The Cross River State police command has apprehended six suspected Ambazonian rebels.
The Command disclosed on Saturday that it arrested the suspects after they invaded Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.
OsunDailyNG reports that Ambazonia is a political entity proclaimed by Anglophone separatists seeking independence from Cameroon.
Since 2017, Ambazonian rebels have engaged in armed conflict with the Cameroonian military in what is known as the Anglophone Crisis.
Speaking on the arrest, the commandโs Spokesperson, Ewa Igri, said the suspects, whose age ranges between 18 and 36, were paraded with various weapons, improvised explosives devices, booths, charms and flags.
He revealed that the separatists were arrested following intelligence information, describing the feat as a breakthrough for the law enforcement agency.
Sokoto Police Arrest 18-Year-Old For Kidnapping Neighbourโs Son
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Police Command has successfully apprehended an 18-year-old suspect, Abba Aliyu, for the kidnapping of his neighbourโs two-year-old son.
Aliyu, a resident of the Badon Hanya area in Sokoto, was arrested following a swift operation conducted by the policeโs Anti-Kidnapping Unit attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
In a statement released on Saturday, the commandโs spokesperson, ASP Ahmed Rufai, revealed that the incident occurred on October 13, 2024, when Ibrahim Shehu reported his sonโs disappearance.
The boy, Saidu Ibrahim, had gone missing around 6:00 PM, and despite efforts to locate him, his whereabouts remained unknown for several days.
The family later received a ransom demand of โฆ2 million from the kidnapper via phone call. Eventually, the family paid โฆ500,000, leading to the boyโs release.
Based on intelligence-led operations, detectives were able to trace the suspectโs location to Badon Hanya, near the Zamson filling station, where Aliyu was arrested.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, admitting that he kidnapped the child to extort money from the family. The police also recovered the Tecno Android mobile phone used to communicate the ransom demands.
Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Musa, commended the detectives for their prompt action in apprehending the suspect and reaffirmed the commandโs commitment to tackling crime in the state.
He also shared vital safety tips for parents to protect their children from criminal elements.
โTeach them to identify trusted adults and report suspicious activities, avoid walking alone as well as encourage the children to use the buddy system.
โOthers include staying in well-lit areas, avoiding isolated or dark areas, never accepting gifts or rides from strangers, warning them about potential lures, reporting suspicious activities or individuals and encouraging open communication with them,โ CP Musa advised.
The Sokoto Police Command remains dedicated to ensuring the safety of all citizens and urges the public to remain vigilant while reporting any suspicious activities to law enforcement authorities.