Rescued Kogi Kidnap Victims Recount Nearly 48 Hours in Captivity

Two of the 16 victims rescued from kidnappers in Kogi State, Ngozi Stephen and Joshua Daniel, have recounted their harrowing experiences during nearly 48 hours in captivity.

The victims were abducted on Sunday when armed men attacked commuters along the Ojuwo–Ajengo–Memarebo and Ojiwo–Itobe roads in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.

They were rescued on Monday during a joint security operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes along the Ajaokuta–Anyigba road in the Ofu area.

The rescue operation, according to the security authorities, was successful after security personnel engaged the kidnappers, forcing them to flee and abandon the victims.

A local hunter was reportedly killed during the operation, while a police officer sustained injuries.

Speaking during an interview at the Kogi State Police Command headquarters on Tuesday, one of the rescued victims, Ngozi Stephen, disclosed that the kidnappers forced her to serve as an interpreter because of her fluency in Hausa.

Ngozi said the kidnappers assigned different ransom demands to the victims and made her communicate the amounts to them.

According to her, some victims were asked to pay as much as N50 million, N70 million and N100 million, while she herself was given a ransom demand of N70 million.

She said she attempted to plead with the kidnappers to reduce the amount demanded from her but was threatened with violence.

“They told me, tell this person N50 million, tell this person N100 million, tell this person N70 million. That was how they were sharing it,” she recalled.

Ngozi said although the kidnappers subjected some of the victims to physical violence, she was not beaten, possibly because she was being used as an interpreter.

She added that the kidnappers seized the victims’ mobile phones and laptops and switched off the phones. The devices were allegedly returned whenever the abductors wanted the victims to contact their relatives to negotiate or facilitate ransom payments.

The situation became more frightening, she said, when the kidnappers threatened to sell the victims to ritualists if their relatives failed to raise the demanded ransom.

Ngozi, however, said the kidnappers fled when they heard gunshots from the approaching security operatives, abandoning the victims and the bag containing the phones and laptops they had collected.

She expressed relief at the successful rescue, saying the victims were grateful to be alive and reunited with their families.

‘I Bled Throughout the Night’

Another rescued victim, Daniel, gave a graphic account of how he sustained a serious injury while attempting to escape from his abductors.

Daniel said that shortly after the victims were captured, he noticed an opening and attempted to escape into a nearby bush.

He said one of the kidnappers pursued him and tried to attack him with a cutlass.

According to him, he raised his hand to protect himself, but the cutlass struck his arm and severed a vein, causing him to bleed throughout the night.

“That is when the cutlass landed here and cut my vein. So, I was bleeding throughout the night,” he said.

Daniel said the bleeding eventually stopped after he obtained some herbs and applied them to the wound.

He also disclosed that one of the kidnappers identified himself as Peter, adding that the abductors deliberately spoke Igala, Fulani and Hausa among themselves to prevent the victims from understanding their conversations.

Despite his injury, Daniel said he assisted in carrying the wounded police officer from the kidnappers’ hideout to the main road after the rescue.

“Even when I had this cut on my hand, I helped in carrying the officer from where we were held captive to the main road where we entered the car. My hand was swelling,” he said.

Daniel expressed gratitude to the security personnel for their intervention but lamented the death of the local hunter who was killed during the rescue operation.

He commiserated with the deceased hunter’s family, describing the sacrifice made by the security personnel and local vigilantes as significant to the victims’ survival.

Meanwhile, the authorities said the 16 rescued victims comprised six adult males, six adult females and four children.

The victims are currently undergoing documentation and medical assessment before being reunited with their respective families.

The successful operation came amid renewed security concerns along major roads in parts of Kogi State, where armed criminals have continued to target motorists and commuters.

Security agencies have intensified joint operations in the affected areas, with local vigilantes also providing intelligence and support to conventional security personnel in efforts to combat kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

Rescued Kogi Kidnap Victims Recount Nearly 48 Hours in Captivity

Nigeria Needs Competent, Ethical Young Leaders, Says HAVEK Leadership Academy

LAGOS — Nigeria needs a new generation of competent, ethical and purpose-driven young leaders who are adequately prepared to take responsibility for the country’s development, the HAVEK Leadership Academy has said.

The Academy made the call in a statement issued by its General Manager, Mr. Taiwo Bakare, to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day, observed globally on Wednesday, August 12, under the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”

According to HAVEK, the occasion provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the creativity, resilience and contributions of young people but also to reflect on the responsibilities required to prepare them for leadership and national development.

The Academy stressed that Nigeria does not simply need young people waiting to occupy leadership positions but youths who are deliberately preparing themselves to lead responsibly.

It noted that leadership should not be measured by age, political position, public visibility or the possession of authority, but by competence, character, discipline, courage, accountability, service and the ability to provide practical solutions to societal challenges.

Bakare said the future of Nigeria would largely depend on the knowledge, values, skills and decisions of its young people.

“Nigeria needs a generation of young people who will not only ask what the country can do for them, but who are prepared to ask what they can contribute to building a better country.

“We need young Nigerians who are intellectually equipped, professionally competent, morally grounded, and courageous enough to provide solutions to the challenges confronting our nation,” he said.

