The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has marked an Abuja property linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), saying the action followed a valid interim forfeiture order granted by a court.

The commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, stated this in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, noting that the action was a normal law enforcement procedure.

Oyewale said the marking of the property was meant to notify members of the public about its status following a forfeiture order.

The statement followed a viral video of altercations between the former minister and operatives of the EFCC, which generated reactions online.

“There is nothing illegal in the matter. The attachment or marking of property that is on a forfeiture order is a normal law enforcement action when the court has granted an interim forfeiture,” Oyewale said.

He explained that once a forfeiture order is issued, the agency has the right to attach or mark the property to caution the public.

“What I mean by attachment of property is the normal marking of the property to caution members of the public that the property so marked is a forfeited property, whether in interim or final forfeiture.

“So when there is a forfeiture order by the court, the enforcement agency can go ahead and make markings,” he added.

The EFCC spokesman also dismissed claims that operatives raided the property, insisting that the commission only carried out enforcement of a court order.

“The commission did not go there to raid anywhere. We are not involved in any such act. So there is nothing illegal about what we have done,” Oyewale said.

In a two-minute video obtained by our correspondent, which earlier went viral, Malami was seen questioning the operatives over the legality of the action and demanding to see the court order authorising the marking of his house.

The former minister argued that the order presented was not specific to his property and claimed the matter was still pending in court.

He accused the commission of attempting to embarrass him, saying, “Where is your court order? The order here is not specific. It didn’t give you a clear directive to come and mark my property… You want to move nationwide to embarrass me? Go ahead, we will meet in court.”

An EFCC operative in the video maintained that once a property is under forfeiture, the commission has the right to mark it.

The development came a few hours after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led a delegation on a solidarity visit to Malami.

Atiku, who recently returned from Umrah in Saudi Arabia, also called on authorities to release former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and other detainees.

He said no one should be held for holding a different political ideology from the government.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, he said, “Following my return to the country on Saturday night from Umrah (lesser Hajj), I led a delegation on a solidarity visit to the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

“I wish to serve notice to the authorities detaining former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, @elrufai, and all other political detainees to release them henceforth.

“No one should be detained simply because they do not share the same ideology or political platform with the government of the day. -AA”

Speaking on the clampdown on Malami’s properties, Atiku declared it as clear evidence of alleged state-sponsored intimidation and abuse of power by the President Bola Tinubu administration.

In a statement through his media office on Monday, Atiku alleged that Tinubu was actively dismantling democracy and pushing Nigeria toward full-blown authoritarian rule, with dangerous implications for the entire West African subregion.

Atiku characterised the action by the EFCC as unlawful, driven by vendetta, and politically motivated.

“This is not governance. This is intimidation. This is a regime weaponising state power to silence dissent,” Atiku declared.

He claimed that under Tinubu, Nigeria was undergoing a rapid deterioration of democratic norms, with state institutions increasingly deployed as tools for political persecution.

“What we are seeing is the naked abuse of power—security agencies deployed not for national security, but for settling political scores. This is how democracies die.

“Let it be said clearly: this government is terrified of competition. That is why it is resorting to brute force—harassing, intimidating, and attempting to break opposition leaders into submission,” he stated.

He further alleged that the sustained targeting of figures like El-Rufai and Malami is part of a broader strategy to coerce them into abandoning opposition politics and falling in line with the ruling APC.

“This is political extortion at the highest level—join us or be destroyed. That is the message being sent,” he said.

The statement continued, “When opposition is criminalised, and dissent is punished, elections become a mere formality. If Tinubu wants to run unopposed, then let INEC stop wasting public funds on a sham election.

“We have seen this script before. It ended in national disgrace. What is happening now is a dangerous replay—one that Nigerians must resist.

“Governors and political leaders are being railroaded into the APC under threat of persecution. This is not politics—it is state capture.”In January, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to Malami and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru Rahman Malami.

The court also directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national daily, inviting any individual or organisation with an interest in the assets to appear before it within 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

In February, Malami filed an application challenging the interim forfeiture of the properties linked to him.

The EFCC had also arraigned Malami, his wife and son over allegations bordering on money laundering amounting to N8,713,923,759.49.

On July 2, 2025, Malami announced his defection to the African Democratic Congress.

He was appointed as AGF in 2015 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari and was in the administration until its end in 2023.

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In this report by Dare Akogun and Toheeb Omotayo, survivors of a bandit attack on a church in Omugo, Kwara State on Sunday recount how gunmen invaded their service, abducted worshippers, and left behind a traumatised community now deserted by fleeing residents

What began as a quiet Sunday morning of worship in Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, quickly descended into terror when armed bandits stormed an Evangelical Church of West Africa, abducting worshippers and leaving behind a traumatised population grappling with fear, grief, and uncertainty.

