Metro
TIMELINE: At Least 334 Nigerian Students Kidnapped in One Year
No fewer than 15 students have been reported missing following the mass abduction in the Gidan Bakuso area of Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State. FIJ gathered from media reports that the aggressors invaded the community, shot one person and abducted the students from their school around 1:00 am on Saturday.
The incident happened barely 24 hours after reports of the abduction of about 100 primary school pupils and 187 secondary students in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State. In both incidents, state actors described the aggressors as bandits.
However, these incidents are not the first mass abductions from Nigerian schools. Between January 2023 and the time of this report, FIJ found five different incidents of mass abduction on school premises across different states in northern Nigeria.
The two incidents in 2024 alone have, however, accounted for more than 80 percent of the victims of these mass abductions. Similarly, FIJ reported how about five pupils were kidnapped in a school bus in Ekiti in January.
Here is a timeline of the three other incidents and the number of students kidnapped in each:
JANUARY 2023: 6 PUPILS ABDUCTED IN NASSARAWA
In January 2023, not less than six pupils were abducted from their school premises at the Local Government Education Authority Primary School, Alwaza, in the Doma Local Government Area. FIJ found reports from community sources stating that the six pupils were kidnapped by heavily armed men around 7:00 am on January 20, 2023.
On February 3, all six kidnapped pupils were reportedly rescued through the combined efforts of the police and vigilante forces. The children were between the ages of five and seven at the time of the incident. They were reportedly rescued unhurt.
APRIL 2023: TWO STUDENTS ABDUCTED IN ZAMFARA
Two undergraduate students, identified as Zaynab and Maryam, were abducted from their hostels opposite the main campus of the Federal University, Gusau, on April 2, 2023. FIJ found media reports stating that the criminals disarmed the security personnel guarding the hostel and escaped with the two victims.
Most importantly, however, Zamfara has been a hotspot of kidnappings targeted at students and non-students alike. FIJ reported several attacks targeted at several hostels off the school premises in 2023.
SEPTEMBER 2023: 24 STUDENTS WERE KIDNAPPED IN ZAMFARA
Around 3:00 am on September 22, 2023, a group of armed men invaded three student hostels in Sabon Gida. A total of 24 students were reported to have been kidnapped in the incident.
FIJ reported a survivor’s account of this same incident, detailing how well-armed the kidnappers were and how they were rescued through a gun battle between the military and the criminals. Most poignantly, the survivor stated that the school authority and the security forces did not seem to care about the attacks.
Beyond these five incidents, there were other cases of student kidnappings in 2023 outside of the school premises. Notable among these incidents was the abduction of over 80 children in Zamfara State in April 2023; the kidnapping of eight students in Kaduna on April 8, 2023; the kidnapping of four children in Imo in May 2023; and the kidnapping of seven UNIJOS in June 2023.
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to prosecute 74 individuals apprehended for violating environmental regulations within the state.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the suspects were arrested during a coordinated enforcement operation by the state’s Taskforce in the early hours of Tuesday around 1 a.m., targeting key locations across the Lekki axis of Lagos Island.
The enforcement sweep covered areas including the Falomo Bridge, Eko Hotel Roundabout, Oniru Beach, Lekki Phases 1 and 2, and the 1004 Estate. A total of 72 men and two women were taken into custody.
Wahab explained that the operation aimed to restore order and sanitation in the affected areas.
He added that the suspects will face prosecution in accordance with state laws and urged residents to remain law-abiding and committed to maintaining a clean, orderly environment for all.
The police in Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday arraigned 30 persons before a Benin High Court for alleged murder and cultism.
The 30 persons are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, cultism, armed attack, and belonging to unlawful society.
The defendants were arraigned in three batches with the same seven-count charges.
The defendants arraigned in the first batch are Paul Elekun 25, Muetinyan Osagbovo 25, Opkala Bernice 22, Nnajiofor Francis 23, Imuetinyan Osanogara 21, Christian Augustine 22, Aniyea Choice 33, Saturday Umukoro 20.
