Katsina Confident of Rescue as Search Intensifies for Retired General, Wife

The Katsina State Government has expressed optimism that retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife, who were recently abducted by armed bandits, will soon regain their freedom as security agencies intensify coordinated rescue operations across the state.

The retired senior military officer and his wife were kidnapped along the Matazu axis of Katsina State, an area that has witnessed repeated attacks by armed criminal groups operating across parts of the North-West.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Salisu Zango, said ongoing security operations had reached an advanced stage, raising hopes of a positive breakthrough in the coming days.

According to the statement, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has directed all relevant security formations to prioritise the safe rescue of the retired general and his wife, alongside other victims currently held in captivity.

Preliminary findings by security agencies suggest that the abduction was a targeted and carefully planned operation. Authorities disclosed that intelligence gathered so far indicates the victims may have been monitored and trailed from Kaduna State, where they reportedly departed before the attack occurred.

Security officials described the development as evidence of increasingly sophisticated tactics adopted by armed groups in the region, noting that kidnapping networks are now relying on improved surveillance and coordinated planning to execute abductions.

The government said this emerging pattern has necessitated a more advanced response strategy, combining ground operations, intelligence gathering, and technological surveillance tools to track the abductors and locate the victims.

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“We are dealing with a targeted operation, which changes the dynamics of our response,” the statement said, adding that security agencies are working round the clock to ensure a breakthrough without endangering the lives of the captives.

The Katsina State Government reaffirmed its commitment to securing the safe return of the retired general, his wife, and other abducted persons across the state, while also vowing that those responsible for the crime would be brought to justice.

It further appealed to residents to support ongoing security efforts by reporting suspicious movements and providing credible intelligence that could assist rescue operations.

Authorities confirmed that collaboration among the Nigerian Army, Police, and intelligence agencies has been strengthened, with joint operations intensified across known criminal corridors believed to be used by the abductors.

The government also urged the family of the retired general and residents of Katsina State to remain calm, assuring them that all available security resources are being deployed to ensure a successful rescue operation.

Meanwhile, security sources say operations are ongoing across identified escape routes, as troops and tactical units expand search efforts into border communities where kidnappers are believed to be hiding.

The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, where armed banditry and kidnappings for ransom continue to pose major challenges to security forces despite ongoing military offensives.

Katsina Confident of Rescue as Search Intensifies for Retired General, Wife

Troops Foil Attempted Kidnap of Pastor, Wife in Plateau

Troops of Sector 5 under Operation Enduring Peace have foiled an attempted kidnap of a pastor, Ayuba Bitrus, and his wife, Nanman Bitrus, in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, successfully rescuing the couple after a swift response to a distress call. The incident occurred late on June 5, 2026, at Faggem Village in Tarangol District of the local government area. Security sources identified the victims as Pastor Ayuba Bitrus and his wife, Mrs. Nanman Bitrus.

Troops deployed under Sector 5’s operational patrol responded swiftly to a distress call indicating that armed kidnappers were attempting to abduct the couple. The intervention by the troops reportedly forced the assailants to abandon the operation and flee the area. “The troops responded promptly to the report and engaged in efforts that compelled the kidnappers to abandon their mission and escape. The victims, who sustained injuries during the incident, were rescued and immediately evacuated to Dung Clinic in Bokkos for medical attention,” the sources said. The sources added that security personnel have launched efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects. They reaffirmed the commitment of Operation Enduring Peace to protecting lives and property across Plateau State and urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.

The successful rescue operation comes amid heightened security challenges in Plateau State, where kidnapping for ransom has become a persistent threat to residents. Just a day before this incident, on June 4, 2026, troops of Operation Enduring Peace rescued six travellers who were kidnapped along the Hawan Kibo–Rafin Sanyin Road in Riyom Local Government Area of the state. In that separate incident, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers intercepted a commercial passenger vehicle conveying passengers from Lafia, Nasarawa State, to Jos, Plateau State. The Media Officer of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Polycarb Oteh, confirmed that troops of Sector 6 responded swiftly to a distress call and successfully rescued six of the abducted victims. Efforts were ongoing to rescue the driver of the vehicle, who remained missing at the time of the report.

