Bandits demand N10m ransom to release abducted Kogi varsity lecturer

Gunmen have reportedly abducted Professor John Ebeh, a senior lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Kogi State.

The assailants are said to be demanding a N10 million ransom for his release.

An eyewitness said the hoodlums in their numbers invaded the Prof Ebeh’s house in Agbeji, a suburb of Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Area, around 7pm on Thursday.

They reportedly whisked him away, after sporadic shootings to scare people in his vicinity.

A neighbour who identified himself as Akpai explained what happened. “The hoodlums operated in a commando manner. It was swift. We noticed a car trailing him furiously; we took it as one of his friends or colleagues, not until we heard gunshots around his gate.

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A family source said the don was negotiating towards the gate of his house at Agbeji, a settlement along Anyigba-Ochadamu-Itobe road when a vehicle suddenly pulled up and blocked his car.

“Professor Ebeh was almost at the gate of his house at Agbeji, on his way from the town when the incident happened.

“He had even given out a signal to his people to open the gate of his house when some people emerged suddenly from their hideout, and started shooting sporadically.

“Amidst the confusion, someone drove in furiously and blocked his car. Some masked people alighted from the vehicle and whisked him away at gunpoint. His abductors called the family on Friday night, demanding N10m,” the source said.

Though the university authorities have yet to issue a statement on the incident, one of the victim’s colleagues said, “The kidnapping (of the professor) came to us as a shock. I have just visited his family to sympathise with them.”

Bandits demand N10m ransom to release abducted Kogi varsity lecturer

Many killed, houses, vehicles destroyed in Delta petrol tanker explosion 

Many people were feared dead as a petrol tanker exploded Sunday afternoon on a highway in Delta State.

The accident occurring on Asaba-Lagos Road in the Agbor Ika South Local Government Area caused huge damage to houses and vehicles trapped in the inferno.

The explosion was reported to have happened when the petrol tanker was navigating a turn near First Bank in Agbor and overturned.

Firemen from both Delta state and federal authorities were mobilised to the scene, according to the director of the state fire service, Eugene Oziwele.

Oziwele also confirmed that the casualties were high, adding firemen from Asaba joined those in Agbor with others from the Federal Fire Service to put out the raging fire.

Farmer-herder crisis: Cooperative to establish ranches in 774 LGs

The National Agricultural Mechanisation Cooperative of Nigeria (NAMCON) has disclosed plans to establish cattle ranches in the 774 local governments across Nigeria.

According to the National President of the cooperative, NAMCON, Dr Aliyu Waziri, the move is part of sustained efforts to modernise livestock production in the country, bolster value-addition and address the persistent clashes between farmers and herders.

He spoke with journalists in Kaduna adding that the ranches would be provided with adequate animal feeds, mega dams and an array of features of world-class equipment, thereby ensuring herders and their livestock have no cause to migrate in search of water and food.

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He said the ranches would be adequately equipped with clinics, western and Islamic schools and other necessary infrastructure.

Waziri said, “These ranches will be fully equipped for both rainy and dry season farming activities for the sustained production of food as this is very crucial to boosting food security, jobs creation, poverty eradication and jerking off Nigeria’s foreign reserves.”

The ranches, he said, would also have plantations of various economic trees like mango, guava and cashew.

He said, “The gesture will also greatly help in combating the recurring herder-farmer clashes in the country.”

Waziri maintained that the goal of the cooperative was to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector through mechanization and empowerment programs.

He recalled that in November 2021, NAMCON empowered 15 million farmers, especially women and young people, on farm mechanisation.

He then urged the government to explore the agricultural sector’s hidden potential to address unemployment and food security.

Farmer-herder crisis: Cooperative to establish ranches in 774 LGs