Bandits

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Residents of Doma community in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State have been thrown into renewed fear after armed bandits carried out a fresh attack on the area, despite a peace and surrender agreement earlier reached between local authorities and armed groups operating there.

It was gathered on Tuesday that the attackers arrived in Doma in large numbers, opened fire on residents, and set several houses and vehicles on fire.

According to a report by an online Nigerian newspaper, SaharaReporters, the incident has unsettled the community, especially as it came after a reported peace agreement between stakeholders in Faskari Local Government Area and bandit leaders. The deal was expected to end hostilities and encourage displaced residents to return to their homes.

A Katsina-based security expert, Bakatsine, confirmed the development and warned that the attack was still ongoing in Doma and nearby communities within Faskari LGA.

Bakatsine raised concerns over the safety of civilians and appealed for immediate security intervention in the area.

“Urgent deployment of security forces is needed to Doma and surrounding communities in Faskari LGA to protect civilians, stop the ongoing violence, and prevent further loss of lives and property,” the alert stated. “Immediate action could save lives.”

At the time of filing this report, there were concerns that casualties may have been recorded. However, the exact number of those killed or injured could not be independently verified.

Faskari Local Government Area remains one of the areas most affected by insecurity in Katsina State, with years of persistent bandit attacks, kidnappings, cattle rustling, and large-scale displacement of residents.

On September 17, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that a known bandit commander, Isya Akwashi Garwa, who was armed with an AK-47 and ammunition, released 28 abducted persons in the local government area after a peace arrangement.

Those released were mostly residents of Mairua, Kanen-haki, and Yar Dabaru communities, who had spent weeks in captivity.

Local authorities later confirmed that the release followed reconciliation efforts aimed at restoring peace and reducing violence in the area.

A security source, Zagazola Makama, also revealed on X that community leaders in Faskari welcomed the development and described it as a positive step. They urged all parties involved to sustain the “peace process.”

The leaders also appealed to the bandit commander to persuade other armed groups still carrying out attacks in the area to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

At least four people lost their lives on Thursday evening after armed bandits attacked Gwargwaba village in Nahuce District of Bungudu Local Government Area, Zamfara State.

Reports said the attackers stormed the community at about 6:00 p.m. A security analyst, Bakatsine, disclosed the incident in a post shared on X on Saturday. He stated that the assailants were heavily armed and set several houses on fire during the raid.

According to the report, four residents were trapped inside their homes and died as the fire spread.

The attackers also destroyed food items, killed villagers’ livestock, and set them ablaze.

Bakatsine said the attack followed the community’s refusal to pay levies demanded by the bandits. He noted that the decision angered the attackers and led to a violent response.

He wrote, “On Thursday evening around 6pm, bandits armed with sophisticated weapons stormed Gwargwaba village in Nahuce District, Bungudu LGA of Zamfara State. Four residents were burned alive in their homes, while houses, food stores and livestock were set ablaze. The attack reportedly followed the villagers’ refusal to pay illegal levies imposed by the bandits,”.

By Uzair Adam

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested seven suspected bandits and recovered five firearms with live ammunition in separate intelligence-driven operations across the state.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Kaduna, saying the arrests followed credible intelligence on the activities of armed suspects.

According to Hassan, the first operation was carried out on January 28 at about 5:45 p.m. after security operatives received information that some individuals were in possession of prohibited firearms.

He explained that detectives attached to the Anti–Car Theft Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department promptly acted on the intelligence, leading to the arrest of five suspects.

He said the operation resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 rifle with two fully loaded magazines, two Beretta pistols with one fully loaded magazine, as well as a locally fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with seven rounds of live ammunition.

The suspects, he added, are currently in custody while investigations continue to track other criminal networks linked to them.

In a related operation on January 29, Hassan said the Divisional Police Officer of Zaria City Division led a team of 47 Police Mobile Force operatives on stop-and-search duties following intelligence reports on the movement of armed bandits.

