Nigeria News (Standard)
Ondo Security Firm Rescues Abducted Trader, Hands Over Two Suspects to Police
GSSL operatives free Mrs Morenike Falona from Iju-Osun plantation as CEO lauds public for key intelligence
GSSL operatives free Mrs Morenike Falona from Iju-Osun plantation as CEO lauds public for key intelligence
Personnel of Gallery Security Services Limited (GSSL), a private security outfit, have rescued a 37-year-old woman, Mrs Morenike Falona, from kidnappers in Irele Local Council of Ondo State. The operation took place on 19 June 2026, three days after the victim was reportedly abducted from her home at Orelopo Street, Irele Town.
According to GSSL Security Manager, Lieutenant Zakari Abdullahi (rtd), the rescue was achieved following credible intelligence provided by members of the public. A team of 20 operatives was deployed to comb a palm plantation in the Iju-Osun community, where Mrs Falona was found unharmed. Two suspects—Obibodefiyie Ajuesie, aged 36 from Ajapa community, and Monday Lucky (also known as “Gazilo”), aged 37 from Akpata community—were arrested at the scene.
The suspects were subsequently handed over to officers at Ajagba Divisional Police Station in Irele for further investigation and possible prosecution. Both suspects are said to hail from Ese-Odo Local Council of Ondo State.
The incident highlights ongoing security concerns in the South-West region, where cases of abduction for ransom have been reported in recent months. Community involvement and collaboration with security agencies remain key strategies for addressing such threats. GSSL Chief Executive Officer, Bibopere Ajube, commended local residents for promptly sharing actionable information that enabled the swift rescue. “The timely support we received from members of the public made all the difference in bringing Mrs Falona home safely,” Ajube stated.
Police authorities are expected to continue investigations to determine if there are other accomplices connected to the abduction ring. Meanwhile, residents have been urged to maintain vigilance and report suspicious activities as security agencies intensify efforts to curb kidnapping incidents across Ondo State.
Source: https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/security-firm-rescues-kidnap-victim-hands-suspects-to-police/
Nigeria News (Standard)
Ibadan Protesters Block Iwo Road, Demand Immediate Rescue of Abducted Oyo Pupils and Teachers
Police assure safe return as residents urge government to tackle insecurity in Oriire Local Council and across Oyo State
Police assure safe return as residents urge government to tackle insecurity in Oriire Local Council and across Oyo State
Vehicular movement was brought to a halt on Sunday as hundreds of protesters blocked the busy Iwo Road axis in Ibadan, Oyo State, demanding urgent action over the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Council. The demonstration saw residents from various communities converge with placards, calling on government and security agencies to secure the safe release of the victims and address rising insecurity in the state.
Protesters displayed banners with messages such as “Government Must Act – End Kidnapping in Oyo State,” “Oyo Is Bleeding,” and “Free the Ogbomoso Kidnapped Victims.” Some demonstrators offered prayers on the road, asking for divine intervention for the abducted persons’ safe return. The protest, which lasted several hours, caused significant traffic disruptions along one of Ibadan’s main thoroughfares.
The abduction incident in Oriire Local Council has heightened concerns about safety in Oyo State, particularly among parents, students, traders and farmers. Residents said insecurity has worsened in recent months, with frequent reports of kidnappings affecting both urban and rural communities. Stakeholders stressed that government must prioritise protection for vulnerable groups to restore peace and confidence.
In response to the demonstration, police authorities assured residents that efforts are ongoing to rescue those abducted. A statement by Oyo State Police Command said officers have intensified search operations around Oriire axis and neighbouring areas. “We are working tirelessly with other security agencies to ensure the victims are rescued unharmed,” a police spokesperson stated.
Protesters insisted that government’s response must go beyond promises, urging stronger action against kidnapping and violent crimes. As at press time, there was no official update on the status of the abducted pupils and teachers. Community leaders called for continuous pressure on authorities until concrete results are achieved.
Nigeria News (Standard)
Gunmen Kill 21 in Night Attack on Bokkos LGA, Plateau State
Security agencies yet to apprehend suspects as residents decry rising violence in North-Central communities
Security agencies yet to apprehend suspects as residents decry rising violence in North-Central communities
No fewer than 21 people have been killed and several others injured after suspected armed men attacked Kawel village in Mushere Kingdom, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State late Sunday night. Residents say the assailants stormed the community at about 11:40 p.m., opening fire while villagers were asleep, forcing many to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
A resident who asked not to be named due to security concerns described the attack as unprovoked, lamenting the lack of timely security response. “The attackers operated without resistance, and there was no immediate intervention from security agencies,” the resident said.
The incident is the latest in a string of violent attacks targeting rural communities in Plateau State, part of the North-Central zone. Locals say insecurity has worsened in recent months, with repeated invasions leading to loss of lives and displacement. Many residents are calling on government and security agencies to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable areas.
Bokkos Youth Leader Christopher Luka confirmed the death toll, stating that youth leaders received reports of the assault shortly after midnight. “A youth leader called around 12:10 a.m. to report that gunmen attacked the community and shot several persons. So far, 21 deaths have been confirmed,” Luka said.
As at press time, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack, and police authorities had not issued an official statement. Community leaders are urging government to deploy more personnel to safeguard affected areas and prevent further bloodshed.
Source: https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/21-killed-as-gunmen-attack-plateau-community/
Nigeria News (Standard)
Ogun State Auto Crash Claims Two Lives, Four Injured as Flood Sweeps Away Teenage Hawker
TRACE blames excessive speed for Sagamu-Benin Expressway collision; 13-year-old hawker narrowly escapes drowning in Odeda LGA flood
TRACE blames excessive speed for Sagamu-Benin Expressway collision; 13-year-old hawker narrowly escapes drowning in Odeda LGA flood
Two persons lost their lives while four others sustained injuries in an auto crash along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway in Ogun State on Sunday, according to confirmation from the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE). TRACE spokesperson Babatunde Akinbiyi, in a statement released yesterday, said the accident involved a Hanvan truck with registration number LAR 716 XB and a white Howo truck without a registration number.
Akinbiyi explained that six male occupants were involved in the incident, which occurred after the driver of the Howo truck, allegedly speeding, rammed head-on into the Hanvan truck. He stated that those injured were promptly rescued by a good Samaritan and rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at Idera Hospital morgue in Sagamu.
The agency attributed the cause of the accident to excessive speed on the part of the Howo truck driver. This latest crash adds to concerns over rising road accidents in Ogun State and across South-West Nigeria, especially during rainy season when roads are slippery and visibility is often reduced. Road safety authorities have repeatedly urged motorists to adhere strictly to speed limits and drive cautiously during adverse weather conditions.
In a separate incident also reported on Sunday, a 13-year-old vegetable hawker identified simply as Ademidun narrowly survived after being swept away by floodwaters during a heavy downpour at Ilugun-Itoko area of Ajangboun in Odeda Local Council of Ogun State. Residents said quick intervention by community members helped prevent another fatality.
TRACE has called on drivers plying major highways in Ogun State to exercise restraint and obey all traffic regulations, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. The agency further advised parents to caution their children against hawking or moving around during storms to avoid similar incidents.
Ibadan Protesters Block Iwo Road, Demand Immediate Rescue of Abducted Oyo Pupils and Teachers
Gunmen Kill 21 in Night Attack on Bokkos LGA, Plateau State
Ogun State Auto Crash Claims Two Lives, Four Injured as Flood Sweeps Away Teenage Hawker
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