Security

By Uzair Adam

The national electricity grid in Nigeria remains vulnerable to frequent collapses due to the government’s inability to repair a critical transmission line in the northern region, hindered by persistent insecurity.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this during the 2025 budget defense session with the Senate Joint Committee on Power.

Adelabu emphasized the consequences of the damaged Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando transmission line, which has been out of service since it was vandalized in October 2024.

“The Kaduna-Shiroro-Mando line was one of two major lines transmitting power to the north. The other line, Ugwuaji-Makurdi, was also vandalized but has since been repaired.

“However, the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna line remains down due to security challenges,” Adelabu stated.

He highlighted that the reliance on a single transmission line has left the grid fragile and prone to collapse under strain.

Adelabu further noted that while the government cannot entirely prevent grid collapses, efforts are focused on minimizing their frequency and ensuring rapid restoration.

He acknowledged the collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), led by Nuhu Ribadu, as crucial in combating vandalism, one of the sector’s most significant challenges.

The minister announced a proposed N2 trillion budget for the ministry and its agencies in 2025, with N229 billion allocated to the ministry itself.

He also unveiled a N700 billion allocation for the Power Metering Initiative (PMI), targeting the reduction of the metering gap by next month to enhance billing transparency and curb fraud.

“We are committed to reducing the restoration time after full or partial grid collapses and are working closely with security agencies to address the underlying issues,” Adelabu said.

In addition, the ministry plans to invest N36 billion in distributing transformers across the six geopolitical zones and has proposed the installation of solar lights and CCTV cameras on highways to monitor and deter vandals.

The security-focused proposal falls under a N200 billion sub-head in the 2025 budget.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s determination to secure critical infrastructure and improve power supply across the country.

By Uzair Adam

The Jigawa State Police Command has confirmed that nine people were killed and four others injured following a violent clash between communities in the state on Friday.

The incident, which occurred in Gululu village, Miga Local Government Area, reportedly began when a group of individuals suspected to be Fulani broke into a shop and stole hibiscus and other provisions.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Adam, the villagers (Hausawa) traced the suspects’ footprints to a Fulani settlement in Yankunama village, Jahun Local Government Area.

Upon confrontation, the Fulani community allegedly attacked the villagers with bows and arrows, injuring four people.

The altercation escalated as the villagers retaliated, burning houses in various locations across Miga and Jahun LGAs.

Adam stated that police teams from the Miga and Jahun Divisions intervened to restore peace, recovering nine bodies from the scene.

The victims’ remains were taken to hospitals in Jahun and Miga, where medical personnel confirmed the deaths.

The state Commissioner of Police, A.T. Abdullahi, along with other senior officers, visited the affected areas to assess the situation and ensure calm.

Community leaders, including district heads, vigilantes, and representatives of Miyetti Allah, held an emergency meeting to address the crisis and prevent further violence.

SP Shi’isu Adam assured the public that the situation is now under control and that an investigation is ongoing to apprehend those responsible.

By Anwar Usman

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will conduct a thorough investigation into the raining of airstrikes on two villages in Sokoto on Wednesday.

According to the community members, the incident, which happened around 7am at Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Silame Local Government Area (LGA), resulted in the loss of 10 civilians and left many other people injured.

Animals were also reportedly killed, with the communities saying some of their houses were destroyed by the impact of the airstrikes.

The residents said the fighter jet was targeting Lakurawa terrorists in the areas, but in the process, dropped explosives on some innocent people.

However, in a statement, the joint media coordinator for the operation, Abubakar Abdullahi, said the airstrikes targeted locations confirmed to be the base of the Lakurawa terrorist group.

He said that, all military operations are based on “thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions” to ensure precision and protect civilian lives.

On the other hand the NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, while reacting on the issue insisted that the airstrikes were carried out based on credible intelligence from multiple sources and confirmatory aerial surveillance.

He, however, assured that reports of civilian casualties would be thoroughly investigated.

By Anwar Usman

The Katsina State Police Command has announced the successful disruption of a kidnapping attempt and rescue of 10 victims.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed this in a statement signed and made available to journalists on Wednesday.

According to the statement: “On 24 December 2024, at about 20:30 hrs, some suspected armed bandits, wielding dangerous weapons and shooting sporadically, attacked a commercial vehicle at Kwanar Makera along the Katsina–Magama Jibia road in Jibia Local Government Area, Katsina State, in an attempt to kidnap ten (10) occupants of the vehicle.

“Upon receiving the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Jibia swiftly led a team of operatives to the scene. The team engaged the bandits in a gun duel, successfully thwarted the kidnapping attempt, and rescued all ten ten victims.

“Four among the rescued victims sustained gunshot injuries as a result of the attack and were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention. Sadly, two of the victims succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment.

“Efforts are still ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects as the investigation continues.

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, psc(+), applaud the officers for their exceptional display of gallantry and dedication to duty. Furthermore, the Commissioner urged the members of the public to provide useful information on suspected criminal activities to the nearest police station for prompt and decisive action.”

By Uzair Adam

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have rescued four children from an alleged child trafficking ring and arrested two suspects linked to the crime.

The children, aged between one and thirteen, were reportedly found at Alaeze Guest House in the Rumukwachi community of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, where they were allegedly being held before being handed over to a nurse identified as Loveth, who runs a maternity home.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the Public Relations Officer of the command, stated that the hotel manager played a key role in uncovering the situation.

“The Managing Director of the Guest House became suspicious of the activities of one Esther Anthony, who attempted to check out with the children. He insisted that she provide proof of being their mother,” Iringe-Koko explained.

