Category Nigeria News

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Five days after a deadly attack by bandits that left three worshippers dead and dozens abducted, the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun in Eruku, Kwara State, held its first service.

During the Sunday service, the church made an accurate figure regarding the number of captivity victims.

Read more about Kwara closing schools in four LGAs for insecurity here.
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Prayers for the release of the kidnapped worshippers and the repose of the deceased were the main focus of the ceremony, which took place inside the blood-stained auditorium of the church in the state’s blood-stained Ekiti Local Government Area on Tuesday.
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38 people were abducted, according to the church secretary, Michael Agbabiaka.
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He claims that the church initially collected 35 names before performing a verification that revealed three additional non-members who had also been abducted during the siege.
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“The reports that over 60 people were kidnapped are untrue. 38 people are still buried in the bush, total.

“Three people died, and one is receiving care in a hospital. I have their phone numbers and names. According to Agbabiaka, “we don’t want misinformation.”

Ransom Reduced to “20m”

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He further disclosed that the bandits had initially requested $100,000,000 for each victim before the abductors’ communication broke down on Friday, November 21, 2025. The demand was later reduced to $20,000,000.
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He continued, “Celtics leaders encouraged members to attend the service as a show of faith and resilience,” despite their fear and trauma.
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We thank God for life and for strengthening us, but as you can see, there are only a select few people present.

He continued, “We also appreciate the government’s deployment of security personnel who are currently circling the town and the church.”
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The presiding pastor, Bamidele Lawrence, described the incident as a test of faith earlier in his sermon and claimed that he had received assurances from God regarding the safety of the kidnapped.
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He explained to the congregation that God had promised that the abducted worshippers would live again, and that they were compared to the Israelites’ struggles in the Bible.
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James Ige, a worshipper whose wife and son were among those abducted, pleaded with security forces to intensify rescue efforts, claiming that the government’s ability to act quickly will determine his family’s fate.

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A significant number of security operatives from Eruku, including soldiers, SWAT, the Special Tactical Squad from Headquarters, the Kwara Police Command, and local vigilantes, were stationed there.
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President Bola Tinubu had issued decrees for joint operations to track down the attackers and rescue the victims, prompting the deployment.
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During a deadly attack at a church service on Tuesday, gunmen stormed the church and kidnapped dozens of worshipers.

Many residents fled into nearby bushes for safety, according to eyewitnesses in the community who reported to Channels Television that the attackers stormed the area “suddenly and heavily armed.”

Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has been chosen as the party’s national leader by the Samuel Anyanwu faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State.

Read more recently, PDP Crisis: Behaviour Of Major Actors Disgraceful, Demonstrates They’re Unworthy of Lead — Kila.

The State Chairman, Austin Nwachukwu, convened the stakeholders’ meeting held in Owerri, the state capital, and the state chairman, Austin Nwachukwu.

The meeting brought together state-level elected officials, party elders, and key stakeholders.

Nwachukwu stated in his remarks that the chapter adhered to the principles that had guided the party through its various political cycles, including the PDP’s constitution and internal democracy.

Despite recent political unrest within the party, he added, the state chapter is still standing as a whole.

A unanimous vote to support Wike as the nation’s leader was a major highlight of the gathering.

His long-standing contributions to the PDP, particularly his influence on the party’s transition from a four-state majority in 2015 to 16 in the following years, were well-known to attendees at the meeting.

They referred to the FCT minister as a stabilizing force who has had a significant impact on the party’s survival and reorganization.

Mohammed and Ohabunwa are back by the group.

The party’s National Secretary, Senator Anyanwu, is also back by the Imo PDP, who has its full support.

Anyanwu, according to the stakeholders, was a trustworthy administrator and proud representative of Imo State under the PDP leadership, showing a consistent commitment to strengthening party structures both at the state and national levels.

The meeting noted that Senator Maho Ohabunwa and Abdul Rahman Mohammed’s positions as acting national chairman and chairman of the board of trustees complement ongoing efforts to reposition the organization.

