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11 Edo Kidnap Victims Escape as Abductors Fall Asleep After Overnight Trek

Published

3 months ago

July 4, 2026

Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika (fdc)

11 Edo Kidnap Victims Escape as Abductors Fall Asleep After Overnight Trek

Eleven people abducted while working on their farms in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have regained their freedom after escaping from their captors when the kidnappers reportedly fell asleep from exhaustion following an overnight trek through the forest. The victims narrated their ordeal at the Edo State Police Command headquarters in Benin City on Friday .

Speaking on behalf of the group, Braimah Destiny recounted that he was returning from his farm when he encountered six armed men carrying guns and cutlasses. According to him, the attackers also seized 10 other people before leading all 11 captives deep into the forest. Braimah said they heard gunshots, which they believed were fired by security operatives, while being taken into the bush . “I was coming from the farm when I met six of them armed with guns and machetes. They also captured others making 11 victims. They took us from one bush to another. It was around six p.m. and we heard the police shooting. They made us walk throughout the night. We got to a place and they told us to hide. They were very tired and they slept off. That was how we ran to the police. The kidnappers beat us and maltreated us,” he stated.

In a separate account, another victim, Gloria Inyanugbo, described a much longer ordeal. She was abducted on January 12 while working on her farm and spent four days in captivity. According to her testimony, after being taken into the bush, the kidnappers demanded to know how much money she had in her bank account. Her husband eventually secured her release by paying a ransom of N3 million, in addition to another N300,000 which the kidnappers demanded for food, hard drugs, and other items. She credited the subsequent arrest of the suspects to community vigilantes and police tracking efforts . “The community vigilante nabbed two of them inside the bush and the police arrested others through tracking. I saw one of them that boasted that nobody can do anything to him. I can’t imagine that the police could arrest them,” she said .

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The Edo State Police Command disclosed that it arrested 32 suspected kidnappers during operations carried out across the state in June. The command also announced that 38 kidnapped victims were rescued through intelligence-led operations and coordinated tactical interventions within the same period . Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, said the command equally apprehended 15 suspected cultists, three armed robbery suspects, 11 murder suspects, and 14 individuals linked to rape and defilement cases .

Agbonika stated that sustained operations against kidnappers, cult groups, armed robbers, and other violent criminals, backed by enhanced intelligence gathering, had continued to yield positive results. He added that the command remained determined to deny criminal elements safe haven anywhere in the state through intensified security operations . “The accomplishments we showcase today are the outcome of the commitment, professionalism, and selflessness of the Edo State Police Command officers, who collaborate closely with other security agencies and receive patriotic support from the Edo State populace. These successes are heartening, but they also bolster our resolve to work even more to make Edo State one of the Federation’s safest states,” Agbonika said .

The Commissioner further emphasised the importance of public cooperation in achieving these security successes . “As we continue the fight against criminality, I want to sincerely thank the decent and law-abiding citizens of Edo State for their continuing cooperation and faith in the police. The timely information, intelligence, and assistance we receive from members of the public remain crucial to our operational accomplishments,” he stated .

Additional security operations in Edo have yielded further results. Police operatives, in collaboration with local vigilantes and hunters, killed a suspected kidnapper and rescued a 12-year-old girl in the Ayogwiri Community, Uzairue, also in Etsako West . The command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, said security officers arrested the suspect while receiving ransom from the victim’s relatives, leading to a gun duel . The victim, Blessing Anani, was rescued unhurt, while a family member who delivered the ransom sustained injuries . In another operation, police rescued two individuals—Godday Irieude and Wisdom Emeka—who were abducted from their farm in the Ewatto area around 1 a.m. on June 26, 2025, tracking the kidnappers to their hideout . The superior firepower of the operatives forced the abductors to flee with gunshot wounds, leading to the successful rescue of the victims unharmed .

Furthermore, the Edo State Government and the police command have launched a manhunt for a suspected arms supplier, identified as Liberty, linked to the kidnapping of a woman at the Benin Vegetable Market . One of the arrested suspects, Marvellous Israel, told police that N1.5 million out of the N2.8 million ransom payment recovered was meant for Liberty, noting that N8 million was collected as ransom for the woman’s release . The police spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that all suspects linked to the Benin market kidnapping have been arrested, while one was killed, and the police are on the trail of the alleged arms supplier . In a separate case, a woman who was abducted alongside her daughter in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area identified her kidnappers when they went to the community market to buy foodstuffs, leading to their arrest by a joint team of military personnel and operatives of the Edo State Security Network after the woman raised the alarm .

