The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered a child trafficking syndicate led by Pastor Dayo Bernard of the End Time Army Ministry in Plateau State.
The operation, carried out in Jos, led to the rescue of 13 children and the arrest of Bernard alongside four accomplices. The pastor confessed to deceiving parents under the guise of running a charitable orphanage and selling the children for profit.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, January 6, 2024.
Pastor Bernard further confessed to traveling to Kwande District, Quan Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, under the guise of evangelism, where he deceived parents by claiming to run an NGO/Orphanage offering sponsorship from nursery to higher education, convincing them to release their children to him.
“Police operatives apprehended a child-trafficking syndicate led by one Pastor Dayo Bernard ‘m’ of End Time Army Ministry, Bukuru, Plateau State on the 2nd of December 2024,” the statement read.
“The operation led to the rescue of five children between the ages of 2-4, abducted from various homes in Jos, Plateau State, and the arrest of other members of the syndicate identified as Rita Agboeze ‘f’, Victoria Ugwu ‘f’, Nanman Puntel ‘f’, and Peter Ukwuani ‘m’.
“Upon interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to having abducted and sold 13 children at varying prices, all of whom have been recovered by the police and reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.”
The Plateau State chapter of the Intellectual Muslims Forum has distributed bags of rice to Muslim communities across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state as part of efforts to support residents ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
The distribution exercise was carried out under the palliative initiative of Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, which involves the distribution of 100 trucks of rice and N1.2 billion worth of palliatives to states across Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking during the distribution, representatives of the forum said the gesture was aimed at easing the economic burden on vulnerable families and enabling Muslim faithful to celebrate the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival with relief and joy.
Beneficiaries drawn from various communities across Plateau State expressed appreciation for the intervention, describing it as timely in view of the current economic realities.
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to supporting humanitarian initiatives and promoting the welfare of Muslim communities across the state.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Sovereign Trust Insurance (STI) Plc has launched a ₦5.02 billion Rights Issue aimed primarily at strengthening its capital base and positioning the company for future growth in line with evolving regulatory requirements in the Nigerian insurance industry.
The company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Lucas Durojaiye, said the capital raise is part of STI’s broader strategy to reinforce its financial stability, improve operational capacity and secure a stronger position within the insurance market.
According to him, the Rights Issue will help the underwriting firm exceed the recapitalisation benchmark introduced under the Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 while enhancing the company’s ability to meet claims obligations and sustain long-term growth.
Durojaiye explained that the company’s current asset base stands above ₦27 billion and noted that the additional capital injection from the Rights Issue and strategic investors would further strengthen the firm’s financial standing.
He also stated that the fresh funds would support technology upgrades, expansion of digital insurance platforms and the development of innovative insurance products targeted at emerging risks and underserved sectors of the economy.
The STI boss added that the company plans to expand its market presence and improve service delivery through enhanced digital channels, including online policy processing and claims management systems.
“Our strategy is focused on building a stronger and more competitive insurance company. A robust capital base is critical to achieving our growth objectives and positioning Sovereign Trust Insurance among the top players in the Nigerian insurance industry,” Durojaiye said.
He urged shareholders to fully subscribe to the Rights Issue, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen their investment in the company while supporting its long-term expansion plans.
The Rights Issue is currently open to existing shareholders, with application forms available through licensed stockbrokers and the company’s investor platform.