In response, Anthony left the premises and returned with police officers, accusing the manager of abducting the children and threatening her with a firearm.

However, the manager contacted the Choba Area Command, leading to Anthony’s arrest.

Further investigations revealed that Anthony had conspired with another suspect, identified as Favour, to traffic the children from Swali community in Bayelsa State.

Another accomplice, Purity Silas, was also apprehended in connection with the case.

In a startling development, a family in the Rumuodara area of Port Harcourt identified Anthony as the person who had previously stolen three of their children and sold them to Loveth.

The suspects have reportedly confessed to the crime and are now in police custody, with the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Port Harcourt for further investigation.

By Uzair Adam

Police have arrested a woman suspected of trafficking teenage girls from Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, to neighboring African countries for prostitution.

Sources revealed that the suspect, who runs a tailoring shop, allegedly lured girls who came to sew clothes with promises of lucrative jobs abroad.

“She convinced them by painting a picture of better opportunities overseas,” a resident said.

It was also gathered that several parents had been questioning the woman about the whereabouts of their daughters before her arrest.

“One of the girls disclosed to a family member that the tailor facilitated her travel plans,” another source added.

A police official from the Abraka Division confirmed the arrest, stating that the suspect has been transferred to the Police Headquarters for further investigation.

By Uzair Adam

Nigerian military troops have intensified their nationwide operations, eliminating 135 terrorists, apprehending 185 suspects, and rescuing 129 kidnapped victims within the past week.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, provided the update during a briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Saturday.

He disclosed that in the North Central region, some terrorists have begun surrendering due to sustained military offensives and collaborative non-kinetic engagements with community stakeholders.

Among those who surrendered are notable figures such as Yellow Jambros, Alhaji Mallam, Ardo Idi (Alhaji Lawal), Lawal Kwalba, Salkado, Yellow Ibrahim, Gana’e, and Babangida.

Buba emphasized that the military would maintain its operational momentum to dismantle terrorist networks and encourage further surrenders.

During the operations, troops recovered 113 weapons and 2,415 rounds of ammunition, including 72 AK-47 rifles, 11 fabricated guns, 15 Dane guns, eight pump-action shotguns, and four hand grenades. They also seized 46 motorcycles, 15 vehicles, 28 mobile phones, and various communication devices.

In the Niger Delta, troops destroyed 93 crude oil cooking ovens, 12 dugout pits, 37 boats, and 82 illegal refining sites.

They also recovered 909,800 litres of stolen crude oil, 71,060 litres of illegally refined diesel, and 13,580 litres of petrol.

Maj.-Gen. Buba reiterated the military’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, stating, “We remain in a winning position in this war and will continue to innovate in our approach.”

By Uzair Adam

Katsina State police operatives successfully thwarted a kidnapping attempt by bandits on Sunday evening, rescuing 14 individuals and neutralizing one attacker.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:55 PM in Dan’arau village, located in the Magama-Jibia area of Jibia Local Government Area.

Armed bandits, wielding dangerous weapons, ambushed two commercial vehicles, aiming to kidnap the passengers.

Responding swiftly to a distress call, police officers engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle.

The timely intervention led to the rescue of 14 hostages, while one of the assailants was fatally wounded.

Unfortunately, two victims sustained gunshot injuries during the confrontation.

They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention, but one succumbed to their injuries.

The state police command has commended the bravery of its officers and urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

By Anwar Usman

Operation Hadinkai of the Nigerian Air Force has destroyed a terrorists’ food depot and killed several insurgents during bombardment on their enclave at Jubillaram in the Tumbuns area of the Lake Chad Basin.

This was contained in a statement released by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, on Monday in Abuja.

Akinboyewa stated that NAF aircraft operated on 23 November at a strategic location identified through meticulous intelligence efforts.

The location was described as a critical food storage site and a holy place for terrorist commanders and fighters.

He added that intelligence had linked the terrorists in the area to recent attacks, including an assault on troops in Kareto on 16 November.

NAN reports that it was in response that NAF fighter jets launched a robust air interdiction mission, destroying identified structures used as storage facilities and neutralising terrorists on-site.

He further explained that the victory was facilitated by extensive Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions conducted over several days, which confirmed the presence of terrorist structures camouflaged under dense vegetation.

“The destruction of the terrorist enclave, including food storage facilities, has severely disrupted their logistical operations, while the neutralisation of a significant number of fighters has diminished their capacity to launch future attacks,” Akinboyewa explained.

He further emphasised that the mission demonstrated the NAF’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation and its people independently and in support of ground forces in counterterrorism operations.

He reiterated the NAF’s resolve to sustain robust independent and joint operations until all enemies of Nigeria’s prosperity and well-being are brought to justice.

By Uzair Adam 

The Borno State Police Command has successfully recovered eight unexploded devices from the Dala and Gwange areas of Maiduguri, the state capital. 

This discovery was made on Friday following distress calls about unidentified objects suspected to be explosive ordnance.

According to ASP Grace Michael, the command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, the police received a distress call about unidentified objects clustered near an uncompleted building in the Dala-Abuja Talakawa Area, Maiduguri. 

The police swiftly moved to the scene and recovered six projectiles and one unexploded mortar bomb.

Later that day, the police received another distress call from the Gwange Area about an unidentified object washed ashore on the Gwange river bank. 

The police quickly recovered one unexploded Hand Grenade (UXO).

Preliminary investigations revealed that the ordnance was washed ashore due to the recent devastating flood incident in the state. 

The Borno State Commissioner of Police, CP Yusufu Lawal, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to ensuring public safety and security.