metro
Bandits Kill kidnapped ECWA Church Pastor, after collecting ransom
Bandits have finally killed Rev. Dauda Bature, Pastor of ECWA Church Nariya, Kaduna State who was kidnapped in his farm.
Rev. Joseph John Hayab, Vice President, Northern states and Abuja of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN), had told journalists that late Rev. Dauda Bature was kidnapped on the 8th of November, 2021 by the bandits while he was on his farm, not far from the Rigasa Train station in Kaduna state.
The bandits later demanded for ransom and Rev. Dauda’s wife took the ransom and delivered to the bandits.
“They kidnapped her ,too,” Hayab said. On the 18th of November, the bandits released the wife and few days later, killed the husband.
Rev. Joseph John Hayab who is also the Chairman of CAN in Kaduna state ,appealed to the security agents to double their efforts in the protection of lives and property, insisting that collecting ransom and going ahead to kill the victim, is an inhuman act that must be condemned.
READ ALSO:
- Jolted by Unending Killings, President Sends NSA, IG, Three Others to Sokoto, Katsina
- Popular Broadcaster Rapes 19-Year-Old Pregnant Lady Inside Church
- N69bn Debt: Appeal Court Dismisses Jimoh Ibrahim’s Suit to Recover Asset
Meanwhile, residents of a Kaduna community had to run for their lives as security agents and Invading bandits were engaged in a gun duel ,leading to shooting of a pregnant woman.
The pregnant woman was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.
Journalists are still waiting for reaction from the police. The security agents ,according to locals, “repelled the rampaging hoard of bandits that attempted to invade the community in the early hours of Saturday morning, December 11, 2021.”
“The loud shots of different types of firearms rented the air from past 12 midnight to almost 3am.Three persons who were abducted from the community were later freed after military and JTF engaged them in gunfire.”
“A woman among the freed was however, wounded by a gunshot. She is said to have been taken to an undisclosed hospital.”
“Thousands of residents, including men, women and children took to the streets, with some just covered by their under wears.”
“A residence was seen up in flames at about the same time, the bandits dug a hole through the fence, gained access and set the house ablaze before they fled.”
READ ALSO:
- California man charged in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot flees to Belarus
- We lost 193 children, 23 pregnant women, others in ‘Zaria massacre’– Shi’ites
- How Yahoo boys befriend, bribe policemen, soldiers to evade justice
The community has been relatively safe, with an isolated incident of kidnapping recorded
almost two years ago in December 2021, when a returnee from the United States was abducted alongside two of his brothers.
Meanwhile, sources said at about same time, a mother and two of her children were suspected to have been abducted from Oil Village, which shares boundary with Sabo GRA.
A day earlier, in the early hours of Friday, sources said a security operative alongside his wife and baby were abducted in Ungwan Bulus, another community bordering Sabo GRA from the western axis.
Normalcy has returned to the Sabo GRA as people were seen pursuing their legitimate businesses, even as stern looking combat ready security agents continued to patrol the area.
Vanguard
![]()
metro
Tinubu Removes NMDPRA Chief Saidu Mohammed Months After Appointment
Tinubu Removes NMDPRA Chief Saidu Mohammed Months After Appointment
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed Mr Saidu Mohammed as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), just months after his appointment, in a major shake-up within Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory leadership.
The President has also nominated Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the agency, subject to Senate confirmation.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the decision was taken “in the public interest” and in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
The statement explained that the move is aimed at strengthening regulatory efficiency and improving governance in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Pending Senate confirmation of the new nominee, the most senior officer in the NMDPRA will oversee the agency in an acting capacity.
The Presidency also thanked the outgoing Authority Chief Executive, Saidu Mohammed, for his service and wished him success in his future endeavours.
READ ALSO:
- Police Arrest Two Suspects Over Killing of 17-Year-Old UTME Candidate
- Iran’s Currency Crashes to Record Low of 1.8 Million per Dollar Amid US Blockade
-
Police Order Dismissal, Prosecution of Officers Over Effurun Killing
Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, the newly nominated head of the agency, is described as a seasoned energy executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors. He is noted for expertise in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery.
He holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University and is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
His nomination comes months after Tinubu initially submitted Mohammed’s name to the Senate for confirmation following leadership changes in key petroleum regulatory agencies. At the time, Mohammed had been expected to lead the NMDPRA, while another nominee was proposed for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Mohammed, a chemical engineer with decades of experience in the oil and gas sector, previously served in senior positions within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) structure, including Managing Director roles at the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company. He also participated in several national gas infrastructure projects.
The latest development is part of ongoing restructuring within Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory framework under the Petroleum Industry Act, which has seen changes in leadership across key agencies.
The Senate is expected to consider the nomination of Rabiu Umar in the coming days as part of its confirmation process.
Tinubu Removes NMDPRA Chief Saidu Mohammed Months After Appointment
![]()
metro
Police Order Dismissal, Prosecution of Officers Over Effurun Killing
Police Order Dismissal, Prosecution of Officers Over Effurun Killing
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the dismissal and prosecution of officers involved in the extrajudicial killing of 28-year-old Mene Ogidi in Effurun, Delta State, describing the incident as “criminal and unprofessional” and inconsistent with police standards of engagement.
