:

    1. Invitation Slip (with assigned TABLE)
    2. Credential Screening Form
    3. Original National Identity Number (NIN) printout or card issued by NIMC
    4. O-Level (GCE/SSCE) Certificate
    5. Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age
    6. Local Government/State of Origin Certificate
    7. Trade Test/Certificate (for Specialists only)
    8. Duly completed and signed Guarantor’s Form with photocopies and passport photographs of referees attached
    9. Original and duplicate copies of all credentials, packaged in two separate white flat files with recent passport photographs attached.
  • Enugu Police Raid Criminal Hideouts, Arrest Suspects, and Recover Exhibits  

    Enugu Police Raid Criminal Hideouts, Arrest Suspects, and Recover Exhibits  

    Enugu, Nigeria (NPA) — March 4, 2026 — The Enugu State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal activities in the metropolis, arresting four suspects notorious for snatching mobile phones and recovering stolen items alongside suspected illicit substances.  

    In a statement issued on March 3, 2026, and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the Command confirmed that the raids targeted flashpoints and criminal hideouts across the city.  

    According to the statement: March 1, 2026 (8:00 p.m.) — Operatives attached to the Central Police Station (CPS), working with members of the Neighbourhood Watch, raided a hideout along the Holy Ghost Rail Line. Two suspects, Nnachetam Didiugwu (20) and Ogbu Maduabuchi (22), both without fixed addresses, were arrested.  

      – Recovered items: Four mobile phones (Honor, Vivo, Tecno, and Itel) and wraps of suspected cannabis sativa.  

      – The suspects confessed to snatching phones and valuables from unsuspecting commuters, particularly during evening hours.  

    – February 28, 2026 (9:00 a.m.)— Operatives of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, while on patrol, stormed a hideout at Eke Obinagu, Emene.  

      – Arrested suspects: Eze Chukwuemeka (25) and Isiaka Musa* (25).  

      – Recovered items: A large quantity of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa.  

    The Police Command stated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend accomplices and recover additional exhibits. The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.  

    Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to proactive operations aimed at ridding the state of criminal elements. He urged residents to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and to promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the Police. 

  • Amnesty International Accuses Nigerian Police of Enforced Disappearance of Children at Tiger Base

    Amnesty International Accuses Nigerian Police of Enforced Disappearance of Children at Tiger Base

    OWERRI, NIGERIA (NPA), March 4, 2026 — Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian Police of enforced disappearances involving children detained at the Tiger Base facility in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.

    In its latest report, the global human rights organisation alleged that children arrested alongside their mothers by Tiger Base operatives were taken away by police officers and never returned. Amnesty stated: “These children are not simply separated but effectively disappeared — removed without any record, concealed from relatives, and never returned.”

    The report, based on testimonies from survivors, described a “disturbing pattern” in which children detained with their mothers were removed without documentation, while officers refused to provide information and obstructed attempts by relatives to locate them.

    “Testimonies from survivors detained at Tiger Base Owerri Imo state reveal a disturbing pattern in which children arrested alongside their mothers are taken away by police officers and never brought back.”

    “Amnesty International’s findings show that these children are not simply separated but effectively disappeared — removed without any record, concealed from relatives, and never returned. The absence of documentation, officers’ refusal to provide information, and the deliberate obstruction of mothers seeking their children all point to a systematic practice that amounts to enforced disappearance.”

    Amnesty concluded that the practice amounts to enforced disappearance.

    Last week, Amnesty International released findings that Tiger Base — originally established to combat kidnapping and armed robbery — has instead been implicated in serious human rights violations, including unlawful killings, torture, extortion, and arbitrary detention. The organisation reported that detainees are held in “filthy, windowless cells,” subjected to beatings, and in some cases shot or forcibly disappeared.”

  • US Sanctions Rwandan Defence Force and Senior Officials

    US Sanctions Rwandan Defence Force and Senior Officials

    LAGOS, NIGERIA (NPA), March 3, 2026 — The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) and four senior military officers for providing direct operational support to the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The sanctions, announced on March 2, 2026, by the U.S. Department of State and signed by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott, accuse Rwanda of violating commitments under the Washington Accords, an agreement reached between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The statement noted that RDF-backed M23 forces recently captured the Congolese city of Uvira, in breach of the accord.

