National
NSA hands over 58 rescued victims to Kaduna govt
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Saturday, handed over 58 people rescued by the security agencies in joint operations to the Kaduna State Government.
Ribadu handed over the victims to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, who will hand them over to the government.
Gen. Musa who presented the victims to the representative of the state government and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sani Kila, said that no money was paid for their rescue.
” The rescue is as a result of combined efforts of the military and other security services.
“The operation was both kinetic and non-kinetic which requires efforts by all and not just the military kinetic efforts,” he said.
The CDS said that all Nigerians must take ownership of the operation for the security agencies to succeed.
“What we are seeing out of this, is the success of the collaboration right from the top. From the presidency, to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Ministry of Defence to all agencies working together, including the Kaduna State Government.
“The governor has been very supportive and very helpful and it is this collaborative effort that has made it possible for us to be able to rescue these individuals.
“It is a joint effort and we were able to do that through non-kinetic means of getting across. No penny was paid for these individuals,” .
“Now, I want Nigerians to understand that if we do not work together, it will be extremely difficult for us to succeed.
“The success depends on all of us working together because it is a whole-of-society approach,” said.
Musa said that certain individuals had been trying to make it impossible for the government to succeed by sabotaging the efforts of the government.
He added that the security agencies were working round the lock tirelessly to make sure Nigerians feel safe and protected.
“Today is Saturday, many people would have wanted to be home, relaxing, but we are working. Saturday, Sunday, day and night and all Nigerians have keyed up, and everybody is contributing to the success we are seeing.
“I want to also inform Nigerians that we will continue to work hard together and will not leave any stone unturned until every Nigerian that is in captivity is freed and Nigerians are free to move about within the country, both day and night, as it used to be before.
“We assure Nigerians that we are getting all the support to ensure that we work, and we assure Mr. President that we will do everything possible, and including Nigerians, until we succeed, we’ll continue to push,” he added.
The defence chief clarified that contrary to the believes of many, not all persons involved in banditry were willing tools, adding that some were conscripted.
He said the military will continue to go after the perpetrators, adding :”they will not be let free for the innocent blood they have shed”.
The National Coordinator National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, said the victims were kidnapped from their homes and farm lands in Gayam, Sabon layi and Kwaga villages of Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Laka said that troops of I Division, on Nov. 14, at about 1500hrs successfully led a joint operations leading to their rescue.
He said the victims comprised 35 males and 23 females.
According to the him, preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were kidnapped by suspected armed bandits under the command of a notorious bandit called JANBROS.
“During the kidnap, the victims were made to trek for hundreds of Kilometers through the thick forest of Birnin Gwari.
“Upon their rescue, the government provided them with all the necessary assistance required to stabilise them for subsequent handing over to ONSA for rehabilitation and immediate medical checkups, where they have been examined and six were admitted.
“The six admitted victims have recovered and joined us for subsequent handing over to their respective families,” he said.
The Chief of Staff to Kaduna Governor, Sani Limankila thanked the security agencies and called on all Nigerians to team up with security agencies to end kidnapping. (NAN)
Gunmen have abducted some female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi, Benue state.
The students, reportedly numbering up to four, were abducted on Tuesday evening at the university’s North Core campus.
The students were said to have been headed for “night class”, a practice of late-night studying in Nigerian campuses.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the hotel area of the campus before abducting the four students.
Some moments after the incident, operatives of the Nigerian army arrived at the school.
Sewuese Anene, Benue police spokesperson, told TheCable on Wednesday that a report received by the police indicated that only two students were kidnapped during the incident.
Anene added that the police have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Markurdi incident is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at Nigeria’s tertiary school students in recent years.
In August 2024, at least 20 medical and dental students were kidnapped in Benue State while travelling to a convention in Enugu.
In September 2023, gunmen abducted approximately 20 students from a university in Zamfara state.
At Greenfield University in Kaduna State, at least 20 students and two staff members were kidnapped in April 2021.
Tragically, five students were killed during captivity before the remaining hostages were released after a month.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Kogi-born political activist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Austin Okai, in Abuja.
The arrest, which took place on Wednesday morning, was reportedly carried out on the directive of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Video footage obtained by Elanza shows heavily armed security operatives storming Okai’s residence in the Federal Capital Territory before taking him away.
While no official reason has been given for his arrest, sources suggest it may be connected to his outspoken criticism of the Kogi State government.
Okai, a well-known opposition figure, has frequently condemned the administration’s policies and governance.
His wife, speaking to reporters, claimed that the DSS operatives did not present an arrest warrant before detaining him.
“They came to arrest him at our home in Abuja without a warrant,” she said.
“They ransacked our house, forced their way inside, and took him away. I asked for a warrant, but they had none.”
She further alleged that Okai’s personal gadgets were confiscated during the operation.
As of the time of this report, the DSS has not issued any official statement regarding Okai’s detention.