Gunmen suspected to be bandits causing mayhem in parts of Benue State have abducted a Catholic seminarian, Mr. Kelvin Ochai.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday, when the armed men attacked the Bishop’s residence at the Asa III area in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

A statement issued on Friday by the Otukpo Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Joseph Aboyi Itodo confirmed the incident.

The statement said Bishop Michael Ekwoyi Apochi, “who is deeply saddened by this unfortunate development”, has called on all Christ’s Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo and all people of goodwill to earnestly pray for the seminarian’s quick and safe release.

“We commit our brother and all those in the kidnappers’ den throughout the country to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for their speedy and safe release from the hands of their abductors,” the statement added, offering prayers for the release of the seminarian and other Nigerians held by bandits and other gunmen.

Niger State Police Command has dismantled a notorious kidnapping syndicate linked to violent attacks in parts of the state and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, recovering 10 AK-47 rifles and arresting 71 suspects in a month-long offensive against criminal networks.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, disclosed the achievements during a press briefing in Minna, saying the command’s intelligence-driven operations in July also led to the recovery of 15 AK-47 magazines, 330 rounds of live ammunition and the rescue of kidnap victims.

Elleman said the breakthrough followed months of surveillance on armed gangs terrorising communities around Garam, Chachi, Ijah-Gwari, Ijah-Koro, Gauraka and the Kaduna Road corridor.

According to him, the suspected gang leader, Samaila Ilya, alias Yakumujuri, was arrested on July 10 at Kpakungu Roundabout, Minna, after earlier escaping during a fierce gun battle with police operatives in Bwari, Abuja.

During interrogation, the CP stated that the suspect allegedly confessed to participating in several kidnapping operations in Gauraka, Kubwa and Bwari while also narrating how members of the gang killed the son of a kidnapped woman despite collecting ransom before eventually releasing her.

The police commissioner said information supplied by the suspect led operatives to hidden weapons dumps in Gauraka forest and Bwari, where additional AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered.

Elleman explained that five other suspected members of the gang were also arrested, while three kidnapped victims were rescued during a tactical operation.

In another major operation, police intercepted one Zubairu Mohammed in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area, while conveying five AK-47 magazines and 185 rounds of live ammunition concealed inside a bag of cement.

Investigations are ongoing to identify the intended recipient of the weapons.

The commissioner said police also arrested suspects involved in armed robbery, culpable homicide, violent clashes and other criminal activities across the state.

He disclosed that the command rescued nine children and one abducted baby during the period, while recovering 17 stolen goats, four cows, three motorcycles and two vehicles.

Overall, he stated that the command recorded 71 arrests in July, recovered 10 AK-47 rifles, 15 magazines and 330 rounds of ammunition, describing the operations as a significant blow to organised crime in Niger State.

Other exhibits recovered included three cartons of tramadol, two bags of cannabis, 16 cutlasses, three plastic pistols, ATM cards, POS machines, mobile phones, face masks, assorted clothing and cash of ₦352, 000.

Elleman then assured residents that the police would sustain intelligence-led operations and pursue fleeing members of criminal gangs, urging the public to continue providing timely information to security agencies.

Armed bandits on Thursday attacked Lata Nna community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

In the fresh attack on the community, one person identified as Mohammed Abubakar Ndapkada was abducted by the daring bandits, raising renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in the area.

The incident occurred between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., according to community sources.

Local sources told NupekoTV that shortly after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted members of the community to confirm that Mohammed was in their custody. They also handed him the phone to speak with his brother.

During the brief conversation, Mohammed reportedly told his brother that he had been blindfolded and did not know where he was being held.

As of the time of filing this report, the abductors had not communicated any ransom demand or conditions for his release.

The latest incident comes barely weeks after security operatives repelled a similar attack in Lata Nna, underscoring the persistent threat posed by armed bandits to communities in Patigi Local Government Area.

Residents have again renewed their appeals to the state government, the Federal Government, and security agencies to urgently strengthen security operations across the area and ensure the safe release of the abducted victim.

The community has repeatedly raised the alarm over the worsening security situation in the area, with residents sending SOS messages to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and making several appeals through the media for increased military presence and sustained security intervention in Lata Nna and neighbouring communities.

They warned that, without urgent action, more communities in the area could remain vulnerable to recurring attacks by bandits.