From Dan Amasingha, Minna

A businessman, Alhaji Danjuma, resident in the Brighter Area of Minna, Niger State, has appealed for prayers and public support following the alleged abduction of his two children by a security guard employed in his household.

The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday while the businessman was away from home.

Speaking via telephone from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he is currently observing religious activities, Alhaji Danjuma told journalists that the security guard, described as a Fulani man, allegedly took the children away on a motorcycle that had been provided for his use.

According to the distraught father, the guard informed members of the household that he was taking the children out to celebrate the Eid festivities and would return shortly.

However, when several hours passed without any sign of the children or the guard, concern grew among family members.

“The children left with him in the afternoon, but when evening came and they had not returned, we became worried and began searching for them,” Alhaji Danjuma said.

Family members reportedly visited several hospitals within Minna, fearing that the children and their caretaker might have been involved in a road accident.

Their search, however, yielded no results even as people gathered to discuss the strange development.

The situation took a more alarming turn later that evening when Alhaji Danjuma allegedly received a phone call from unidentified individuals who claimed to be holding the children.

According to him, the callers stated that they were in the Erena forest area of Shiroro Local Government Area and demanded money in exchange for the release of the children.

The development has heightened fears that the children may have been kidnapped, although details surrounding the incident remain unclear.

Alhaji Danjuma has since appealed to the public to join him in prayers and support efforts aimed at securing the safe return of his children.

“I am appealing to everyone to pray for us and for God to intervene so that this situation will end peacefully,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from security agencies or the Niger State Government regarding the alleged abduction.

Efforts to obtain confirmation from relevant authorities were unsuccessful.

The incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity and kidnapping activities in parts of Niger State, particularly in communities bordering forested areas often linked to criminal operations.

Authorities are expected to provide further information as investigations continue.

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have reopened the main airport in Ituri Province, the epicentre of the country’s ongoing Ebola outbreak, after a 10-day suspension of commercial flight operations.

The airport in Bunia, the capital of Ituri, resumed operations on Tuesday following the implementation of health and safety measures aimed at containing the spread of the disease.

The DRC is currently battling a major outbreak of Ebola, a highly contagious haemorrhagic fever that is suspected to have claimed at least 246 lives in the country and neighbouring Uganda, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

On May 23, authorities halted all commercial flights to and from Bunia Airport in eastern DRC, a region already affected by armed conflict. During the closure, only humanitarian and medical flights were permitted to operate.

Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said the temporary shutdown was necessary to allow authorities to introduce measures designed to safeguard travellers and limit the risk of transmission.

Announcing the reopening on Tuesday, the transport ministry said an assessment of the outbreak response and monitoring systems had been conducted.

“Conditions are now in place for a gradual and safe resumption of flights.”

The government said the reopening would be carried out progressively while health authorities continue efforts to contain the outbreak.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has re-assigned all four deputy governors of the institution.

The new responsibilities announced Monday night have seen Philip Ikeazor taking over the policy portfolio from Dr.

Dr.

Emem Nnana Usoro leaves corporate services to supervise operations.

Lamido Yuguda was transferred from Operations to the Financial System Stability Directorate.

The CBN did not state reasons for the redeployment.

The bank said such changes were “to make use of the experience of senior officials in different areas of responsibility and to support evolving institutional priorities.” (NAN)