Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: ransom

  • 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

  • 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