News

OPSH Confirms 8 Dead in Kanam Ambush, Debunks Reports of 70 Casualties, Warns Against Unauthorized Operations

Published

12 months ago

July 9, 2025

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The headquarters of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) has confirmed the deaths of eight vigilante members following a deadly ambush by suspected bandits near Odare Forest in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, contrary to earlier reports suggesting that over 70 vigilantes were killed.

The tragic incident occurred on Monday, July 6, during a self-organised security patrol by vigilantes from Wase and Kanam LGAs who were targeting suspected criminal hideouts in the dense forest reserve bordering Bauchi and Taraba States.

Initial reports from community sources and local vigilante leaders had placed the death toll at more than 70, with Kukawa and Bunyun communities reportedly worst hit. The Chairman of the Kukawa Vigilante Group, Aliyu Baffa, had earlier told reporters that the team was ambushed by heavily armed bandits just outside Kukawa town, resulting in mass casualties and several missing persons.

“They took us by surprise,” Baffa had said. “More than 70 of our men were killed on the spot. By evening, we had already buried them in Kukawa, but several others are still missing.”

In Bunyun village, another resident, Musa Ibrahim, said at least 10 members of a local security team were killed, and several houses were torched during the bandits’ raid.

However, in a statement issued Tuesday, OPSH clarified that while an ambush did occur, only eight vigilante members lost their lives. The statement, signed by OPSH Media Information Officer, Major Samson Zhakom, stated that the vigilantes embarked on the operation without prior notice or coordination with security agencies.

According to OPSH, the group made a stop at Kukawa to finalise arrangements before proceeding to the forest, but clashed with residents, looted shops, and seized over 20 motorcycles before continuing their mission. Shortly after leaving the town, they were ambushed near Odare Forest.

Troops from OPSH’s Sector 2 in Wase have since launched a search and rescue operation to locate the missing vigilantes, while the bodies of the deceased have been recovered and given proper burials.

Major Zhakom warned against further unauthorised security operations, stressing that while the desire to protect communities is commendable, such actions must be coordinated with appropriate authorities to avoid unnecessary casualties and civil unrest.

“OPSH strongly cautions against the conduct of unauthorised operations. We urge all vigilante groups to seek proper clearance and coordination before embarking on any mission,” he said.

He assured the public of OPSH’s commitment to peace and stability in Plateau State and urged residents to support security agencies by providing credible intelligence and reporting suspicious movements.

The incident underscores the growing complexities of community-based security efforts in bandit-prone regions, and the need for structured collaboration between local initiatives and state-backed security forces.

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News

Golden Eaglets: Agege Wonderkid Abdussalam Lands Nigeria Squad As China Tournament Beckons

Published

1 hour ago

July 3, 2026

Preport

Spartan FC midfielder Abdussalam has taken another giant step in his rapidly rising career after earning a place in Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets squad for the 2026 China International Youth Football Tournament.

The talented youngster from Agege, Lagos, will be among the 20 players travelling to Yinchuan, China, where Nigeria will compete against hosts China, Australia and Tanzania from July 5 to 11 as part of preparations for the WAFU B U-17 Championship later this year.

His selection is a major reward for his outstanding development at Spartan FC and further reinforces Agege’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s biggest talent-producing communities.

«”This is a dream opportunity for Abdussalam and another proud moment for Spartan FC as one of our own gets the chance to represent Nigeria,” a club official said.»

The Golden Eaglets, five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions, will use the four-nation tournament to fine-tune preparations for the WAFU B U-17 Championship, which serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Head coach Uwejamomere Eboboritse will lead the Nigerian delegation to China alongside assistants Kalli Mohammed Kachalla and Abdullahi Isa, with the technical crew expected to assess the squad against quality international opposition.

For Abdussalam, the tournament presents a golden opportunity to establish himself in the national team setup and strengthen his chances of making Nigeria’s final squad for the WAFU B Championship.

The invitation also represents another milestone for Spartan FC, a club that has continued to build a reputation for producing young talents capable of progressing to the national teams and professional football.

As the Golden Eaglets begin another journey in search of continental and global success, all eyes will be on the Agege-born midfielder as he looks to seize his opportunity on the international stage and continue his remarkable rise in Nigerian football.

Business

Firm linked to Otudeko’s Honeywell Group buys 14% stake in Ikeja Hotel

Published

2 hours ago

July 3, 2026

Preport

HGL Real Estate Limited, a company with no significant digital presence, linked to billionaire tycoon Oba Otudeko, has acquired a 14.1 per cent stake in Lagos-listed hospitality provider Ikeja Hotel.

Ikeja Hotel “received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares,” according to a regulatory filing on Thursday.

Based on Thursday’s closing share price, the firm’s holding in Ikeja Hotel is valued at over N13.2 billion.

The share purchase places HGL Real Estate among the top seven shareholders of the company, second only to Oma Investments Limited, which occupies the pinnacle of the pecking order with a 25.8 per cent interest.

HGL Real Estate does not own or run a known website, which is odd for a company financially enabled to own shares worth several billion naira in another firm.

Even on the Honeywell Group Limited (HGL)’s website, HGL Real Estate is not mentioned anywhere among the subsidiaries, including among the group’s real estate subsidiaries, which comprise Anchorage Leisures Limited and Uraga Real Estate.

PREMIUM TIMES’ checks with the Corporate Affairs Commission, as well as the commission’s beneficial ownership register, did not return any information related to the company.

In May 2023, Honeywell Group announced the appointment of Kemi Adeoye, its chief financial officer, to the board of Ikeja Hotel as a non-executive director.

“As a member of the board, Mrs Adeoye will play a crucial role in representing HGL’s interest in the company and ensuring continued value creation for stakeholders,” Honeywell Group said at the time.

“HGL’s investment in Ikeja Hotel Plc is in line with its mission to create, build, and invest in great businesses that create enduring value and improve lives,” it added.

In 2022, Honeywell Group consummated a deal to sell its 71.7 per cent shareholding in Honeywell Flour Mills to Nigeria’s largest flour-maker, Flour Mills.

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The enterprise value of the transaction was N80 billion.

Mr Otudeko served as the chairman of FBN Holdings (now First HoldCo) from 2012 until 2021, when he was ousted during a board shake-up by the Central Bank of Nigeria for his role in what the regulator described as a breach of corporate governance.