News
Kaduna killings continue, eight dead, four church members abducted, N100m demanded
Bandits have killed eight people and abducted four female members of the Anglican Church at Kasuwan Magani in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It was also learnt the six occupants of a Volkswagen Golf car were kidnapped by the bandits along the Kaduna-Kachia road on Tuesday.
While the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed the killing of eight persons, he was silent on the abducted people.
But the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria confirmed the abduction of its members to The PUNCH, saying the abductors were demanding a N100m ransom.
It was gathered that members of the Anglican church were kidnapped at Kasuwan Magani also along the Kaduna-Kachia road.
The abduction of the Anglican Church members came 12 days after their counterparts from the Redeemed Christian Church of God were abducted on the same road.
Also, students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Kaduna, who were abducted three weeks ago had yet to regain freedom.
The Archbishop of Anglican Church, Kaduna Province, Most Rev. Buba Lamido, told one of our correspondents that the bandits abducted four members of the church, while four others were injured. He added that the driver of the bus conveying them was shot dead.
The commissioner said the bandits barricaded the Kaduna-Kachia road around Kadanye village in the Kajuru LG and opened fire on a bus as well as a truck carrying firewood.
Aruwan gave the names of those killed as Alfred Makinde (the driver of the bus), Abdulrahman Dela, Dauda Adamu, Umar Dauda and Abdulrasheed Musa while the injured three were Murtala Ibrahim, Ali Manager and Abdullahi (full name unknown).
Similarly, he said bandits barricaded the Kaduna-Kachia road at the Doka axis of the Kajuru LGA and shot at a truck, killing the driver.
The commissioner added in the Kachia LGA, bandits invaded a herders settlement in Inlowo village and killed one Ibrahim Haruna, before carting away 180 cows.
He said, “Eight killed, four injured by bandits in Kajuru and Kachia local government areas.
“On a sad note, security agencies have reported the killing of eight persons in separate incidents in Kajuru and Kachia local government areas.
“In one incident, bandits barricaded the Kaduna-Kachia road around Kadanye village in the Kajuru LGA, and opened fire on a bus, as well as a truck carrying firewood.
“Akilbu village in the Kachia LGA, bandits shot at a vehicle, injuring two persons, Mansur Ibrahim and Muhammadu Aminu. Mansur Ibrahim later died in hospital while Muhammadu Aminu continues to receive treatment.”
CAN confirms incident, says bandits demand N100m ransom
The CAN Chairman in the state, Rev. Joseph Hayab, confirmed the abduction of the Anglican church members, saying that the bandits had called to demand a N100m.
“They have contacted their families and asked N100m ransom. That was what they said,” he stated.
CNG meets parents of kidnapped students, plan mass protests
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Northern Groups has reached out to the parents of students of the college of forestry mechanisation, whom it said, “have been abandoned in captivity for more than three weeks now.”
The group met the parents at the premises of the college in Kaduna on Tuesday.
A statement by the spokesperson for the CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, on Tuesday, said the meeting was attended by parents of the captives, fellow students and a delegation from Kaduna State chapter led by its National Director (Action and Mobilization), Aminu Adam.
Suleiman said, “The CNG expressed sympathy with the parents and students of the institute who are mainly from poor backgrounds and vowed to join in their struggle for the rescue of the innocent captives.
“The CNG, in its tradition of allowing time for government action, had watched the events in the last three weeks and is convinced that the waiting is getting too long.
“At the meeting, it was agreed that a joint front for a prolonged struggle be formed to initiate sustained peaceful mass protests to force government to act.
“The protests shall aim to draw national and international attention to the uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of the poor students in captivity all this long while government is not forthcoming with feasible action.”
PUNCH
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police .
The six persons led by Mr Chukwuebuka Ohaechesi, include Emma Okonkwo, Jude Uwa, Gentle Okoro, Uchenna Dike, and Emmanuel Nwankwo who are said to be at large.
The were said to have fled to neighboring states in the South East hence signaling the other four Police Commands in the geopolitical zone to assist in the manhunt for them
The Police accused them of executing protests against the detaintion of the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently serving jail terms in Sokoto Correction Center.
