11 NYSC Members Rescued, Others Remain in Captivity as Gunmen Attack Travellers on Kogi Highway - Newstrends
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11 NYSC Members Rescued, Others Remain in Captivity as Gunmen Attack Travellers on Kogi Highway

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11 NYSC Members Rescued, Others Remain in Captivity as Gunmen Attack Travellers on Kogi Highway
Spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, ASP Oyiza Afusat Salihu

11 NYSC Members Rescued, Others Remain in Captivity as Gunmen Attack Travellers on Kogi Highway

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of passengers, including a number of National Youth Service Corps members, along the Aloma–Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area, with 11 victims successfully rescued in a joint security operation. However, several corps members are still believed to be in captivity as security forces continue to comb the surrounding forests.

The attack occurred on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at about 4:40 p.m. near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, when armed hoodlums emerged from the bush and blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions. The victims were members of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II, returning to Abuja after completing their mandatory three-week orientation programme at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, security operatives launched an immediate rescue operation following a distress call. The Divisional Police Officer in Ofu led a joint security team to the scene, where two abandoned vehicles—a white Peace Mass Transit Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus—were recovered. A coordinated bush-combing and rescue operation was subsequently launched, resulting in the rescue of 11 abducted victims, including the drivers of both buses. “Preliminary debriefing indicates that most of the rescued victims are NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,” Afusat stated. The rescued victims were debriefed and, after necessary procedures, were allowed to continue their journey.

However, reports indicate that not all victims have been accounted for. A relative of one of the abducted corps members told the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) that 15 corps members were kidnapped during the attack. The source identified his brother, Ayodele David, as among those still in captivity. According to the relative, the driver of the Peace Mass Transit bus was left behind after sustaining injuries during the attack, and the abductors reportedly spoke Fulfulde, Hausa, and English. The police spokesperson confirmed that the joint security operation remains ongoing in the surrounding forest, with the objectives of rescuing any remaining victims, arresting the criminals, and bringing them to justice. The command assured the public that all available operational and intelligence resources are being deployed to secure the region and ensure the safe recovery of the remaining victims.

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The police confirmation followed a viral video in which a woman identifying herself as the sister of one of the abducted corps members made an emotional appeal for government help. She stated that her sister had been to Bayelsa for the orientation training and was returning to Abuja when the vehicle she was travelling in was attacked. The woman disclosed that her family had recently lost their mother and pleaded for help in securing her sister’s safe return. “I am begging Nigerians… Nothing should happen to them. Nothing should happen to my sister,” she said. Another relative, Chisom Ede, also claimed his sister was among the abducted corps members and called on the NYSC, Federal Government, and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts. According to social media reports, families have alleged that the abductors are demanding N20 million in ransom, though authorities have not officially confirmed this claim.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the abduction, demanding the immediate rescue and safe return of all corps members. In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said it was “shocked and angry” that young Nigerians serving their country could still be kidnapped while travelling on Nigerian highways. “How many more corps members must be kidnapped before the government wakes up?” the organisation asked. HURIWA called for an urgent review of the NYSC scheme, particularly the movement of corps members through areas known to pose serious security risks. The organisation questioned why corps members travelling from high-risk areas could not be provided with safer transportation arrangements, including air transport where necessary, before proceeding to their places of primary assignment. “The government cannot keep posting young Nigerians to dangerous areas and then leave them to face armed kidnappers on the highways,” HURIWA said, describing the situation as unacceptable.

The abduction is the latest in a series of kidnapping incidents reported along Kogi State’s highways in recent weeks. Earlier in August, security agencies reported another kidnapping along the Ojuwo-Ajengo-Memarebo and Ojiwo-Itobe roads in Ofu Local Government Area, with the Nigerian Army subsequently rescuing 16 victims. The recurring attacks have heightened concerns about the safety of Nigerians travelling on the country’s highways, particularly in areas where criminal gangs exploit vast forests and poorly secured stretches of road to carry out attacks. The incident has once again raised questions about the security arrangements for corps members and other travellers using vulnerable routes across the country. The Kogi abduction is more than another isolated security incident. It highlights the growing vulnerability of ordinary Nigerians who must travel across the country for work, education, national service, and other legitimate purposes.

