Abductors of APC national director demand N350m ransom

The abductors of Dr. Adekunle Raif Adeniji, the Director of Administration at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat, Abuja, have demanded a ransom of N350m for his release.

Dr Adeniji was abducted two weeks ago by gunmen wielding AK-47 rifles in the Chikakore area of Kubwa, within the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He was taken along with three others, including his brother, the wife and son, during the attack.

It was gathered that the APC chieftain was on a visit to his brother’s residence when the gunmen struck.

However, the brother’s wife, Madam Esther, was k!lled by the abductors and her body was discovered around Ijah-Gbagyi community in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State the following day.

His family was reportedly contacted by the kidnappers, who are insisting that the payment be made for his freedom.  

A member of the family, who spoke with Daily Trust on Tuesday, February 11, said the director and others were still in captivity and the abductors said he will not be released until the money is paid.

A source within the APC also confirmed this development the publication.

A source at the APC national secretariat said, “Yes, it’s true. But it’s not something that we want to discuss.”

On whether the abductors have demanded a ransom, he said, “Well, efforts are being made to secure his release, and we don’t want to blow it.”

Another top official at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja also confirmed the abduction.

“It’s true. This one I am telling you is a confidential confirmation. But we are seeing to his release soon.”

Gunmen abduct three students in Ondo state, demand N15m ransom

The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure while working at a farm near the Akure Airport in the Oba-ile area of Akure North Local Government Area of the state. 

The victims who are students undergoing Industrial Training (IT) in the farm were reportedly abducted on Saturday evening while returning home.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, the Public Relations Officer of Ondo state police command, ‘Funmilayo Odunlami,  said anti-kidnapping operatives of the command have been deployed to the area.

Also, the Commander of Amotekun Corps in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed the incident. He noted that his men and other security operatives in the state were coming to the whole area in search of the victims.

Meanwhile, a family source disclosed that the abductors have reached out to the families of the victims, demanding a ransom of N15 million as ransom.

Police arrest suspected child trafficker, rescue 5-year-old victim in Imo

The Imo State Police Command has arrested a suspected child trafficker, Onyinyechi Emeka and rescued a stolen five-year-old boy in her custody.

Spokesperson of the command,  Henry Okoye, said the suspect, aged 40, was apprehended on Friday, February 7, 2025 by the Commands operatives conducting a stop and search in Okigwe.

According to the PPRO, the suspect, who hails from Umuokwu Mbutu, Isiala Ngwa South LGA of Abia State, was en route to Ebonyi State with the boy. 

When quizzed about the boy, she initially claimed he was her sister’s son but the inconsistencies in her answers raised suspicion.

Okoye further stated that investigations revealed that the boy who was stolen from his mother’s shop in Abia State, displayed a remarkable awareness by providing his father’s phone. 

“On 7th February 2025, police operatives attached to the Imo State Command, while conducting a routine stop-and-search operation in Okigwe, intercepted a suspected child trafficker, Onyinyechi Emeka, 40 years old, from Umuokwu Mbutu, Isiala Ngwa South LGA of Abia State. She was en route to Ebonyi State with a five-year-old boy, later confirmed to have been stolen,” the statement read.

"Investigations revealed that the child had been stolen from his mother’s shop at No. 22 Chimezie Street, Obohia, Abia State.

"The suspect initially claimed the boy was her sister’s son, but inconsistencies in her statements raised suspicion. The child, displaying remarkable awareness, provided his father’s phone number, leading to his identification as a missing child reported in Abia State.

"Further investigation revealed that the suspect had collected ₦30,000 from a syndicate that remains at large to deliver the child to a buyer in Ebonyi State.

“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation to apprehend other syndicate members. The suspect will face prosecution upon conclusion of investigations." 

Police probe mysterious d£ath of Officer in Ondo

 

The Ondo State Police command has commenced an investigation into the mysterious de@th of one Inspector Yusuf Suleiman Blessing, who was serving in the state.

Blessing, a native of Ikoro-Ekiti, Ekiti State who was serving at Akotogbo, Irele local government area of Ondo State, reportedly d!ed under questionable circumstances on Monday, the January 27, 2025. According to his wife who resides in Osi community, Akure North Local Government area of the state, the police Inspector was allegedly burnt to d£ath.

