Tag: Banditry

Katsina: Fear grips farmers, as notorious bandits leader enforce ‘peace tax’

Aminu Imam
Katsina bandits enforce ‘peace tax’

Residents of Doma village in Faskari local government area of Katsina State have reportedly begun paying a controversial ‘peace tax’ to a notorious bandit leader, Isiyaku Kwasha Garwa, in a desperate attempt to avoid further attacks after a deadly confrontation earlier this year claimed 21 lives. Sources based on the community told newsmen that the payment arrangement was reluctantly accepted by villagers following months of violent raids and threats by armed groups operating in the area. Under the deal, residents are required to make periodic payments to Garwa and his…

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Katsina: Bandits kill 3, injure 11 in dual attacks – Police

Aminu Imam
Katsina bandits' attacks

At least 14 persons were killed and dozens injured when armed bandits carried out two separate attacks on communities in Katsina state on Tuesday. The attacks occurred in Ɗandume and Musawa local government areas, according to residents and local sources. In the first incident, the bandits reportedly stormed Ɗansoda community in Ɗandume LGAs at about 8 p.m., killing 11 people.  According to a resident, the attack occurred shortly after residents had broken their Ramadan fast and were relaxing outside their homes. “People had finished breaking their fast and many were…

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Sokoto: Bandits disguised in hijabs attack community, kill scores

Aminu Imam
Sokoto bandits attack

Bandits reportedly disguised in women’s hijabs attacked Mallamawar Yari village in Gawakuke ward of Rabah local government area in Sokoto State on Saturday night, killing several residents and abducting several others. Security analyst, Bakatsine disclosed this in a post on X on Sunday. The post said the bandits attacked the village at night and carried out a massive assault while they were dressed in women’s hijabs, which allegedly helped them move around without raising suspicion. During the attack, several residents were killed, while many others were abducted and taken to…

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Zamfara: 50 feared killed, as bandits overrun village in midnight attack

Aminu Imam
Zamfara attack

Zamfara State was thrown into mourning on Friday after armed bandits reportedly killed no fewer than 50 residents of Dutsin Ɗan-Ajiya village in Anka local government area. Bodies of the victims, wrapped in white shrouds, were lined up for mass burial in a video. Residents said the attackers, wielding sophisticated weapons, stormed the community on Thursday night and unleashed hours of terror. A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the gunmen sealed off all access roads to prevent villagers from fleeing before opening fire indiscriminately.…

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Terrorists kill 34 fasting Muslims in Kebbi latest attack

Aminu Imam
Kebbi latest attack

Members of the Lakurawa group attacked villages in the Bui district in Kebbi state on Wednesday, according to the state’’s Police spokesman, Bashir Usman. The attacks, which occurred at around 1:15 pm, struck Mamunu, Awasaka, Tungan-Tsoho, Makangara, Kanzo, Gorun Naidal, and Ɗan Mai-Ago, targeting residents who tried to resist. Cattle were also reportedly stolen.  According to a resident in one of the villages, at least 35 people had been killed. “We were in our homes, we heard gunshots”, said the resident of Kanzo. People outside began to run into their…

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“We track, send movements of bandits to DSS, Police, but they don’t act” – Gov. Lawal

Aminu Imam
Gov. Lawal on banditry

Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has alleged that security agencies don’t take action on critical security information that could help them in dealing with bandits, terrorists and other criminals in the state. He disclosed that with the aid of drones and other technological platforms, his government is able to track the movement of the terrorists and the information is relayed to the Police, Military, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), but they often ignore such information. According to him, despite deploying surveillance…

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Niger: Bandits slaughter 32 farmers, abduct scores in communities

Aminu Imam
Niger bandits

…Set homes ablaze  At least 32 farmers have reportedly been killed in a fresh wave of attacks by suspected bandits across several communities in Niger State, leaving many others abducted and numerous homes destroyed. Local sources said the attackers stormed farming settlements in the early hours, opening fire on residents and setting houses ablaze. Survivors described scenes of chaos as families fled into nearby bushes while armed men moved from house to house. Community leaders confirmed that dozens of residents remain missing, with fears that many may have been taken…

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Katsina: Bandits kill DPO in ambush, 3 officers injured

Aminu Imam
Katsina banditry

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Rimi local government area of Katsina State, CSP Muhammad Sani Kabir, has been killed while leading an operation against suspected cattle-rustlers. The Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs confirmed the incident yesterday, stating that three rustlers were neutralised during a joint operation involving security operatives and community members. In a statement, the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, said, “The Ministry expresses deep sorrow over the death of the Divisional Police Officer of Rimi, CSP Muhammad Sani…

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‘4,654 killed, 3,141 kidnapped in Nigeria in one year’ – Report

Aminu Imam
Report on insecurity

…Warns insecurity may worsen ahead of 2027 elections Violent conflicts across Nigeria claimed 4,654 lives in 2025, while 3,141 persons were kidnapped in 1,274 incidents nationwide, according to the Nigeria Violent Conflicts Database (NVCD) 2025 released by Nextier Advisory Ltd., which warned that insecurity may worsen without urgent reforms in intelligence, governance, and conflict prevention. The findings were unveiled in Abuja during the launch of the 2026 Nigeria Security and Conflict Outlook, themed: ‘When Capability Meets Resolve’, alongside a new predictive security platform designed to strengthen data-driven conflict response and…

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Imam, Fulani leader, others abducted, as bandits launch fresh attack in Kaduna

Aminu Imam
Imam, Fulani leader abducted

Gunmen, suspected to be bandits, have reportedly abducted the Chief Imam of the Janjala Central Mosque, Bello Abdullahi, and the Fulani leader of the area, Shehu Bello, alongside a woman, during coordinated attacks on several communities in Kagarko local government area of Kaduna state. According to reports, the armed attackers invaded multiple villages in the local government area, including Iddo, Gidan-Makeri, Kohoto and Janjala, where they abducted residents and rustled cattle, forcing many villagers to flee their homes in fear. The latest abductions were disclosed yesterday morning by a security…

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