Metro

Benue Police Rescues 13 Victims Of Ambushed Benue Links Bus

Published

9 months ago

April 4, 2025

The Police in Benue State have rescued the kidnapped victims of the ambushed 18-seater Benue Links bus that was attacked Thursday evening by armed men at Ikobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.

The Command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent, CSP, Catherine Anene, confirmed the rescue of 14 of the victims after an exchange of gunfire with the armed men.

Part of the statement read: “On April 3, 2025, at about 8:30 pm, a Toyota Hiace bus of Benue Links transport company was conveying passengers from Makurdi to Otukpo, and on reaching Otukpo Burnt Bricks area, a gang of armed kidnappers shot sporadically at the driver and a passenger at the front seat, causing the driver to stop on the high way.

“Upon receipt of this information, the police, in collaboration with members of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard, swiftly moved to the scene and found the driver and one passenger who sustained gunshot injuries in the vehicle while the kidnappers whisked away others.

“The injured were conveyed to the hospital where they were confirmed dead by a doctor.

“The team launched a search for the kidnapped victims within the nearby forest immediately. On April 4, 2025, at about 3 pm, they sighted the bandits in the forest and engaged them in a gun duel. The superior firepower of the police subdued them, and they took to their heels, abandoning their captives.

“Unfortunately, they had inflicted matchet cuts on two of the victims before the rescue. Fourteen victims were rescued and taken to the hospital, where one was confirmed dead, and others are currently receiving treatment.

“The Commissioner of Police, Benue state command, Mr Steve Yabanet, commiserates with families of the three passengers that lost their lives in this dastardly incident and pledges his commitment to bring the perpetrators to book.

“He enjoins the good people of Otukpo to look out for suspects with gunshot injuries and report to the police as many of these bandits received gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire.”

Metro

Auto-crash Claims 2 Lives On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Published

9 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, TRACE, on Friday confirmed that two people died in a lone accident around Oremeji Bus Stop on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Corps’ spokesperson, Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta.

Akinbiyi said the accident, involving a Mazda bus with registration number YNF 414 XN, occurred at about 1:30 a.m.

He explained that the two occupants of the vehicle, the driver and conductor, both adult males, died on the spot, adding that no injury was recorded.

According to him, eyewitnesses said the bus lost control due to speeding, hit a road barrier, and somersaulted.

Akinbiyi further said the vehicle, which was conveying live chicks, had been towed by the Ibafo Motor Traffic Division of the Police for further investigation.

He added that the remains of the victims had been deposited at the Divine Touch Hospital morgue in Ibafo by operatives of TRACE, the police, and the Ogun State Emergency Services (OGSAES).

He noted that traffic was briefly affected during the rescue operation but was later restored through the efforts of TRACE and the police.

Metro

Court Sentences Man To Death For Killing Son

Published

22 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Kano State High Court has sentenced Abubakar Alhaji Sabo to death by hanging after finding him guilty of killing his newborn son.

The Kano State Government prosecuted Sabo before the court on charges of culpable homicide and causing grievous harm.

He was accused of force-feeding the infant with a local insecticide known as ‘fiya-fiya’, resulting in the child’s death.

Sabo killed the baby after the mother, his girlfriend, refused to obey his instruction to kill the child to avoid the shame of fathering a child out of wedlock.

Following the incident, he was also found guilty of striking the girlfriend’s father on the head with a brick after he caught Sabo poisoning the baby.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Barrister Safiya Yalwati Yahaya, presented three witnesses, while the defendant testified in his own defence.

After reviewing the evidence presented by both parties, Justice Aisha Yau, who presided over the case, found him guilty of infanticide and sentenced him to death by hanging.

The court also imposed an additional three-year prison sentence for causing grievous harm.

Metro

Nine Kwara Victims: Kidnappers Insist On N300m Ransom

Published

22 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

No progress has been recorded on the bandits demand for N300m ransom for the release of nine victims abducted in Adanla community of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state on Boxing Day, December 26, 2025.

Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South Senatorial District, Zubair Olaitan, disclosed this on Wednesday.

According to DAILY POST, the bandits have so far made three contacts with the community leaders that “if the N300m is not paid, the victims will not be released.”

The bandits seized the nine victims in an attempt to abduct the King of the community, and his wife on Boxing Day, but failed.

The King, David Olarinoye, was away to Igbaja town for a programme when the armed bandits invaded his community.

The bandits, however, later seized nine other victims in the community and marched them to the bush.

While seven victims were abducted at the palace of the King, two others were captured on their way to the bush.

Following the abduction, the bandits demanded a N300m for the release of the abducted victims, resisting any negotiations for reduction of the ransom.