11 NYSC Members Rescued, Others Remain in Captivity as Gunmen Attack Travellers on Kogi Highway

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Drama as Dutch Police Use Batons, Dogs to Shut Down Nigerian Wedding; Two Arrested

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Drama as Dutch Police Use Batons, Dogs to Shut Down Nigerian Wedding; Two Arrested

Drama as Dutch Police Use Batons, Dogs to Shut Down Nigerian Wedding; Two Arrested

A Nigerian wedding in the Netherlands ended in a police confrontation after complaints about loud music, with officers reportedly using batons and police dogs to disperse guests and arresting two men.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening, October 10, 2026, at Diamond Plaza on Dynamostraat in Rotterdam-Zuid, where an estimated 200 to 300 guests had gathered to celebrate the wedding.

The disruption attracted widespread attention after videos showing uniformed Dutch police officers confronting wedding guests circulated on social media.

The footage showed guests dressed in colourful Nigerian traditional outfits and formal attire leaving the venue as police officers stood outside the hall.

According to Dutch regional media reports, the incident began after residents complained about the volume of music coming from the celebration. The venue owner reportedly asked the organisers to reduce the noise, but the request was allegedly not followed.

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The owner subsequently decided to terminate the event, triggering anger among some attendees.

When police officers arrived, tensions reportedly escalated as some guests refused to leave the premises. Officers allegedly resorted to using batons and police dogs to disperse the gathering.

Two men were arrested during the incident. Local reports identified them as a 61-year-old Rotterdam resident and a 20-year-old man without a permanent place of residence. They were reportedly suspected of failing to obey police orders.

The confrontation has sparked allegations of racial discrimination, with some guests questioning whether the authorities would have responded similarly if another community had organised the celebration.

In one video circulating online, an attendee accused the officers of treating the guests unfairly, saying, “It is because we are blacks; you’re treating us like animals.”

A woman who identified herself as a wedding guest also challenged the circumstances surrounding the intervention. She claimed that a Moroccan celebration was taking place upstairs in the same building and questioned why the Nigerian wedding was stopped.

The woman further alleged that the guests were given approximately 10 minutes to leave the venue, describing the intervention as intimidating and distressing.

However, the discrimination allegations have not been independently substantiated, and the available reports do not establish whether race played any role in the police action.

The reported noise complaints, the venue owner’s decision to end the celebration and the refusal of some attendees to leave were cited as the circumstances leading to the confrontation.

The incident has divided opinion on social media. While some users have criticised the manner in which the wedding was disrupted, others have argued that organisers of social gatherings must comply with local noise regulations and lawful police instructions.

The episode has also renewed discussions about Nigerian weddings abroad, which often feature lively music, traditional attire, energetic dancing and extended celebrations.

For Nigerians living in the diaspora, the incident highlights the importance of understanding local rules when organising large social events. At the same time, the allegations have prompted calls for clarity about the circumstances surrounding the police intervention and whether the response was proportionate.

The incident has drawn attention to the challenges of balancing cultural celebrations with local regulations, as well as the need to ensure that public-order rules are enforced fairly and consistently.

Drama as Dutch Police Use Batons, Dogs to Shut Down Nigerian Wedding; Two Arrested

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LAWMA Deploying CCTV Cameras to Hunt Down Illegal Dumpers, says MD 

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LAWMA Deploying CCTV Cameras to Hunt Down Illegal Dumpers, says MD 

 

The Lagos State Government is stepping up its crackdown on indiscriminate waste disposal, with the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) planning to install surveillance cameras at strategic locations across the state to identify and prosecute environmental offenders.

The initiative, alongside a partnership with the Lagos State Command Centre, is designed to strengthen surveillance, deter illegal dumping and ensure stricter compliance with environmental regulations.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this during an interview on Lagos Talks 91.3 FM on Monday, saying the measures would complement the authority’s ongoing enforcement and public awareness campaigns.

According to a statement by LAWMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr Mukaila Sanusi, Gbadegesin stressed that providing improved waste collection infrastructure alone would not guarantee a cleaner environment without a corresponding change in residents’ attitudes towards waste disposal.

He said sustained enforcement was essential to tackling entrenched practices that undermine environmental sanitation, adding that the planned deployment of LAWMA-owned cameras would enhance the authority’s ability to monitor public spaces and identify offenders for appropriate legal action.