“The operation led to the arrest of two suspects, Adamu Lawal and Abdulhadi Lawal, both from Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, with a locally fabricated firearm recovered from them,” he said.

Hassan noted that the suspects are cooperating with investigators and providing information that could lead to further arrests.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commended the officers for their professionalism and swift response, while reaffirming the command’s zero tolerance for banditry and other forms of criminality in Kaduna State.

By Uzair Adam

At least 23 suspected bandits were neutralised in a coordinated military operation after armed groups launched attacks on Shanono and Tsanyawa local government areas of Kano State between the night of January 1 and the early hours of January 2, 2026, according to the Nigerian Army.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Major Babatunde Zubairu, who said the operation involved joint task force troops on the ground and the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

According to the statement, troops successfully contained the attacks in Kano. They inflicted heavy casualties on the assailants before tracking the fleeing bandits to Karaduwa village in Matazu Local Government Area of neighbouring Katsina State. 

Acting on credible intelligence, the Air Component pursued the group as they attempted to regroup after escaping Kano.

The Army said intelligence reports revealed that the bandits were in the process of burying some of their members killed during the initial clashes when they were located at Dan Marke in Matazu LGA. 

Air Component Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA reportedly trailed their movement until several motorcycles converged after crossing a dry riverbed.

“A precision airstrike was immediately launched,” the statement said, noting that the operation was supported by aerial Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions. 

The strike, according to the Army, resulted in the neutralisation of at least 23 terrorists, while several others were believed to have sustained injuries. 

It also damaged the group’s weapons and other equipment.

Reacting to the operation’s outcome, the Commander of 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, commended both the air and ground troops for their exceptional courage. 

“Their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity are commendable,” he said.

The Army added that the security situation in Kano State remains calm, with troops sustaining robust patrols and close monitoring of flashpoints. 

It stated that troop morale and operational efficiency remain “very satisfactory.”

The Nigerian Army also appealed to the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information.

Such cooperation, it said, would further aid efforts to disrupt banditry and other terrorist activities.

Major Zubairu stressed that troops, working alongside other security agencies, remain committed to safeguarding lives and property nationwide and will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure national security.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A deadly ambush by bandits on the Dansadau–Magami highway in Zamfara State has left at least two people dead, with fears the toll could rise as more reports emerge.

The attack began when bandits detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) against travelers. As emergency responses mobilized, a second IED was detonated in what security analysts describe as a deliberate “double-tap” attack aimed at causing maximum casualties and panic. The blast sent surviving passengers scrambling for safety.

Authorities report that the attackers are actively planting additional explosives along the route in a new tactic aimed at sabotaging the military escorts assigned to protect civilian travel.

This development marks a dangerous escalation in the region’s security challenges.

Security forces have cordoned off the area for clearance operations as travel along the highway remains extremely hazardous.

By Uzair Adam

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have attacked Kururawa community in Lakwaya district of Gwarzo Local Government Area, Kano State, abducting an elderly resident, Alhaji Yakubu Na Tsohuwa, and injuring his son, Badamasi.

According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the attackers, armed and riding on two motorcycles, invaded the community from neighbouring Katsina State.

They reportedly overpowered the household, seized Yakubu, and shot his eldest son in the leg as he attempted to stop the abduction.

Badamasi is currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

The source noted that Lakwaya shares a border with Malumfashi and Musawa Local Government Areas of Katsina State, adding that the assault on Kururawa—located about one kilometre from Lakwaya—was the first of its kind in the area in a long while.

He appealed to the Kano State Government to establish a security base in the area to protect residents, saying the attack has left the community in fear and uncertainty.

As of the time of filling this report, the Kano State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement, and efforts to reach its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna, were unsuccessful.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

There was a lot of panic in communities of the Zuru Emirate of Kebbi State after armed bandits attacked Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.

The assault claimed the life of the Vice Principal and resulted in the abduction of an unspecified number of students.The Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, was said to have confronted the attackers in an attempt to protect the students.

