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Troops of Sector 1 of Operation WHIRL STROKE, OPWS, have thwarted a kidnap attempt after responding swiftly to a distress call from communities in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to security sources, the incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. on July 14 when soldiers stationed at Kyado received information that suspected kidnappers were operating in Azendachi and Atsaam wards of the council area.

The sources said the troops immediately moved to the affected communities following the alert, prompting the suspected kidnappers to flee before carrying out their operation.

During the operation, security personnel recovered three motorcycles believed to have been used by the fleeing suspects.

Security sources said efforts are underway to apprehend the suspects, while troops have stepped up patrols and area domination operations to forestall further criminal activities and improve security in the affected communities.

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, has said that its Mining Marshals have arrested no fewer than 671 suspected illegal miners, with 397 already charged before the Federal High Court.
The corps also revealed that convictions have been secured as part of the federal government’s intensified crackdown on illegal mining.

The Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC Attah John Onoja, made the disclosure on Monday while representing the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, at an event in Abuja.

According to him, the Mining Marshals, established by the federal government in 2024, have disrupted numerous illegal mining sites across the country, shut down illegal operations, seized mining equipment and restored several mining locations to their legitimate licence holders.

He attributed the arrests to the professionalism of the Mining Marshals, robust inter-agency collaboration and sustained support from the Federal Government.

Onoja revealed that the renewed enforcement efforts have significantly improved compliance with mining regulations and contributed to increased government revenue from the solid minerals sector.

He further called for dedicated budgetary support, deployment of surveillance technology, establishment of a national mining intelligence situation room and the designation of special Federal High Court judges to expedite the prosecution of illegal mining cases.
Quoting the Solid Minerals Development Fund, SMDF, he said revenue from the mining sector rose by 337 per cent between 2023 and 2026, increasing from about N6 billion in 2023 to over N70 billion by June 2026. He noted that the figures corroborate earlier reports crediting the federal government’s mining reforms for attracting investments and boosting earnings.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, called for practical solutions to illegal mining, insecurity and illicit financial flows while the Ad-hoc Committee Chairman on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering at the House of Reps, Sanni Abdulraheem, called for more collaboration among security agencies, regulatory institutions, mining operators and host communities to end illegal mining.

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A UK coroner has ruled that Beatrice Solomon, a 27-year-old Nigerian caregiver who arrived in Britain in 2023, died by suicide after battling mental health challenges.

Ms Solomon was found unresponsive at her home on Norris Road, Stanfield, Stoke-on-Trent, on 4 March 2026. Her husband, Damian Butler, discovered her when he returned briefly from his delivery job.

Delivering her conclusion at the inquest, Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor said Beatrice Solomon had researched and planned how to end her life. A post-mortem examination by pathologist Dr Jones found she died from oxygen deprivation.

Mr Butler told the hearing that his wife had been struggling with her mental health for around a year. He linked some of her difficulties to ongoing issues with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. He also disclosed that she had made two previous suicide attempts.

Emergency services were called to the property but Ms Solomon, a mother-of-one, was pronounced dead at the scene at 18:21. Staffordshire Police ruled out any third-party involvement.

Beatrice Solomon moved to the UK from Nigeria in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa and was working as a caregiver. She is survived by her husband, young son and siblings.

This tragic case draws attention to the significant mental health challenges faced by many migrant workers in the UK’s care sector. Relocating to a new country, cultural adjustment, separation from family, and demanding shift work can place immense emotional strain on individuals.

Public health experts have highlighted that African and other migrant communities often encounter additional barriers to mental health support, including stigma, language issues, and limited access to culturally sensitive services. Despite the vital contribution of international caregivers to the NHS and social care system, tailored wellbeing support remains inconsistent.