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How popular musician lured, murdered two bureau-de-change operators

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Police in Lagos are currently on the manhunt for one Collins Etaredafe, popularly known as Top Boy, who has gone into hiding after being linked to the killing of two-yet-to-be-identified Bureau-De-Change operators at his residence in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

The PUNCH is reporting that the musician, was with a yet-to-be-identified friend, invited the BDC operators into his apartment on March 18, the same day of the governorship and House of Assembly election, under the guise of changing some dollars, but ended up killing them and subsequently dumped their bodies in a drainage located in front of his residence.

The report, quoted a facility manager in the area, Paul Omotosho, as saying the agent in charge of the building informed him that some neighbours, upon discovering the corpses in the drainage, traced some drops of blood to the apartment of the musician.

Omotosho, who is currently in detention narrated his experience thus: “I knew Etaredafe through his girlfriend, Evelyn, about three years ago when she contacted me that he needed an apartment. That was how he got my number. He called me, said he stays in Delta State, and that he wants to book a short-let apartment. That was how he became a regular client.

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“Sometimes he would claim he does not know Lagos and will send money to my account to help him get some items and send them to him. In February 2022, he said he wanted to secure an apartment where his mum would be living in Lagos; he said he wanted to surprise her with the apartment as she has not been to Lagos before.

“I had to reach out to a fellow agent who assisted me in getting the apartment. After that, the agent sent me a form to fill in the details of the occupant but when I asked for the details of his mum, he said she did not have any means of identification. Out of the trust I had for him as a regular client, I foolishly provided someone’s details to keep the place for him and since then, my thinking is that his mother had moved in.”

Omotosho, who said he was at home when the agent in charge of the singer’s apartment had been living in the place of his mother, called to inform him that he had allegedly killed the BDC operators, added further: “The agent called me that Etaredafe had killed two people in his apartment. He also said he dumped their corpses outside the gate and ran away. The agent said the blood of the deceased victims was traced to his apartment and later discovered that the people the musician killed were Bureau-De-Change operators. I was told he invited them to his apartment because he wanted to change dollars before killing them.

“In a bid to locate Etaredafe’s whereabouts, I contacted his girlfriend who said she did not know any address of his relatives. She later called me on Monday and asked if I heard that Etaredafe killed two people in his house and ran away. She said they only met on social media and she does not know where he or his family lives.”

Omotosho, who was invited for questioning, by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, has been in detention since Friday, alongside two other agents that helped him to secure the apartment.

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Benjamin Hundeyin, Superintendent of Police and spokesman of the command, who confirmed the incident, was quoted in the report as saying: “The main suspects are on the run. No part of the deceased victims’ bodies was cut off. The case is at the SCID and is progressing. The security man is in custody and is assisting with the investigation.”

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German national stabbed, robbed in Abuja

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A German citizen was attacked and robbed in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Saturday morning, raising alarms about increasing insecurity in the city.

According to a security report, the incident occurred around 8:00 AM along IBB Way near Maitama Primary School.

READ ALSO: Hope for abducted Afenifere spokesman, as IGP unleashes special rescue squad

The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, was walking when assailants on motorcycles stabbed and robbed him before fleeing. The report highlighted a growing trend of motorcycle-based robberies targeting both locals and foreigners in Abuja.

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An advisory accompanying the report urged Federal Capital Territory residents to remain vigilant, avoid walking alone in unsecured areas, refrain from displaying valuables, and opt for secure transportation.

The report stated, “On September 13, 2025, at approximately 0800hrs, a German national was stabbed and robbed along IBB Way in Abuja, near Maitama Primary School. The victim was walking when attacked by hoodlums on motorcycles. Robbery and assault, Use of motorcycles for quick escapes and Potential targeting of foreigners and locals. Exercise extreme caution when walking in Abuja, especially in areas with low security presence. Avoid displaying valuables or walking alone in isolated areas. Be aware of surroundings and potential threats. Consider using secure transportation services. Report incidents to local authorities immediately. Cooperate with law enforcement agencies to enhance security measures. Stay informed about local security situations and follow advisories from authorities and security focal persons.”

