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8 Months After Abduction: 13 Yauri Schoolgirls ‘Married Off’ To Bandits

Published

4 years ago

February 21, 2022

Eight months after the abduction of 80 students from the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, more than 10 of them are still being held by their captives, despite payment of ransom and prisoner swap, at different times.

Daily Trust also reliably gathered that no fewer than 13 of the female students were married off to bandits with some of them already pregnant.

Bandits loyal to a kingpin, Dogo Gide, ransacked the school on June 17, last year, and left with dozens of students and five teachers of the federal government-owned mixed boarding school.

Daily Trust reliably gathered that between 11 and 14 of the students are still being held by Gide with only one of them a male.

Also, one more student of Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna is still being held by his abductors, over seven months after he and scores of his schoolmates were rounded off at night by attackers who killed two security personnel on guard duty.

Daily Trust recalls that at least 10 schools abductions were recorded last year as bandits’ gangs targeted schools in Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Kebbi states.

The abductions followed the first of such attacks by bandits in December 2020 when a gang led by one Auwal Daudawa attacked Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State, and abducted over 200 students.

Long in misery

The FGC Yauri attack, which occurred less than 20 days after the mass abduction of pupils from Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School, Tegina, Niger State, caused a stir and raised concerns among stakeholders about the safety of students, especially in schools around areas affected by security challenges.

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Immediately after the abduction, a few of the victims were retrieved by security forces while others were released by the bandits as part of negotiation talks.

Dozens of the abductees were subsequently released in two batches to negotiators in October and January.

Gide, who is believed to be the bandit closest to jihadi groups due to his long association with the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Bilad as-Sudan, better known as Ansaru, had in a telephone conversation threatened to convert the students by training the males on gun-handling and marrying off the females.

The terrorist group, Boko Haram, had meted out similar treatment to captors, notably the Chibok girls abducted in 2014.

Persons familiar with efforts to secure the release of the victims told Daily Trust that the bandits’ kingpin had made good his pledge as he married off at least 13 of the students.

The girls were said to be given out to bandits and a few interested persons living in villages around areas controlled by Gide, along the boundary between Niger and Zamfara states.

The bandits’ kingpin is holding on two the students despite receiving huge amounts in ransom and two of his men freed as part of negotiations in October, as reported by Daily Trust at the time.

Speaking during the national campaign on out-of-school children in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital in late January, Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, confirmed that 14 of the students were still in captivity.

Also, the Special Adviser on Security to Kebbi State Governor, Garba Rabiu Kamba, told Daily Trust by phone last week that there were 14 students yet to be released by the bandits.

But a source who had participated in past talks to release the students told our reporter that three more schoolgirls were released to their parents in mid-January, with all of them coming back pregnant.

“Eleven are there now; 10 girls who are married and one boy. The three he released to their parents in January came back pregnant,” said the source who craved for anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Lone Bethel student in custody

Meanwhile, a 12-year-old JSS 1 student of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna State, who was kidnapped on July 2, 2021 along with dozens of others, has remained in captivity, Daily Trust gathered.

The student (names withheld) is the only one left after the bandits released his schoolmates in batches following a series of negotiations. The latest release was on January 2 when two out of the three students were released to the detriment of negotiators and family members who expected release of all the three remaining captives.

‘We’re working to secure their release’

Both the federal and Kebbi State governments have said they are making efforts to secure the release of the remaining Yauri students.

Speaking at the Birnin-Kebbi event, Mr Nwajiuba said “The government will continue to do all it can to free our children who are being held for what they know nothing about,” in reference to the students.

Also, the Kebbi governor’s security adviser, Kamba, said the state government was still following up to get the remaining students freed.

The chairman of Kaduna State chapter the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend John Joseph Hayab, told Daily Trust last night that efforts were still on to secure the release of the lone Bethel School student still in custody.

Daily Trust

Related Topics:abduction Bandits Featured married schoolgirls Yauri

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Granite-Laden Truck Kills Motorist, Leaves Wife Critically Injured in Lekki–Ajah Crash

Published

7 minutes ago

February 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Granite-Laden Truck Kills Motorist, Leaves Wife Critically Injured in Lekki–Ajah Crash

A granite-laden articulated truck on Thursday caused a fatal accident at EKEKO (Eleko) Junction along the Lekki–Ajah Expressway in Lagos, killing a male motorist and leaving his wife critically injured.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, describing the crash as a tragic and avoidable road traffic catastrophe.

According to LASTMA’s preliminary findings, the truck, heavily loaded with granite, was travelling at excessive speed from the Epe axis toward Eleko Junction when it reportedly suffered a catastrophic brake failure. The mechanical malfunction allegedly caused the driver to lose control, leading the truck to veer off its lane and collide violently with a Toyota saloon car travelling from Ajah inward Epe.

The impact was said to be severe, with the articulated truck toppling and crushing the smaller vehicle beneath its weight. The driver of the Toyota car became trapped in the wreckage.

Officials of LASTMA, working alongside personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and public-spirited bystanders, extricated the victim from the mangled vehicle. He was, however, pronounced dead at the scene.

His wife, who occupied the front passenger seat, sustained life-threatening injuries and was immediately rescued and rushed for urgent medical treatment. An ambulance deployed by the FRSC evacuated both the deceased and the injured woman for further medical and mortuary procedures.

