Sokoto

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Sokoto State High Court has sentenced three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to death by hanging after convicting them of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

The convicts, identified as Gaji Hassan, Abdullahi Goni Gudusu and Modu Bukar, were sentenced on Thursday by Justice Kabiru Muhammad.

The court’s Public Relations Officer, Nakwanta Muhammad Garba, confirmed the judgment in a statement detailing the proceedings.

The case stemmed from an incident in Kagara village, Goronyo Local Government Area, on September 19, 2024, when the defendants intercepted Babangida Nasiru and a woman while armed with rifles.

During the incident, the pair were reportedly taken into the bush, where Nasiru was dispossessed of N260,000 and detained. He was later found dead with gunshot wounds to his chest and neck.

The prosecution called two witnesses to establish its case. In his judgment, Justice Muhammad described the surviving eyewitness’s testimony as consistent and credible.

The judge rejected the defendants’ claim that they had released Nasiru, noting that they failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for his death. He relied on the legal principle of “last seen” in reaching his decision.

The court also admitted the defendants’ confessional statements after ruling that they had been made voluntarily. Their allegations of torture were not substantiated, according to the judge.

Justice Muhammad held that the eyewitness testimony provided sufficient evidence to establish the charges against the defendants.

Consequently, the court sentenced each convict to death by hanging in accordance with the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have killed 2 suspected terrorists and recovered 4 AK-47 rifles and 8 motorcycles during clearance operations in Sokoto State.

The military operation, conducted on Thursday, October 15, 2026, also resulted in the recovery of ammunition, communication equipment and other items believed to belong to the armed groups.

The task force’s Media Information Officer, Aliyu Danja, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday.

According to Danja, troops of Sector 2 first engaged the terrorists in a gunfight at Waria Forest, where they killed one suspect and recovered 2 AK-47 rifles and 2 motorcycles.

The troops later encountered another group at Sarma Village, where a second suspected terrorist was killed while others fled, abandoning their equipment.

“In a subsequent encounter at Sarma Village, troops engaged another group of terrorists in a firefight, neutralising one and forcing others to flee, abandoning their equipment,” the statement said.

A further search of the area led to the recovery of 6 additional motorcycles, 2 AK-47 rifles, 4 magazines, 23 rounds of ammunition and a communication device.

The latest recoveries brought the total number of rifles seized to 4 and motorcycles to 8.

Danja said the operations reflected the military’s continued efforts to weaken terrorist networks and improve security across the North-West.

“These successes underscore the sustained commitment of troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to dismantling terrorist networks and restoring lasting peace and security across the Joint Operations Area,” he said.

The task force commended residents for their cooperation with security agencies and urged the public to report suspicious movements and activities to the nearest security outpost.

The clearance operations form part of ongoing military efforts to disrupt armed groups operating across the region.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The management of Gamji College of Health Technology, Sokoto, has dismissed reports that 18 of its students were abducted by suspected terrorists while travelling to Oyo State.

The institution described the report as false and misleading, insisting that none of its students was kidnapped and that all of them were safe.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Monday and signed by the college’s Registrar, Bello Abdulrahman.

The management was reacting to a report published by Sahara Reporters on October 5, 2026, which claimed that 18 students of the institution were abducted while travelling to Oyo State.

The report also alleged that the driver of the vehicle conveying the students was killed.

However, the college rejected the claims and said they did not represent what happened.

“The College wishes to categorically state that the said report is FALSE, MISLEADING and does not reflect the true situation.”

The management further stated, “No student of Gamji College of Health Technology, Sokoto, was kidnapped, and there was no such incident involving our students.”

According to the institution, the students had reached their respective destinations safely and were continuing with their academic and professional activities.

The statement described the students as “safe, sound and currently in their various destinations, pursuing their academic and professional programmes as planned.”

The college called on parents, guardians, students and members of the public to disregard the report and stop further circulation of the claim.

“We urge the general public, parents, guardians and all stakeholders to disregard the fake news and avoid sharing it further,” the statement said.

The management also assured students, parents and other stakeholders that their safety and welfare remained a priority.

It said the institution would continue to cooperate with relevant security agencies to maintain a secure environment for teaching, learning and professional training.

The college advised members of the public who require information about its activities and students to rely on its official communication channels.

The institution’s statement has therefore contradicted the reported abduction, with the management maintaining that all its students are safe and accounted for.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has cautioned politicians against using insults and inflammatory remarks as the 2027 general elections approach.

The Sultan warned that such conduct could raise tensions and potentially trigger violence within communities.

He spoke on Monday when the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, visited him at his palace in Sokoto.

Obi and Kwankwaso were accompanied by the party’s Sokoto State governorship candidate, Shamsu Haido, and other party members.

According to a statement signed by the Sultan’s Media Team head, Prince Bashir Adefaka, the monarch said political activities should not be used to create hatred, hostility or division among Nigerians.

The statement reads: “His Eminence, particularly, cautioned politicians and their supporters across parties against the use of abusive language, insults and inflammatory statements, warning that such conduct could heighten tensions and potentially lead to violence within communities.

“Politicians have the constitutional and democratic right to present their manifestos, programmes and ideas to the electorate and seek the support of the people.”

Abubakar, however, urged politicians to exercise their democratic rights with decorum and within the provisions of the law while respecting other candidates, political parties and Nigerians with opposing political views.