Gbadegesin noted that improved service delivery, public enlightenment and consistent enforcement must go hand in hand to achieve a cleaner Lagos.

He cited feedback from a Mushin resident, Adegboyega, who acknowledged seeing LAWMA’s new compactors operating in the area, as evidence of the importance of visible waste management services in building public confidence.

The LAWMA chief also disclosed that the arrival of 150 new waste trucks would boost waste collection and evacuation across the state.

He said the authority had intensified house-to-house waste collection interventions to address accumulated refuse following the disengagement of underperforming Private Sector Participants (PSPs).

Gbadegesin urged residents to patronise approved waste collection operators, package their refuse properly and report incidents of illegal dumping.

He emphasised that while the government was investing in additional trucks and improved waste management infrastructure, residents also had a responsibility to support the drive for a cleaner environment through responsible disposal practices.

Beyond enforcement and waste collection, the LAWMA boss highlighted the potential of waste-to-energy technology to transform organic waste into useful resources, including electricity, as part of Lagos State’s broader push towards resource recovery and a circular economy.

He disclosed that a State Steering Committee had been established to advance plans for a proposed biogas plant, alongside other initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on conventional waste disposal methods and extracting economic value from refuse.

The authority is also pursuing improvements to waste transfer and resource recovery infrastructure, including Transfer Loading Stations and Material Recovery Facilities, to strengthen waste handling, sorting and recycling across the state.

Gbadegesin reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to combining technology-driven surveillance, stricter enforcement, public advocacy and improved service delivery to combat illegal dumping and sustain environmental sanitation.

He maintained that achieving a cleaner Lagos would require a collective effort by the government, waste management operators and residents.

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How Bandits Demand ₦300m Ransom for Abducted Kaduna Couple, Baby in Viral Video

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How Bandits Demand ₦300m Ransom for Abducted Kaduna Couple, Baby in Viral Video

How Bandits Demand ₦300m Ransom for Abducted Kaduna Couple, Baby in Viral Video

Armed bandits have released a video showing an abducted couple and their infant daughter in captivity in Kaduna State, with the kidnappers demanding ₦300 million for the family’s release.

The video, which circulated on social media on Monday, October 12, shows the father, identified in reports as Ahmed Abubakar Zakka, appealing to Nigerians to help secure the freedom of himself, his wife and their baby.

The family was reportedly abducted when armed men invaded Alrahus Estate in Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, late at night.

In the footage, Zakka is seen holding his infant daughter while his wife sits beside him. An armed man, whose face was concealed, points a rifle at him and threatens to shoot him.

Speaking in Hausa, the captive father appeals for assistance, saying the kidnappers are demanding ₦300 million, an amount he says he cannot raise.

His wife is also heard pleading for help as the family remains in the hands of their abductors.

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Reports of the incident indicate that the attack affected other residents of the estate, with a pregnant woman reportedly among those abducted during the same raid.

The gunmen were said to have moved through residential buildings, forcing their way into homes and taking occupants away.

The abduction has heightened concerns over the safety of residents of Millennium City and surrounding communities, where reports of armed attacks and kidnappings have continued to generate anxiety.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on security agencies to act swiftly to secure the release of Zakka, his wife, their infant daughter and other Nigerians being held captive.

Atiku described the video as a painful reminder of the insecurity confronting families across the country. He urged the authorities to move beyond assurances and take effective measures to rescue abducted persons, protect vulnerable communities and bring those responsible for the crimes to justice.

Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the lawmaker representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, also expressed concern over recurring kidnappings in Millennium City, particularly around the Dan Bushiya area.

He called on the Kaduna State Government, the police and other security agencies to intensify operations, improve intelligence gathering and ensure the immediate rescue of the victims.

As of the time of reporting, the Kaduna State Police Command had not publicly provided a substantive update on the family’s rescue.

The command’s spokesperson, Mansir Hassam, reportedly said he would respond to enquiries about the incident, but no further response had been received by the time the report was filed.

The family’s condition and the status of any rescue operation remained unclear in the reports available.

The incident has renewed calls for stronger security measures in residential communities and urgent intervention to secure the safe return of the abducted family.

How Bandits Demand ₦300m Ransom for Abducted Kaduna Couple, Baby in Viral Video

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