The senate has approved the sum of N50 million as donation to the families of two teachers and three security personnel who lost their lives during the abduction and rescue operation of pupils and teachers in Oriire LGA of Oyo state.

While announcing the donation at plenary on Wednesday, the senate president, Godswill Akpabio, said each of the five bereaved families would receive N10 million from the upper legislative chamber.

The donation comes days after security agencies successfully rescued the abducted schoolchildren and teachers after almost two months in captivity.

The rescue operation claimed the lives of three military officers — F.A. Isaac, Silas Musa and Abena John Jerome

Two teachers — Michael Oyedokun and John Olaleye — also lost their lives during the abduction.

Akpabio recalled that the senate had, on Tuesday, commended President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies for the successful rescue operation.

He said the senate also recognised the sacrifices made by security personnel who died during the mission.

“We also noted the fact that three of the personnel who went for rescue operations lost their lives in the course of trying to rescue those children,” Akpabio said.

“An army lieutenant from Adamawa was killed, a police sergeant was killed, another private soldier was killed, and many people were wounded.”

He added that two teachers who were abducted alongside the pupils were also killed while in captivity.

“So, we have taken the motion to applaud the government, we applauded the security agencies, and we are pleading that the same be extended to any other part of the country, wherever there may be any Nigerian in captivity,” he said.

“So today we just felt, after a discussion with the leaders, that we are going to also support the victims’ families. Like the young lieutenant was just 28 years old.

“So we are sending a token of N50 million to them, to be divided among the five deceased families — the families of the two teachers and the families of the three operatives who lost their lives. N10 million each on behalf of the senate.”

The proposal was adopted by voice vote.

The federal high court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

In a ruling on Wednesday, Joyce Abdulmalik, the trial judge, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was able to prove that the properties were proceeds of unlawful activities.

Details later…

Gunmen have reportedly abducted the principal of Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, one National Examinations Council (NECO) ad-hoc official and four students during the ongoing NECO examination in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Salisu Oyiza,  Kogi State Police Command spokesperson, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, said the attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday while candidates were writing the examination.

“During the incident, four students, the school principal and one NECO ad hoc staff member were abducted by the attackers,” Ms Oyiza said.

She said a combined team of the police and other security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation.

“So far, one of the abducted students has been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators,” she added.

According to the police spokesperson, the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Naziru Kankarofi, the Commander of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the state’s Security Adviser were heading to the community for an on-the-spot assessment.

She said the command would issue a detailed statement after obtaining more verified information.

The abduction comes a few days after suspected kidnappers ambushed a funeral convoy along the Ochadamu-Ejule Road in Ofu Local Government Area on 9 July, abducting nine mourners, including two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who were accompanying the remains of Deputy Corps Commander Augustine Ikwue to his hometown in Benue State.