Security forces, including the military, police and Department of State Services, have moved into Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State to rescue hundreds of residents reportedly abducted by terrorists last Friday.

The development followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for security forces to move into the area and secure the affected communities as well as rescue the victims.

While the police put the number of victims between 155 and 164, the terrorists claimed in a video that they were holding more than 500 people.

A community leader in Babanna, a neighbouring community, Idris Shiyaki, confirmed the arrival of security forces to Saturday PUNCH on Friday.

“The situation now is a bit under control because they mobilised military personnel there. As I speak, the troops are still expanding their base,” he said.

Also, a top DSS officer confirmed the development.

“I’m aware the team landed on Wednesday, and some other personnel will join them,” the officer said.

The August 21 attacks occurred in four communities during Friday Islamic prayers and were suspected to have been carried out by the Lakurawa and Boko Haram terrorist groups.

The attackers reportedly invaded Kpenya Mosque in the Dekara district of Borgu, as well as Gidan-Zana and Kpenya villages. Three other communities in the local government area were also attacked, with an unspecified number of residents abducted.

Shiyaki said the troops had also been assisting survivors with the mass burial of victims whose bodies were recovered across the affected communities.

“Military vehicles are also being used to transport displaced persons who fled to neighbouring Babanna, which currently serves as a central refuge for survivors,” he added.

The community leader alleged that the insurgents had lived undetected among residents for a long time, using civilians to conceal themselves whenever security forces conducted patrols.

“They’ve been living with those people for a long time, and those people have been hiding them. But they believe they are good people.

“Each time any military personnel want to do a patrol there, they will hide those people in their houses,” he said.

A top security officer confirmed that the Defence Headquarters had deployed personnel to the area.

“Personnel were deployed immediately after the President spoke on it on Monday. They are already in Niger and Borgu, to be specific.

“The first thing is to gather intelligence and know what is on the ground. A rescue operation is not done in a hurry. This is just a process, but I can assure you that the victims will be rescued,” the officer said on condition of anonymity.

Similarly, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said the rescue operation had commenced, while acknowledging the challenges involved.

He said the priority was to rescue the victims safely without exposing security personnel to danger.

“If you rush it, you might end up losing the lives of these victims you are trying to rescue. So, it is not about timing, but how prepared we are. It is about analysing all the strategies we need to put in place to rescue these victims unhurt,” Abiodun said.

According to him, no fewer than five communities were affected by the attacks, leaving residents displaced and properties destroyed.

Shiyaki said the attackers unleashed terror on the communities last Friday shortly after night prayers, killing several residents, abducting others and setting houses ablaze.

“They burnt all the houses there; they didn’t leave anything for us. It is about five communities within the area that were affected: Mayanga, Dekara, Kapubara, Gbagbazhi and Yagba. They followed them one after the other,” he said.

When contacted for confirmation, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, declined comment.

The state Commissioner for Information, Obed Nuhu, had on Thursday, during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, disclosed that the terrorists had yet to contact the government.

Victims held in Kainji park

Saturday PUNCH gathered that hundreds of the abducted residents were being held in the Kainji National Park.

Our correspondents also gathered that residents of some of the affected communities had previously been warned to relocate because of the growing presence of terrorists in the area.

The Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, Kabir Adamu, said the terrorists could be holding the victims inside the Kainji National Park because the forest reserve was likely to be their first port of call.

“When such incidents occur, what normally happens is that they (kidnappers) take them (victims) around and later disperse them and then hold them at a place to negotiate. So, it could be one, two or four groups holding them.

“They are most likely inside there. From there, they can lead you all the way into the Benin Republic. They can lead you back to Kebbi State, from there to Niger Republic.

“But I don’t think that is the intention. They don’t intend to take them to either Benin Republic or Niger. So, they are most likely inside the reserve while they are waiting to negotiate their release,” Adamu said.

A recently retired military intelligence officer called for the deployment of tactical teams into the forest reserve.

“They will still be in the forest. That is their base. The security and tactical teams should man strategic locations,” he said.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that about seven active armed ideological and non-ideological groups operate in the old Borgu area of Niger State.

They include Lakurawa, Mamuda, Answaru, a faction of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, the official name of Boko Haram, and some bandit groups.

‘Villagers ignored relocation warning’

It was learnt that residents of the affected communities had earlier been advised to relocate because of terrorist activities in the area.

