I paid N80m ransom for my mum, sister’s release after Kaduna train attack – Witness - Newstrends
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I paid N80m ransom for my mum, sister’s release after Kaduna train attack – Witness

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Abuja-Kaduna train attack

I paid N80m ransom for my mum, sister’s release after Kaduna train attack – Witness

A masked individual, known as Prosecution Witness-D (PW-D), testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, revealing that he paid N80 million for the release of his mother and sister following the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

The witness provided this testimony during the ongoing trial of Tukur Mamu, a kidnap negotiator facing charges related to terrorism.

The witness explained that both his mother and sister were released alongside two other victims of the attack. PW-D was led in evidence by David Kaswe, the Attorney-General’s Federation (AGF) legal representative.

The witness, also identified simply as “D,” said that he was informed at about 8.30 pm on March 28, 2022, that his mother and sister were on the ill-fated  train in which passengers were kidnapped, some killed, some injured and some rescued.

He said that the following morning of the attack, he went to Kaduna Hospital where the injured passengers were taken to but he could not find his mother or sister.

He said two weeks after the train attack, he received a call from the kidnappers, who wanted him to speak with a victim, who turned out to be his sister.

He said he communicated regularly with the abductors for about two weeks before they demanded for N200 million ransom each from victims’ relatives.

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He said though some paid, the witness said a month after the ransom was demanded, the kidnappers called him through his sister and gave him names of four journalists through whom negotiation could be done.

The PW-D said four journalists’ names and their phone numbers were given to him.

He further stated that he contacted three of the names and  they declined.

The witness, however, said among the four journalists, only Tukur Mamu volunteered “to take up the responsibility.”

“Two days later, I received a call from my sister and my sister told me that she was in good shape and that I should not get agitated.”

The witness told the court that his sister informed him that the kidnappers said his mother, sister and some others were not their target.

“She said they were victims of circumstances that they were circumstantial victims that they were not the targets.

“I asked about my late mum and she said they were all doing good,” he said.

He said that while they were struggling to raise the money, one Friday, he received calls from former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, and former Director General, Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi.

He said he was asked to see Irabor in Abuja.

He said he visited Irabor and told him his plights and the little he knew.

He said Irabor instructed him that whatever he discussed with Mamu, he should let him (Irabor) know.

He said Irabor thereafter linked him with a committee set up by the Federal Government to facilitate the release of the kidnapped victims

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He said the kidnappers stopped communicating with him after he told them that Mamu had accepted “to take up the responsibility.”

“As soon  as they contacted Tukur Mamu, they stopped communicating with us. Every information is from Tukur Mamu.

“We will go to Tukur Mamu and he will tell us they have asked us to pay 100 million each.

“When the negotiation was going on, we had to link Tukur Mamu with the CDS committee.”

He said that on a fateful day, his sister called him that he should go back to Mamu and negotiate.

The witness said he called Mamu but he told him that he had pencilled his name down and would not discussed with him any longer.

“After some people started getting their loved ones out, it got to a stage that kidnappers were no longer talking with CDS committee.

“It should be noted that Tukur Mamu penciled me as government agent. So he never wants to talk to me.”

The witness said he was handicap and approached his (witness) relation who was once Mamu’s boss and the man obliged and intervened.

He said the ransom was then reduced from N200 million to N150 million, to N100 million before they accepted to take N80 million.

He said that in August 2022 when he brought the N80 million ransom in cash to Mamu in his compound in Kaduna, he asked him to convert it to dollar.

The witness said he did and got a total of 118,750 U.S. dollars .

He said two weeks after, Mamu called him for an additional money to make it up a total of 120,000 dollars.

The witness said he took the money to Mamu on Thursday but he was informed by him that the kidnappers had difficulties due to swampy terrain.

He said after Jumai prayer on Friday, the next day, Mamu called to informed that he had established contact with the kidnappers.

