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JUST IN: Abducted Edo Lawyer, Sister Regain Freedom

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A newly called-to-the-bar lawyer, Peace Onyesom, and her sister, Gift Onyesom, who were kidnapped along the Okene-Auchi road on Friday, have regained their freedom.

The victims’ brother, Godspower Onyesom, confirmed their release to The PUNCH in a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

Recall that Peace had participated in the Nigerian Law School call-to-the-bar ceremony on September 23.

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She was returning to Benin, Edo State, alongside her sister when they were kidnapped.

READ ALSO:Full List: 2023 Top 100 World Most Successful, Beautiful Women In Entertainment, Sport, Others

Confirming her release, Godspower said, “She has been released. She is back home.”

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In an accompanying video sent to our correspondent, Peace thanked everyone who had come to her rescue while saying that the military rescued them.

She said, “Thank you, everyone. My sister and I have been rescued. The military in Okpella has rescued us.”

Similarly, an ex-aide to the Delta State Governor, Harrisson Gwanishu, confirmed that Peace and her Sister have been released.

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READ ALSO:Kidnappers Demand N10m To Free in-law Of Delta Governor’s Media Aide

Gwamnishu wrote, “Peace Onyesom and Gift Onyesom, kidnapped while returning from the call to ceremony in Abuja, have just been released to us near a village in Okpella. It is a tough journey.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, Williams Aya, proved abortive as he did not respond to calls made to his line as of the time of filing this report.

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The Nigerian Police Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a post on his X page on Sunday, disclosed that eight of the abducted persons were rescued.

This incident is not the first instance of kidnapping along the Abuja, Kogi, and Benin expressways.

READ ALSO:Police Rescue Mother, Baby, Five Others From Kidnappers In Kwara

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In February, a member of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Ibadan, Oyo State, Rofiat Lawal, was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen along the Benin-Ore Expressway.

Her friend, who identified as Agbakwara, had raised the alarm about Lawal’s abduction, stressing that she was returning from Benin, Edo State, to report to her place of primary assignment in Oyo when she was abducted.

She was, however, released after her family paid a ransom of N1 million.

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Similarly, on September 9, the Kogi State Vigilante Services confirmed the abduction of three passengers of an 18-seater Toyota bus at Aku village along the Okene-Lokoja Expressway.

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Three Die As Amotekun, Hoodlums Clash In Osun

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The management of Osun Amotekun Corps has confirmed that three people were killed during a clash between its operatives and suspected hoodlums in Akinlalu, a town in Ife North Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Idowu Yusuf, obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, the Corps said the hoodlums had ambushed its men who were responding to a distress call in Akinlalu, forcibly taking three rifles from them.

Yusuf added that a backup team sent to the scene was also attacked at Akinlalu junction, resulting in a gunfight that left three people dead.

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“The incident occurred on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and led to a deadly confrontation between the Corps and suspected armed hoodlums,” Yusuf said.

READ ALSO:Amotekun Arrests 28 For Robbery, Kidnapping In Ondo

According to official reports, operatives were dispatched from the Amotekun Command in Ile-Ife following an emergency call from residents reporting that suspected bandits had invaded local farmlands. Four operatives mobilised on motorcycles to address the situation and ensure the safety of the community.

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“Tragically, while en route to Akinlalu, the team was ambushed by armed assailants, suspected to be the same group terrorising the community. During the sudden attack, two service rifles belonging to the Amotekun Corps were forcibly taken,” Yusuf said.

He further explained that reinforcement operatives were deployed to approach Akinlalu peacefully, including plans to pay a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler.

However, at the T-junction leading into Akinlalu, the road was barricaded by the assailants, who immediately opened fire, triggering a fierce gun battle that lasted over an hour. Despite the intensity, our operatives successfully overpowered the attackers. In the aftermath, three lives were confirmed lost, including individuals believed to be among the attackers. Three suspects were arrested, while several others sustained injuries and fled the scene.”

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READ ALSO:Ondo Amotekun Arrests Kidnappers, Other Suspects

The Corps also recovered the two firearms stolen during the ambush, along with security uniforms and berets, from the hoodlums’ hideout.

Commenting on the incident, Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Isaac Omoyele, condemned the attack and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

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“This cowardly ambush will not deter our operatives from carrying out their duties. The safety and security of our people remain our utmost priority. We will intensify our efforts to root out criminal elements threatening peace in our communities,” he said.

This latest incident marks the second ambush involving Osun Amotekun reported this year.
(PUNCH)

 

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Man Hacks Grandmother To Death In Ondo

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The Ondo State Police Command on Tuesday said it had arrested a man, Toheeb Ahmed, for allegedly hacking his grandmother to death in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

According to the police, the 27-year-old suspect, who is said to be a carpenter, was apprehended at the Aiyegbami area of the community while roaming about suspiciously.

The reason for the suspect’s alleged action is unknown at the time of filing this report.

