latest
UTME Candidates Recount Horror As Kidnappers Feed Them With Garri And Salt In Captivity.
Kidnapped candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have narrated their traumatic experience after being rescued from captivity, where they said they were subjected to starvation, beatings, and inhumane treatment for four days.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the victims were abducted on Wednesday along the Taraku–Otukpo road in Benue State when armed men attacked a Benue Links passenger vehicle. They were later rescued in the early hours of Sunday following coordinated operations by security operatives.
The Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, who received the victims at the Government House in Makurdi, confirmed that among those rescued were eight UTME candidates, while others were regular commuters. He assured that the victims would receive medical attention and support, adding that efforts were ongoing to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. He also appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to consider special arrangements for the affected candidates who missed their examinations.
Recounting their ordeal, one of the victims, 18-year-old Gbenga Daniels, said the abductors dispossessed him of ₦8,000 and subjected them to constant assault, adding that they survived without proper food or clean water. Another survivor, Ngukulan Iornav, also 18, said they were fed only garri mixed with salt throughout their captivity and were repeatedly beaten.
A medical student, Orih Raphael Sylvester, explained that the victims were moved from one location to another within the forest to avoid detection by security forces. He said they initially went without food, later drank unsafe water, and were eventually forced to contact their families under duress while being assaulted. He added that they were later given instructions early Sunday morning to move toward the express road, where they eventually encountered military personnel.
Other victims, including a 100-level Accounting student of the Federal University of Lafia, Sunday Augustine, and Akor Jessica, also described the experience as traumatic, noting that they sustained injuries from repeated beatings with sticks and machetes.
A relative of two of the victims disclosed that the kidnappers initially demanded ₦10 million per person before a ransom of ₦3.4 million, along with food supplies, was eventually paid to secure their release.
Security authorities confirmed that 18 passengers were initially abducted, with some escaping during the ordeal, while 13 remained in captivity until their rescue. The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Ifeanyi Enemari, said several suspects have been arrested and are assisting investigations, noting that the operation involved multiple security agencies.
However, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disputed claims that the victims were UTME candidates, stating that preliminary findings suggest they were participants in a police recruitment exercise returning from Makurdi when the incident occurred.
According to Nivo News, the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has declared what he described as divine judgment on bandits and their alleged sponsors responsible for insecurity across parts of Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on Sunday at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, during a sermon themed “Covenant Day of Vengeance,” Oyedepo stated that those behind killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks would face divine retribution. He further claimed that within the next seven days, consequences would begin to manifest against those he accused of fueling unrest in the country, assuring worshippers that the coming week would be marked by “testimonies of vengeance.”
He was quoted as saying that judgment had been pronounced on individuals responsible for such acts and their supporters, adding that the outcome he referenced would unfold within a week.
In a related remark during a recent midweek service, Oyedepo also acknowledged the presence of fraudsters within and outside religious spaces, warning that his identity and images were being exploited for fraudulent schemes. He urged members of his congregation to remain vigilant and committed to truth to avoid falling victim to scams involving impersonation.
He recounted a case where an individual allegedly posed as him in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims, noting that such incidents highlight the growing sophistication of fraudulent activities.
A political disagreement has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State following Governor Abdullahi Sule’s reported endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the move has sparked tension between the governor and his predecessor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, who faulted the decision, describing it as premature and not properly consulted within party structures.
Al-Makura, a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape, expressed displeasure that he only became aware of the endorsement through media reports. He argued that the decision should have involved wider consultation, warning that such early endorsements could undermine internal party processes.
He further noted that the APC had not begun its formal nomination process, insisting that declaring support for a candidate at this stage was inappropriate and ahead of schedule.
The controversy was further heightened by former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, who is also aspiring for the APC governorship ticket. He rejected the endorsement, stating that no individual has the authority to impose a candidate, and reaffirmed his intention to contest in the party primaries.
In response, Governor Sule, through his media aide, defended the endorsement, stating that it was consistent with political traditions in the state. He referenced past succession arrangements, including Al-Makura’s own endorsement of him, arguing that the current process was in line with established practice but being conducted more transparently.
The governor’s camp clarified that Senator Wadada remains a preferred aspirant and not the party’s official candidate.
Senator Wadada, reacting to the development, called for calm among party members, describing the situation as part of normal political competition. He also downplayed tensions with other aspirants, noting that the contest should be seen as a democratic process.
Meanwhile, support for Adamu continues to grow in parts of Nasarawa South, where youths, women, and stakeholders have openly backed his ambition, alongside broader endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Adamu, however, maintained that he remains firmly in the race, accusing some political actors of inconsistency in the unfolding succession dynamics.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has described as unnecessary the denial issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding an invitation allegedly extended to him for the groundbreaking ceremony of an ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the Sultan’s media team maintained that an official invitation was duly sent to His Eminence requesting his attendance as Royal Father of the Day. The statement explained that the event also listed key dignitaries, including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as Distinguished Guest of Honour, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Mother of the Day.
The Sultan’s office emphasised that his participation in the proposed Christian event would promote interfaith harmony, noting his role as Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). It added that globally, religious leaders often engage in events outside their faith traditions as part of efforts to encourage unity and peaceful coexistence.
The response follows an earlier clarification from CAN, which denied issuing any invitation to the Sultan and stated that the document circulating in public was not from the association. CAN further explained that the communication in question originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and insisted that it had no involvement in inviting the Sultan to the event.
While acknowledging that the SGF’s office was linked to the invitation process, the Sultan’s media team expressed concern over CAN’s denial, describing it as unnecessary and capable of creating misunderstanding, especially since the Sultan did not request to attend the ceremony.
The statement also urged religious bodies to focus on messages that strengthen unity and promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
-
latest8 months ago“Social Media Erupts As Jim Iyke Declares Rita Dominic Nollywood’s Most Beautiful”
-
latest2 years agoEdo Political Showdown: Oshiomhole Appears At Presidential Villa As Tinubu Hands APC Gubernatorial Flag To Okpebholo (Photos & Video)
-
entertainment2 years agoLove Knows No Age American Woman Defends Marriage To Young Nigerian Man “I’m Not 70”
-
latest2 years agoOlumide Akpata Strikes Again: Drops Killer Track, Sends Edo State Into Frenzy!(Video)
-
Politics2 years agoNigerians React As Pastor Adeboye Foresees Passing Away On A Sunday After Enjoying A Satisfying Meal Of Pounded Yam
-
latest2 years agoFG Identifies 31 States At Risk Of Heavy Flooding In 2024: See Full List
-
Politics2 years agoBREAKING: Inspector-General Of Police Summons Top Police Commanders For Crucial-Security Challenges
-
latest2 years ago5 NYSC Corpers Perish In Fatal Road Accident Returning From Camp