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Operation Enduring Peace, the military Joint Task Force operating in Plateau State, has been intensifying its efforts to curb insecurity in the region. In early May 2026, troops of the operation uncovered two illegal arms manufacturing factories in Vom, Jos South Local Government Area, arresting five suspects and recovering a large cache of locally fabricated weapons. The recovered items included nine fabricated AK-47 rifles, four welding machines, and other industrial equipment used in weapon fabrication. The operation, carried out by the Quick Response Force under Operation Enduring Peace, followed “highly intensified, comprehensive human intelligence gathering and strategic surveillance,” according to a statement by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh. The military noted that the raid formed part of ongoing efforts aimed at disrupting the supply chain of illicit firearms and protecting law-abiding residents within the Joint Operations Area.

Major General Folusho Oyinlola, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, has repeatedly warned against all forms of criminality in the state. During a stakeholders’ engagement held in Shendam Local Government Area in late May 2026, he emphasized that the military would not tolerate any loss of lives, cattle rustling, or destruction of farmlands arising from farmer-herder clashes. “We cannot continue to tolerate violence resulting in the loss of lives as a result of farmer-herder conflict,” the GOC said, speaking through the Chief of Staff of Operation Enduring Peace, Brigadier General Senlong Sule.

As of the time of this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the attempted kidnapping of Pastor Ayuba Bitrus and his wife, and security agencies have not released further details regarding the identity of the fleeing suspects or the specific injuries sustained by the rescued couple. However, security sources confirmed that efforts to track down the assailants remain ongoing. The successful rescue operation highlights the effectiveness of rapid response mechanisms being deployed by security forces across Plateau State. Residents have been urged to continue providing timely and credible information to assist security agencies in their efforts to protect lives and property.

Troops Foil Attempted Kidnap of Pastor, Wife in Plateau

Police Arrest ‘Aza Woman’ for Spreading False Kidnap Report on Social Media

Benin City, Nigeria – The Edo State Police Command has arrested a popular social media personality, Uzebor Emmanuel, widely known as “Aza Woman,” for allegedly fabricating and circulating a false kidnap report that threw residents of Benin City into a state of fear. The arrest, confirmed on Saturday, June 6, 2026, ends a multi-day manhunt for the influencer, whose viral videos claimed a mass kidnapping of students from two local schools. Authorities have since confirmed the story was a complete hoax.

According to a statement from the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the trouble began when Uzebor Emmanuel posted a series of alarming claims on her social media accounts. In the viral posts, “Aza Woman” alleged that six persons had been abducted from various mini-transport buses operating in Benin City. She further claimed that the victims included students from Green Park Academy, Aduwawa, and Western Boys’ College, Ikpoba Hill. Additionally, she stated that some of the abducted victims miraculously escaped, while others only gained their freedom after ransom payments were made to their captors. The posts spread like wildfire across Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp, triggering widespread panic among parents and residents who feared a new wave of abductions had hit the state.

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The Edo State Police Command initially dismissed the claims on June 4, 2026, releasing a statement that debunked the kidnapping story as baseless. An immediate investigation was launched, and a manhunt for the creator of the false content began. “Our preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect knowingly circulated misleading information,” ASP Ikoedem stated. “No such kidnapping incident occurred at the mentioned schools. The report was entirely fabricated.” Operatives successfully tracked down Uzebor Emmanuel, and she was taken into custody. The police confirmed she is the person behind the “Aza Woman” social media handle.

In a strongly worded statement, the Edo State Police Command condemned the act, highlighting the severe consequences of spreading false information related to public safety. According to the police, the deliberate spread of the false kidnap report was capable of inciting panic and disrupting public order, diverting security resources away from genuine emergencies, and eroding public confidence in the state’s security framework. “The security of a state should never be jeopardized for views, engagement, online relevance, or any other form of social media gratification,” the police statement read. The command warned other social media users against leveraging fake security alerts for clout, adding that such actions constitute a serious offense with far-reaching legal consequences.

ASP Ikoedem confirmed that investigations are ongoing. Upon their conclusion, Uzebor Emmanuel will be charged in court under relevant sections of the law, likely including offenses related to cybercrime and the dissemination of false information. The Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, urged citizens to always verify information from credible and official sources before sharing. He reiterated that the command remains committed to ensuring that those who threaten public order with falsehoods face the full wrath of the law. This case adds to a growing list of arrests in Nigeria for fake news, echoing a similar incident in Osun State where a 22-year-old man was recently arrested for falsely claiming bandits had invaded the state.

Police Arrest ‘Aza Woman’ for Spreading False Kidnap Report on Social Media