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Abuja Residents Cry for Help from Land Grabbers who have Opened them to Kidnappers, Earth Tremor
Abuja Residents Cry for Help from Land Grabbers who have Opened them to Kidnappers, Earth Tremor
By: Michael Mike
Residents of Katampe Extension, a community in Abuja have raised an alarm that they are now at the mercy of kidnappers and earth tremor following the ongoing illegal activities of land grabbers and the reckless use of high-calibre explosives in their community.
They called on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to intervene and bring sanity back to their community by checking the activities of the land grabbers whose only care is exploitation of people looking for home.
Situated on the eastern fringe of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Katampe Extension is bordered by the Katampe Hills to the north and the Abuja-Kubwa Expressway to the south.
The residents made their appeal while guiding journalists through the devastation caused by the illegal activities of land speculators.
They noted that natural waterways and drainage channels, essential for managing stormwater, have been blocked or allocated to developers, posing a significant risk to the area’s ecosystem and potentially destabilizing the Lower Usuma Dam.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Katampe Extension Residents Association (KERA), Wole Atolagbe, while conducting journalists round the community, said developers have been blasting rocks to create illegal connections between Katampe Extension and neighbouring districts in Bwari, such as Usuma and Jikoko. He alleged that these developers falsely advertise lands in Usuma and surrounding areas as part of Katampe Extension, thereby putting unsuspecting buyers at risk.
He added that: “This reckless blasting is not just an environmental issue; it’s a matter of safety for our community.”
Atolagbe warned that the ongoing development is increasing the risk of kidnapping for residents, as the previously secluded hills are being transformed into accessible routes for criminals.
Also speaking, KERA Vice President, Dr. Austin Maho, argued that the recent earth tremors in the area is linked to the frequent use of explosives by developers.
He said: “The noise from the explosions is deafening, and our buildings shake to their foundations. We are increasingly uncertain about the integrity of our homes.”
Maho lamented that a former FCT minister had previously halted the activities of illegal developers, but these operations have resumed covertly, threatening the integrity of the area.
He said: “If these activities are not checked, we could face catastrophic flooding of Usuma Dam, similar to what has occurred in Maiduguri and other parts of the country.”
The president of the residents association Muhammed Gimba, on his part, appealed to the government to intervene and protect their homes and environment from ongoing destruction.
He said: “We are appealing to Minister Nyesom Wike to restore the district to its original master plan and protect the community from further harm. We also urge the National Assembly, particularly the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on the FCT, to investigate the ongoing situation in Katampe Extension.
“We need help. It is time for the government to act decisively and safeguard the people of Katampe Extension from these illegal activities.”
Abuja Residents Cry for Help from Land Grabbers who have Opened them to Kidnappers, Earth Tremor
Police repel bandits, rescue six kidnapped victims on Yankara-Funtua highway in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Police in Katsina State have successfully rescued six kidnapped victims after intercepting an armed bandit attack on Yankara-Funtua highway in Faskari Local Government Area.
Sources said on Jan. 24 at about 1:25 a.m., unidentified armed bandits blocked the highway and abducted six occupants of a green Honda Civic, registration number AAA 518 BC, en route from Funtua to Faskari.
The DPO Faskari, on routine patrol, promptly engaged the hoodlums in a tactical gunfight.
The bandits were overpowered and fled into the bush, abandoning their mission. All six victims, Rabi Hamisu, Safare Musa, Abubakar Samaila, Shehu Umar, Sara’u Yahaya, and Ibrahim Babangida, were rescued unharmed and safely returned to their homes.
Intensive patrols continue in the area, while efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects are ongoing.
Police repel bandits, rescue six kidnapped victims on Yankara-Funtua highway in Katsina
Suspect arrested for trespassing, attempting robbery at Bauchi Emir’s palace
By: Zagazola Makama
A 20-year-old man, Umar Hamza, was apprehended Wednesday night for trespassing and attempting to steal from the Emir of Bauchi’s residence.
Sources said Hamza entered one of the Emir’s son’s rooms carrying a bunch of keys and tried to commit theft around 8:20 p.m. on January 23.
He was intercepted shortly after the act and taken into the Police custody for questioning.
Police said Preliminary inquiries indicate the suspect intended to steal from the palace.
Suspect arrested for trespassing, attempting robbery at Bauchi Emir’s palace
VP Shettima Returns To Abuja, Says Nigeria Firmly Back On Global Economic Frontline
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after a week-long diplomatic and economic mission to Guinea-Conakry and Switzerland.
This is just as he said Nigeria has reclaimed a frontline seat in global and regional policy conversations.
VP Shettima arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of Guinea’s President, Mamadi Doumbouya, and leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos.
According to the Vice President, the trip is part of Nigeria’s renewed commitment to regional solidarity in West Africa and its determination to reposition the economy under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
The Vice President had departed Abuja for Conakry, where he attended President Doumbouya’s inauguration, reaffirming Nigeria’s leadership role within ECOWAS, while opening new pathways for bilateral cooperation in agriculture and manufacturing.
From Guinea-Conakry, Senator Shettima proceeded to Davos, Switzerland, where he led the Nigerian delegation at the WEF 2026.
One of the highpoints of his engagements in that country was the commissioning of Nigeria House Davos, the Nigeria’s first-ever sovereign pavilion on the Davos Promenade, designed as a permanent investment hub showcasing opportunities in solid minerals, agriculture and the digital economy.
At a high-level WEF session titled, “When Food Becomes Security,” the Vice President outlined Nigeria’s new national food security framework, describing agriculture as a strategic pillar of national security and macroeconomic stability.
Vice President Shettima also joined former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, to advance the Accra Reset Initiative, a forum advocating African industrialisation driven by domestic capital and value chains rather than foreign aid.
On the economic front, the Vice President told investors that Nigeria’s macroeconomic indicators were stabilising, citing a projected 4.4 per cent GDP growth in 2026 and a decline in inflation to 12.94 per cent.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s imminent transition into a net exporter of refined petroleum products, anchored by the Dangote Refinery, and the growing export of digital talent.
VP Shettima Returns To Abuja, Says Nigeria Firmly Back On Global Economic Frontline
Police repel bandits, rescue six kidnapped victims on Yankara-Funtua highway in Katsina
Bandits abduct another four occupants of charcoal-laden vehicle in Kajuru LGA in Kaduna
Nobody is replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima. Tinubu affirms he remains the best and envisions a strategic partnership for Nigeria’s future.
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