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Kaduna Train Terrorists Demand Release of 16 Detained Commanders for Abductees

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4 years ago

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The bandits, who attacked the Kaduna-Abuja train, are demanding the release of 16 top commanders and sponsors in government custody in exchange for the release of the over 100 individuals abducted from the derailed train on March 28.

Dependable security sources said the bandits carried out the violent attack on the train just to abduct passengers who could be used to bargain for the release of their commanders and sponsors in detention.

The PUNCH gathered on Monday that the arrest of the suspects had severely hampered the deadly activities of the bandits who are collaborating with the Boko Haram terrorist group to unleash malevolent attacks across the country.

The terrorists had on March 28 at Katari, Kaduna State, attacked the train which was heading for Kaduna from Kaduna.

After the attack,  security agencies reported that eight bodies were recovered from the attack scene  and 26 persons were injured

The Nigerian Railway Corporation said it was unable to establish contact with 163 passengers and seven crew members who boarded the train.

On Monday, multiple sources explained that the bandits in their ongoing negotiations with the Federal Government were demanding prisoners’ exchange.

The gang had last week released one of their hostages, the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, due to his age. In a video showing the victim in their midst, the gunmen said the government knew what they wanted and threatened to kill the remaining hostages if their demands were not met.

On Sunday, the terrorists released another video where some of the captives were seen calling on the government to come to their rescue.

But a senior official said the terrorists were being hampered by the arrest of their top commanders, noting that their sources of funding had been greatly impacted by the arrest of their sponsors.

He stated, “The bandits have made contact (with the government) but the issue now involves the Interpol because they have international collaborators. Security operatives are working to identify their connection to Boko Haram.

“The bandits are after their people who are in custody. They are demanding the release of 16 sponsors and commanders in exchange for the abducted train passengers. That’s why they said in a video that the government knows what they want.”

“We arrested some of their commanders and those sponsoring them in Dubai and Nigeria. We have about 16 commanders and sponsors in custody, so they are demanding their release because their sources of funding are declining. I hope the authorities would not release the commanders and sponsors to them because we are getting information on the bandits from the suspects,” the source noted.

Commenting on the group’s threats to kill the hostages, the security officer argued that such an action would not give the bandits what they were demanding from the government.

“If they kill their hostages, they would not achieve what they are looking for. The fact is that they are being starved of funds and that is why they are making the threat and it is also the reason for the attack on the train. They attacked the train just to get government attention and negotiate the release of their commanders and sponsors,” he stated.

An intelligence official also corroborated the report that the bandits were demanding the release of commanders and ransom, noting that the marauders had been cooperating with Boko Haram fighters in their attacks in Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina and others.

The official noted, “What they want is prisoners exchange and money. It is a lie that they don’t want money; they want both money and prisoners exchange. They would release the passengers in exchange for many of their members in custody. They are collaborating with Boko Haram to pool resources together and constitute a bigger security threat to the country.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the Military was not successful. As calls to the number of the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko indicated it was not reachable.

He has yet to respond to message sent to him on the matter. However, a military source said the military does not negotiate with bandits

The source said, “It is not our duty to negotiate with the bandits or any other criminal elements. Ours is to fulfill our constitutional duties which we have been doing.”

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Tinubu Orders Probe of 37 Miners’ Deaths in Niger State

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2 days ago

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September 19, 2026

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President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following enforcement operations around Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna, Niger State.

The President, in a statement on Friday, said that the government would not tolerate mass deaths arising from official negligence, dereliction of duty, or failure by public officials to protect the lives placed under their care.

President Tinubu said the life of every Nigerian matters and that no citizen should lose his life while in government custody as a result of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment, or dereliction of duty, describing the development as a grave matter that requires urgent investigation and accountability.

“While the Federal Government would continue to combat illegal mining and other criminal activities across the country, enforcement operations must be conducted strictly within the law and with full respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of every person in custody,” he was quoted as saying in the statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“The fact that these individuals were suspected of illegal mining does not in any way remove their right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody. Government will not tolerate mass deaths arising from official negligence, dereliction of duty or failure by public officials to protect the lives placed under their care.”

“Where the investigation establishes that any official, through action, abuse or negligence, contributed to these deaths, such an officer must be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. There must be accountability,” the President added.

He directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the investigation is comprehensive, transparent and unhindered, covering the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions under which they were detained, the number of people held in the facility, the medical attention provided and the events leading to their deaths.

