The 24 members of Edo State House of Assembly yesterday passed a bill against kidnapping, thereby approving death sentence for offenders. The new bill came with the amendment of Edo Kidnapping Prohibition Law, 2013. The bill titled: ‘A Bill for a Law to Amend the Kidnapping Prohibition Law, 2013 and for Other Purpose Connected’, was presented by the House of …

The gunmen who abducted a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), retired general Maharazu Tsiga, have demanded a N250 million ransom for his release. A source close to the family who preferred anonymity, told Weekend Trust that the family was contacted and the amount requested. Tsiga was said to have been abducted alongside nine other residents. Weekend …

Four suspected kidnappers, who specialise in extorting residents through phone numbers, have been arrested by the Kwara State police command. They are Tukur Muhammad, Yahaya Abdullahi, Umar Sanni and Dairu Isiaku. According to the command’s spokeswoman, Superintendent Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Tukur Muhammad and Yahaya Abdullahi, have been utilizing multiple phone numbers to issue threats and extort unsuspecting individuals. She said luck …

In a startling development, Anambra State operatives of ‘Agunaechemba’ launched a surprise operation, resulting in the demolition of what has been described as a kidnapper’s den masquerading as the Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites, also known as ‘La Cruise Hotel’. Located along the bustling Onitsha-Owerri Road, the hotel harboured chilling secrets on its premises — a well-partitioned area containing …

Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command yesterday, raided a kidnappers’ den in a creek in Ikorodu area of Ogun State and rescued Mrs Folashade Odumosu, wife of AIG Hakeem Odumosu (rted) who was kidnapped last week. Two kidnappers were killed during the rescue operation after kidnappers reportedly engaged the operatives in a gun duel. N10 million were received as …

Retired Archbishop of Nnewi Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev Godwin Okpala, who just regained his freedom after he was kidnapped on December 6, 2024, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of his abductors. Okpala was abducted alongside his driver, but was only able to regain freedom on 3rd January after spending 27 days in captivity. The clergyman …

A female banker, identified simply as Ifeoma, has reportedly been killed by suspected kidnappers in Anambra State, despite her family paying a ransom for her release. The victim was reportedly abducted in Onitsha and held captive for several days before her captors contacted her family to demand a ransom. A family source, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed the incident …

Some travellers abducted on Emure-ile Road in Emure Local Government Area of Ekiti State have regained their freedom from the kidnappers’ den. The victims, who were traveling in an 18-seater bus, were abducted on Sunday night by gunmen while returning from Onitsha in Anambra State to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. The gunmen reportedly contacted the families of the victims, …

Kaduna-based medical doctor, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, has regained freedom from captivity 10 months after she was kidnapped. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna State, was abducted on 27 December 2023, along with her husband, Nurudeen Popoola, who is a Squadron leader, and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy, who stays with them. After several …

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has once again lamented the insecurity in the country. Obi, who decried the activities of non-state actors, whom he said have continued to inflict pain and sorrow on families, stated that the count of people who have “lost their lives to insecurity in our nation” …