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MURIC Hails Tinubu, Makinde, Security Agencies Over Rescue of 46 Oriire Kidnap Victims
MURIC Hails Tinubu, Makinde, Security Agencies Over Rescue of 46 Oriire Kidnap Victims
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Nigerian security agencies for the successful rescue of 46 victims abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after spending 56 days in captivity.
The group described the operation as a major victory against kidnapping and praised the professionalism, resilience and strategic planning that led to the release of the victims.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC said the rescued victims comprised 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers who had been held by kidnappers since their abduction near Ogbomosho.
Akintola lauded President Tinubu for what he described as courageous leadership, Governor Makinde for remaining steadfast throughout the crisis, and the security operatives for their gallantry during the rescue mission.
According to him, the operation demonstrated that rescuing a large number of hostages requires patience, intelligence gathering and careful execution, contrary to criticisms that had trailed the government’s handling of the incident.
He noted that security agencies successfully isolated the kidnappers, restricted their movements and psychologically weakened them before carrying out the rescue operation.
The MURIC leader said many critics failed to appreciate the complexity of the operation, arguing that the abductors had used the victims as human shields, making any hasty military action potentially disastrous.
While congratulating the security agencies, Akintola also paid tribute to officers who lost their lives during the operation, particularly Lt. Festus Isaac and another fallen colleague.
He called on the Federal Government to immortalise the slain officers and adequately compensate their families.
According to him, the Federal Government should consider providing each family with a bungalow, while the Oyo State Government should pay at least N20 million to each bereaved family as compensation.
Akintola also advocated severe punishment for convicted kidnappers, arguing that those responsible for the killing of teacher Michael Oyedokun had forfeited any moral claim to sympathy.
He referenced Islamic law, stating that kidnapping and similar violent crimes attract stringent punishments under Shari’ah, while acknowledging that Nigeria’s democratic legal system follows different judicial procedures.
Despite his strong condemnation of criminality, Akintola urged Nigerians not to allow criminals to exploit religious differences.
He stressed that peaceful Christians and Muslims share a common interest in defeating terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, adding that national unity remains essential in overcoming insecurity.
MURIC therefore called on Nigerians to remain united and support security agencies in the ongoing fight against criminal elements across the country.
MURIC Hails Tinubu, Makinde, Security Agencies Over Rescue of 46 Oriire Kidnap Victims
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Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara
Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara
Notorious bandit leader Kachalla Sani Yellow has been killed in Zamfara State in what marks another significant development in the fight against banditry in Nigeria’s North-West.
The feared gang leader, who was linked to a series of deadly attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling operations across parts of Zamfara State, was reportedly killed in Anka Local Government Area.
However, conflicting accounts have emerged over the circumstances surrounding his death.
One report claimed that Sani Yellow was ambushed and shot dead at Dan Jibga Market by gunmen allegedly loyal to rival bandit kingpin Dogo Gide. The incident is believed to be connected to the growing power struggle among criminal gangs operating in the state, as rival factions continue to battle for dominance.
Another account attributed his death to a coordinated offensive by Nigerian security forces, supported by members of the Maiduguri Special Vigilantes deployed to reinforce ongoing counter-banditry operations in Zamfara. The operation was said to be part of sustained efforts to dismantle armed groups and eliminate high-profile criminal commanders.
Kachalla Sani Yellow was widely regarded as one of the most influential bandit commanders in the Anka, Bukkuyum and Maru axes of Zamfara State. He was allegedly responsible for numerous attacks on rural communities, mass abductions for ransom, cattle rustling and violent raids that displaced thousands of residents.
His death is expected to weaken the operational capacity of his network, although security analysts have warned that splinter groups may launch reprisal attacks or seek to reorganise under new leadership.
As of the time of filing this report, Nigerian security agencies had yet to issue an official statement confirming the exact circumstances surrounding the bandit leader’s death.
Security operations have, however, continued across Zamfara and neighbouring states as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle remaining criminal networks and restore peace to communities affected by years of armed violence.
Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara
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BREAKING: 10 Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities
BREAKING: Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities
No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead following separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The latest wave of violence began on Saturday when the attackers reportedly invaded Akpachi village in the Ugboju community, killing two residents and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.
Less than 24 hours later, in the early hours of Sunday, the gunmen allegedly struck again, this time attacking the Otukpo Nobi community, where eight more people were killed while many others sustained injuries.
The renewed attacks sparked protests by angry youths and residents, who marched to the palace of the Och’Idoma in Otukpo to express their frustration over the deteriorating security situation. The demonstrators called on both the Benue State Government and federal authorities to take urgent steps to end the recurring violence in the area.
The latest killings have heightened tension across Otukpo and surrounding communities, with many residents expressing fears over continued attacks and the apparent inability of security agencies to prevent them.
The incident comes barely one month after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, who were attacked and killed around Okwudu in Otukpo Local Government Area after attending a peace meeting in neighbouring Ohimini Local Government Area.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the latest attacks or confirm whether any arrests had been made. Meanwhile, residents have appealed for increased security presence in the affected communities to prevent further loss of lives.
BREAKING: Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities
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Woman Recounts Drinking Urine to Survive After Escaping Alleged Trafficker in Mali
Woman Recounts Drinking Urine to Survive After Escaping Alleged Trafficker in Mali
A young Nigerian woman, Precious Godwin from Benin, Edo State, has recounted the harrowing ordeal she endured while crossing the Sahara Desert after fleeing an alleged trafficker in Mali, revealing that migrants were forced to drink urine to stay alive because they had no access to water.
Godwin shared her experience during an interview on the Abdullahi Tahir Balarae Podcast aired on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
According to her, she escaped from a woman she identified as Madam Gold in Bamako, Mali, before deciding to continue her journey towards Libya with the hope of eventually reaching Europe.
Describing the life-threatening conditions in the desert, Godwin said the travellers quickly ran out of water, leaving them severely dehydrated under the scorching Sahara sun.
“We didn’t have water. The boys with us were begging us to urinate and give them to drink. If we wanted to urinate, they would cut a jerrycan and beg us to urinate inside so they could drink. I drank my own urine in the desert,” she said.
She explained that the desperate circumstances reduced survival to the group’s only priority, with many migrants resorting to drinking urine in a bid to stay alive as they battled extreme heat and dehydration.
Godwin’s account highlights the perilous journeys undertaken by many irregular migrants across the Sahara Desert, where a lack of food, water, and medical care, coupled with harsh environmental conditions, has claimed countless lives over the years.
Her testimony also underscores the dangers associated with human trafficking and irregular migration routes through North Africa, often controlled by criminal networks that expose migrants to exploitation, abuse, and life-threatening conditions.
Woman Recounts Drinking Urine to Survive After Escaping Alleged Trafficker in Mali
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