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Zamfara Imam, three children killed after N11m ransom
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Fresh waves of violence continued to sweep across parts of Nigeria on Tuesday, with reports of brutal killings in Zamfara and Benue states.
In Zamfara, bandits killed the Chief Imam of the Maru Jumu’at Mosque, Alkali Salihu Suleiman, along with his three children—despite receiving N11m of the N20m ransom they had demanded.
The tragic incident, which occurred two months after their abduction, has plunged the Maru community into mourning.
The late Imam and his children were abducted from Maru, the headquarters of Maru Local Government Area—a community long plagued by persistent bandit attacks.
A resident, Shehu Mani, told The PUNCH that the family had struggled to raise the ransom, managing to gather only N11m.
“After collecting the money, the bandits still held onto their victims,” Mani said. “Later, they demanded a new motorcycle and food items in place of the outstanding N9m. Even that could not be provided. Today, we received word from another abductee who escaped that the Imam and his children have been killed.”
While the victims’ remains had not yet been recovered, funeral prayers were already being planned in accordance with Islamic customs.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls at the time of filing this report.
In a similarly disturbing development, suspected armed invaders beheaded a farmer, Felix Suega Ukir, in Tse Orkpe village, Nanev, within the Mbawa Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State.
The community, which had previously been displaced by armed herders, is once again living in fear.
A local resident, speaking anonymously, confirmed the gruesome murder occurred on Monday.
“We found the body, but his head was missing. People are abandoning their farms again,” he said.
Former Security Adviser of Guma LGA, Christopher Waku, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH via telephone, but police spokesperson Catherine Anene stated that the command had not yet received a formal report.
As insecurity escalates across Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions—with renewed Boko Haram activity in the North-East and the emergence of a new terror group, Mahmdua, in Kwara and Niger States—Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has begun ramping up local security measures.
On Tuesday, the governor met with first-class traditional rulers to strengthen grassroots security and prevent further cross-border incursions, particularly from areas like Kainji National Park, where military operations have intensified.
“We’re adopting a multi-agency approach to enhance development and protect lives,” the governor said in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye. “We urge royal fathers to rally their communities and assist security agencies with credible intelligence.”
The Vice Chairman of the State Council of Chiefs and Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi, commended the governor’s efforts.
“We will always support your administration. You’re doing a commendable job,” he said.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has slashed its fuel pump price for the second time within four days.
A market survey on Saturday by DAILY POST showed that NNPCL retail outlets around Airport Junction and Wuse Zone 6 (Berger) in Abuja have reduced their petrol price to N1210 per litre, down from N1260.
This means that the state-owned oil firm slashed the petrol price by N50 per litre.
This comes barely two days after Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol gantry price by N50 to N1,125 per litre.
Recall that four days ago, NNPCL had adjusted its fuel price pump by N75 per litre to N1260.
With the latest drop by NNPCL retail outlets, petrol prices stand between N1210 per litre and N1305 per litre in Abuja and its environs.
The reduction in domestic fuel comes amid falling crude oil prices, which stand at $69 per barrel and $71 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, respectively, following the easing of the conflict in the Middle East.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu has kept mum amid the clamour by Nigerians for a commensurate drop in domestic fuel pump prices due to the significant reduction in crude oil prices.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier order directing it to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.
INEC revealed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.
According to the commission, although it is aware of media reports on the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on June 26, it cannot comment on the ruling until it obtains and reviews the certified copy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the court’s order,” the statement said.
INEC stated that its legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising the commission on the next course of action.
“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.
“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola added.
Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the registration order.
Justice Dashen consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.
The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision. Its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, maintained that the party had not been deregistered and argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.
The ruling has also attracted reactions from opposition figures, including the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, and other stakeholders, who described the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and vowed to challenge it through all available legal channels.
INEC, however, maintained that it would reserve its position on the judgment until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy.
A joint police operation rescued five victims abducted near Ogbere Forest in Ogun state on Wednesday.
They were rescued within 25 hours by the Lagos and Ogun Police Commands, which were part of a joint operation codenamed KOSAYE, meaning “No Space” in Yoruba.
The woman was among the victims who were shot in the incident. Her daughter and sister were among those rescued by the police on Thursday.
NNPC slashes petrol price twice within four days
Lokoja Court order: INEC speaks on NDC, says it’s yet to receive CTC
Just in: Police rescue five abductees in Ogun
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