The attack, which occurred during the early hours of the service, has since altered the rhythm of life in the agrarian settlement, as residents continue to flee in droves, wary of another repeat assault and disillusioned by what they describe as inadequate security presence within their community.

When one of our correspondents visited Omugo on Monday, the once-bustling village wore a desolate look, with rows of locked houses, shuttered shops, and strangely quiet streets, creating the unsettling impression of a community suddenly frozen in time.

The scale of displacement was evident as two vehicles were sighted at separate intervals departing the community, heavily loaded with household essentials including beds, mats, chairs, and other personal belongings; clear signs of families abandoning their homes in search of safety elsewhere.

Further checks revealed a troubling security gap, as there was no visible presence of security operatives within the community itself, with only a few stationed at checkpoints miles away along the road leading into Omugo, leaving residents feeling exposed and unprotected.

For many survivors, the memories of the attack remain vivid and deeply unsettling.

Eighty-year-old Alice Afariogun, one of the victims who narrowly escaped abduction, recounted her ordeal with a mix of pain and disbelief, her frail body still bearing the marks of violence.

“We were inside the church very early in the morning when those bandits launched the attack on us. Everyone was running but I couldn’t due to my old age and lack of agility,” she said.

She explained that the attackers descended on the congregation without warning, creating confusion and panic as worshippers scrambled in different directions in a desperate bid to escape.

“They captured me right where I was sitting and started dragging me all over the ground. They hit my arm with the bottom of the gun and I bled seriously,” she added, her voice trembling as she recalled the brutality.

Alice said she watched helplessly as her husband was dragged away by the assailants, her cries and pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears.

“When I saw my husband being taken away, I shouted and begged them to release him, but they refused. Instead, they kept beating me,” she said.

According to her, the attackers eventually abandoned her inside the church after inflicting injuries, apparently concluding that her age and condition made her of little value to them.

“They did not take me into the bush. They left me inside the church after wounding me. They knew I had nothing to offer them,” she said, calling on the government to urgently intervene and rescue those still in captivity.

Inside the church, remnants of the attack remained visible, with dried blood stains on the floor serving as a chilling testament to the violence that disrupted what should have been a sacred gathering.

Alice further disclosed that the incident occurred shortly after worshippers arrived around 9 a.m., even before the collection of tithes and offerings, underscoring the suddenness of the assault.

“At least ten people were taken, including my husband. The pastor’s wife was also kidnapped, and we have not seen them since,” she added.

Another survivor, Felicia Afariogun, described how she narrowly escaped capture despite being physically overwhelmed during the chaos.

“I was among the women’s choir, and while trying to escape, I fell because my legs are not strong,” she said.

According to her, one of the attackers caught up with her, struck her, and seized her bag containing her Bible, phone, keys, and tithe money before leaving her on the ground.

“I thought they would take me, but the bandit only collected my bag and left me there,” she recounted, adding that her belongings were later recovered.

Beyond the physical injuries and material losses, the emotional toll on families has been devastating.

For Omolola Daramola, the attack has left a gaping void, as both her parents were among those abducted during the raid.

Struggling to contain her grief, she broke down in tears, her voice laden with desperation.

“They have taken my dad and mummy away! Somebody please come to my rescue,” she cried.

“I was not in Omugo when it happened. I received a distress call that my parents had been kidnapped,” she added, appealing to authorities for urgent assistance.

Providing further insight into the sequence of events, a church member, Afariogun Sunday Stephen, said the attack occurred between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. while the congregation was deeply engaged in worship.

“We were singing hymns when I noticed suspicious men wearing green masks and blue attire emerging from the bush and advancing towards the church,” he said.

He explained that his quick response in raising the alarm played a crucial role in saving lives.

“I started shouting ‘bandits, run!’ immediately I saw them. That gave many people the chance to escape,” he said.

Stephen noted that the structure of the church, which has multiple entry and exit points, worked in favour of the worshippers, preventing the attackers from completely sealing off the premises.

“They tried to take over the main entrance close to the road, but they were too late. People had already started escaping through other exits,” he explained.

He added that the attackers resorted to firing gunshots in an attempt to instill fear and force people to halt, but many continued running into surrounding bushes and nearby paths.

“As we were running, they were shooting at us to scare us into stopping, but it didn’t work. They went back and took those who could not run, especially the elderly,” he said.

According to him, eleven people were initially abducted, including an infant who was later abandoned, while two others managed to escape, leaving eight persons still in captivity.

“The pastor’s wife was carrying a baby on her back during the attack. They later dropped the baby and took her away,” he added.

