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BREAKING: KEBBI ABDUCTION: 24 School Girls Regain Freedom

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All 24 remaining schoolgirls abdcted from a boarding school in northwestern Nigeria have been successfully rescued, authorities announced Tuesday evening.

The operation, described as a “relentless intelligence-driven assault” on the kidnappers’ forest hideout, marks a rare victory against the escalating wave of banditry plaguing the region and comes just eight days after the harrowing raid that shocked the world.

The dramatic liberation unfolded in the dense forests bordering Kebbi, Zamfara, and Sokoto states, where local hunters, elite military units, and police tactical teams converged in a coordinated dawn raid.

According to a joint statement from the Nigerian Army and Kebbi State Police Command, the girls—ranging in age from 12 to 17—were found “unharmed but traumatized” in a makeshift camp deep within the wilderness.

No ransom was paid, officials emphasized, crediting the success to advanced surveillance, community tips, and the tireless efforts of ground forces.

“This is a testament to our unyielding commitment to the safety of every Nigerian child,” declared President Bola Tinubu in a televised address from Abuja, flanked by top security chiefs.

“The monsters who dared to steal our daughters from their beds will face the full wrath of justice. We will not rest until every shadow of fear is banished from our schools and communities.

” Tinubu’s words echoed the sentiments of Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris, who earlier in the week had vowed “no stone unturned” during a somber visit to the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town.

A Nightmare Recalled:

The Raid That Gripped a NationThe ordeal began in the pre-dawn hours of November 17, when a gang of at least 20 armed assailants on motorcycles stormed the school’s dormitory in Maga, a quiet border community in Kebbi South Senatorial District. Scaling the perimeter fence under cover of darkness, the gunmen—armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons—exchanged fierce gunfire with on-duty security guards before bundling 25 terrified girls into the night.

In the chaos, the school’s vice principal, Malam Ibrahim Hassan, was fatally shot while heroically shielding his students, leaving behind a wife and three young children. Another staff member was critically injured.

Eyewitness accounts from surviving students painted a scene of unimaginable terror. “They came like ghosts, shouting and firing into the air,” recounted 15-year-old Fatima Yusuf, one of two girls who evaded capture during the initial assault.

“We hid under our beds, but they dragged my friends away screaming. I ran when they turned their backs.” Another student, Aisha Mohammed, escaped captivity hours later on November 18, trekking miles through thorny underbrush to reach safety.

Her reunion with her family became a symbol of hope amid the despair, as shared in viral videos that trended across social media.Local leaders, including Senator Garba Maidoki, quickly pointed fingers at “economic terrorists”—bandit groups notorious for cattle rustling, village raids, and ransom kidnappings in the resource-rich but under-policed northwest.

Unlike the ideological fervor of groups like Boko Haram, these criminals operate as opportunistic syndicates, exploiting porous borders and vast ungoverned spaces to fund their operations.

“They have no flag, no cause—just greed,” Maidoki told reporters. Intelligence sources suggested the gang may have originated from nearby Zamfara, a longstanding hotspot for such atrocities.

The Rescue:

A Symphony of Strategy and SacrificeThe breakthrough came late Monday, November 24, following a high-level security summit in Abuja. President Tinubu, briefed by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, ordered an immediate escalation.

Among the reinforcements was Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara Governor, who relocated to Birnin Kebbi on November 21 to oversee operations on the ground.

Drawing from his experience quelling similar crises—including the 2021 Jangebe school abduction of 279 girls—Matawalle coordinated with local vigilantes and drone surveillance teams.

“Hours of tracking led us to their lair,” explained Army spokesperson Col. Ahmed Mohammed in a press briefing. “Our forces, supported by community hunters who know these forests like the back of their hands, struck at first light.

The bandits scattered, but not before we secured all 24 girls and neutralized three suspects.” Two soldiers sustained minor injuries, but no further casualties were reported among the rescuers or captives.

The girls, now receiving medical and psychological care at a secure facility in Birnin Kebbi, were reported to be in stable condition, with initial assessments revealing dehydration and minor bruises but no serious harm.

Reunions unfolded in tearful scenes broadcast live: Mothers clutching daughters they feared lost forever, fathers whispering prayers of thanks. “My baby is back—Allah is great,” sobbed Hajiya Zainab Bello, mother of 14-year-old rescuer Sara.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited grieving families last week, returned Tuesday to lead a state reception, where the girls were honored with national flags and promises of scholarships to continue their education uninterrupted.

