Nineteen people, including eight students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), have been rescued after being kidnapped by suspected pirates.

The victims were held for 21 days in the Bille waterways area in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

They were freed on Monday evening by a local security group known as the Royal Fouchee Security Services, also called the Amama Soldiers.

The group is led by Asari-Dokubo, a former militant leader and now the traditional ruler of the Torusaramapiri community in Degema.

The victims were kidnapped on May 6, when pirates attacked two boats heading to Bille.

Everyone in the boats was taken, including the students. After the attack, there were many calls for their release.

The kidnappers later contacted families and demanded N100 million in ransom.

Speaking about the rescue, Asari-Dokubo said he and his team began the operation on Sunday after being asked to help by the Department of State Services. He also said that one of the victims had earlier paid N10 million to the kidnappers but later helped them locate the hideout.

“These people were kept in terrible conditions for 21 days. They were starved and badly treated. One of them, who was released after paying N10 million, helped us find the kidnappers’ camp,” he said.

Asari-Dokubo also raised concerns about a missing soldier, Lance Corporal Salihu Ibrahim, who was in one of the boats. Only his uniform and ID card were found, and he fears the soldier may have been killed.

One of the suspects arrested, named Victor Friday, claimed he didn’t take part in the kidnapping. He said he only stayed in the camp and was used to running errands.

He named a man called Kentebe from Bayelsa State as the leader of the gang, who is now on the run.

A rescued victim, Victor Akinloye, who was also a boat driver, said they were beaten, stripped naked, and their phones and ATM cards were taken.

The kidnappers also withdrew money from their accounts.

Akinloye said he recognised the area where they were held. A few days later, he helped lead the rescue team to the location.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the rescue.

“Yes, I can confirm they were rescued on Monday evening through a joint effort by the police and the local security group,” Iringe-Koko said.

The Katsina State Police Command, on Sunday, arrested a 25-year-old housewife in connection with the death of her co-wife.

The incident occurred behind Dadi Primary School, SabonGari Area of Daura town, Daura Local Government Area of the state when a domestic dispute between co-wives escalated into a fatal confrontation.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Katsina.

The statement reads, “On May 24, 2025, at about 2300 hours (11pm), a report was received at the SabonGari Division through one Nasir Yusuf, the husband, that he had returned home from the market and found his first wife, namely, ZainabLawal ‘F’, 30 years old, lying in a pool of blood; she had been stabbed multiple times with a knife.

“Upon receipt of the report, quickly, the DPO led a team of operatives to the scene and subsequently rushed the victim to Federal Medical Centre, Daura for medical attention, where she was pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.

“During the investigation, her co-wife, one Rabi’aLabaran ‘F’, 23 years old, of the same address, was arrested in connection with the offence, where she confessed to the commission of the offence, stating that a misunderstanding with the deceased led to a scuffle and the tragic incident. Investigation is ongoing.

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Bello Shehu, urges members of the public to shun all acts of domestic violence and refrain from taking the law into their own hands, instead seeking legal means for redress in cases of disputes, as vigilantism only perpetuates harm and undermines the rule of law.”

A High Court sitting in Ado-EKiti yesterday sentenced one Jayeoba Oluwafemi, 56, to life imprison for defiling his 14-year-old stepdaughter.

The 56 year old convict was arraigned before Justice AdekunleAdeleye on Dec. 4, 2020 on one count charge of defilement.

The charge said the defendant on October 26, 2020 at Ado Ekiti defiled the 14 years old girl (names withheld), which is contrary to Section 31 (2) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

The victim, in her testimony before the court, said, “My mother got married to the defendant, we were not living together but he used to sleep in our house especially when my mother was not at home or travelled.

“On October 26, 2020, my mother travelled to Lagos and the defendant slept in our house, at midnight he forcefully had sex with me and thereafter, blood was gushing out of my virgina. I called my mother the following morning to inform her but the defendant denied.

“He continued this act anytime my mother was not around, I used to tell my mother on her arrival but she did nothing about it. When he noticed that I was telling my mother about his continuous sexual activity with me, he started threatening me.

“One day, he wanted to beat me and I ran out of the house, I met one woman on the road, I told her what happened and she directed me to the governor’s office to lodge official complaint which led to his arrest.”

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Julius Ajibare called six witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement and medical report as exhibits.

The defendant was also represented by his defense counsel, OladeleAdedeji, who called one witness.

In his judgment, Justice AdekunleAdeleye said, “I am of the humble view that the sexual intercourse sessions were on several occasions, it was not a one off affair.

“And upon careful analysis of the entire circumstance of this case, the change in story or outright denial by the defendant is an afterthought.

“The prosecution has established the offence of defilement against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. He is accordingly found guilty as charged and hereby sentenced to life imprisonment as provided for under the provisions of Section 31 (2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, said it is not responsible for 776 deaths and substantial economic losses across the South-East region of the country.

This was contained in a statement by the group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful.

The statement was in reaction to the allegations contained in a recent report by SBM Intelligence, which blamed IPOB for the deaths and substantial economic downturn in the region.

IPOB in the statement rejected the findings, describing them as inaccurate and unsubstantiated.

The group said it officially cancelled the Monday sit-at-home directive in 2021, and its detained leader, MaziNnamdiKanu, had previously disowned any individuals or groups acting independently to enforce such orders.

“Any incident attributed to sit-at-home actions should not be automatically linked to IPOB,” the group stated. Our organization has made it clear that we do not support any form of violence or disruption of public life,” it said.

IPOB maintained that no credible evidence had been presented directly connecting it to the incidents cited in the report.

The group called for independent verification, urging those responsible for the report to provide substantiation through appropriate legal channels.

It also questioned the timing of the report’s publication, noting that it came shortly before Biafra Heroes Day — an annual commemoration held on May 30 to honour individuals who died during the Nigerian Civil War.

“This period is deeply significant to our members and supporters. We hope that discussions and publications around this time would reflect sensitivity and balance,” IPOB added.

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, May 23, 2025, arraigned three staff members of a first-generation bank – Samuel IhechukwuAsiegbu, Fabian ChizaramOnyeimachi, and Kingsley KelechiEjim – before Justice Daniel Osiagor at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The defendants were charged alongside four other individuals – Hannah OkunlolaAdesokan, HamzaZakariya, AchionuChukwukaUbaku, and Sunday Osademe.

They face an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence, amounting to N8.5 billion.

One of the charges read: “That you, Samuel IhechukwuAsiegbu, Ejim Kingsley Kelechi, HamzaZakaria, Onyeimachi Fabian, AchionuChukwukaUbaka, Adesokan Hannah Okunlola, Nurudeen Ibrahim (at large), AlhajiSulaiman (at large), and others now at large, sometime in January 2025, conspired to cause the loss of funds from bank accounts domiciled in Wema Bank Nigeria Plc, with intent to unlawfully benefit financially, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and punishable under the same Act.”

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when read in court.

Following their plea, prosecuting counselAsoLarrys Peters requested the court to set a trial date and to remand the defendants at the Nigerian Correctional Centre.

However, counsel to Hannah Okunlola pleaded for her to be held in EFCC custody due to health concerns.

Justice Osiagor adjourned the case to June 6, 2025 for the commencement of trial.

He ordered that five of the accused be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, while Kingsley EjimKelechi was allowed to remain on his existing bail conditions.

Hannah Okunlola was directed to remain in EFCC custody pending trial.