News
Kidnappers torture 20 corps members, demand N5m each NYSC
Oyo adopts Oriire abduction template, engages Imo, security agencies
The 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted by gunmen in Imo State have allegedly been subjected to physical assault by their captors, including the female victims, as the kidnappers reduced their ransom demand to N5 million per victim.
The development came as the deadline reportedly given by the abductors for payment of the ransom approached, heightening anxiety among the victims’ families.
One of the affected relatives, Alhaja Alimot Akande, whose 25-year-old sister, Kehinde Akande, is among the abducted graduates, said the victims had allegedly been beaten since Saturday.
She described the situation as “horrible, scary and overwhelming,” while appealing to the government to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.
Akande said the kidnappers had reduced their initial demand from N50 million per victim to N5 million each.
“They are still demanding N5 million. They have come down to N5 million each,” she said.
Asked whether the N5 million was being demanded for each of the 20 victims, she replied: “Yes.”
She said she could not confirm how much had been raised towards the ransom, explaining that she was not privy to arrangements between the abductors and other families.
“I cannot say because I do not know how much they have told those people that they have,” she said.
According to Akande, her sister told her that the abductors had started beating the victims.
“Sir, we appeal to the government to please assist us in getting them rescued out of that place. When I spoke to my sister, they started beating them since yesterday,” she said.
Asked whether the female victims were also being assaulted, she said: “They are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them.”
Akande also said one of the abducted corps members had been allowed to communicate with his father, alleging that the kidnappers monitored the calls as part of their efforts to assess the family’s ability to raise the ransom.
She said the abductors would alert the victim whenever his father called and allow him to speak to him.
She added that the families had been relying on assurances from the police while efforts continued to raise the ransom.
“The police are telling us to still be buying time. We are still looking for the money. Depending, they will see them rescued,” she said.
Akande confirmed that her family was directly affected by the incident, identifying her abducted sister as Kehinde, 25.
Oyo engages Imo, security agencies
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government said it was maintaining contact with the Imo State Government and security agencies as efforts intensified to secure the release of the abducted graduates.
The state Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the government was actively involved in efforts to rescue the victims despite the abduction occurring outside Oyo State.
Oyelade said the government was drawing on its experience from the recent abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area in its engagement with the Imo authorities.
“We are in close contacts at government-to-government level and actively with the security apparatus in Oyo and Imo states,” he said.
“We are volunteering our template and experiences garnered during the Oriire kidnapping, and the report of the Judicial Inquiry just submitted last week by the Hon. Justice (Professor) Mojeed Owoade Panel is coming in handy in our bilateral discussions on the matter.”
He explained that the government would not disclose all aspects of its strategy because of the sensitive nature of the operation.
“Governments all over the world are not in the habit of disclosing all they are planning in delicate situations like this,” Oyelade said.
The commissioner, however, said the Federal Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces should provide answers on the broader national security response to the incident.
“The pushback should be on the Federal Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, who are in charge of national security, on what they have done in 72 hours,” he said.
Oyelade also referred to Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent intervention over the abduction of students in Borno State, noting that the Borno incident occurred on the same day as the Oriire abduction.
He said Makinde had appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the rescue of the abducted Borno students.
Reaffirming the state’s commitment to the victims, Oyelade said the fact that the graduates were abducted in Imo did not absolve the Oyo Government of its responsibility to its citizens.
“Oyo State Government had not and will not abandon its citizens. We will continue to work endlessly and desperately to secure the release of our children,” he said.
How the graduates were abducted
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on Thursday while travelling from Ibadan to their respective NYSC orientation camps in two buses.
The vehicles were reportedly attacked by gunmen along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, while the graduates were travelling to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The incident triggered concern among the affected families, particularly after the parents said the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each victim — N1 billion in total — and gave them a 24-hour ultimatum to raise the money.
The parents subsequently sought the intervention of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, during a visit to his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan.
They were accompanied by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri.
The parents appealed to the monarch to intervene, saying they could not raise the N1 billion ransom demanded.
“They have been calling us since yesterday (Friday) with a demand for N50 million ransom each. They are threatening that anything untoward will happen to our children if we fail to heed to their request,” the parents had said.
“There is no way we can raise such an amount at this period. Baba, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children.”
Responding, Ladoja assured the families that efforts were being made to secure the victims’ release.
“I want to assure that your children would be rescued unharmed. We will relate whatever information we gather to you,” he said.
“The police are working round the clock to secure their rescue. Don’t worry yourself, police are up to the task, and nothing would happen to your children.”
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola, also said he had remained in contact with his Imo counterpart since the incident.
“I had already contacted Imo State CP. We have been talking since the day of incident, and he assured me that the victims would be rescued unhurt,” Abimbola said.z
A 21-year-old butcher, identified as Selim Ayodele, has allegedly stabbed his 26-year-old colleague, Ibrahim Wasiu, to death following a disagreement over sweeping their workplace in Ogun State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, October 18, at a cow meat-selling outlet in the Alagbole area of the Akute/Ajuwon satellite towns in Ifo Local Government Area of the state.
According to reports, trouble started after the day’s business activities when the two colleagues disagreed over the cleaning of their sales outlet, with the argument allegedly escalating into a fatal confrontation.
The Ogun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident to journalists in Abeokuta on Friday, disclosing that the suspect had been arrested.
Babaseyi said the incident was reported at the Ajuwon Police Divisional Headquarters on Sunday night, prompting police operatives to commence an investigation.
He explained that preliminary findings indicated that the disagreement began after the two men had concluded their day’s work at the meat-selling outlet.
During the altercation, Ayodele allegedly picked up a knife and stabbed Wasiu in the left side of his chest before twisting the weapon.