The second batch are Gmogbo Ufoha 22, Emoh Emmanuel 29, Olavwola Gchinamen 32, Eriator Osaihon 44, Isaac Michael 32, Festus Arihian 37, Tedius Jude 25., Emmanuel Okhie 29, Daniel Oyakhilome 29, John Umoren 28.
The third batch are Ogoigbe Richard 33, Omokwua Cliton 32, Solomo Peisi (No specific age), Ezebuke Bright 29, Okoloagu Chicks 45, Ajuja Frank 25, Onemu Oghenekome Michael 19,
Jerry Lazarus 27, Patrick Arneka Joshua 22, Daniel James 28, Moses Peter 37, and Ewalefoh Prosper Osamudiahen 20.
The Prosecutor, Polycarp Odion told the court that the defendants and others, allegedly on May 1, did conspire to commit a felony.
Mr Odion alleged that on the same day within Benin City, without lawful authority, the defendants allegedly carried out armed attacks against a section of residents of the Benin metropolis.
The defendants were also alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit murder.
According to the prosecutor, the defendants and others at large, at different dates within Benin City did conspire and belong to an unlawful society.
He said the offences contravened Sections 412 (2), 64, and 247 of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2022.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in the Correctional Centre for an initial 14 days, pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Counsels to the defendants prayed the court to grant them bail as they were presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
According to the counsels, the defendants were picked in indifferent areas in the metropolis, which includes Ugbowo axis, Sapele road axis and Garrick Memorial College axis.
They said some were picked while they were eating, some inside the bus on their way home from work, some were arrested while driving and their vehicles impounded.
They said that the judge has the right to grant the defendants bail, urging the judge to exercise the same to grant the defendants’ bail.
They added that they all have reasonable surety to stand for their bail and ensure their presence in court on an adjournment date.
Among the defence counsels for the defendants who spoke were a former Chief Magistrate, Peter Asemota (retd), Ede Asenoguan, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Benin City Branch, Paul Badaki, J.E. Igunma, A.D.Ajeka, O.J.Odi, E.B.KiKa, among others.
The presiding judge, Justice Williams Azeigbemhin, however granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each with one surety in like sum.
Mr Azeigbemhin said both the defendants and surety must produce their NIN card, valid ID cards, and three passport photographs each.
He said that the surety must be a senior staff member of a recognised establishment.
He added that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and all information must be verified by the court registrar.
He then adjourned the case until May 19.
(NAN)
A fire outbreak on Monday afternoon engulfed a recycling facility operated by Jincheng Company at 11B Eric Moore Road, Surulere, Lagos.
The fire, reported at about 12:15 p.m., drew a prompt response from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service. Firefighters from the Sari-Iganmu Fire Station were the first on the scene, but the intensity of the blaze required reinforcements from the Ajegunle Fire Crew.
Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, stated that the fire began at the rear of the main building and was suspected to have been caused by negligence.
The affected section reportedly housed large quantities of cardboard materials used in the recycling process.
Although the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, the facility—which spans three acres—suffered significant losses.
“No casualties have been reported so far,” Adeseye confirmed, adding that the situation was under control by the time of reporting, with damping down operations still ongoing.”
-
News9 hours agoReal cause of Herbert Wigwe’s helicopter crash revealed
-
Politics10 hours agoUghelli North PDP Holds Crucial Meeting
-
News16 hours ago2027: Why Obi should reject VP slot — Tinubu’s aide
-
News15 hours agoTinubu presents N1.78 trillion FCT budget to NASS
-
News16 hours agoNnamdi Kanu wanted more states for Biafra – DSS
-
Economy10 hours agoSEE Black Market Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate Today – 7th May 2025
-
News5 hours agoJust in: Lagos LG chairman slumps during APC meeting
-
News15 hours agoUromi Killings: Senate Proposes Oversight of Vigilante, Hunters