Kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N100 million for the release of Pastor Samson Ndah Ali, a 30-year-old cleric with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Mararaba Aboro, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to report, the pastor was abducted from his residence in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, 2025 by gunmen suspected to be bandits.

Confirming the incident, the financial secretary of the church, Mallam Yusuf Ambi, told Daily Trust that he was with the pastor the night before, only to receive a distress call early in the morning.

“I rushed to his compound where he stays alone, only to find the doors wide open. I checked all the rooms, but he was nowhere to be found,” he said.

Ambi added that the abductors later contacted them, demanding N100 million for the pastor’s release.

“We are negotiating with them,” he added.

He further disclosed that Pastor Ali, who hails from Danji community of Ungwan Mailafiya, had only been posted to the church less than two weeks prior to the incident.

A joint team of security operatives Icomprising the Nigerian Army, the police, and the Department of State Services (DSS) has launched an operation in a bid to rescue the abducted cleric.

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Tuesday attacked an Abuja-bound bus belonging to GUO Transport Company along the Akunu axis of Ondo State.

The suspected kidnappers injured some passengers and left the vehicle riddled with bullet holes.

SaharaReporters obtained a disturbing video from the scene showing the aftermath of the attack.

Bullet holes riddled the body of the vehicle, and blood was visibly splattered across the front seats, indicating that some passengers were injured during the ambush.

“Make I come make them bring tyre out there. I thank God nothing happened to me. You no see wetin bullet do this place (Let us bring the tyre out of there. I thank God nothing happened to me. Can you see how they damaged the vehicle with bullets?),” the driver said in the video, pointing to damage on the bus caused by bullets.

The attack reportedly occurred between Akunu in Ondo State and Ayere in neighbouring Kogi State, an area notorious for frequent bandit and kidnapper activity, despite regular police checkpoints in the region.

“Kidnappers open fire on Abuja bound GUO bus shortly after driving about 3 minutes passing a police checking point Akunu in Ondo, before Ayare in Kogi state,” an X user who claimed to be privy to the development added.

One passenger could be heard urging others to re-enter the bus so the exhausted driver could rest.

When SaharaReporters contacted GUO Transport through its official WhatsApp line for comment, the company’s automated response said: “Thank you for contacting GUO Transport. We’d love to help, but we’re currently off work hours. We’ll attend to all enquiries in the next working hour.”

As of the time of filing this report, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami, had yet to respond to multiple calls and follow-up messages seeking comment.

A devastating fire that broke out early Tuesday morning has reportedly destroyed at least 55 shops in the herbal medicine section of the Zamfara Central Market.

This incident follows a similar fire just six weeks ago, which also ravaged more than 100 shops in the same market.

The fire, which began around 1:00 AM, is still under investigation, and the exact cause remains undetermined. There are, however, suspicions that the blaze may have been triggered by flammable herbs stored in some of the affected shops, although no official conclusions have been reached.

Alhaji Sa’adu Dahiru, the chairman of the affected section, confirmed the scale of the damage and described the incident as catastrophic. “The fire also destroyed shops belonging to blouse and seasoning sellers,” he explained. “I know some of our members who have lost everything. These people have families to care for and depend on this business for their livelihood.”

Dahiru shared a poignant story of one of the traders who had stored ₦50,000 in his shop, intending to deposit it in the bank on Tuesday, but the money was destroyed in the fire along with his goods. He called on the state government to provide financial support for those affected. “I am appealing to the state government to look into our plight and offer us assistance,” he added.

Alhaji Ahmad Salihu Shinkafi, the Managing Director of the market, said the management is still probing the fire’s cause. He noted that some traders suggested that the blaze might have been sparked by a herb that is sensitive to excessive heat, which can cause it to explode. “We are still investigating to determine the exact cause of the fire,” he said.

Shinkafi also highlighted the preventive measures that had been implemented in the market, including a ban on the use of fire within the premises. “We don’t allow tea sellers, food vendors, or others who use fire near the market,” he explained. “So, only God knows what caused this inferno.”

As the victims assess their losses and call for government intervention, this incident underscores the growing concern over recurring fire disasters in markets across northern Nigeria, highlighting the need for improved safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.