“The suspension of officers is only an administrative step and must not substitute for a proper determination of criminal responsibility where the evidence warrants prosecution,” the President said.

He directed the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with all relevant investigative authorities and ensure that no officer interferes with the process or attempts to frustrate the establishment of the truth.

President Tinubu extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the repose of their souls.

He also appealed for calm among the families and communities affected by the tragedy, assuring them that the Federal Government would pursue the truth and take appropriate action based on credible evidence.

“We must never allow the pursuit of one form of illegality to create another. The government must enforce the law firmly, but it must also obey the law. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable,” Tinubu added.

The President’s order came after Thursday’s protest linked to the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the NSCDC, in Minna.

One of the survivors alleged that the suspects were kept in a small room, adding that an unpleasant substance was sprayed before the cell was locked.

Following the unrest, Governor Umaru Bago declared a 24-hour curfew in Minna, the State capital, saying that the curfew takes effect immediately after the Friday Jumu’ah prayers and would remain in force until further notice.

Bago said the government has constituted a committee of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The governor also announced the suspension of all mining activities across Niger State pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.

Similarly, the Ministry of Interior said it had suspended the state commander of the NSCDC.

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Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation Announces 2026 Scholarship Recipients, Expands Legal Education Initiative with New Scholar-Practitioner Award

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5 days ago

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September 15, 2026

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Following the opening of applications from eligible candidates living with disabilities, for scholarships to pursue legal qualifications, the Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation (OSF), a not-for-profit organisation, founded by US-based philanthropist, Mr. Opeoluwa Sotonwa, and dedicated to expanding educational opportunity, leadership and inclusion, has announced the recipients of its 2026 scholarships, fellowships and academic awards.

Now in its fourth year, OSF has continued to deepen its investment in Nigeria’s deaf and hard-of-hearing community while expanding pathways for students with disabilities in the legal profession.

The 2026 awards also mark a new milestone with the introduction of the Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Scholar-Practitioner Award, supporting a legal practitioner pursuing doctoral studies in Law.

Founded in 2022, OSF is grounded in a simple but enduring conviction: talent is universal, but opportunity is not. The Foundation seeks to close that gap by investing not merely in education, but in people whose knowledge, leadership and service can create opportunities for others.

PROF. KONYINSOLA AJAYI, SAN SCHOLAR-PRACTITIONER AWARD 

For the first time, OSF is extending its investment in legal education beyond the undergraduate level through the Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Scholar-Practitioner Award.

The new award recognizes a legal practitioner pursuing a Ph.D. in Law, bridging two worlds essential to the future of justice: the practical experience of the legal profession and the rigorous inquiry of advanced legal scholarship.

  • Isioma Osakuni — Ph.D. in Law, University of Ibadan — Inaugural Recipient

The establishment of the Scholar-Practitioner Award represents a natural evolution of the Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Fellowship. It broadens OSF’s vision from helping students enter the legal profession to supporting practitioners seeking to contribute to its intellectual development through advanced research and scholarship.

PROF. KONYINSOLA AJAYI, SAN FELLOWSHIP 

The Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Fellowship is OSF’s flagship investment in developing a more inclusive legal profession. Expanded in 2025 to include law students with disabilities beyond the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, the fellowship recognizes that the pursuit of justice is strengthened when the legal profession reflects the breadth of the society it serves. The recipients are:

  • Abubakar Nura — Law, Bayero University Kano
  • Amala Njelita — Law, University of Calabar

OPEOLUWA SOTONWA FOUNDATION GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP 

The Foundation’s core scholarship program continues OSF’s foundational commitment to Deaf and hard-of-hearing students pursuing higher education across Nigeria. The 2026 scholars represent a broad range of disciplines, from education and computer science to political science, entrepreneurship and the arts. The recipients are:

  • Auwalu Mohammed — English Education, Gombe State University
  • Wende Terungwa — Special Education/PHE, Federal University of Education Pankshin
  • Farida Dalhatu — Political Science, Umar Musa Yar’dua University, Katsina
  • Fuhad Abdulrasaq — History and International Studies, University of Ilorin
  • Irimiya Samaila — Special Education, University of Calabar
  • Amina Nasiru — Entrepreneurship, Kaduna State University
  • Abosede Josephine Akilo — Special Education, Federal College of Education in affiliation with University of Ibadan
  • Toheeb Olajuwon Balogun — Political Science, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo
  • Mujahid Adamu — Education-English, Sule Lamido University Kafin Hausa
  • Inerepamo Maxwell Pounana — Special Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education
  • Precious Onyinyechi Okonkwo — Special Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education
  • Nneoma Happiness Agbo — Economic Education, Peaceland College of Education Enugu
  • Yusuf Anas — Educational Management, Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna
  • Omopariola Opeyemi — Educational Management, Kwara State University
  • Akinkunmi Sheriff Akinboade — Fine and Applied Arts, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo
  • Royal Adeh Obi — Special Education/Tourism, University of Calabar
  • Oladipupo Emmanuel Adeyeri — Computer Science, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo
  • Bello Abubakar — Islamic Studies, Aminu Salah College of Education

