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The seven farmers kidnapped in their farmland at Itaogbolu in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State on Saturday have regained freedom.

The victims were working on their farms when gunmen launched an attack and whisked them away.

A relative of one of the abductees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the seven farmers were released on Wednesday night after spending five days in captivity.

“I’m happy to tell you that the kidnappers released all the seven farmers on Wednesday night. They are back to their families.

“I want to let you know that when the kidnappers demanded ransom which was N100 million initially before it was reduced to N20 million, we were only able to raise N5 million.

“They were released in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti, on Wednesday night after collecting the N5 million and food items.

“The victims are now in the hospital for medical attention,” he said.

Efforts to speak with the state Commander of Amotekun Corps, Mr Adetunji Adeleye, were unsuccessful as calls to his cell phone were not answered.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, simply said: “I’m not aware of their release.”

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has emphasized that there is no local government area in the state that is under the control of bandits and terrorists.

Mutfwang made the assertion during an interactive session with journalists at the New Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, on Tuesday where he briefed the media on steps his administration has taken in the face of insecurity in the state.

The governor emphasized that despite pockets of violence witnessed in some local government areas, notably Riyom, Bokkos, Bassa and Mangu, the government has made progress as against what is being reported and put out in the media.

He noted that contrary to what the outside world is made to believe, Plateau State is relatively safer than other states in the North like Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Katsina and Kebbi.

Mutfwang explained that when he was sworn in on May 29, 2023, he immediately set up a security committee to look into the lingering issues of insecurity in the state and find a way to mitigate the situation, noting that the committee has been working around the clock to make sure insecurity in the state is seriously improved.

He also promised a revamped Operation Rainbow to complement the efforts of Operation Safe Haven, the task force set up by the military to maintain peace in the state.

Victor Mbaoma is set to make a return to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

Mbaoma played for nine-time champions Enyimba before moving abroad.

The 28-year-old forward made 140 appearances, and scored 51 goals in the NPFL.

The forward featured for Rwandan champions, APR FC, last season.

Mbaoma left APR after the expiration of his contract.

Reigning NPFL champions, Remo Stars are reported to be weighing up a move for the goal poacher.

Mbaoma started his playing career with the Sky Blue Stars.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have foiled an attempt by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists to plant improvised explosive devices, IEDs, along the Marte–Dikwa road in Borno State.

The development was disclosed in a post on Tuesday by security analyst Zagazola Makama via X.

According to sources cited by Zagazola, the operation was part of ongoing military offensives aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action in the North East.

The incident occurred around 2:01 a.m. on Tuesday when troops, positioned in an ambush along the strategic route, spotted a group of terrorists attempting to lay mines on a bridge.

The soldiers reportedly opened fire, engaging the terrorists with superior firepower, which forced them to flee, abandoning their equipment.

Two IEDs were recovered at the scene. No casualties were recorded among the troops.

A wandering herd of elephants from one of the government reserved forests has reportedly attacked and killed a farmer identified as Musa Kalamu at Onitasin Imobi in Ijebu East Local Government area of Ogun State.

In a gory video that surfaced on Tuesday, the lifeless body of the middle aged man was seen with his intestines all out.

The locals in the video were heard shouting and urging the state government to come to their aid, saying, “The problem with these elephants is too much in our community.”

The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirming the tragic incident, said the Command was alerted by residents of Itasin community at about 4:20 pm on Monday.

Ogunlowo stated that the victim died on the way to the hospital.

He said, “The DPO Ogbere received information from Itasin community on Monday at about 1620hrs that elephants escaped from Government Reserve and attacked one Musa Kalamu who died on the way to the hospital.

“Officers of Ogun State Forestry were contacted to curtail the animals from further damage and calm has returned to the community.”

When contacted, the Commissioner for Forestry, Taiwo Oludotun confirmed the incident, adding that officials of the agency were on their way to the community.

Oludotun said, “Yes, we are aware and we are already on our way to the community.”

Coach Salisu Yusuf has left Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side Nasarawa United for a club in Benin Republic.

Salisu, a former Super Eagles assistant coach, took charge of Nasarawa United in the second half of last season.

The 63-year-old helped the Solid Miners avoid relegation and reached the last four of the President Federation Cup.

He is already in Cotonou to seal the lucrative deal.

Yusuf was courted by his former club, Kano Pillars, before agreeing to the offer from the Beninoise club.

It is the first time he will be managing a club outside Nigeria.

The abductors of six Nigerian Law School students have reportedly issued a chilling ultimatum, threatening to kill the captives if their ransom demands are not met.

reports that the students were kidnapped along Benue-Taraba route on Saturday, July 26, while travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to resume academic activities at the Nigerian Law School’s Yola campus in Adamawa State.

They were said to be returning from a court externship break, with lectures scheduled to begin on Monday, July 28.

A fellow student, Damilare Adenola, identified the kidnapped individuals as Rev. Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David.

According to a student leader at the Yola campus, the victims last made contact shortly before entering a dangerous stretch of road between Benue and Nasarawa states.

Sources within the campus revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded N20 million per victim after contacting the families and colleagues of the abductees. That demand has since increased.

A source privy to a phone call between one of the students and the abductors said the kidnappers are now asking for N50 million per student and have threatened to kill them if the ransom is not paid.

“They said they will kill them if we refuse to pay the ransom.

They warned us not to involve the security operatives. They said they can hear everything happening and insisted that if we want them alive, we must stay silent and comply,” the source said.

The Adamawa State Police Command confirmed its awareness of the incident and disclosed that it is working with its Benue counterpart to locate and rescue the victims.

However, efforts to contact the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP. Udeme Edet was unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The Ondo State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, has confirmed the abduction of seven farmers in Itaogbolu, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N100 million for their release.

Speaking in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Monday, Adeleye said the farmers were kidnaped on Saturday while working on a farm and that a search-and-rescue operation is currently underway.

“I can confirm the incident. Our men have been in the forest since Saturday, and I personally joined the operation on Sunday. We are hopeful that the victims will be rescued soon,” he stated.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, also confirmed the incident, noting that combined security operatives are combing the forests to free the victims and arrest the perpetrators.

“Yes, there was a reported case of kidnapping in Itaogbolu over the weekend. We cannot confirm the exact number of those abducted because the rescue operation is ongoing, but we are doing everything possible to ensure their safe return,” he said.

Sources in the community revealed that the victims were harvesting palm fruits on the farm when they were attacked and whisked away by the kidnappers.

According to one of the sources, the kidnappers contacted some of the victims’ families on Sunday evening, demanding N100 million as ransom.

“We didn’t hear from them until Sunday evening when the kidnappers called one of the family members and demanded N100 million for their release. Negotiations are still ongoing,” the source added.