Category: Metro

The Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch of the Bengaluru city police in India has busted a major drug peddling racket and arrested a foreign national  recovering MDMA and ecstasy pills worth Rs 5.15 crore in the international market, officials said on Tuesday.

The police identified the arrested accused as Ernest Onyekachi Ugah, 45, who allegedly operated from a rented house in the Munnekolalu area under the Marathahalli police station limits.

Acting on intelligence inputs, the Anti-Narcotics Wing arrested the accused on Monday night, January 19, 2026 while he was allegedly involved in peddling narcotic substances.

The police said they seized 2.5 kg of MDMA and 300 ecstasy pills from his possession.

According to the police, Ugah has two previous cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against him at the Hennur police station and the Kadugodi police station, both in Bengaluru city.

He had been recently released from jail. Officers of the Anti-Narcotics Wing had been closely monitoring his movements before arresting him.

“The accused had come to the city around five years ago for medical treatment, but overstayed and remained involved in unlawful activities. His visa has expired, yet he continued to stay in the country and was repeatedly found involved in criminal activities,” a police officer said.

A case has been registered against Ugah under the NDPS Act.

Further investigation is underway to trace the source of the contraband, identify backward and forward linkages, and uncover other individuals involved in the drug network, the police said.

Police officers also stressed the need for fast-track trials in cases involving repeat offenders and foreign nationals, noting that delays in the judicial process enable accused persons to secure bail and continue committing offences.

“If fast-track trials are conducted, such accused can be deported to their home country at the earliest. In the absence of fast-track proceedings, they keep getting bail and continue with the same offences,” the officer said, adding that bail conditions need to be made more stringent for accused involved in drug cases, especially repeated offender.

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a lawyer, Claudius Akpudi Ikechukwu and two others over shooting incident during a masquerade display in Omoku,Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State which resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries.

It was gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, January 19, 2026.

According to eyewitnesses, trouble began when a masquerade allegedly struck the lawyer’s car with a cane while the procession was ongoing.

In response, the lawyer was said to have stepped out of his car, produced a firearm and started shooting.

The gunfire claimed the life of a young man identified as Emmanuel David Nkemjika, the immediate past Treasure of the Omoku Youth Federation and left six others injured.

Tension escalated afterward with angry youth setting fire to the lawyer’s family home in the Santa Maria area and his private residence in Obrikom.

The spokesperson for the command, CSP Grace Iringe Koko, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday, said the command has commenced an investigation into a shooting.

“At about 0700hours, a report was received at the Omoku Police Division through credible sources stating that at about 0130hrs, while some youths were masquerading along Sambo Street, a confrontation occurred involving one Barrister Akpudi Ikechukwu and four personnel of the Nigeria Forest Guards Security Service (NFSS). During the incident, nine members of the masquerade group sustained gunshot injuries,” the statement read.

“One of the victims, identified as Obulo, was confirmed dead at the Hospital, Omoku, while eight others are currently receiving medical treatment at the same facility.

“Following the incident, Barrister Akpudi Ikechukwu and two other suspects were promptly arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for detailed investigation.

“Preliminary investigations are ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and the level of culpability of all parties involved.

“In the meantime, the Area Commander personally addressed aggrieved youths in the community to calm tensions and prevent a breakdown of law and order.

“A joint security patrol comprising the Police and the Military has been deployed in the area to ensure the safety of lives and property.

“The Rivers State Police Command assures the public that all those found culpable will be brought to justice.”

Two middle-aged men have been confirmed d3ad following a violent machete fight in Akpap-Okoyong community, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. Entertainment center

The tragic incident reportedly stemmed from an argument over the disappearance of a bunch of plantain from a farm.

An eyewitness and resident of the community, identified as Ettenma, told journalists that the victims, Edet and Effiong, inflicted fatal machete wounds on each other during the confrontation.

According to Ettenma, the dispute began when Effiong discovered that a bunch of plantain had been cut from his farm.

While complaining loudly in the community, Effiong was allegedly informed by another resident that Edet had been seen coming from the direction of the farm with a bunch of plantain

He explained that Effiong first used the machete in his possession to inflict deep cuts on Edet, prompting Edet to grab another machete lying nearby and retaliate.

Both men were rushed to a nearby health centre but reportedly could not receive adequate medical attention due to the lack of facilities and equipment to manage the severity of their injuries.

The deaths have thrown the Akpap-Okoyong community into mourning, with residents lamenting the growing trend of violent disputes over minor issues

The spokesperson of the Cross River State Police Command, Irene Akata, confirmed the incident, stating that investigations were ongoing.

She noted that they are investigating to ascertain the circumstances surrounding this brutal attack and why such violence occurred without timely intervention from other members of the community.

