Edo Train Attack: Retired police officer, nursing mother, 3 others ‘rescued’ - Newstrends
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Edo Train Attack: Retired police officer, nursing mother, 3 others ‘rescued’

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4 years ago

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A retired police officer, a nursing mother and her baby, as well as two minors, have been rescued from among the 32 passengers abducted from Igueben train station, in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State.

The victims were waiting to board a train to Warri in Delta State when they were abducted Saturday afternoon by gunmen.

Daily Trust gathered that the victims were rescued by a combined team of security agents including the local vigilante and hunters. It was also learnt that one of the kidnappers had been arrested by security operatives.

“Five persons have been rescued so far. The kidnappers were forced to release the minors who they felt couldn’t move fast due to the intensity of the security operatives, especially the hunters who were in the bush,” a source disclosed.

The spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, who also confirmed the rescue of the victims, said it was made possible in collaboration with other security agencies.

“Among the rescued victims by the security operatives were a retired police officer, a lady with a one-year-old child, a boy and a girl of three and six years old respectively but the whereabouts of their parents is yet unknown,” he said.

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He added that the police with other security agencies, the Edo state Security Network, vigilantes and hunters are still combing the bush to rescue the victim unhurt and further arrest the perpetrators.

However, a resident who pleaded anonymity faulted the claims that some victims were rescued, noting that it was the abductors that released them.

“We heard that the abductors dropped the children at a filling station and called their relatives to pick them up. How can you call that rescue? It is shameful that the security operatives were not alive to their responsibilities before the attack, especially after the Abuja-Kaduna train attack. This area is too deserted with no security measure in place but now, all the top brass of security formations in the state are at the station as if that will bring back the victims,” he queried. 

How station manager, passengers were abducted

Daily Trust gathered that the area where the incident took place is one of the flashpoints for criminal activities in the state. 

It was learnt that the abducted victims included the station manager, ticket clerk and other staff of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as well as passengers waiting to board the train at 5pm.

The abductors, it was gathered, struck about 20 minutes before the time when the train was expected to pick up passengers and depart the station. 

“This place (the train station) is in a bush. It is the station that has opened up the area. The abductors emerged from the bush, shooting sporadically before abducting their victims. There was no resistance because there is no security presence in the area. They took their time to march out their victims,” noted a resident of the area, Abilo Jeremiah.

Kidnapper arrested

Meanwhile, Edo State Commissioner for Communications and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said that security operatives had arrested one of the suspected kidnappers.

“After 32 persons were kidnapped, the police, vigilante, and local hunters swung into action, combing the bushes around the vicinity. One of the kidnapped victims was able to escape.

“The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has visited the scene of the attack for on-the-spot assessment and was told that one of the suspects was arrested and he has been helping the police with the investigation to arrest other fleeing members of the kidnapping gang,” he said during a press briefing in Benin, the state capital.

The attack came about nine months after bandits attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train, gunned down some passengers and abducted more than 60 others, who were released after ransom payment.

The attack led to the suspension of train service on the route.

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Service only resumed on December 5 after the remaining passengers were released.

Train service won’t be disrupted – NRC

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, has said the attack will not affect the Itapkpe-Warri train service.

He told our correspondent on the phone that the train service would continue but that additional security measures would be introduced.

Okhiria also clarified that there was no attack on the train but only the station was attacked.

One of our correspondents learnt that the Minister of Transportation, Mua’zu Sambo, had visited the affected train station in the early hours of Sunday.

A statement later issued by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Henshaw Ogubike, said the federal government was making efforts to free the passengers.

 “The public is hereby reassured that the security agencies are making efforts to rescue the kidnapped train passengers. The Nigerian Police are on the trail of the criminals and have mobilised with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers,” the statement read.

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Zamfara: Bandits Allegedly Burn 13 Family Members Alive After Locking Them Inside Room

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6 hours ago

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November 8, 2026

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Bandits Demand N30m Ransom for Six Abducted Clerics in Zamfara

Zamfara: Bandits Allegedly Burn 13 Family Members Alive After Locking Them Inside Room

 

By Newstrends Correspondent

 

MARADUN, Zamfara State – Tragedy has reportedly struck Gidan Taba community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State after suspected bandits allegedly killed 13 members of the same family by locking them inside a room and setting their house ablaze.

