Kidnapping

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old school bus driver, Onome Ughagha, over the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old female student in Sapele.

The suspect was also accused of demanding and collecting ₦503,000 from the victim’s father as ransom before abandoning the girl.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

According to the police, the incident was reported at the Sapele Area Command on Tuesday by the victim’s father, who alleged that the suspect abducted his daughter while she was preparing to leave for school.

The statement said the suspect later contacted the father, demanded ₦503,000 and threatened to kill the girl if the money was not paid.

Following the payment, the victim was reportedly abandoned along Oton Road in Sapele, where she was reunited with her family in a traumatised condition, with indications that she had been sexually assaulted.

Police operatives subsequently launched an investigation, while the victim was taken to a medical facility for examination and treatment.

The police also invited the school’s principal and vice-principal for questioning as investigations continued. The suspect reportedly abandoned the school bus and fled after the incident.

However, acting on intelligence, operatives traced Ughagha to a hideout in the Ajimele area of Sapele, where he was arrested on Friday.

The police said the suspect confessed to his involvement in the crime during preliminary interrogation.

Edafe added that arrangements were underway to transfer him to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, condemned the incident and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting children against violence and exploitation.

The commissioner assured the public that “investigations will be thorough and that anyone found culpable will be brought to justice.”

He also urged school authorities, parents and transport operators to “exercise greater vigilance in safeguarding children,” stressing that the safety of every child entrusted to their care must remain paramount.

The case has renewed attention to the importance of child protection and the need for effective safeguards in school transportation systems.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Delta State Police Command has rescued a 23-year-old kidnapping victim and arrested eight suspects in separate operations across the state, recovering three firearms, 26 live cartridges and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

The operations were carried out between October 20 and 23, 2026, as part of efforts to tackle kidnapping, cultism and other criminal activities.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the developments in a statement on Saturday.

According to the police, operatives of the Owa-Oyibu Division, working alongside local volunteer groups, rescued a 23-year-old man who was abducted at Owa-Alero on October 19.

“On October 20, 2026, operatives of Owa-Oyibu Division, in collaboration with local volunteer groups, successfully rescued a 23-year-old man whom two suspected kidnappers abducted on October 19, 2026 at Owa-Alero,” the statement read in part.

“The victim was reportedly seized in front of his residence and dragged into a nearby bush,” it added.

The police explained that the rescue followed a report from the victim’s brother, which prompted operatives to launch an extensive search of nearby bushes. Efforts were still ongoing to arrest the suspected abductors who escaped.

Six Suspected Cultists Arrested In Abraka

In a separate operation on October 23, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit raided a hotel in Abraka suspected of serving as a hideout for drug-related activities.

Six suspected cultists were arrested during the operation, while a bag containing a firearm and substances suspected to be Indian hemp was recovered. Some individuals reportedly fled when they sighted the police.

The command said investigations were ongoing to determine the ownership and source of the firearm and identify other people connected to the incident.

Police Recover More Firearms In Ekuku-Agbor

The police also reported separate raids in Ekuku-Agbor community, Ika South Local Government Area, which led to the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of additional firearms and ammunition.

On October 21, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Sector III, Ubuluku, searched the residence of a 62-year-old suspect, Richard Nmorsi, under a search warrant.

The operation led to the recovery of a locally fabricated single-barrel firearm, 24 live cartridges and substances suspected to be Indian hemp. The suspect was arrested, and the recovered items were taken into custody for investigation.

Two days later, the same unit searched the residence of a 56-year-old suspect, Amechi Osemeke, also in Ekuku-Agbor.

During the operation, officers recovered a functional double-barrel firearm and one live cartridge. Osemeke was arrested as investigations continued into his possession of the weapon.

Police Promise Sustained Crackdown

The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel Erale, said the command would continue intelligence-led operations to dismantle criminal networks, recover illegal weapons and protect communities.

“The command would sustain intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks, recovering illegally possessed firearms and safeguarding communities across the state,” he said.

Eralе urged residents to remain alert and provide credible information to security agencies to support efforts to prevent crime.

He assured the public that the command would continue working to protect lives and property across Delta State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Kidnappers holding prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State have reportedly reduced their ransom demand from N50 million to N5 million per victim.

The revised demand brings the total ransom being sought for the 20 abducted graduates from N1 billion to N100 million, according to information from the victims’ families.

The development came as relatives of the victims raised concerns over their safety, alleging that the abductors had subjected some of the captives to physical assault.

