Metro
Bandits Release 75 Abducted Zamfara Pupils
The 75 pupils of Government Day Secondary School, Kaya, in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State who were abducted on September 1, 2021, have regained their freedom.
The Nigerian Television Authority broke the news via its verified Facebook page overnight.
Nigerian Police had reported that gunmen abducted more than 70 students in the country’s northwest state of Zamfara.
Zamfara State Police spokesman, Mohammed Shehu, had said in a statement that a large group of attackers stormed the Government Day Secondary School in the remote village of Kaya that Wednesday morning, seizing the pupils. He had given the number of seized children as 73.
“The abduction followed the invasion of the school by large numbers of armed bandits,” he had stated.
Shehu said that Police rescue teams were working with the military to secure the release of the pupils.
The bandits later returned five of the pupils within 24 hours.
A former councilor of Kaya ward, Yahaya Kaya, said that his niece was among those released by the bandits; adding that the five freed pupils had been returned to their hometown of Kaya.
It is not yet clear if any ransom was paid before the pupils were released.
In reaction to the abduction, UNICEF, on September 3, said it was horrified by yet another attack on an educational institution in Nigeria. Following the abduction, the Zamfara State Government had ordered the immediate de-boarding of boarding facilities in 30 schools.
The UN agency, in a Press release distributed by the APO Group, stated, “Of the abducted students, 23 students escaped and returned home – two of them with bullet wounds. The abducted students are aged between 14 and 19.”
“We strongly condemn this attack, which has happened just a few days after kidnapped students of a school in Niger State, north-central Nigeria, were freed,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. “We call on the authorities to take expedited action to rescue these students and reunite them with their families.”
“We reiterate that attacks on schools and abduction of learners are a gross violation of children’s rights, and a horrific experience for children to go through – one which could have long-lasting effects on their mental health and overall well-being,” said Peter Hawkins.
“Schools must be safe; no child should experience any harm because they went to school, and no parent should come to grief for sending their children to learn,” said Hawkins.
The Punch
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked a commercial bus operated by GUO Transport along the Benn-Ore expressway, killing the driver and abducting several passengers in what underscores Nigeria’s deepening insecurity on major highways.
Reports indicate that the assailants ambushed the South East-bound vehicle, opened fire on the driver, who died at the scene, and subsequently whisked away passengers to an unknown destination.
The incident is believed to have occurred along a notorious stretch of the highway linking the South-West to the South-South, long plagued by banditry and abductions.
While official confirmation from security agencies is expected, local sources and a circulating video showed that passengers might have forcefully been taken into nearby forests, a tactic commonly employed by kidnapping syndicates operating along the corridor. Similar attacks in the past have involved mass abductions, with victims later released after ransom payments.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, on Thursday paid a high-profile courtesy visit to the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), where he lauded the agency’s operational efficiency, technological advancement, and grassroots-driven policing model.
Dr. Ogunsan in company of the fund’s Director of Administration, Mr. Adegbola Lewis were received at the LNSA headquarters by the agency’s General Manager, Dr. Ifalade Oyekan, alongside top officials and personnel. In a ceremonious display underscoring the importance of the visit, the LSSTF boss was accorded a mounted guard of honour. He was also decorated with LNSA Medal of Honour and presented with a commemorative lapel pin in recognition of his contributions to strengthening Lagos’ security architecture.
The visit featured an extensive tour of the agency’s facilities, during which Dr. Ogunsan inspected a range of modern security assets, including surveillance drones, body-worn cameras, and other high-tech equipment deployed to enhance intelligence gathering and rapid response operations.
The Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency, established by the Lagos State Government as a community-based security outfit, plays a critical role in complementing conventional law enforcement agencies such as the Nigeria Police. Its core mandate includes grassroots intelligence gathering, routine patrols, crime prevention, and fostering peaceful coexistence within communities. Officers of the agency, largely drawn from the local population, leverage their deep knowledge of their respective neighbourhoods to monitor suspicious activities, mediate disputes, and provide actionable intelligence to security agencies.
Speaking after the inspection, Dr. Ogunsan expressed admiration for the strides recorded under Dr. Oyekan’s leadership, particularly highlighting the effectiveness of the agency’s community policing framework.
“The strength of the LNSA lies in its people-oriented approach. Having officers who live and serve within their communities builds trust, enhances intelligence gathering, and ultimately strengthens public safety,” he said. “What we have seen here today reflects strategic investment, innovation, and a clear commitment to safeguarding lives and property.”
He reaffirmed the commitment of the LSSTF to sustaining support for the Lagos Neighborhood Safely Agency (LNSA) and other security agencies across the state, noting that security remains a critical pillar for economic growth, social stability, and investor confidence in Lagos.
In his response, Dr. Oyekan expressed appreciation for the continued partnership and support that the agency has enjoyed over the years from the LSSTF, describing it as instrumental to the agency’s operational successes. He reiterated that the agency’s neighbourhood-based policing structure which is anchored on local familiarity and collaboration remains central to its mission of proactive crime prevention and effective security delivery.
The visit highlights the growing synergy between key security stakeholders in Lagos State, in a bid to strengthen intelligence-led and community-driven strategies to address evolving security challenges in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and West Africa’s economic hub.
Adron Homes and Properties Limited delivered a commanding performance at the grand finale of the 2026 Ibadan Cultural Festival, firmly establishing its dominance as Nigeria’s leading real estate brand. At the iconic Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, the company did not just sponsor the event, it took control of the narrative, transforming the cultural celebration into a powerful showcase of brand strength, innovation, and market authority.
With the presence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, alongside a distinguished assembly of traditional rulers, high chiefs, and top government dignitaries, Adron Homes leveraged the high-profile platform to reinforce its influence at the intersection of culture, community, and modern development. The royal commendation from the Olubadan, who openly praised the company’s contribution, further cemented Adron’s growing stature as a key driver of cultural and socio-economic advancement.
Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director, Mrs. Adenike Ajobo, projected a bold and uncompromising vision, emphasizing that Adron Homes is not just building houses but creating ecosystems where heritage, lifestyle, and modern living seamlessly converge. She reaffirmed that the company’s presence in Ibadan is strategically positioned to redefine the city’s residential landscape while embedding the brand deeply within the cultural fabric of its people.
Adron Homes’ activation proved to be one of the most dominant features of the festival. The “Adron Experience” zone became the epicenter of engagement, attracting massive crowds through immersive brand interactions, including the viral 360-degree video booth that drove widespread digital visibility. Simultaneously, the Ibadan Sales Team executed a results-driven engagement strategy, converting high foot traffic into real business opportunities while showcasing Adron’s expanding portfolio of modern, world-class estates transforming the city’s iconic skyline.
By seamlessly integrating its “Home Festival” concept into the cultural celebration, Adron Homes blurred the line between tradition and innovation, delivering an unmatched brand experience that competitors could not rival. As the festival drew to a close, one message was unmistakable, Adron Homes did not just participate; it dominated, setting a new benchmark for corporate cultural investment and reinforcing its position as the brand defining the future of real estate in Nigeria.