The Sultan also stressed the need for political actors to place Nigeria’s interests and peace above their individual political differences.

He noted that political positions were temporary, while the unity, peace and stability of the country remained essential to its development.

The monarch further urged political leaders, particularly those seeking elective positions, to lead by example and demonstrate the conduct they expect from their supporters.

He also called on politicians to ensure that campaigns and other political engagements do not descend into personal attacks, hostility or actions capable of creating divisions among communities and citizens.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Sokoto State High Court has sentenced Ibrahim Usman, popularly known as Dan Iyali, to death for his involvement in the kidnapping and killing of three people in the state.

Usman was convicted in a case prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over an incident that occurred in September 2023.

He was arraigned alongside other suspects who remain at large.

The charges against him included criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, culpable homicide punishable with death and voluntarily causing grievous hurt without provocation.

The DSS described the conviction as another death sentence secured against a suspect linked to kidnapping and killings in Sokoto State.

The latest judgement comes months after another Sokoto State High Court sentenced three men, including a Nigerien national, to death by hanging over terrorism-related offences and illegal arms trafficking.

The three men were identified as Yusuf Muhammad, also known as Sallau, a Niger Republic national; Jabbi Alhaji Yalle; and Kabiru Muhammad.

DSS operatives arrested the men on June 13, 2025, over allegations of involvement in cross-border arms smuggling and terrorist activities.

In a judgement delivered in suit number SS/45C/2026, the court convicted the three men and ordered the forfeiture of money recovered from them to the Federal Government.

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 Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have killed two terrorists and recovered weapons and motorcycles during an encounter in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The operation took place after security forces received intelligence in the early hours of 28 August 2026 about the movement of terrorists who were reportedly transporting hundreds of rustled cattle through the Maikujera general area of Rabah LGA.

Acting on the information, troops from Sector 2 moved to the area to intercept the suspected terrorists. The troops, however, came under attack after encountering an ambush laid by the terrorists.

The soldiers responded with superior firepower and fought their way through the ambush. Two terrorists were killed, while others fled into nearby bushes.

A subsequent search of the area resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and three motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.

The gun battle caused the rustled cattle to scatter into the surrounding bushes. The military said efforts were underway with the support of local vigilantes to trace and recover the livestock.

According to the Joint Task Force, the area remained calm after the operation as troops continued to maintain a strong presence and monitor the surroundings to prevent further attacks.

The force said its personnel remained committed to sustaining operations against terrorist and criminal groups while protecting lives and property within its area of responsibility.

The statement was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, on 28 August 2026.

By Uzair Adam

The Sokoto State Police Command has thwarted an attempted bandit attack on Tauma Village in Bodinga Local Government Area, recovering five magazines loaded with 40 rounds of live ammunition after a gun battle with the attackers.

The incident occurred on the night of July 25 following a distress call reporting that a large number of armed bandits had invaded the community.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) promptly deployed tactical teams, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), to confront the attackers.

According to the statement, security operatives engaged the bandits in a fierce exchange of gunfire, forcing them to flee into a nearby forest with suspected gunshot injuries.

A subsequent search of the surrounding area led to the recovery of five magazines containing 40 rounds of live ammunition.

The command said no casualties were recorded among security personnel or members of the community during the operation.

It added that confidence-building patrols had been intensified in and around Tauma Village to reassure residents and strengthen security against further attacks.

The police also disclosed that neighbouring divisions had been placed on alert and directed to monitor for injured suspects who might seek medical treatment or attempt to evade arrest within their jurisdictions.

The command urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious individuals, particularly those with visible gunshot wounds, to the nearest police station or other security agencies.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have stopped a kidnap attempt by suspected terrorists in Surimi, Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, a community close to the Sokoto State border.

The operation led to the rescue of four abducted persons, while no soldier was injured during the mission.

The Nigerian Army disclosed the development in a statement posted on its official X account. It explained that the operation followed credible intelligence that armed terrorists were carrying out kidnapping activities in the area.

The statement said troops at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Unashi responded immediately and moved to the location to block the suspects’ escape routes. The soldiers later confronted the terrorists and overpowered them with superior firepower.

“Faced with the troops’ overwhelming response, the terrorists abandoned the four kidnapped individuals and fled into the nearby bush,” the statement elaborated.

“The rescued individuals were later reunited with their families.”

Military authorities also confirmed that Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded no casualties during the operation. They described the successful rescue as another indication of the troops’ commitment to protecting lives and tackling insecurity across Nigeria’s North-West region.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has commissioned a new fleet of armoured vehicles and security equipment in Sokoto State, describing the move as a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s internal security.

At the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, the Minister praised Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his proactive leadership and investment in security assets, noting that peace remains the foundation for sustainable development.

General Musa stated that the newly deployed combat assets would enhance force protection, mobility, and rapid response capabilities for security personnel in the region.

“While modern equipment is essential, it must be driven by professionalism, discipline, and seamless inter-agency coordination,” the Minister said, commending the state government for complementing military operations with community-based intelligence.

He urged frontline troops to utilise the equipment responsibly and in strict adherence to the rule of law, charging them to justify public investment through selfless service and decisive action against criminal elements.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to safeguarding lives and fostering an environment for economic prosperity.