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The truck driver reportedly fled the scene after realising the gravity of the accident. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, including issues of speeding, mechanical failure, and compliance with safety regulations.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the bereaved family, describing the incident as a deeply distressing and preventable tragedy. He reiterated the agency’s commitment to strict enforcement of traffic laws, particularly against reckless driving, overspeeding, poor vehicle maintenance, and safety violations involving heavy-duty trucks.

Fuel Tanker Fire on Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway

In a separate development, a 33,000-litre fuel tanker caught fire around midnight at Ile-Zik inward Magboro along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway.

According to Taofiq, the LASTMA Rescue Team, in collaboration with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, responded swiftly and successfully contained the inferno before it could spread to adjoining properties and vehicles.

No casualties were reported in the tanker fire incident, though traffic was temporarily disrupted as emergency responders battled the blaze.

Renewed Calls for Road Safety Enforcement

The twin incidents have renewed concerns over the safety of articulated trucks and petroleum tankers operating on major Lagos highways. Road safety stakeholders continue to call for stricter enforcement of vehicle roadworthiness checks, speed regulations, and driver accountability to prevent avoidable fatalities.

Authorities have urged haulage operators to prioritise regular mechanical inspections and responsible driving practices to safeguard lives and property on the state’s busy expressways.

Granite-Laden Truck Kills Motorist, Leaves Wife Critically Injured in Lekki–Ajah Crash

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Gunmen Abduct Five from Edo Health Centre, Demand ₦100 Million Ransom

Published

6 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Edo State police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem

Gunmen Abduct Five from Edo Health Centre, Demand ₦100 Million Ransom

A kidnapping incident in Akoko‑Edo Local Government Area, Edo State, has left residents alarmed after five people were abducted from the Makeke Health Centre. The kidnappers have reportedly contacted families, demanding a ₦100 million ransom for the release of two of the victims.

The abductions occurred on February 8, 2026, targeting individuals seeking and providing medical services. The confirmed victims include Mrs. Gladys Okomayin, a nurse at the health centre; Miss Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student; and Mr. Samuel Ilesanmi, who had brought his son for treatment. The names of the two other victims have not yet been released.

Eyewitnesses reported that the nurse was later abandoned in the bush as she could not keep pace with the kidnappers during their retreat. Following the incident, local hunters and vigilantes mobilised to comb the forests for the abducted individuals, but efforts to locate them were unsuccessful.

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The kidnappers have demanded ₦100 million for the release of Miss Oriloye and Mr. Ilesanmi, heightening fears over a rising spate of kidnappings in Edo State and surrounding regions.

Mr. Omowumi Bode Ekundayo, National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, warned that the security situation is deteriorating, stressing that the area has become a gateway for criminal activities from neighboring states. He called on security agencies and state authorities to take urgent action to prevent further tragedies.

The Edo State Police Command, through Public Relations Officer Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the kidnappings and stated that investigations and rescue operations are ongoing. Authorities are working to ensure the safe return of the victims and apprehend those responsible.

This incident adds to Edo State’s growing security challenges, as communities continue to grapple with abductions and ransom demands across rural and semi-urban areas. Residents and local leaders have urged stronger police presence and rapid intervention strategies to tackle the kidnapping menace.

Gunmen Abduct Five from Edo Health Centre, Demand ₦100 Million Ransom

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Ex-Acting AGF Nwabuoku Admits Diverting N868.4 Million to Private Firms

Published

6 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Ex-Acting AGF Nwabuoku Admits Diverting N868.4 Million to Private Firms

Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, the former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, has admitted in the Federal High Court in Abuja to authorising the transfer of N868.4 million in public funds from the Ministry of Defence to four private companies. The confession, made during cross-examination on Tuesday, marks a dramatic turn in the ongoing money laundering trial against the former senior public finance official.

The court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, heard that the funds were transferred to Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited. Nwabuoku described the transactions in a written statement to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as for “classified security purposes.” However, this contradicted his earlier testimony in court, where he denied any links to the companies.

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During cross-examination by prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, Nwabuoku was confronted with his ICPC statement dated February 2, 2025, in which he admitted authorising the payments while serving as the Director of Finance at the Defence Ministry. The prosecution argued that there was no evidence that the funds were used for lawful security purposes, insisting that the transactions lacked proper documentation or justification.

Nwabuoku also addressed questions regarding his personal residence, claiming he purchased the property with legitimate earnings. However, he acknowledged a N64 million cheque issued by Mdavi Limited to City Gate Homes for the acquisition of the house, raising further questions about the source of funds.

He faces nine counts of money laundering linked to the N868,465,000, with the EFCC prosecuting the case. Earlier, the court dismissed his no-case submission, ruling that sufficient evidence existed for him to open his defence. The trial has highlighted alleged gaps in public finance management and accountability, particularly in senior government offices.

The case has been adjourned to February 27, 2026, for the adoption of written addresses by counsel, as the court continues to weigh evidence in one of Nigeria’s most high-profile anti-corruption trials.

The proceedings have attracted significant attention, reflecting growing public demand for transparency and the recovery of misappropriated public funds. Nwabuoku’s admission is expected to play a key role in the prosecution’s case and could influence how accountability measures are enforced in the management of federal resources.