Kidnapping

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.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops attached to Sector 1 of Operation Whirl Stroke have prevented a kidnapping incident along the Enugu–Otukpo Road and rescued three victims without any loss of life.

The development occurred on February 25, 2026, when soldiers stationed at the Forward Operation Base in Otukpo were on a night patrol. They received credible intelligence that suspected kidnappers had intercepted an 18-seater Benue Links bus with registration number TYK 221 YK. The vehicle was said to be carrying four passengers alongside a minor when the attack happened.

Security operatives moved quickly to the location and tracked the suspects along their escape route. Their swift action forced the kidnappers to abandon three of the victims. Although there was no direct confrontation during the operation, troops recovered a mobile phone believed to belong to the suspects at the scene.

The Force Commander praised the soldiers for their resilience, alertness, and effectiveness. He noted that their timely intervention helped avert what could have developed into a serious security situation.

He also urged motorists to remain vigilant. According to him, drivers should take note of unusual situations such as a lack of vehicular movement within a two-kilometre stretch and stop when necessary to assess their surroundings. He further advised road users to report any suspicious activity to the nearest security post to enable a quick response.

The statement was issued by Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, Lieutenant and Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, on February 26, 2026.

By Anwar Usman

The troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have thwarted a kidnapping attempt along the Otukpo–Enugu expressway in Benue State.

The troops, however, succeeded in rescuing 24 passengers who were traveling from Jos, Plateau State, to Ibadan in Oyo State on Monday night.

Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, the acting information officer of OPWS, made this known in a statement released on Tuesday and made available to journalists in Makurdi early hours of Wednesday.

According to the statement, the incident occurred on 22 December 2025 following a distress call, prompting troops on routine patrol to mobilise to the Amoda axis in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.

The statement read in parts, “The armed criminals had emerged from the bush and briefly occupied an existing checkpoint. The assailants subsequently stopped two 18-seater commercial buses travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Ibadan, Oyo State, and attempted to abduct all passengers.

“However, the timely intervention of troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE led to a firefight that compelled the kidnappers to abandon their victims and flee into the bush.”

Zubairu said that 15 passengers were initially rescued and handed over to the Nigerian Police Division, Otukpo, while six adults and four minors were declared missing.

He added that subsequent operations led to the rescue of an additional five adults and all four minors, who are now in custody of the Police Area Command, Otukpo, with search efforts ongoing to locate the remaining missing passenger.

The Force Commander Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their prompt response and professionalism.

Gen. Gara reaffirmed the troops’ unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property within its area of responsibility through sustained offensive operations, intelligence-led patrols, and coordinated engagements with sister security agencies.

By Uzair Adam

Kidnappers operating across Nigeria collected at least N2.57 billion in ransom payments between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a new report released by SBM Intelligence.

The report, titled “The Year Ahead at an Inflection Point” and published on December 19, 2025, examined key political and economic trends shaping Africa in 2025. It revealed that while kidnappers demanded an estimated N48 billion within the 12-month period, only a small fraction of that amount was eventually paid by victims and their families.

SBM Intelligence noted that kidnapping in Nigeria has increasingly become a well-organised, profit-oriented enterprise, flourishing amid weak governance structures, expansive ungoverned rural areas and deteriorating security conditions in several regions of the country.

According to the findings, at least 4,722 people were abducted in 997 kidnapping incidents during the period under review, while no fewer than 762 people lost their lives in attacks linked to banditry and related criminal violence.

Although ransom demands rose sharply in naira terms, the report observed that the actual earnings of kidnappers remained relatively modest when converted to dollars due to the depreciation of the naira. The N2.57 billion paid translates to approximately $1.66 million, only slightly higher than the $1.13 million equivalent of N653.7 million collected in 2022.

The Northwest emerged as the epicentre of kidnapping activities, accounting for 425 incidents, representing 42.6 per cent of cases nationwide. The region also recorded 2,938 victims, amounting to 62.2 per cent of all abducted persons across the country.

Zamfara State recorded the highest number of victims at 1,203, followed by Kaduna and Katsina States. SBM Intelligence attributed the prevalence of kidnappings in the region to vast, poorly governed rural communities and the presence of entrenched bandit networks capable of carrying out large-scale operations with minimal resistance.

In contrast, the Southwest recorded the lowest level of kidnapping activity, accounting for just 5.3 per cent of incidents and 3 per cent of victims during the same period.

The report further highlighted a rise in mass abductions, defined as incidents involving more than five victims, which accounted for about 23 per cent of all recorded cases and were largely concentrated in northern states. It noted that entire communities were sometimes targeted, with abducted persons reportedly forced to work on farms and mining sites controlled by criminal groups.

Beyond kidnapping, SBM Intelligence drew attention to escalating violence across several parts of the country in 2025. In the Northcentral region, attacks linked to armed herders persisted through March, with Benue State particularly affected. A single attack in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area on March 7 reportedly claimed 15 lives.

Zamfara State also experienced repeated deadly incidents, including an attack in Tsafe Local Government Area on March 13 that left 40 people dead, alongside mass abductions in Maru Local Government Area on the same day.

April and May were identified as some of the deadliest months of the year, with attacks in Plateau and Benue States killing more than 100 people combined, while mass abductions involving up to 100 victims were recorded in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto States.