Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Kidnapping

  • Tension in Edo State as Gunmen Kidnap Police Officer and Four Others

    Tension in Edo State as Gunmen Kidnap Police Officer and Four Others

    According to Daily Post reporting from Benin City, a wave of panic has gripped Akoko-Edo Local Government Area following the brazen abduction of five individuals, including a Police Inspector. The victims were taken in separate incidents, with two individuals snatched from the Makeke Primary Health Centre. The Police Inspector, Segun Obanowa, was reportedly kidnapped from his residence alongside his daughter, while his wife was released to source a N100 million ransom.

    The surge in kidnappings has turned the local government area into a high-risk zone, prompting traditional rulers and council authorities to impose a strict curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Community leaders have expressed frustration over the deteriorating security situation, noting that abductions have become a “daily routine.” The Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People has issued a statement calling for urgent state and federal intervention to secure the release of the victims.

    Local residents are currently living in fear, with many staying indoors even before the curfew begins. The Edo State Police Command has reportedly deployed a tactical team to the area to track the kidnappers into the surrounding forests. However, no arrests have been made as of Thursday morning, and the kidnappers have maintained communication with the families to demand hefty ransoms.

    Further validation comes from Vanguard, which reported, “The Akoko-Edo axis has become a flashpoint for criminal elements fleeing operations in neighboring states.” Channels TV also provided coverage, featuring a local witness who stated, “We are helpless; even those meant to protect us are being taken away.”

    Echotitbits take: The kidnapping of a police officer in his own home signals a dangerous level of audacity among criminal gangs in Edo State. The curfew might offer temporary relief, but without a coordinated “forest-clearing” operation, these gangs will continue to use the rugged terrain as a safe haven.

    Source: Daily Post -https://dailypost.ng/2026/02/12/tension-in-edo-as-gunmen-kidnap-police-officer-four-others/, February 12, 2026

    Photo credit: Daily Post

  • Security Forces Rescue 15 Abducted Students in Joint Kaduna Operation

    Security Forces Rescue 15 Abducted Students in Joint Kaduna Operation

    A joint operation by the Nigerian Army and Air Force has reportedly rescued 15 students abducted from a secondary school in Kaduna State, with the mission described as intelligence-led and executed near a forest corridor bordering Zamfara State.

    Security officials said some bandits were neutralized while others fled with injuries, as the rescued students were moved to a military medical facility for evaluation ahead of reunification with families.

    Kaduna State authorities praised the troops and reiterated commitments to the Safe Schools Initiative, urging residents to share actionable intelligence with security formations.

    Echotitbits take: A welcome win against banditry. Intelligence-led operations are the right model, but prevention remains the bigger challenge: school security hardening, early-warning networks, and disruption of financing pipelines must improve to reduce incidents.
    Source: Zagazola – https://zagazola.org/index.php/breaking-news/army-troops-rescue-11-kidnapped-victims-in-kaduna 2026-01-27

    Photo Credit: Zagazola

  • Security Crisis: Outcry Over Mass Abduction of Worshippers in Kaduna

    Security Crisis: Outcry Over Mass Abduction of Worshippers in Kaduna

    Security Crisis: Outcry Over Mass Abduction of Worshippers in Kaduna

    The Arewa Consultative Forum and ECWA have condemned the abduction of over 170 worshippers in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna, as political and community leaders criticize initial official denials that they say delayed rescue efforts.

    Additional coverage across Nigerian media and stakeholder reactions indicate that the implications of the development will be closely watched in the coming days as policy, security, and market signals evolve.

    Echotitbits take: The disconnect between official security reports and the reality on the ground in Kaduna is reaching a breaking point. Expect increased pressure on Governor Uba Sani to overhaul the state’s security intelligence network.

    Source: Premium Times – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/850908-police-finally-admit-mass-abduction-of-worshippers-in-kaduna.html (2026-01-22)

    Photo credit: Premium Times

    2026-01-22 12:00:00

     

     

  • Video plea emerges as Boko Haram reportedly demands ₦423m ransom for abductees

    Video plea emerges as Boko Haram reportedly demands ₦423m ransom for abductees

    Reporting by The Guardian Nigeria indicates a viral video shows two men—said to have been abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP—pleading for help, with a reported ransom demand of $150,000 per person.