She said after 24 hours of efforts to reach her husband failed, she received a call from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) informing her that her husband had dr0wned.

She further alleged that the remains of her husband were brought to the community the following day, after which the three policemen who brought the coffin took to their heels after they were pressured to open the coffin.

Leadership reports that upon opening the coffin, the body was found burnt with a cracked skull, contradicting the initial claim that the Policeman drowned, a scenario that further suggested foul play.

However, a statement released by the Ondo State Police Command spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, today February 7, says the Commissioner of Police has ordered that a full Autopsy be carried out to determine the cause of death in response to the allegation made by the family and for the public interest.”

“Preliminary investigation revealed that on the 27th of January 2025, towards evening time, no one could give an account of the presence of the late inspector in the station, immediately the DPO directed that search party should trace his whereabouts, as he was last seen wearing a blue vest and green tracksuit trousers.

Two days later the officer in charge of the Police Marine informed the DPO of the discovery of a corpse lying face down in a river, on close observation it was discovered that the body was that of Inspector Yusuf Suleiman with his cloth intact on his body with no trace of any injury or mark of violence except a swollen observed in the centre of his head.

Thereafter, the remains of the late inspector were evacuated and deposited at Irele General Hospital morgue. The family of the deceased was informed of the incident and in a bid to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased, the CP directed the state CID to take over the case.

In the course of the investigation, there was a demand for an autopsy to be conducted on the body, but the family vehemently opposed and rejected the idea, insisting the corpse of the deceased be released for burial, a request granted by the Police.

As a result of the demand by the family, the body was recovered from the morgue with the police bearing the financial cost, conveyed the remains of the deceased to his home in Akure.

It is worthy of note that the cloth last seen on the deceased was found intact on his body when his corpse was discovered ruling out any suspicion of arson, as there was no mark of burnt or physical violence on his body.”

Exhausted doctor d!es after tweeting "feels like I'm going to pass away but I also want to read"

A dental surgeon has d!ed after working so hard despite being exhausted. 

Dr Ncumisa Mdlocolo became a doctor in December 2020 and she announced the good news on X. 

 

Just one week ago, on Jan. 28, the South African doctor tweeted: "I’m so exhausted. 

"Feels like I’m going pass away but I also want to read. Ndithini?" 

"Rest," a friend told her. 

And she replied, "Ewe I'm exhausted." 

 

Sadly, she d!ed four days later, on February 1, 2025. 

Friends and colleagues have gone on X to mourn her.

 

See below.

 

 

South Africa does not belong to Donald Trump. He must leave us alone - President, Cyril Ramaphosa hits back at Trump for cutting off funding over claim of lands being confiscated in the country

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly criticized Donald Trump following the U.S. President's announcement to cut funding to South Africa over allegations of land confiscation and mistreatment of certain groups. 

Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that he would halt all future funding to South Africa pending an investigation, claiming the nation was confiscating land and treating people unfairly. Trump later described South Africa's leadership as engaging in "terrible" actions but did not provide specific examples.

In response, Ramaphosa dismissed Trump’s claims, emphasizing that South Africa is a constitutional democracy grounded in the rule of law, justice, and equality. He stated that the government has not confiscated any land and highlighted the recently enacted Expropriation Act, which he described as a legal mechanism for equitable land reform under constitutional guidelines. Ramaphosa further noted that South Africa has always had expropriation laws similar to those in the U.S. and other nations.

Ramaphosa addressed the funding issue, pointing out that South Africa only receives U.S. assistance through PEPFAR, which supports 17% of the country’s HIV/AIDS program. He reiterated that no other funding is received from the United States. The South African president expressed his willingness to engage with the Trump administration to clarify the country’s land reform policies and other bilateral issues, adding that such discussions could foster mutual understanding.

In a fiery remark, Ramaphosa stated, "I don’t know what Donald Trump has to do with South African land. South Africa does not belong to Donald Trump. He must leave us alone. Stay out of our issues." He also criticized Trump’s comments on land ownership, referencing the historical seizure of indigenous lands in America.

