Gunmen on Tuesday 2nd November 2022 kidnapped Ayuba Mangdihis a retired police officer in Plateau State.
Mangdihis was reportedly abducted at his residence in the Panyam community, in the Mangu Local Government Area of the state.
A resident, Bulus Shedrack, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Wednesday 3rd November, said it happened around 11 pm.
Shedrack said, “He was sleeping when the kidnappers came knocking and asked him to open the door. When he realized they were kidnappers, he pleaded with them, but they forced his door open and took him away after releasing some gunshots. Since then, we have not seen the retired police officer and the kidnappers have yet to contact the family for ransom.”
The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached for comments as his phones were switched off.
It’s worthy of note that about two weeks ago, Mr. Gashon Leks also from Daika was kidnapped but later released after a ransom was paid.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a commanding 6-2 victory over Egypt in their final group-stage match, holding on to their title credentials with an impressive attacking display.
The 10-time African champions wasted little time asserting their dominance, opening the scoring through Asisat Oshoala, who calmly converted from the penalty spot after sending the Egyptian goalkeeper the wrong way.
Nigeria continued to dictate proceedings and doubled their advantage through Gift Monday, who made an immediate impact after coming off the bench in the first half.
However, Egypt reduced the deficit just before the break after converting a penalty to keep themselves in the contest.
The Super Falcons responded emphatically after halftime. Substitute Uchenna Kanu restored Nigeria’s two-goal cushion in the 57th minute, finishing off an excellent move created by Rinsola Babajide, who tormented the Egyptian defence throughout the encounter.
With the game firmly under their control, Nigeria continued to press forward and were rewarded with another penalty in the closing stages. Christy Ucheibe confidently dispatched the spot-kick in the 81st minute to make it 4-1.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade then got on the scoresheet from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, extending the lead to 5-1 before substitute Joy Omewa completed the rout in the 90+8th minute, finishing brilliantly after being set up by Ajibade.
Although Egypt managed to score twice, they were unable to cope with Nigeria’s relentless attacking play, as the Super Falcons showcased their squad depth with substitutes making decisive contributions throughout the contest.
Babajide capped off an outstanding individual performance by claiming the Woman of the Match award after providing two assists and consistently stretching the Egyptian backline with her pace, cretivity and delivery.
The comprehensive victory sees Nigeria advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Cameroon in what promises to be another heavyweight African encounter.
Should the Super Falcons progress, they will meet the winner of the quarter-final between South Africa and Morocco in the last four.
The result further reinforces Nigeria’s status as one of the favourites for the title as they continue their quest for an 11th WAFCON crown, with Justin Madugu’s side displaying both attacking firepower and the depth needed for a successful tournament run.
Artisans and entrepreneurs in Plateau State have received practical financial literacy and business-management training through a one-day empowerment programme delivered by the SHIFT Initiative in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Goals Project Support Unit, Plateau State.
The training was led by SHIFT Initiative’s Executive Director, Ulan V. Jatau, PhD, alongside members of the organisation’s team.
Participants were taken through practical sessions covering budgeting, bookkeeping, record-keeping, digital finance, modern business management and sustainable entrepreneurship.
The programme was designed to bridge the gap between vocational competence and business sustainability. While many artisans have valuable technical skills, inadequate knowledge of financial management can make it difficult to track income, control expenditure, reinvest profits and plan for expansion.
Through the sessions, participants learned how to make informed financial decisions, separate personal and business finances, monitor profitability and develop stronger structures for long-term growth.
Beneficiaries were selected from across Plateau State’s 17 local government areas and also received equipment and financial assistance under the wider empowerment programme.
Dr. Jatau and the SHIFT team emphasised that meaningful empowerment must combine tangible resources with knowledge. Providing business tools can improve immediate productivity, but financial discipline and management capacity are necessary to ensure those businesses remain viable.
The programme further demonstrated SHIFT Initiative’s role in supporting grassroots enterprise development through practical education, mentorship and community-focused capacity building.
By providing artisans with both knowledge and support, the initiative is helping strengthen local businesses, improve livelihoods and create opportunities for sustainable economic growth across Plateau State.