According to a statement issued by the Abia Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eguavon Omokaro, the individuals are suspected members of IPOB who have allegedly participated in protests at various times and locations within the state.
The statement alleged that the protests were organised in connection with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demands for justice through the judicial process.
The Police Command further stated that these protests have allegedly resulted in breaches of peace and disruptions to law and order in Abia State. Consequently, the Police Intelligence Department reportedly concluded that the named individuals were among the principal organisers and coordinators of the demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that; ;
“It should be noted that on every 30th day of May, these men and their cohorts convene for the so-called remembrance of Biafra, holding clandestine meetings at various locations in the name of the emancipation of the Biafran Republic and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the police, the six individuals were invited on several occasions for questioning in relation to the allegations against them.
The statement indicated that the first invitation was issued on 18 December 2025, followed by a second invitation on 7 February 2026, and a third invitation on 3 March 2026.
The police alleged that the individuals failed to honour all three invitations.
The statement further asserted:
“These individuals were invited by the police on several occasions. Firstly, on 18 December 2025, they failed to honour the invitation. Again, they were invited on 7th February 2026 and failed to appear. Finally, they were invited on 3 March 2026, and they also failed to present themselves before the police.” It stated.
As a result, the Abia State Police Command announced that all six individuals had been formally declared wanted.
The police appealed to members of the public to provide any reliable information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution, stating that informants would be suitably rewarded.
The declaration of the six individuals as wanted persons is linked to allegations of their participation in pro-Biafra activities, demonstrations concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and their alleged association with IPOB, an organisation that has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and security operations by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan argued that Wike may not fully understand the pain and trauma experienced by parents of abducted children and affected teachers. He claimed that the minister’s children were educated abroad, away from the security challenges facing many Nigerian families.Nigerian entertainment news
The activist stated that insecurity, kidnapping, and attacks on schools remain serious national concerns and should not be dismissed or reduced to political issues. He stressed that the fears and frustrations of parents whose children face security threats deserve greater attention from public officials.
VeryDarkMan further warned that political power is temporary, urging leaders to remain accountable to the people and sensitive to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
DSS Detains Novelist Okey Ndibe at Lagos Airport, Awaits Clearance from Abuja
Renowned Nigerian novelist, journalist, and academic, Okey Ndibe, was reportedly detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday morning.
Ndibe disclosed his situation in a message sent while in custody, stating: “I’ve been with the SSS now for more than an hour. They’re waiting for clearance from some oga before they let me go.”
According to sources close to the writer, his detention follows a pattern that dates back to previous administrations, including that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, during which he was frequently stopped and questioned over his critical commentaries on Nigerian governance and public affairs.
However, associates noted that Ndibe has largely stepped away from active commentary in Nigerian media over the past two years, focusing instead on writing books and his academic responsibilities at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches.
A close friend of the author and former Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said similar incidents had occurred several times in the past. He explained that airport DSS officials typically contacted their superiors in Abuja before eventually releasing Ndibe.
“It is a pity that this agency doesn’t update its database to enable officers on duty at the airport to know that the agency no longer regards Prof. Ndibe as a security threat to the administration,” Adinuba said.
He added that on previous occasions, the DSS had apologized to the respected author after determining that his detention was unwarranted.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the DSS regarding the circumstances surrounding Ndibe’s latest detention. The development has raised renewed concerns about the treatment of government critics and the continued use of security watchlists affecting returning Nigerians.
Hegseth made the disclosure during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, where he said the directive was issued about a year ago after Trump became aware of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
He explained that the operation involved behind-the-scenes coordination and deployment of military assets, adding that intelligence gathered during the mission contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’s second-in-command, during a joint operation involving U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria, and he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians,’” Hegseth said.
According to him, the operation yielded significant results in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he stated.
Hegseth added that working on the Intel gathered, they have killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria.
The U.S. defence chief described the operation as part of the Trump administration’s broader commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities.
“So there are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the President empowers the Department to do on behalf of the American people that he deserves great credit for,” Hegseth stated.
ISIS second in command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a coordinated U.S.-Nigeria military operation in northeast Nigeria earlier this month.
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