11 Edo Kidnap Victims Escape as Abductors Fall Asleep After Overnight Trek

Related Topics:Abductors Edo Kidnap Overnight Trek

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Nigeria Launches 11-Character Digital Postcode System for Every Addressable Building

Published

5 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani

Nigeria Launches 11-Character Digital Postcode System for Every Addressable Building

The Federal Government has launched Nigeria’s National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System, giving addressable buildings across the country unique 11-character digital postcodes linked to their precise geographical locations.

The system was officially launched on October 1, 2026, through the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s addressing infrastructure and make it easier to identify homes, businesses, schools, farms, offices and other locations.

The new digital postcode system uses Geographic Information System technology to provide a precise and verifiable digital reference for buildings. Unlike the traditional postcode system, which generally identifies broader geographical areas, the new system is designed to pinpoint individual addressable buildings.

The 11-character code is organised across five geographical levels: state, local government area, district, area and building. The characters progressively narrow the location down to a specific building.

The Federal Government said the system is designed to address longstanding problems associated with inaccurate or incomplete addresses, including missed deliveries and difficulties faced by emergency responders, businesses and government agencies.

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said accurate location information was essential to improving commerce, public services and economic participation.

Tijani urged Nigerians to find, save and use their digital postcodes, saying the system could help businesses reach customers, enable families to provide precise locations during emergencies and support government agencies in delivering services.

The government estimates that Nigeria loses between ₦50 billion and ₦80 billion annually through missed and failed deliveries associated with poor addressing. Officials said the impact extends beyond logistics to emergency response, security operations, financial services, business activities and government planning.

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The NIPOST digital postcode belongs to a building rather than an individual. This means the code remains associated with the property even when residents or businesses occupying it change.

The new system is also designed to complement existing street addresses and mapping services rather than replace them. Users can provide their digital postcode alongside their conventional address when receiving deliveries or accessing services.

Nigerians can search for their postcode through the official Digital Postcode platform or mobile application. Users can search for their building or use location services to identify the building where they are.

Where a building cannot be found, users can submit its location and address details for verification and assignment of a postcode.

The service allows individuals to find, save and share their postcodes with family members, businesses, delivery companies and other service providers that require accurate location information.

Organisations can also integrate the digital postcode into their platforms for functions including address verification, customer and merchant onboarding, logistics, deliveries and location-based services.

The system is expected to have significant applications in e-commerce and last-mile delivery, where inaccurate addresses and dependence on informal landmarks can cause delays and additional costs.

Emergency response agencies are also expected to benefit from the system because responders can use a standard location reference to identify specific buildings during emergencies.

Security agencies, financial institutions, government departments and other organisations can similarly use the location data for planning, verification and service delivery.

The launch followed preparatory work by NIPOST, including a nationwide postcode validation exercise aimed at improving the accuracy and reliability of location data ahead of the national rollout.

The Federal Government has described the initiative as an important part of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, with potential applications in logistics, e-commerce, emergency services, security, financial inclusion, urban planning and digital public services.

NIPOST is encouraging Nigerians to identify their 11-character digital postcode and begin using it whenever precise location information is required.

The rollout is expected to provide Nigeria with a common digital location reference and reduce some of the challenges associated with identifying and reaching specific buildings across the country.

Nigeria Launches 11-Character Digital Postcode System for Every Addressable Building

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Military Personnel Begin Receiving FG-Approved Salary Increase

Published

5 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Military Personnel Begin Receiving FG-Approved Salary Increase

Personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces have begun receiving their September salaries with the Federal Government-approved salary increase reflected in their payments, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, confirmed the development on Wednesday, saying the implementation marked the fulfilment of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare and conditions of service of military personnel.

The revised military salary structure followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval in August and took effect from September 1, 2026.

