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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Man Allegedly Caught Using Old Tyres to Scam POS Operator

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Man Allegedly Caught Using Old Tyres to Scam POS Operator

Man Allegedly Caught Using Old Tyres to Scam POS Operator

A man was reportedly caught in an alleged attempt to scam a POS operator by presenting old and damaged car tyres wrapped in nylon as new ones in exchange for cash.

The incident, captured in a video circulating on social media, reportedly occurred after the man approached a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator seeking cash.

According to reports, the man claimed that he wanted to make a withdrawal but that a bank transfer had failed because of network problems.

He allegedly asked the operator to release the cash and offered several tyres wrapped in nylon as collateral, claiming they were new and promising to return later to redeem them.

The unusual arrangement reportedly attracted the attention of people around the POS stand, who became suspicious of the man’s explanation.

The packages were subsequently opened, revealing that the tyres were allegedly old, worn and damaged, rather than the new tyres he was said to have presented them as.

The discovery reportedly sparked a confrontation, with a crowd gathering around the man after the alleged scheme was exposed.

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The circulating video shows the man being confronted by people at the scene. Reports also indicate that he was at risk of mob action before the situation was brought under control.

It remains unclear where exactly the incident occurred, while the man’s identity has not been publicly established.

There is also no confirmed police statement indicating whether he was formally arrested, questioned or charged over the alleged incident.

The reported incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by operators in Nigeria’s expanding POS business, where agents routinely handle cash and electronic transfers for customers.

POS operators have previously been targeted by different forms of fraud, including fake bank alerts, disputed transfers and attempts to persuade agents to release cash before transactions are independently confirmed.

The alleged tyre scheme appears to have relied on a combination of urgency, a failed-transfer claim and the appearance of the wrapped items to convince the operator to release cash.

The incident has also highlighted the dangers of jungle justice, with observers urging people who encounter suspected fraud to alert law-enforcement authorities rather than resorting to violence.

For POS operators, the incident serves as another reminder to independently confirm that funds have been credited before releasing cash, regardless of screenshots, verbal explanations or items offered as security.

The allegation against the man has not been tested in court, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Man Allegedly Caught Using Old Tyres to Scam POS Operator

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BREAKING: FG Unveils 10 Measures to Cushion Fuel Price, Inflation Pressures

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BREAKING: FG Unveils 10 Measures to Cushion Fuel Price, Inflation Pressures
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele

BREAKING: FG Unveils 10 Measures to Cushion Fuel Price, Inflation Pressures

The Federal Government has announced a 10-point intervention package aimed at cushioning the impact of rising petrol prices, transportation costs and inflation on households and businesses while maintaining its broader economic reform programme.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the measures on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, acknowledging that Nigerians were still facing significant pressure despite various reforms introduced by the administration.

Oyedele said the interventions include a 30-day petrol discount at NNPC stations, forward sales of crude oil to domestic refineries, a proposed ₦1,350-per-litre modulation on petrol landing costs, faster deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, removal of selected levies, targeted support for vulnerable households and small businesses, and the establishment of a National Strategic Fuel Reserve.

He stressed, however, that the measures should not be interpreted as a return to the former petrol subsidy regime, which he said created significant fiscal and market distortions.

“To be perfectly clear, none of these measures restore a blanket subsidy. To do so would amount to creating longer-term harm for a short-term cure,” Oyedele said.

According to him, the government’s objective is to provide immediate relief while protecting consumers from sharp price movements without recreating the long-term fiscal burden associated with fuel subsidies.

The first intervention is a 30-day discount on petrol sold through NNPC Limited retail stations, with public transport operators expected to receive priority.

Oyedele said the measure was designed to provide immediate relief to transport operators and commuters affected by rising fuel costs.

“It is not a subsidy. Government is just saying we sell to you at a discount,” he explained.

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The minister did not immediately disclose the exact amount of the discount or a single nationwide pump price that would apply during the 30-day period.

The second measure involves forward sales of crude oil to domestic refineries as crude production increases and previously committed volumes become available.

Oyedele said the arrangement would provide domestic refiners with greater certainty over crude supply and reduce their exposure to sudden movements in international crude prices.

Under the proposed arrangement, the government could agree to sell crude to refiners at a predetermined price for a specified period, enabling them to plan their operations and manage costs more effectively.

