• Troops recover $4,500 from theft, sale of cows
Elders of Gidan Waya community in Lere Local Council of Kaduna State have cried out to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani to urgently wade into their plight, saying that after paying N40 million as ransom to terrorists, the 13 kidnapped victims remain in captivity.

The elders revealed that inhabitants of the community sold more than 3,000 bags of maize to raise the N40 million demanded by the kidnappers, yet the 13 abducted villagers remain in captivity weeks after payment.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, Chairman of the Elders Forum, Rabo Sambo, recounted how gunmen stormed the community on the night of November 11, 2025, killing four residents and abducting 13 others – five men and eight women.

According to Sambo, the attack happened between 11:00 p.m. and midnight when residents were already asleep. He confirmed that four people were killed during the attack, while five others sustained gunshot injuries.

Sambo said: “We just got a report from the bandits that a pregnant woman, who is among those kidnapped, has given birth in their custody,” lamenting that “her husband was among those killed during the incident.”

The elder explained that the attackers could not be identified as they wore masks during the operation. This month, the kidnappers reportedly contacted the community and demanded N40 million for the release of the victims.

Sambo said the community painfully mobilised the money by selling its food reserves. While acknowledging the efforts of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Lere, who reportedly visited the community several times after the attack, Sambo appealed for urgent intervention from the state and federal governments.

But troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) in the North-Central have recovered $4,500 from a “criminal” as proceeds of rustled cows during the conduct of offensive operations in the past week.

Director Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this at a briefing yesterday.  He said the operations were conducted in Bokkos, Bassa, Jos North, Jos South, Riyom, Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Wase Local Government Areas of Plateau State, as well as Kaura and Jamaá Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

“The sum of $4,500 was recovered from a criminal as proceeds from the sale of rustled cows,” Onoja said.