Metro
Teacher Narrates How Bandits Invaded Kaduna School, Abducted 287 Pupils
Details have emerged of how bandits kidnapped 287 pupils of Kuriga Primary and Secondary School in Local Government Area of Kaduna during an attack on Thursday.
Sani Abdullahi, one of the teachers of the Government Secondary School Kuriga, narrated the incident when Governor Uba Sani led senior government officials and security chiefs to the palace of Kuriga Village Head.
Abdullahi said: “I resumed to the school today at exactly 7:47am. I entered the Acting Principal’s office and signed. All of a sudden, the acting Principal asked me to look at my back and when I turned, we discovered that bandits had surrounded the school premises.
“We became confused; we didn’t know where to go. Then, the bandits asked us to enter the bush, so we obeyed them because they were many and the pupils, about 700 were following us. So, when we entered the bush, I was lucky to escape along with several others.
“So, I returned to the village and reported what happened to the community. So, immediately our vigilante and personnel of KADVS followed the bandits but the vigilante did not succeed. In fact, the bandits killed one of the vigilante, we just buried him hours ago.
“It was when we came back from that pursuit that we briefed the Village Head and we started making efforts to know the actual number of pupils and teachers taken away by the bandits.
“At GSS Kuriga, 187 students are missing. In the primary school, 125 pupils were initially missing, but 25 of them escaped and returned home,” he narrated.
Governor Uba Sani assured the community that he would do everything possible to ensure all the children return home unhurt.
The governor said: “In my capacity as your elected Governor, I am assuring you that, by the grace of God, all the children will return unhurt.
“Before coming here, I spoke with the National Security Adviser (NSA) Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and we are making efforts, the security forces have swung into action and by God’s grace, we will rescue the children.
“We will do whatever we need to do to ensure safe return of these children, even if it means coming to Kuriga to stay with you. The essence of government is protection of citizens lives and property. We recognise the fact that we are holding this position in trust for the people and by God’s grace, we will protect the citizens’ rights.
“I am one of the prominent voices on the issue of security. When I was in the Senate, I moved the motion for the creation of State Police.
We have realised that there are not enough boots on ground that is why we feel that, if State Police, every community like Kuriga will have people in the Police and they would be armed with AK47 rifles. That is the only way we would be able to protect the lives and property of the citizens.
“The vigilantes are not as armed as the bandits, because they do have AK47, that is why the bandits are constantly causing us destructions. They come in to humiliate, kill and abduct our citizens.
“Since I received the sad news of this incident, I have not had rest of mind because every child in Kaduna State is my child. So, I don’t want to you people to be disturbed. Let’s us pray to God to help and on our part as a government, we will not rest until these children return home.”
While addressing the community members, Governor Sani also promised to establish a Police Station and build a permanent camp for the military in the community.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police mobile force (PMF) personnel from private individuals nationwide.
The IGP, according to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, gave the directive during a meeting with PMF squadron commanders at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He decried the assignment of PMF operatives to escort and guard duties for VIPs and private individuals across the country.
He also announced a series of reforms, including quarterly ethics and professionalism training, and the mandatory standby of fully equipped, combat-ready units.
In the statement, Adejobi said the move is part of the reorganisation of the Police Mobile Force (PMF).
“He expressed concern over the diversion of PMF personnel to non-core roles, including escort and guard duties for private individuals and VIPs, a trend which has undermined the unit’s effectiveness,” the statement read.
“To address this, the IGP has announced a series of measures including the immediate withdrawal of PMF personnel from unauthorized deployments, regular quarterly training focused on ethics and professionalism, and mandatory standby of fully equipped, combat-ready units across all Squadrons for rapid tactical support.”
According to the IGP, all PMF Commanders will be held accountable for the conduct of their personnel.
Egbetokun, however, urged them to lead proactively through regular training, inspections, and mentorship aimed at upholding discipline, respect for human rights, and operational excellence.
The police in Bauchi State have arrested a 40-year-old woman for allegedly raping a 12-year-old boy in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area.
The State Police Command in a statement by the PPRO, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, said: “On March 1, 2025, at about 14:00 hours, a concerned citizen from Katagum Local Government Area reported a serious incident to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Azare.
“The report implicated Fatimah Ibrahim, a 40-year-old resident of Tashan Jama’are, in a troubling case involving a 12-year-old boy (names withheld), who had been employed to assist in her business.”
The victim, an Arabic pupil, was reportedly housed at the defendant’s residence, where he was subjected to inappropriate conduct over two months.
During an interview, Wakil said the victim described how the defendant, who he trusted as a maternal figure, engaged him in acts of a sexual nature, especially when her other visitors were not present.
He recounted being given a mixture of lemon juice, which he believed may have been tampered with before these incidents occurred, and indicated that he had been subjected to such behavior on multiple occasions.
Wakil said during the subsequent interrogation, the defendant admitted to her actions. He added that investigation is ongoing, adding that the suspect will undergo profiling before charged to court for the appropriate offence.
A prominent Lagos hotelier, Otunba Kunle Akinyele, tragically passed away on Saturday after collapsing during a church thanksgiving service held in honour of his wife’s 60th birthday.
The incident occurred at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Iyanu, Odemuyiwa District Headquarters, Egbeda, Lagos State, leaving family, friends, and well-wishers in deep shock.
In a now-viral video shared on Facebook by Ayoade Ojeniyi on Sunday, the late businessman appeared visibly distressed, gesturing frantically—apparently requesting water or an inhaler—moments before slumping while delivering his testimony.
The thanksgiving service had been organised to celebrate his wife, Deaconess Catherine Adejoke Akinyele, with a grand reception scheduled to follow immediately after at Noble Castle Events Centre, Igando.
However, those plans were abruptly halted when news broke that Akinyele had collapsed in church. Despite frantic efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
One of the event vendors, who shared their experience via Facebook, said they had arrived at the reception venue as early as 10 am for the party, which was set to commence by 2pm.
The vendor wrote: “The celebrant, her husband, their children, and guests had all gone to church for the thanksgiving, intending to proceed to the reception afterwards. Varieties of foods were ready, decoration set, cocktails, emu oguro, and more. The live band had already mounted about 25 speakers. This is how people die? I can’t even think of asking for my balance for the job.”
