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Nigerian kidnappers posing as white lovers lure, abduct Ghanaian women in Port Harcourt

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Nigerian kidnappers posing as white lovers lure, abduct Ghanaian women in Port Harcourt

By: Zagazola MakamA

Two Ghanaian women have been rescued from captivity in Nigeria after they were lured through social media by a group of Nigerian kidnappers who posed as white men in search of romantic partners.

Zagazola Makama understands that the victims, Anastasia Beidou and Evelyn Sewa Kunedu, were deceived into traveling separately to Nigeria, where they were abducted, tortured, and held for ransom.

At a press briefing held on Tuesday at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra, the Ghana Police Service confirmed that eight suspects have been arrested five in Ghana and three in Nigeria in connection with the kidnapping.

The Director-General of the CID, COP, Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the suspects used social media platforms to initiate romantic conversations with the victims while pretending to be foreign nationals seeking marriage.

The victims, unaware of the trap, accepted the marriage proposals. On April 22, 2025, both women traveled to Nigeria separately but arrived at the same location in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Upon arrival, they were seized by the gang and held captive.

The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 500,000 Ghana Cedis from each victim’s family. Videos sent to their relatives showed the victims bound and pleading for help, prompting immediate police investigations in Ghana.

A coordinated operation involving the Ghana Police Service, Nigeria Police Force, and the National Signals Bureau led to the arrest of five suspects in Ghana. These included Christian Emeka, and Basil Okonkwo, both Nigerians; and Titus Imba Awuni, Alfred Amalbio, and Mama Mahaseni Matei, all Ghanaians.

Three more suspects Peter Okoye, Paulinos Chidokwe, and Chinonso Okafo, were arrested in Port Harcourt and Onitsha by Nigerian authorities. The victims were rescued unharmed and are currently undergoing trauma care.

Investigations revealed that the suspects used Ghanaian SIM cards fraudulently registered with stolen Ghana Card details to receive ransom payments. One suspect, Titus Imba Awuni, a mobile money vendor, confessed to acquiring SIM cards through a telecom company employee who provided login credentials to register the cards illegally.

The suspects used the SIM cards to receive a total of 13,200 Ghana Cedis in ransom, which was later transferred into a Nigerian bank account under the name Cecilia Williams.

The victims reported that while in captivity, they were stripped naked, beaten with shards of glass, wrapped in orange bedsheets, and threatened with death. The gang recorded the abuse to pressure their families for ransom.

DCOP Donkor warned the public, especially young women, to exercise caution in online interactions, noting that criminal syndicates are increasingly using social media to exploit and abduct unsuspecting individuals.

She added that efforts are ongoing to extradite the suspects to Ghana for prosecution and reaffirmed the commitment of the Ghana Police to combating cross-border crime through collaboration with regional and international partners.

Nigerian kidnappers posing as white lovers lure, abduct Ghanaian women in Port Harcourt

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Zulum Inaugurates 48-Classroom High Islamic College in Gubio

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Zulum Inaugurates 48-Classroom High Islamic College in Gubio

… Commissions 3 projects executed by Gubio LGA

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Tuesday, officially opened a newly constructed 48-classroom High Islamic College in Gubio Local Government Area of northern Borno.

The state-of-the-art institution is designed to offer a hybrid curriculum that integrates western education with traditional sangaya (Qur’anic) educational system.

Zulum had introduced an integrated policy framework which aims to provide students with a holistic education, grounding them in both religious principles and contemporary academic knowledge.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Zulum emphasised that the college is structured to ensure its graduates are not only deeply rooted in Islamic scholarship but are also fully equipped and qualified to pursue higher education in conventional institutions.

“Our focus has been on revitalising the system by preserving its rich tradition of Islamic scholarship while introducing modern subjects and vocational skills. We recognise the historic role of sangaya education in shaping moral values, discipline, and learning within our communities, while also equipping learners with essential skills in literacy, numeracy, science, technology, foundational English, and vocational training to enable them to function effectively and competitively in today’s society.”

“Through institutions operating under the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) approved curriculum, sangaya learners are now receiving a balanced education that integrates Islamic Studies with modern knowledge. These reforms have created clear pathways for graduates to obtain O-Level equivalent certification and, where they so desire, progress to higher institutions of learning to further develop their potential.”

The facility, in addition to the 48 classrooms, also features administrative blocks and a library. It is expected to serve hundreds of students from Gubio and surrounding communities, reducing the need for children to travel far from home for quality integrated education.

Zulum also commissioned the Gubio II Junior Day Secondary School, executed by Borno State Government. During a tour of the facilities, the Commissioner for Education, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, explained that classrooms are intended to provide safe and inclusive learning spaces, with a particular focus on improving access for adolescent girls.

… Commissions 3 projects executed by Gubio LGA

Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has commissioned three projects executed by the Chairman of Gubio Local Government Area, Mali Bulama Mali Gubio.

The projects include Gubio Oil Mills, Zulum Ultramodern Clinic, and Mustapha Gubio Shopping Complex.

The occasions were attended by the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi; Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno; and Members of the House of Representatives, Usman Zanah and Engr Bukar Talba.

Other dignitaries include the Speaker Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, commissioners, special advisers and other senior government officials.

Zulum Inaugurates 48-Classroom High Islamic College in Gubio

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Yobe: Prioritize security, Buni tells newly appointed Chairman of Yusufari

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Yobe: Prioritize security, Buni tells newly appointed Chairman of Yusufari

By: Yahaya Wakili

Governor Mai Mala Buni CON of Yobe State has charged the newly appointed chairman of the Yusufari local government area to consider security of lives and property as the priority of the administration.

Buni gave the warning today while swearing in Alhaji Adamu Jibrin as the chairman of the council following the death of Alhaji Bah Abba Aji some few days ago.

According to Buni, the death of the chairman has created a vacuum that must be filled for continuity in governance, and this justifies the appointment of Alhaji Adamu Jibrin as the new chairman of the Yusufari local government council.

He urged him to be a good team player for a result-oriented administration that would give members of the council and people of the local government area a sense of belonging.

Governor Buni also urged the new chairman to conduct government business transparently to promote accountability and probity as well as to channel government resources into areas of need that have a direct impact on the lives of the people.

He appealed to the people of the local government area to support the new chairman for a smooth and successful administration that would meet the needs of the people.

Yobe: Prioritize security, Buni tells newly appointed Chairman of Yusufari

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Zulum Boosts Rural Health Incentives With Major Allowance Increase

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Zulum Boosts Rural Health Incentives With Major Allowance Increase

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has approved a substantial increase in rural allowances for health workers as part of efforts to address the shortage of medical personnel in remote communities across the state.

The governor announced the decision after inspecting several government projects in the northern axis of Borno. The inspection covered Government Secondary School, Gubio; two general hospitals; and ongoing housing developments in Gubio and Magumeri Local Government Areas.

Under the new arrangement, medical doctors posted to rural areas under the State Hospital Management Board will receive a rural allowance equivalent to their full basic salary, representing a 100 per cent increase. Nurses and midwives serving in similar locations will receive a 40 per cent increase in their rural allowances. The policy takes effect from January 1.

Governor Zulum said the move was informed by persistent manpower gaps in public health facilities, particularly in rural communities.

“We are facing serious challenges with human resources for health. Many of our hospitals do not have enough doctors and nurses,” he said. “Our findings show that a good number of medical professionals prefer working with international organisations because the pay is better. We must respond to this reality.”

According to the governor, the improved welfare package is expected to make rural postings more attractive and encourage more qualified personnel to work in general hospitals at the local government level.

He expressed optimism that the incentive would significantly improve healthcare delivery in villages and underserved areas, adding that health workers willing to take up rural postings should report to the State Hospital Management Board.

During his visit to Government Secondary School, Gubio, the governor also directed the immediate provision of essential facilities for the school’s laboratories and library to improve teaching and learning.

The inspection tour was attended by the Senator representing Borno North, Mohammed Tahir Monguno; members of the House of Representatives, Usman Zannah and Engr. Bukar Talba; and several commissioners and senior government officials, including those in charge of information, works and housing, local government affairs, and water resources.

The allowance increase forms part of the Zulum administration’s broader strategy to strengthen public service delivery and improve living conditions in rural communities across Borno State.

Zulum Boosts Rural Health Incentives With Major Allowance Increase

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