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Edo State Police launch rescue operation after Lagos–Benin highway bus attack
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The Edo State Police Command has initiated a coordinated rescue operation following an attack on a commercial bus along the Lagos–Benin Express Road in the Iguobazuwa area. The incident, which occurred on April 18, 2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m., involved suspected kidnappers opening fire on a GUO Transport Company bus, killing the driver. Of the five passengers on board, one female sustained gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment, while three others were forcibly taken into a nearby forest. Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has ordered an immediate escalation of rescue efforts, deploying the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and tactical teams to work with local hunters and vigilantes in intensive bush combing operations. The Command has reassured the public of its commitment to safely rescuing the victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice, urging public support with credible information.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC announced that its interventions have reached over 8.7 million learners nationwide within a year. The commission also disclosed that more than N100bn in previously unaccessed funds have been unlocked, with over 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory now actively drawing on these resources. The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, shared this information during the commission’s 29th quarterly meeting with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards SUBEBs in Abuja. The meeting, themed 'Accelerating Basic Education Performance Through Digitally-Enabled Coordination,' highlighted the impact of joint interventions, including instructional materials, improved learning conditions, wash facilities, furniture, and the training of almost 500,000 teachers. Garba noted a shift towards more systematic and large-scale reforms in basic education, emphasizing improved funding access and collaboration with states. She also stated that 95 percent of projects for 2025 have been completed, demonstrating timely delivery. Digitalization is central to these reforms, with basic education action plans to be fully digitized from 2026 to enhance efficiency and transparency, allowing stakeholders to access real-time data on states’ needs. However, Garba raised concerns about inadequate school infrastructure, citing overcrowded facilities and insufficient sanitation. Professor Shehu Adaramaja, Chairman of SUBEB in Kwara State and D
Must ReadThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA has obtained an interim forfeiture order from the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt for 17 shipping containers filled with illicit opioids, valued at over N33.6 billion. This development, disclosed by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, follows an ex parte application filed by the agency. The containers, intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, between April and September 2025, contained millions of pills of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol, Carisoprodol, and over 2.4 million bottles of Codeine Syrup. Justice Adamu Mohammed granted the order, forfeiting the consignments to the Federal Government of Nigeria and vesting custody in the NDLEA pending the final determination of the suit. NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa Rtd, described the ruling as a significant blow to drug cartels, stating it dispossesses them of resources intended to fund criminality. Marwa commended the judiciary, officers of the Onne Port Command, sister security agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service, and international partners for their support in dismantling drug networks.
Must ReadThe Kaduna State High Court has postponed the bail hearing for former Governor Nasir El-Rufai to the first week of June 2026. Justice Darius Khobo moved the date in a case where the former governor faces multiple charges related to alleged financial crime and abuse of office, filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. Ukpon Akpan, counsel to the former governor, criticized the repeated adjournment, calling it "politically motivated." El-Rufai was present in court, arriving with ICPC and Department of State Services operatives, while security was tight around the premises. Supporters of the former governor also gathered outside. This adjournment follows El-Rufai's earlier claims of a "fresh plot" to implicate him and prevent his release on bail, warning of "malicious orchestrations" to ensure his continued detention. He also referenced an alleged plan to arrest him at Abuja Airport in February 2026 as "the beginning of a troubling pattern." The court had previously set April 21 for a ruling on the bail application before this latest adjournment.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has clarified its decision not to publicly name the forensic cybersecurity expert who investigated partisan social media posts allegedly linked to its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan. According to Lawrence Bayode, INEC's Director of Information and Communication Technology, the decision is deliberate because the case has been formally handed over to the National Cybercrime Center NCCC under the Nigerian Police Force. This measure aims to prevent interference with the ongoing investigation. Bayode stated that INEC had already subjected its initial findings to "multiple layers of technical verification" before escalating the matter. The NCCC is responsible for prosecuting cybercrime-related cases and will conduct an independent review. INEC emphasized that its involvement does not end with the initial findings, as the case has been transferred for further scrutiny. This development follows online controversy sparked by screenshots claiming the INEC chairman operated an X account and made a partisan post. Additional screenshots circulated, purporting to show emails, phone numbers, BVN records, and data breach links connecting Professor Amupitan to the account. A statement signed by Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, indicated that a detailed forensic investigation had exonerated Professor Amupitan, concluding that the claims were "fabricated, technically impossible and part of a coordinated disinform