Police Arrest 33 Suspects Over Kwara Church Attack

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of 33 suspects linked to the deadly attack on the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, Eruku, in Kwara State, an incident earlier described as part of a wider network of terrorism, kidnapping, and armed robbery operations.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, the suspects are part of a larger group of 50 individuals being investigated for their alleged involvement in violent crimes across the country. He said the arrests were made during coordinated, intelligence-led operations carried out since January under a broader security crackdown on criminal syndicates.

The police said the suspects are linked to the November 18 attack on the Eruku church, during which armed men stormed the worship centre, killing three worshippers and abducting 38 others in a violent raid that shocked the nation.

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A livestream video of the incident, later circulated online, showed congregants in the middle of a church service before gunshots erupted around the premises, sending worshippers into panic as the attackers invaded the building.

The incident drew national attention, prompting swift security responses and public assurances from the Federal Government. President Bola Tinubu later announced that all abducted worshippers had been rescued following coordinated security operations.

Police spokesperson Placid said several key suspects have already been prepared for prosecution, while investigations are ongoing to track down additional accomplices and recover illegal weapons believed to have been used in the attack.

He added that the operation reflects ongoing efforts by the police to dismantle organised criminal networks operating across Kwara State and neighbouring regions, particularly groups involved in kidnappings and attacks on soft targets such as religious centres.

Authorities have not yet disclosed full identities of the suspects but confirmed that they are undergoing profiling and interrogation as part of the ongoing investigation.

Security agencies say the crackdown is part of a wider national strategy to restore public confidence and prevent further attacks on churches, schools, and rural communities.

Further updates are expected as prosecutions begin and investigations continue.

Police Arrest 33 Suspects Over Kwara Church Attack

Bandits Kidnap UNIJOS Student, Circulate Brutal Video, Demand ₦30m

A student of the University of Jos, John Arum Azi, has been abducted by armed bandits along the Jos–Zaria highway while travelling from Plateau State to Kaduna State, with the attackers later demanding a ₦30 million ransom for his release.

The 28-year-old keyboard technician was reportedly kidnapped alongside six other passengers en route to Zaria in Kaduna State. Sources said Azi was travelling after being invited by a client to repair a musical keyboard when the vehicle conveying them was intercepted by armed men.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers forced all passengers into the bush before moving them to an undisclosed location. A distressing video later circulated on social media showed Azi being violently assaulted by his captors, who used sticks and other objects to beat him while recording the act.

In the viral clip, the kidnappers reportedly forced the victim to kneel and plead with his family to urgently meet their ransom demand. The video was allegedly recorded using the victim’s phone and shared in a WhatsApp group linked to his classmates, further heightening panic among students.

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The kidnappers are demanding ₦30 million for his release, with negotiations said to be ongoing through unspecified channels. The fate of the other abducted passengers remains unclear at this time.

The incident has intensified concerns over rising kidnapping cases along Nigeria’s highways, particularly in the North-West and North-Central corridors, which have witnessed frequent attacks by armed groups in recent years.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the abduction. Security agencies are expected to launch or intensify search-and-rescue operations to track the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

The case adds to growing calls for improved security along interstate travel routes, especially the busy Jos–Kaduna–Zaria axis, which has become a recurring hotspot for kidnappings.

Bandits Kidnap UNIJOS Student, Circulate Brutal Video, Demand ₦30m

Nigerian Army Hits IPOB/ESN Hideouts in Enugu, Seizes Explosives, ₦2m

Troops of the Nigerian Army have intensified counterinsurgency operations in Enugu State, launching coordinated raids on suspected hideouts of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network, in a major security operation that led to the recovery of explosives, weapons, and ransom funds.

The operation, conducted under Operation EASTERN SANITY with air support from Operation UDO KA, targeted Ajali Forest in Ezeagu Local Government Area, a location identified by intelligence reports as a suspected operational base for armed criminal elements.

According to the Army, joint troops from Sector 1, supported by the Air Component, carried out a precision strike and clearance operation that forced suspected IPOB/ESN members to flee, abandoning key equipment and explosive devices.

During the raid, troops recovered an anti-tank Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which was immediately secured and neutralised by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, preventing what officials described as a potential large-scale attack.

Military authorities said the successful strike demonstrated growing pressure on armed groups in the South-East, noting that sustained clearance operations have continued to dismantle suspected IPOB/ESN hideouts in Enugu forests.

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In a separate intelligence-led operation in Adani, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, troops of the 82 Division Garrison, acting on information provided by the Department of State Services, tracked financial movements linked to a suspected kidnapping syndicate.

The operation led to the interception of ransom money amounting to ₦2 million, alongside the arrest of a suspected kidnapper. A search of the suspect’s residence also led to the recovery of a pump-action rifle, further linking the suspect to armed criminal activity.

The Army stated that the suspect and recovered items have been handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation aimed at identifying and dismantling wider criminal networks.

“The operations have significantly degraded the operational and financial capabilities of criminal elements in the region,” the Army said, adding that continued pressure is forcing them into retreat and disorganisation.

Officials also confirmed that ongoing clearance missions, supported by intelligence and aerial surveillance, are being sustained across forested areas in Enugu and neighbouring states to prevent regrouping of armed cells.

The military reiterated its commitment to restoring security across Nigeria’s South-East, urging residents to support intelligence sharing and community vigilance as operations continue.

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