A humanitarian and field operations professional, Ms Lydia Chinenye Nwankwo, has been killed following an attack by suspected bandits in Sokoto State.

Nwankwo was reportedly attacked alongside members of her team while returning from field operations in Kajiji community, Shagari Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

The development was confirmed by her sister, Chisom Nwankwo, who announced the tragic incident in a Facebook post on Thursday October 8.

According to the family, the team came under heavy attack from the armed bandits who opened fire on their vehicle, killing the young humanitarian worker on the spot.

The incident has thrown the humanitarian community in Sokoto into mourning, with colleagues describing Lydia as a dedicated field worker committed to serving vulnerable communities in hard-to-reach areas.

Report also says the Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the attack on communities in Shagari LGA, disclosing that a police inspector also lost his life during the incident.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmed Rufai said the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Shagari LGA had briefed the state headquarters on the development.

Rufai, however, noted that the Command was still collating details of the attack to ascertain the full extent of casualties and damage.

“I just spoke with the DPO in charge of Shagari now, who confirmed the attack on some communities in the local government. We are still on it. I cannot give details now until I gather my information about the incident” report quoted the police mouthpiece.

The mother of a prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member abducted on the Owerri-Onitsha expressway has said her family paid N6 million to secure his release, while police attributed the victims’ freedom to a joint security operation.

The woman, whose name was not disclosed, told News Central Television on Wednesday that the kidnappers initially demanded N50 million for each victim before accepting N6 million for her son.

Her account came as the Nigeria Police Force announced that security operatives had rescued 20 abducted NYSC members in Imo State

Speaking in Yoruba, the mother described how the family pleaded with the abductors to reduce their demand.

“Initially, they asked us to pay N50 million per head. We asked whether the amount was for all of them, but they insisted that no, it was for each person. Later, we started begging them to take N500,000. But they said no and started scaring us,” she said.

“Three days ago, they called and said we should pay N15 million. We kept begging them that all we had was N5.5 million. They said no and insisted on N6 million. So, it’s that N6 million we paid.”

She said the abductors contacted the victims’ parents and directed them to send representatives to a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to her, her husband and the victim’s elder brother went to the meeting.

“When they got to the meeting place, they asked them to send the money to an account and that when they got to Imo state, they should change the money into dollars,” she said.

The woman said her elder son was among those who took the ransom to the kidnappers and later called to confirm his brother’s release.

“It was the brother who called us this evening to say that they had handed the ransom to the kidnappers and that they had released our son. We also spoke to the boy,” she said.

She said her son’s captivity left her unable to sleep and caused her considerable distress.

“Since he was kidnapped, I have been stooling. I couldn’t sleep either. But I was relieved when I heard they had been released. It was as though the chains all over me were loosened,” she said.

The victims were abducted on October 1 when gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses carrying passengers from Ibadan along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway.

A video circulated on X showed that the passengers were travelling to Akwa Ibom and Abia states in buses bearing the Abia State Government logo when the attackers intercepted the vehicles, robbed them and forced them into the forest.

Imo State Police Command spokesperson, Henry Okoye, confirmed that the attack occurred at about 6.30 a.m. He said 10 victims were rescued immediately, while security operatives began intelligence-led search-and-rescue operations for the others.

Police operatives have arrested a 45-year-old man, identified as Adeniyi Benjamin, for allegedly operating an unlicensed medical facility and administering treatments for about seven years without any medical qualification or licence.

The spokesperson for Oyo Police Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, in a statement on Wednesday said Benjamin was arrested on 2 October 2026 at about 3:00 p.m. by operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit at his clinic, ‘Life Is Good Hospital’ in the Olodo area of Ibadan.

Ayanlade said the arrest followed credible intelligence about his activities at the facility.

“The suspect was found attending to patients and administering treatments, particularly fertility-related treatments, despite not being a certified medical doctor,” the statement said.

The Police spokesperson listed items recovered from the premises of the suspect’s facility to include two weighing scales, four Quantum Magnetic Resonance Body Analysers, one stethoscope, a large carton of assorted medicines, and specimen bottles.

The Oyo police spokesperson added that during preliminary investigation, Benjamin confessed that he had been operating as a quack practitioner for about seven years without any licence to practise medicine.

He further stated that he specialized in fertility-related treatment, which he administered to patients at the facility.

DSP Olayinka said the confession raised concerns about potential risks to members of the public who may unknowingly seek treatment from unqualified persons, especially in sensitive areas such as fertility care.

Investigation is ongoing to establish the full extent of the suspect’s activities and determine whether other persons were connected to the operation of the facility. Appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the law, the police said.

The command advised residents to verify the professional credentials and registration status of anyone offering medical services before entrusting their health or that of their loved ones to them.

Oyo Police Command also appealed to residents to promptly report suspicious medical facilities or persons presenting themselves as medical practitioners without verifiable credentials to the police or relevant regulatory authorities.

The Command also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and said it would continue to collaborate with relevant regulatory agencies and members of the public to address activities that endanger residents’ health and safety.