“If you can sell your crude forward, we sell to the refiners for the next six months. We are selling you crude at $80 per barrel, for example. That preserves your budget, provides certainty to the refiners and price stability to the consumer,” he said.

The third intervention is a price-modulation mechanism under which the government is negotiating a ceiling of ₦1,350 per litre on the landing or ex-gantry cost of petrol.

The objective is to prevent domestic petrol prices from responding immediately to every movement in international crude prices or the foreign-exchange market.

Under the proposed mechanism, when the actual cost rises above the agreed ceiling, refiners and importers would initially absorb the difference and recover it when market conditions improve.

Oyedele stressed that the arrangement was neither a subsidy nor conventional price control but a mechanism designed to smooth out price movements.

He explained that greater price stability would be preferable to sharp increases followed by uncertain reductions.

The proposed ceiling would be reviewed monthly, with relevant calculations and data expected to be published to promote transparency.

The ₦1,350 figure is therefore a proposed landing-cost or ex-gantry ceiling, rather than a declaration that petrol will sell at ₦1,350 per litre at every filling station nationwide.

The fourth intervention focuses on reducing dependence on petrol through CNG and other alternative energy sources.

Oyedele said more than 120,000 vehicles were already operating on CNG, supported by more than 400 conversion centres, 96 refuelling stations and 18 unified CNG stations.

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He added that the government had deployed hundreds of CNG buses, with commuters in areas where the buses operate benefiting from fare reductions of between 30 and 50 per cent.

The government has also removed taxes on electric vehicles and solar equipment and reduced import duties on vehicles as part of efforts to encourage the adoption of cheaper and cleaner alternatives to petrol.

According to Oyedele, Nigeria Customs Service data showed that imports of CNG-powered vehicles, including tricycles, electric vehicles and renewable-energy equipment, had more than doubled since May 2023.

He said the government had also granted tax and duty waivers worth more than ₦100 billion within the first nine months of the current intervention period.

The fifth measure involves the removal of levies and charges that increase transportation and logistics costs.

Oyedele said the Federal Government was working with state governments under the new tax laws to eliminate unnecessary charges that ultimately raise the cost of moving people and goods.

The government also plans to strengthen cash transfers to vulnerable households and provide subsidised credit to small businesses and consumers facing higher operating and living costs.

The sixth intervention is an accelerated nationwide CNG infrastructure rollout.

Oyedele said the Federal Government would work with state governments to expand CNG deployment and urged transport operators to pass the savings from cheaper fuel on to passengers through lower fares.

The government wants the initiative to gradually reduce dependence on petrol while giving commuters access to cheaper transportation.

The seventh measure is the proposed introduction of an excess-profit tax on operators found to be taking undue advantage of prevailing market conditions at the expense of consumers.

Oyedele said proceeds from the proposed measure could be used to cushion the impact of food prices through transport support or vouchers targeted at vulnerable urban households and wage earners.

“We will collect it from them and give to the vulnerable people,” he said.

The minister added that the Federal Government would work with the National Assembly on enhanced tax relief for low-income earners under the 2027 Finance Bill.

The eighth intervention targets regulatory costs and red tape that increase the cost of doing business and are eventually passed on to consumers through higher prices.

Oyedele said the government had commenced discussions with regulatory agencies to identify unnecessary costs and processes that could be eliminated.

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The ninth measure is the establishment of a National Strategic Fuel Reserve to protect households and businesses from supply disruptions, artificial scarcity and excessive price volatility.

According to Oyedele, refined petroleum products would be released into the market under clear and publicly published rules whenever global disruptions, hoarding or other factors threatened supply and price stability.

He stressed that the reserve would not be used to fix petrol prices or subsidise the product.

“This is not a subsidy, and it does not fix prices. Rather, it secures supplies and reduces price volatility,” he said.

The reserve is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security, reduce the risk of artificial scarcity and provide a buffer during periods of major supply disruption.

The 10th intervention focuses on traffic management and logistics, particularly in major urban centres.

Oyedele said traffic management agencies would be expected to improve traffic flow to reduce fuel consumption and transportation costs.

He also cited the recently launched digital addressing system as part of efforts to make logistics more efficient and reduce the cost of moving goods and services.

Beyond the 10 measures, Oyedele said the government was continuing other interventions aimed at reducing pressure on household energy and food costs.

