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Abduction of 14 Passengers in Benue State, Police Confirms
Benue State Police Command has confirmed the kidnapping of 14 travellers who were en route from communities in the Igede axis of Oju and Obi Local Government Areas.
According to the police, the incident took place on Monday evening along the Okpokwu corridor of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the development and said security agencies had commenced investigations.
“Concerning the abduction of passengers on the Okpokwu road, it is true that it happened. Investigation into the incident is ongoing, and we are on top of the situation,” Edet said.
The victims were said to be heading towards the South-West when their vehicle was attacked at about 7 p.m. along the Okpokwu axis.
The attack occurred barely two days after armed men abducted nine worshippers during a night vigil at St John’s Catholic Church in Ojije, Utonkon, within Ado Local Government Area.
DAILY POST gathered that the assailants shot two of the passengers during the operation, killing them on the spot.
A resident who spoke with our correspondent by phone from Makurdi said the travellers had set out from Iheijwo Market in Oju Local Government Area around 7 p.m. on Monday.
“They passed through the Utonkon–Ojapo/Okpoga road in Benue State when the kidnappers stopped them and took 15 passengers into the bush. One person was shot dead when the driver initially refused to stop,” the source said.
Also confirming the incident, the Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Mr Jackson Ominyi, told our correspondent on Tuesday that he was briefed about the killing of two victims during the attack.
Ominyi further disclosed that intervention by the Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area had resulted in the rescue of two of the abducted passengers.
“My security officer called me a few hours ago to inform me that some of our people were abducted around the Okpokwu axis.
“I commend the Chairman of Okpokwu LGA for ensuring the rescue of two persons so far and for his assurance that all the remaining 12 abductees will be rescued,” Ominyi said.
DAILY POST reports that the spate of recent attacks has intensified fear among residents and travellers in parts of the state.
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Breaking: Nigerian Workers Demand N300,000 Minimum Wage, FG Faces Fresh Salary Pressure
The Federal Workers Forum, FWF, has demanded an immediate increase in the federal minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000, noting that the current salary structure can no longer sustain civil servants amid Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
The Forum made the demand in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly, with the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation listed among the recipients.
The workers also proposed a new salary structure that would place the highest-paid Level 17 officer on a monthly salary of N1.5 million, while Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn N300,000.
“We call for justice and immediate wage review now, adjust the federal minimum wage to N300,000 and a maximum wage of N1.5m for the Level 17 officers,” the Forum said.
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The FWF argued that the Federal Government had not fully implemented the 2024 minimum wage agreement, claiming that federal workers had yet to receive the full consequential adjustment and associated allowances.
“It will surprise you to hear that the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024. We have been in the battle for full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage,” it said.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in August 2026, demanded an upward review of the minimum wage to N500,000.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu’s government increased the minimum wage to N70,000 per month from N30,000.
However, the cost of living for many Nigerians has tripled between 2024 and 2026.
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BREAKING NEWS: ‘No Support For Military Coup in Niger’ – FG
The Federal Government has said Nigeria will never support a military coup or any unconstitutional change of government, following claims that the country backed a failed coup attempt in the Niger Republic.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the statement, the claims circulating on social media are baseless and misleading.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria remained committed to democracy, constitutional rule and political stability in West Africa and would not support any attempt to remove a government through unconstitutional means.
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“Nigeria will never support illegality or unconstitutional change of government anywhere, no matter who is involved or which country is concerned,” he said.
The minister also rejected claims that Nigeria, through its membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), supported or endorsed the military takeover in Niger.
He said the Federal Government had already stated its position on the situation in Niger in an earlier statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 30, 2026.
According to him, Nigeria remains deeply concerned about developments in Niger and wants the country to return peacefully to stability and constitutional order.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s close historical, cultural and fraternal ties with Niger made peace and stability in the neighbouring country particularly important.
“Nigerians at home and abroad should disregard the videos and narratives circulating online, they are intended to create confusion and tarnish Nigeria’s image,” the statement said.
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