Operatives of the Kogi State Police Command attached to the Okene division successfully conducted a sting operation, resulting in the recovery of firearms, ammunition, and a substantial amount of money, in what it described as a significant breakthrough.

The operations which were carried out in Okene and and Ofu also led to the arrest of a suspect, with efforts underway to apprehend others.

In a press statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya on Thursday, the Police confirmed that following an intelligence tip-off, its operatives swung into action and raided the Yuwander lodge, alleged to be a suspected criminal hideout at Oguda village, where they arrested one 23-year-old Charity Williams.

The statement reads:

KOGI STATE POLICE COMMAND PRESS RELEASE

Unlawful Possession Of Fire Arm: Police Recovers One Locally Made Bareta Pistol, One Locally Made Barel Gun, Six Rounds Of 9mm Live Ammunition, The Sum Of N2, 047,300, And Arrested One Suspect

The operative of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Okene division during an intelligence led-raid operations, arrested one Charity Williams aged 23 years, recovered one locally made barretta pistol, the sum of N2,047,300, six rounds of 9mm live ammunition, hard drugs, axe, and four phones.

This is consequent on the intelligence tip off that a suspected criminal was sighted in Yuwander lodge alleged to be a suspected criminal hideout at Oguda village, Okene. Immediately the police swung into action and raided the lodge. Upon searching one of the rooms which was booked by one Christopher Christopher Kadiri, a lady named Charity Williams aged 23 years was arrested and the above exhibits were recovered from the room. Efforts are on going to apprehend the suspect at large, while investigation is on going.

In another development, the operative attached to Ofu Division recovered one locally made barel gun at Ogbakpedo village located along Itobe-Ayingba road. This is based on a tip off that some persons suspected to be kidnappers were sighted in the bush, immediately the patrol team moved to the scene, on sighting the police, they ran away. Search of the area led to the recovering of one locally made barel gun, cutlass, techno phone among others.

The Commissioner of Police Miller G. Dantawaye, psc, commended the officers for their dedication to duty and reaffirming his unwavering commitment to the fight against criminality in the state.

SP William Ovye Aya,
Police Public Relations Officer,
Kogi State Police Command.
4Th September, 2025.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC says it has arrested one James Okwete, a contractor fingered in the alleged diversion of N37bn COVID-19 School Feeding funds allegedly laundered by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development under former Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

The development coincides with the probe of three other ministers, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, for graft estimated at N150bn.

A top EFCC official, told thepunch, said the contractor had made useful statements concerning Umar-Farouk and former Directors-general of the ministry.

“It is not only Umar-Farouk we are investigating. Three other former ministers are also under probe. They were allegedly involved in graft to the tune of N150bn,’’ a source said.

Sources said Umar-Farouk and some former agencies’ directors-general under the ministry might be arrested by the anti-graft commission following the details of the financial misappropriation so far revealed to investigators by the contractor.

Okwete, who is being held at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, has been cooperating with investigators.

According to the EFCC officials, the contractor was arrested four days ago.
A source said, “The contractor, Mr Okwete, who was used in laundering the money had been arrested by the commission.

He is currently detained in our custody and has been giving investigators more details that have indicted the former Minister, Sadiya and some DGs under the ministry, and they may be brought in anytime soon too.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it’s operatives arrested 273 suspects and made seizures of 6,911.2kg of illicit substances in Kogi State, between January and December.

The Kogi NDLEA Commander, Mr Adeyeye Olusegun, disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing held at the Command’s headquarters in Lokoja.

Olusegun described the feat as, “very remarkable and steady progress” in demand and supply reduction in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in Kogi.

“This progress made in the command has come with challenges though surmountable, considering the professional display put up by my officers and men, who worked tirelessly to smoke out substance abusers and traffickers.

“The 6, 911.2kg hard drugs seized within the period are: Cannabis Sativa, Tramadol, Diazepam, Meth, Rohypnol, Pentazocine Injection and Exol-5.

“Others are Cocaine, Codeine, Pethidine Injection, Ergometrine Injection, Nitrous, Oxide and Heroin,” he said.

The commander further disclosed that out of the 273 suspects arrested, 229 are male while 44 are female out of which 17 suspects had been convicted.

According to him, the agency filed 86 cases in the courts and got 17 convictions within the period under review.

He also disclosed that the command was able to seize other exhibits which were not within its purview to activate prosecution but were subsequently transferred to appropriate authority for diligent investigation and prosecution.

The exhibits included: 60 pieces of Military Uniform Vest, 90
Super Power Explosives, two Local Pistols, four Pump Action Rifles, one RLA and 1, 250 pieces of Cartridges, which had all been transferred to the Nigerian Military in Lokoja.

He said that 199 Cartons of Nitrous Oxide, another exhibit discovered in two buses had also been transferred to NAFDAC for investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects involved.

“As part of our drug demand reduction/advocacy activities from January till date,, the command has counseled 147 males and 30 females respectively and has carried out sensitisation programmes in over 12 schools, religion centers, motor parks, market squares and other public places.

“The command has paid advocacy and familiarisation visits to some Royal fathers including the Attah Igala, HRM Mathew Opaluwa-Oguche, and HRM Solomon Oladele-Owoniyi Obaro of Kabba, to seek collaboration in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

“The royal fathers have pledged to partner and support the command in the fight against drug abuse in the state, ” he said.

The commander, however, warned drug traffickers and abusers to stay clear of Kogi with their nefarious activities or get arrested to face the full wrath of the law.

He appealed to residents of the state to shun illicit substances and endeavour to report any drug abuser or trafficker to the agency so as to rid the state of criminal elements and instil peace and harmony.