He said the government continued to support electricity for vulnerable consumers and was also working to improve gas and fertiliser supply for producers.

Oyedele said the Federal Government had granted a full waiver of taxes and duties on petrol worth more than ₦3.3 trillion up to September 30, 2026, as part of measures to reduce the cost burden on consumers.

He said the government’s approach was broadly consistent with international responses to energy-price shocks, which increasingly favour targeted support, tax adjustments, improved energy efficiency and supply security over broad-based subsidies.

The minister acknowledged that the measures already implemented had not completely eliminated the pressure on households.

“We recognise that these measures, important as they are, do not fully relieve the pressure households feel today,” he said.

Oyedele nevertheless maintained that returning to a blanket petrol subsidy would not provide a sustainable solution, arguing that Nigeria had previously experienced fuel scarcity, smuggling, currency pressures and significant fiscal difficulties under the system.

“Because fuel is real, I will not dismiss it. The cost of reform came at a price, and many households are still bearing it,” he said.

He added that the government was working on a broader package of fiscal measures aimed at bringing inflation down to single digits sustainably in the near term.

Further details of the fiscal package, he said, would be released in the coming months.

The latest measures come as petrol prices remain a major driver of transportation and household costs, with changes in global crude prices, exchange rates, refinery pricing and distribution expenses continuing to affect the domestic market.

The government says it will continue to monitor developments in the energy market and introduce further interventions where necessary, while avoiding policies that could recreate the long-term fiscal pressures associated with petrol subsidies.

Oyedele said the ultimate objective was to combine immediate relief with structural reforms that would reduce Nigeria’s vulnerability to energy-price shocks, lower transportation costs, strengthen domestic refining and improve energy security.

He said the Federal Government remained committed to ensuring that the benefits of the economic reforms translated into tangible improvements in the living conditions of Nigerians.

BREAKING: FG Unveils 10 Measures to Cushion Fuel Price, Inflation Pressures

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Police Arrest Five, Recover Three Guns, Ammunition in Enugu

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Police Arrest Five, Recover Three Guns, Ammunition in Enugu
Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa

Police Arrest Five, Recover Three Guns, Ammunition in Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested five suspects in separate operations across the state and recovered three firearms, six rounds of live ammunition and other exhibits.

The arrests were made between September 18 and October 7, 2026, as part of the command’s ongoing intelligence-led operations against armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes.

In the latest operation, operatives of the Inyi Police Division responded to a distress call over an alleged armed robbery at Umuaor, Umukabia Isiama Awlaw community in Oji River Local Government Area at about 5:10 a.m. on October 7.

The operation led to the arrest of 26-year-old Arinze Osita Onwuaso, while other suspects reportedly fled the scene.

Police said operatives recovered a locally made cut-to-size single-barrel gun, two live cartridges, a pry bar, hammer, scissors and chisel from him.

In another operation on October 5, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Section of the Violent Crime Response Unit, attached to the Nsukka sector, arrested two suspected cult members at Umudioka community in Nsukka Local Government Area.

The suspects were identified as 24-year-old Jonas Adejo, also known as J-Money, and 25-year-old Okoro Innocent, also known as Virus.

According to the police, three rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered from the two suspects.

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The command said the suspects allegedly confessed during interrogation to belonging to the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, an allegation they would have the opportunity to challenge in court.

A separate operation on September 25 resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Anichebe Ogbonna at an alleged criminal hideout in Amagu Mpu community, Aninri Local Government Area.

Police operatives, working with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, reportedly raided the location following intelligence on suspected criminal activities.

A locally made pistol was allegedly recovered from Ogbonna.

Meanwhile, operatives of the 9th Mile Police Division arrested 38-year-old Chukwujekwu Chukwuemeka at Ameke-Ngwo, Udi Local Government Area, at about 11 p.m. on September 18.

The police said Chukwuemeka was arrested following information allegedly linking him to armed robbery activities in the area.

A cut-to-size pump-action gun and one live cartridge were reportedly recovered from him.

The four operations produced a total of five arrests, three firearms and six rounds of ammunition, with investigations continuing into the alleged offences and the suspects’ individual roles.

The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the officers involved and residents whose information assisted the operations.

Giwa urged residents to continue providing credible information to the police to help prevent armed robbery, cult-related violence and other security threats across the state.

The suspects remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.

Police Arrest Five, Recover Three Guns, Ammunition in Enugu

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