Abducted Kaduna female doctor regains freedom 10 months after - Newstrends
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Abducted Kaduna female doctor regains freedom 10 months after

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Dr. Ganiyat Popoola

Abducted Kaduna female doctor regains freedom 10 months after

Ganiyat Popoola, a female doctor who was kidnapped on December 27, 2023, has been released after ten months in captivity.

Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna State, was abducted together with her husband, Nurudeen Popoola, a squadron leader, and her nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy, who lives with them.

Following lengthy discussions with the captors, the husband was released on March 8, 2024, but the doctor and Abdul-Mugniy were not.

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However, in a telephone conversation with the Daily Trust on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, Tope Osundara, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, confirmed Popoola and her nephew’s release.

“Yes, it is true. It happened today (Wednesday). For now, we have insulated her away from people; we only allow very limited access to her,” Osundara stated.

The NARD president also noted that no ransom was paid to secure her release.

“No ransom was paid at all,” he said.

It will be recalled that NARD had embarked on strike, demanding her rescue from the hands of her abductors.

 

Abducted Kaduna female doctor regains freedom 10 months after

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NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara

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NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara

NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of Captagon pills in Kwara State, marking a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against illicit drug trafficking and its links to global criminal networks.

The agency described the seizure as particularly notable, coming nearly five years after what it previously identified as Africa’s first interception of Captagon at Apapa Port in Lagos.

Captagon, an amphetamine-based stimulant, is widely abused in parts of the Middle East and has been linked to armed groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Authorities say proceeds from the drug trade are often used to fund extremist activities, while the substance itself is used to enhance endurance and reduce fear among fighters.

In a statement issued by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, operatives intercepted the latest shipment on April 21, 2026, along Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State.

A search conducted on a 33-year-old suspect, identified as N. Mu’azu, led to the recovery of 10,000 pills of Captagon concealed in 10 packs, alongside nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg, a powerful opioid.

Babafemi noted that Captagon can sell for as much as $25 per pill on the black market, making it a lucrative commodity for trafficking syndicates.

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In a related operation on April 24 at the same location, NDLEA operatives intercepted another trailer (registration number RMY-70XA), uncovering a hidden compartment loaded with multiple illicit substances. The seizure included:

  • 155,900 capsules of Tramadol
  • 6,000 ampoules of Tramadol injection
  • 3,000 tablets of Co-Codamol
  • 9,000 tablets of Bromazepam

A 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Isah, was arrested in connection with the consignment.

In Oyo State, along the Ibadan–Oyo Expressway, NDLEA officers intercepted a commercial bus traveling to Sokoto. A passenger, 33-year-old Eze Prince Emeka, was subjected to a body scan after exhibiting suspicious behaviour.

The scan confirmed ingestion of illicit substances, and under medical observation, he excreted 45 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.043 kilograms in three separate excretions.

Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly opted for road travel to evade airport screening. He was reportedly planning to pass through trans-Saharan routes, with Algeria as a transit point and a possible final destination in Europe—highlighting the international dimension of Nigeria’s drug trafficking routes.

Further operations in Edo State led to the interception of a truck carrying 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids along the Benin–Lagos Expressway. Two suspects, Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44, were arrested, with the consignment reportedly bound for Onitsha.

The NDLEA said the coordinated operations underscore the growing scale and sophistication of drug trafficking networks in Nigeria, including the use of concealed compartments, human couriers, and multi-state distribution channels.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying surveillance and enforcement, warning that the convergence of drug trafficking and terrorism financing poses a serious threat to national and regional security.

NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara

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Aisha Yesufu Alleges Chibok School Rejected Peter Obi’s Donations

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Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu
Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu

Aisha Yesufu Alleges Chibok School Rejected Peter Obi’s Donations

Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has alleged that Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, in Borno State, rejected donations of computers, printers and financial support from Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

The claim has sparked fresh debate over political interference in education, donations to public schools, and access to institutions in Nigeria.

The Chibok school became globally known after the 2014 abduction of 276 students by Boko Haram, an incident that led to the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign championed by Obiageli Ezekwesili. While many of the girls have since been rescued or released, dozens remain missing more than a decade later.

In a series of posts on X, Yesufu explained that Obi’s attempt to support the school was frustrated at multiple stages, reflecting what she described as a wider pattern affecting government-owned institutions in Nigeria.

According to her, members of the Chibok community initially raised concerns about the lack of computers in the school, prompting Obi to immediately offer support.

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She said the plan included donating computers and printers, assessing other needs, and providing additional funding to improve learning conditions.

However, the process reportedly faced repeated setbacks.

“We were first denied access to visit the school. Efforts to deliver the items through the state capital or neighbouring states were also rejected. Even attempts to bring school representatives to Abuja did not succeed,” Yesufu stated.

She added that the intervention was eventually carried out in Abuja, where Obi met representatives of the Chibok community and handed over the equipment along with financial assistance.

Yesufu argued that such experiences explain why Obi frequently visits private schools and mission-owned institutions, noting that access is often easier compared to public institutions.

“People think he is selective, but the reality is that government institutions often refuse visits or decline support,” she said.

The allegation has intensified conversations around education funding in Nigeria, institutional transparency, and the role of politics in humanitarian interventions.

Observers say the issue reflects deeper governance challenges, particularly in regions recovering from insurgency, where access to educational infrastructure remains limited.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Borno State government nor the management of GGSS Chibok has issued an official response to the claims.

Aisha Yesufu Alleges Chibok School Rejected Peter Obi’s Donations

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Man Pays Kidnappers ₦900,000 to Abduct Aunt Who Raised Him

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Delta Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright,

Man Pays Kidnappers ₦900,000 to Abduct Aunt Who Raised Him

The Nigeria Police Force in Delta State has arrested a 31-year-old man, Chukwemeka Destiny, for allegedly plotting the kidnapping of his aunt who reportedly raised him from childhood, in a case authorities describe as a shocking act of betrayal.

The suspect was paraded on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bright Edafe, who said Destiny had already paid a total of ₦900,000 to individuals he believed were kidnappers to abduct the woman.

According to the police, the suspect lived with his aunt from the age of five until he was 15. During that period, she reportedly catered for his upbringing and education before he later left home and cut ties with the family.

Police spokesperson Edafe said the case reflects a disturbing pattern of violent betrayal involving close relations and benefactors.

“All of a sudden, something came to his mind that he should kidnap the same aunt who trained him and saw him through school,” Edafe said, noting that the suspect had made payments in two instalments of ₦200,000 and ₦700,000.

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Investigations revealed that the plot failed after the individuals Destiny contacted turned out not to be actual kidnappers. Instead, they reportedly played along and alerted authorities, leading to his arrest and preventing the crime from being executed.

“Unknown to him, the people he contacted were not kidnappers. They used him as bait and handed him over to the police,” Edafe added.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to the offence but said he could not explain what motivated his actions.

“Sincerely speaking, I am guilty of what happened. I don’t know what came over me. I can’t tell,” he said.

Destiny, who identified himself as a married father of two and a businessman in haulage and building materials, claimed the funds used for the attempted operation came from his business earnings.

“I made a deposit of ₦200,000 first, then I paid ₦700,000 the next day,” he admitted.

The victim, who is the suspect’s maternal aunt, said she was devastated upon learning of the alleged plot against her.

“I was shocked… crying,” she said, adding that Destiny had disappeared from the family after leaving her home at age 15 and rarely maintained contact despite being seen occasionally in the neighbourhood.

She further stated that she supports full prosecution of the suspect.

“Anything they know to do to such people, they should do it to him,” she said.

Police authorities said the suspect is currently in custody under the Delta State Police Command’s Raiders Squad, while investigations continue into the full circumstances of the case and possible accomplices.

Security officials described the incident as part of a growing trend of kidnapping conspiracies involving trusted relatives and associates, urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.

Man Pays Kidnappers ₦900,000 to Abduct Aunt Who Raised Him

 

 

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