metro
Kidnappers demand N100m ransom to release Kaduna doctor, husband
Kidnappers demand N100m ransom to release Kaduna doctor, husband
Kidnappers of Kaduna-based ophthalmologist, Ganiya Olawale-Popoola; her husband, Nurudeen Popola, and their guest, AbdulMugniy Folaranmi, are demanding a N100m ransom for their release from captivity, one month after the abduction.
Despite family efforts to negotiate a reduction, the abductors remain firm on the N100m demand.
The incident occurred on December 27, 2023, when gunmen allegedly broke into the ophthalmologist’s residence at the National Eye Centre Quarters in Kaduna, kidnapping the doctor, her Air Force officer husband, and their 16-year-old guest.
The kidnappers contacted the family on the fourth day, demanding the specified ransom for the victims’ release.
The kidnappers allegedly threatened to kill the couple if the N100m was not paid before January 18.
The family source disclosed that the kidnappers reached out to the family on Friday insisting that they would kill the victims if the ransom was not paid.
The source said, “The kidnappers reached out to us on Friday. Anytime they reached out, they asked one of the victims who understood Hausa and English to speak with us. They insisted that they were not going back on the N100m ransom.
READ ALSO:
- Just in: Atiku’s ex-spokesman Bwala meets with Tinubu in Paris
- Fish out killers of two Ekiti monarchs, Oyebanji tells security agencies
- AFCON shocker: Cote d’Ivoire eliminate defending champions Senegal
“We have pleaded with them to even consider collecting N20m which the family was able to raise but they refused. Everyone in the family is in a state of confusion as to what could be done.”
The source further stated that when the family reached out to the Air Force and police authorities, they were told that they were working to secure their release without getting the victims hurt while appealing to the necessary authorities to help secure the release of their family.
“We have reached out to the police and the Air force but what they kept telling us was that they were working to get them released from their abductors. They (the police and Air Force) told us that they had been careful not to get the victims injured while rescuing them.
“We are appealing as a family to the Nigerian government to help us secure the release of our family members. It has been over a month since they were abducted and we are exhausted as a family. There is no way we can raise the N100m ransom the kidnappers are demanding,” the source said.
When contacted on Monday, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, said the command was making efforts to get the abductees released without casualties.
“There are lots of kidnapping cases that we recorded in recent times. We have been able to rescue some of the victims and arrest some of the kidnappers. The police are not relenting in making sure that all the abducted victims are rescued from their abductors but we want to make sure there is no casualty while we are rescuing them,” Hassan disclosed.
Kidnappers demand N100m ransom to release Kaduna doctor, husband
metro
Pastor Found Dead in Guest House After Night Out With Married Female Church Member
Pastor Found Dead in Guest House After Night Out With Married Female Church Member
Reverend Michael Kofi Appiah, the founder of Light of Faith Ministry, was tragically found dead in a guest house in Takoradi, Ghana, following a night out with a female church member. The incident has sparked widespread concern and prompted an ongoing police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
According to reports, Reverend Appiah and the woman checked into the guest house around 10:00 p.m., where they reportedly ordered food and drinks. Staff became alarmed later in the night after hearing unusual calls for help, only to discover the pastor unresponsive in his room. Authorities and medical personnel were promptly notified, and the pastor was confirmed dead at the scene.
READ ALSO:
- US Firm to Engage Trump, Congress Over INEC’s Suspension of ADC Leadership
- Nasarawa Communal Violence: 11 Killed, 52 Houses Burnt in Reprisal Attack
- Final-Year UNIJOS Student Discovered Dead Following Attack Near Campus
The exact cause of death remains unclear, and an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the circumstances. Police are currently gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, while urging the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue.
The pastor’s sudden death has shocked church members and the wider community, prompting an outpouring of condolences on social media. Many have expressed grief over the loss of a preacher who had a significant impact in Takoradi and beyond.
Authorities have assured that a thorough and transparent investigation will be conducted to ascertain what led to the tragedy, including examining any possible foul play. Meanwhile, the pastor’s remains have been transferred to the morgue pending the outcome of official inquiries.
This incident comes amid rising concern over safety and accountability in public and private spaces, highlighting the need for careful monitoring and investigation whenever such sudden deaths occur.
Pastor Found Dead in Guest House After Night Out With Married Female Church Member
metro
Nasarawa Communal Violence: 11 Killed, 52 Houses Burnt in Reprisal Attack
Nasarawa Communal Violence: 11 Killed, 52 Houses Burnt in Reprisal Attack
Nasarawa State — At least 11 people have been killed and 52 houses burnt in a reprisal attack by suspected hoodlums in Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities of Nasarawa Local Government Area. The attack, which occurred on Friday, was reportedly in retaliation for the alleged killing of two kinsmen, highlighting ongoing communal tensions in central Nigeria.
