Bandits

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Suspected bandits have reportedly abducted several Islamic clerics who attended a prayer gathering at the residence of former Zamfara State Governor and Senator representing Zamfara West, Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

The reported incident was disclosed on Saturday by Northwest-based crisis reporter, Bakatsine, through a post on his X handle.

The clerics were said to have been taken away after attending a special prayer session at Yari’s residence, where more than 2,000 Islamic scholars and imams had gathered ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among those reportedly abducted were Imam Yahuza, the First Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Magawata Abdullahi, the Second Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Malam Shehu Dakko; Imam Bala Fagon; and Na’ibi Tasi’u of Tungar Nagudai.

According to Bakatsine, the affected clerics travelled from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas to attend the gathering.

The prayer session was reportedly organised to seek peace, national unity and the success of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 elections.

Bakatsine expressed concern over the reported abduction, noting that the incident occurred at the residence of a prominent political figure.

He said the development was another indication of the worsening security situation in Zamfara State, where banditry and kidnapping have continued to threaten residents.

“If people can be abducted while attending a gathering at the residence of a prominent political figure, then where exactly are ordinary citizens supposed to feel safe?” he asked.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from the police or other security agencies regarding the reported abduction.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Four police officers and seven civilians have been killed after suspected bandits attacked Ayilamo community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The Benue State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Orchia Aondongu.

According to the command, the attackers, said to be operating in large numbers, stormed the community at about 6:12pm on Thursday.

Police personnel from the Police Mobile Force (PMF), tactical units and conventional police formations were deployed to confront the attackers.

Aondongu said the security personnel engaged the bandits in a gun battle that lasted about seven hours before forcing them to withdraw into the surrounding forest.

“The operatives stood firm in defence of the community and successfully repelled the attack, forcing the criminal elements to retreat into the surrounding forest with heavy casualties in the early hours of 11th September 2026,” the statement reads.

The command, however, confirmed the loss of four officers during the confrontation.

“Regrettably, four police officers paid the supreme price in the course of defending the community. Their bodies were subsequently recovered during search and rescue operations in the surrounding bushes.

“The corpses of seven civilians were also recovered following the attack and deposited at a mortuary for necessary procedures.”

The police said more tactical personnel had been deployed to the area to reinforce the existing security arrangements.

Alia Condemns Attack, Calls It Threat To Benue’s Stability

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has condemned the attack, describing it as a despicable act against the people of Ayilamo.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor described the attack on the “peace-loving people of Ayilamo” as a “grave threat to the security and stability of Benue state.”

Alia said the incident highlighted the continuing security challenges faced by vulnerable communities and security personnel in the area.

“The reported killing of four law enforcement officers is particularly painful and underscores the enormous sacrifices being made by security personnel in the line of duty,” the governor said.

“I extend heartfelt condolences to the people of Ayilamo, the families of all the victims, and the entire Logo Local Government community.

‘We mourn with you and assure you that you are not alone in this difficult period”.

The governor also expressed his condolences to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Cletus Nwadiogbu, over the deaths of the four officers.

Alia also praised the Department of State Services (DSS), especially its personnel in Benue and Nasarawa states, for what he described as a “prompt and professional operation” that resulted in the arrest of three suspects allegedly linked to the attack.

He said the arrests could help security agencies establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible.

“We urge the DSS to intensify its investigation and make the best use of the information obtained from the suspects in its custody,” Alia said.

“Every available lead should be diligently followed to identify and arrest the remaining accomplices, sponsors, collaborators, and other persons connected with the attack. All those found culpable must face the full weight of the law.”

The governor assured residents that his administration would continue to work with security agencies to improve protection in Ayilamo, Logo and other communities considered vulnerable across Benue State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Residents of Kebbe town in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State have been thrown into fear after suspected bandits reportedly demanded N40 million from the community and threatened to attack if the money was not paid.

The gunmen allegedly issued a deadline for the payment and warned that residents could be killed and the town set ablaze if their demand was not met.

According to information shared on X by Crisis Reporter Bakastine, the bandits communicated their demand through a farmer who delivered a telephone handset to the District Head of Kebbe, Mallam Lawal Labbo.

The attackers reportedly initially gave the community five days to raise the money. The deadline was later extended to seven days after residents appealed to them.

The telephone handset was subsequently handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in the area for security authorities to monitor the situation.

The bandits also allegedly instructed that the telephone should remain charged and accessible. They reportedly threatened to attack the community if their calls were not answered.

The development was confirmed by the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, who said the police had received information about the threat and had begun taking steps to address it.

