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Unidentified gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly killed a 300-level student of the Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma and abducted five others in Edo State.

The incident happened separately on Friday, July 10, and Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Idoa and Ekpoma communities, respectively.

In the accident that happened on July 12, 2026, a student whose identity is yet to be ascertained was reportedly abducted on the night of the fateful day when the gunmen invaded his residence. A woman was also allegedly abducted by the assailants on the same day.

The killing of the student and the abduction of the woman was disclosed in Esan Political Assembly facebook page.

In the Idoa kidnapping incident, the gunmen abducted the secretary to the palace of the community alongside three children.

It was gathered that the victims were abducted on Friday morning, July 10,2026.

A source who said the secretary is his brother and the children those of his neighbours, added that the abductors have demanded for N30 million ransom.

He said the abductors threatened to kill the victims if the ransom was not paid before the end of July 13.

According to him, my brother was kidnapped on Friday morning at the Idoa community, in Esan west Local Government Area. He is the secretary of the Idoa palace. They are demanding for N30 million.

“He was kidnapped alongside other small children that were with him. His vehicle broke down on his way to the farm and he left it where it broke down.

“The next day, he came back to the place with tools and other things to repair the motor. As he was there to repair the vehicle, gunmen just came out from the bush, rounded them up and took them into the bush.

“They have made contact demanding for N30m ransom and threatened that if we did not bring the money by the end of today, they will kill them.

“The children are those of his neighbours. The children followed him to where he wanted to repair his vehicle just to give him support, and he was to bring them back home after the repair because they live together,” he said.

While appealing to government and security agencies for intervention for the rescue of the victims, he said the incident has been reported to the Police.

At the time of the report the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, was yet to respond to a message sent to her whatsapp.

Recall that a high-ranking chief of the community, identified as Chief Jimah Jacob Ogboi was on February 26, 2026 reportedly killed and his daughters abducted.

The gunmen were alleged to have struck in the night and instantly shot the deceased while they used machetes and other dangerous weapons on his wife.

The gunmen who were four in number, allegedly invaded the deceased house, shot him and went away with his two daughters.

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The Principal of Community High School, Esiele, Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has disclosed that kidnappers who held her, other teachers and pupils captive for 56 days killed two of their colleagues in an attempt to force the government to meet their demands.

She made the revelation on Monday during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army.

Recounting their ordeal, the principal described the period in captivity as traumatic and filled with fear, uncertainty and repeated threats to their lives.

“We’re grateful to God. On May 15, a Friday that started well ended in chaos for us, and for 56 days we were in the bush. It was a harrowing experience, but we thank God for seeing us through. We went through a lot,” she said.

According to her, the abductors subjected the victims to intense psychological torture, repeatedly telling them that the government had abandoned them and was no longer interested in securing their release.

“A relief to us is that Nigerians were praying for us. Many times, they used fear to subdue us.

At one point they told us the government wasn’t interested in our case anymore because they didn’t value us. But there were times we held on to hope that we would come out alive,” she said.

Alamu revealed that the kidnappers eventually executed two of the captives in a bid to intensify pressure on the authorities.

“Mr Michael was killed on the second day, while Deacon was killed on the first Sunday in June. They killed them purposely because they felt that would force the government to give them whatever they wanted,” she stated.

She said it was only after they regained their freedom that the victims realised that many Nigerians had been following their ordeal and praying for their safe return.

“It was until we got out that we discovered the whole world was on our case. We have scars already, but we believe with time we will heal,” she added.

The principal expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies involved in the rescue operation, as well as Nigerians who supported them with prayers during their captivity.

The victims were abducted on May 15 when armed bandits attacked Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

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The government stressed that no adjustment to examination fees would take effect until discussions with stakeholders are concluded.

The Federal Government has suspended its proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examination (NECO SSCE), following public concerns over the move.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, the government announced the withdrawal of a June 18, 2026 letter that had communicated the proposed adjustment in examination fees.

According to the statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the decision was taken to allow for broader consultations and a fresh review of the proposal before any final determination is made.

“The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement read.

The proposed increase would have raised the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO examinations from N27,500 to N50,000 beginning in 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase.

The ministry explained that the planned review was prompted by the rising cost of conducting public examinations across the country. It noted that examination fees have remained largely unchanged for years despite significant increases in operational expenses.

According to the ministry, growing costs in areas such as logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other critical services have continued to put pressure on examination bodies.
However, it said the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, had directed that implementation of the proposal be halted pending consultations.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking,” the statement said.

The ministry stressed that no adjustment to examination fees would take effect until discussions with stakeholders are concluded.

It disclosed that consultations would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other relevant partners.

The statement added that the government remains committed to ensuring that policies affecting students and their families are subjected to adequate scrutiny and reflect public interest.

Reaffirming its position, the ministry said students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda.
It also pledged to keep Nigerians informed throughout the consultation process before any decision is reached on the proposed fee review.