President Ramaphosa also promised that whenever he sees Trump he will tell him to his face that he’s the worst because his forebears came to America and wiped out the indigenous people, grabbing their lands too. He also stated that South African lands belong to those who live there and not to Trump. He also noted that Trump should keep his America while they keep their South Africa.

The land issue has been a long-standing and divisive topic in South Africa. The 1913 Natives Land Act led to the displacement of thousands of Black families under apartheid. Despite the end of apartheid three decades ago, most farmland remains in white ownership. Efforts to redress this imbalance through legal land reform have faced criticism, particularly from conservative figures like Elon Musk, a South African-born billionaire, and others with ties to Trump’s administration.

Ramaphosa recently signed a bill allowing the government to offer "nil compensation" for property expropriated in the public interest under specific circumstances. Pretoria has defended the law as a balanced approach that requires negotiation with property owners, countering fears of Zimbabwe-style land seizures without compensation.

The debate has attracted attention from prominent figures in Silicon Valley with connections to apartheid-era southern Africa, including Musk and PayPal co-founders David Sacks and Peter Thiel, both of whom have faced criticism over their ties to Trump and controversial views on land reform. The issue remains a polarizing topic in South Africa and internationally.

Three siblings k!lled and stored in deep freezer in Anambra

 

Three siblings – a boy aged 5, and two girls aged 7 and 9 – were murd£red in their home and their bodies were stored in a deep freezer in Nnewichi, Nnewi, Anambra state, by yet-to-be-identified assailants. 

The eldest of the siblings, a girl, Ejezie Chikaima Daviana, with the second daughter, Ejezie Chimziterem Dominica and the only son, Ejezie Chimdilim David, were in the house when their mother, Mrs Chikazor Ejezie, said to be a lecturer and a nurse, left home to partake in an examination on the fateful day. 

When she returned from the examination, the mother met the door leading to the house open wide, an unusual occurrence since the children always locked the doors whenever they went out to play. 

The father of the deceased siblings, Mr Ejezie Udochukwu, who is based in Irrua, Edo State, said he was called on Saturday, February 1, and told about the incident by his wife and he had to rush to Nnewichi. 

Udochukwu said: When my wife got home, she didn’t see the children. She and others searched for them, even at the church where they served as altar boys and girls, but they weren’t there."

He added: "My wife told me after searching for the kids by herself and a search party, without success, in despair the deep freezer was opened and behold, the de@d bodies of the kids were there. 

 

"In the house, bungalow where we live with two tenants and the landlord, the kids were eating when the assailants stormed the house at about noon as there were traces of food in plates that were forcefully abandoned. 

"The c0rpses of the kids have been deposited at a morgue and the police, CPS Nnewi, is where we reported the matter and the police are investigating. You can see that I am completely devastated. My three kids k!lled same time by yet-to-be-identified assailants." 

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Itam, has ordered a full investigation. 

"The bodies have been recovered, and the CP has transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for thorough investigation. More details will be shared later," Ikenga said. 

Meanwhile, residents of Nnewichi have called for a proper investigation and justice for the murdered children. Three siblings killed in Anambra 

This comes one month after three siblings were found de@d inside a parked vehicle in their parent's compound in Nise, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. 

The three boys, aged between two and six years, were found lifeless inside their father’s car parked within the compound. 

Eyewitnesses said their mouths were bound, and that the car was smeared with blood, indicating a calculated and chilling act of violence. 

The children’s father, described as a man in his early thirties, frequently locks his children inside the compound before leaving for work with their mother, and returns briefly to provide them meals before heading back to his business. 

It was while the parents were away that the perpetrator is believed to have gained access to the premises by climbing over the wall before carrying out the crime.

Masked armed men in NSCDC uniforms invade Lagos hotel, torture guests, staff and cart away valuables

No fewer than 15 masked armed men, dressed in Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) uniforms, alongside suspected thugs, raided Seafortunes Hotels Limited on Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.

 

According to THISDAY, the incident happened last weekend. 

 

The attackers reportedly tortured customers and staff for hours, looted valuables, and carted away a massive generator set before fleeing to an unknown location.

 

According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen arrived around 4 a.m., firing sporadically before forcefully entering rooms and demanding to see the hotel owner. 

 

Unable to locate him, they held several individuals hostage for over an hour before using a heavy-duty crane to dismantle and remove the generator.

