Outrage in Plateau as Bandits Take Over Village, Force Residents to Flee - Newstrends
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Outrage in Plateau as Bandits Take Over Village, Force Residents to Flee

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Plateau State map

Outrage in Plateau as Bandits Take Over Village, Force Residents to Flee

Armed bandits have reportedly taken over a village in Mushere Chiefdom, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, forcing residents to flee, renaming the community, and converting a local church into a mosque, in what community leaders describe as a complete seizure of ancestral land.

The development has left dozens of families displaced, cut off from their farmlands, homes and livelihoods, further deepening the humanitarian crisis in parts of Plateau State affected by persistent violence.

A community leader, Amos Gyang, disclosed the incident on Sunday while speaking at a charity event organised by the Plateau Unite Foundation in Jos. He said the invasion occurred in September 2025, when armed attackers, identified as Fulani bandits, stormed the village without warning.

According to Gyang, the assailants killed more than 10 residents, seized control of the community and drove surviving villagers into neighbouring areas and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where many now live in harsh and degrading conditions.

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“We were living in peace, going about our businesses because most of our people are farmers,” Gyang said. “Some of them had lived with us for years and even spoke our language. We never imagined they would turn against us.”

He explained that after forcing residents to flee, the attackers occupied the land, seized farms, livestock and houses, renamed the village, and converted the community church into a mosque, actions he described as symbolic of a total takeover.

“As I stand here today, many of our people are scattered in IDP camps, facing hunger and suffering. Some families have been reduced to begging just to survive, while our fertile land is being occupied,” Gyang said.

The reported takeover is part of a wider pattern of attacks in Bokkos LGA and Mushere Chiefdom, where several communities have been repeatedly raided, leading to mass displacement, loss of lives and destruction of livelihoods. Local leaders say multiple villages in the area have been abandoned over the past year due to fear of further attacks.

Residents and community groups have accused authorities of failing to respond decisively, despite repeated appeals for help. Gyang said pleas to government agencies and security institutions have so far yielded little result, leaving affected communities feeling abandoned.

He appealed to both the Plateau State Government and the Federal Government to urgently intervene by restoring the displaced villagers to their ancestral homes, reclaiming occupied communities and strengthening security presence across vulnerable areas of Bokkos LGA.

Observers warn that unless decisive action is taken, continued occupation of rural communities could worsen food insecurity, fuel further displacement and entrench instability in Plateau State and the wider North-Central region.

Outrage in Plateau as Bandits Take Over Village, Force Residents to Flee

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How Gunmen Storm Akure Clinic, Abduct Three Health Workers

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How Gunmen Storm Akure Clinic, Abduct Three Health Workers

Akure, Ondo State – In a brazen late-night raid, armed men abducted three health workers from a Primary Health Clinic in Ijebu, a suburb of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The security guard on duty, Olawale Yaya, told TVC News that the attackers executed the operation with alarming precision. According to him, the assailants arrived in a high-end SUV, which he identified as either a Toyota Venza or a Lexus. The vehicle was parked outside the clinic before the abduction.

“They took three staff members. The gunmen parked on the road. They came with an expensive jeep. It looks like a Toyota Venza or Lexus SUV. It’s not a small sedan car. It’s an SUV. It’s not a bus. It’s a high-end SUV. The gunmen even pressed a button to open the boot. After opening it, they forced the three people inside and drove off,” Yaya recounted.

The attackers specifically targeted staff members who were on duty, assaulting them before forcing them into the boot of their vehicle. The guard described the assailants’ familiarity with the vehicle as “disturbing,” noting how they effortlessly operated the automatic boot before making their escape.

Security agencies in the state have been alerted, and investigations are ongoing to locate the kidnapped health workers and apprehend the perpetrators.

 

How Gunmen Storm Akure Clinic, Abduct Three Health Workers

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How Hijab-Wearing Woman Allegedly Abducts Suya Seller’s Daughter in Delta

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Delta Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright,

How Hijab-Wearing Woman Allegedly Abducts Suya Seller’s Daughter in Delta

A 33-year-old suya seller, Abubakar Isiaka, has made a passionate appeal to security agencies and members of the public to assist in locating his three-year-old daughter, who was abducted in Delta State.

The child, identified as Sheripha, aged three years and eight months, was reportedly taken on March 7, 2026, during a burial ceremony in Ogwashi-Uku.

According to the distraught father, the incident occurred amidst the gathering when an unidentified woman wearing a hijab allegedly lured the child away. The suspect reportedly took advantage of the busy environment to carry out the act without raising immediate suspicion.

Isiaka explained that all efforts to locate his daughter since the incident have been unsuccessful, leaving the family in deep distress. He noted that the sudden disappearance of the child has thrown the entire household into emotional turmoil.

“We have searched everywhere and asked around, but there has been no trace of her,” he said, pleading for urgent intervention from security operatives.

The case has reportedly been brought to the attention of relevant authorities, while local residents have also been urged to remain vigilant and report any useful information that could lead to the rescue of the child.

Members of the public with credible information have been encouraged to assist law enforcement agencies in ensuring the safe return of the young girl.

How Hijab-Wearing Woman Allegedly Abducts Suya Seller’s Daughter in Delta

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Nigerian Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, Dies Suddenly in US

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Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli
Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli

Nigerian Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, Dies Suddenly in US 

A Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, has died suddenly in the United States, sparking grief among the Catholic faithful in both Nigeria and abroad.

Fr. Oli reportedly slumped and passed away while taking a walk on Thursday, March 26, 2026. His death was confirmed in an official statement released on Friday, March 27, by the Catholic Diocese of Awka.

The statement, signed by the diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubisi, disclosed that the late cleric was serving as the Administrator of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Faith, South Dakota, at the time of his passing.

“He was ordained on August 23, 2008. Funeral arrangements will be announced soon. May the soul of Rev. Fr. Michael Oli rest in peace, Amen,” the statement read.

Further confirmation came from Scott Bullock, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rapid City, who described the priest’s death as sudden and deeply saddening.

In a message to clergy and faithful, Bishop Bullock stated that Fr. Oli died on the morning of March 26 and was serving as pastor of St. Joseph in Faith, St. Joseph in Mud Butte, and St. Anthony in Red Owl, all in western South Dakota.

The bishop revealed that local authorities have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the priest’s death. According to him, the Deputy Sheriff of Meade County has ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause.

“At this point, we do not know the cause of death, only that he had not been feeling well,” Bishop Bullock said.

He urged priests within the diocese to offer three Masses for the repose of Fr. Oli’s soul, in line with Catholic tradition.

The late priest’s sudden death has drawn condolences from parishioners, clergy, and members of the Catholic community, who have described him as a dedicated servant of God committed to pastoral service both in Nigeria and the United States.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the church authorities in due course.

Nigerian Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, Dies Suddenly in US

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