    The report says the victims were taken while travelling in Borno and that the ransom demand totals about ₦423 million, reflecting the continuing kidnapping-for-cash economy around the insurgency corridor.

    Security analysts note ransom payments can create perverse incentives and fund further violence, but families and communities often face impossible choices under time pressure.

    Authorities are under renewed pressure to improve route security, intelligence penetration of insurgent networks, and safe rescue capability.

    Echotitbits take: The big watch is operational response—intel-led rescues and disruption of ransom pipelines. Also watch for better travel advisories and secured corridors for high-risk routes.

    Source: GlobalUpFront – https://globalupfront.com/2026/01/11/boko-haram-terrorists-demand-n423m-ransom-to-release-borno-ex-lga-vice-chairman/ 11 January 2026

    GlobalUpFront  2026-01-11

    Photo Credit: The Times of Israel

  • Nasarawa Police Nab Six, Rescue Three as Kidnap Crackdown Expands

    Nasarawa Police Nab Six, Rescue Three as Kidnap Crackdown Expands

    According to The Guardian, police in Nasarawa arrested six suspects and rescued three victims during an operation conducted with local vigilantes in the Lafia axis.

    The update reflects growing reliance on joint action between formal security forces and community structures, especially in difficult terrain.

    Authorities say deterrence is the goal, but long-term impact depends on prosecution, intelligence mapping, and disrupting ransom networks.

    The Punch also reported “arrest of six suspected kidnappers” and “rescue of three victims,” while TVC News similarly described officers “arresting six suspects and rescuing three abducted victims.”

    Echotitbits take: Watch court timelines and public case updates. Arrest headlines don’t reduce crime without convictions and network disruption.

    Source: The Punch — https://punchng.com/police-nab-six-kidnappers-rescue-three-in-nasarawa/ January 10, 2026

    The Punch  2026-01-10

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Kwara Palace Raid: Gunmen Abduct Seven Relatives of Traditional Ruler

    Kwara Palace Raid: Gunmen Abduct Seven Relatives of Traditional Ruler

    Figures cited by The Punch indicate armed men invaded a palace in a Kwara community and abducted seven members of the monarch’s family.

    The incident mirrors a broader rural security pattern: targeted raids, hostage-taking for leverage, and delayed response where policing is thin.

    Local safety concerns now shift to rescue efforts, deterrence, and preventing copycat attacks in nearby communities.

    Vanguard summarized it as “Seven persons were abducted in Kwara,” while The Legal Observer also reported attackers “abducted seven members of the royal family.”

    Echotitbits take: Watch rescue strategy and prosecution follow-through—if raids end in payouts, the kidnapping business model expands.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/how-bandits-walked-into-kwara-palace-kidnapped-monarchs-seven-family-members-vigilante-leader/ January 10, 2026

    The Punch 2026-01-10

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Kogi church abduction: families say dozens still held weeks after attack

    Kogi church abduction: families say dozens still held weeks after attack

    According to Vanguard, families in Ayetoro-Kiri, Kabba/Bunu LGA of Kogi State say 30 worshippers remain in captivity weeks after gunmen attacked a church service and abducted congregants.

    Community sources said some hostages were released after ransom payments, while families alleged the ordeal has led to deaths and hospitalisations among those who regained freedom.

    The incident has renewed concerns about mass abductions along North-Central routes and the slow pace of rescue operations, with residents calling for stronger patrols and intelligence-led response.

    Echotitbits take: The Ayetoro-Kiri account fits a troubling pattern: large-scale abductions, unclear rescue timelines, and communities left to negotiate survival. Watch for verified security-agency operational updates, a reconciled casualty figure, and whether Kogi sustains patrol reinforcement on the Kabba–Lokoja corridor.