 

The victims were identified as Sani Ɗanwawo and 12 members of his family, who reportedly died in the inferno during an attack on Saturday night, November 7, 2026.

 

According to a report published by Daily Post on Sunday, November 8, the attackers allegedly confined all 13 occupants inside a room before setting the building on fire, leaving them with no opportunity to escape.

 

The incident was disclosed by Bakatsine, a security and conflict reporter who monitors banditry and other security developments in Nigeria’s North-West region, in a post on X.

 

The reported killing represents another disturbing incident in Zamfara State, which has continued to experience attacks by armed groups, including killings, kidnappings and destruction of property.

 

Maradun Local Government Area and other parts of the state have witnessed repeated security challenges, leaving residents exposed to violence and displacement.

 

However, details surrounding the latest incident, including the identities of all the victims and possible reactions from security agencies, remain unclear.

 

As of the time of filing this report, independent confirmation of the reported 13 deaths from the Zamfara State Police Command or other security authorities had not been established.

 

Zamfara: Bandits Allegedly Burn 13 Family Members Alive After Locking Them Inside Room

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[ICYMI] Lagos Summons DisCos, Regulators Over Persistent Power Outages, Seeks 24-Hour Electricity

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7 hours ago

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November 8, 2026

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Is Nigeria's Electricity Tariff Going Up? FG Finally Breaks Silence

Lagos Summons DisCos, Regulators Over Persistent Power Outages, Seeks 24-Hour Electricity

 

By Newstrends Correspondent

 

The Lagos State Government has summoned electricity regulators, distribution companies (DisCos), power resellers and suppliers to a major energy summit aimed at addressing persistent electricity shortages and finding lasting solutions to the state’s unreliable power supply.

 

The initiative is part of efforts to develop a roadmap towards achieving reliable, round-the-clock electricity across Lagos State, amid growing complaints from residents and businesses over frequent power outages.

 

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing ahead of the 2026 Lagos Energy Summit.

 

The summit, themed “Lagos Energy Evolution: Transforming the Future,” is scheduled for November 10 and 11, while a technical tour will take place on November 12 at selected energy infrastructure facilities.

 

Ogunleye said the gathering would bring together critical stakeholders across the electricity value chain to examine structural challenges affecting the sector and develop practical solutions capable of improving electricity supply.

 

He explained that discussions would focus on electricity sector reforms, energy efficiency, renewable energy, metering solutions and alternative sources of power.

 

According to the commissioner, the government intends to move beyond policy declarations and ensure that the summit produces practical outcomes that can improve electricity access and strengthen Lagos’ energy infrastructure.

 

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ibilola Kasumu, said the summit would adopt a different approach from conventional industry gatherings by placing actual problems before experts for possible solutions.

 

She explained that the objective was to bring stakeholders together to identify challenges within the electricity value chain and develop workable strategies for addressing them.

 

Kasumu added that the government hoped to establish a framework for reliable electricity supply that could eventually serve as a model for other states.

 

Ogunleye also disclosed that the Lagos State Government was engaging the Federal Government on issues surrounding their respective regulatory responsibilities and the need to strengthen the state’s control over its electricity infrastructure.

 

The discussions are expected to cover the development of renewable energy, alternative power sources and other initiatives that could reduce dependence on conventional electricity generation.

 

The summit will also showcase clean-energy innovations by young Nigerians, including projects and prototypes developed by secondary school students.

 

The development comes amid persistent complaints by Lagos residents over erratic electricity supply, which has continued to affect households, commercial activities and small businesses across the state.

 

The Lagos government says achieving a more reliable energy system is essential to supporting economic growth, attracting investment and advancing its ambition of building a 24-hour economy.

 

However, residents will be watching closely to see whether the summit produces concrete measures capable of addressing the electricity challenges affecting communities across Lagos.