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READ ALSO:Ondo Amotekun Arrests Kidnappers, Other Suspects

A resident of the town who raised the alarm to call attention to the neighbours after the incident happened said, “He has been coming to the house since last Thursday at midnight. This morning, he came to my shop to buy something and said, ‘Mama is dead.’ I felt sorry at first, but when he told me not to inform anyone, I became suspicious.

“Out of curiosity, I went to Mama’s room while he was away and discovered she had been hacked to death. When he returned, I noticed he was carrying a cutlass and was accompanied by a friend, probably to move the corpse. That was when I raised the alarm.”

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READ ALSO:Police Arrest Siblings Over Communal Clash In Ondo

The Public Relations Officer of the state Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident and said the suspect was still in their custody while an investigation had commenced into it.

It happened truly, and we have arrested the suspect while the investigation into it had started,” the PPRO stated.

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Ogun Suspends School Principal Over Student’s Death

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The Ogun State Government on Tuesday suspended indefinitely the principals of Ilugun High School, Elega—Junior and Senior sections—Mrs. Olukoga Adeyemi Alaba and Mrs Ladipo Olabisi Temitope, over the circumstances surrounding the death of a student of the school.

A viral video had shown some students of the school vandalising properties following the incident.

It was gathered that the students had allegedly protested the collection of illegal fees by one of the principals, after which operatives of the Amotekun Corps were invited to maintain law and order.

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The operatives were alleged to have shot into the air to disperse the students. Unfortunately, one of the students, while scampering for safety, reportedly drowned in a nearby river. The incident prompted the students to return and vandalise the school.

However, the State Commandant of the Amotekun Corps, Brigadier General Alade Adedigba (retd.), denied that the operatives fired any shots during their visit, insisting that the student’s death was unrelated to the corps’ presence in the school.

READ ALSO:Ogun Monarch Slams Taye Currency Over Performance At Olubadan Coronation

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Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, Adedigba said: “It was the principal of the Junior School who invited some operatives of the Amotekun Corps to the school last week, Thursday or Friday, because the students were said to be engaging in vices like smoking and immoral acts.

“On getting to the school, the operatives met with the principal, who then handed them over to another teacher to conduct them around.

“Some students were said to have taken to their heels when they saw the Amotekun Corps. Some women washing clothes, however, noticed that two students were inside the river, and the Amotekun operatives helped to bring them out.

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“They took them back to the principal together with the teacher. The principal sent for the parents of these students, their photographs were taken, and the parents took them away.

“There was never a time the Amotekun Corps fired a shot during their visit to the school. The agency knows nothing about the death of the student, even though we sympathise with the bereaved family.”

READ ALSO:Police Arrest Suspected Fake Lawyer In Ogun

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Addressing journalists on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, who confirmed the incident, announced the suspension of the two principals.

Arigbabu said preliminary investigations revealed that the principal of the Junior School was involved in the collection of illegal fees, which triggered the students’ protest.

He further disclosed that the identity of the deceased could not be confirmed, as his name did not appear in the state’s education database.

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We have all become aware of the unfortunate incident that took place at Ilugun High School (Junior), Elega. I stand before you this afternoon to confirm that, sadly, the incident did happen in the school. First, let me, on behalf of the State Government, express our deepest condolences to the parents and family of the deceased. We feel their pain, and our prayers are with them at this difficult time.

However, our preliminary investigations have revealed a very disturbing twist. The young man who lost his life could not be confirmed as a bona fide student of the school. He was identified by three different names—Babalola Ayornide, Salako Jimoh, and Afolabi Babalola. Yet, none of these names appear in our official state education database, the OGSERA platform, which authenticates all school enrolments. This points to the likelihood of an illegal enrolment.

READ ALSO:Court Stops Ogun Govt From Demolishing Gbenga Daniel’s Residence, Hotel

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“In addition, we also discovered that the Principal of Ilugun High School (Junior) had been involved in the collection of illegal fees. In light of these findings, the government has decided to place both the Junior and Senior Principals of Ilugun High School on suspension while we conduct a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of this unfortunate incident.

“Also, in order to keep abreast of happenings in schools, a scheme called Whistleblowers has been established by the government through the Teaching Service Commission to curb illegalities and wrongdoing. Let me assure the good people of Ogun State that the administration of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, remains unshaken in its commitment to provide free education for every school-age child in this state, irrespective of where they live, their gender, economic status, religious belief, or political affiliation.

“I must also appeal to the students: while we share in your grief, please do not vent your anger by destroying school property. We all know that we are still battling with inadequate infrastructure in our schools. Destroying the little we have will only make the situation worse, not better.

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“Finally, I want to reassure parents, students, and indeed the general public that anyone found culpable in this matter will not go unpunished. The full weight of the law will be applied. We ask everyone to remain calm as investigations continue. Government will be transparent, and justice will be done.”

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