A government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the affected communities were regarded as a danger zone because of the presence of terrorists.

“That area is very dangerous. The government last year informed the people of the place that they were prone to attack and that they should relocate from the place.

“Kainji National Park is now the hub of the terrorists, and they are very close to Borgu. In fact, the terrorists are all over that place. So, the government advised the people to leave. It is unfortunate that these things are happening despite warnings,” the official said.

However, the source declined to say through whom or which channel the relocation warning was communicated to the residents. He also did not disclose the exact date the warning was issued.

The state police spokesman, Abiodun, confirmed that residents of the affected villages had previously been warned about the presence of armed groups and advised to relocate.

He said the government had planned to conduct a “clearance operation” to flush out the terrorists from the area.

“It will be very difficult to have the deployment of security teams in all these villages around Borgu Local Government Area, which stretches to Agwara. Government, over time, had declared that people should move away from these places to allow a clearance operation to be carried out.

“When this is done, and we ensure that these locations are safe, that is when people can now be asked to come back to these communities,” he said.

Abiodun added that the planned operation could not be carried out because residents had refused to leave their communities.

“But we know people sometimes find it difficult to leave their ancestral homes because of farming and other activities. However, one thing that should be very important is life. We don’t have two lives.

“Those places are dangerous because of the presence of these terrorist groups. Why don’t you allow security to do our intelligence work, then when we declare that these areas are safe, people can come back to continue their activities?” he added.

Fourth mass abduction in nine months

The latest attack is the fourth reported mass abduction in Niger State within nine months, highlighting the worsening security challenges confronting communities in the state.

On November 21, 2025, terrorists attacked St Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of the state, abducting 303 students and 12 teachers.

Terrorists also attacked Kasuwan Daji/Demo in Borgu Local Government Area on January 3, killing no fewer than 30 people and abducting 57 residents.

On February 14, no fewer than 176 women and children were abducted from Konkoso, Tungan-Makeri and Pissa, also in Borgu Local Government Area, by suspected Boko Haram members.

On April 7, bandits invaded the Baga community in Shiroro Local Government Area, killing five villagers and abducting at least 150 residents.

The latest incident has also renewed concerns about the spread of mass abductions beyond isolated attacks on individuals and small groups.

Kwara and Oyo states have similarly witnessed mass abductions, with some victims spending months in captivity.

No fewer than 176 women and children from Woro in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State were abducted by terrorists on February 3. The victims regained their freedom after spending six months in captivity.

In Oyo State, Boko Haram terrorists attacked three schools in Esinele, Oriire Local Government Area, on May 15. The attackers abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers.

Source: punchng.com

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Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, have rescued two Colombian nationals allegedly lured to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate.

The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued following actionable intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday.

According to the statement, the two women were “fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents confiscated” by some Chinese nationals, who are currently at large.

The statement said the police launched a covert tracking operation immediately after receiving the intelligence.

It added that the operatives located the hideout in Lagos and rescued the victims “on the same day.”

The statement read in part, “Upon receipt of the intelligence, police operatives promptly launched a covert tracking operation, locating the hideout in Lagos where both victims were safely rescued on the same day.”

According to the police, the suspects fled the location when they noticed the approaching operatives.

“The fleeing suspects abandoned the location upon sighting the approaching team, and efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate,” the statement said.

The police said the rescued Colombian nationals were currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support.

“The rescued victims are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support,” the statement added.

The statement further disclosed that the Colombian Embassy in Accra was collaborating with the National Central Bureau to facilitate the victims’ return to their country.

“The Colombian Embassy in Accra is working in close collaboration with the Bureau to secure hotel accommodations for the victims and arrange emergency travel documents to ensure their safe return to Bogotá,” it said.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the police to protecting residents and strengthening international cooperation against transnational crimes.

The statement said Disu “reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding the lives and property of all residents within the country, while deepening collaboration with international law enforcement partners to combat cross-border crimes.”

The police said efforts had been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and dismantle the trafficking network.

Source: punchng.com

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A young Nigerian, Samuel Ezekiel, has recounted how his friend allegedly changed his identity to “Hassan Abubakar” before he underwent kidney removal at Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja.

Ezekiel also alleged that after he was paid in dollars for the procedure, he handed the money to his friend, Emmanuel Odeh, who allegedly changed the cash and spent part of it on phones, power banks and Wi-Fi devices.