    The U.S. condemned M23 for committing grave human rights abuses, including summary executions and violence against civilians, particularly women and children. It stressed that RDF support has enabled the rebels to seize sovereign Congolese territory and continue these atrocities. “The United States stands firm in its support for peace and stability in eastern DRC and the wider region,” the statement read. “The Washington Accords mark a decisive turning point for the Great Lakes region, setting a new course for peace, cooperation, and prosperity among neighbours. Today’s action demonstrates the U.S. resolve to uphold the Washington Accords. As President Trump has made clear, the United States is prepared to use all available tools to ensure the DRC and Rwanda deliver on the promises of this historic agreement.”

    Formed in 2012 by former members of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), M23 rebels accuse the Congolese government of failing to honour a 2009 peace deal. Predominantly composed of Tutsi fighters, the group has long been suspected of receiving support from Rwanda, though Kigali denies this. Since its resurgence in 2021, M23 has captured significant territory in North Kivu, destabilising the region. While the rebels claim to be defending the rights of Congolese Tutsis and demanding political representation, critics argue their campaign is driven by territorial ambitions and political leverage, worsening humanitarian crises and regional tensions.

  • Police in Delta arrest cultists, foil armed robbery, recover weapons

    Police in Delta arrest cultists, foil armed robbery, recover weapons

    ASABA, NIGERIA (NPA), March 3, 2026 — The Delta State Police Command has announced the successful disruption of cult activities and armed robbery operations in Warri, Ughelli, and Sapele during a series of coordinated security operations.

    In a statement issued on March 2, 2026, Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe confirmed that three suspects were arrested, with three firearms and 27 live cartridges recovered.

    According to the release, on February 27, 2026, at about 11:35 p.m., operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team, led by ASP Julius Robinson, stormed the Ekredjebor area of Ughelli and arrested one Oghenemaro Festus of Upper Agbarho. A pump-action gun loaded with two live cartridges was recovered. Police say Festus is linked to a series of house-to-house robberies, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang.

    In another operation, officers responding to reports of armed robberies in Sapele arrested Prince Omanure, also known as “Anini,” aged 21, of the Ghana Area. During interrogation, the suspect led police to a bush along the Warri–Sapele Road near the Trailer Park, where a fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with eight rounds of live ammunition was recovered. Investigators say Omanure has provided useful intelligence, and the Command is pursuing other members of the syndicate.

    A third sting operation in Warri targeted a suspected cult gathering at a building on Okwagbe Street, Igbudu. Several suspects fled upon sighting police, but three were arrested: Nelson Mudiagha (alias Diara), Efe Nyore, and Ebube Ifeanyi.

    Commissioner of Police CP Aina Adesola assured residents that the Command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property. He reiterated that the Delta State Police will continue to dismantle cult groups, armed robbery syndicates, and violent criminal networks across the state.

  • Dave Umahi Accuser Deletes Allegation Posts from Social Media

    Dave Umahi Accuser Deletes Allegation Posts from Social Media

    LAGOS, NIGERIA (NPA), March 3, 2026 — Mrs. Tracynither Ohiri, who previously accused Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, of indebtedness and sexual harassment, has deleted the posts she made on social media platforms.

    The development was disclosed in a statement issued on March 2 by Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Works. According to the statement, “Within the last 24 hours, Mrs. Ohiri has quietly removed all videos and posts she made against the Honourable Minister of Works from her social media accounts, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. A routine review of these platforms clearly shows that the same materials previously used to accuse, ridicule, and defame the Honourable Minister have now been deleted.”

    Nwaze noted that the sudden deletion followed public exposure of inconsistencies in her claims, including ambiguities in timelines and discrepancies in the amounts alleged. “Faced with contradictions in her own narratives, she appears to have chosen deletion over explanation. These actions raise serious questions about the intent behind the allegations she promoted for years,” the statement added.

    The minister’s office reiterated that all allegations remain unproven until substantiated, stressing that the burden of proof rests with the accuser. It emphasized that Senator Umahi remains focused on his mandate to deliver critical infrastructure under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Meanwhile, Newpost Africa reported that over the weekend, Senator Umahi received the Silverbird Extraordinary Personality of the Year Award at a ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.