One of the affected parents, Alhaja Alimot Akande, said the kidnappers had reduced the demand but that the families remained deeply concerned about the condition of their children.

“The kidnappers had reduced their demand from the earlier N50m per victim to N5m each,” she said.

“They are still demanding N5m. They have come down to N5m each.”

The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked the two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State on Thursday.

The victims included graduates whose names were released by their parents during a visit to the residence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in Bodija, Ibadan.

Among those identified were Makinde Mary Oluwapelumi, Akande Kehinde Morufat, Abdul Temiloluwa Sarah, Adeniran Mariam Olulola, Adefioye Ayomide Isaac, Adewale Paul Iyanuoluwa and Oyede Esther Funmilayo.

The parents also disputed earlier claims that 10 passengers had been rescued by security operatives, saying those who escaped the attackers did so by running into the bush.

Akande said she could not confirm how much had been raised by the families towards the ransom because she was not involved in the arrangements between the abductors and the other parents.

“I cannot say because I do not know how much they have told those people that they have,” she said.

Describing the ordeal, she said, “It has been horrible, scary and overwhelming.”

She added that the situation became more distressing after the families learnt that the captives were allegedly being beaten.

“Sir, we appeal to the government at all levels to please assist us in getting them rescued out of that place. They have started beating them since yesterday,” she said.

Asked whether the female victims were also being assaulted, Akande said:

“They are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them,” she said.

She further alleged that one of the victims had been allowed to speak with his father, with the kidnappers using the communication to assess the family’s ability to pay the ransom.

“The abductors would alert the victim whenever his father’s call came in and allow him to speak because they believed the father could provide the ransom. His father has been communicating with him. The kidnappers give him access to a telephone. Whenever his father calls, they show him that a call came in for you. He would just say, ‘Oh, that’s my father.’

“They know money will come out of father’s hands, so they would just pick it and allow him to talk. And they have been beating him. They have been beating all of them.”

The parent said families had been relying on assurances from the police while efforts continued to secure the victims’ release.

“The police are telling us to still be buying time. We are still looking for the money. Depending, they will see them rescued,” she said.

Calls For Government Action

The abduction has triggered calls from political parties and public figures for the immediate rescue of the prospective corps members, as well as renewed debate over the safety of the NYSC scheme.

The African Democratic Congress called for the suspension of the NYSC scheme for one year to allow the Federal Government to reorganise the programme and strengthen security measures.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the scheme remained important to national unity but argued that the current security situation required a temporary suspension and review.

“I think the NYSC is still relevant. But I think we need to respond to the current situation of insecurity in the country.

“If we were to advise the President, we think this is the time to suspend it for at least one year to give room for proper reorganisation, in such a way that it will protect the young people and also make the scheme worthwhile for them.

“Beyond that, it is a very important scheme for fostering national unity. The issues that the NYSC sought to address since it was created in 1973, at the end of the Civil War, are still there. So, we think it remains relevant.

“But we need to be responsible. We need to understand that it is also about the lives of other people, more than anything else. It is a different country today from what it was many years ago,” he said.

Abdullahi also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity and President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day address, expressing his own party’s position on the government’s response.

Other political parties, including the National Democratic Congress, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party and Young Progressives Party, also condemned the abduction and called for stronger action to secure the victims’ release.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, also called for the immediate and safe rescue of the abducted prospective corps members.

“The abduction of approximately 20 prospective NYSC members travelling to their orientation camp is yet another distressing indication of the worsening insecurity in our country. These young Nigerians were preparing to serve their nation, but they were unable to travel safely on our roads. Families are increasingly burdened by the fear that their loved ones could fall victim to kidnapping.

“Protecting lives and property is the government’s foremost responsibility. We cannot continue to regard insecurity as an ordinary occurrence or act only after people’s lives have been disrupted.

“I call for the immediate and safe rescue of all the abducted corps members and the arrest of those responsible. Nigeria must become a country where young people can travel, work, and serve their nation without fear,” he wrote.

The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, also expressed concern after learning that some of its graduates were among those reportedly abducted.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Razaq Kalilu, called for coordinated action by security agencies to secure the victims’ release.

“The University stands firmly with the affected families at this deeply distressing moment.

“This is a painful and deeply troubling development for the University and, most importantly, for the families of our graduates and the other young Nigerians whose lives have been so cruelly disrupted. Our immediate and overriding concern is their safety and safe return to their families,” he said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has directed security and intelligence agencies to intensify efforts to rescue Muslim worshippers abducted in Niger State.

