Tag: Banditry

Niger: 24 hrs after Buhari’s warning bandits raid village, kill 2, abduct village head’s children, counsellors’ wives, 64 others

Aminu Imam

For three days running, armed bandits have intensified their raid on communities in Munya, Niger State, the latest being the invasion of Zagaga community in the early hours of Wednesday, where two victims were killed and 66 others abducted. Among those killed are two youths providing voluntary security services in the community due to the absence of security agents, and a local vigilante who was hacked to death. Three other youths sustained gunshot injuries, one of them having his right leg broken, and are currently at a government facility in…

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Insecurity: ‘Bandits relocating from Zamfara, Kaduna States to Niger – SSG Matane cries out

Aminu Imam

The Secretary to the Niger State Government, (SSG), Ahmed Matane, has said that bandits attacking communities in the State are those fleeing from neighbouring States such as Zamfara and Kaduna. Matane disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Minna, the State capital. The SSG explained that the escalation of security challenges in the State was as a result of the on-going operation by security personnel in Zamfara and Kaduna States that had forced the bandits to flee to neighbouring States. He disclosed that about 18,000 cattle rustled by bandits…

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Niger: Boko Haram seizes 5 communities in Shiroro, Rafi LGAs

Aminu Imam

Boko Haram terrorists have taken over five communities in Rafi and Shiroro local government areas of Niger State, an official of the State has said. Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen yesterday. He explained that the Boko Haram insurgents are fully in charge in Hanawanka , Madaka, in Rafi LGA and Kurebe, Gussau, Farina Kuka, in Shiroro LGA, forcing the rural dwellers to migrate to safer grounds. He explained that the terrorists move freely in the effected areas, wielding sophisticated and menacing…

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Niger: ’25 days after, no news about 30 passengers abducted’ – State govt.

Aminu Imam

Twenty-five days after 30 passengers in three different vehicles were abducted by gunmen at Garun-Gabas in Rafi Local government area of Niger State, the State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has said that the State government had not heard anything about them. According to him, the abductors are silent and the government is not aware of any of the families of the abductees have been contacted. Speaking to newsmen at the weekend, in Minna, the State capital, Bello however said that a special tactical team from the office of the Inspector-General…

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Top Nigerian military General, 3 soldiers neutralised as battle with ISWAP terrorists intensifies in Borno

Aminu Imam

…5 jets, two A-29 Tucano aircrafts destroyed Troops of Joint Task Force, North-East ‘Operation Hadin Kai‘, have neutralised several Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during a recent encounter in Askira Uba local government area of Borno State. In the fierce encounter which is still raging as at the time of filing this report, troops supported by the Air Component of OPHK have destroyed five A-Jet, two A-29, two Dragon combat vehicles and nine Gun Trucks. Sadly, a gallant senior officer Brigadier-General Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers paid the…

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Again, bandits abduct 5, impose fresh levy on Sokoto communities

Aminu Imam

…Demand N500,000 as ransom Barely a month after collecting N11 million as ransom for the release of 20 people they kidnapped in Gatawa, bandits on Wednesday returned to the town and abducted five people. They are now demanding N500,000 as ransom for the release of the victims, multiple sources in the town have said. Gatawa, situated in Sabon-Birni local government area of Sokoto State, was until recently one of the communities in the state spared by the bandits. However, the town has now come into the focus of attacks by…

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‘Terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, others test of nation’s democracy’ — Defence Minister

Aminu Imam

The Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd) yesterday said that the increased security challenges across the country is the reason for the deployment of the military in the internal security operation. The minister stated this at the graduation ceremony of 13 officers of the Airforce War College Course 7/2021, which was held at the NAF officers Mess, Makurdi, Benue State. Magashi, however, commended the efforts of the military, particularly, the Nigerian Air Force, (NAF), at focusing on doctrinal developments to address the security challenges confronting the country. Magashi was…

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Bandits kill 13, abduct many others in Katsina

Aminu Imam

Bandits have killed 13 people, wounded eight and abducted at least 17 others in an attack on Batsari town on Tuesday evening. The police spokesperson in the state, Gambo Isa, said 11 people were killed but residents of the town said the number has risen to 13. The member representing Batsari at the State House of Assembly, Jabir Ya’u Ya’u, also confirmed the attack but said since he has not gone to the town he could not confirm the number of the people killed. However, a resident, Abubakar Bishir, told…

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Northern students threaten to shut down Zaria city over abduction of 13 LG workers

Aminu Imam

The Student wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), has threatened to shut down Zaria, in Kaduna State, over the abduction of 13 local government area council workers. It was gathered that the victims were abducted while returning from a condolence visit. Some of the victims were identified as Director, Education and Social Development, Mrs. Deborah Mugu, and her deputy, Dalhatu Aliyu-Awai. They were reportedly kidnapped at Kidandan, Giwa local government area of Kaduna State, on Monday. According to a security source, the driver of the 18-seater bus which…

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Sheikh Gumi canvasses land, cattle, heavy financial compensation for Boko Haram insurgents

Aminu Imam

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has taken his advocacy to a new pedestal by declaring that the criminals have refused to end hostilities against the government and the Nigerian people because they were not given land and ‘enough money’. According to Gumi, the past attempts “to broker peace” with the bandits had failed because the bandits were not compensated ‘with land, cattle or money big enough to help halt the hostilities’. In a live stream on his Facebook page on Tuesday, the self-styled mediator for bandits said only religion can…

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