“I drove out from Mamu’s compound on  a hired gulf car packed with bread and milk as demanded by the kidnappers.”

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He said that after about 20 minutes, he received a call asking him to follow a vehicle in front marked 211 and they went towards Binin Gwari.

He said after the town, they stopped and the kidnappers came and brought his mother and sister and the other two victims.

Under cross examination by the defence counsel Abdul Mohammed SAN, the witness said he took the money he brought and a written note from Mamu to the kidnappers.

The witness said he did not know whether the CDS communicated with Mamu because he was not a member of the committee.

He clarified that a former commissioner negotiated with Mamu.

He agreed with the defence counsel that the kidnappers said they needed four journalists that they would pay to do a job for them.

On whether it was the kidnappers that were dictating what should be done, the judge said the court would determine that from the record.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had, on March 21, 2023, arraigned Mamu for allegedly aiding terrorist operations in the country.

The Kaduna-based Islamic scholar was further accused of collecting various sums of money in different currencies from families of victims of the train attack, on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorists sect.

FG told the court that investigations revealed that the defendant collected an aggregate sum of $420, 000 from families of the victims, as well as N21 million from another set of families of the train attack.

It further alleged that Mamu concealed funds he earned from services he rendered to the terrorist organisation, in his residence in Kaduna State.

It told the court that the defendant had sometime in 2022, in Kaduna State, received ransom payments in the sum of N500, 000 on behalf of the Boko haram terrorist group, from families of the train attack that were held as hostages.

More so, in the charge that was signed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mr M.B. Abubakar, FG added that the defendant exchanged voice note communications with one Baba Adamu, identified as spokesperson of the Boko Haram, in relation to acts of terrorism.

It maintained that the defendant acted in breach of the Terrorism Prevention, Prohibition Act, 2022.

Mamu, however, denied all the allegations.

I paid N80m ransom for my mum, sister’s release after Kaduna train attack – Witness

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State Police Bill: Public Submissions Close Today as Nigeria Nears Historic Policing Reform

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August 13, 2026

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State Police Reform: FG Invites Nigerians to Submit Policy Proposals as Draft Bill Nears September Deadline
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill

State Police Bill: Public Submissions Close Today as Nigeria Nears Historic Policing Reform

The Presidency has announced that the window for public submissions on the proposed National Policing Bill will close at 5 PM today, Thursday, August 13, 2026. Nigerians have until the deadline to contribute their views on the proposed legislation, a key component of the Federal Government’s efforts to establish state police across the country. The closure marks the end of an intensive public consultation period that has seen citizens, civil society organisations, and security experts weigh in on what could become one of the most transformative security reforms in Nigeria’s history.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, disclosed the deadline on Wednesday and urged citizens, professionals, and stakeholders to take advantage of the final opportunity to shape the proposed framework. The public consultation, launched on August 3 alongside the nationalpolicingbill.com platform, was deliberately opened while critical decisions were still being made, allowing professional expertise and lived experiences to influence the drafting process before the executive proposal is finalised. Gbajabiamila emphasised that this was not a mere token exercise but a genuine effort to ensure that the final bill reflects the aspirations and concerns of everyday Nigerians who would be most affected by the establishment of state police.

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One of the most persistent fears surrounding the state police proposal has been the possibility of political interference, and Gbajabiamila addressed this head-on, acknowledging that state governors could misuse state-controlled police forces against political opponents, peaceful protesters, journalists, and minority communities. He emphasised that the proposed framework must contain strong protections against abuse and that the law must be designed in a way that makes it difficult for political officeholders to bend police operations to their will. “The concern that governors might use state police against political opponents, minority communities or dissenting voices is serious and must be answered in the design of the law,” Gbajabiamila stated. He stressed that the proposed law must make “unlawful orders easier to resist, misconduct easier to investigate, and political interference harder to hide,” while also ensuring that citizens have access to credible complaints and independent oversight mechanisms. Officers, he added, must be properly recruited, trained, equipped, and supervised to maintain professional standards across all state police services.