He identified some of those still being held as the pastor’s wife, Chief David Omopariola, Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun, and Mr Joshua Ajeyemi, among others.

Stephen lamented the growing trend of kidnappings in rural communities, noting that victims are often subjected to ransom demands far beyond the financial capacity of their families.

“The government needs to act fast. People are being kidnapped and asked to pay money they cannot raise even in years,” he said.

Meanwhile, discrepancies have emerged over the circumstances surrounding the release of three victims earlier reported to have been rescued by security operatives.

The Kwara State Government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, said coordinated efforts by security agencies led to the rescue of three abducted persons and helped repel the attackers.

“We commend the immediate and coordinated response of the security forces, forest guards, and local vigilantes, which led to the rescue of three of the abducted victims and helped to repel the attackers,” the statement read.

The commissioner added that the government had directed security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and secure the release of the remaining victims, while condemning the attack as cowardly and unacceptable.

“The Kwara State Government strongly condemns the cowardly targeting of a place of worship under any guise, and we reaffirm that such acts of violence have no place in our communities,” she stated.

She also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies and remain vigilant, noting that ongoing forest combing operations have yielded some progress in curbing criminal activities.

However, a community member who spoke on condition of anonymity disputed the government’s account, insisting that the victims were not rescued but rather freed by the attackers themselves.

“The security personnel came, but our people escaped on their own. The attackers released those they felt were of no benefit, including a baby and two elderly women,” the source claimed.

According to the source, one of the elderly women was released in the bush after she became too weak to continue, while another was left behind at the church due to injuries sustained during the attack.

The Olomugo of Omugo land, Oba David Adeboye Odeyemi, in his reaction, called for urgent and decisive action to secure the community and prevent further attacks.

“Our vigilantes are ready to defend the community, but they lack the sophisticated weapons needed to confront these criminals,” the monarch said.

He appealed to the government to strengthen local security architecture through improved funding, provision of modern equipment, and strategic deployment of security personnel within vulnerable communities.

The monarch also confirmed that the pastor’s wife, as well as members of his extended family, remain in captivity, underscoring the personal toll of the incident on the community’s leadership.

As fear continues to grip Omugo and neighbouring settlements, residents say their greatest concern is not just the return of those abducted, but the assurance that they can live, worship, and go about their daily lives without the looming threat of violence.

For now, the silence that hangs over the deserted streets of Omugo speaks volumes; a community displaced, a people shaken, and a painful reminder of the growing insecurity confronting rural Nigeria.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command, on Monday, described videos circulating on social media alleging police involvement in a shooting at the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) headquarters in Garki II, Abuja, as false and misleading.

The command stated that its officers only intervened to restore order after receiving a distress call.

It also stated that it arraigned the court-reinstated National President of the NURTW, Ibikunle Baruwa, alongside six others, over the violence at the headquarters.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the command received a report at about 7:00 a.m. on March 23, 2026, that about 300 individuals armed with cutlasses, bottles, bows and arrows had stormed the NURTW headquarters and were removing items from the premises.

She said the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Isyaku Sharu, led a response team to the scene, where preliminary investigations showed that the group attempted to enforce a court order without the presence of court sheriffs and other authorised officials.

According to her, the action degenerated into a physical confrontation when other NURTW members resisted the move, leading to one victim sustaining severe machete wounds to the neck.

“The FCT Police Command is aware of videos circulating on social media alleging that personnel of the command shot at some members of the NURTW at their headquarters in Garki II, Abuja.

“The command wishes to state that these are false and misleading claims aimed at rousing public sentiments.

“On 23rd of March 2026, at approximately 7:00 a.m., a distress call was received by the FCT Police Command reporting that about 300 individuals, armed with cutlasses, bottles, bows, and arrows, had stormed the NURTW headquarters along Sapele Street, Garki II, Abuja, and were removing items from the premises.

“In a swift response, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Isyaku Sharu, led a response team to the scene.

“Upon arrival, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were attempting to enforce a court order on the premises without the presence of court sheriffs and other officials.

“This action degenerated into a physical confrontation when other members of the NURTW attempted to resist them, leading to one victim being inflicted with severe machete wounds to the neck.

“He was rescued by the police team, while several others who sustained varying degrees of injuries were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment,” she said.

Adeh said seven suspects — Sulaiman A. Musa, Nasiru Ibrahim, Alhaji Sadisu Musa, Dalha Suleiman, Abdullahi Garba, Saheed Fojebi and Ibikunle T. Baruwa — were arrested at the scene.

She added that the suspects had been charged before Magistrates’ Court 1, Wuse Zone 2, while normalcy had been restored to the area.

The PUNCH earlier reported that former NURTW President, Baruwa, assumed control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja after displacing Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, citing a series of court rulings.

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