“We are aware of the information and we, together with our Anti-Kidnapping Unit, AKU, are already working on the information,” Rufai said.

The police spokesperson further confirmed that the suspected bandits had given the community an ultimatum to raise N40 million.

The reported deadline has heightened anxiety among residents, with fears of a possible attack if the demand is not fulfilled.

Security authorities are expected to intensify efforts to prevent any attack on the community and protect residents from the threat.

By Anwar Usman

Kaduna State Police Command, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Vigilance Service, has distroyed two suspected bandit camps in Makarfi Local Government Area of the state.

The operation, which took place during the weekend, followed credible intelligence provided by members of the local community on the activities of suspected bandits operating around Durum and Danguzuri general areas, extending to the boundary with Kano State.

A statement issued by DSP Mansir Hassan, the Kaduna Police Command’s Public Relations Officer said the joint security team engaged the bandits during a clearance operation which led to the destruction of their enclaves.

According to the statement, two enclaves identified as camps allegedly used by the bandits to hold abducted victims were destroyed at Rugar Mijin Goggo and Unguwar Maryamu, Danguzuri.

The Command said the operation was part of its sustained efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of movement and ensure the safety of residents and property across the state.

It added that joint security patrols were still ongoing in the area, noting that normalcy had been restored and the general area remained calm.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commended the communities for providing intelligence that facilitated the operation, as well as the security personnel for their gallantry.

He reaffirmed the Command’s determination to sustain its offensive against banditry and other forms of criminality in Kaduna State.

The police also urged the residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing security operations.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Bandits have reportedly killed the District Head of Galla in Niger State’s Borgu Emirate after attacking his palace.

The incident was disclosed by security analyst Bakatsine in a post on X on Monday.

According to the analyst, the traditional ruler was allegedly targeted after he warned bandits against entering his community.

“Bandits have killed the District Head of Galla, under the Borgu Emirate in Niger State, during an attack at his palace.

“Reports say the monarch was targeted after warning the bandits to stop entering his community,” Bakatsine wrote.

He also said the slain district head was a brother to the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

The report comes amid continued security concerns in parts of Niger State, where communities have faced attacks and other criminal activities by armed groups.

No further details were provided on the circumstances of the attack or whether security agencies had made any arrests in connection with the incident.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A survivor of the mass abduction of residents in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State has disclosed that 13 children died during their six months in captivity.

Saliu Amira, a nurse and one of the 163 victims rescued by security agencies, said the children died under difficult conditions while 12 others followed their abductors during the period.

She also described the poor feeding conditions faced by the victims, who were reportedly given little food throughout their captivity.

“The kind of food that they are giving us over there… The day that we reached there, they just dropped guinea corn for us with salt and Maggi,” Amira said.

“They left us inside the river; the children that died are almost 13, and those people that followed them are 12 in number; that’s 25.”

The victims were rescued through a joint operation by security agencies, according to Nicholas Rume, commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade.

“Today I am happy to introduce to you the people whom, through the combined efforts of the security agencies, we have been able to rescue,” he said.

He commended other security agencies for their contribution to the operation.

“Thank you to the other security agencies who have been very helpful in all the efforts we’ve been making; today is an example of the synergy that exists within security agencies in the country.”

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq received the rescued victims in Ilorin on Friday and praised the security agencies for securing their release.

The governor said the establishment of a new army brigade in the state would further improve security across Kwara.

He also disclosed that 46 of the rescued persons had been admitted to a government hospital for medical care.

“I have since directed that the appropriate medical attention be extended to everyone to ensure their well-being. Prior to this time, our government has extended various forms of support to the rural community,” he said.

The victims were abducted on February 3 after armed men attacked Woro, Nuku and other communities in Kaiama LGA.

The attacks reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 75 people and forced several residents to flee their communities. Many communities were also severely affected by the attacks.

Although the precise number of people abducted was initially unclear, reports indicated that about 170 people, including women and children, were taken.

The Kwara State Government announced on August 5 that the victims had been released after spending about six months in captivity.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued 48 abducted residents after repelling a terrorist attack on Magami village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The operation followed a distress call received in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, which reported that dozens of armed terrorists had stormed the community.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Aliyu Danja, said the attackers arrived on about 40 motorcycles and abducted several villagers.

According to him, the assailants assembled the victims with the intention of taking them into a nearby forest, while another group remained at the edge of the village to guard the motorcycles.

Danja said troops responded swiftly to the emergency and confronted the attackers.