The directive followed the abduction of an unspecified number of worshippers in communities across Borgu Local Government Area shortly after Friday’s Juma’at prayer at the central mosque in Dekara.

Tinubu ordered the armed forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to coordinate efforts to locate and rescue the victims.

The president also instructed the service chiefs to keep him regularly informed about the operation until all the abducted worshippers are accounted for.

Tinubu condemned the attack and described the perpetrators as “enemies of peace and enemies of humanity”, while promising that those behind the incident would face justice.

“Those who carried out this cowardly attack on defenceless Nigerians are enemies of peace and enemies of humanity, who will not go scot-free,” he said.

The president expressed sympathy to the families of those killed in the attack and assured them of the federal government’s determination to secure the safe return of their relatives.

“You are not alone. The entire nation shares your anguish. We will not rest until your sons, daughters, mothers and fathers are brought back safely to you,” he said.

Tinubu further assured the people and government of Niger State of federal support, including additional security measures and other assistance to address the situation.

“The Federal Government stands firmly with the State Government and will provide all necessary support to aid recovery, relief, and security reinforcement,” he said.

He said the incident would not deter his administration from its efforts to tackle terrorism and other forms of criminality across the country.

“Terror will not cow Nigeria. We will defend our people, protect our communities, and uphold the sanctity of human life,” Tinubu said.

The president also sympathised with the people of Niger State and offered prayers for the families affected by the attack.

“My prayers are with the people of Niger State at this difficult time,” the president added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A video purportedly showing a large number of people held captive by suspected bandits in a forest has surfaced online, days after a mass abduction in Niger State.

The footage, which has circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp, shows several captives surrounded by armed men in what appears to be a forested location.

The development comes two days after gunmen reportedly abducted at least 600 worshippers during Friday prayers at a mosque in Dekera village, Niger State.

Residents said the attackers carried out simultaneous raids across several communities in the area and took away a large number of people.

Children could be seen crying in the video, while an armed man who spoke in Hausa appeared to address relatives of the captives and asked them to identify their family members.

“These are all your people,” the gunman said.

The video has since generated concern over the safety of the abducted worshippers and other residents in the affected communities.

The incident has also heightened security concerns in Niger State as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

The authenticity of the video and the identities of all the people shown in it could not be independently verified from the report.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, have killed a suspected kidnapper and apprehended two others in separate operations across Benue State.

The acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lt Ahmad Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists on Sunday.

According to Zubairu, troops received credible intelligence on August 19, 2026, about a suspected bandit leader and his associates who were operating an illegal checkpoint along the Jortar-Atume axis.

He said the troops moved to the location and engaged the suspects in a gun battle.

The statement read, “On arrival, the troops made contact with the criminals, resulting in a firefight during which one suspected bandit, identified by the nickname ‘Cool Nigga’, was neutralised.

“The other members of the group fled in disarray, abandoning a motorcycle, which was recovered by the troops.”

Zubairu further disclosed that troops arrested two suspected kidnappers during another operation at Gou in Logo Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were identified as Terhile Iyo, 44, and Vershima Emmanuel, 32.

According to the military, the two men confessed to an alleged attempt to abduct a resident of Gou village, Mrs Balame Nyikwagh.

Items recovered from the suspects included a locally manufactured pistol, one cartridge, five TECNO torchlight phones, a MoniePoint ATM card, an identity card, several SIM cards and charms.

Zubairu said the suspects remained in military custody while investigations continued.

Operation Whirl Stroke also reassured residents across its operational areas in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states of its commitment to protecting lives and property.

The force called on residents to continue to provide security agencies with timely and credible information that could assist efforts to combat criminal activities in the region.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigerian Army troops have recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of ammunition from a forest in Enugu State.

The weapons were reportedly linked to a kidnapping syndicate that has been operating across Enugu, Abia, Anambra and neighbouring states.

The recovery was carried out on Monday, August 10, at Umuchingu Ujenike Forest by personnel from the 82 Division Garrison and 103 Battalion of the Nigerian Army.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the troops located the weapons after some suspected members of the kidnapping group who had earlier been arrested provided information about the location of the hideout.

The operation followed the rescue of two kidnap victims as well as the arrest of a logistics supplier and two suspected leaders of the criminal network.

The recovered items included four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

The latest operation forms part of ongoing efforts by security forces to dismantle criminal networks operating in forests and communities across the region.

