metro
Troops Rescue 36 Benue Indigenes Held Hostage in Cross River
Troops Rescue 36 Benue Indigenes Held Hostage in Cross River
Nigerian Army troops have successfully rescued 36 indigenes of Benue State who were allegedly held against their will in Imaje Community, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, following a reprisal attack linked to a livestock theft dispute. The timely military operation, conducted on Thursday, prevented further escalation of the crisis and restored calm to the community.
No fewer than 36 indigenes of Benue State have been rescued by Nigerian Army troops in Cross River State. The victims were held hostage in Imaje Community, Yala Local Government Area, following a reprisal attack sparked by a livestock theft dispute that threatened to escalate into a wider communal conflict. Counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama disclosed the incident on Saturday, June 27, 2026, via a post on X (formerly Twitter). According to Makama, troops from the 130 Battalion (Rear), in collaboration with the 341 Artillery Regiment, conducted the operation around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The troops raided the location and successfully rescued all the hostages.
The rescued victims reportedly told security operatives that the incident began after an indigene of Imaje Community was allegedly attacked by some youths from Benue State over the theft of livestock. The attack on the Imaje indigene triggered anger among community members, who vowed to retaliate against Benue residents living in the area. In retaliation, some members of the Imaje Community targeted Benue residents living in the area, attacking them and holding them against their will. The victims, who are predominantly farmers and traders, were reportedly confined in various locations within the community, with some allegedly subjected to physical abuse and intimidation during their captivity.
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The Nigerian Army‘s intervention came after security agencies received intelligence reports about the hostage situation. The troops from the 130 Battalion (Rear) and the 341 Artillery Regiment were deployed to the area and conducted a coordinated raid on the community. The operation was carried out with precision to avoid civilian casualties and ensure the safe rescue of all hostages. Makama confirmed that the troops successfully rescued all 36 victims and that calm has been restored in the community. The timely military operation prevented further escalation of the conflict and averted what could have degenerated into a full-blown communal crisis between Benue and Cross River residents in the area.
Security agencies are maintaining a presence in the area to forestall any renewed violence, while investigations into the incident are ongoing. Troops have been deployed to monitor the situation and prevent any reprisal attacks from either side. Community leaders from both Benue and Cross River states have been engaged to help de-escalate tensions and promote peaceful coexistence among residents.
The hostage crisis had created significant tension in the border communities between Benue and Cross River states, with many Benue residents living in the area fearing for their safety. The rescue operation has brought relief to the affected families and the broader Benue community in Cross River State. The Benue State Government has expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army for the successful rescue operation. Officials have also called on both states to strengthen collaboration to prevent future occurrences of such conflicts, which often arise from minor disputes that escalate into larger crises.
Troops Rescue 36 Benue Indigenes Held Hostage in Cross River
metro
‘Attacking Referee Before Match’: Shehu Sani Reacts to Nigerians’ Confrontation With INEC Chairman in UK
‘Attacking Referee Before Match’: Shehu Sani Reacts to Nigerians’ Confrontation With INEC Chairman in UK
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has condemned the reported harassment of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, by a group of Nigerians in the United Kingdom.
Sani’s reaction followed the circulation of a viral video showing Nigerians confronting the electoral commission’s chairman during his visit to the UK, sparking reactions across social media.
The incident has also generated discussions about how public officeholders should be held accountable, particularly when they travel outside the country.
Reacting in a post on his official X account on Friday, Sani questioned why the INEC chairman would be intimidated over an election that had yet to take place.
He likened the conduct of the protesters to the activities of political thugs in Nigeria who disrupt public gatherings, insult people and resort to intimidation.
Sani wrote: “What is the point in intimidating and harassing the INEC chairman in London for an election that is yet to be held?
“What is the difference between their actions and those of thugs who gatecrash, insult and molest others here at home?”
The former senator also expressed concern that the incident could further damage Nigeria’s image internationally, particularly amid negative perceptions of Nigerians in some foreign countries.
