security
Gunmen Strike Benue Highway, Kill Two, Abduct 16 Travelers
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Fresh fears over insecurity deepened in Benue State on Monday night after gunmen attacked a commercial bus along the Utonkon–Ojapo/Okpoga Road in Ado Local Government Area, killing two travellers and abducting at least 12 others, barely 24 hours after worshippers were kidnapped from a Catholic church in the same axis.
The attack occurred around 7pm when an 18-seater bus conveying 16 Igede-speaking passengers from Oju and Obi local government areas was ambushed while en route to states in the South-West.
The travellers had reportedly departed Iheijwo Market in Oju LGA before encountering the assailants at a boundary area between Utonkon community in Ado LGA and Ojapo-Okpoga community in Okpokwu LGA.Confirming the incident, the National Publicity Secretary of the Utonkon socio-cultural organisation, Ufia Development Association (UDA), Comrade Jude Onwe, said the gunmen stopped the bus and forcibly took the passengers into the bush.
According to him, the driver was shot dead after allegedly refusing to stop, while the attackers confiscated the victims’ phones to prevent them from contacting relatives. Another passenger was also killed during the attack.
The Chairman of Oju Local Government Council, Jackson Ominyi, confirmed that 16 travellers were attacked, noting that two victims were killed, while two others were rescued through the intervention of the Okpokwu Local Government chairman.
“I commend the effort of the Okpokwu chairman for ensuring the rescue of two persons so far and for his assurance that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining 12 abductees. This is a pathetic situation that calls for urgent government attention,” Ominyi said.
The incident came just a day after nine worshippers were reportedly abducted by suspected herdsmen from St. John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, in Utonkon, further heightening tension in the area. Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Benue State Police Command proved unsuccessful as the Police Public Relations Officer did not respond to calls or messages.
Meanwhile, amid rising attacks across the North-Central, the Nigerian Army has begun deploying specially trained troops to Benue and neighbouring states to bolster security.
In a statement signed by the Acting Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, the Army said troops of the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion XV had been deployed to Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states as force multipliers to OPWS.
The deployment, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, followed the completion of an intensive Special Forces training programme at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora. The Army said the troops arrived in the Joint Operations Area with high morale and combat readiness and were expected to bring renewed momentum to efforts to dismantle criminal networks, curb banditry and restore normalcy to affected communities.
Welcoming the troops, the OPWS Force Commander, Major General Moses Gara, urged them to maintain professionalism, respect human rights, collaborate with other security agencies and build cordial relations with host communities.
In a related development, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, disclosed that Special Forces would also be deployed to Kwara State and parts of Niger State as the military intensifies efforts to curb insecurity in the North-Central.
Speaking during the 2025 budget appraisal and defence of the 2026 budget proposal before the House Committee on Defence, Oluyede said Special Forces had already been deployed to Benue and Plateau states, while a new Joint Task Force, Operation Savannah Shield, would soon be inaugurated to cover Kwara and parts of Niger.
He stressed that while the Armed Forces had made gains against banditry and insurgency, sustaining peace required urgent strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, citing manpower limitations and the strain of multiple deployments on the military.
As communities in Benue continue to reel from deadly attacks and abductions, residents now look to the renewed military deployments to stem the tide of violence and restore confidence along once-busy highways and rural settlements.
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation with Nigeria, with emphasis on military training, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, reiterated the commitment during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen.
Olufemi Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.This was contained in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Vowles reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to sustaining existing security initiatives and exploring new areas of collaboration to address evolving regional and global security challenges.
He described defence and security cooperation as critical pillars of the longstanding bilateral relationship between both countries.
The high commissioner also stressed the need for a mutually beneficial partnership that would promote regional stability and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle contemporary security threats.
In his response, Oluyede highlighted the longstanding historical ties between Nigeria and the UK, noting that both countries had sustained productive defence relations over several decades.
He said the two countries had continued to collaborate in addressing shared security concerns.
The CDS emphasised the need to sustain and expand existing areas of cooperation, particularly in professional military education, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.
According to him, ongoing defence agreements and training programmes have contributed to improving the professional competence and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Oluyede emphasised that continued collaboration with strategic international partners remained vital to strengthening the military’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging threats.
He added that such partnerships would also promote greater self-reliance, institutional resilience and operational efficiency within the Armed Forces.
