Manny Ita –
Security authorities in southern Nigeria have recorded two major incidents involving criminal activity and political security concerns, as police in Edo State arrested 65 suspected kidnappers during a coordinated midnight raid, while gunmen reportedly attacked a convoy linked to former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi in Rivers State.
Police authorities in Edo State confirmed that the suspects were apprehended during a large-scale security operation carried out across several locations identified as criminal hideouts. The operation, which began late at night and extended into the early hours of the morning, involved intelligence officers and tactical units of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to security officials, the raid followed weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering aimed at dismantling kidnapping networks believed to be responsible for a series of abductions in parts of the state and neighbouring regions.
A police spokesperson said the suspects were arrested in multiple locations during simultaneous operations designed to prevent them from escaping or warning other members of the network.
“This operation was the result of sustained intelligence work and coordination among our tactical units. We were able to identify several hideouts used by criminal elements involved in kidnapping and other violent crimes,” the spokesperson said.
Authorities also disclosed that several weapons and other items suspected to have been used in criminal activities were recovered during the raids, while investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of the suspects’ involvement in recent kidnapping incidents.
Police officials said the suspects will undergo further interrogation and profiling before being charged in court where sufficient evidence is established.
Meanwhile, in Rivers State, tension rose after unidentified gunmen reportedly attacked a convoy associated with Rotimi Amaechi along a major road in the state.
Sources familiar with the incident said the attack occurred when armed men opened fire in the direction of the convoy, forcing security operatives and drivers to take evasive action.
Although details of casualties were not immediately confirmed, sources said members of the convoy managed to escape the scene amid the confusion created by the gunfire.
A security aide attached to the convoy said the incident happened suddenly and lasted only a few minutes before the attackers fled the area.
“It was a very tense moment. The gunmen appeared from nowhere and started firing. The drivers had to move quickly to avoid being trapped,” the aide said.
Security operatives later secured the area while preliminary investigations were launched to determine the motive behind the attack and identify the perpetrators.
Authorities in Rivers State have not ruled out the possibility that the attack could be linked to broader security challenges in the region, where incidents involving armed groups and criminal gangs have occasionally been reported.
Security analysts say the developments highlight ongoing security concerns across parts of southern Nigeria, particularly the growing threat of kidnapping and armed attacks targeting individuals and travellers.
Police officials in both Edo and Rivers states have assured residents that investigations are ongoing and that additional security measures are being deployed to prevent further incidents and strengthen public safety.