Crime

Two Police Officers Killed in Deadly Attack on Checkpoint Along Agbani Road, Enugu

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Gunmen suspected to be linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), launched a sudden and unprovoked attack on a Police Distress Response Squad (DRS) team in Enugu State, resulting in the deaths of two officers and the destruction of a patrol vehicle.

The incident occurred on the night of Thursday, January 15, 2026, along Agbani Road, near the Police Detective College area in Enugu metropolis.

According to the Enugu State Police Command, the assailants opened fire on the officers without warning during a routine operation.

The police team responded immediately with return fire, forcing the attackers to flee. Several of the assailants reportedly sustained gunshot injuries during the fierce exchange.

Tragically, two officers suffered severe gunshot wounds and were rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment, where they were later confirmed dead by medical personnel.In the chaos, the operational patrol vehicle caught fire and was burnt.

Reports indicate the attackers used a snatched Lexus 330 Jeep for the operation.In a swift follow-up, police operatives recovered the bullet-riddled Lexus 330 Jeep that had been carjacked from its owner and used by the gunmen in the attack.

Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered an intensified manhunt involving tactical and intelligence units to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

He emphasized that the Command is leveraging actionable intelligence to sustain the pursuit and bring the perpetrators to justice.

CP Giwa appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could aid the ongoing investigation, assuring that the police remain fully committed to preventing such subversive and violent acts from going unpunished.

The attack marks a fresh escalation in security challenges in the region, with police maintaining a resolute stance against criminal elements.

The identities of the slain officers have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.

The Enugu State Police Command extended condolences to the bereaved families and colleagues of the fallen officers.

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Crime

Supreme Court Orders Sule Lamido ₦1.35bn Corruption Trial to Resume

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In a landmark unanimous decision delivered today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has set aside the July 2023 ruling of the Court of Appeal that discharged former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, his sons Mustapha and Aminu Lamido, and their associated companies from corruption charges.

The five-man panel, led by Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, upheld the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), declaring it meritorious.

The apex court has now directed the defendants to return to the Federal High Court in Abuja to continue their defense against the allegations.

The long-running case stems from a 37-count charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office, and related offenses. The EFCC accuses Lamido of laundering approximately ₦1.35 billion in alleged kickbacks from contractors during his tenure as governor between 2007 and 2015. His sons and companies Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited are also implicated in the alleged financial misconduct.

After the prosecution closed its case, the defendants filed a no-case submission at the trial court presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu. The Federal High Court rejected the submission, ruling that the evidence presented was sufficient to require the defendants to enter a defense.

The defendants successfully appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal, which discharged them in July 2023. Dissatisfied, the EFCC escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, arguing that the appellate court erred in law by halting the trial despite a prima facie case having been established.

Today’s ruling reinstates the charges and paves the way for the trial to resume at the lower court, marking a significant development in one of Nigeria’s most prominent high-profile corruption prosecutions spanning over a decade.

Legal analysts view the decision as a reinforcement of the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring accountability in public office cases, with the matter now set to proceed to full trial and potential conclusion.

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Tragic: Husband’s Body Found Days After Wife’s Killing

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The body of Ayoola Ayanwale, the prime suspect in the brutal killing of his wife, has been discovered in Ogun State, bringing a shocking and grim conclusion to a case that has gripped public attention.

According to residents of River Valley Estate, Ayanwale’s lifeless body was found on Friday evening in the Sotubo area, just days after the violent death of his wife, Mrs. Ayobami Ganiyatu Ayanwale.

Personal items believed to belong to the deceased suspect were recovered at the scene, raising immediate questions about his movements in the days following the alleged murder of his wife and the circumstances surrounding his own death.

The grim discovery comes barely 48 hours after security agencies launched a statewide manhunt for Ayanwale, following the Thursday night killing that left Mrs. Ayobami Ganiyatu Ayanwale dead and sparked widespread outrage across the state.

The incident has once again thrust the issue of domestic violence into the national spotlight, with many residents and activists calling for stronger measures to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent such tragedies.

Police authorities have yet to release an official statement on the cause of Ayanwale’s death or confirm whether foul play is suspected. An investigation into both deaths is ongoing.

The double tragedy has left the local community in mourning and disbelief, with many asking how a domestic dispute escalated into such fatal consequences for both parties involved.

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