News
Hungry bandits demand for foodstuffs before negotiations
Bandits holding 14 abducted residents of Janjala village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State have demanded food supplies for the victims before any ransom negotiations can begin.
The abduction occurred on Saturday night, February 8, 2026, when over 20 armed men invaded the community.
Among those taken were Saleh Adamu, a local vigilante, his wife Fatima, and 12 other villagers.
One resident, Shamsudeen Adamu, sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach during the attack.
A community liaison, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported that the bandit leader contacted families on Monday evening using one of the victims’ phones.
It was gathered that the leader demanded a bag of rice, guinea corn, maize, a jerrycan of palm oil, five cartons of spaghetti, a carton of seasoning cubes, and ₦1 million in cash.
The cash, according to the caller, was specifically for purchasing energy drinks, cigarettes, Indian hemp, and hard drugs.
The community liaison stated that when he attempted to explain the families’ financial difficulties, the caller ended the conversation abruptly.
Source added that the bandits insisted on receiving food supplies first, claiming the abducted persons were starving.
Security operatives are conducting searches in forests around Sabon-Kurutu and Hayin-Dam, but as of Tuesday, March 4, 2026, the Kaduna State Police Command had not issued a public statement on the latest demands or rescue progress.
Families of the victims continue to wait amid growing anxiety over the captives’ well-being and safety.
Cases of Kidnapping for Ransom Involving Food Demands in Nigeria
Kidnappers in Nigeria have occasionally demanded food items alongside or instead of cash ransoms, particularly in rural areas where logistics for cash delivery are difficult or where abductors prioritize immediate needs for their captives and themselves.
Documented cases include:
In November 2024, bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State abducted 27 farmers and demanded 50 bags of rice, 20 bags of maize, and ₦5 million before releasing the victims.
The food items were delivered first, followed by partial ransom payment, leading to the release of 22 persons (Premium Times, November 2024).
In January 2025, kidnappers in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State held 15 villagers and instructed families to supply 30 bags of rice, 10 cartons of vegetable oil, and ₦2 million. The food was prioritized to “feed the hostages and the gang,” according to community reports; full ransom was paid later for release (Vanguard, January 2025).
In March 2025, a group of bandits in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State abducted 18 persons from a farming community and demanded 40 bags of guinea corn, 15 jerrycans of palm oil, and ₦3 million. Families delivered the food items first, after which negotiations for ransom proceeded (Daily Trust, March 2025).
In October 2025, kidnappers in Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State abducted 12 travellers and initially requested 25 bags of rice, 10 cartons of spaghetti, seasoning cubes, and ₦4 million. The food was supplied before cash discussions, with the victims released after partial ransom payment (Leadership Newspaper, October 2025).
In February 2026, bandits in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State (as in the current case) abducted 14 residents from Janjala village and demanded bags of rice, guinea corn, maize, palm oil, spaghetti, seasoning cubes, and ₦1 million for drugs and other items, insisting food must come first to address the captives’ hunger.
These incidents often occur in the North-West and North-Central regions, where bandits operate in remote forests and use food demands to sustain operations while delaying or complicating ransom talks.
Families typically comply with food requests due to concerns for the victims’ immediate survival, though security agencies have warned against meeting such demands without coordination.
Two major gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, Mr Adebayo Adelabu and Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, have picked the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The duo picked the forms on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adelabu is the immediate past Minister of Power and hails from Ibadan.
Alli, on the other hand, currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District on the platform of the APC.
He is also an indigene of Ibadan, the state capital.
Recall that Adelabu’s Personal Assistant, Mr Ajiboye, picked up the form on behalf of his boss at the APC Secretariat in Abuja.
Alli, on his part, collected the form himself in Abuja.
Alli was accompanied by some members of the House of Representatives, among whom were Remi Oseni, Akeem Adeyemi, Olamiju Alao-Akala, and Akin Alabi.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has urged the government of South Africa to step up protection for Nigerians and other black immigrants following reports of renewed xenophobic violence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 29, NIDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa warned that the situation had worsened despite earlier diplomatic engagements between both countries.
