Tag: Banditry

Insecurity: LND warn against negotiating with bandits

Aminu Imam
LND on insecurity

The League of Northern Democrats, (LND), has cautioned against increasing calls for negotiations with bandits terrorising northern Nigeria, insisting that any dialogue must be anchored on verifiable disarmament and genuine de-escalation measures. The warning was contained in a communiqué issued after the group’s meeting in Abuja yesterday, signed by its Assistant National Publicity Secretary, Mohmood Tunde Hassan. The LND stressed that true peace processes cannot be built on appeasement. “While all legitimate measures to end insecurity are welcome, giving criminals a free pass in the name of dialogue is unacceptable…

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Katsina Peace Deal: ‘Kill 10, 20 will rise’ – Bandit leader dares Armed Forces 

Aminu Imam
Bandit leader dares Army

A notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Ummaru, has warned that government military operations targeting bandits could exacerbate insecurity, asserting that any attempt to kill 10 bandits would lead to 20 more emerging in retaliation, while killing 30 could trigger further unrest in cities and villages. Ummaru made the remarks on Saturday during a peace dialogue between bandit groups and community leaders in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. He urged security operatives to exercise restraint, emphasizing that the dialogue process would only succeed if all parties approached it in good…

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Katsina: Many feared killed, as bandits strike  communities overnight

Aminu Imam
Katsina attack

Several people were feared dead after bandits attacked Tsakar-Kare and Ƴar-Kanya communities in Katsina State overnight. According to a post on X shared yesterday by security analyst, Bakatsine, the attackers stormed the two villages late Wednesday night, killing and injuring residents, abducting men and women, and stealing a large number of cattle and other livestock. “Yesterday night, bandits attacked Tsakar-Kare and Ƴar-Kanya communities all in Katsina State. They killed, injured, abducted several people both male and female and also rustled a large number of cattle and livestock”, Bakatsine wrote.  Authorities…

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Zamfara: Bandits abduct worshippers from mosque 24hrs after peace deal

Aminu Imam
Zamfara peace deal

Bandits yesterday abducted no fewer than 40 worshippers from a mosque located at the Gidan-Turɓe village in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara State. A Security expert, Zagazola Makama, who confirmed the news on his X handle yesterday morning, said the abduction of the worshippers came just a day after the peace deal which many saw as the right steps taken to usher in lasting peace in the North-West state. Makama, who quoted local sources in the community, said the attack occurred during the Islamic Fajr prayer, at about 5:30…

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Zamfara: Military confirms killing of 5 soldiers by bandits 

Aminu Imam
Zamfara banditry

The military forces in charge of security in the North-West, “Operation Fansan Yamma’ (OPFY), have confirmed the killing of five soldiers in an ambush along Lilo-kotorkoshi road in Gusau local government area of Zamfara State. It was gathered that the five soldiers were killed while they were escorting some traders to Gusau market last Monday. However, scores of bandits were also neutralised. In an issued statement, the OPFY spokesman in the state, Captain David Adewusi, said the troops of 1 Brigade Forward Operating Base in Lilo village of Gusau LGA…

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Katsina: Bandits demand ₦5m peace levy from farmers ahead of harvest

Aminu Imam
Katsina bandits demand

Farmers in Ilali village, Katsina State, have reportedly been asked to pay ₦5 million to bandits as a condition to access their farmlands safely during the harvest season. The demand, which residents describe as a ‘peace levy’, is said to be aimed at preventing attacks while farmers carry out their activities. Security analyst, BaKatsine revealed the development in a post on X on Tuesday, stating: “Bandits have reportedly imposed a ₦5 million levy on residents of Ilali village in Katsina State”. Sources say the demand is framed as a fee…

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Katsina LGA signs peace accord with bandits 

Aminu Imam
Katsina LGA signs peace accord

Following the peace agreement in Jibia local government area of Katsina state, bandits terrorising the communities have now resorted to protecting the residents from external attacks. A resident of Magama community, Abubakar Mohammad, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen yesterday, expressed appreciation for the relative peace being enjoyed in the area. Narrating how peace returned to their communities, Mohammad recalled that about six months ago, there was a peace agreement with the bandits. The resident observed that since then, they have not recorded any case of bandits’ attack…

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Niger: Panic, as bandits in hijabs abduct school principal, woman

Aminu Imam
Niger banditry

Armed bandits have kidnapped two individuals, including the Principal of Junior Secondary School Melehe, during a late-night attack on the Melehe community, in Kontagora local government area of Niger State. According to reports, the incident occurred on Friday night, when the attackers, numbering about four, stormed the community between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. According to sources, the gunmen disguised themselves in hijabs and sat casually at the entrance of the victims’ residence, pretending to be ordinary women. Around 11:00 p.m., they reportedly removed the hijabs and forcefully entered the…

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Zamfara: 13 residents drown while fleeing from gunmen 

Aminu Imam
Zamfara residents drown

Over 13 residents have drowned in a river while fleeing from gunmen in Birnin-Magaji ward of Zamfara state. The gunmen were said to have attacked two communities in Birnin-Magaji on Friday. During the attack, some members of the communities escaped to board a boat to flee to a nearby riverbank. Residents told Reuters that there was only a single boat available, which was overloaded with fleeing residents. A health worker in Birnin Magaji, Shehu Mohammed, told Reuters that his elder son and nieces were among those who died in the…

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Katsina: Bandits kidnap couple, daughter, kill vigilante

Aminu Imam
Zamfara banditry

Suspected bandits have kidnapped three members of a family and the fatal shooting of another in an attack at Unguwar Filin Canada, in Katsina city. According to a statement from the State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, the incident occurred around 3:00a.m yesterday. “Today, Tuesday, August 26th, 2025, at about 0300 hrs, some suspected gunmen armed with dangerous weapons attacked the residence of one Anas Ahmadu, male, age 33, of Filin Canada Quarters, Katsina State, kidnapping him, his wife, and his daughter, Jidda Anas. “Also, the hoodlums…

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