On July 31, a joint military operation rescued Ofor Amobi, a senior army officer, and Ikechukwu Onwuanra, a civilian, after a 10-day search for them across forests and communities in Enugu State.

During that operation, troops searched Inyi, Awlaw and Akpugo-Eze forests as well as surrounding communities in Oji River Local Government Area of the state.

Earlier in June, soldiers, in partnership with operatives of the Department of State Services, also raided suspected armouries linked to the Eastern Security Network in Enugu State.

By Uzair Adam

The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has narrated how kidnappers killed two teachers and assaulted pupils during their 56 days in captivity.

Alamu was among the 46 pupils and teachers abducted on May 15 after terrorists attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The victims, who were taken from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School, regained their freedom last Friday.

Speaking to journalists in Ibadan on Monday during the handover of the rescued victims to Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army, Alamu said the abductors killed two teachers in an attempt to pressure the government into meeting their demands.

She identified the deceased as Mr Michael and a teacher known as Deacon, saying they were killed at different times during the captivity.

“Mr Michael was killed on the second day, while Deacon was killed on the first Sunday in June. They killed them purposely because they felt that would force the government to give them whatever they wanted,” she said.

The principal explained that the captives spent much of their time in the open forest, enduring harsh weather and constant movement from one location to another.

According to her, faith and the belief that Nigerians were praying for their safe return gave them strength throughout the ordeal.

“We were in the forest, in the open most of the time, under the sun, under the rain. We knew it was God that could really help us,” Alamu said.

She added that several children were assaulted by the kidnappers, particularly the younger ones, whose cries often angered their captors.

Alamu said although she was not physically assaulted, some pupils suffered repeated beatings, while the male captives faced harsher treatment.

“The men, they had it worse than us because they were blindfolded, handcuffed and chained on the leg,” she said.

She further disclosed that the kidnappers frequently relocated the victims whenever they suspected that security operatives were closing in on their hideouts.

While the youngest children were sometimes carried, most of the captives, including schoolgirls, were forced to trek through difficult terrain.

Alamu said it was only after their rescue that the victims realised the extent of public concern and prayers for their safe return.

Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde has called on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to investigate the May 15 abduction.

Makinde said Nigerians deserved a transparent account of the incident, including the identity of those responsible and whether negligence, institutional failure or collusion contributed to the attack.

“This is not about politics. It is about justice for the victims, reassurance for our people, and restoring public confidence that every Nigerian child can go to school without fear,” the governor said.

In a related development, the Oyo State Police Command has launched a joint security operation to rescue Mathew Owoade, the 60-year-old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, who was abducted on Saturday.

Owoade was reportedly kidnapped along the Igbojaye–Budo Aare Farm Road, barely 24 hours after the rescue of the 46 pupils and teachers.

His son, Abiola Owoade, said the abductors used his father’s phone to demand a N30 million ransom.

The police spokesperson in Oyo State, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed that an investigation and rescue operation were underway.

Also reacting, the Nigeria Union of Teachers called on the Federal Government to strengthen security around schools and intensify efforts to rescue teachers and pupils still in captivity.

The NUT National President, Comrade Audu Amba, said the rescue of the Oyo victims should not overshadow the worsening security threats facing Nigeria’s education sector.

He urged the authorities to strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative and deploy adequate security personnel and modern surveillance systems to vulnerable schools across the country.

By Uzair Adam

Security operatives in Kebbi State have killed a suspected kidnap gang leader and arrested one of his accomplices during an operation in Bagudo Local Government Area.

The operation, carried out by the Kebbi State Police Command in collaboration with other security agencies, led to the death of the suspected kingpin, identified as Jiji Mujugu.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, a suspect who had earlier been arrested provided information that led operatives to the gang leader’s hideout.

Usman said the suspect attempted to flee and opened fire on security personnel during the operation, prompting the operatives to return fire and neutralise him.

He added that another gang member, Bube Tukur, was arrested at the scene.

The police spokesman disclosed that investigations revealed that Mujugu and Tukur were members of an eight-man kidnapping syndicate responsible for a series of attacks and abductions in communities across Bagudo Local Government Area.

The affected communities include Geza, Adawa, Matsinkai, Sharabi, Illela, Suru and Dakin Gari, among others.

Usman further stated that the gang was linked to the abduction of a resident, Alhaji Abu Geza, from Geza Village.

He said security operatives recovered a locally fabricated pistol and a live cartridge during the raid, while the kidnapped victim was rescued unharmed from the gang’s hideout.

