Metro
After Over 170 Days In Captivity, Terrorists Free 9 Varsity Students
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Nine of the 21 students kidnapped from the Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State have been released after enduring 178 days in captivity.
The students were part of a larger group abducted by terrorists from an off-campus hostel in Sabon Gida, located opposite the university, during a raid in September of the previous year.
The release was secured following prolonged negotiations spanning approximately four months, as disclosed by one of the negotiators to PREMIUM TIMES, preferring to remain anonymous.
The painstaking process involved intense lobbying efforts to ensure the safety and eventual freedom of the abducted students.
Upon their abduction last September, a swift response from security forces resulted in the rescue of some victims within hours of the incident.
However, the majority remained in the clutches of their captors, leading to a protracted period of negotiation for their release.
The negotiator revealed to PREMIUM TIMES that the terrorists explicitly stated their actions were not motivated by ransom demands, suggesting alternative motives behind the abduction.
The exact reasons, however, remain part of the ongoing investigation and discourse surrounding the incident.
The student abduction from the Federal University Gusau has been a focal point of concern, highlighting the persistent security challenges in Zamfara State and the broader northwestern region of Nigeria, where educational institutions have increasingly become targets for terrorist and bandit activities.
The release of the nine students marks a glimmer of hope amid the prevailing insecurity and brings relief to the affected families and the university community.
Nonetheless, the situation underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures and strategic interventions to prevent future occurrences and ensure the safety of students and residents in the region.
“We began discussing with them immediately after the students were taken. They were reluctant in the beginning but when we insisted, they listened to us,” he said.
He said Ali Kawaje, the leader of the terror group that carried out the abduction, was angry with both the federal and Zamfara State governments for arresting his brother.
“He insisted that we must make amends,” the negotiator said, asking not to be named for safety reasons.
The negotiator said after Mr Kawaje was killed in an air raid by the Nigeria Air Force, the negotiations started afresh as the new group commander insisted the students would not be released.
“It took us weeks to convince him, with the help of some Fulani leaders. When we resumed the discussion, they insisted that the reason for the abduction was not for money but to have some of their relatives released by security agents.
“These nine students were released as part of commitments by some of the Fulani leaders we involved in the negotiations,” he said.
When asked if money was involved, the negotiator said the terrorists themselves were “clear from the beginning” that no money should be involved.
“Even the people they’re saying the federal government should release, we’re yet to know who and who they’re talking about. So, we didn’t talk to the government about money and secondly, there was no prisoner swap. That’s what I can tell you,” he said.
The students were held by the terrorists in Babbar Doka forest near Kaduna State. They were released late evening on Friday and handed over to the negotiators.
“This is part of the commitment and we believe that by the grace of God, they’ll release more. We’re hopeful that with the involvement of the National Security Adviser, we’ll do more. The most important thing is that no money is involved in the process,” he said.
The students have been handed over to security agencies who are expected to hand them over to the state government later today.
The Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced four persons to prison for their roles in a money laundering scheme involving more than $5.2 million.
Trial judge Friday Ogazi delivered the judgement on Wednesday after the four defendants pleaded guilty to charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFFC’s spokesperson Dele Oyewale named the convicts in a press statement on Friday as Bamidele Emmanuel, Abdullah Yusuf, Funmilayo Garuba and Gbenro Ademola.
They were separately arraigned on two counts of money laundering under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the EFCC, investigations showed that the four sold their personal information to one Afeez Animashaun, who allegedly approached them at Mushin Market in Lagos, where they carried out their businesses.
The anti-graft agency explained that the personal details were subsequently used to register four companies—College Compass Eduguide Nigeria Limited, Hortifresh Solutions Nigeria Limited, Eduboost Innovation Nigeria Limited and Fixit Hardware and Tools Nigeria Limited.
The EFCC alleged that corporate bank accounts opened in the names of the companies received a total of $5,296,691 in January 2025.
The prosecution comes amid sustained efforts by the EFCC to curb the use of shell companies and proxy bank accounts to launder illicit funds.
In recent years, the commission has repeatedly warned Nigerians against selling or surrendering their personal information for company registration or banking purposes, saying criminal syndicates often exploit such details to facilitate financial crimes, exposing their owners to prosecution.
One of the charges against Mr Emmanuel accused him of retaining $826,691 in a Wema Bank account between 1 and 31 January 2025, funds prosecutors said he reasonably ought to have known were proceeds of unlawful activities.
All four defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.
During the proceedings, the prosecution lawyer, Bilkisu Buhari, reviewed the facts of the cases and urged the court to convict the defendants and impose appropriate sanctions.
