Connect with us

Metro

Bandits Kidnap 29 Wedding Guests, Demand N145m Ransom

Published

on

Gunmen who abducted 29 wedding guests on Saturday in Sokoto, have demanded N145 million ransom from the family of their victims.

The secretary-general of the Phone Sellers Association in the state, Nasiru Musa, told TVC News.

Advertisement

Many of the hostages are mobile phone dealers at the Bebeji Communication Market in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State.

They were abducted on Saturday evening while returning from the wedding of one of their colleagues in Tambuwal in Sokoto.

“The bandits called twice on Monday morning to inform us of their stand regarding our members that are with them”

Advertisement

“They said we should bring five million naira for each of the twenty-nine persons with them which in total is N145 million before they can be released,” Mr Musa said.

Immediately after the abduction, it was thought that 50 people were abducted but several of those thought to have been abducted returned home. Seven others were rescued by a member of a vigilante group operating in the area.

READ ALSO: Military Under Fire As Bandits Deploy Helicopter, Kill 32 In Southern Kaduna

Advertisement

The chairman of the association, Mustapha Khalifa, told PREMIUM TIMES on the phone on Tuesday that some of them who escaped during the abduction are receiving treatment at the Talata Mafara General Hospital.

Advertisement

Metro

One Dies, Others Injured As Speeding Jeep Hits Two Tricycles In Anambra

Published

on

Tragedy occurred along the People’s Club/Limca Road, Obosi, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, when a black Lexus Jeep driving by security operatives suspected to be DSS officials in a convoy rammed into two tricycles, killing one passer-by instantly and injuring several others.

It was gathered that the incident which happened at about 6.30am on Saturday, created panic in the area as occupants of the two tricycles were immediately rushed to an undisclosed nearby hospital where they were said to have been placed on a danger list.

Advertisement

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, said, “The security men, suspected to be DSS officials, about four of them, driving on a high speed hit the two tricycles and when they discovered that the occupants were badly injured and one already dead, they abandoned their Lexus Jeep and fled with their service rifles for fear of a mob attack.

“Due to the high speed, the driver of the vehicle rammed into the tricycles, resulting in the unfortunate death of one person, while others sustained varying degrees of injury. The vehicle was subsequently abandoned at the scene as they fled.”

READ ALSO:

Advertisement

When contacted, the Spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the accident.

Ikenga, however, said preliminary enquiries confirmed that the recovered vehicle does not belong to any security agency in the state as speculated.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command has commenced investigation into a fatal motor accident that occurred in the early hours of Saturday, August 16, 2025, at People’s Club/Limca Road, Obosi, involving a Lexus Jeep and two tricycles popularly known as Keke.

Advertisement

“Preliminary information at the disposal of the Command revealed that the driver of the Lexus Jeep rammed into the tricycles, resulting in the unfortunate death of one occupant, while others sustained varying degrees of injury.

READ ALSO:

“The vehicle was subsequently abandoned at the scene as its occupants fled. Police operatives attached to Isiowulu Division quickly responded, secured the area, recovered the abandoned vehicle, and evacuated the victims to a hospital, where one was later confirmed dead.

Advertisement

“Further enquiries have established that the recovered Lexus Jeep does not belong to any security agency in the State.”

Ikenga added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident.

Orutugu also appealed to residents of the area to remain calm and cooperate with the Police, as efforts are being intensified to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Metro

Police Rescue Two Kidnapped Victims In Kebbi

Published

on

Operatives of the Kebbi State Police Command have recorded another breakthrough in their ongoing fight against banditry as operatives in Ribah successfully rescued two kidnapped victims unhurt after a fierce gun battle with bandits.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, the rescue operation took place on August 15, 2025, at about 3:05 p.m. during an aggressive patrol around Dankade village in Ribah district, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.

Advertisement

The statement reads, “The joint team, which comprised police officers, vigilantes, and local hunters, was led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ribah.

READ ALSO:Police Arrest Suspected Armed Rubbers, Members Of Kidnapping Syndicate In Rivers

The operatives engaged the bandits in a gun duel that lasted for hours before successfully rescuing 26-year-old Tukur Bello of Kembawa village, Augie LGA, Kebbi State, and 25-year-old Isyaka Abubakar of Budun village, Gummi LGA, Zamfara State.

Advertisement

“The victims were abducted on August 9, 2025, while grazing their cows at Gairi forest in Zamfara State. Police confirmed that both men were rescued unharmed and were immediately taken to a medical facility for examination before being reunited with their families.”

He further said the Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Bello M. Sani, commended the resilience, determination, and professionalism displayed by the DPO Ribah and his team.

READ ALSO:Ekiti Court Remands Lady For Stealing New Born In Health Facility

Advertisement

He urged them to sustain the momentum in the fight against banditry and other violent crimes threatening peace and socio-economic development in the area.

“The CP also encouraged other Divisional Police Officers across the state to emulate the Ribah division by embarking on aggressive patrols and visibility policing along highways and in vulnerable communities.

“Reaffirming the command’s commitment to security, CP Sani assured residents that the police would not relent in safeguarding the lives and property of law-abiding citizens in Kebbi State.”

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Metro

By-election: INEC Staff, Politician Caught With Huge Cash In Ogun [VIDEO]

Published

on

Security officers in Ogun State have arrested some people suspected to be Independent National Electoral Commission staff with a huge amount of money ahead of the state by-election.

They were picked up alongside a politician who was allegedly planning to buy votes.

Advertisement

The suspects were arrested at a hotel in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area on Saturday.

READ ALSO:INEC Extends Voter Registration In Anambra Amid High Turnout

In a viral video on Saturday, the INEC officials, a man and a woman, were seen squatting as they were questioned by security agents.

Advertisement

Some alleged PDP officers were also with them.

The officer interrogating them said intelligence showed that the INEC staff had earlier been contacted and given a large sum of money by party officials for vote buying during the by-election.

Watch video below:

Advertisement

https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1956664029591523555https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1956664029591523555

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending