metro
Bandits abduct seven in fresh Abuja night raid despite new FCTA security measures
Bandits Abduct Seven in Fresh Abuja Night Raid Despite New FCTA Security Measures
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory were thrown into panic on Wednesday night as bandits staged yet another violent assault in the outskirts of Abuja, abducting six young girls and a 16-year-old boy from Gidan-Bijimi, a settlement in Kawu ward near the Bwari Area Council.
The incident occurred barely a week after a police officer was shot dead during a similar attack in the Guto area of Bwari, underscoring the escalating insecurity in Abuja and the growing audacity of armed groups operating along the volatile FCT–Kaduna corridor.
Kawu, which shares a boundary with Kaduna State, lies close to the notorious Gidan Dogo and Kweti forests, long identified as transit routes and hideouts for criminal gangs. Gidan-Bijimi itself borders Marke village, a zone that has witnessed a resurgence of attacks in recent months.
According to residents, the latest abduction unfolded around 9:47 pm when heavily armed gunmen stormed two homes, firing shots into the air before escaping with their captives. A local resident, Suleiman Shuaibu, confirmed that the abducted girls were aged between 17 and 23, adding that his cousin was among the victims.
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Shuaibu said members of the community’s vigilance group attempted to repel the attackers but were forced to retreat due to the criminals’ superior firepower. Many residents fled into nearby bushes, while others remained indoors until dawn. As of Thursday morning, there had been no communication from the kidnappers, and the police had yet to officially comment.
Last week, the FCT Police Command reported that about 30 gunmen invaded Guto, killing a police officer and kidnapping a resident and his family. Two of the attackers were reportedly neutralised.
The repeated assaults have intensified concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Bwari and neighbouring communities bordering Kaduna and Niger states — widely considered vulnerable entry points for armed groups inching closer to Abuja.
In response, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday announced new security measures following an expanded meeting of the FCT Security Council chaired by Minister Nyesom Wike. Briefing journalists, FCT Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, said the government had fully activated Operation Sweep, a reorganised multi-agency operation designed to tackle emerging threats.
The operation has now been divided into four major sectors covering Gwagwalada, Bwari, and two expansive security corridors stretching across the city centre from Berger and Wuse to Karu, Mararaba, Karshi and Orozo. The minister has reportedly provided “adequate logistics” to support joint deployment of police, military, DSS, Civil Defence, FRSC, Immigration, Correctional Service and other security outfits.
Despite these reforms, Wednesday’s abduction highlights the persistent vulnerability of remote communities and the widening reach of criminal elements. Residents say they now live in constant fear, urging the government to take decisive action to rescue the victims and halt what many describe as a slide into daily terror.
Bandits abduct seven in fresh Abuja night raid despite new FCTA security measures
metro
How Gunmen Storm Akure Clinic, Abduct Three Health Workers
How Gunmen Storm Akure Clinic, Abduct Three Health Workers
Akure, Ondo State – In a brazen late-night raid, armed men abducted three health workers from a Primary Health Clinic in Ijebu, a suburb of Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The security guard on duty, Olawale Yaya, told TVC News that the attackers executed the operation with alarming precision. According to him, the assailants arrived in a high-end SUV, which he identified as either a Toyota Venza or a Lexus. The vehicle was parked outside the clinic before the abduction.
“They took three staff members. The gunmen parked on the road. They came with an expensive jeep. It looks like a Toyota Venza or Lexus SUV. It’s not a small sedan car. It’s an SUV. It’s not a bus. It’s a high-end SUV. The gunmen even pressed a button to open the boot. After opening it, they forced the three people inside and drove off,” Yaya recounted.
The attackers specifically targeted staff members who were on duty, assaulting them before forcing them into the boot of their vehicle. The guard described the assailants’ familiarity with the vehicle as “disturbing,” noting how they effortlessly operated the automatic boot before making their escape.
Security agencies in the state have been alerted, and investigations are ongoing to locate the kidnapped health workers and apprehend the perpetrators.
How Gunmen Storm Akure Clinic, Abduct Three Health Workers
metro
How Hijab-Wearing Woman Allegedly Abducts Suya Seller’s Daughter in Delta
How Hijab-Wearing Woman Allegedly Abducts Suya Seller’s Daughter in Delta
A 33-year-old suya seller, Abubakar Isiaka, has made a passionate appeal to security agencies and members of the public to assist in locating his three-year-old daughter, who was abducted in Delta State.
The child, identified as Sheripha, aged three years and eight months, was reportedly taken on March 7, 2026, during a burial ceremony in Ogwashi-Uku.
According to the distraught father, the incident occurred amidst the gathering when an unidentified woman wearing a hijab allegedly lured the child away. The suspect reportedly took advantage of the busy environment to carry out the act without raising immediate suspicion.
Isiaka explained that all efforts to locate his daughter since the incident have been unsuccessful, leaving the family in deep distress. He noted that the sudden disappearance of the child has thrown the entire household into emotional turmoil.
“We have searched everywhere and asked around, but there has been no trace of her,” he said, pleading for urgent intervention from security operatives.
The case has reportedly been brought to the attention of relevant authorities, while local residents have also been urged to remain vigilant and report any useful information that could lead to the rescue of the child.
Members of the public with credible information have been encouraged to assist law enforcement agencies in ensuring the safe return of the young girl.
How Hijab-Wearing Woman Allegedly Abducts Suya Seller’s Daughter in Delta
metro
Nigerian Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, Dies Suddenly in US
Nigerian Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, Dies Suddenly in US
A Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, has died suddenly in the United States, sparking grief among the Catholic faithful in both Nigeria and abroad.
Fr. Oli reportedly slumped and passed away while taking a walk on Thursday, March 26, 2026. His death was confirmed in an official statement released on Friday, March 27, by the Catholic Diocese of Awka.
The statement, signed by the diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubisi, disclosed that the late cleric was serving as the Administrator of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Faith, South Dakota, at the time of his passing.
“He was ordained on August 23, 2008. Funeral arrangements will be announced soon. May the soul of Rev. Fr. Michael Oli rest in peace, Amen,” the statement read.
Further confirmation came from Scott Bullock, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rapid City, who described the priest’s death as sudden and deeply saddening.
In a message to clergy and faithful, Bishop Bullock stated that Fr. Oli died on the morning of March 26 and was serving as pastor of St. Joseph in Faith, St. Joseph in Mud Butte, and St. Anthony in Red Owl, all in western South Dakota.
The bishop revealed that local authorities have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the priest’s death. According to him, the Deputy Sheriff of Meade County has ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause.
“At this point, we do not know the cause of death, only that he had not been feeling well,” Bishop Bullock said.
He urged priests within the diocese to offer three Masses for the repose of Fr. Oli’s soul, in line with Catholic tradition.
The late priest’s sudden death has drawn condolences from parishioners, clergy, and members of the Catholic community, who have described him as a dedicated servant of God committed to pastoral service both in Nigeria and the United States.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the church authorities in due course.
Nigerian Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, Dies Suddenly in US
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