Addressing journalists at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, said the April 26 incident was unacceptable and reaffirmed that no officer has the authority to take the law into their own hands regardless of the circumstances.
The IGP confirmed that the principal suspect, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nuhu Usman, along with other officers involved in the operation, have been transferred from the Delta State Command to Abuja to face disciplinary proceedings. He added that the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) has already taken up the case.
He further disclosed that three inspectors who were part of the operation have been subjected to an Orderly Room Trial as part of internal disciplinary procedures to determine their individual levels of involvement.
READ ALSO:
US Gas Prices Hit $4.23 as Crude Oil Surges Above $100 per Barrel
Police Arrest Two Suspects Over Killing of 17-Year-Old UTME Candidate
Police Arrest Two Suspects Over Killing of 17-Year-Old UTME Candidate
According to the police leadership, investigations established that ASP Usman violated Force Order 247, which governs the use of firearms, as well as other standard operational procedures regulating police conduct during arrests and engagements with suspects.
The Force has recommended the immediate dismissal of all officers found culpable in the incident. It also directed that they be handed over to appropriate judicial authorities for prosecution over unlawful homicide after their removal from service. The recommendations have been forwarded to the Police Service Commission for final approval.
The Inspector-General distanced the institution from the actions of the officers, stressing that they acted outside official rules and the core mandate of the Nigeria Police Force. He stated firmly that “no uniform is a licence to kill” and reiterated the Force’s zero-tolerance stance on abuse of power and extrajudicial conduct.
He also extended condolences to the family of the deceased and assured Nigerians that justice would be served transparently. The IGP urged residents of Delta State and the general public to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands while investigations and disciplinary actions continue.
The police leadership said the case reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability within the Force and ensure that officers who violate professional standards face appropriate sanctions.
Police Order Dismissal, Prosecution of Officers Over Effurun Killing
![]()
metro
Police Arrest Two Suspects Over Killing of 17-Year-Old UTME Candidate
Lagos Police Arrest Two Suspects Over Killing of 17-Year-Old UTME Candidate
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspects, Elijah Emmanuel and Tony Ekwane Oghanetega, in connection with the killing of a 17-year-old Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidate, Thompson Omokhafe Adams. The case has also exposed an alleged wider criminal network linked to kidnapping and murder.
Police said the suspects were arrested during coordinated intelligence-led operations in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The operation followed days of surveillance after the killing of the teenager, who was reportedly targeted after returning from an examination centre.
According to the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, the arrests are part of broader security operations that led to the detention of 118 suspects in one month for offences including armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, and illegal possession of firearms.
Investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly confessed to killing the 17-year-old to cover up another crime. Police sources said the victim had reportedly identified one of the suspects before his abduction and killing.
A police source further disclosed that the suspects lured the teenager before attacking him. He was reportedly tied up and strangled after being taken to a secluded location. Investigators said both suspects took turns in carrying out the act.
READ ALSO:
- Iran’s Currency Crashes to Record Low of 1.8 Million per Dollar Amid US Blockade
- University of Ilesa Gets NUC Approval for 97 Programmes, Including Medicine
-
Iran’s Currency Crashes to Record Low of 1.8 Million per Dollar Amid US Blockade
The police also linked the duo to an earlier kidnapping and murder case in November 2025, in which a female victim was abducted and killed after a ransom of ₦300,000 was collected from her family.
Authorities said the pattern of operations suggests involvement in organised kidnapping activities targeting victims for ransom and later eliminating them to avoid identification.
The Lagos Police Command also revealed that during the wider operation, officers recovered several weapons and incriminating items, including locally made pistols, a Beretta pistol, dane guns, cutlasses, knives, telecom batteries, suspected cannabis, and charms.
CP Jimoh said the arrests demonstrate the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing and ensuring public safety across Lagos State. He added that investigations are ongoing to track down other accomplices linked to the crimes.
The suspects remain in custody and are expected to be prosecuted after investigations are concluded.
Lagos Police Arrest Two Suspects Over Killing of 17-Year-Old UTME Candidate
![]()
-
News1 day agoMURIC Condemns Rape of 11-Year-Old Hijab Girl in Ogun, Warns Against Cover-Up
-
News2 days agoBREAKING: Lagos Politics Heats Up as Sanwo-Olu Endorses Deputy Governor Hamzat ( VIDEO)
-
Entertainment3 days agoHausa Is ‘Looser,’ Igbo ‘More Tortuous’ – Wole Soyinka Ranks Nigeria’s Three Major Languages
-
metro2 days agoArmy Engages Abuja Robbers, NYSC member Dies in Crossfire
-
Politics24 hours agoBREAKING: APC Chieftain Osifo Enters 2027 Race, Buys ₦100m Form to Challenge Tinubu
-
Education2 days agoJAMB Clarifies ‘No Result Yet’ Status, Sets 320 Cut-Off for Underage Candidates
-
metro8 hours agoPolice Officer Arrested After Shooting Handcuffed Suspect Dead in Viral Video
-
Entertainment3 days agoBirthday Drama or Mischief? Funke Akindele Clears Air Over Pasuma ‘Snub’


