Police Arrest Clergyman, Two Military Personnel Over Plateau Bishops’ Wives Kidnap Plot

A 42-year-old reverend, an Air Force sergeant, and a Navy seaman are in custody following a foiled abduction plot targeting the families of prominent clerics in Jos.

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested a clergyman and two serving military personnel over an alleged conspiracy to kidnap the wives of two prominent bishops in Jos. The suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence received by the police regarding an alleged criminal conspiracy and a foiled kidnapping attempt. According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the suspects were arrested on August 7, 2026, at approximately 2:10 p.m., bringing an end to what authorities described as a carefully planned abduction operation targeting the families of respected religious leaders in the state.

The police identified the suspects as Rev. Hassan Yunisim Mijah, 42, a resident of Tudun Wada, Jos North; Sgt. Ezra Sunday, a Nigerian Air Force personnel; and OS Usman Khalid, a Nigerian Navy personnel. Both military personnel were reportedly attached to Sector 1 of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) , a joint security task force operating in Plateau State to maintain public order and combat criminal networks . The involvement of active-duty military personnel in the alleged plot has added a troubling dimension to the case, raising serious questions about the infiltration of criminal networks into security institutions and the integrity of personnel entrusted with protecting citizens.

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The police alleged that the three suspects conspired to kidnap the wives of Bishop Ephraim Gongden and retired Bishop Benjamin Kwashi, both of whom are residents of the Rantya area of Jos South Local Government Area. Upon receiving intelligence about the planned abduction, police operatives led by the commander of the Vigilance and Criminal Response Unit (VCRU) immediately launched an operation that resulted in the arrest of the three suspects. During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to the crime, according to sources at the Plateau State Command .

The Plateau State Police Command confirmed that the leadership of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) has been formally notified of the arrest of the two military personnel attached to the operation. Police said investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged conspiracy, identify other members of the suspected criminal network, and determine whether additional individuals were involved. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to preventing kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state, urging residents to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information on suspicious activities.

TheCable contacted Alfred Alabo, spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, for confirmation of the incident. Alabo answered the call but hung up shortly afterwards. He also did not respond to a WhatsApp message seeking confirmation as of press time. The development has sparked widespread concern among residents of Jos, with many calling for thorough investigations and appropriate santions for any security personnel found culpable in criminal activities.

Police Arrest Clergyman, Two Military Personnel Over Plateau Bishops’ Wives Kidnap Plot

FRSC Confirms 15 Dead, 25 Injured in Enagi-Mokwa Road Accident

FRSC confirms Saturday evening accident along Enagi-Mokwa Road, blames overspeeding and wrongful overtaking

Fifteen travellers were burnt to death and 25 others sustained injuries in a fatal road crash along the Enagi-Mokwa Road in Niger State on Saturday evening. The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Aishatu Sa’adu, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Sunday.

According to Sa’adu, the crash involved two commercial buses travelling in the same direction. She said the buses collided head-on after one of the drivers allegedly attempted to overtake wrongly at a bend, resulting in both vehicles catching fire. “Fifteen people were burnt to death in the crash, while 25 others sustained injuries,” she stated. The injured victims were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre in Bida and the General Hospital in Kutigi for treatment.

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Sa’adu attributed the accident to overspeeding and wrongful overtaking, advising motorists to always maintain a good speed limit and avoid dangerous overtaking. “The accident was a result of overspeeding and wrongfully overtaking. I advise motorists to always maintain a good speed limit and avoid wrongful overtaking,” she said. The FRSC commander also urged commercial drivers to exercise greater caution when navigating sharp bends, especially during the rainy season when road conditions can become hazardous.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the crash occurred at a sharp bend around Costain Duma, where the bus reportedly caught fire, trapping passengers inside. An eyewitness, Ahmed Ndagana, said the vehicle was engulfed in flames shortly after the crash, leaving occupants with little chance of escape. The tragic incident has renewed concerns over the dangers posed by sharp bends and difficult road conditions in the region.

It also highlights the persistent challenge of road safety in Nigeria, where speed violations and reckless driving frequently lead to fatal accidents. At the time of filing this report, further details from the police were not immediately available.

FRSC Confirms 15 Dead, 25 Injured in Enagi-Mokwa Road Accident

Family Recounts Temitope Osoba’s Last Moment, Says Actress Repeatedly Predicted Her Death

Aunt reveals fiancé told actress she would die that day as family calls for police investigation amid conflicting accounts surrounding her passing

The family of late Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba has recounted her final moments, revealing that she repeatedly expressed fears that she would die on the same day she eventually passed away. Osoba’s maternal aunt, Pejuola Ogunesan, made the disclosure during an interview with actor Kunle Afod and another family member, Dupe, on Sunday. According to Pejuola, Osoba told her at a police station that her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko, had previously told her that she would die that day. The revelation comes amid controversy surrounding the circumstances of the actress’s death, with conflicting accounts emerging from the family and her fiancé. Temitope Osoba, a Yoruba Nollywood actress who survived breast cancer, died at the age of 40 on August 4, 2026. Her final public message was “Ogo Tuntun” (A New Glory), which she posted on WhatsApp.