The stakeholders criticized the recent Ibadan convention as unlawful during the discussions.

They praised the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) boycott of the event, citing the commission’s decision to uphold the rule of the law and follow the law.

As the Imo PDP’s preparations get worse and the election cycle comes to an end, Nwachukwu argued that the party will continue to be an “undivided entity” and will continue to pursue unity and discipline within its ranks.

Therefore, he instructed members to maintain their focus and work together to improve the party’s chances of regaining control of the state.

READ MORE: PDP HQ Confused As Police Fire Teargas To Disperse Rioting Supporters

When Wike, Anyanwu, Anyanwu, and Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, were among others expelled for anti-party activities, the PDP’s division grew even more.

At the convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, it also elected former special duties minister Tanimu Turaki.

Damagum, Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, and Seyi Makinde’s Oyo State counterpart were fired in response, according to the Wike-affiliated party loyal to Wike.

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) agents have seize tons of different illegal drugs, detain nine kingpins, and launch a major nationwide campaign to combat drug trafficking.

Several intelligence-led operations that targeted drug networks across the nation led to the arrests.

According to a statement released on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, a spokesman for the organization, stated in a statement that “NDLEA officers on Tuesday, November 2025 detained two members of a drug trafficking organization in Onitsha, Anambra state, after they showed up to take delivery of 5.40 kilograms of methamphetamine, 10.70 kilograms of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, &nbsp, and 16 grams of cocaine.

READ MORE: NDLEA Seizes Cocaine Shipment From Brazil, Arrests 20 Filipinos, and Reads It.

Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu, a 30-year-old electrical appliances dealer, was the first to arrive at a logistics company in Onitsha for the collection of the consignments, he said, and shortly thereafter, Christopher Michael Ndibuisi, a returnee from South Africa, showed up and was also detained.

According to credible information, the consignments arrived at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja-Lagos, on a Tag-Angola flight on November 13th, 2025, with the airway bill number 118-12882973 and were immediately seized.

Following the arrests of the recipients, Uzochukwu and Ndibuisi, a follow-up sting operation was conducted in Onitsha, Anambra state.

“On the other day of a trip to the Lagos airport, NDLEA agents discovered a brake-servo car part that contained 48 pellets and a block of cocaine, all of which were being transported to Gabon.

“A follow-up at the ASMPDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, led to the arrest of an auto parts dealer, Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface, who was the presenter of the consignment for export.”

On Monday, November 17th, NDLEA agents in Kogi state intercepted a trailer carrying 4,700 kilograms of the cannabis strain skunk.

The kingpin who owns the trailer and the illicit drug consignment, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu, was detained on Friday, November 21 during a follow-up operation in Jos, Plateau state.

Onun Okoi Okpotum, 55, and his wife, Itam Okoi Okpotum, 52, were detained on November 19 at their warehouse in Ugep Yakur LGA in Cross River State, where 362 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 4, 706 kilograms were recovered.

On Saturday, November 22nd, two women from Edo state, Praise Nwogu, 19, and Ebong Emem Oghosa, 25, who work in the production and online sale of brownies laced with illegal drugs, were detained in Benin city.

While Ebong Emem Oghosa, who was nabbed with 76 grams of skunk, 1.5 grams of Colorado, and drug-laced brownies, Praise Nwogu was discovered with 12 plates and a cup of them when they were about to be arrested.

Shedrack Aminu, 35, was found with 59kg skunk after a raid on Ososo village, Akoko Edo LGA, on Tuesday, November 18.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2018, operations on Enugu/Onitsha road, Enugu, intercepted a suspect Chinoso Emmanuel Monday, 24, who had a 10.1 kg skunk, 105, 600 tramadol pills 250, 225, and 100 mg, as well as 700 pentazocine injection ampoules and 3000 rounds of live ammunition.

