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Police Confirm Gunmen Abduct 28 Muslim Travellers in Plateau State

Published

1 month ago

December 24, 2025

Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred

Police Confirm Gunmen Abduct 28 Muslim Travellers in Plateau State

At least 28 people, including women and children, have been kidnapped by armed men while travelling to an annual Islamic event in Plateau State, central Nigeria, police authorities have confirmed.

The victims were abducted on Sunday night when gunmen ambushed their commercial bus while it was travelling between rural communities in the state.

Confirming the incident, the Plateau State Police Command spokesperson, Alabo Alfred, said security agencies have deployed assets to the area to ensure the rescue of the abducted passengers.

“Efforts are ongoing, and necessary security assets have been deployed to secure the release of the victims,” the police said.

A journalist based in Plateau State disclosed that families of the victims have begun receiving ransom demands, although the police have yet to comment on the identities of the attackers.

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The latest abduction comes barely a day after Nigerian authorities announced the release of 130 schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in Niger State last month.

Kidnapping for ransom, largely carried out by criminal gangs known locally as bandits, has become increasingly common across northern and central Nigeria. Although ransom payments are illegal, many cases are believed to be resolved through such means, providing a major source of funding for criminal networks.

Security experts have stressed that the Plateau State kidnapping is unrelated to the Islamist insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East, where jihadist groups have waged a violent campaign against the state for more than a decade.

Nigeria’s worsening security situation drew renewed international attention in November after United States President Donald Trump threatened possible military action, alleging that Christians were being targeted in the country. The Nigerian government has acknowledged security challenges but firmly denied claims of religious persecution.

On Monday, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said recent diplomatic tensions with the United States over insecurity had been “largely resolved,” leading to stronger bilateral relations.

He added that the federal government plans to deploy trained and equipped forest guards to secure forests and remote areas commonly used as hideouts by kidnappers and other criminal groups, in support of ongoing military operations.

Police Confirm Gunmen Abduct 28 Muslim Travellers in Plateau State

BBC

Related Topics:Gunmen Muslim Travellers plateau

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Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

Published

3 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested a newly‑wedded woman suspected of poisoning her husband to death in Gauza village, Jahun Local Government Area. The incident, which occurred on January 23, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the community.

Police reported that the deceased fell seriously ill after eating a meal prepared by his wife and was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators from the Jahun Divisional Police Headquarters launched an inquiry and quickly detained the wife as the main suspect.

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During interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to putting rat poison in her husband’s food, claiming she was coerced into the marriage by her parents, which fueled resentment that led to the deadly act. Police have confirmed that a full investigation is underway, and the suspect will face court charges once the investigation is complete.

The Commissioner of Police has urged the public to remain calm, stressing that marital disputes should never escalate to violence, and warning that such actions have irreversible consequences. The tragic case highlights growing concerns over domestic poisoning and marital-related crimes in the region.

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

metro

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

Published

4 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Niger State Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that six people were killed by suspected bandits in the Wawa community of Borgu Local Government Area, intensifying concerns over the growing security crisis in rural Niger State.

Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun stated that the attack occurred on January 22, 2026, when the victims — including farmers and a local vigilante — were ambushed while heading to their farms near Damala village. Two other people remain missing, and search operations are ongoing.

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Local residents described the incident as devastating, urging the state and federal governments to take urgent measures to protect vulnerable communities from frequent bandit attacks.

This latest incident is part of a broader pattern of banditry in Niger State and neighbouring areas. Recent attacks in Damala village, Woko District, and Kasuwan Daji market in Demo community have left dozens dead, properties destroyed, and residents displaced, highlighting the escalating rural insecurity in the region.

Authorities have vowed to strengthen security operations, while experts warn that continued attacks threaten socioeconomic stability, displace local populations, and erode confidence in local law enforcement.

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

metro

DSS Silent as NAPO Leader, Two Others Held Incommunicado

Published

4 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr Harold Benstowe

DSS Silent as NAPO Leader, Two Others Held Incommunicad

The whereabouts of the President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr Harold Benstowe and two other union officials, Mr Tuwonimi Benstowe and Mr Michael Mbata remain unknown, following their alleged arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Rivers State, according to their lawyer.

NAPO’s counsel said the union leader and his colleagues were picked up during a security operation in Finima, Bonny Local Government Area, but have since been held incommunicado, with no official confirmation from the DSS on their detention or location. The development has sparked growing concern among family members, labour unions and civil society groups.

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The lawyer described the action as unlawful and a violation of the detainees’ fundamental human rights, noting that security agencies are required by law to disclose the whereabouts of arrested persons and grant them access to legal representation.

The arrests reportedly followed rising tensions linked to NAPO’s labour activities, including a recent warning strike by plant operators working on the NLNG Train 7 project in Bonny. The union had protested alleged irregular salary deductions and tax remittance issues, which were also the subject of a pending case before the National Industrial Court.

Labour rights advocates have warned that the continued silence of the DSS could undermine due process and escalate industrial unrest, calling for the immediate disclosure of the detainees’ location or their release.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official response from the DSS have remained unsuccessful, while pressure continues to mount on authorities to respect the rule of law and constitutional safeguards.