 

Lagos Summons DisCos, Regulators Over Persistent Power Outages, Seeks 24-Hour Electricity

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Afenifere Crisis: ‘There Is Only One Afenifere’, Secretary Insists Amid Breakup Allegations

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10 hours ago

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November 8, 2026

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Afenifere Crisis: ‘There Is Only One Afenifere’, Secretary Insists Amid Breakup Allegations
General Secretary of Afenifere, Chief Ademola Folarin

Afenifere Crisis: ‘There Is Only One Afenifere’, Secretary Insists Amid Breakup Allegations

The General Secretary of Afenifere, Chief Ademola Folarin, has dismissed suggestions that the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation is heading for a fresh split, insisting that there is only one Afenifere despite disagreements over leadership and political affiliations.

Folarin said members of the organisation remained committed to reconciliation, adding that efforts were ongoing to bring aggrieved members together under one umbrella.

He spoke in an interview with Vanguard, in which he addressed the leadership dispute, alleged plans to establish another group, the process of choosing a successor to the late leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, and Afenifere’s political position ahead of the 2027 general election.

The Afenifere secretary acknowledged that disagreements existed within the organisation but argued that they should not be interpreted as evidence that the group had broken apart.

According to him, members had recognised the need for unity and understood that the organisation would be more effective if its different tendencies worked together.

Folarin said reconciliation efforts had gained fresh momentum before Fasoranti’s death, disclosing that the late leader had invited some members, including Oba Oladipo Olaitan, to a meeting as part of efforts to resolve the disagreements.

He said the proposed meeting was postponed because of arrangements for Fasoranti’s burial, but stressed that the reconciliation process had not been abandoned.

The secretary maintained that Afenifere would continue working towards bringing everyone back together, noting that patience and dialogue were necessary to achieve a peaceful resolution.

On the question of succession, Folarin criticised discussions about who should take over the leadership of the organisation before the burial of Fasoranti, describing such conversations as disrespectful to the memory of the late leader.

He cited the position of Chief Olu Falae, who had reportedly advised that discussions on succession should wait until after the burial.

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Folarin also dismissed suggestions that there was an existing plan to install former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as the next Afenifere leader.

He said there was no such arrangement, although he acknowledged that individuals were free to express interest in the position.

According to him, the next leader would emerge through a gathering of elders and leaders of the organisation rather than through an ordinary election.

He explained that Afenifere was not a political party and that its leadership process involved consultation among respected elders and leaders.

Folarin said anyone aspiring to lead the organisation must demonstrate a record of commitment to its ideals, particularly unity and service to the Yoruba people, rather than personal or partisan interests.

He also rejected the suggestion that an individual’s political influence or ambition should automatically qualify them for the leadership position.

The Afenifere secretary further addressed reports that some members were considering the formation of a group to be known as Afenifere Independent, amid the lingering disagreements.

While the interview raised the issue, Folarin’s broader position was that the organisation should remain united and that efforts to reconcile members should continue.

On Afenifere’s political position ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Folarin confirmed that the organisation under his leadership had endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.

He said Afenifere supported Tinubu in the 2023 election and saw no reason to reverse its position, arguing that the president’s experience and record in government informed the endorsement.

Folarin, however, acknowledged that members of the organisation were free to support other candidates, describing Afenifere as a democratic organisation in which individuals could hold different political opinions.

He also defended the late Fasoranti’s decision to endorse Tinubu in 2023, despite earlier political disagreements between the former Lagos governor and some Afenifere leaders.

Folarin contrasted Fasoranti’s approach with that of the late Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, whom he accused of endorsing Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 election without first consulting other leaders of the organisation.

He argued that Fasoranti placed greater emphasis on collective decision-making and consultation, describing him as a unifying figure who respected the views of other members.

Folarin also maintained that political differences should not be allowed to destroy the organisation’s longstanding role in promoting Yoruba interests and national unity.

He urged members to put aside their disagreements and embrace reconciliation, insisting that Afenifere’s future depended on its ability to remain united.

 

Afenifere Crisis: ‘There Is Only One Afenifere’, Secretary Insists Amid Breakup Allegations

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