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Just in: 12 victims of Edo train kidnap released, abductors still holding two
Twelve more victims of the Igueben train station kidnap in Edo State were on Saturday night rescued by a special force made of men from the Nigerian Army, the police, DSS, local vigilante, hunters, among others.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, disclosed this to journalists shortly after visiting the victims at the Police Cottage Hospital in Benin City.
He also threatened to sanction traditional rulers in the area who are still giving their land to herdsmen for grazing.
The governor said no amount was paid for the release of the victims but that the special force went in and overpowered the kidnappers who ran away with the remaining two victims who are said to be personnel of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
Obaseki said, “We are grateful that we have been able to secure the release of almost all the people who were kidnapped about a week ago from the Igueben train station in Edo State.
“It has been a very grueling experience; something we never prayed for and we hope that it would not happen again. They tested the will of our security system that we have put in place and we are so glad that the system has been resilient.
“In the last one week, we have been able to be on the trail of the kidnappers. We contained them to certain areas; they could not leave the area we contained them to and with all intelligence and the aerial support we got from the Air Force, from the police, the drone support, the technology support, we were able to track them and with the training of the special forces we have and all the other members of the team we put together, we were able to release 12 out of the 14 still being held hostage unarmed.
“We think it is something worth celebrating. We think we should thank and appreciate members of our security forces for the sacrifice they put in, the endless nights; the sleepless nights which they put into this must be commended.
“Today, which is the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, we have something to rejoice about, something to thank our security services for. We will continue to invest in the security system of the state, we will continue to encourage the collaboration of our security forces and we will make sure that we continue to invest in the requisite technology and equipment to curb this sort of incidence.”
The governor also said, “I must also express our disappointment at the authorities of the Nigerian Railway Corporation because after the Kaduna incident, you would have expected that they will secure their facilities better. So for six men to have come into their facility to kidnap almost 30 people; I think it is something that has to be investigated. It doesn’t speak well of their preparedness to run an efficient rail system in this country. And it doesn’t give confidence to Nigerians that they will be safe using that mode of transport. You cannot tell me in the facility like the Igueben station, you had only one policeman with one rifle guiding that facility particularly after what had happened in Kaduna.”
For the traditional institution in the area, Obaseki said, “We are watching and we are still consulting with the commissioner of police and the service chiefs. We have information that some traditional rulers in that area are not respecting government’s decision to make sure that grazing opportunities are not given to herders in their forests. I have instructed that those traditional rulers be investigated and anyone who is found to be harbouring people they should not harbour in their domains will have questions to answer because for communities that have cooperated, we are not seeing this kind of incident.
The Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Dankwara, said there were no casualties and that arrests had been made of people believed to be part of the syndicate to the kidnapping.
He said, “They were rescued in Ugboha and Udo forests. The security forces have been there for a week now and it was there they intercepted those people. From the intelligence gathered, they were roaming around that area. So yesterday night, the security forces laid ambush and in trying to move the people from one area to another, they intercepted them.
“For the remaining two captives, we are making progress and we will make sure that they are released too.”
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Zamfara: Bandits Allegedly Burn 13 Family Members Alive After Locking Them Inside Room
Zamfara: Bandits Allegedly Burn 13 Family Members Alive After Locking Them Inside Room
By Newstrends Correspondent
MARADUN, Zamfara State – Tragedy has reportedly struck Gidan Taba community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State after suspected bandits allegedly killed 13 members of the same family by locking them inside a room and setting their house ablaze.
The victims were identified as Sani Ɗanwawo and 12 members of his family, who reportedly died in the inferno during an attack on Saturday night, November 7, 2026.
According to a report published by Daily Post on Sunday, November 8, the attackers allegedly confined all 13 occupants inside a room before setting the building on fire, leaving them with no opportunity to escape.
The incident was disclosed by Bakatsine, a security and conflict reporter who monitors banditry and other security developments in Nigeria’s North-West region, in a post on X.
The reported killing represents another disturbing incident in Zamfara State, which has continued to experience attacks by armed groups, including killings, kidnappings and destruction of property.
Maradun Local Government Area and other parts of the state have witnessed repeated security challenges, leaving residents exposed to violence and displacement.
However, details surrounding the latest incident, including the identities of all the victims and possible reactions from security agencies, remain unclear.
As of the time of filing this report, independent confirmation of the reported 13 deaths from the Zamfara State Police Command or other security authorities had not been established.
Zamfara: Bandits Allegedly Burn 13 Family Members Alive After Locking Them Inside Room
metro
[ICYMI] Lagos Summons DisCos, Regulators Over Persistent Power Outages, Seeks 24-Hour Electricity
Lagos Summons DisCos, Regulators Over Persistent Power Outages, Seeks 24-Hour Electricity
By Newstrends Correspondent
The Lagos State Government has summoned electricity regulators, distribution companies (DisCos), power resellers and suppliers to a major energy summit aimed at addressing persistent electricity shortages and finding lasting solutions to the state’s unreliable power supply.
The initiative is part of efforts to develop a roadmap towards achieving reliable, round-the-clock electricity across Lagos State, amid growing complaints from residents and businesses over frequent power outages.
The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing ahead of the 2026 Lagos Energy Summit.
The summit, themed “Lagos Energy Evolution: Transforming the Future,” is scheduled for November 10 and 11, while a technical tour will take place on November 12 at selected energy infrastructure facilities.
