Crime
“We trekked barefooted 4 days into the jungle, it was horrible” -freed train hostages
After 191 days in captivity, the remaining 23 of the passengers abducted by terrorists during an attack on an Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28 finally regained freedom on Wednesday.
The released hostages had been taken straight from the bush to a military medical facility where families and well wishers were denied access.
After they were stabilised, most of the freed hostages were taken to the Nigerian Defence Academy’s medical centre where President Muhammadu Buhari met them on Thursday before they were reunited with their families at the Nigerian Air Force medical centre same day.
While 17 of them were discharged from the hospital on Thursday evening, the six others who were yet to be stable were kept on admission at the military facility.
Among those who were still on admission yesterday was Lois Azurfa, the 21-year-old 300 level student of Kaduna State University, who one of the terrorist commanders had threatened to forcibly marry.
Her brother, Bally Moses, said, “as I speak with you, Lois is still on admission. She is still very sick. In fact, she required blood transfusion, so I had to go to the hospital to donate blood.”
Like Lois Azurfa, other freed hostages who appeared to be physically stable were suffering from post traumatic disorder, no thanks to the inhuman treatment they were subjected to by their captors, who kept them in the jungle for 191 days.
Confirming his post abduction trauma condition, one of the freed hostages, Muhammad Abdulllahi, told one of our correspondents that he was still getting scared of anything that sounded like a gunshot even though he knew he was now in the comfort of his family house.
Narrating his ordeal, Abdullahi, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), said he had joined the train on that fateful evening because he was confident that it is safer than travelling by road, but the attack, which he likened to a scene in a Hollywood movie, proved him wrong.He said: “First of all, I thank Almighty Allah for allowing me to see this day, to taste freedom again.
“I am a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Niger State.
“I had gone to Niger to do my documentation. On my way back, I decided to join the train in the belief that it was safer than travelling by road.
“Right from the scene of the attack, I was so scared and traumatized because the attack on the train was like a scene in a Hollywood movie.
“I thought I was dreaming, but I later realised it was a reality. They were firing gunshots. Some people were killed instantly, some were injured and about 65 of us were marched into the bush.”
Abdulllahi said his taste of the terrible life in the bandits’ camp started with their journey into the jungle.
He said: “We trekked barefooted for four good days. We stopped at some of the bandits’ transit camps and we continued until we arrived at their main camp. Once there, we were never moved anywhere again. That was where we were in all the 191 days we spent in the jungle.
“Many of the things that happened in the jungle are better imagined because I don’t wish that even my worst enemy would go through such experience.
“Because they play with guns there, there was a day one of us was shot as a result of accidental discharge.
“That day, we were in our hut and the bandits on guard were playing with a gun. All of a sudden, the gun just exploded and one of us was hit in the stomach.
“The terrorists told us that they attacked the train because of the government. They said they were fighting the government because it is a democratic government, and they believe that whoever is practising democracy is on the wrong path.”
Speaking on his current state of mind, the freed hostage said: “Even now that I am out of captivity, I feel shock whenever I hear anything like a gunshot or a helicopter passing.
“Life in the terrorists’ den was terrible. We were staying for days without bathing. We were fed only twice in a day and mostly with carbohydrates. They did give us Tuwo with soup. At other times it was rice or one food they called dambu; it is made with corn flour.”
Abdullahi also confirmed the story that the terrorists gave all the captives allowance, saying, “Yes, at a point, the captors gave us allowance of N10,000 each. They gave us the money twice so that we could buy things like garri, kulikuli, sugar or teabags. They told us that whenever we needed anything, we should send the bandits on guard.”
Reacting to the viral video released by the terrorists where they were seen torturing the hostages, Abdullahi said: “On that day, the terrorists were trying to release three people among us, and on their way, they saw a military checkpoint and had to turn back to the camp. That was the day they did the video where they were beating us. They said they wanted the government to withdraw the military from their way.
“It is also true that they used to bring doctors to the camp to treat those that were sick and those that were injured. And whenever we requested for medication, they used to bring medicines to the camp.”
Thanking God for sparing his life through the torturous journey, the young Abdullahi said as a believer in God, he was hopeful throughout the 191 days that he would one day regain freedom, especially when the terrorists started releasing his fellow hostages in batches.
“Each time they released a batch of people, I also felt relieved that there was hope that one day it would be my turn.
“Before they would release any batch, they would tell us ahead of time. They would come and say so and so persons should get ready to be escorted out of the camp,” he said.
A 16-year-old boy, Favour Ayogu, who was allegedly abducted in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, has been rescued in Onitsha, Anambra State, after his abductors reportedly abandoned him near a security checkpoint.
Ayogu was rescued on the evening of September 13, 2026, by a joint security patrol team operating along Oguta Road, Onitsha.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, the teenager was found at Ekene Junction after unidentified persons reportedly pushed him out of a black Toyota Highlander SUV close to a security checkpoint.
The patrol team immediately intervened and rescued the victim, thereby preventing what the police described as further danger to his life.
Following the rescue, the Command said it had intensified surveillance and intelligence-led operations to identify and apprehend members of the suspected criminal gang responsible for the abduction.
The police also appealed to residents of Igboeze South and Ibagwa-Aka in Enugu State who may have useful information about Ayogu or his family to contact the nearest police station or the Anambra State Police Command in Awka.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, commended the security personnel involved in the rescue and directed officers to sustain strategic checkpoints, intelligence-led patrols and coordinated security operations across the state.
The Command assured residents and visitors that it would continue to intensify efforts to prevent criminal elements from using Anambra as a safe haven.