Despite the progress made on the proposed National Policing Bill, Gbajabiamila clarified that state police cannot be established immediately and that significant constitutional hurdles remain. Section 214 of the Nigerian Constitution currently provides for only one police force—the Nigeria Police Force—meaning a constitutional amendment is required before states can establish separate police services. Both chambers of the National Assembly have approved proposed constitutional amendments providing for a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, but the process is not yet complete. The amendments must complete remaining legislative stages in the National Assembly, then be approved by at least 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, and finally receive presidential assent. Gbajabiamila explained that “the constitutional amendment creates the authority and broad architecture for federal and state policing, but it does not by itself provide the complete operating framework,” underscoring the need for complementary legislation to fill in the operational details.

The Presidential Working Group is preparing the National Policing Bill to run alongside the constitutional amendment process, and the proposed legislation would establish national minimum standards covering a wide range of operational areas. These include recruitment, vetting, and training; remuneration, pensions, and equipment; professional conduct and discipline; use of force and complaints mechanisms; independent oversight; intelligence-sharing and cooperation between federal and state police services; and sustainable funding arrangements. The draft Executive Bill is scheduled for presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026, as part of a seven-week work programme running from July 27 to September 14. This timeline reflects the administration’s determination to move swiftly on the reform while ensuring that all necessary safeguards are built into the legislative framework before transmission to the National Assembly.

Gbajabiamila stressed that even after the constitutional amendment and National Policing Bill become law, state police will not automatically be established across all 36 states, as each state that chooses to establish a service will still need its own enabling law, institutions, and funding. It must also meet the national conditions for operation before its officers can begin policing, ensuring that no state rushes into establishing a police force without the necessary capacity and oversight mechanisms in place. States that are not ready or willing to establish their own police services would continue to be served by the Nigeria Police Force, guaranteeing that no citizen is left without policing coverage during the transitional period.

Gbajabiamila said the reform aims to build a policing system that is “closer, faster and better informed by local conditions,” with officers familiar with a community’s language, geography, and crime patterns better positioned to gather intelligence and respond effectively to local security challenges. However, he maintained that the new system must not sacrifice citizens’ rights, cautioning that “proximity does not guarantee justice.” He insisted that the law must protect citizens regardless of who holds office, and that it must protect opposition parties, peaceful protesters, journalists, and minority communities from potential abuses of power. The consultation will complement, rather than replace, the role of the National Assembly, which retains the power to scrutinise, amend, reject, or pass the Bill when transmitted. As the 5 PM deadline approaches, Nigerians are being reminded that their voices remain essential in shaping a reform that could redefine the relationship between citizens and the security apparatus for generations to come.

State Police Bill: Public Submissions Close Today as Nigeria Nears Historic Policing Reform

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Kwara police arrest suspected kidnapper while withdrawing ransom at POS

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27 minutes ago

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August 13, 2026

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Spokeswoman, Kwara State Police Command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi

Kwara police arrest suspected kidnapper while withdrawing ransom at POS

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate operating around the Obudu/Woru axis of Ilorin East Local Government Area after tracking him to a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal where he was allegedly attempting to withdraw ransom proceeds linked to a recent abduction.

The suspect, identified as Muhamodu Sanni, was intercepted by police operatives during an intelligence-led investigation into the abduction of three people during an armed attack on Obudu Village on July 28, 2026.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday, saying investigators expanded the operation beyond the scene of the attack to uncover the communication, logistics and financial channels allegedly supporting the kidnapping operation.

According to the command, intelligence gathered around the movement of the ransom payment eventually led operatives to Sanni at the POS terminal.

The police said the suspect was arrested while allegedly attempting to withdraw money connected to the ransom paid for the release of the kidnapped victims.

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The command said the development demonstrated the importance of investigating the financial trail associated with kidnapping operations, rather than focusing solely on the immediate perpetrators of an abduction.

