News
Troops rescue 23 kidnap victims in Kogi, recover vehicles
On reaching the scene, the troops discovered two dead bodies, five injured victims, as well as two Toyota commercial buses and a HOWO truck abandoned by the roadside.
• HRH Oba Sunday Omodamori,Paramount ruler of Ayegunle-Igun Community, Kogi State
Troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army said that they have rescued 23 out of over 25 kidnap victims abducted early this morning by bandits along the Ayegunle–Bunu road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi.
The update is contained in an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria Monday in Abuja.
According to the report, troops of 12 Brigade, deployed in Kabba, responded swiftly to the distress call but the assailants had fled before their arrival.
”On reaching the scene, the troops discovered two dead bodies, five injured victims, as well as two Toyota commercial buses and a HOWO truck abandoned by the roadside.
”The troops immediately launched pursuit operations along the kidnappers’ withdrawal routes, leading to the rescue of 23 passengers who had been abandoned due to the sustained pressure.”
The injured victims were evacuated to St. Joseph Hospital, Kabba, for medical attention.
It was gathered that the heavily armed assailants, who reportedly operated in a commando-style manner, stormed the community in the early hours of Monday, unleashing terror on residents.
During the operation, one resident was shot dead while attempting to escape, while several others sustained injuries before the attackers whisked their victims into a nearby forest.
A resident whose two siblings were among those kidnapped recounted the ordeal, saying the attackers invaded the community between 2:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.
The traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, Oba Sunday Omodamori, confirmed the incident , explaining that the kidnappers arrived in large numbers and strategically positioned themselves across the community before carrying out the operation.
Oba Omodamori further disclosed that the attackers intercepted two passenger buses along the highway, forcing travellers out of the vehicles before leading them into the forest alongside residents of the community.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kogi State Police Command and other security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
An angry mob has set a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus on fire after it reportedly crushed a commercial motorcyclist to death at Ogolonto Bus Stop along Ikorodu Road in Lagos State.
The incident occurred on Friday, October 16, 2026. Eyewitness accounts and social media reports indicate that the motorcyclist was riding alone along the restricted BRT lane when the collision happened. He died at the scene.
Enraged residents and youths then attacked the bus driver and set the vehicle ablaze. Police officers and officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), who were nearby, intervened promptly and rescued the driver unharmed.
The identity of the deceased motorcyclist and the exact circumstances of the crash had not been officially confirmed at the time of filing this report. It was also unclear whether any arrests had been made in connection with the burning of the bus.
News
ARISE News Wins Seven Honours At Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards
The awards recognised the network’s achievements in television journalism and programming, with ARISE News winning the Best TV Channel (Viewer’s Choice) category.
• ARISE News Anchor and host of What’s Trending Ojy Okpe was named Best Newscaster (TV – Female)
ARISE News has emerged as one of the major winners at the just ended Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA).
ARISE News won seven honours across television broadcasting, news reporting, presentation and production during the ceremony.
The awards recognised the network’s achievements in television journalism and programming, with ARISE News winning the Best TV Channel (Viewer’s Choice) category.
The network’s flagship breakfast programme, The Morning Show, also won the Best TV Talk Show award, further strengthening its recognition in television broadcasting.
ARISE News Anchor and host of What’s Trending Ojy Okpe was named Best Newscaster (TV – Female).
Rufai Oseni was named Nigerian Broadcaster of the Year (Male), while Vimbai Mutinhiri-Ekpeyong received the Nigerian Broadcaster of the Year (Female) award.
The recognition extended to the network’s newsroom, with Ovieteme George winning Best TV News Reporter (Male) for his contributions to television news reporting.
Behind the camera, Sam Adeyemi received the Best Camera Operator/Cinematographer award, recognising his work in television production and visual storytelling.
News
Meta removes 3.7 million accounts in West Africa scam crackdown
The joint operation led to 28 arrests, identified more than 30 suspected scam centres and rescued 117 people allegedly trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has removed more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages and groups linked to suspected scam networks operating in West Africa.
The joint operation led to 28 arrests, identified more than 30 suspected scam centres and rescued 117 people allegedly trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.
The company announced the crackdown in a statement on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. It involved 14 technology companies and law enforcement agencies from 10 countries.
The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency coordinated the operation with the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies. Nigerian authorities were involved.
Other countries included Ghana, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.Tech companies that took part included Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Coinbase, Starlink and Adobe.
Meta said the partnership let participants share intelligence across digital platforms, countries and financial systems to identify criminal networks.
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