At least nine passengers have been killed after gunmen opened fire on a commercial bus at Dungus Junction in Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack reportedly occurred around 9:40 p.m. when the bus, which was travelling towards Jos, stopped at the junction to drop off some passengers.
Several other passengers were reportedly injured in the attack and rushed to hospitals for treatment.
Lawan Suleiman, a neighbour and teacher of one of the victims, identified the driver as Ibrahim and said three of the victims were from his community in Bukuru.
“The driver is Ibrahim and he was my student. Three of them are from our community here in Bukuru. Their bodies have been deposited at the hospital. But relatives are preparing to collect them for burial,” Suleiman said.
The bus was reportedly riddled with bullets, with bloodstains visible inside the vehicle after the attack.
Rwang Tengwong, spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders (BYM), also confirmed the incident, saying the victims were passengers travelling to Jos when the attackers opened fire on the vehicle.
Tengwong said one of those killed was a member of Operation Rainbow.
“The incident happened around 9.40 p.m. The victims were all passengers travelling to Jos when the terrorists opened fire on the vehicle. Among those killed was a member of Operation Rainbow. It is a very sad development and we lament the loss of lives,” he said.
He added that some passengers sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to hospitals, while some of the injured reportedly later died.
The attack has raised fresh concerns over the safety of commuters travelling along the route at night amid continuing security challenges in parts of Plateau State.
As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The Enugu State Police Command has ordered an investigation into two separate incidents of alleged disruption of political gatherings in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.
The incidents reportedly occurred on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Ndiuno-Obuoffia community and St. Joseph Primary School, Agbani.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to thoroughly investigate the incidents and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
According to the statement, armed hoodlums allegedly disrupted a National Democratic Congress (NDC) ward meeting at Ndiuno-Obuoffia with sporadic gunshots, leaving two attendees injured.
In a separate incident at St. Joseph Primary School, Agbani, hoodlums allegedly destroyed canopies and chairs arranged for a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally.
The police said operatives were promptly deployed to both locations after receiving reports of the incidents to prevent further breaches of peace and track down the fleeing suspects.
The Command, however, noted that neither of the political gatherings had been formally brought to the attention of the police for security coverage.
CP Giwa reiterated his warning that all political activities in the state must be conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law.
He stressed that electoral offences are punishable under the law and warned political parties, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders against violence, intimidation, destruction of property and other acts capable of disrupting public peace or the electoral process.
The Commissioner urged political parties and other stakeholders to notify the police ahead of campaigns, meetings, rallies and other political gatherings to enable the Command to make adequate security arrangements.
He assured residents that the police would continue to maintain a peaceful and secure environment for lawful political activities while dealing decisively with anyone found violating the law.
The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the death of a man who was allegedly stabbed by a suspected attacker after Friday prayers in Sokoto.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Rufa’i Ahmad, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the deceased was among those involved in the incident that followed the stabbing of prominent Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Lukuwa.
According to Ahmad, the suspect used a knife to stab Lukuwa in the stomach immediately after the Jumu’at congregation.
He said the suspect was subsequently killed by a mob, while Lukuwa was rushed to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), where he is receiving treatment.
The PPRO added that no arrest had been made in connection with the incident, saying the situation was under control and urging residents to remain calm and law-abiding.
The incident reportedly followed allegations that Lukuwa made remarks considered blasphemous against Prophet Muhammad, which had generated anger among some Muslim faithful.
A Sokoto-based gangster, Dahiru Maibarewa, had also reportedly threatened to kill Lukuwa over the alleged remarks, while demonstrations had taken place in parts of Sokoto metropolis.
NAN further reported that a coalition of Islamic groups had petitioned the Sokoto State Government and security agencies, calling for action against Lukuwa over remarks they described as capable of provoking violence.
At a September 4 press conference, Islamic cleric Sheikh Abubakar Yagawal urged Muslims to oppose what he described as blasphemous content by clerics, while calling for peaceful coexistence.
Yagawal, Leader of the National Sufi Council of Nigeria and a National Commissioner at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), said Lukuwa’s alleged utterances were unbecoming and capable of triggering violence among Muslim communities.
He said the coalition had called on the Federal and Sokoto State governments, as well as security agencies, to investigate and take appropriate action over the matter.
The Nigeria Police Force has allegedly arrested the General Manager of JKD Television/Hamada Radio Network, Kaduna, Charles Abah, and a security guard following a video produced by the station about Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Political Affairs.
The station’s management, in a statement issued on Friday, alleged that police operatives invaded its premises while searching for a staff member, Zainab Salihu Yabagi, who presented the video explainer.
According to the management, the officers insisted on seeing Yabagi in connection with the video before arresting Abah and the security guard.
The two men were subsequently taken to the Kaduna State Police Command, the station alleged.
The management described the arrests as unacceptable and called for their immediate release.
Amnesty International Nigeria also condemned the incident, describing the alleged raid as an “unlawful and outrageous invasion” of the station’s premises.
The organisation alleged that Abah and the security guard were arbitrarily arrested, adding that police authorities had been seeking Yabagi over the video and had previously declared her wanted.
Amnesty International said the incident reflected a wider pattern of alleged attempts to intimidate newsrooms and create a climate of fear among journalists in Nigeria.
It maintained that public officials, regardless of their positions, should remain open to scrutiny and criticism in the public interest.
JKD TV/Hamada Radio Network is chaired by Yusuf Mamman, a former Nigerian ambassador to Spain and former spokesman for former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.
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