Under the approved arrangement, personnel from the rank of Private to Sergeant are entitled to an 80 per cent salary increase, while those from Warrant Officer to Colonel are to receive a 50 per cent increase.

Officers from the rank of Brigadier-General and above are to receive a 30 per cent increase.

The Federal Government had said the adjustment would raise the annual salary bill for the Armed Forces from about ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion, representing an additional ₦264 billion in personnel expenditure.

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The implementation comes as the military continues operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other security threats across the country.

The government has linked the salary review to broader efforts to improve troop welfare and conditions of service, alongside investments in military infrastructure, equipment and manpower.

The Defence Headquarters’ confirmation also comes amid the Federal Government’s wider expansion of the Armed Forces. The Nigerian Army is being expanded from eight to 12 divisions, while additional personnel are being recruited to strengthen the military’s operational capacity.

In a related development, the Federal Government is also implementing infrastructure projects aimed at improving accommodation and living conditions for military personnel and their families.

The revised pay structure is expected to provide increased remuneration for serving personnel according to their ranks, while further implementation details will determine how the new salary package is reflected across the different services and categories of personnel.

The Army, Navy and Air Force remain covered by the revised salary arrangement as the government continues its broader military welfare programme.

Military Personnel Begin Receiving FG-Approved Salary Increase

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2027 Hajj: Nigeria Secures 10,000 Extra Slots, Allocation Hits 60,000

Published

6 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

2027 Hajj: Nigeria Secures 10,000 Extra Slots, Allocation Hits 60,000

Nigeria has secured an additional 10,000 Hajj slots from Saudi Arabia, raising the country’s total allocation for the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage from 50,000 to 60,000 pilgrims.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) announced the development on Thursday, October 1, 2026, saying the additional allocation followed sustained engagements between the Federal Government and Saudi Arabian authorities.

Of the additional 10,000 slots, 7,500 have been allocated to State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions, while the remaining 2,500 slots have been assigned to seven lead licensed private tour operator companies.

The additional allocation represents a 20 per cent increase over Nigeria’s previously approved 50,000-slot quota for the 2027 Hajj.

Before the increase, Nigeria’s allocation stood at 50,000 pilgrims, comprising 35,000 slots for government-sponsored pilgrims and 15,000 for licensed private tour operators.

The latest approval followed an earlier decision by Saudi Arabia to reject Nigeria’s request for additional slots. NAHCON had announced in September that the request was turned down due to capacity limitations, structural constraints at the holy sites and the Kingdom’s policy of adhering to approved country quotas.

Further engagements between Nigerian officials and the Saudi authorities subsequently resulted in the additional allocation.

NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and Saudi authorities for the additional slots.

Yusuf also acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, and Deputy Minister Dr Abdul Fattah bin Sulaiman Mashat, for the Kingdom’s cooperation.

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The NAHCON chairman said the development reflected the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, particularly their cooperation in facilitating the Hajj pilgrimage for Nigerian Muslims.

He assured intending pilgrims and other stakeholders that the additional slots would be administered transparently and judiciously, in line with Nigerian and Saudi Arabian regulations and operational requirements.

NAHCON also reiterated its commitment to making Hajj accessible and affordable to Nigerians, while maintaining standards in service delivery, accountability and operational efficiency.

The commission said it would work with state pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies and commissions, as well as licensed private tour operators, to implement the expanded allocation.

The increase comes as preparations for the 2027 Hajj are already underway. NAHCON had earlier required the biometric data of intending pilgrims to be uploaded to the designated Nusuk-Masar platform in line with requirements from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The additional allocation means NAHCON and relevant state and private pilgrimage operators will now have to incorporate the extra beneficiaries into the existing operational arrangements.

The precise breakdown of the additional 7,500 state-controlled slots among individual states was not contained in the commission’s announcement.

The new allocation is expected to provide additional places for Nigerian Muslims seeking to undertake the 2027 Hajj, following strong demand from intending pilgrims and requests for increased allocations.

NAHCON said it would continue working with Saudi authorities and other stakeholders to ensure a well-coordinated 2027 Hajj exercise and protect the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.

With the latest approval, Nigeria’s 2027 Hajj allocation now stands at 60,000 pilgrims, comprising the original 50,000 slots and the newly approved 10,000 additional places.