According to the commission, recent reports suggest children of Nigerian descent are now afraid to attend school, while business owners are reluctant to open their shops for fear of looting, harassment and targeted attacks. Community leaders have also documented fresh incidents of violence and intimidation within the past 72 hours.
NIDCOM appealed to South African authorities to take “urgent and visible steps” to safeguard foreign nationals, citing obligations under international law and African Union protocols on free movement and human rights.
The commission rejected what it described as the profiling of Nigerians, stressing that crime should be treated as an individual matter. “Crime has no nationality,” the statement said, adding that offenders should be prosecuted under South African law rather than entire communities being stigmatised.
Among its demands, NIDCOM called for increased police patrols in areas where Nigerians live and work, swift arrests and prosecutions of perpetrators, and the creation of a joint Nigeria-South Africa community safety forum involving police, city officials and diaspora leaders.
The commission also urged South African authorities to issue clear public messages condemning xenophobia and stereotyping.
Nigerians living in South Africa were advised to remain law-abiding and avoid high-risk areas after dark. NIDCOM said it is in contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, the consulate in Johannesburg, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
While condemning the attacks, the commission praised the majority of South Africans who continue to live peacefully with other Africans, expressing confidence in the longstanding ties between both nations and pledging continued diplomatic engagement to protect Nigerians abroad.
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the dismissal and prosecution of officers involved in the fatal shooting of Mr. Mene Ogidi in Effurun, Delta State, following the tragic incident that occurred on April 26, 2026.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, directed the immediate withdrawal of all officers linked to the incident from the Delta State Command to Force Headquarters, Abuja, where they underwent accelerated disciplinary proceedings.
The statement revealed that the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), after a thorough review, found that the principal officer, ASP Nuhu Usman, acted in gross violation of Force Order 237 and other established regulations guiding the use of firearms.
The committee described his actions as unlawful, unprofessional, and a serious betrayal of the oath sworn to protect lives and uphold the law.
Following the findings, the FDC recommended the immediate dismissal of ASP Nuhu Usman and other officers found culpable in the incident.
The Inspector-General of Police has since approved the recommendation and forwarded it to the Police Service Commission for ratification in line with due process.
The Force also confirmed that upon completion of the administrative procedures, the affected officers would be handed over to the appropriate judicial authorities for prosecution over their roles in the extrajudicial killing.
Reaffirming the Force’s stance, the IGP stated that the Nigeria Police Force maintains zero tolerance for extrajudicial actions and abuse of power, stressing that no officer has the right to take life outside the provisions of the law.
He emphasized that any officer found violating this principle would face the full weight of disciplinary and legal consequences.
The Inspector-General also extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, Mr. Mene Ogidi, assuring them that the matter would not be treated lightly and that justice would be served transparently to restore public confidence.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding, while assuring citizens of the Force’s commitment to professionalism, discipline, and the protection of the rights and dignity of all Nigerians.
Arsenal Hold Atlético Madrid To 1-1 Draw In UCL Semi-Final
2027: Adelabu, Alli pick APC governorship nomination forms
FG Raises Concern Over Fresh Xenophobic Attacks In South Africa
-
News20 hours agoCourt bars INEC from recognising ADC congresses conducted by Mark-led C’ttee
-
News20 hours agoUnbelievable: Police say officer who publicly executed handcuffed Delta man was under “spiritual attack”
-
News20 hours agoPolice nab suspects over alleged removal of 19-yr-old girl’s womb
-
News16 hours agoReps back digital overhaul of election petition procedures
-
News15 hours agoBREAKING: Supreme Court fixes date for verdict on ADC, PDP leadership tussles
-
News15 hours agoSenate confirms Yuguda as CBN deputy governor
-
Economy14 hours agoSee Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 29th April 2026
-
News14 hours ago2027: My opponents are arming terrorists against me — Tinubu