“Rather than limit operational efforts to the immediate scene of the attack, investigators widened the scope of investigation to the communication, logistics and financial channels sustaining the criminal operation,” the statement said.

Police said Sanni cooperated with investigators during interrogation and allegedly provided information about his role in the collection of the ransom.

His disclosures reportedly led investigators to other suspected members of the network, identified as Aminu and Umar.

The command said further intelligence and operational leads were being pursued as investigators work to establish the wider structure of the suspected kidnapping network and identify other people allegedly involved in the operation.

The arrest comes amid continued security concerns over kidnapping and other violent crimes in parts of Kwara State, with security agencies increasingly relying on intelligence-led operations to identify criminal networks and disrupt their sources of funding and logistical support.

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would continue to target criminal networks and dismantle the structures supporting their operations.

Adekimi also urged residents to support security agencies by providing timely, credible and actionable information that could assist in preventing crime, locating suspects and protecting communities.

The command said the operation was being conducted in line with the intelligence-led policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

Police said efforts were ongoing to track down other suspects allegedly linked to the kidnapping syndicate and bring them before the law.

The command also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities or information that could assist ongoing investigations.

Kwara police arrest suspected kidnapper while withdrawing ransom at POS

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FRSC Zone RS 8 Benefits from Corps Marshal’s Repositioned Training

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August 13, 2026

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L-R: DCC Hakeem Abejide representing the Sector Commander, Kwara State; DCM Joshua Fanola Rtd; ACM Ann Oladayo, Zonal Commanding Officer Zone 8 covering Kwara, Ekiti & Kogi State; and CC Celestine Anzewu at the programme

FRSC Zone RS 8 Benefits from Corps Marshal’s Repositioned Training Initiative

As part of a sweeping nationwide push to overhaul frontline operations, non-commissioned officers under the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Zone RS 8—comprising Ekiti, Kogi, and Kwara states—have undergone an intensive professional repositioning training.

The programme, hosted at the zonal headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara State, is a core component of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed’s broader strategy to elevate service delivery, discipline, and operational efficiency across the agency.

Retired Deputy Corps Marshal Joshua Fanola facilitated the session, while Assistant Corps Marshal Ann Oladayo, the Zonal Commanding Officer, delivered the official address.

Themed “Repositioning Marshals for Effective Service Delivery,” the training directly supports the Corps’ 2026 Corporate Strategic Goals. These goals prioritize operational excellence, institutional integrity, digital transformation, and a measurable reduction in road traffic crashes nationwide.

Building Frontline Competence

Emphasizing that Marshals are the most visible face of the agency, Corps Marshal Mohammed noted that public confidence in the FRSC hinges directly on their conduct and competence.

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The curriculum covers a comprehensive range of critical areas, including:

* The FRSC Establishment Act and core operational procedures

* Advanced traffic management and emergency response protocols

* Ethical conduct, emotional intelligence, and effective public engagement

Nationwide Rollout

The capacity-building initiative is currently being rolled out in phases across all 12 FRSC zonal commands.

The initial phase successfully covered RS1HQ Kaduna and RS5HQ Benin between July 29 and 30, 2026, with subsequent phases expanding to the remaining zones.

Addressing the participants, Mohammed urged them to approach the program with commitment, stressing that the insights gained must translate into sharper patrol operations, better respect for human rights, and more proactive emergency responses.

He also instructed facilitators to keep sessions practical, interactive, and tailored to modern operational challenges.

Commending the FRSC Training Department for coordinating the initiative, Mohammed reaffirmed that continuous staff development remains a top priority of his administration.

Facilitator Joshua Fanola noted that the exercise is specifically designed to foster a more courteous, approachable, and professional demeanor among road marshals.

Participating officers expressed strong optimism that the training will significantly sharpen their competence and field effectiveness.

 

FRSC Zone RS 8 Benefits from Corps Marshal’s Repositioned Training Initiative

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