A 23-year-old suspect was detained on Friday, November 21 with 12, 548 pills of opioids concealed in paracetamol containers heading to a Boko Haram enclave in Minok area of Borno state, while a 13 155 bottles of codeine-based syrup were evacuated from a warehouse located in Dole-Kaina, Dandi LGA.

On Monday, November 17, Anthony Mercy, 40, and Sunday Augustine, 39, were detained by NDLEA agents on patrol along the Abaji-Abuja Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory, while Samson Dafe, 47, was detained on Tuesday, November 18th, in his Sharon vehicle marked ABJ 114 BV, bringing 85, 100 opioid pills, 5 456 bottles of codeine syrup, and 456 bottles of codeine syrup.

On Thursday, November 20, a suspect Sani Mohammed’s residence in Shiroro LGA was searched with 437 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 471.8 kilograms recovered.

A suspect Usman Ayoola Adegoke was detained in Lagos in connection with the seizure of 139 pouches of Canadian Loud, which were weighed 71 kg, while a suspect, a woman named Oluchi Celestine, was seized on Tuesday, November, in Lekki, with 2. 6 kg Colorado, packaged in branded containers and some of the items hidden in flight boarding cards.

On Monday, November 17th, NDLEA agents supported by some military personnel raided the infamous Peti illicit drug enclave of Lagos Island, where 385 kilograms of skunk, Loud, and Colorado were recovered and two suspects detained.

In a separate operation at a motor park in the Maza Maza area of Lagos, no less than 163 200 capsules of the drug 225 mg were recovered. Over the past week, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensibilization efforts to schools, churches, places of worship, and communities, among others. The statement read in part, “WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Baptist High School, Ilero, Oyo state, St. Michael Anglican Primary School, Afuye Epe, Lagos, Government Day Senior and Junior Secondary School, Kurami, Katsina, Women Day Secondary, Kontogora, Niger state, Government Day Secondary School, Takatuku, Sokoto, St. Paul’s College, Eke, Enugu, Iwoye

While lauding the MMIA, Lagos, Kogi, Edo, Cross River, Enugu, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, and FCT Commands for their respective successful operations, Brig., Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, They and their colleagues across the nation were ordered to carry on the Agency’s ongoing, balanced approach to drug control efforts by Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd).

Marwa cited the Agency’s decision to launch a relentless offensive against drug trafficking cartels in the country as justification for the organization’s current heavy crackdown on drug trafficking syndicates.

A wanted kidnapping suspect has been detained by members of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army’s Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in Taraba State’s Wukari Local Government Area.

The arrest is a result of successful operations under the recently launched Operation Zafin Wata.

One Umar Musa Geyi was apprehended by the troops at Jandei-Kulamu in Wukari LGA based on reliable information.

The suspect, who has been wanted by security agencies, is alleged to be a key member of a kidnapping syndicate that has terrorized a number of local communities.

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According to a statement from the Brigade’s Public Relations Officer, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, preliminary investigations have linked the suspect to the kidnapping of Fulani resident Alhaji Jano, who was abducted on November 13, 2025, and is still being held in captivity.

After being intercepted by troops during a phone call where he stated that the victim was still being detained and demanded a ransom of at least $20 million for his release, the suspect was arrested.

The suspect is currently being held in custody, undergoing further questioning to help him get to where he’s been safely saved.

Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, the commander of the 6th Brigade, expressed his gratitude to the troops for their prompt action and stated that the Brigade is still fully committed to destroying criminal networks, bringing victims to justice, and restoring peace and security throughout Taraba State.

On Saturday, a large crowd of people gathered in Marseille to pay tribute to the brother of a drug-trafficking activist who was killed in France’s second-largest city.

Before observing a minute of silence at the roundabout where Mehdi Kessaci, 20, was fatally shot by a gunman in his parked car on November 13th, demonstrators chanted “Justice for Mehdi.”

Authorities are still looking into the murder, but the death is regarded as a “warning crime” in relation to his brother Amine Kessaci’s, 22, anti-drug activism, who was greeted with cheers as he joined the crowd on Saturday.

