Armed bandits have kidnapped the wife and daughter of the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Patigi Local Government, Kwara State.

Alhaji Muhammad Swasun’s family were abducted late Sunday night in Sakpefu community.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers stormed the area around 11 p.m., with sporadic shootings apparently to scare off “uninvited” guests, before heading to the chairman’s residence.

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The assailants reportedly forced their way inside and whisked away his wife, Hajia Fatima, and daughter, Amina.

Local vigilantes, who arrived late, were said to have mobilised in search of the victims, but no report of any rescue as at when filing this report.

A former Managing Director of Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Maj. Gen. U.M. Mohammed (retd) has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside the order of final forfeiture granted in favour of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, insisting that the 246,305,544 shares in dispute were legitimately acquired.

The EFCC had secured the order on August 26, 2025, claiming the shares, valued at about N5bn, were purchased with funds diverted from fraudulent sales of NAPL properties during Mohammed’s tenure.

The anti-graft agency listed the investments as including substantial holdings in Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Conoil Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Eterna Plc, Flour Mills Plc, Japaul Gold & Ventures Plc, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Oando Plc, University Press Plc and Vitafoam Nigeria Plc.

The EFCC had argued that the forfeiture was made under Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

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But in a motion on notice obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, Mohammed contended that the shares did not originate from unlawful activities.

Instead, he maintained that they were purchased years before his appointment as head of NAPL in October 2015.

In an affidavit filed in support of his application, deponent Joseph Effiong said the shares were bought between September 3, 2007, and September 1, 2015.

“He was posted to Nigerian Army Properties Limited as the Managing Director on October 15, 2015, which was shown to me and marked as Exhibit UM2 is the posting history of ex-Maj Gen UM Mohammed.

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“The shares listed in schedules A, B and C to the motion ex parte filed on April 29, 2025, do not represent proceeds of any crime or unlawful activities.

“Shares in Schedules A, B and C were purchased between September 3, 2007, and September 1, 2015, long before ex-major general UM Mohammed was posted to NAPL as the managing director,” Effiong said.

The ex-general is also challenging the forfeiture on procedural grounds, alleging that his affidavit to show cause filed on July 29 was ignored and that he was denied a fair hearing when the case, initially fixed for October 8, was brought before a vacation judge without notice to him or his counsel.

“That the final forfeiture order, having been granted in favour of Nigerian Army Properties Limited, is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 17 (1) Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Fraud Offences Act, 2006. The matter was initially adjourned to the 8th October 2025 for the hearing of the application for final forfeiture by Justice C.J. Aneke.

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“That there was no urgency for the case to be transferred to any vacation judge. That no notice or communication whatsoever was given to the applicant or his counsel.

“Non-service of hearing notice is a denial of the constitutional right of the party interested to a fair hearing/fair trial. The final forfeiture order was made in ignorance of the affidavit to show cause date and file on July 29. The affidavit to show cause was not considered, “ he said.

He also alleged that the EFCC in the substantive suit failed or neglected to file an application for a final forfeiture order more day 60 days after the interim order was made by the court on May 7, 2025, in the Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.

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“The mandatory procedure for final forfeiture order under Section 17(1) requires any party interested in the property to show cause within 14 days of non-compliance, “ he alleged.

Mohammed is seeking an order setting aside the entire proceedings in Suit No: FHC/L/MISC/404/ and the final forfeiture of the shares.

The court has yet to fix a date for hearing Mohammed’s application.

Troops of the Nigerian Army operating under the ”Operation Fasan Yamma” have neutralised 23 terrorists and rescued 23 kidnapped victims in Katsina State.

A credible source at Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria that the successes were recorded in a fierce encounter on Saturday.

The source said troops made contact with terrorists at Pauwa village in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State and, with support from the air and artillery components, killed about 23 terrorists.

The source added that troops rescued 23 kidnapped victims, made up of 12 women and 11 children. Motorcycles, spare parts, lubricants, farm machinery, and foodstuffs recovered from the terrorists were destroyed.

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In the Northeast, he said that four family members of ISWAP/JAS terrorists—two adult females and two children—surrendered to troops of the 192 Battalion in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.

The source also said that troops apprehended a suspected terrorist logistics supplier in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno with a mobile phone, wristwatch, and ₦55,000 in his possession.

According to him, five other suspects linked to theft and drug peddling were apprehended during a raid at Muva village in Adamawa.

“In a separate operation, troops of Forward Operating Base Malumfashi in Katsina rescued three kidnapped victims at Shaiskawa village, Matazu Local Government Area, after engaging the terrorists in a firefight.

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“Elsewhere, under Operation MESA, three suspected criminals notorious for phone snatching around Dei-Dei, Dakwa and Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory were arrested with four mobile phones and a smartwatch,” he said.

The source further revealed that troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN mediated in a farmer-herder clash in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau to avert escalation.

He said the army would sustain pressure on terrorists and criminals until peace is restored, while urging the public to continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.

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The operation “Fasan Yamma,” which literally means “Salvage the West”, is a major joint Nigerian military operation launched to combat banditry and terrorism in the country’s Northwest region, including states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Niger.

It was established by the Defence Headquarters in late 2024 by collapsing previous operations, such as Operation ‘Hadarin Daji’ and Whirl Punch, in a single theatre to improve coordination and effectiveness in fighting organised criminal networks.
(NAN)