He questioned whether such footage was what Nigerians wanted the international community to see, adding that confronting the electoral umpire before the election was equivalent to attacking a referee before a football match.
The confrontation occurred on Thursday, November 12, outside Chatham House in London, where Amupitan had participated in a discussion on Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The protesters reportedly surrounded the vehicle conveying the INEC chairman, demanding that he address their concerns over alleged irregularities in the preliminary voters’ register.
They reportedly raised issues including suspected duplicate registrations, artificial intelligence-generated photographs and alleged questionable polling units, while calling for greater transparency in the electoral process.
Amupitan remained inside the vehicle as the protesters shouted and demanded that he come out to address them.
The incident has generated widespread reactions, with renewed debate over electoral accountability, the independence of INEC and the appropriate ways of expressing public grievances.
‘Attacking Referee Before Match’: Shehu Sani Reacts to Nigerians’ Confrontation With INEC Chairman in UK
metro
Tragedy: Woman, Four Children Die in Horrific Kaduna Expressway Crash
Tragedy: Woman, Four Children Die in Horrific Kaduna Expressway Crash
KADUNA, Nigeria — Tragedy has struck a family following a fatal road accident along the Jere–Kaduna Expressway, claiming the lives of a woman and her four children.
The heartbreaking incident has thrown relatives, friends and members of the community into mourning, with many expressing shock over the devastating loss.
According to reports, the woman and her four children died in the crash, which reportedly wiped out five members of the same family in a single tragedy.
Details surrounding the circumstances of the accident, including the exact time it occurred and its possible cause, remain sketchy as of the time of filing this report.
The incident was confirmed by individuals close to the family, including one Idris Abdulkarim, while tributes and condolence messages have continued to pour in following news of their deaths.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the dangers associated with road travel and the need for motorists to exercise caution on major highways.
As of the time of publication, further details about the victims’ identities and the circumstances surrounding the crash were yet to be officially established.
Tragedy: Woman, Four Children Die in Horrific Kaduna Expressway Crash
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Oyo Police Arrest Serving Corporal, Eight Others in Cultism, Kidnapping Crackdown
IBADAN – The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a serving police corporal and eight other suspects in separate operations targeting alleged cultism and kidnapping in the state.
The arrests followed a raid on a suspected Aiye Confraternity hideout and a separate operation that led to the rescue of a 30-year-old kidnap victim from a forest.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, disclosed the development in an operational report released on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
Iniedu said operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit, Oyo Operational Base, raided the suspected cult hideout on November 8 and arrested five people.
One of the suspects was identified as Corporal Olayinka Oluwatobi, with force number 538195. He was reportedly attached to MOPOL 72, Ago-Are, and seconded to Sports Eleyele in Ibadan.
Other suspects arrested during the operation included Ayandiran Samuel, identified by the police as the group’s alleged armourer, and Adeyinka Qudus, whom the police described as the suspected cult leader.
The police said operatives recovered an English-made Beretta pistol and three locally fabricated firearms during the raid.
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The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ibadan for further investigation.
In a separate operation on the same date, police operatives working with the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) rescued a 30-year-old man, Abubakar Amidu, from Oteon/Odi Owo Forest.
According to the police, Amidu was abducted on October 31, 2026, and was rescued unhurt on November 8 after security operatives conducted an operation in the forest.
Four suspects were arrested in connection with the kidnapping. They were identified as Abdullahi Bello, Mohammed Kontagora, Alhaji Ali and Usman Alhaji Ali.
The police said the victim’s mobile phone and a chain and padlock allegedly used to restrain him were recovered during the operation.
The command said investigations into both incidents were ongoing, while efforts were being intensified to identify and apprehend other individuals who might be connected to the alleged crimes.
The arrest of a serving police officer among the suspects has also drawn attention to the need for accountability within the security services as authorities continue efforts to tackle cult-related violence, kidnapping and other criminal activities in Oyo State.
The suspects remain allegations under investigation, and their guilt can only be established by a court of law.
Oyo Police Arrest Serving Corporal, Eight Others in Cultism, Kidnapping Crackdown
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