He disclosed this while speaking to journalists during the Nigeria Police Force parade of suspects linked to an alleged organ-harvesting syndicate in Abuja and Nasarawa State on Friday.

Ezekiel said Odeh initially told him they were going to the hospital, adding that he trusted his friend enough to comply with his instructions.

“It’s my friend that deceived me. His name is Emmanuel Udeh,” Ezekiel said.

He added, “He deceived me that we are going to the hospital because I don’t know what—because of anything he told me, I will just, uh, do what he asked me to do.”

According to him, Odeh later linked him with another man, David, who took him to an agent identified as Ben for medical tests.

He said after his initial test results did not match those of the intended kidney recipient, the agent later informed them that another recipient had been found.

Ezekiel said the agent later told them that his kidney matched another person’s, after which he was taken to Ben’s place.

He said, “Then he now said that they are going to change my name, that I will be bearing Hassan Abubakar.”

Ezekiel said they were subsequently taken to the Federal High Court, where an affidavit was prepared before they proceeded to Wellington Hospital.

“Then from there, they now took us to the Federal High Court, where they did the affidavit. Then from there, we now went to the hospital, Wellington Clinic,” he said.

He said they signed documents at the hospital before he was taken into the theater.

According to Ezekiel, the money was brought to them at about 10pm or 11pm before he entered the theatre.

“After we sign, then later in the night around 10:00 to 11:00, they now come and give us, uh, money in dollars.

“After they give us the money, then when I wanted to enter the theater, I gave Emmanuel the money to hold it,” he said.

Ezekiel said that after he came out of the theatre, Odeh had already changed the money and spent part of it on electronic devices.

“After I gave him the money, when I came out from the theater, then later in the evening, Emmanuel came back. He had already gone and changed the money,” he said.

He added that Odeh bought two phones, two power banks and two Wi-Fi devices.

“He bought two phones, two power banks, and two Wi-Fi. Then he now gave me one and held one. Everything he bought, he gave me one and held one,” Ezekiel said.

The victim said they remained in the hospital for about a week before they were discharged, after which Odeh took him to a hotel for two days.

“Then we spent almost one week in the hospital. After they discharged us from the hospital, then they took us, then Emmanuel now took me to a hotel for two days,” he said.

Ezekiel said Odeh later took him to Cross River State, where they stayed for about three months.

“After the hotel, we spent two days, and then he now took me to his state in Cross River. We spent almost like three months in Cross River,” he said.

He said he eventually asked Odeh about the money he had received but was told that it had been spent.

“Before I asked him, ‘Where is the money?’ He told me that the money had finished,” Ezekiel said.

He added that Odeh later told him they did not have money for transportation back to Abuja.

“Then he said that we don’t have transport for coming back. He collected my phone and sold it. Then that is how we had transport and came back to Abuja,” he said.

Asked whether he knew that his kidney would be removed, Ezekiel said he had been informed but claimed that Odeh reassured him that the procedure would not cause him problems.

“He just told me that it’s something that they will just, uh, convert it, that there’s not any issue in there, that if they convert it, I can do everything that I want to do, that I will not have any issue,” he said.

Ezekiel confirmed that he consented to the procedure, which he said took place at Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, on April 24.

He also said he was paid in dollars but could not state the exact amount, recalling that he received several $100 notes and a $50 note.

Asked about the amount, he said, “It’s 100, 100 dollars with one 50 dollar.”

However, he said he could not state the exact amount he received.

The account came as the police intensified investigations into an alleged organ-harvesting network operating around Abuja and Nasarawa State.

The Force on Friday paraded suspects, including two doctors and alleged recruiters, following a sting operation in the Auta Balefi area of Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The police identified Odeh as one of the suspects, accusing him of recruiting victims for the alleged organ-harvesting network.

Also paraded were Dr. Benjamin Oyime, a nephrologist and consultant to Wellington Hospital; Dr Daniel Otukpa, also a nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at the hospital; and David Idoko.

The police alleged that the syndicate targeted vulnerable young people and facilitated illegal kidney removal through forged documents and false representations.

The Force said investigations were ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the alleged network.

The case came to public attention after activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, said a young man had approached his NGO with medical evidence showing that his left kidney was missing.

The police subsequently commenced investigations into the allegations, leading to the arrest and parade of the suspects.

Source: punchng.com

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