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Suspected Kidnappers Kill Doctor, Son, Friend After Collecting N7.5m Ransom

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Operatives of the Intelligence Response Team have arrested members of a kidnap syndicate, who allegedly killed three of their victims after collecting N7.5m ransom from their family members.

The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday while parading 26 suspects arrested for kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and other sundry offenses.

According to Mba, the kidnap syndicate abducted one Dr Audu Benedict, his son and a friend of the family, who were on their way to Abuja.

While in captivity, the suspects were said to have contacted the families of their victims, who subsequently paid N7m to secure their release.

“Before the ransom was paid, the suspects forced Benedict to raise a cheque of N500,000, which was successfully cashed,” Mba stated.

He, however, regretted that the syndicate went ahead to kill their victims, notwithstanding the ransom.

He stated, “Among the suspects, we have a kidnap syndicate that specializes in terrorizing people of the North-Central zone.

“A ransom of N7m was paid by the family of Dr Audu Benedict. While in captivity, the doctor also raised a cheque of N500,000, bringing the total to N7.5m.

“After collecting the ransom, the suspects went ahead to kill the doctor, his son, and the family friend.”

He added that the gang also kidnapped one Veronica Aboyi, who is related to one of the suspects.

Two of the suspects, Gwar Henry and one Bello, admitted the crime.

The police said six AK-47 rifles, three pump-action rifles, and other weapons were recovered from the gang.

Meanwhile, the police said they rescued six children “stolen sometime last year.”

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NDLEA Seizes Lipsticks Stuffed With Drugs At Lagos Airport [VIDEO]

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Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have uncovered another batch of female lipsticks containing illegal drugs at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, revealed this in a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Sunday.

He also urged Nigerians, particularly women, to be extremely vigilant when purchasing or accepting beauty products, especially from unfamiliar sellers or dubious online platforms.

The statement read, Ladies beware! It does appear like female lipstick is becoming attractive as an instrument for concealment and trafficking now with yet another consignment of factory fitted female lipsticks stuffed with illicit substances intercepted at MMIA barely a week after @ndlea_nigeria officers uncovered a similar cargo at a courier company in Lagos.

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JUST IN: Former President Buhari Dies In London Clinic

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Former Nigerian leader, Muhammadu Buhari, passed away on Sunday.

His longtime media aide, Garba Shehu, confirmed the news in a brief statement issued on Sunday afternoon, stating that the former president died at a clinic in London.

Shehu’s message, distributed to the media, read:
“INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHIRRAJIUUN. The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.”

The statement concluded with the date: July 13, 2025.

Although the cause of death was not disclosed, Buhari, who held office from 2015 to 2023, had frequently sought medical care in the United Kingdom during and after his time as president.

Buhari, a retired Major General in the Nigerian Army, first led Nigeria as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985. Decades later, he was elected president through a democratic process. He made history as the first opposition candidate to unseat a sitting president in Nigeria.

Funeral plans have not yet been made public.

 

More to come…

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No Effective Governance Without Full Local Government Autonomy — Femi Gbajabiamila

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The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has stated that governance at the local government level cannot be effective without complete autonomy.

He made the remark while addressing journalists after voting in the Lagos State local government elections in Surulere on Saturday.

When asked about the progress of implementing the LG autonomy ruling by the Supreme Court one year after it was delivered, Gbajabiamila described the process as ongoing and said it would be completed with time.

Gbajabiamila said, “The ruling was welcome by everybody. It’s the execution of that ruling and the implementation of that ruling that we are still trying to dot the Is and cross the Ts.

“I believe in a matter of time, we will realise full autonomy. There cannot be effective governance without full autonomy. That’s what we are working toward.”

In July 2024, the Supreme Court granted autonomy to all 774 local government areas across the country following a case filed by the federal government through the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation. However, the ruling is yet to be fully implemented.

Following the judgement, the Senate urged state and local governments to immediately adhere to the court’s directive, especially regarding local government accounts and direct fund disbursements.

The Senate also moved to amend relevant sections of the Constitution to ensure full local government autonomy nationwide.

The announcement was made by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau, after lawmakers emerged from a closed-door session where they discussed alleged efforts by some state governments to bypass the Supreme Court’s ruling on July 11.

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