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Gunmen Kidnap 23 Pupils, Proprietor’s Wife in Kogi Orphanage Attack, 15 Rescued
Gunmen Kidnap 23 Pupils, Proprietor’s Wife in Kogi Orphanage Attack, 15 Rescued
Gunmen have abducted 23 pupils and the wife of a school proprietor after attacking an orphanage and school facility in Zariagi, on the outskirts of Lokoja, in Kogi State, in what authorities describe as a major security breach.
The late-night нападение on Sunday targeted the Dahallukitab Group of Schools, a facility reportedly operating as both a school and orphanage. Witnesses said the assailants stormed the premises under the cover of darkness, firing shots to scare residents before forcefully taking the victims into nearby forests.
Confirming the incident, Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said security operatives responded swiftly, leading to the rescue of 15 abducted pupils, while eight victims, including the proprietor’s wife, remain in captivity.
Fanwo disclosed that preliminary findings revealed the institution was operating without government approval, raising concerns about compliance with safety and regulatory standards. According to him, the facility was located in a remote and bushy area, making it vulnerable to attacks and difficult for authorities to monitor.
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Security sources believe the attackers are part of armed criminal groups known to exploit forest routes across the region. Such groups have increasingly targeted schools, orphanages, and rural communities for kidnappings, often demanding ransom.
The Kogi State Government praised the swift intervention of security agencies, noting that their response helped prevent further casualties and ensured the rescue of several victims. Authorities have since intensified search-and-rescue operations across surrounding forests, with a focus on securing the safe return of those still held captive.
Fanwo warned operators of private schools and orphanages against running facilities in isolated locations without proper registration and oversight, describing such practices as dangerous given the current security challenges in Nigeria. He urged strict adherence to government regulations, including security assessments and collaboration with relevant agencies.
He added that the government remains committed to rescuing all victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice, assuring the public that updates will be provided as operations continue.
Gunmen Kidnap 23 Pupils, Proprietor’s Wife in Kogi Orphanage Attack, 15 Rescued
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Senate Vacates Mele Kyari Arrest Warrant, Disowns Oshiomhole’s Remarks on NNPCL
Senate Vacates Mele Kyari Arrest Warrant, Disowns Oshiomhole’s Remarks on NNPCL
The Senate has withdrawn the arrest warrant earlier issued against former NNPCL GCEO Mele Kyari and formally distanced itself from comments made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.”
The development marks a significant twist in the ongoing Senate probe into the financial records and transactions of the state-owned oil company, particularly audit queries linked to an alleged ₦210 trillion discrepancy in NNPCL accounts between 2017 and 2023.
The arrest warrant had been issued by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts after lawmakers expressed frustration over Kyari’s repeated failure to appear before the panel investigating the audit observations. The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, adopted a motion sponsored by Senator Victor Umeh, who argued that the investigation could not continue indefinitely without the appearance of key individuals involved in the management of the company during the period under review.
According to Umeh, Nigerians deserve answers regarding questions raised in the audited financial statements of the national oil company, insisting that the committee had exhausted all reasonable efforts to secure Kyari’s attendance.
However, the Senate has now clarified that the warrant was not a resolution of the entire upper legislative chamber but a decision taken by the Public Accounts Committee in the course of its investigation. Sources within the National Assembly indicated that the Senate leadership moved to correct public perception and underscore that committee actions should not automatically be interpreted as decisions of the full Senate.
The controversy intensified during the committee hearing when Senator Tony Nwoye informed lawmakers that Kyari was receiving medical treatment in Germany and was therefore unable to attend the session.
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Nwoye told the committee that he had spoken with the former NNPCL chief about a week earlier and that Kyari had initially indicated his willingness to appear before lawmakers. According to him, he later learned that Kyari had been hospitalized abroad, a development that prevented his attendance.
The disclosure sparked a heated exchange within the committee as Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi accused Nwoye of appearing to defend the former NNPCL boss. Nwoye rejected the allegation, insisting that he was merely providing information available to him and was not acting as Kyari’s representative.
Following the issuance of the warrant, Kyari responded through a letter addressed to the committee chairman, maintaining that he never deliberately ignored the Senate’s invitation.
The former NNPCL boss explained that he had formally communicated his medical condition to the committee in a letter dated May 11, 2026, notifying lawmakers that he was undergoing treatment outside Nigeria. He stated that he remained willing to appear before the committee immediately upon his return to the country.
Kyari also claimed that he had not received some of the invitations reportedly sent to him by the committee and stressed that he would have honoured any invitation that reached him.
Meanwhile, the Senate committee continued its hearing with testimony from former NNPCL Chief Finance Officer, Umar Ajiya Isa, who strongly rejected claims that ₦210 trillion was missing from NNPCL accounts.
According to Ajiya, reports suggesting that such an amount had disappeared were based on a misunderstanding of accounting entries and financial classifications contained in the company’s audited reports.
He explained that NNPCL generated approximately ₦54.5 trillion in revenue during the period under review, making claims of a ₦210 trillion shortfall mathematically impossible.
