By Felix Umande

Suspected armed herdsmen have abducted three siblings and carted away the corpse of their late mother along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.

The victims were reportedly travelling in the early hours of Saturday from Abuja to their hometown, Iklenyi in Okpokwu Local Government Area, to bury their mother when they were ambushed.

A source familiar with the incident revealed that the family’s journey was delayed after their vehicle developed a mechanical fault.

“Even at about 2am they were still on the road because their vehicle had broken down. After repairing it, they continued the journey because they were determined to take their mother’s body home for burial,” the source said.

According to the source, the siblings were in contact with relatives throughout the trip until they reached the stretch between Omutele and Ankpechi communities where the attack occurred.

“It was the three of them travelling with the corpse of their mother. When they got to that area, the armed men abducted all three siblings and even took the corpse of their mother into the bush. As we speak, they are still being held,” the source added.

The source described the incident as “heartbreaking” and appealed to security agencies to intervene swiftly.

“It is painful that a family already grieving the loss of their mother has been subjected to this ordeal. They kidnapped not only the children but also took the corpse of a dead woman. We appeal to the security agencies to act swiftly and ensure their safe rescue,” the source said.

Confirming the abduction, the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Mr. Gabriel Adole, said he had received reports of the attack and was on his way to the affected community to obtain firsthand information.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Benue State Police Command on the incident, and the whereabouts of the siblings and their mother’s remains remain unknown.

By Michael Lim

A fake pastor and his accomplice have been arrested by the Niger State Police Command over the abduction of a four-week-old baby in Minna.

SP Wasiu Abiodun, the command’s Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Minna.

According to him, a report was received at the ‘A’ Division, Minna, on July 14 at about 10am indicating that a four-week-old baby had been deceitfully taken from its mother around the Mobil Roundabout area.

Following the report, he said, the police detectives immediately commenced an investigation, deploying technical intelligence, leading to the arrest of Chidi Johnson, also known as “Yaron Pastor,” 24, of Abdulsalam Quarters, Minna.

“Upon receipt of the report, police detectives from the division immediately commenced investigation and deployed technical intelligence, which led to the arrest of Chidi Johnson, aka ‘Yaron Pastor’, 24, of Abdulsalam Quarters.

“During investigation, he confessed that Zainab Ibrahim, 22, of Alagbado Area, Minna, but residing in Sokoto State, had contracted him to procure a newborn baby following her reported miscarriage,” he narrated.

According to the police spokesperson, Johnson allegedly lured a nursing mother and her four-week-old baby to the Kasuwan-Gwari area on July 13 at about 12 p.m.

“Johnson said it was on the pretext that the child would be given food items and alms by a benefactor.

“On arrival, the victim and her friend were instructed by Ibrahim to contact Johnson, who subsequently met them and led the victim into an uncompleted building near Mobil Roundabout.

“Upon arrival at the uncompleted building, Johnson offered snacks and soft drinks to gain their confidence while pretending to play with the baby.

“Unfortunately, in the process of playing with the baby, the suspect fled with the baby through a rear exit of the building on a motorcycle to an unknown destination,” he said.

Abiodun said Ibrahim was also arrested, while the baby was rescued and reunited with its mother.

“Meanwhile, the suspects are in custody undergoing investigation after which they will be charged to court for prosecution.”

By Isa Abdul

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has countered claims that Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina LGA of Kogi state, where five persons were abducted during the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), is a “miracle centre”.

Gunmen abducted students from the school around 5:25pm, on Tuesday while candidates were writing the ongoing NECO examinations.

The principal of the school and a NECO ad hoc staff were also kidnapped during the incident.

Godiya Solomon Monde, commanding officer, 21 battalion, Nigerian Army, while speaking to journalists alleged that the school was a renowned place for examination malpractice, popularly referred to as “miracle centre”.

“The issue is that this school is definitely isolated as you can see; it’s actually tagged as a miracle centre for the students. Ten students were brought here for the literature,-in-English exams, and around 16:00 hours we got the call that the school was attacked,” Monde said.

“Even to locate the school was not easy, but we finally got here with the aid of somebody from the community. When we got here, we saw some papers littered on the ground.”

On Thursday, the Kogi state government referred to the school where four persons were kidnapped during the recent attack as an “unauthorised” examination centre.

Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communications, said that the rescue followed a coordinated security operation ordered by Ahmed Ododo, governor of Kogi.

But responding to the “Miracle Centre” allegation in a statement on Friday, Azeez Sani, NECO’s acting director of information and public relations, said the council disagreed with comments attributed to the army and Fanwo.

Sani expressed sympathy for the victims and commended the Kogi state government and security agencies for prompt efforts that led to the rescue of the remaining four abductees.

He said Government Secondary School, Olowa, is a state-owned institution that has existed for more than 40 years also presenting candidates for the NECO SSCE examinations since 2000. The added:

“The principal of the school, Daniel Iyamaa, who was among those abducted, is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi state civil service.

“Similarly, the kidnapped supervisor, Solomon Audu, is a Grade Level 12 officer employed by the Kogi state government and posted to Community Secondary School, Effin.

“Available records also show that the abducted candidates are duly registered students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, who were presented for the 2026 NECO SSCE by the school in conjunction with the Kogi state government.”

The council stressed that the 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 SSCE are bona fide students and not external candidates, contrary to the impression created by the commissioner’s remarks.