Both parties expressed optimism about the future of the UK-Nigeria defence and security partnership, reaffirming their commitment to consolidating existing achievements and exploring further areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
Nigeria and Rwanda are exploring new areas of military cooperation, including personnel exchanges, specialised training and local defence equipment production, as both countries seek to strengthen regional security.
The proposals were presented by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, during an official working visit to Rwanda, where he held talks with the Army Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force, Major General Vincent Nyakarundi.
In a statement, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the discussions focused on expanding professional military cooperation and improving the operational capacity of both armies.
Shaibu proposed that two cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) undertake a four-year training programme at the Rwanda Military Academy, with similar opportunities to be made available to Rwandan cadets in Nigeria.
He also called for collaboration between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and relevant Rwandan institutions to boost local defence production and encourage technology development.
Other areas identified for cooperation include logistics, Military Police training, pre-deployment preparation for peace support operations and the exchange of operational experience in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency.
The Army Chief said both countries could draw on their respective military experiences to tackle emerging security threats, improve operational readiness and promote stability across the region.
He further stressed the need for closer ties between DICON and Rwanda’s defence engineering and procurement institutions to support indigenous equipment manufacturing, technological advancement and greater self-reliance.
During the visit, Shaibu paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the Rwandan Patriotic Army, particularly the 600 personnel who defended Kigali during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He described their resilience and patriotism as enduring lessons in national determination and military leadership.
In his response, Nyakarundi commended the Nigerian Army for providing specialised Military Police and Intelligence training to Rwandan personnel.
He called for expanded professional military education through institutions such as the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Army War College Nigeria and the National Defence College.
The Rwandan Army chief also welcomed the proposed cadet exchange programme and defence industrial partnership, describing the visit as a reflection of growing mutual trust and professional solidarity between the two armies.
The proposed initiatives are expected to provide a framework for deeper military engagement between Nigeria and Rwanda, particularly in training, defence technology and regional security cooperation
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
An Assistant Superintendent of Corps (ASC), Usman Isah Ndamaka, was moved to tears yesterday as he appeared before the Justice Mohammed Mohammed-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry in Minna.
He offered an unreserved apology over the death of 37 miners while in the custody of the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Ndamaka, who was the officer in charge of the command’s detention facility when the incident occurred on September 17, admitted full responsibility for the tragedy, describing it as a grave mistake.
The judicial panel was set up by the Niger State Government to probe the circumstances surrounding the fatalities, which reportedly occurred following the arrest of 58 suspected illegal miners comprising 33 males and 25 females.
Recounting the events that led to the deaths, Ndamaka explained that the facility was originally designed to accommodate between 28 and 30 detainees.
He stated that while female suspects were separated and relocated to another facility, accommodating the remaining male detainees presented a severe logistical challenge.
According to him, the suspects arrived late in the evening during a heavy downpour, making an immediate transfer difficult. An attempt to relocate some of the detainees to the old command facility failed after the Mining Marshal rejected the arrangement.
Ndamaka told the commission that heat, severe overcrowding, and distress caused the male suspects to scream and shout inside the cell.
However, he admitted that fear of being overpowered prevented him and his subordinates from unlocking the door
”An error has already been committed. I am very sorry for the death of the miners under my custody,” Ndamaka said in an emotional testimony. “It is unfortunate that this happened under my watch. I am pained, and I admit my mistake.”
Also testifying, the head of the NSCDC investigation unit, Chief Superintendent of Corps Sunday Oluwadere, confirmed that he profiled and investigated the suspects following their arrest and recovered several exhibits.
Under cross-examination by the Niger State Head of the Legal Aid Council, Mrs. Bolanle Jibogun, Oluwadere expressed regret over operational shortcomings during the handling of the suspects.
Earlier, the Chief Consultant Pathologist at the General Hospital, Minna, Dr. Alfa Sule, informed the panel that post-mortem examinations were required to determine the precise cause of death.
Dr. Sule stated that conducting the autopsies requires coroner approval, while obtaining toxicology and histology samples for forensic laboratory analysis in Lagos requires the consent of the deceased persons’ families.
He projected that full forensic results would be ready within two weeks once samples are dispatched.
Following the incident, the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordered the arrest of 22 officers, including the suspended Niger State Commandant, Siaka Zubeiru Anirive.
The officers were escorted to the corps’ national headquarters in Abuja for administrative procedures.
Eight personnel have so far testified before the judicial panel as proceedings continue.
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