Ajiya stated that the disputed figures largely related to accounting entries involving accrued expenses and receivables recorded across various entities within the company’s structure. He insisted that all transactions were properly documented and could be verified through existing financial records.
The former finance chief also dismissed allegations that NNPCL spent ₦5.8 billion on its transition from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. According to him, the actual cost was about ₦2.9 billion, paid directly to government agencies including the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The Senate investigation stems from audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation regarding the financial operations of NNPCL between 2017 and 2023. Lawmakers are currently examining 19 separate audit issues covering receivables, accrued expenses and other financial transactions.
Adding to the controversy were comments reportedly made by Senator Oshiomhole during Wednesday’s proceedings. The former Edo State governor was quoted as describing the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves” and allegedly demanded that Kyari be brought before the committee “dead or alive.”
The remarks drew widespread reactions and prompted a response from NNPCL, which defended its integrity and rejected any suggestion that the organisation was involved in criminal activities.
In distancing itself from the comments, the Senate emphasized that Oshiomhole’s statements reflected his personal views and should not be construed as the official position of the Red Chamber.
With the arrest warrant now withdrawn, attention is expected to shift back to the substance of the ongoing investigation as lawmakers continue efforts to resolve questions surrounding the audit observations and financial records of Nigeria’s national oil company.
Senate Vacates Mele Kyari Arrest Warrant, Disowns Oshiomhole’s Remarks on NNPCL
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Emir of Ilorin Appoints Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki as New Chief Imam of Ilorin
Emir of Ilorin Appoints Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki as New Chief Imam of Ilorin
ILORIN – The Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, has officially appointed Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki, the Imam Fulani of Ilorin, as the new Chief Imam of Ilorin.
The appointment followed a keenly contested selection process in which Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki emerged successful among prominent Islamic scholars considered for the revered position.
The new Chief Imam, 42, is a respected Islamic scholar with deep roots in Ilorin’s religious leadership. He is the grandson of the 8th Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Ibrahim Dasuki Imam Fulani Agaka, and the son of the 10th Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Maliki bn Dasuki Agaka.
Prior to his elevation, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki served as the Imam Fulani of Ilorin and was actively involved in Islamic propagation and education. He is the founder and proprietor of Darul Bisharah Arabic and Islamic Studies, Airport, Egbejila, Ilorin, and led prayers at Afsat Oloriegbe Memorial Mosque, Oko Olowo, Ilorin.
He is also known for presenting the Al-Bisharah Islamic Foundation programme on Radio Kwara during Ramadan and serves as a lecturer at Darul Kitab College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin.
Academically, Sheikh Dasuki holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Shari’ah from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, and a Diploma in Arabic Islamic Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.
In his remarks, the Emir of Ilorin prayed for the new Chief Imam, asking Allah to grant him wisdom, sound health, long life and success in leading the Muslim Ummah in Ilorin Emirate.
The appointment was announced in a statement signed by the Emir’s Personal Assistant, Dr. Abdulraheem Muritala. :::
Note: The headline should be “Emir of Ilorin Appoints Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki as New Chief Imam of Ilorin” rather than “Chief Imam Fulani of Ilorin,” if the appointment is indeed to the office of Chief Imam of Ilorin.
Emir of Ilorin Appoints Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki as New Chief Imam of Ilorin
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Bandits Attack Kogi School, Vice Principal, Two Others Killed
Bandits Attack Kogi School, Vice Principal, Two Others Killed
The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that armed bandits invaded a secondary school in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday, killing a vice principal, a six-year-old child and another resident in a failed abduction attempt.
The attack occurred at Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, at about 10 a.m., when a large group of gunmen riding on about 40 motorcycles reportedly stormed the community and the school premises, triggering panic among students, teachers and residents.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Afusat, the Command said preliminary intelligence indicated that the attackers intended to abduct students and other members of the community.
According to the police, the Divisional Police Officer of Kabba ‘A’ Division swiftly mobilised a joint security team comprising personnel from the police division, the Police Mobile Force and other tactical units following distress calls from the area.
Military personnel and local vigilante operatives already deployed in the community also joined the operation, leading to a fierce gun battle with the attackers.
“The combined security operatives engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel, forcing the criminals to flee into the surrounding bush,” the statement said.
The Command noted that investigations had not established any successful mass abduction of students or residents, adding that security agencies were continuing assessments to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police, however, confirmed that three persons lost their lives during the attack. The victims were identified as Mr Ganiyu Anifowose, Vice Principal of UBE Secondary/Primary School, Iluke; Mr Sunday Jacob Alhassan, 70; and six-year-old Sunday Ayele.
The Command further disclosed that one of the attackers was neutralised during the exchange of gunfire, while a member of the joint security team sustained gunshot injuries and is receiving medical treatment.
The Commissioner of Police has ordered sustained bush-combing operations and confidence-building patrols across the affected area as security operatives intensify efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks.
The police urged residents to remain calm and support ongoing operations by providing credible information that could assist in tracking down the perpetrators.
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