Amnesty Demands Reinstatement of Plateau Defilement Case Involving Four-Year-Old

Amnesty International Nigeria has demanded the immediate reinstatement of a defilement case involving a four-year-old child in Plateau State, after the state authorities discontinued the prosecution despite a subsisting bench warrant against the defendant.

The organisation made the demand in Jos on Wednesday, describing the withdrawal of the case as a serious concern for child protection and access to justice.

Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said the case was before the Plateau State High Court in Jos and involved a defendant who allegedly failed repeatedly to appear in court.

According to Sanusi, the court subsequently issued a bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest, but the warrant remained unexecuted.

He said prosecutors from the office of the Plateau State Attorney-General discontinued the criminal proceedings in May 2026 by invoking Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution, which gives an Attorney-General the power to discontinue criminal proceedings.

Sanusi argued that the constitutional power must be exercised in the public interest, in the interest of justice and to prevent abuse of legal process.

Amnesty is therefore asking the Plateau State Government to reverse the discontinuance and restore the case to the High Court.

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The organisation also called on the police to execute the outstanding bench warrant so that the defendant can be brought before the court.

Sanusi stressed that the organisation was not declaring the defendant guilty, but insisted that the allegations should be determined through due judicial process.

Amnesty also urged Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Daffi, SAN, to intervene and provide a transparent explanation for the decision to discontinue the case.

The prosecution counsel, Stella Samuel, said the legal team had been ready to proceed with the trial and had witnesses and evidence available before the case was withdrawn.

She said the defendant had failed to appear in court from the first hearing in February 2026 despite being served, leading to the issuance of the bench warrant.

Samuel urged the Attorney-General to reinstate the case, arguing that the matter remained capable of being prosecuted.

The development has also attracted concern from civil society organisations in Plateau State, which have called for the case to proceed.

The Let The Case Proceed Campaign said the withdrawal had raised questions about the effectiveness of the justice system in protecting children and ensuring accountability in cases involving alleged sexual violence.

Amnesty International said it had previously engaged the Attorney-General’s office over the matter and also petitioned the governor.

The organisation said it received a response referring to the Attorney-General’s constitutional powers but maintained that the explanation did not adequately address its concerns about the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal.

The case has renewed debate over the exercise of prosecutorial powers, particularly in cases involving alleged sexual violence against children.

While Section 211 provides constitutional authority for an Attorney-General to discontinue criminal proceedings, rights advocates insist that such powers must be exercised consistently with the requirements of public interest and justice.

The defendant remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court, and the demand by Amnesty and other groups is for the judicial process to be allowed to determine the allegations.

Amnesty Demands Reinstatement of Plateau Defilement Case Involving Four-Year-Old

NAF Crash: NYSC-Bound Graduate, Only Son, Among 25 Victims

A young graduate identified as Ukeme David, who had completed his clearance ahead of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, was among the 25 people killed in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

David was also the only son in his family, adding to the grief of relatives who had expected him to begin a new chapter of his life with the national service programme.

The aircraft, NAF 931, crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, on Monday, October 5, while travelling from Benin to Lagos.

The Nigerian Air Force subsequently confirmed that 25 people were on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. There were no survivors.

David had reportedly travelled to Benin to complete his NYSC clearance and was expected to return to Lagos later in the week.

A family member said David changed his travel plans and boarded the ill-fated aircraft on Monday after he was asked to return earlier to help care for his sister.

The family member described him as an intelligent young man who was looking forward to beginning his national service.

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His death has left relatives and friends mourning a young graduate whose career and national service journey had only just begun.

The five crew members who died in the crash included Squadron Leader MI Aburime, the flight captain; Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje and Flight Lieutenant IS Bako, the co-pilots; Warrant Officer Abubakar A, an aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru HC, also an aircraft technician.

The remaining victims included serving military personnel and civilians who were travelling on the aircraft.

Following the crash, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Recovery efforts were also launched at the crash site as authorities worked to locate and recover the aircraft and remains of those killed.

The crash has triggered widespread grief among the families, colleagues and communities of the victims, while the investigation is expected to determine what caused the NAF aircraft crash.

Authorities have urged members of the public to rely on verified information concerning the incident and respect the privacy and dignity of the bereaved families as recovery and investigation efforts continue.

NAF Crash: NYSC-Bound Graduate, Only Son, Among 25 Victims

[UPDATED] 20 NYSC Prospective Corps Members Freed After Seven Days in Captivity

Twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State have regained their freedom after spending one week in captivity, with security agencies intensifying efforts to track down those responsible.

The victims were rescued on Wednesday, October 7, following a sustained and coordinated operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, military and Department of State Services (DSS).

The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State on October 1.

The attack occurred at about 6:30am around Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, where the buses were intercepted by the gunmen.

The Imo State Police Command initially reported that 10 victims had been rescued at the scene, while efforts continued to establish the exact number of people taken away.

The remaining victims were subsequently confirmed to include the 20 prospective corps members.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, confirmed that all 20 prospective corps members had been rescued at Amakohia Ubi Village in Imo State on Wednesday.

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He said the rescue followed sustained search-and-rescue operations involving the police and other security agencies.

The victims were subsequently taken for medical assessment and necessary care.

The operation also resulted in the rescue of another civilian who had reportedly been abducted alongside the prospective corps members.

The rescued victims were taken to a DSS medical facility in Owerri, where they received attention following their ordeal in captivity.

The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, visited the rescued victims at the DSS facility in Owerri. He was accompanied by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the state DSS director and the commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade.

The rescue brought an end to a week-long ordeal that had triggered growing anxiety among the victims’ families and renewed concerns over the safety of young Nigerians travelling to NYSC orientation camps.

Before the rescue, security agencies had intensified efforts to locate the abductors and their victims. Imo State Commissioner of Police Audu Bosso had earlier disclosed that security operatives tracked the suspected kidnappers to a location in the bush using intelligence and drone surveillance.

The operation was reportedly complicated by intelligence that the suspected camp had been mined with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), prompting security agencies to adopt a cautious approach.

Earlier reports had also contained conflicting figures over ransom demands. Some families reportedly said the abductors demanded ₦50 million per victim, amounting to ₦1 billion for the 20 prospective corps members. However, there was no official confirmation that any ransom was paid before the victims were rescued.

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, had deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police Shehu Umar Nadada, in charge of Operations, to coordinate the security response in Imo State.

With the victims now safe, security agencies have shifted their focus to identifying and arresting the suspected kidnappers.

No arrests had been officially announced in connection with the abduction as of Wednesday night, but coordinated operations were continuing to apprehend those responsible.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of prospective corps members travelling long distances to their orientation camps, particularly along routes affected by kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The successful rescue of the 20 prospective corps members is expected to ease pressure on their families while placing renewed attention on security arrangements for young Nigerians travelling to NYSC camps across the country.

[UPDATED] 20 NYSC Prospective Corps Members Freed After Seven Days in Captivity