 

The Chief Executive Officer of Seafortunes Hotels, Nwukwa Okechukwu Fortune, recounted the ordeal:

 

“I got a call around 4 a.m. from one of my customers, informing me that some masked gunmen had invaded my hotel," he said.

 

"They laid down all our staff and security personnel, then proceeded to dismantle our generator. When they couldn’t find me, they brutalized customers and staff before using a truck to transport the generator away.”

 

Fortune disclosed that CCTV footage revealed at least 30 attackers—15 in Civil Defense uniforms and masks, while the rest were thugs. Among them was a man identified as Nicholas, who had previous business disputes with the hotel’s former manager, Ogbonna.

 

Fortune explained that Nicholas, a diesel dealer, had allegedly sold fuel worth N3 million to the hotel under Ogbonna’s management, but was never paid. 

 

After Ogbonna was dismissed, Nicholas sought to recover his debt from the new management, despite being informed that the business had changed hands.

 

He subsequently petitioned the police, leading to Ogbonna’s arrest and arraignment. However, Nicholas refused to appear in court to pursue his claim.

 

"Six months later, this armed invasion happened. The attackers, including men in NSCDC uniforms, pretended to be police officers from Area E Command, gaining access to the premises before unleashing terror on our guests and staff. Nicholas was caught on CCTV guiding them to the generator room,” Fortune added.

 

Following investigations, police traced Nicholas to his residence in Festac, arrested him, and recovered the stolen generator. 

 

Nicholas allegedly identified the NSCDC officers involved, prompting intervention from a senior Civil Defense official, who pleaded for a peaceful resolution.

 

However, Fortune lamented that despite these developments, Nicholas was unexpectedly released by the police, while the promised Civil Defense officers failed to appear for questioning.

 

“The invasion crippled our business. Customers fled without paying their bills, some lost valuables and our operations were halted for a week due to the stolen generator,” Fortune said.

 

Lagos NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Seun Abolurin, denied any official involvement of the Corps.

 

“We have no report of such an incident. People impersonate security agencies all the time. The hotel management should report the case to us for proper investigation,” he said. 

''Thunder fire you'' - Yul Edochie slams Nigerians insulting 2Face over his divorce drama with Annie

 

Actor, Yul Edochie, has slammed Nigerians insulting singer 2Face over his divorce drama with Annie. 

2Face has received heat on social media after he announced his separation and impending divorce from Annie. They argue that the timing was wrong as she is said to be in rehab getting treated by some specialist. 

In a post shared on his Facebook page this afternoon, Yul wrote; ‘’ Anybody insulting 2baba or calling him out because of his family matter wey no concern you, Thunder fire you!!!'' 

See his post below…

 

Petty trader rescued from suspected r3pist pretending to be a customer in Lagos

 

Security guards have rescued a petty trader from an attempted r3pe attack in the Ogudu area of Lagos State.

 

A lawyer, Toyin Ndidi Taiwo-Ojo, who disclosed this in a Facebook post on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, said the suspect pretended to be a customer and attacked the woman, attempting to r3pe her. 

 

According to Taiwo-Ojo, the woman's screams attracted the security men in the area who arrived at the scene and rescued her from the alleged r3pist.

 

The lawyer thanked the Gender Department of the Lagos State Police Command and the men of Ogudu Police Station for their prompt response, adding that the suspect has been arrested.

"Today, this lady was rescued by neighbours from an alleged r3pist who pretended to be a customer ( she sells petty things), seeing that the area was very quiet and nobody was around, the alleged rapist started hitting her and attempted to r3pe her before she was able to scream which attracted the attention of some "maiguards" around who rescued her from the beast of a man. If not for the timely intervention of the maiguards, he would have had his way because he had already tore the survivors clothes. Imagine! Women are not even safe in their homes, where is safe for us?

 

"Stop The Abuse Against Women and Children Foundation volunteer , STOP the ABUSE - STA who has been following up the case since 1pm today just got home at 10.05pm. This is how passionate we are of getting rid of this menace in our society.

 

“Special thanks to the Gender Department of the Lagos State Police Command for their usual proactiveness. Thanks to the men of Ogudu Police station who promptly arrived the scene of the incident . The suspect has been detained."