Two children and a shoemaker, identified as JB, who were abducted by armed bandits during an attack on Ijalu, Egbe in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State on June 3, 2026, have regained their freedom.

LIB reported that the children were abducted alongside their mother, Mrs Idowu Kemi Totilayo, and baby brother on June 3, 2026.

Troops in conjunction with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) rescued mother and child.

The victims were released on Tuesday night, July 21, 2026, after spending about seven weeks in captivity.

Their release comes weeks after the children’s father, Mr. Idowu Samuel, made a public appeal for financial assistance, revealing the difficult conditions his children were facing in captivity.

According to Mr. Samuel, armed bandits invaded his home in Ijalu on June 3, abducting his wife, their two children, and a shoemaker identified as JB.

His wife and their infant were rescued later that same night, while the two children and the shoemaker remained in the custody of the kidnappers.

Mr. Samuel had disclosed that the abductors informed the family that the two children had become seriously ill while in captivity.

He also revealed that the kidnappers reduced their initial ransom demand from N200 million to N6 million and requested additional items, including five bags of rice, 25 litres of petrol, five litres of red oil, and five litres of engine oil.

Sources confirmed that the ransom and requested items were eventually provided, leading to the victims’ release.

The two children are currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital, while details about the condition of the shoemaker have not yet been made public.

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Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, in Zamfara State, have rescued all four remaining kidnapped students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda.

This was disclosed in a statement posted on X by security expert, Zagazola Makama.

Makama said DSS operatives, relying on intelligence, rescued the students, comprising four males and a female late Wednesday without any ransom paid.

According to him, one of the kidnappers was arrested during the operation while others did not survive.

The students were said to have been kidnapped on June 3 at their off-campus hostel in the Low-cost area of Kaura Namoda town after armed bandits stormed the building and seized six of them.

“Following an earlier release of two of the six students, security forces intensified an intelligence-led operation, and surgically secured the safe return of the remaining students to the relief of all,” Makama said.

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The US House of Representatives narrowly passed an annual defense policy bill on Wednesday that would authorize a record $1.15 trillion in funding for the Pentagon, as the divisive Iran war drags on.

Though it traditionally sees significant bipartisan support, the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the lower chamber in a 216-212 vote, a sign of the growing polarization under President Donald Trump. The bill, which must still pass the Senate, provides approximately $250 billion more than the 2026 NDAA, including a 5-7 percent pay raise for service members.

“This legislation provides our brave servicemembers with an overdue pay raise, strengthens our nuclear deterrence and missile defense — including construction of the Golden Dome.” Mike Johnson, House Speaker said.

Trump has sought to develop the so-called Golden Dome missile defense system to protect the US mainland, modeled after Israel’s “Iron Dome.” The House Armed Services Committee Republicans, in a statement, said the bill would help rebuild “depleted stockpiles,” as the United States expends large amounts of projectiles in its war against Iran.

However, the legislation faced strong opposition from across the aisle regarding the record expenditure and military engagement.

“The NDAA is a costly, bad bill that funds an illegal war and undermines our democracy. I could not vote to give Trump and his Defense chief Pete Hegseth $1.15 TRILLION for their out-of-control military spending and irresponsible actions.” Jerry Nadler, Democratic Representative said.

Trump’s prized “SAVE America Act,” which would enact new nationwide voting restrictions, was added to the NDAA through a procedural maneuver, raising the ire of Democrats and further complicating the bill’s passage in the Senate. Controversy has also raged in recent weeks over another section of the NDAA that calls for increased cooperation between the United States and Israeli armed forces.

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