“On arrival at the scene, the troops immediately engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, forcing them to abandon the kidnapped victims and flee into the surrounding bush,” Danja said.



“The prompt intervention led to the successful rescue of all 48 abducted civilians.”



He disclosed that one resident lost his life during the attack, while two others sustained gunshot wounds.

The injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Kaura Namoda, where they are receiving treatment.

Following the operation, security personnel carried out patrols across the area to prevent another attack and maintain a security presence in the community.

The military command praised the troops for their performance during the operation.

“The Theatre Command commends the gallantry and professionalism of the troops for this successful operation and reassures residents of the North West of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property,” the statement added.



Danja also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with useful and timely information to strengthen ongoing operations against terrorist groups in the North-West.

“Sustain the momentum in ridding the north-west of terrorist elements.”

By Uzair Adam

A Judge of the Kebbi State High Court, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, has been abducted by suspected bandits from his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of the state.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday along Zogirma Road in Bunza, shortly after the judge returned from a trip to Sokoto.

Sources told journalists that the gunmen stormed the judge’s residence around midnight and whisked him away.

“He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen invaded his residence and abducted him,” one of the sources said.

The source added that no member of the household was injured during the attack, although the assailants fired sporadically before fleeing with the judge.

“Immediately after the incident, we alerted the relevant authorities, including the leadership of the High Court,” the source added.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, said Justice Bunza was abducted from his residence around midnight.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, immediately deployed tactical and intelligence teams to track down the abductors and secure the judge’s release.

“Our personnel are currently combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” Usman said.

A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, described the abduction as a painful development for the judiciary.

“It is deeply disturbing to learn that one of our judges was abducted from his residence,” the official said, adding that the High Court management had already met with heads of security agencies in the state to discuss strategies for the judge’s immediate rescue.

As of the time of filing this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the abduction, while security operatives continued efforts to rescue the judge and apprehend those behind the attack.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Armed bandits have abducted the chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area, Nura Umar Bungudu, in a daring raid on his residence in Zamfara State, security sources confirmed Saturday.

The attack occurred late Friday night when heavily armed gunmen infiltrated Bungudu town and went directly to the chairman’s home in the Zango district. The assailants also kidnapped a staff member of the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau and a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator in the area.

Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that the operation resulted in multiple fatalities, including police officers and local vigilantes who attempted to repel the attackers.

Zamfara State, located in northwestern Nigeria, has been plagued by persistent banditry and kidnapping for years. The security crisis has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands, with rural communities bearing the brunt of frequent attacks.

Local residents described the incident as one of the most brazen assaults in recent months, noting that the chairman had been a target of previous threats. The kidnappers have yet to issue any demands.

A security task force has been deployed to track the gunmen, though no arrests have been made. The state government has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

The kidnapping highlights the deteriorating security situation in the region, where armed groups continue to operate with impunity despite repeated government pledges to restore order.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A joint security operation in Delta State has led to the arrest of a suspected notorious bandit, Abubakar Usman, after a woman who was kidnapped by his gang was rescued safely.

The operation involved the SafeCity Security Service and officers of the Delta State Police Command. Authorities said the arrest followed the abduction of Mrs Blessing Chiedu, an indigene of Umunede Kingdom, who was kidnapped on July 2, 2026, along the Ani-Ifekide Farm Road in Ubulu-Uku. Her abductors reportedly demanded a ransom of N100 million from her family.

The spokesperson for the SafeCity Security Service, Harrison Gwamnishu, disclosed the development in a post on X on Wednesday. He said the case was immediately reported to the Delta State Police Command, whose Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Asaba, under the leadership of CSP Osakpolor, began an operation to locate the victim and her captors.

Gwamnishu explained that security operatives relied on the Hydra Tech Surveillance System during the rescue mission. The operation led to the successful rescue of Mrs Chiedu along the Ubulu-Unor/Ashama Road. Officials confirmed that she was found alive and without injuries.

Security operatives later tracked the fleeing suspects to their hideout in the Ogwashi-Uku/Adonta Forest during the early hours of Wednesday. The team confronted the gang after locating them through surveillance.

“A gun battle ensued, during which our combined team overpowered the criminals. One of the most wanted suspects, Abubakar Usman, was successfully captured, while other members of the gang escaped into the forest with their firearms.

“Investigations reveal that Abubakar Usman and his gang have been responsible for several kidnapping operations across Igbodo, Umunede, and surrounding communities, where they have extorted millions of naira in ransom from innocent families,” he said.

Authorities said efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing members of the gang and bring them to justice.