Suspected bandits have killed a pastor with the United Church of Christ in Nigeria (UCCN), also known as HEKAN, Rev Yahaya Kambasiya, and abducted over 20 persons during an attack in Farin Dutse community of Kauru local government area of Kaduna State.

A statement signed by the President of the Church, Rev. Dr. Amos Kiri, said the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, October 28, 2025, left residents of the agrarian community in panic as heavily armed bandits invaded the area, shooting sporadically before whisking away several victims, among them members of the HEKAN Church.

According to Rev. Kiri, the slain cleric, Rev. Yahaya Kambasiya, was hiding in a nearby farm during the attack but was later shot dead when he attempted to return to the community, believing the gunmen had left.

“Reverend Kambasiya and a few others had to hide in a farm until the gunshots subsided. Unfortunately, when he came out thinking the bandits had gone, he was shot from behind and died instantly,” the statement read.

The church said the body of the deceased cleric has been deposited at a morgue while consultations were ongoing with his family members for burial arrangements.

A team of police operatives from the Anambra State Command, attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at Awkuzu, in the Oyi local government area of the state, has rescued a one-week-old baby girl sold for a total sum of N1. 7 million.

The state police Public relations officer of the state police command (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the unfortunate incident, said the mother of the baby girl who was paid N350, 000 and three other women suspected to be involved in the sale and purchase of the baby girl have been arrested.

He gave the names of the three women suspects as one Elizabeth Okafor, aged 62 years, Esther Nweke, aged 48 years and Ngozi Maanfa, aged 45 years.

He said that the police team stormed a location identified as Mama Maternity situated in Ifite-Awkuzu in the Oyi local government area following an intelligence report.

He mentioned that the commissioner of police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered the transfer of the case to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for a more discreet investigation

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has dismissed claims that he was arrested in connection with an alleged coup plot.

In a statement on Thursday, Ogbuku clarified that MD is currently attending the Commission’s meeting with Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Directors in Port Harcourt, televised live on Arise TV, during whch he urged participants to design and implement frameworks that would impact the future of the Niger Delta.

This comes amid reports in some sections of the media that the NDDC Managing Director was arrested in connection with an alleged coup plot.

On Wednesday, former Bayelsa State governor and former Nigerian minister Timpriye Sylva confirmed that his residence in Abuja was raided.

He, however, denied any involvement in the alleged coup plot.

In the past week, there have been rumours of a coup plot in Nigeria.

Thereafter, last Friday, President Tinubu reshuffled his country’s service chiefs.

However, the military and Nigerian government have repeatedly dismissed the alleged coup plot rumours.