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Forensic verification of $7bn FX backlogs show corruption – CBN

Ehime ALEX
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Forensic verification of $7bn FX backlogs show corruption – CBN

THE Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, said that forensic verification of $7 billion foreign exchange (FX) backlogs which revealed corrupt practices is nearing completion and is in the final settlement process.

Cardoso disclosed this at the Nigeria Foreign Exchange (FX) Code launch in Abuja on Tuesday, January 28.

He said the process is to help restore transparency and trust in the market and uncover unethical and illegal practices in FX transactions.

“We must not forget where we are coming from. The era of multiple exchange rates, which created privileges for a select few at the expense of most Nigerians, severely undermined market integrity.

“As an example, the $7 billion of FX backlogs that have taken over 12 months to verify has led to the discovery of multiple unethical and even illegal practices that we should not be proud of as a nation. The forensic verification process is now near complete, and final settlements will be processed accordingly,” Cardoso said.

He stressed that the practice had negative impacts on inflation, currency depreciation, and the erosion of public confidence in the system.

Cardoso assured that such distortions would no longer be tolerated under the FX Code, which mandates strict adherence to ethical principles.

The apex bank boss noted that CBN had embarked on reforms including the unification of exchange rate windows and recalibration of monetary policy tools, aimed at addressing structural issues.

He reiterated that the CBN is now on the part of preventing a recurrence of market distortions.

The ICIR can report that the FX backlogs stem from legacy issues during the period of multiple exchange rates and systemic abuses that eroded public confidence.

In February 2024, the CBN revealed that about $2.4 billion foreign exchange backlog was not valid for settlement.

At the time Cardoso asserted that of the initially reported $7 billion FX liabilities on the Federal Government, about $2.4 billion were identified as invalid following a forensic audit by Deloitte Management Consultant.

The audit’s findings showed various infractions, including non-existent entities and unauthorised FX allocations, making these liabilities invalid.

Cardoso had committed to clearing the FX backlog for the aviation sector when international airlines threatened to halt their operations in Nigeria, The ICIR reported.

Nigerians investing with Risevest are exposed to high-fraud risk, SEC warns

Harrison EDEH
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Nigerians investing with Risevest are exposed to high-fraud risk, SEC warns

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned Nigerians sternly against investing with Risevest Technologies Limited, stressing its high-fraud risk status.

The firm is a digital dollar/fund manager in the Nigerian capital market.

In a public notice released by the Commission on Tuesday, January 28, the SEC declared that Risevest is not registered to operate in any capacity within the country’s regulated capital market.

The public notice read, “The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“The Commission”) has been drawn to the activities of Risevest Technologies Limited, which holds itself out as a Digital Dollar/Fund Manager in the Nigerian Capital Market.

“The Commission hereby notifies the public that Risevest Technologies Limited is NOT Registered by it to operate in any capacity in the Nigerian Capital Market.

“Accordingly, the public is advised to refrain from engaging with Risevest Technologies Limited or any of its representatives in respect of any business pertaining or relating to the Nigerian capital market,” the notice stated.

The regulatory body noted that the firm’s activities pose significant risks to investors, as transacting with unregistered and unregulated entities increases the likelihood of fraud and financial losses.

The Commission, therefore, advised the public to exercise caution and verify the regulatory status of companies before making investment decisions.

The SEC emphasised that dealing with unapproved investment platforms could result in serious financial risks, reiterating that its role as the apex regulatory body in the capital market is to protect investors and ensure the credibility of investment platforms.

The Commission urged Nigerians to always confirm the regulatory status of investment firms via its dedicated portal (www.sec.gov.ng/cmos) before engaging in any financial transactions.

This verification process, the SEC insists, is crucial to safeguarding funds and avoiding fraudulent schemes disguised as legitimate investment opportunities.

“The Commission uses this medium to reiterate that transacting in the Nigerian Capital Market with unregistered and unregulated entities exposes investors to the risk of fraud and potential loss of investment.

“The investing public is therefore reminded about the need to confirm the status of companies and entities offering investment opportunities on the Commission’s dedicated portal – www.sec.gov.ng/cmos, before transacting with them,” SEC further warned.

The latest SEC advisory comes amidst growing concerns over online investment schemes promising high returns, with many unsuspecting Nigerians falling victim to fraudulent platforms that operate without regulatory oversight.

The ICIR reported that SEC has earlier blacklisted six e-commerce companies for operating without registration and for engaging in dubious financial services not authorised by the commission.

The unregulated online trading platforms SEC blacklisted are Prime Invest, FXBoxed and New Finance LLC & New Fx Limited.

The commission noted that unlisted firms were not registered by the SEC Nigeria, and the financial services offered by them are also not authorised.

Afenifere demands Nnamdi Kanu’s release, appoints Farotimi as organising secretary

Bankole ABE
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Afenifere demands Nnamdi Kanu’s release, appoints Farotimi as organising secretary

THE Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, led by Ayo Adebanjo, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Afenifere called on Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu in a communiqué signed by its deputy leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan.

The group described Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as a political detainee whose continued detention was unjustified.

The decision followed a meeting at Adebanjo’s residence in Ogun State on Tuesday, January 28.

According to the regional body, Kanu’s fair trial is no longer guaranteed due to the courts conflicting and controversial legal proceedings against him.

It argued that the IPOB leader’s detention without trial was unreasonable, given the circumstances surrounding his case, including his abduction in 2021 and repatriation to Nigeria.

“In the interest of justice and national reconciliation, Afenifere urges President Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu forthwith. There is no justifiable reason to continue to keep him in detention without trial,” part of the communiqué read.

At the meeting, Afenifere also announced the appointment of human rights activist Dele Farotimi as its new national organising secretary.

Farotimi’s appointment came barely 24 hours after a legal luminary, Afe Babalola, agreed to drop a defamatory suit filed against him.

Recall that Babalola had dragged Farotimi to court for allegedly defaming him in his book titled ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.

Meanwhile, at the meeting, Afenifere sounded the alarm on the state of insecurity in Nigeria, saying it was as bad as it was under the previous administration led by Muhammadu Buhari.

It called on the president to take serious action to protect the lives and property of people in the nation.

The group recalled the recent warning from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde about an influx of bandits as an example of why something needed to be done about insecurity.

Afenifere said Nigeria’s vast territory, population, and federal structure made it impossible to secure the country effectively with a single unitary police command, which it said made restructuring and state police imperative.

The meeting was attended by delegates from the South West, Kogi, and Kwara states, including Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele, Sola Ebiseni, and Akin Onigbinde, among others.

Police charge Sowore for calling Egbetokun ‘illegal’ IGP

Mustapha USMAN
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Police charge Sowore for calling Egbetokun ‘illegal’ IGP

HUMAN rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has been formally charged by the Nigeria Police Force (IGP) for alleged cyberstalking and false publication against the inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun. 

The charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, and shared by Sowore’s handle on X, on Tuesday, January 28, show that the lawsuit stemmed from Sowore’s posts on X, where he was said to have referred to Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP.”

According to the charge sheet seen by The ICIR, the police accused Sowore of making statements capable of causing a breakdown of law and order. 

The three-count charge alleged that on December 13, 2024, and December 20, 2024, Sowore knowingly transmitted messages via his verified X account to “cause a false publication against the inspector general of police.”

Part of the charges read, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, that on the 13th day of December 2024, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did intentionally and knowingly send messages through your verified X handle account “Omoyele Sowore” and cause a publication against the inspector general of police where you called him “…illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun” which you know to be false, for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order and you caused the message to be sent and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015 as Amended (2024) and punishable under section 24(2)(c) (ii) of the same Act.

“That you, Omoyele Sowore, that on the 13th day of December 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did intentionally and knowingly cause the transmission of messages through your verified X handle account “Omoyele Sowore” links and cause a publication against the inspector general of police where you called him “…illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun” which you know to be false and tagged the verified Nigeria Police Force X handle @policeNG, containing threats to insight (sic) the Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and harm it (sic) property or reputation of the inspector general of police or the Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed an offence and punishable under section 24(2)(c) (ii)of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015 as Amended 2024.”

The ICIR reports that the NPF had invited Sowore to its headquarters in Abuja on Monday, January 27, for allegations of “resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful order, acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest, compelling action by intimidation, reckless and negligent acts, refusal to assist public servant, and cyberstalking.”

He has since been kept in custody after he rejected the bail conditions by the police.

In a tweet on his X handle, hours after he honoured the invitation, the activist said the NPF requested that he deposit his international passport and provide a level 17 civil servant as a guarantor for bail.

He said he rejected the conditions and opted to remain in custody.

Consequently, the police re-evaluated his bail conditions and requested the production of a level 16 civil servant. The police also directed him to surrender his international passport, which he declined outrightly.

Controversies surrounding Egbetokun’s tenure

In a series of tweets in December 2024, Sowore dubbed Egbetokun illegal IGP. This followed earlier concerns raised by many Nigerians over the legitimacy of his continued stay in office after he had reached the mandatory retirement age of 60. 

However, the Senate, in a swift move, on July 23, passed a bill extending his tenure, allowing President Bola Tinubu to retain him in office beyond the previously established retirement age.

 The bill, widely criticised by many, including civil society groups, was seen as a move by Tinubu to consolidate his control of the police ahead of the 2027 elections. Egbetokun was Tinubu’s chief security officer (CSO) when the president was Lagos State governor.

Despite dissenting voices, the bill passed its first, second, and third readings in less than 20 minutes. 

To incorporate the new provision, the Senate amended Section 18 of the Nigerian Police Act 2020 by substituting sub-section (8) with the following revised clause:

“(8) Notwithstanding any other provision, every police officer shall serve in the Nigeria Police Force for 40 years or until they reach the age of 65, whichever comes first.”  

Whereas, the amended Section 18 (8) of the Nigeria Police Act stated: “Every police officer, upon recruitment or appointment, is required to serve in the Nigeria Police Force for a maximum of 35 years or until they reach the age of 60, whichever occurs first.” 

 

FG, Lagos sign MoU to begin 68km green line rail project

Ehime ALEX
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FG, Lagos sign MoU to begin 68km green line rail project

THE Lagos State Government said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government to kickstart exploratory work on the 68-kilometre Green Line rail project.

The state commissioner for information and strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, announced this during a citizen/media stakeholders forum on Monday, January 27.

He said the agreement was reached with the Federal Government’s Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) on behalf of the federal government.

The green line project will connect Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, traversing key areas such as Victoria Island, Lekki, and Ajah.

“The Lagos State Government has said it has signed an MoU with the Federal Government’s Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) to kickstart exploratory work on the development of the  Green Line project,” Omotoso said

The rail project is expected to enhance connectivity, support economic activities and contribute to the state’s infrastructure development.

It complements the progress made in the Blue Line and Red Line projects.

The ICIR can report that the first phase of the Blue Line, spanning 13 kilometres from Marina to Mile 2, commenced operations in September 2023.

The Red Line, covering 27 kilometres of its planned 37-kilometre route from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo in Lagos, began operations in 2024. It covers eight strategically located stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.

Construction is ongoing in the second phase of the Blue and Red Lines to meet the transportation needs of the state’s growing population.

The Federal Government has already proposed N146.14 billion in its 2025 budget estimates as counterpart funding for the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail Project, findings have shown.

The funding will be transferred to MOFI to manage on behalf of the Ministry of Transport for the project’s development.

In September, the Lagos State Government formalised an agreement with MOFI and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the Green Line’s development.

Omotoso added there are plans for the Lagos state government to connect the Red Line with the Blue Line, noting that work has also commenced on the second phase of the Blue Line, extending it from Mile 2.

Trump’s aid freeze puts millions of Nigerian HIV patients, others’ lives at risk

Mustapha USMAN
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Trump’s aid freeze puts millions of Nigerian HIV patients, others’ lives at risk

PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s decision to halt U.S. foreign aid funding for 90 days has sparked global concerns, particularly for life-saving health programmes like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). 

The funding freeze puts millions of people, including Nigerian HIV patients, at immediate risk, with fears of treatment disruption and possible deterioration of the health of people with the virus. 

The PEPFAR, established in 2003 under former President George W. Bush, provides antiretroviral therapy (ART) for over 20.6 million people worldwide. Its interventions also help to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and have saved an estimated 26 million lives. 

Nigeria, one of the countries most reliant on the programme, faces severe crises if the pause continues.

The ICIR reports that Nigeria bears the heaviest HIV burden in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over about two million people living with HIV in the country. In 2020 alone, AIDS-related deaths in Nigeria were estimated at approximately 49,000 across all age groups.

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Nigeria’s contribution to HIV fight is less than 20 per cent of its required funding.

According to the World Health Organization, WHO, an estimated 39.9 million people lived with HIV at the end of 2023. 

The agency noted that 65 per cent of these people were in the WHO African Region. In the same year, about 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes and an estimated 1.3 million people acquired the virus.

While there is no cure for HIV infection, access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, including for opportunistic infections, has made HIV infection a manageable chronic health condition and enabled people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.

The funding freeze stemmed from an executive order signed by Trump on January 20, 2025, directing a review of all foreign aid programmes to align with his “America First” policy. 

According to a report the State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, stated that “Consistent with President Trump’s executive order on reevaluating and realigning United States foreign aid, Secretary Marco Rubio has paused all U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for review,” 

He added that Trump “is initiating a review of all foreign assistance programmes to ensure they are efficient and consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda.”

According to NPR, while PEPFAR, funded solely by the U.S. government with a $6.5 billion annual budget, was not specifically mentioned in the announcement, a source at USAID confirmed that the stop-work order applies “100 per cent to PEPFAR.” 

It, however, noted that the State Department, on Sunday, January 26, confirmed the halt in an email to NPR, stating that the United States “is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.

The freeze has also been projected to impact USAID staff, with many contractors at risk of losing their jobs during the review.

“This is a matter of life or death,” warned Beatriz Grinsztejn, president of the International AIDS Society (IAS). “PEPFAR provides lifesaving antiretrovirals for more than 20 million people – and stopping its funding essentially stops their HIV treatment. If that happens, people are going to die and HIV will resurge.

“It makes no sense to suddenly stop this incredible catalyst of our global progress towards ending HIV as a threat to public health and individual well-being.”

Atiku Abubakar, El-Rufai warn of looming threat to Nigeria’s democracy

Mustapha USMAN
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Atiku Abubakar, El-Rufai warn of looming threat to Nigeria’s democracy

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have raised alarm over what they described as a growing threat to Nigeria’s democracy. 

Speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Abuja on Monday, January 27, the leaders warned that if urgent action was not taken, the country could lose its hard-fought democracy.

Abubakar highlighted the erosion of democratic values, arguing that Nigeria was at a crossroads. 

He criticised the growing influence of the judiciary in determining electoral outcomes, arguing that the courts, not the people, decided candidates and winners.

“We really are at a crossroads in this democratic experiment. We either decide we want to be democratic or we decide to abandon it,” he said.

Abubakar also expressed frustration with the National Assembly, calling for legislative reforms to empower political parties and ensure the people determine who governs them.

He further accused the Federal Government of undermining opposition parties through financial inducements, adding that some political party leaders were given N50 million each.

“I want to say it here publicly. I met with a political party leadership in the present opposition, and they told me flatly that this government gives them N50 million each.

“Where do we go from here? This means that if we are not careful, we are talking to some of you here, but you are recipients of the N50 million from the APC government.

“Do we really want to fight for democracy? If we don’t, we all go back to our homes. But if we do, I have been in this struggle for over 30 years, an attempt was made on my life, and I escaped. I went into exile, but I never gave up. My businesses were taken over, and I am still surviving. So, you need to make up your mind. I am not doing it for myself. For me, I have lived my life. I am doing it because of you,” the former PDP presidential candidate said.

On his part, El-Rufai said he shared similar concerns with Atiku, describing the current situation in the country as a “national emergency.” 

He warned that the opposition risks extinction unless it unites. 

“The way and manner opposition political parties are being targeted for destruction and the style and quality of governance in this country today is a national emergency. It should concern everyone. And I think this is a problem for all of us to think about and play a role in changing it because, as His Excellency (Abubakar) said, we stand the risk of losing democracy itself,” he said.

El-Rufai cited alarming voter apathy, referencing a poll that indicated 75 per cent of registered voters do not intend to participate in the 2027 elections. 

He called on opposition parties to form a united platform to challenge the ruling party and save the nation’s democracy.

 “We know what it is, and we don’t want a military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their ‘babarriga‘ and suits. So, this is a national emergency,” he warned.

The former Kaduna state governor further claimed that there was a deliberate effort to destroy parties like the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).

He urged opposition leaders to prioritise internal democracy and adopt stricter standards for party delegates and candidates.

“The problems are still there. However, I no longer believe that my party believes in confronting those problems. So, the distance between me and APC is widening, but I remain where I am because these problems remain the living problems of Nigerians and they have to be addressed. The only way to address them is through the instrumentality of the political parties,” he added.

FX code: CBN sets January 31 deadline for submission of compliance report

Ehime ALEX
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FX code: CBN sets January 31 deadline for submission of compliance report

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has asked participants in the foreign exchange market to submit compliance reports to the Nigeria FX Code on or by January 31.

The directive is contained in the FX Code document it released on Monday, January, 27.

It stated, “Market Participants will be required to conduct a self-assessment and submit to the CBN a report on the institution’s level of compliance with the FX Code by January 31, 2025.

“All Market Participants will thereafter be required to submit to CBN a detailed compliance implementation plan that is approved and signed by its Board along with the extracts of the Board meeting.”

The apex bank had on Wednesday, January 22 approved the release of the FX code to promote market participation and ethical conduct in the Nigerian FX market, The ICIR reported.

The code is also intended to offer clearer directives on the expectations for market participants and ensure that the market operates fairly and transparently.

It is to be formally launched at the CBN Head Office Auditorium in Abuja on Tuesday, January 28.

In the document released on Monday, CBN reiterated that its directive is part of efforts to strengthen ethical practices, governance, and transparency in the market.

The FX Code, which became effective on December 2, 2024, sets out principles of good practice to ensure a robust, fair, and transparent foreign exchange market.

It applies to authorised dealers licensed under the CBN Act of 2007, the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act of 2020, and other entities engaged in wholesale FX business in Nigeria, the apex bank stated.

It further mandated market participants to conduct a self-assessment and submit detailed reports on their level of compliance with the FX Code.

It said the reports must be endorsed by their bank’s board of directors and include an implementation plan for addressing any gaps in compliance.

Part of the directives also is that market participants will be required to file quarterly compliance reports with the Financial Markets Department of the apex bank.

The reports are to be submitted within 14 days after the end of each calendar quarter, starting from March this year.

To ensure adherence to the code, CBN outlined enforcement mechanisms, including monetary penalties as provided under the CBN Act of 2007 and the BOFIA Act of 2020.

The measures are designed to address any non-compliance and to promote integrity in the foreign exchange market.

The code is modelled on the Global FX Code and incorporates global best practices while addressing the specific dynamics of the Nigerian FX market.

It covers key areas such as ethics, governance, execution, information sharing, risk management, and settlement processes.

It expects market participants to maintain high ethical standards, establish sound governance structures, handle transactions fairly, protect confidential information, and implement robust risk management frameworks.

Sowore rejects police bail conditions, chooses to remain in custody

Bankole ABE
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Sowore rejects police bail conditions, chooses to remain in custody

A FORMER African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, said he rejected a stringent bail condition offered to him by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Monday, January 27.  

The NPF had invited Sowore to its headquarters in Abuja following his confrontation with some of its officers on the Lagos Airport Road. 

The police said the invitation, dated January 23, 2025, was in connection with allegations of “resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful order, acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest, compelling action by intimidation, reckless and negligent acts, refusal to assist public servant, and cyberstalking.”  

The invitation letter, signed by Ibitoye Rufus Alajide, requested Sowore to report to the Force Intelligence Department (FID) at 10 a.m. on January 27. 

But in a tweet on his X handle, hours after he honoured the invitation, the activist said the NPF requested that he deposit his international passport and provide a level 17 civil servant as a guarantor for bail.

He said he rejected the conditions and opted to remain in police custody.

“I have rejected a bail condition asking me to present a level 17 permanent secretary. Instead, I have offered to remain in police custody pending when the joke is over,” he posted.

The ICIR reports that the police action followed a video posted by Sowore on January 9, in which he confronted some officers for blocking the Airport Road. 

In the video, some gun-wielding policemen directed the vehicle conveying Sowore to park.

The activist declined the order and said it was wrong for the police to block an airport road.

“We are not parking. You are not supposed to be here. We are not parking. You are not supposed to be causing traffic on the Airport Road. We are not parking. Go and bring your Oga. You people should calm down.” 

However, despite Sowore’s objections, the officers stood in front of his car, demanding he park, but the activist refused and insisted they clear the road. 

Eventually, one of the officers standing by the roadside instructed his colleagues to let him proceed. 

The activist is known for his outspokenness on governance and social justice through his #RevolutionNow movement.

Bandits attack Abuja community, kidnap 5

Bankole ABE
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Bandits attack Abuja community, kidnap 5

BANDITS attacked the Chikakore community in Kubwa, Abuja, on Sunday, January 26, and abducted five residents.

According to Vanguard, police sources said the bandits raided the Health Centre extension area of Chikakore at around 11 pm, abducting a family of four, including one Adesiyan Akinropo, his wife, their son, and a person who visited them. A neighbour to the abducted family was also whisked away.

Reports say a woman was brutally hit with a gun butt during the attack, leading to a severe head injury that left her bleeding profusely, and she had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment.

By the time police operatives from the Byzahin Division arrived at the scene, the bandits had escaped with their hostages.

The FCT Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement through its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, a superintendent of police.

Adeh said the command received a distress call from the community at about 1:00 am on Monday, January 28, and promptly deployed its operatives to the area.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that seven unknown men, disguised as vigilante members and armed with machetes and sticks, attacked the residence of the victim. The suspects deceived him into opening his gate, after which they abducted him and three members of his family. A neighbour who attempted to intervene sustained injuries during the attack and was promptly rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for medical attention.
“The FCT Police Command has commenced a comprehensive search and rescue operation aimed at securing the safe recovery of the abducted victims and apprehending the perpetrators of this criminal act.”
It urged the public to help with any useful information that could help to apprehend the abductors.

The ICIR reports that the incident is just one of several recent attacks in the area, including a similar kidnapping in neighbouring Bwari town where police officers were injured.

Kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria, including the FCT, has been a major problem, with kidnappers targeting highways and apartments and even snatching pupils from schools.

In January 2024, the abduction of five young Nigerian sisters in Bwari sparked a national outcry and raised fears about insecurity in the country’s capital.

According to a family member, the sisters were kidnapped by armed men who burst into their home.

The attackers later killed one of the sisters, 21-year-old Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, after they failed to meet the ransom deadline.

The FCT police commissioner, Olatunji Disu, said the command dealt with a significant number of crimes, including 104 kidnappings and 268 armed robberies in the nation’s capital in 2024.

Disu said this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

The CP said 216 kidnapping and 132 armed robbery suspects were arrested during the year.

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