MOST OUTSTANDING SCHOLARS 2026

Introduced in 2025, the Most Outstanding Scholar distinction recognizes one female and one male scholar whose academic achievement, leadership and perseverance distinguish them within the OSF community.

  • Mutiyat Oreoluwa Raheem — Microbiology, University of Ilorin — Female Most Outstanding Scholar
  • John Nworie Nte — Medicine and Surgery, University of Calabar — Male Most Outstanding Scholar

GRADUATE SCHOLARS 

OSF’s commitment does not end with undergraduate education. The Graduate Scholars program supports Deaf and hard-of-hearing scholars advancing into postgraduate study and developing expertise capable of influencing their professions, institutions and communities.

  • Godwin Agianpuye — PGD/M.Sc., Computer Science, Wesley University, Ondo
  • Auwalu Salisu Ismaila — M.Ed., Special Education, Bayero University, Kano
  • Caroline Nwugo Onu — Ph.D., Christian Leadership, The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary

VOICES BEYOND SOUND – SOCIAL AND BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIP 

Established in partnership with Greg and Annette Hudson, Voices Beyond Sound recognizes Deaf and hard-of-hearing students pursuing studies connected to social and business leadership. First featured in the 2025 awards, the initiative reflects a shared belief that leadership is not defined by how a person communicates, but by the ideas, resilience and impact they bring to society.

  • Zulaihatu Sani — Business Administration, Gombe State University
  • Qudus Ajiboye — Economics, National Open University of Nigeria
  • Taiwo Eneyamire Abdul — Economics, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo
  • Taiwo Hassan Alatilehin — Business Education, University of Ilorin

“Four years into this journey, we are seeing what becomes possible when opportunity meets determination,” said Dr. Opeoluwa Sotonwa, Founder of OSF. “Our scholars are studying medicine, law, education, science, technology, business, the arts and other disciplines. Some are beginning their higher-education journeys; others are advancing into master’s and doctoral study. What connects them is not disability, but possibility. Our responsibility as a Foundation is to ensure that talent is given room to become impact.”

“The introduction of the Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN Scholar-Practitioner Award is especially meaningful. Justice requires not only lawyers who practice the law, but scholars who interrogate it, strengthen it and help imagine what it can become. By investing across that continuum—from the undergraduate law student to the doctoral scholar-practitioner—we are investing in the future of the profession itself.”

For more information about the Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation and its programs, visit www.opeoluwasotonwafoundation.org.

About the Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation

Established in 2022, the Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation (OSF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to unlocking educational and leadership opportunities for Nigeria’s Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities while advancing targeted opportunities for students with disabilities. Through scholarships, fellowships, mentorship and advocacy, OSF invests in students and emerging leaders with the potential to transform their professions, communities and society.

The Foundation can be reached via:

Cassandra Sotonwa
Chief Operating Officer
Opeoluwa Sotonwa Foundation
opeoluwasotonwafoundation@gmail.com

The Foundation wishes all recipients a fruitful academic period.

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Peter Obi Replies Soludo on Borrowed Funds Claims

Published

6 days ago

on

September 15, 2026

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has clarified that he did not owe salaries, pensions, gratuities or any money during the period he was Governor of Anambra State.

Obi stated this in response to recent claims by the current government of Anambra State.

The Anambra State Government recently claimed that it is till repaying loans obtained by previous administrations, including those of former governors Obi and Willie Obiano.

According to the government, it has focused largely on paying existing obligations rather than accumulating new debts.

Obi served as the Governor of Anambra State from March 2006 to March 2014.

Reacting to the claim, Obi said: “I left office as Governor nearly 13 years ago. On the day I left office, I was not owing any salaries, pensions, gratuities or any money that the Anambra State Government was supposed to pay.

“I did not owe a single supplier or contractor. If you find even one person I owed, I will end my 2027 campaign today.”

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