A 10-year-old boy, Tasi’u Abdullahi of Rikkos community of Jos North LGA of Plateau, was gruesomely killed by his abductors, after collecting N150,000 as part payment of ransom from his parents.

The body of the deceased was abandoned in a sack in the community five days after he was abducted.

Tasi’u’s body was found in a sack on Friday morning beside his house in Rikkos.

The victim’s uncle, Aliyu Abubakar Muhammad, narrated that the deceased was kidnapped in front of his family house on Monday afternoon when he was lured by the kidnappers.

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He said that five days after the incident, the kidnappers called them at night and demanded N50,000 for the boy’s feeding, plus a ransom of N1 million. However, after negotiations, they eventually agreed to collect N300,000 out of which they were paid N150,000.

He said, “After paying N150,000 through a bank transfer, as instructed by the abductors, we were shocked to receive a call from a woman the following day, informing us that our child had been killed and abandoned near our house. Upon examining the body of the deceased, we observed that our son had been strangled, with blood coming out of his nose and mouth.”

Though efforts to reach the state’s police spokesman proved abortive as of the time of filing this report, our correspondent gathered that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

[UPDATED] I never lied, truth is my weapon against injustice – Dele Farotimi declares after release

Dele Farotimi, activist lawyer and author of the controversial book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, has doubled down on allegations he made against Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afe Babalola, maintaining that his claims are truthful.

Farotimi, who addressed journalists on Tuesday following his release from the Ekiti State Correctional Centre, stated, “I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know, I will say I don’t know. The truth is enough—it is the only weapon with which you can slay the monster called Nigeria.”

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Farotimi was granted bail by a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, December 20, with conditions including a bond of ₦30 million, two sureties, one of whom must be a property owner, submission of his passport and a prohibition on granting media interviews once released.

He met the conditions and was subsequently freed from detention, where he had been held since his arrest earlier this month over allegations of defamation against Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).

Farotimi was arrested over statements in his book, which accused Babalola of unethical practices within Nigeria’s criminal justice system. Despite being accused of defamation, the lawyer insists his claims are based on facts.

“I understand the challenges that come with fighting entrenched powers, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to the truth,” Farotimi stated.

[UPDATED] I never lied, truth is my weapon against injustice – Dele Farotimi declares after release

Luxury bus owners begin 50% fare discount, hail Tinubu palliative

Luxury bus owners have commenced the implementation of a 50 per cent fare discount on long distance routes across the country.

This was announced on Tuesday following a recent partnership agreement reached between the Federal Government and the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON).

The transporters have also expressed their gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for approving the rebate.

This, they said, would relieve the travelling public of the burden of high fares occasioned by rising costs of vehicle maintenance.

A statement issued by ALBON encouraged intending travellers to go to designated public motor parks and major transporters’ terminals to pay only half of the current fares and board available buses to their destinations.

The press release was signed jointly by ALBON President, Nonso Ubajaka, and the Honorary Secretary, Frank Nneji.

They assured travellers by road that long distance luxury bus and mini bus operators would start the collection of 50 percent of the prevailing fares from Tuesday, December 24, until January 5, 2025.

The designated inter-state routes on which the fare rebate is applicable include Abuja to Damaturu, Kano, Maiduguri, Makurdi, and Sokoto.

Those leaving Abuja for the southern parts of the country would also pay half the fares if they are travelling to Aba, Benin, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, and Umuahia.

The discount is also available for departures from Lagos to destinations such as Aba, Abuja, Asaba, Calabar, Enugu, Umuahia, Uyo, Warri and Yenagoa.

Travellers departing Lagos to destinations up North would benefit from the ticket rebate if they are going to Gombe, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Lokoja, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Sokoto, Gusau, Jalingo and Minna

The luxury bus owners further stated, “We urge intending passengers to take advantage of Mr. President’s magnanimity and travel to their various destinations nationwide by paying half of the current fares.

“Our member companies have all been notified and are ready for the exercise. They include, among others: Chisco Transport; GUO Transport Ltd; ABC Transport; Young Shall Grow Nig Ltd; Izuchukwu Transport Nig. Ltd; God Bless Ezenwata Nig. Ltd; and SD Express Ltd.”

Some other ALBON members offering the ticket discount are Ifesinachi Transport Nig. Ltd; E Ekesons Nig. Ltd; Ifeanyi Chukwu Industries & commercial Ltd; Bonnyway Motor Ltd; Delta Express Ltd; Welfare Transport Nig. Ltd. and God Is Good Motors Ltd.

The transport owners assured that the offer would run non-stop from December 24, 2024, to January 5, 2025, informing, however, that this is on ‘‘first come, first served,’’ basis.

“Once again, the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria wishes to commend President Tinubu for being responsive to the challenges faced by the travelling public. We also wish to commend the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, for his efforts in helping to make the palliative a reality,” the association said.

At the various public motor parks and transporters’ loading offices last weekend, the operators blamed the rise in fares across the routes on the rising cost of maintaining the buses, as well as on the high pump prices of diesel.

They also argued that at the peak of every Christmas season, their vehicles are almost empty during return trips, which leads to a situation whereby the fares for the “to” journeys are raised to cushion the losses incurred during reverse trips.

According to the operators, during the peak Christmas/New year period, an Onitsha-bound luxury bus that left Lagos with about 59 passengers, for instance, may return from Onitsha with as few as 10 people on board, running the same costs to and fro, but with very few travellers on the return trip.