Amine Kessaci, who is currently living in a police-protected area, witnessed a significant police presence in the southern port city, which is a major drug trafficking hotspot.

After his half-brother Brahim was killed in a drug-trafficking fight in 2020, the young anti-drug and environmental activist launched a campaign.

“I want Mehdi’s justice.” My other brother, Brahim, was also murdered, and I want justice. I want all victims to be compensated. Due to security concerns, Amine reaffirmed his family’s need for safety at the gathering until the last minute.

The activist claimed that the “mothers of the neighbourhoods (hit by drug crime) who deserve a decoration for their courage, their dignity, and their daily struggle” should be given France’s highest order of merit, the Legion of Honor.

“We have been speaking out for years and have been raising the alarm because silence kills,” said one activist. He claimed on Saturday in a recorded message that was played to the crowd that every institution’s retreat has aided in the spread of drug trafficking.

READ ALSO: France Assures NDLEA Of More Support and Collaboration In Tackling Drug Trafficking

More than a dozen people have been killed since the start of the year in turf wars and other issues related to cocaine and cannabis dealing, in Marseille’s struggle against drug crime.

Mayor of Marseilles Benoit Payan remarked, “Fear cannot defeat us.”

He continued, calling for unity and opposing the label of Marseille as a “narco-city” and saying, “We must resist and fight them, wage a war against those who kill for money.”

 ‘Scourge’

Mehdi’s passing having sparked a national focus on drug crime, with initiatives planned for other 25 towns and cities, along with politicians from all political parties, at the gathering.

Mehdi, who aspired to work as a police officer, was killed there by numerous white rosebushes.

President Emmanuel Macron urged France to intensify its actions and adopt the same strategy it has used against “terrorism” as the interior minister Laurent Nunez described the crime as a “turning point.”

Mehdi Kessaci’s murder shocked Marseille, despite drug-related homicides that are frequently covered in front-page news.

More than 6,200 people, including some who carried white flowers and wore white shirts, were present in the crowd.

The gathering would be a time of reflection for 72-year-old activist Anne-Marie Tagawa, who also wants to let us know that we don’t like what is going on.

She referred to disadvantaged neighborhoods as “fertile ground that has been abandoned by institutions, the State,” leaving those who would create “systems of violence” and “places where crime thrives” there.

Ouassila Benhamdi, Mehdi’s and Brahim’s mother, stepped up to the gathering and donned a completely white outfit.

My heart is ripped apart, I say. I have no control. No mother wants to have her children pass away before her, she declared in a speech that a friend finished reading for her as she struggled to cope with grief.

She continued, “I am urging the government to understand the gravity of what is happening.”

For all the families who have been impacted by this pang, “this must stop.”

A total of 25 victims have been saved from armed bandits thanks to the Zamfara State Police Command in Gusau, which has thwarted an abduction attempt.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said in a statement on Saturday that it received a distress call on Friday, November 21, 2025, at around 21:45 hours about a group of armed bandits who frequently opened fire on Kuraje village in the Damba area of Gusau LGA.

The Command claimed that the attackers kidnapped 10 women and 15 children, both of whom were community members, during the assault.

Joint Police patrol teams from the Damba Division and the Department of Operations, Gusau quickly arrived on the scene after receiving the distress report working closely with the Community Protection Guards (CPG). The team followed the bandits as they fled, confirmed the incident, and carried out a coordinated and tactical operation on them.

All twenty-five (25) abducted victims were successfully rescued unharmed thanks to the professionalism, gallantry, and swift response of the operatives. For safety and proper profiling, they were immediately relocated to Sabongari Damba.

Since then, the rescued women and children have reconnected with their families.

Niger Attack: Number of Abducted Students, Teachers Rises To 315 CAN BE READ ALSO: [UPDATED]

The officers involved in the operation were commended for their bravery and commitment, according to Zamfara State Command’s Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba.