Gunmen Abduct 227 in Overnight Raid on Niger State School ¡

By Michael Ehindero

Nigeria’s insecurity crisis deepened on Friday as gunmen abducted 227 people during an overnight attack in Papiri, Niger State.

The assailants struck between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., storming St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, a boarding facility. According to authorities, 215 students and 12 teachers were taken. No fatalities were reported, though a security guard sustained gunshot injuries.

Police and military personnel have launched a joint search operation in surrounding forests and have pledged to secure the safe release of the victims. Officials say the attack bears similarities to previous kidnappings linked to ransom-driven criminal groups.

The Niger State government accused the school of disregarding earlier directives to suspend boarding activities due to escalating threats in the area. Meanwhile, families of the abducted continue to wait in anguish as public outrage grows over the recurring mass abductions.

In a post on X, U.S Congressman Riley Moore wrote:

 


Heartbreaking. 

St Mary's Catholic School in Nigeria was attacked overnight with more than 50 students and teachers being kidnapped. 

Enough is enough. We must do everything we can to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ.



Share this story

Comments

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Trending Stories On MEB

Uganda Shuts Down Internet as President Museveni seeks to extend 40 year rule

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Uganda has been plunged into a nationwide digital blackout on Tuesday evening as the government ordered internet service providers to sever connections just two days before a pivotal general election. The formal directive from the Uganda Communications Commission cited the need to curb misinformation, electoral fraud, and potential incitement to violence as justifications for the shutdown.  While government officials privately confirmed the order to AFP, the administration has avoided making a public announcement, reportedly to distance itself from the controversial decision. The timing of the disconnection heightens tensions as President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his four-decade rule against a familiar challenger, singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine. The blackout, which commenced at 6:00 pm local time, marks a stark reversal of recent government promises. Authorities had previously dismissed reports of an impending shutdown as "false" rumors designed to sp...
Read more

Trial of K!llaboi who allegedly mvrdered his Girlfriend to begin today

By Michael Ehindero
Image
The trial of Nigerian internet punter Benjamin Best , popularly known as Killaboi , is set to commence today, Thursday, January 15, 2025. ___________________ RELATED : K!llaboi & Austa: The Billionaire Punter, The Model, and the M8rder That Shook Social Media! ___________________ Mrs. Cordelia Okonye, mother of the late Augusta Onuwabhagbe, confirmed the development in a post on her social media page, stating that the matter would be heard at the High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Best is accused of killing 21-year-old Onuwabhagbe, a student of Lead City University, at his residence located at No. 24a Abiola Apooyi Street, Oral Estate in Ajah, Lagos, in July 2023. He reportedly fled the country shortly after the incident and was declared wanted by Nigerian authorities. He was arrested in Qatar in February 2025 and later extradited to Nigeria in April 2025 to face trial. Share this story
Read more

52 AAU Students Arrested at Midnight and Jailed over Kidnapping Protests [WATCH]

By Michael Ehindero
Image
A high court has remanded 52 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) , following a protest against local insecurity that turned violent in Ekpoma, Edo State. The demonstration was initially organized by residents to decry a recent surge in killings and kidnappings. However, the situation escalated as mobs looted commercial shops and vandalized the ancestral palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma. _______________________ _______________________ While police moved in to restore order, several students claimed they were caught in a dragnet. Many reported being arrested during a 3:00 AM raid on their hostels, maintaining they were asleep when security agents arrived.  The suspects were transported to the court in a police van, where anxious relatives gathered to await the hearing. Presiding Judge, Justice William Aziegbemi, declined to grant bail, citing a lack of jurisdiction over the matter. He directed the defense team to file formal bail applications at the Ubiaja High Cour...
Read more

Negligence in a Nigerian Hospital caused the death of my 21 month old son - Chimamanda Adichie

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Eminent Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has alleged medical negligence in the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, who passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.  Adichie’s media team confirmed to ARISE News on Saturday that the author penned a detailed statement of the incident, which was originally shared privately with family and close friends before becoming public. In the statement, Adichie said her son was taken to Euracare Hospital for an MRI scan and the insertion of a central line. He was sedated for the procedure but allegedly not properly monitored after being administered propofol, resulting in severe complications, including loss of responsiveness, seizures, and cardiac arrest. She stated that her son “would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th,” where he was taken for medical procedures. Adichie explained that her family had been in Lagos for Christmas when her son developed symptoms they initially a...
Read more

X officially Suspends @twitter Account

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Elon Musk 's X has officially suspended the iconic @ twitter handle in a move that marks the final symbolic severance from its past. The account, dormant since Elon Musk’s $44 billion takeover, now displays a "Rule Violation" notice, though the company has not specified which policy was broken. The move marks a symbolic end for the "Blue Bird" era. Since the 2023 rebrand, Musk has steadily erased legacy features to make room for his "everything app" vision. While some see the suspension as a routine cleanup of inactive assets, others view it as the ultimate sunsetting of the Twitter brand. Neither Musk nor X leadership has commented on the deactivation. Share this story
Read more

Nigerian FG declares Public Holidays on December 25th, 26th & January 1st

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo _____ The Federal Government has declared Thursday, December 25 , and Friday, December 26, 2025 , as public holidays to mark Christmas Day and Boxing Day .  It also announced Thursday, January 1, 2026 , as a public holiday for the New Year celebrations. The announcement was conveyed in a statement on Monday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajayi , on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo . Dr Tunji-Ojo extended Christmas and New Year greetings to Christians in Nigeria and across the world, as well as to all Nigerians. He noted that the festive season provides an opportunity to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice exemplified by the birth of Jesus Christ. He urged Nigerians, irrespective of religious or ethnic background, to use the period to pray for peace, security and national progress, while supporting the Federal Government’s efforts toward u...
Read more

Court grants former AGF Malami, Wife & Son 1.5 Billion Naira Bail

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abdulaziz Malami , his wife, and his son. Each defendant was admitted to bail in the sum of ₦500 million, accompanied by stringent conditions intended to ensure their appearance for trial. The court's decision follows Malami’s period in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he has been held since December 8. His detention followed a reported failure to satisfy administrative bail terms previously established by the commission. In his ruling, Justice Nwite mandated that each defendant must provide two sureties in like sum. These sureties are required to be owners of landed property within the high-brow Abuja neighborhoods of Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa. Furthermore, the court ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports and land title...
Read more

Bill Gates pays $8 Billion to ex-wife Melinda Gates as part of Divorce Settlement.

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Bill Gates transferred $7.9 billion to a nonprofit led by Melinda French Gates in late 2024, according to a recent tax filing, the New York Times revealed. The move forms part of an agreement reached last year, in which Gates pledged $12.5 billion to support French Gates’ philanthropic efforts after the former couple opted to stop collaborating through the Gates Foundation. Gates and French Gates, whose 27-year marriage ended in 2021 in what remains one of the most expensive divorces in history, have continued to reshape their philanthropic legacies independently. Following the split, French Gates received roughly $76 billion in assets. Before the transfer was disclosed, Gates, now 70, held an estimated net worth of $118 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. French Gates, 61, is currently valued at about $17.7 billion. The funds were directed to Pivotal Philanthropies, a tax-exempt nonprofit launched in 2022. It sits within French Gates’ broader network, Pivotal V...
Read more

BOXOFFICE ON THURSDAY - Sean Combs: The Reckoning

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Executive Producer : 50 Cent  Director : Alexandria Stapleton Coming : December 2 Streaming On : Netflix ________________________ ________________________ Plot :  In a 4 part series, ' The Reckoning ' is a staggering examination of the media mogul, music legend, and convicted offender Sean 'Diddy' Combs .  In July, Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation for purposes of prostitution, and is currently serving time in federal prison.  ________ The film includes previously unseen footage and fresh interviews with several of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former associates, childhood friends, artists, and employees, according to a press release. Director Stapleton says this documentary extends beyond Combs, Cassie, the alleged victims, and the ongoing legal proceedings. In her words: “This story ultimately serves as a mirror reflecting us as a society and what it means when we elevate celebrities to such high pedestals,” she said....
Read more

Arsenal and England star Declan Rice banned from driving for 6 months

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Arsenal and England ace midfielder Declan Rice has been hit with a six-month driving ban after being caught speeding twice on the same road in just one week. The £105million midfielder was first caught doing 37mph in a 30mph zone on January 3 last year. Barely five days later, the 26-year-old was caught again on the same stretch of the A217, hit for doing 49mph in a 40mph limit. The England international, who did not attend the hearing at Crawley Magistrates Court Tuesday, 01/06/25, he was hit with a £2,185 bill in fines and costs.  The disqualification comes after the new offences took his license to 15 points, way over the total limit. Share this story
Read more

Most Read Stories From Past Month

Uganda Shuts Down Internet as President Museveni seeks to extend 40 year rule

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Uganda has been plunged into a nationwide digital blackout on Tuesday evening as the government ordered internet service providers to sever connections just two days before a pivotal general election. The formal directive from the Uganda Communications Commission cited the need to curb misinformation, electoral fraud, and potential incitement to violence as justifications for the shutdown.  While government officials privately confirmed the order to AFP, the administration has avoided making a public announcement, reportedly to distance itself from the controversial decision. The timing of the disconnection heightens tensions as President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his four-decade rule against a familiar challenger, singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine. The blackout, which commenced at 6:00 pm local time, marks a stark reversal of recent government promises. Authorities had previously dismissed reports of an impending shutdown as "false" rumors designed to sp...
Read more

Trial of K!llaboi who allegedly mvrdered his Girlfriend to begin today

By Michael Ehindero
Image
The trial of Nigerian internet punter Benjamin Best , popularly known as Killaboi , is set to commence today, Thursday, January 15, 2025. ___________________ RELATED : K!llaboi & Austa: The Billionaire Punter, The Model, and the M8rder That Shook Social Media! ___________________ Mrs. Cordelia Okonye, mother of the late Augusta Onuwabhagbe, confirmed the development in a post on her social media page, stating that the matter would be heard at the High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Best is accused of killing 21-year-old Onuwabhagbe, a student of Lead City University, at his residence located at No. 24a Abiola Apooyi Street, Oral Estate in Ajah, Lagos, in July 2023. He reportedly fled the country shortly after the incident and was declared wanted by Nigerian authorities. He was arrested in Qatar in February 2025 and later extradited to Nigeria in April 2025 to face trial. Share this story
Read more

Nigerian FG declares Public Holidays on December 25th, 26th & January 1st

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo _____ The Federal Government has declared Thursday, December 25 , and Friday, December 26, 2025 , as public holidays to mark Christmas Day and Boxing Day .  It also announced Thursday, January 1, 2026 , as a public holiday for the New Year celebrations. The announcement was conveyed in a statement on Monday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajayi , on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo . Dr Tunji-Ojo extended Christmas and New Year greetings to Christians in Nigeria and across the world, as well as to all Nigerians. He noted that the festive season provides an opportunity to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice exemplified by the birth of Jesus Christ. He urged Nigerians, irrespective of religious or ethnic background, to use the period to pray for peace, security and national progress, while supporting the Federal Government’s efforts toward u...
Read more

52 AAU Students Arrested at Midnight and Jailed over Kidnapping Protests [WATCH]

By Michael Ehindero
Image
A high court has remanded 52 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) , following a protest against local insecurity that turned violent in Ekpoma, Edo State. The demonstration was initially organized by residents to decry a recent surge in killings and kidnappings. However, the situation escalated as mobs looted commercial shops and vandalized the ancestral palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma. _______________________ _______________________ While police moved in to restore order, several students claimed they were caught in a dragnet. Many reported being arrested during a 3:00 AM raid on their hostels, maintaining they were asleep when security agents arrived.  The suspects were transported to the court in a police van, where anxious relatives gathered to await the hearing. Presiding Judge, Justice William Aziegbemi, declined to grant bail, citing a lack of jurisdiction over the matter. He directed the defense team to file formal bail applications at the Ubiaja High Cour...
Read more

Court grants former AGF Malami, Wife & Son 1.5 Billion Naira Bail

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abdulaziz Malami , his wife, and his son. Each defendant was admitted to bail in the sum of ₦500 million, accompanied by stringent conditions intended to ensure their appearance for trial. The court's decision follows Malami’s period in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he has been held since December 8. His detention followed a reported failure to satisfy administrative bail terms previously established by the commission. In his ruling, Justice Nwite mandated that each defendant must provide two sureties in like sum. These sureties are required to be owners of landed property within the high-brow Abuja neighborhoods of Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa. Furthermore, the court ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports and land title...
Read more

Anthony Joshua's driver to be prosecuted for crash that killed Joshua's 2 friends

By Michael Ehindero
Image
The driver of the vehicle conveying former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua during the fatal crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been discharged from hospital and may be charged with reckless driving. “Anthony Joshua’s driver has been discharged from the hospital, and he is currently giving his statement,” the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin said. _______________________ RELATED : Anthony Joshua Injured in Ogun Road Accident, Two Dead _______________________ An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the driver of the truck involved in the accident fled the scene immediately and has been declared wanted by authorities. Joshua, 36, was rushed to Duchess International Hospital in Lagos and is reported to be in stable condition. However, two members of Joshua's entourage, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were killed at the scene of the crash. The boxer’s family earlier expressed concern over their inabilit...
Read more

Bill Gates pays $8 Billion to ex-wife Melinda Gates as part of Divorce Settlement.

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Bill Gates transferred $7.9 billion to a nonprofit led by Melinda French Gates in late 2024, according to a recent tax filing, the New York Times revealed. The move forms part of an agreement reached last year, in which Gates pledged $12.5 billion to support French Gates’ philanthropic efforts after the former couple opted to stop collaborating through the Gates Foundation. Gates and French Gates, whose 27-year marriage ended in 2021 in what remains one of the most expensive divorces in history, have continued to reshape their philanthropic legacies independently. Following the split, French Gates received roughly $76 billion in assets. Before the transfer was disclosed, Gates, now 70, held an estimated net worth of $118 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. French Gates, 61, is currently valued at about $17.7 billion. The funds were directed to Pivotal Philanthropies, a tax-exempt nonprofit launched in 2022. It sits within French Gates’ broader network, Pivotal V...
Read more

BOXOFFICE ON THURSDAY - Sean Combs: The Reckoning

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Executive Producer : 50 Cent  Director : Alexandria Stapleton Coming : December 2 Streaming On : Netflix ________________________ ________________________ Plot :  In a 4 part series, ' The Reckoning ' is a staggering examination of the media mogul, music legend, and convicted offender Sean 'Diddy' Combs .  In July, Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation for purposes of prostitution, and is currently serving time in federal prison.  ________ The film includes previously unseen footage and fresh interviews with several of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former associates, childhood friends, artists, and employees, according to a press release. Director Stapleton says this documentary extends beyond Combs, Cassie, the alleged victims, and the ongoing legal proceedings. In her words: “This story ultimately serves as a mirror reflecting us as a society and what it means when we elevate celebrities to such high pedestals,” she said....
Read more

Negligence in a Nigerian Hospital caused the death of my 21 month old son - Chimamanda Adichie

By Michael Ehindero
Image
Eminent Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has alleged medical negligence in the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, who passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.  Adichie’s media team confirmed to ARISE News on Saturday that the author penned a detailed statement of the incident, which was originally shared privately with family and close friends before becoming public. In the statement, Adichie said her son was taken to Euracare Hospital for an MRI scan and the insertion of a central line. He was sedated for the procedure but allegedly not properly monitored after being administered propofol, resulting in severe complications, including loss of responsiveness, seizures, and cardiac arrest. She stated that her son “would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th,” where he was taken for medical procedures. Adichie explained that her family had been in Lagos for Christmas when her son developed symptoms they initially a...
Read more

Killaboi & Austa: The Billionaire Punter, The Model, and the Murder That Shook Social Media!

By Michael Ehindero
Image
How did their love turn cold? Murder, Lies, Cheating, Evasion & PowerPlay is the story between Benjamin Best Nnanyereugo aka ' Killaboi ' & his Late Girlfriend Augusta Onuwabhagbe Osedion aka ' Austa '. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AUSTA (@austa_xxo) THE MURDER In July 2023, a rumor was brewing that Nigerian Punter Killaboi had murdered his girlfriend, Austa, a student of Lead City University at the time. Just few days leading to the murder, Benjamin 'Killaboi' Best had been on a Gambling Streak posting his winnings of the grand prize of a NGN100,000,000 and couple of other Millions of Naira which he won from the Nigerian Bookie 'Sportybet' on Social Media. Life was going really good for Benjamin who had just purchased a Lamborghini Urus ¡ It came as a shock when Killaboi himself came on social media to confess to the Murder of his girlfriend Austa in a ser...
Read more