The Academy said youth development must move beyond speeches and slogans to deliberate investment in the capacity, character and leadership competence of young Nigerians.

It urged young people to acquire relevant knowledge and practical skills, develop critical-thinking abilities, embrace technology and innovation, cultivate strong work ethics and understand the importance of patience, discipline and continuous learning.

HAVEK also warned that leadership without character could become a liability to society, stressing that Nigeria needs young leaders who would reject corruption, dishonesty, indiscipline, intolerance and the culture of shortcuts.

The Academy said such values were essential across different sectors, including politics, business, education, public service, entrepreneurship, community development and technology.

It maintained that young professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, public servants, community leaders and innovators must understand that leadership is fundamentally about responsibility and service to humanity.

The Academy also called on parents, educational institutions, governments, businesses and civil society organisations to create more meaningful platforms for young Nigerians to learn, innovate, serve and participate constructively in national development.

According to HAVEK, youth empowerment should not be restricted to financial interventions, noting that sustainable empowerment must include quality education, leadership development, mentorship, employability skills, entrepreneurship, digital competence, civic responsibility and meaningful participation in decision-making.

The organisation further noted that Nigeria’s large youth population could become one of the country’s greatest assets if properly educated, equipped and guided.

It urged stakeholders to provide young Nigerians with opportunities to develop their talents and transform their aspirations into practical contributions to society.

The Academy called on Nigerian youths to make continuous learning, critical thinking, hard work, responsible leadership, innovation and selfless service integral parts of their personal development.

It said the future should not be something young people merely wait to inherit but something they should begin preparing to build through their choices, actions and commitment to national development.

HAVEK Leadership Academy reaffirmed its commitment to developing young people with the knowledge, skills, values and leadership capacity required to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria and the global community.

The Academy concluded its message with a call for a renewed commitment to youth development, declaring: “Nigeria needs strong minds. Nigeria needs capable hands. Nigeria needs people of character. Nigeria needs young leaders prepared to serve. The time to prepare them is now.”

The statement was signed by Bakare, General Manager, HAVEK Leadership Academy.

Nigeria Needs Competent, Ethical Young Leaders, Says HAVEK Leadership Academy

Customs Intercept Explosives from Ghana, Expired Noodles in N365m Seme Border Crackdown

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials smuggled from Ghana, alongside 1,306 sacks of expired noodles, narcotics, foreign rice and other contraband. The seizures, with a combined Duty Paid Value of N365.16 million, were unveiled at a press briefing where the Command also announced it had generated N19.84 billion in revenue within the first seven months of 2026.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has dealt a major blow to smuggling and cross-border criminal activities along the Nigeria-Ghana border with the interception of explosive materials, expired noodles, narcotics, foreign rice, cigarettes, and other prohibited items. The seizures, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365.16 million, were unveiled at a press briefing by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, at the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos State.

In what has been described as a significant national security intervention, Customs officers intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the Seme border corridor from Ghana. Kaila emphasised the grave danger these materials posed, stating that explosives of this nature could facilitate terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes capable of threatening national peace and security. “Explosives of this nature have devastating consequences when they fall into the hands of criminal elements,” he warned. Due to the sensitive nature of the seizure, the explosive materials, alongside one suspect, have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation.

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The Command also intercepted a truck deceptively declared as carrying food items, which was found to contain 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes. Kaila revealed that many of the products had already deteriorated and were visibly decomposing, with intelligence indicating that smugglers intended to repackage and relabel them for sale to unsuspecting Nigerians. “Had this shipment succeeded, countless families would have been exposed to serious health hazards ranging from food poisoning and gastrointestinal diseases to other life-threatening medical complications,” he said. The Customs boss described border security as a form of public health protection, stating that every Nigerian had been shielded from what could have become a silent public health disaster.

In the fight against illicit drugs, the Command seized 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg, and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes. Kaila described these as dangerous products capable of destroying lives, fuelling criminality, encouraging substance abuse, and undermining the future of young people. The illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products will be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and necessary action.

The Command also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, smuggled through illegal routes. According to Kaila, this illegal importation not only denied the government legitimate revenue but also undermined local rice production and threatened the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers. Other seized items included a used speedboat, a used water bike, a 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, a 2016 Toyota RAV4, and a 2010 Nissan Versa.

The Command recorded significant revenue growth, generating N19.84 billion between January and July 2026, surpassing the N15.94 billion collected throughout the entire 2025 fiscal year. This represents a 24.45 per cent increase of N3.899 billion. Kaila attributed the improved revenue performance to enhanced compliance, stronger stakeholder engagement, improved operational efficiency, and intensified enforcement against smuggling. “This achievement demonstrates that effective enforcement and efficient trade facilitation are complementary responsibilities,” he stated.

Kaila issued a stern warning to smugglers and economic saboteurs, declaring that Seme is no longer a safe corridor for illicit trade. He reiterated that the Command had intensified intelligence-driven operations and would continue collaborating with sister security agencies to frustrate criminal activities along the border. He commended sister security and regulatory agencies for their cooperation and intelligence sharing, while also appreciating the media for its role in informing the public and promoting transparency and accountability in Customs operations.

Customs Intercept Explosives from Ghana, Expired Noodles in N365m Seme Border Crackdown