The police assured residents of their commitment to sustaining efforts aimed at tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Rescued passengers abducted along the Taraku–Otukpo road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have narrated how they suffered torture, hunger, and harsh treatment during four days in captivity before their release on Sunday, a report by Daily Trust said.

The victims were taken on Wednesday after armed men attacked a Benue Links vehicle carrying passengers. Security operatives later rescued all the victims after sustained pressure on the kidnappers.

Governor Hyacinth Alia received the rescued persons at the Government House in Makurdi. He confirmed that eight of them were candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), while others were ordinary passengers.

The victims include Augustine Sunday Okechalo, Emmanuel Okechalo, Elaigwu Joshua, Hyacinth Okoh, Wende Paul, Nyikwagh Benjamin Aondokator, Iornav Ngukulan, Gbile Ngutor Daniel, Akor Jessica, Buter Agatha, Ukaha Tersoo John, Orih Raphael Sylvester, Kim Timothy, and Simon Friday.

An 18-year-old UTME candidate, Gbenda Daniels, said the abductors took his money and subjected them to beatings without food.

“They collected my N8,000. They beat us, and we didn’t eat anything; we only drank dirty water,” he said.

Another UTME candidate, 18-year-old Ngukulan Iornav, said the captors gave them very limited food during their stay.

“They gave us garri and salt. I was thoroughly beaten,” she said.

Orih Raphael Sylvester, a medical student who had completed his final examinations at the University of Maiduguri, described how the incident unfolded during the journey back to Otukpo.

He said the vehicle left the motor park around 6 pm and reached Taraku at about 8:26 pm after mechanical problems slowed it down.

He said the abductors moved the victims from one location to another inside the forest to avoid detection.

“We were taken into the bush and moved from one place to another. We didn’t eat anything on the first night because we were constantly on the move.

“On the second day, we survived on muddy water. On the third day, they gave us garri and forced us to start calling our families while beating us,” he said.

He also said the abductors increased pressure on the victims on the fourth day and demanded ransom from their families.

He said they were later gathered in one location, given phones, and forced to make further calls for payment.

“We were later brought together in another location, given our phones and instructed to make more calls for our release.

“Early Sunday, around 4am, they eventually gave us directions to follow towards the express road, where we later encountered military personnel. It was a horrible experience. We eventually came out around Okete,” he said.

Another victim, Sunday Augustine, a 100-level Accounting student of the Federal University of Lafia, said he was on his way home when the attack happened. He said he sustained an elbow injury due to beatings.

Akor Jessica described the experience as traumatic. She said the attackers used sticks and machetes on the victims.

“It was a nightmare. What we went through was too much. We were on our way to write our exams. They beat me with big sticks and machetes at will, but God saw us through,” she said.

A relative of two of the victims, Ochadgwuba Alexander, said Emmanuel and Austin were among those abducted. He said the incident caused deep distress for the family.

“It was a nightmare for us. The kidnappers demanded N10 million for each victim,” he said.

He said he delivered N3.4 million in cash along with food items worth about N33,000 to the abductors in the forest.

“After handing over the ransom, I contacted the military to help convey them from the point they emerged from the bush. I waited for about 40 minutes at Okete village before they were brought out,” he said.

Governor Alia urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to allow the rescued UTME candidates who missed their examinations to retake them.

He spoke during a press briefing in Makurdi where the State Police Commissioner, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, handed over the victims.

He said the victims would undergo medical checks before reuniting with their families. He also directed education authorities to make arrangements for the affected students.

He praised security agencies for the rescue operation and assured residents of improved security measures.

“We will support their education and ensure such incidents do not recur,” he said.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, said the rescue followed coordinated security operations.

He said the attack happened on Wednesday when armed men stopped a Benue Links bus carrying 18 passengers.

He said five victims were first rescued, while 13 remained in captivity until Sunday when security pressure led to their release.

He said 18 passengers, including the driver, were on board. He said one person escaped and another was rescued earlier.

He said all 18 passengers eventually regained freedom. He also said eight suspects were in custody.

“We already have eight suspects in custody, with sufficient evidence against seven identified as suspected bandits who participated in the attack.

“The victims have identified some of them. We are working closely with military intelligence in this joint operation, particularly with OPWS and the Agro Rangers of the NSCDC,” he said.

However, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) denied that the victims were UTME candidates.

JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin said findings showed the victims were participants in a police recruitment exercise who were returning to Otukpo when they were abducted.

He said UTME candidates are assigned different centres and do not travel together in groups.