The police spokesperson added that further details would be made public at the conclusion of the investigation.

 

Police have asked for help in finding a woman after a man was s£xually assaulted on a train.

Detectives investigating the s£xual assault have released CCTV images of a woman they want to speak to after the incident on a train travelling between Sheffield and Worksop.

The incident took place on December 14 at around 9.40pm.

British Transport Police said a woman s£xually assaulted a man as he walked past her seat on the train.

“Detectives believe the woman in these CCTV images may have information that could help with their investigation,” the force said.

“Anyone who recognises her is asked to contact BTP,” the appeal read.

“Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111,” it added.Entertainment center

Adeniyi Kayode, the 46-year-old driver involved in the f@tal accident that k!lled Anthony Joshua’s friends, appeared today, Jan. 20, at the Sagamu Magistrate Court in Ogun State where his trial is set to begin.

Kayode was charged with four counts, including dangerous driving causing de@th, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid national driver’s license.

The court granted Kayode bail in the sum of ₦5,000,000 with two sureties, and the case was adjourned to today, January 20, 2026, for trial.

The accident, which occurred on December 29, 2025, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, was reportedly caused by excessive speed and wrongful overtaking

Professional boxer Anthony Joshua survived the accident but it claimed the lives of his personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami.

Journalists and lawyers are currently gathered at the court premises awaiting the commencement of the trial.

 

One person has di£d following a road accident involving a TATA bus and a mini bus at the Independence Tunnel inward Maryland along Ikorodu Road.

The incident was disclosed in a video uploaded by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority on X on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

According to LASTMA, the minibus driver was k!lled in the collision.

A tow truck has arrived at the scene for evacuation, while its Rescue and Recovery Team is on ground to handle vehicle removal and traffic control.

The statement from LASTMA reads: “A multiple road crash involving a TATA bus and a mini bus occurred at Independent Tunnel inward Maryland . The incident resulted in the d£ath of the mini bus driver.”

See below.

INCIDENT REPORT ON IKORODU ROAD.

A multiple road crash involving a TATA bus and a mini bus occurred at Independent Tunnel inward Maryland . The incident resulted in the d**th of the mini bus driver.

Tow truck Already at the sceen for evacuation.
LASTMA Rescue & Recovery Team… pic.twitter.com/9Iee3wcDdx

— LASTMA (@followlastma) January 20, 2026

A suspected thief has made away with a pot of chicken curry on fire and the gas stove.

The incident occurred in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) in a statement on Monday, January 19, 2026 said officers responded to a report of a theft on Havenwood Road in Trenance Park.

“Upon arrival, the resident informed the Reaction Officers that he had been cooking a pot of chicken curry on a gas stove in his yard,” the statement read.

“He had stepped inside briefly to turn on the radio, and within just a few minutes of returning outside, he discovered that both the pot of curry & the gas stove had been stolen.

“The homeowner did not witness anyone entering the yard and could not confirm who responsible for the mid meal theft.”

Mallam Awal, the father of the prime suspect, arrested over the gruesome m#rder of a housewife and her six children in the Dorayi Chiranchi area of Kano metropolis, has called on government to expeditiously eliminate his son and not remand him in prison custody, feeding him with taxpayers money.Entertainment center

LIB had earlier reported that Fatima Abubakar, 35, and her children were m#rdered by assailants allegedly led by Umar, who broke into their residence at Dorayi Gidan Kwari. The sad incident has sparked a public outrage with many calling for the prosecution of all the suspects arrested in connection with the heinous crime.

President Tinubu in a statement released over the weekend, condemned the murder of the housewife, and her six children and ordered that a thorough investigation be launched into the incident.

Speaking in an interview in a Radio station, the father of the prime suspect arrested over the incident, Malam Auwal, distanced himself from his son, describing him as “useless to society” and insisting that he should be executed rather than kept in prison.

“What he committed against my younger sister and her six children, my wife’s younger sister and her co-wife is condemnable. I distance myself from him. I don’t even want them to waste time on prosecution. Umar and his likes are supposed to be eliminated. They are not supposed to be remanded and fed with taxpayers’ money,” he added.

The grieving father commended the police for their handling of the case, saying he had already “sacrificed” his son, and vowed that neither him nor his wife (Umar’s mother), would attend any court proceedings during the trial.

Umar, who is currently in police custody, is accused of m#rdering his aunt, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children in broad daylight, on Saturday, January 17. The victims include Maimuna (17), Aisha (16), Bashir (13), Abubakar (10), Faruk (7) and Abdussalam (one-and-a-half years old).

Police confirmed that the suspect had confessed to the killings, as well as a recent attack in Tudun Yola, where two housewives were murdered and their home set ablaze.