The Nasarawa State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement by SP Ramhan Nansel, the state police spokesperson. He said the hoodlums went on a destructive rampage, killing residents and setting their homes ablaze. “In the course of the attack, 11 people were killed, while about 52 houses were burnt in the two communities,” Nansel stated.
CP Shetima Mohammed, the state Commissioner of Police, led a team to the affected areas to assess the destruction and reassure residents. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property and commiserated with the victims’ families, pledging the police command’s commitment to ensuring justice.
READ ALSO:
- Final-Year UNIJOS Student Discovered Dead Following Attack Near Campus
- Wike: PDP Not Financially Ready for 2027 Presidential Election
- NLC Declares Nationwide May Day Protests Over Minimum Wage
To contain the situation, the CP ordered an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators, directing tactical teams and investigative units to promptly identify, arrest, and prosecute the hoodlums responsible. Security personnel were reinforced in the affected communities to prevent further escalation.
Police efforts are being conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to provide adequate protection and restore lasting peace. During a stakeholders’ meeting, the CP urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid ongoing investigations.
Authorities say that normalcy has largely been restored, but residents remain on edge as they begin the process of rebuilding their homes and livelihoods. Analysts warn that communal disputes over land, livestock, and alleged killings continue to fuel cycles of retaliation in Nasarawa and other parts of the Middle Belt.
This latest reprisal attack underscores the urgent need for improved security measures, early warning systems, and community engagement to prevent similar tragedies in the region.
Nasarawa Communal Violence: 11 Killed, 52 Houses Burnt in Reprisal Attack
metro
Final-Year UNIJOS Student Discovered Dead Following Attack Near Campus
Final-Year UNIJOS Student Discovered Dead Following Attack Near Campus
Jos, Plateau State — The remains of Adeyemo Oluwafemi Temitope, a 500‑level quantity surveying student of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), have been confirmed dead, three days after he was reported missing amid escalating insecurity in Jos. The tragic news was first shared by his close friend, Meshak Gimba, a 400‑level psychology student, via social media on Friday.
Gimba explained that he had initially posted Temitope’s photograph online to help locate him but later received a call directing him to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, where the body was discovered. According to hospital officials, Temitope was allegedly attacked by unknown assailants at Bauchi Junction, near the UNIJOS hostels, while returning from the market.
UNIJOS authorities, including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, and the university’s Chief Security Officer, Agama Solomon, confirmed the incident. Solomon said the university management verified the body at the hospital and contacted the family to commence arrangements for a joint burial.
READ ALSO:
- Wike: PDP Not Financially Ready for 2027 Presidential Election
- NLC Declares Nationwide May Day Protests Over Minimum Wage
- Osimhen Makes History, Crowned Turkey’s Footballer of the Year 2026
Temitope’s death comes amid a spike in violence in Jos, particularly following a bandit attack in Angwan Rukuba on March 29, which claimed at least 28 lives and injured several others. The Plateau State Government subsequently imposed a 48-hour curfew on parts of Jos North Local Government Area, though fresh tension continued to rise in the city.
In response to the growing insecurity, UNIJOS ordered all students to evacuate hostels immediately and suspended scheduled examinations until after the Easter break. The university also coordinated with security agencies to ensure student safety and liaised with state governments to assist in relocating students, especially those from neighbouring states.
State authorities, including the Kogi and Benue governments, assisted in evacuating their students from UNIJOS to protect them from potential attacks. Security agencies in Plateau intensified patrols and intelligence operations around university campuses and high-risk areas to prevent further incidents.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also provided relief materials, including food and medical supplies, to support victims and displaced residents affected by the recent attacks. Community leaders and student associations have called for enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of students and restore normalcy in the Plateau State capital.
The tragic killing of Adeyemo Temitope underscores the urgent need for stronger protection of academic institutions and civilian areas in Jos as residents continue to face threats from bandits and armed assailants.
Final-Year UNIJOS Student Discovered Dead Following Attack Near Campus
-
Railway3 days agoEaster train: NRC increases Lagos-Ibadan trips, offers free Osun holiday transit
-
metro2 days agoVeryDarkMan Dares Sowore Over Blord’s Kuje Prison Remand
-
Business2 days agoNNPC Boosts Crude Supply to Dangote Refinery to Address Rising Fuel Prices
-
metro2 days agoNigerians to Enjoy Four-Day Break as FG Declares Easter Holidays
-
metro1 day agoTinubu Approves 1,000 Forest Guards, Orders 5,000 CCTV Cameras to Boost Security in Plateau
-
metro3 days agoPower Crisis Looms as NLC Shuts AEDC, Protests Sack of 900 Workers
-
International20 hours agoIran Announces ‘Bounty’ on US Pilots After Claiming Downing of Fighter Jet
-
International2 days agoIran Fires Missiles at Israel After Trump Threatens Weeks of ‘Extremely Hard’ Strikes