The victim was reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The police spokesperson added that the suspect remained in custody as investigations continued ahead of his prosecution.
He further disclosed that the deceased’s body had been deposited in the morgue of a private hospital for an autopsy.
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to prompt response to criminal incidents, thorough investigations and the prosecution of offenders in accordance with the law.
The police commissioner also urged residents to exercise restraint, resolve disagreements peacefully and promptly report criminal incidents to the appropriate authorities.
FRED IWENJORA reports that very brave Okonkwo of “Things Fall Apart”, Ebubedike, the Ononenyi of Nteje, Anambra State, and Ibobo Oyi na Omambala shed tears uncontrollably during this tour especially when students and pupils of Knutsford University used his name for different forms of recitations and poetry.
One may ask why Pete Edochie traveled to Ghana?
This visit was for the launching of the Pete Edochie Legacy project, themed “Celebrating the Africa legend; The lion that needs not to roar”.
It is “a cultural initiative created to honor and celebrate one of Africa’s most revered figures” according to the Ghanaian project organisers.
The Legacy project includes a biographical book, a documentary series and international tour with Ghana serving as the launch pad.
The publishers, KPL publishers had noted that the contributions of the 79-year-old screen star to Africa cinema are very noteworthy.
At the end of it all, the star actor had, aside unveiling his autobiography in a gala event, paid courtesy calls to industry and policy makers in Ghana including the visit to Ghana’s Goldbod, the body regulating everything gold in Ghana. Organisers saw the visit as an important segment of the tour because a visit to Ghana may have been incomplete without seeing first hand the reason the country was called Gold Coast.
He had also met and greeted select fans and featured in a public lecture and colloquium in his honor before returning to Nigeria.
From when he landed at Kotoka International Airport Tuesday 29th September, 2026 till his departure from Ghana on Wednesday 7, October 2026, there was no dull moment.
Reception was top notch and indeed out of this world.
Ghanaians as well as Nigerians left businesses and trouped out to see “the president of African screen” according to Elizabeth Ama Tetteh, one of his numerous Ghanaian fans who noted that she had been resident in Enugu, Nigeria. It was indeed heartwarming to see Ghanaian as well as Igbo cultural groups on hand to welcome him to the old Gold Coast. Dispatch riders led his motorcade out of the airport.
On arrival, he first paid a courtesy visit to Eze Dr. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, Onyendu Ndi igbo, Ghana and sued for peace between Nigeria and Ghana. The respected Eze Ihenetu had organised a congregation of Igbo and Ghanaian leaders for a traditional cocktail reception.
According to the major propeller of the project Kelvin King Dawie of King Dawie Publishing Ltd (KPL) “When people ask why Pete Edochie, I tell them that no honor for Pete Edochie is too big. He has very much distinguished himself on the continent of Africa and beyond as a custodian of the cultural heritage of Africa and has been consistent in it for decades since mounting the stage at the tender age of 15. He is well known and received a lot of honors and awards globally including Nigeria’s national honor of merit; MON.
“We also looked at the way he has distinguished himself on stage and in communication which has warranted him receiving Honorary Doctorate in Literature and creative arts.
On this continent, Pete Edochie is one of a kind and he needs to be projected and celebrated as that icon of Africa who has held high the heritage of Africa for over six decades of his acting life.
King Dawie, an accountant, business strategist and social impact leader also hinted that “the project is in four phases, the autobiography, a 16-episode documentary to properly chronicle his life’s journey and then also the African youth mentorship initiative to help him pass on information to the next generation and an international tour. It took a lot of several efforts from several people too numerous to mention to set this ball rolling and hopefully achieving. We also remain very grateful to our star guest for accepting our proposal. ” However, there are major take-aways from these nine days Pete Edochie “Presidential visit” to Ghana.
Cultural diplomacy at its highest African peak
Years back, Africa viewers had voted Pete Edochie as their main choice in (AMVCA).
However, this Ghana visit is International cultural diplomacy at its highest African peak.
It seems first in history that a film star would make so much impression in another country that a book would be written and unveiled on him in that country.
It also reveals that Nigeria and Ghana have co-existed as West Africa’s beloved Anglophone countries despite hiccups occasioned by various ‘Ghana must go’ or ‘Nigeria must go’ agitations.
And to see both Nigerians and Ghanaians under one roof because of Pete Edochie, animosities may have been doused even if for a moment.
The unveiling of the autobiographical book; Titan of Africa, the story of Pete Edochie, published by KPL Publishers was a big attraction on its own and first of its kind for a Nigerian actor. The event which held at Kempiski Accra drew together distinguished Ghanaians with highlights including his meeting with Ghanaian legendary actress, broadcaster and musician Grace Omaboe, known to many as Maame Dokono. He also met with 102 years old Warrant Officer 1 and WW2 veteran, Pa Joseph Ashitey Hammond. Their tight hug meant that this meeting for the WW2 veteran was highly anticipated like the story of the nunc dimitis contained in the synoptics.
There are pointers to the huge respect that he commands in the so called Gold Coast and that Africa is so culturally connected in many ways.
Another take away from the tour was that the man Pete Edochie is very well blessed and his star never seems to dim as years roll by.
Despite that he is bound to the wheelchair and could barely walk or sits on the chair in his current films, fans continue to adore him from far and near. (Saturday Vanguard)
Four people were reportedly shot when a convoy of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) came under attack in Ebonyi State, with one of the campaign vehicles set ablaze.
The incident occurred during a campaign movement in the state, according to sources familiar with the development.
The identities and conditions of those injured were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.
The motive for the attack remained unclear, while the attackers had yet to be identified.
Security agencies were expected to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and burning of the campaign vehicle.
Further details were awaited from the NDC, the Ebonyi State Government and the relevant security authorities.
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