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Lagos police in fresh N1million extortion saga! *How they forced me to pay – musician

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Barely one month after authorities of the Lagos Police Command, dealt with the case of extortion of N1million by four of its operatives from some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in the state, they will have to return back to deal with yet another, for exactly the same amount.

This time, it is the case of one Efemena Richard, described as an upcoming artist, who just returned from South Africa and was heading to Warri, the oil city of Delta State to visit the mother, who is telling exactly the same story as the one faced by the NYSC members in Surulere area of the Nigeria’s financial capital.

Louis Edet House Abuja, headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), moved quickly in reaction to the development, which is already trending on social media to order prompt investigation into the matter, which is also attracting a lot of reactions.

Richard, while recounting his ugly experience in the hands of the policemen on Monday, narrated how he was forced to cough out N1 million after he was accosted by the officers, reportedly attached to the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, who thereafter, forced him to sign some papers, while taking his photographs at the same time.

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An X user identified as Harrison Gwamnishu, but tweeting as #HarrisonBbi18, who shared a video of the artiste narrating his ordeal via his X handle late Monday, October 21, 2024, recounted the details of exchange between him and the artiste, saying the said policemen forced him to transfer the sum from his account before going to Warri, Delta State.

The exchange, as he recounted, went thus: “Boss, [the] police just extorted me. They took 1 million naira from me after searching my phone at the airport and found nothing. I was headed to the airport when they stopped me. I told them I was already missing my flight but they refused to allow me to go.”

In the three-minute-long video which was tagged, highlighted him, saying: “One million naira extorted from a music artist #smookyhighgrade by some police officers attached to the Beesam Police Station before Muritala Mohammed Airport, Lagos. They asked for $10,000. They gave me papers to write [on] that they will leave me if I write anything I’m asked to write, so I can go catch my flight. I could have left the money but I can’t, it’s a lot of money. Nigerians, please help me, N1 million is no small money.”

Richard, who said he made a video of one of the men, showing the dark-stained tips of his fingers which he said were proofs of thumbprints made, at the behest of the officers, also recalled that he was recorded in a video in which the officers forced him to speak to show that he was not under duress, and signed papers, to be used as his consent, after which he told his sister to send the N1m.

“They even asked for my blockchain wallet, I don’t know what concerns the police with that. I’m just an upcoming artiste, not a fraudster. I just came from South Africa to promote my music. I was heading home to see my mum before I experienced this.

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Reacting to the tweet on Monday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, called on the Lagos Police Command PRO, Benjamin Hundeyin, and the PRO, Airport Command, to commence an investigation into the matter.

“#PoliceNG_CRU, #PoliceNG, contact #BenHundeyin and PRO Airport Command to fish out these men and revert please. Thanks,” the tweet read.

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Treason: Find him, arrest him! Police gets court’s nod to hunt down fleeing Briton

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, issued a warrant of arrest against a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, and other Nigerians over allegations bordering on treason and terrorism, following an ex-parte motion filed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), but moved by Audu Garba.

It was a day the IGP accused about 10 other detained Nigerians, including Lucky Obiyan, and Abdullahi Musa of conniving with Wynne, otherwise known as Andrew Povich, to plot the removal of President Bola Tinubu through unconstitutional means.

In the action seeking an order to declare them wanted, he said the fleeing defendants were involved in the case of conspiracy, treason, inciting to mutiny, inciting disaffection to government and terrorism, among others, contrary to Sections 97, 410, 413, 416 and 412 of the Penal Code, Northern States Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.

The affidavit in support of the motion said investigation so far conducted revealed that the fleeing defendants, were responsible for planning and coordination of the invasion and burning down of the High Court Complex, NCC office and printing press in Kano.

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They were also responsible for the attack on Kano Government House, Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency’s office, NURTW office and several other buildings in August 2024, the affidavit, said, adding that others who are now at large are being tracked, hence, the need for the application.

Garba, who maintained that if the application is granted, it would enable all police officers in the country and other security agencies to use their mechanisms to secure the lawful arrest of the fleeing defendants, urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice.

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