Residents described his death as a heavy blow to the school and the entire community.

A local resident, Murjanatu Hassan Gishiri, confirmed the attack and said the gunmen moved into the school without any obstruction.

She said the community was plunged into fear as the bandits unleashed violence on the premises.

“It is a heartbreaking tragedy that has thrown the entire region into deep fear and mourning,” she lamented.

The number of students taken away has not been officially disclosed.

Families have expressed deep concern as they await updates from authorities.

Security agencies have yet to release an official statement on the incident.

Meanwhile, residents are urging the federal and state governments to intervene quickly to rescue the abducted students and strengthen security in schools across the region.

By Anwar Usman

Local communities in the Faskari local government area of Katsina State have entered into negotiations with armed groups, raising fears of a repeat of a sequence whereby the collapse of peace agreements led to renewed violence.

Reports have it that bandit representatives, including figures accused of leading raids and abductions, sat with community leaders at a gathering in Hayin Gada.

The bandits reportedly agreed to stop attacks on villages, allow farmers safe passage, and release abducted persons in exchange for freedom of movement and market access for Fulani and the development of their areas.

In attendance were the notorious kigpin Alero, who spoke on behalf of several armed groups. He said the initiative was “not the first of its kind”, but the turnout was unprecedented.

Also present was Kwashe Garwa, whose name is 19 on Nigeria’s most-wanted terrorists list. Videos shared on multiple local media show Mr Garwa, with ammunition strapped around his waist, condemning the stereotyping of Fulani herders as criminals.

Garwa stated, “In Nigeria, whenever there is a discussion, they call Fulani herders bandits and terrorists. But tell me, which tribe in the world does not have criminals among them? You, Hausawa, who say we are bandits, don’t you also have bandits among you? Yet, no one stereotypes you with such a name.”

Garwa further asserted that killings and kidnappings would not stop until “injustice” against the Fulani was addressed. “There will be no peace if security agencies do not also stop killing our people,” he added.

Reports indicate that similar peace agreements were reached in Jibia and other frontline areas, with residents negotiating directly with bandit leaders for safe passage, a cessation of raids, and the reopening of markets.

Acknowledging the arrangements, Governor Dikko Radda said at the launch of an EU-funded conflict prevention project last week that negotiations were ongoing in several frontline local government areas and credited them with restoring calm in those areas.

By Anwar Usman

Sokoto State government has revealed its commitment to peace and security and expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with armed groups who are ready to surrender their weapons and embrace reconciliation.

This was revealed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Security, Col Ahmed Usman (rtd).

The government, in a statement, noted that “many historical conflicts have not ended solely through the use of force, but through meaningful dialogue, reaffirming that the state is open to negotiating with bandits who demonstrate a genuine commitment to surrender and reintegrate peacefully into society.”

It also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the service chiefs, security personnel, for their unwavering efforts in protecting the region.

“Their sacrifices are deeply appreciated. May Allah bless the souls of our fallen heroes and grant comfort to their families,” the statement read.

While commending the federal government over the proposed deployment of forest guards across the region, the Sokoto State Government stressed the importance of integrity and community trust in the recruitment process.

The government, however, reaffirmed its unwavering support for all initiatives aimed at achieving lasting peace in the state.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A notorious bandit leader known as Shekau, operating around the Narewo River bank in Kachia Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, was ambushed and killed by a rival faction led by bandit leader Shumo.

The attack, carried out on March 5, 2025, was in retaliation for a previous assault by Shekau, who had reportedly seized Shumo’s weapons and killed several of his fighters.

Intelligence sources revealed that Shekau and some of his lieutenants were killed during the ambush.

The deceased bandits were later buried by individuals identified as Yellow Million, Baba Kusa, and an imam from Kabode village in Kachia LGA.

While bandit activities in Kaduna have significantly decreased due to the non-kinetic efforts of the state government and security agencies, ongoing rivalries among bandit factions have intensified, leading to multiple casualties in recent times.