Ogunleye said the gathering would bring together critical stakeholders across the electricity value chain to examine structural challenges affecting the sector and develop practical solutions capable of improving electricity supply.
He explained that discussions would focus on electricity sector reforms, energy efficiency, renewable energy, metering solutions and alternative sources of power.
According to the commissioner, the government intends to move beyond policy declarations and ensure that the summit produces practical outcomes that can improve electricity access and strengthen Lagos’ energy infrastructure.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ibilola Kasumu, said the summit would adopt a different approach from conventional industry gatherings by placing actual problems before experts for possible solutions.
She explained that the objective was to bring stakeholders together to identify challenges within the electricity value chain and develop workable strategies for addressing them.
Kasumu added that the government hoped to establish a framework for reliable electricity supply that could eventually serve as a model for other states.
Ogunleye also disclosed that the Lagos State Government was engaging the Federal Government on issues surrounding their respective regulatory responsibilities and the need to strengthen the state’s control over its electricity infrastructure.
The discussions are expected to cover the development of renewable energy, alternative power sources and other initiatives that could reduce dependence on conventional electricity generation.
The summit will also showcase clean-energy innovations by young Nigerians, including projects and prototypes developed by secondary school students.
The development comes amid persistent complaints by Lagos residents over erratic electricity supply, which has continued to affect households, commercial activities and small businesses across the state.
The Lagos government says achieving a more reliable energy system is essential to supporting economic growth, attracting investment and advancing its ambition of building a 24-hour economy.
However, residents will be watching closely to see whether the summit produces concrete measures capable of addressing the electricity challenges affecting communities across Lagos.
Lagos Summons DisCos, Regulators Over Persistent Power Outages, Seeks 24-Hour Electricity
metro
Afenifere Crisis: ‘There Is Only One Afenifere’, Secretary Insists Amid Breakup Allegations
Afenifere Crisis: ‘There Is Only One Afenifere’, Secretary Insists Amid Breakup Allegations
The General Secretary of Afenifere, Chief Ademola Folarin, has dismissed suggestions that the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation is heading for a fresh split, insisting that there is only one Afenifere despite disagreements over leadership and political affiliations.
Folarin said members of the organisation remained committed to reconciliation, adding that efforts were ongoing to bring aggrieved members together under one umbrella.
He spoke in an interview with Vanguard, in which he addressed the leadership dispute, alleged plans to establish another group, the process of choosing a successor to the late leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, and Afenifere’s political position ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Afenifere secretary acknowledged that disagreements existed within the organisation but argued that they should not be interpreted as evidence that the group had broken apart.
According to him, members had recognised the need for unity and understood that the organisation would be more effective if its different tendencies worked together.
Folarin said reconciliation efforts had gained fresh momentum before Fasoranti’s death, disclosing that the late leader had invited some members, including Oba Oladipo Olaitan, to a meeting as part of efforts to resolve the disagreements.
He said the proposed meeting was postponed because of arrangements for Fasoranti’s burial, but stressed that the reconciliation process had not been abandoned.
The secretary maintained that Afenifere would continue working towards bringing everyone back together, noting that patience and dialogue were necessary to achieve a peaceful resolution.
On the question of succession, Folarin criticised discussions about who should take over the leadership of the organisation before the burial of Fasoranti, describing such conversations as disrespectful to the memory of the late leader.
He cited the position of Chief Olu Falae, who had reportedly advised that discussions on succession should wait until after the burial.
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Folarin also dismissed suggestions that there was an existing plan to install former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as the next Afenifere leader.
He said there was no such arrangement, although he acknowledged that individuals were free to express interest in the position.
According to him, the next leader would emerge through a gathering of elders and leaders of the organisation rather than through an ordinary election.
He explained that Afenifere was not a political party and that its leadership process involved consultation among respected elders and leaders.
Folarin said anyone aspiring to lead the organisation must demonstrate a record of commitment to its ideals, particularly unity and service to the Yoruba people, rather than personal or partisan interests.
He also rejected the suggestion that an individual’s political influence or ambition should automatically qualify them for the leadership position.
The Afenifere secretary further addressed reports that some members were considering the formation of a group to be known as Afenifere Independent, amid the lingering disagreements.
While the interview raised the issue, Folarin’s broader position was that the organisation should remain united and that efforts to reconcile members should continue.
On Afenifere’s political position ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Folarin confirmed that the organisation under his leadership had endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.
He said Afenifere supported Tinubu in the 2023 election and saw no reason to reverse its position, arguing that the president’s experience and record in government informed the endorsement.
Folarin, however, acknowledged that members of the organisation were free to support other candidates, describing Afenifere as a democratic organisation in which individuals could hold different political opinions.
He also defended the late Fasoranti’s decision to endorse Tinubu in 2023, despite earlier political disagreements between the former Lagos governor and some Afenifere leaders.
Folarin contrasted Fasoranti’s approach with that of the late Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, whom he accused of endorsing Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 election without first consulting other leaders of the organisation.
He argued that Fasoranti placed greater emphasis on collective decision-making and consultation, describing him as a unifying figure who respected the views of other members.
Folarin also maintained that political differences should not be allowed to destroy the organisation’s longstanding role in promoting Yoruba interests and national unity.
He urged members to put aside their disagreements and embrace reconciliation, insisting that Afenifere’s future depended on its ability to remain united.
Afenifere Crisis: ‘There Is Only One Afenifere’, Secretary Insists Amid Breakup Allegations
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