Tag: Niger State

FG secures release of abducted 100 Niger State schoolchildren

Aminu Imam
FG secures release

…As 165 remain in captivity The Federal Government yesterday confirmed the release of 100 abducted pupils of St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara local government area of Niger State – the first major breakthrough since gunmen seized more than 300 students and staff from the remote community on November 21. Presidential spokesman, Sunday Dare, as well as multiple security sources disclosed that the freed children were already being profiled and handed over to the Niger State Government. However, officials declined to confirm whether a ransom…

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NAF Chief visits pilots who ejected before Niger jet crash

Aminu Imam
Screenshot 20251207 133139

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has visited the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet pilots who ejected from their aircraft after experiencing an in-flight emergency near NAF Base, Kainji. Aneke met with the aircrew to check on their wellbeing and to commend their professionalism and quick decision-making, which ensured they landed safely despite the aircraft’s failure. Recall that the jet crashed a few kilometres from the Karabonde town in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on Saturday. In a post on Facebook yesterday, the Air…

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Military jet crashes in Niger community

Aminu Imam
Military jet crashes

A Nigerian Air Force jet has reportedly crashed near Karabonde, Borgu local government area of Niger State. A Niger State-based online digital television network stated yesterday evening that: “Two Nigerian Air Force Pilots Reportedly Survive Alpha Jet Crash Close to Karabonde, Borgu local government area of Niger State”, in a short post on its official handle, accompanied by a 57-second-long video. Corroborating the incident, an eyewitness had earlier told newsmen that the two pilots successfully ejected before the aircraft went down. He said, “I think the aircraft took off from…

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Niger Abduction: ‘265 teachers, students still unaccounted for’ – Catholic Bishop

Aminu Imam
Bishop on Niger abduction

More than one week after gunmen kidnapped dozens of schoolchildren from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Niger State, 265 teachers and children are still unaccounted for.  The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora diocese, Bulus Yohanna, who stated this yesterday during an interview, said the figures comprise 12 teachers and 253 schoolchildren, adding that the diocese has forwarded the names of the hostages to the Niger State governor, Umar Bago.  “We had 303 pupils and students missing and 12 teachers also not seen. We added that number to…

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Niger: 10 feared kidnapped in Shiroro LGA communities

Aminu Imam
Niger kidnap

Bandits  have reportedly abducted 10 people from Unguwan-Kawo and Kuchipa villages in Shiroro local government area of Niger State, yesterday. The Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, told newsmen that the incident occurred on Wednesday evening. “On November 26, 2025, at about 8 p.m, a report was received indicating that suspected armed men abducted about ten persons from Unguwan-Kawo and Kuchipa villages, of Shiroro local government area. Effort is being made to rescue the victims,” Abiodun said. Earlier on the same day, another attack was reported in…

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Niger school attack: Catholic Diocese raises alarm, as missing students rise to 303

Aminu Imam
CAN calls

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has announced that an additional 88 students have been declared missing following Friday’s attack on St. Mary’s Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara local government area of Niger State. This brings the total number of unaccounted-for students to 303, far higher than the initial figure released after terrorists stormed the school in the early hours of Friday, abducting both students and staff. Many parents who rushed to the school to retrieve their children after news of the attack said they were unable to find them, heightening…

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Insecurity: “Defend yourselves”, Gov. Bago charges Niger residents

Aminu Imam
Bago to Niger residents

Niger State governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, has urged residents to take up arms and defend themselves against the increasing wave of bandit attacks across the state. The governor emphasised that his administration will not negotiate with kidnappers or pay ransom for victims, warning that such actions only encourage further criminal activities. During a visit to the communities of Rijau and Magama in Kontagora, recently affected by bandit attacks, Bago stressed the urgency of self-defense measures. He stated: “The state has reached a point where the people must stand up and…

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CAN reacts, as Niger Gov. introduces licence for preachers 

Aminu Imam
CAN reacts Niger

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, said it will not take legal action against the state government over the introduction of a licence for preaching. The state’s Bureau for Religious Affairs had recently introduced a ‘Da’awah Registration Form and Certification Process’ for preachers, sparking reports that the state government had banned religious preaching. However, CAN’s spokesman, Daniel Atori, said, in a statement on Sunday, that the directive did not affect Christian clerics, and therefore would not warrant a lawsuit. “The Christian Association of Nigeria, Niger state chapter,…

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Niger: Panic, as bandits in hijabs abduct school principal, woman

Aminu Imam
Niger banditry

Armed bandits have kidnapped two individuals, including the Principal of Junior Secondary School Melehe, during a late-night attack on the Melehe community, in Kontagora local government area of Niger State. According to reports, the incident occurred on Friday night, when the attackers, numbering about four, stormed the community between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. According to sources, the gunmen disguised themselves in hijabs and sat casually at the entrance of the victims’ residence, pretending to be ordinary women. Around 11:00 p.m., they reportedly removed the hijabs and forcefully entered the…

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MURIC condemns mob killing of woman in Niger

Aminu Imam
MURIC condemns

The Muslim Rights Concern, (MURIC), has condemned the lynching of a woman, identified only as Amaye, over alleged blasphemous statement in Kasuwan-Garba town, Mariga local government area of Niger State. The organisation, in an issued statement signed by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Is’haq Akintola, yesterday, described the attack as “extra-judicial, barbaric, and un-Islamic” and urged immediate Police action. According to Akintola, Amaye, a food vendor, was accused of making blasphemous remarks about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during an exchange with a customer. Recall that the incident occurred on…

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