In his judgement, Mr Ogazi convicted all four defendants on the second count of the charges.
Mr Emmanuel was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, followed by three months of community service. He was also ordered to forfeit N1 million to the Federal Government.
Ms Garuba received four months’ imprisonment and 15 months of community service. The court also ordered her to forfeit N1 million to the Federal Government within 72 hours.
Mr Yusuf was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, three months of community service and ordered to forfeit N800,000.
Mr Ademola was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, three months of community service and directed to forfeit N700,000 to the Federal Government within 72 hours.
The judge further ordered the convicts to partner with the EFCC in public awareness campaigns on the dangers of indiscriminately selling or sharing personal information with others.
Metro
28-Year-Old Nigerian Man Deported From Ireland After Conviction for Terror Offences and Mass Murder Threats in UK
A Nigerian man previously convicted of terror-related offences in Scotland has been deported from Ireland after authorities identified him as a thr£at to national security.
Sam Okwuoha, 28, was among six Nigerian nationals removed from Ireland on a chartered flight that departed Dublin on July 28, 2026, with a stop in Rome before continuing to Lagos as part of a joint Frontex removal operation.
Irish authorities had earlier attempted to deport Okwuoha, but the effort failed after he violently resisted officers from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). During the incident, he defecated on himself in an attempt to disrupt the removal process, becoming the first person prosecuted in Ireland for obstructing the enforcement of a deportation order.
While in court, Okwuoha claimed he was one of 10 identical brothers born as decuplets and argued that police had mistaken him for one of his siblings. However, prosecutors later withdrew the case after confirming he had been deported.
Okwuoha was convicted in Scotland in 2023 over a series of terror-related offences committed at Dundee University between 2021 and 2022 while studying energy studies. After his advances toward a fellow student were rejected, he made multiple threats, including threatening to kill university staff, carry out mass murder, use biological weapons, behead police officers, and bomb the university.
He also claimed he had enlisted the support of the Islamic State group to bomb the university and threatened to launch a chemical attack on Dundee.
He was sentenced to 40 months in prison, and the court ruled that his presence in the UK was “not conducive to the public good,” ordering his deportation. After travelling to Ireland, he was detained, with authorities again citing national security concerns before his eventual removal to Nigeria.
The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 140 pump-action rifles and cannabis-infused food products worth N373.8 million at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday while highlighting major enforcement operations carried out by the TinCan Island Port Command.
Adeniyi said customs operatives intercepted a container on July 8 carrying concealed knock-down components of pump-action rifles.
He said 140 rifles had so far been assembled from the recovered parts, while the assembly of the remaining components was still ongoing.
According to him, one principal suspect was arrested on July 31 at a bonded terminal while attempting to facilitate the container’s release.
He said financial and telecommunications evidence linked the suspect to the shipment.
The CGC said two suspects were in custody assisting investigations, while another principal suspect remained at large and was being tracked by security operatives.
Adeniyi also said customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers laden with cannabis-infused products concealed among imported goods, including vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics.
He explained that the seized drugs comprised 8,720 pieces of Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies weighing 17.44 kilogrammes and valued at N308.7 million.
He added that officers recovered 740 packs of cannabis-infused gummies weighing 515.2kg and valued at N40.7 million, as well as 873 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies in 442 packs weighing 309.4kg and valued at N24.3 million.
According to him, the total street value of the seized drugs is N373.8 million.
Adeniyi warned that the products were attractively packaged with flavours such as citrus, vanilla, pine and peach pie to resemble ordinary snacks and appeal to children, students and other young people.
He said unsuspecting consumers could ingest the products due to their deceptive packaging.
The customs boss commended the Area Controller of TinCan Island Port Command, Comptroller Joseph Anani, and officers of the enforcement unit for their vigilance and professionalism.
He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to securing the nation’s borders and prosecuting those involved in the trafficking of illicit arms and dangerous drugs.
Adeniyi also commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for its collaboration and urged Nigerians to provide credible intelligence to support anti-smuggling operations.
Receiving the seized items, the Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA TinCan Strategic Command, Mr Augustine Adewunmi, described cannabis-infused cookies, gummies and smoothies as an emerging threat to public safety.
Adewunmi said the products, imported from the United States, were packaged as vegan snacks with flavours such as citrus, vanilla and peach to deceive unsuspecting consumers.
He warned that the products were designed to appeal to children, students and club users, increasing the risk of accidental drug consumption.
The NDLEA commander said two suspects were in custody while investigations continued.
He urged parents, schools and members of the public to remain vigilant, warning that ingesting the products delivered concentrated cannabis directly into the body.
NAN
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