    Source: Facebook — January 4, 2026 (https://web.facebook.com/NigerianTribune/posts/three-dead-four-hospitalised-30-still-in-kidnappers-den-kogi-communitythe-people/1309715211184524/?_rdc=1&_rdr#)

    Facebook January 4, 2026

    Photo Credit: Facebook

  • Kidnappers Demand N450 Million Ransom for Abducted Kwara Monarch

    Kidnappers Demand N450 Million Ransom for Abducted Kwara Monarch

    According to The Guardian, kidnappers who abducted the Oniwo of Aafin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, along with his son and other villagers, have demanded a ransom of N450 million. the traditional ruler was taken from his community in Kwara State during a late-night raid that has left the local population in a state of panic.

    The abduction highlights the persistent ‘Kidnap Terror’ that has returned to parts of the North-Central and North-West regions. Security forces have reportedly been deployed to the area, but no rescue has been affected as of Saturday morning.

    Vanguard described the situation in its special report, noting that ‘from Abuja to North, communities live in fear again’ as abduction cases spike in the new year. The Cable also tracked the incident, adding that the Kwara State government is currently in emergency talks with traditional rulers to bolster local vigilante groups.

    Echotitbits take: Targeting traditional rulers is a deliberate tactic to break community morale. The high ransom demand suggests that kidnapping has remained a ‘profitable’ enterprise despite the government’s efforts to track financial flows through the NIN-SIM linkage.

    Source: The Guardian — https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/kidnappers-demand-n450m-to-release-kwara-monarch-son-others/

    The Guardian January 3, 2026

    Photo Credit: The Guardian

  • Gunmen raid Kwara palace, abduct monarch and NYSC-serving son

    Gunmen raid Kwara palace, abduct monarch and NYSC-serving son

    2026-01-02 09:00:00
    Reporting by Vanguard indicates gunmen attacked a palace in Kwara State and kidnapped a traditional ruler along with his son, who was described as an NYSC member.

    Accounts of the incident suggest the attackers targeted the palace directly, overwhelmed limited security presence and escaped with the victims as residents raised alarm.

    Security sources say efforts are ongoing to track the kidnappers, as the abduction adds to the pressure on North-Central communities battling recurring kidnapping incidents.

    Validation: Punch reported the abduction of the monarch and his son after a “violent” palace attack. Premium Times cited a source describing the assault and reported the monarch’s wife was injured, quoting: “She was hit in the arm by a bullet.”

    Echotitbits take: Targeted palace abductions signal confidence and intelligence by criminal networks. Watch for early proof-of-life communications, coordinated search operations, and whether state authorities deploy intelligence-led raids rather than reactive checkpoints.

    Source: Vanguard — 2026-01-01 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/monarch-son-kidnapped-in-kwara-palace-attack/)
    Vanguard 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: Vanguard

  • Military reports arrest of suspected suicide bomber; 189 AK-47s recovered in NW ops

    Military reports arrest of suspected suicide bomber; 189 AK-47s recovered in NW ops

    2025-12-31 08:56:00

    In an update published by PUNCH, the Nigerian military says operations led to the arrest of a suspected suicide bomber in Borno and the recovery of 189 AK-47 rifles in the North-West, alongside ammunition seizures and kidnapping-rescue outcomes.

    The report says troops also intercepted materials described as precursors for improvised explosive device production, framing the actions as intelligence-led efforts to disrupt planning and logistics.

    In the North-West claim-set, the military also highlighted wider results under Operation Fasanyama, including recovered weapons and rescued victims across multiple states.

    Validation: Voice of Nigeria said “a potential terror attack was averted in Borno State as troops… arrested a suspected suicide bomber and intercepted materials.” and HQ Nigerian Army reported “TROOPS APPREHEND SUSPECTED SUICIDE BOMBER, INTERCEPT IED MATERIALS IN BORNO.”

    Echotitbits take: Counterterrorism reporting is increasingly contested—note the competing institutional claims and the need for independent verification. Watch for official follow-up briefings, prosecutions, and community-level impact in affected areas.

    Source: The Punch — 31 December 2025 (https://punchng.com/military-arrests-suicide-bomber-recovers-189-ak-47-rifles/)

    The Punch 31 December 2025

    Photo Credit: The Punch