Pejuola said she had been estranged from Osoba since 2023, when the actress left Evercare Hospital, Lekki, where she was receiving treatment for breast cancer, with Onadeko and actress Foluke Daramola. She explained that the relationship deteriorated after Osoba accused the family of taking her phone away while she was preparing for surgery. “She had told them that she didn’t want to see us because we collected her phone when she was supposed to focus on the surgery for her breast cancer,” Pejuola said. “We tried calling her and discovered that she had blocked all of us. Since then, I swore never to have anything to do with her again. I called my elder sister, whom she had also called, and we headed for the police station where she was.” When Pejuola and her sister arrived at the police station, Osoba recognised them and introduced them to the Divisional Police Officer as her aunties. “She (Temitope) would complain of not being able to sleep, seeing monsters and the fiancé. Now that Aunty Peju is here, she would die. She mentioned that the fiancé had told her that they would post her obituary that day,” the aunt said.

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The aunt further alleged that Osoba jumped out of a vehicle after officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority stopped another vehicle travelling ahead of them. Osoba told one of the officials that she did not know where they were taking her and demanded that they be taken to a police station. At the police station, Osoba allegedly made several allegations against Onadeko. Pejuola claimed that the prophet had relationships with multiple women and had asked Osoba to leave his home and pretend that they had ended their relationship for two months, which eventually led her to stay with her hairstylist. The aunt also said Osoba told her that she had suffered three miscarriages despite being advised against becoming pregnant within five years of her surgery.

Pejuola explained that Osoba had planned to visit a prophetess, Kehinde Osoba, whom she considered a family member, after being advised to seek spiritual help over strange dreams that had reportedly affected her ability to eat. However, when the family contacted the prophetess, she reportedly asked them not to bring the actress to the church, promising instead to pick her up after her programme. After waiting for several hours, the family found the church locked and the prophetess could no longer be reached. The family then took Osoba to another church, where prayers were offered after the actress became increasingly distressed. “She was just saying that the guy said she would die today,” Pejuola added.

Osoba later stayed with the family, but her condition continued to worsen. She made a social media post titled “Ogo tuntun” (new glory), sent messages to several people and complained of feeling uncomfortable. As her condition deteriorated, the family rushed her to a hospital. Pejuola said they were referred to the Ogun State University Teaching Hospital, but Osoba died shortly after arriving. “When we got there, they referred us to OSUTH. Suddenly, she just defecated in the car. Her head suddenly dropped. Before we could get to the emergency, she was confirmed dead,” she said.

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Prophet Itunu Onadeko, Osoba’s fiancé, has given a different account of events. In an interview with the Celestial Reality Check, Onadeko alleged that Osoba died at a police station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, and dismissed claims that she died from cancer complications, poisoning, or maltreatment. He said he was informed of her death through a phone call around midnight. “It was a random person that called me around 12 am that she died in a police station in Ikorodu,” Onadeko said. He said he did not know the particular police station where Osoba died but reported himself at a nearby station. Onadeko said Osoba had gone to see Mrs Kehinde Osoba shortly before her death. “She had insisted to see Mrs Kehinde Osoba, she also has a church, although she said she wanted to see me too. When they left for there, I told them that I wasn’t chanced to go that day because of church programmes,” he said. The prophet also denied allegations that he had access to funds donated for Osoba’s cancer treatment or used the money to construct his church. “It wasn’t my account they sent the money to, it was hers. And I didn’t use the money to build church as rumoured. What I know is that people gave her money including Mike Adenuga who offered her a cheque. I never had access to her money,” he said. Onadeko further denied claims that Osoba was prevented from driving her car, saying she drove it herself when she travelled to Iperu shortly before her death. He also revealed that Osoba struggled with smoking and said he had encouraged her to stop. He denied allegations that Osoba was maltreated before her death, including claims that faeces or urine was poured on her body as punishment for allegedly stealing biscuits.

Temitope Kofoworola Osoba was born on December 2, 1985, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and raised by her grandparents after losing both parents at a young age. She began her acting career in 2005 after being discovered during a movie rehearsal in Lagos and went on to appear in productions including Gucci Girls, Igboro Ti Daru, Oogun Mi, Ifedolapo, and Accident. In late 2024, Osoba discovered a lump in her breast during a routine self-examination and went public with her diagnosis immediately. Her corrective surgery carried a price tag of N12 million, and actresses Foluke Daramola and Iyabo Ojo spearheaded fundraising efforts that helped cover her bills. She underwent surgery in November 2024 and announced her recovery in August 2025. In December 2025, she turned 40, describing the milestone as “a victory, a blessing and a reminder that miracles happen.”

The family of the late actress has announced that Temitope Osoba will be laid to rest on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Saint James Anglican Church, Iperu Remo, Ogun State. The family has also requested that mourners wear white attire for the burial service. Friends and colleagues have announced a candlelight procession and artistes’ night tagged “An Evening of Love, Music & Memories” scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, at LTV 8 Blueroof, Ikeja, Lagos. Meanwhile, the family has urged the public to ignore rumors surrounding her passing and requested privacy as they mourn her loss.

Family Recounts Temitope Osoba’s Last Moment, Says Actress Repeatedly Predicted Her Death