Crime
Airstrikes by Nigerian Air Force Free Kidnapped Victims from Bandits in Katsina, after several terrorists killed

Airstrikes by Nigerian Air Force Free Kidnapped Victims from Bandits in Katsina, after several terrorists killed
By: Zagazola Makama
Atleast Five kidnapped victims have managed to escape captivity after an airstrike by the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA under the Northwest Operation FARAUTAR MUJIYA, targeted bandit hideouts near Babare Hills in Katsina State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the victims Musa Umar (45), Alhaji Hassan Dando (47), Saminu Ali (35), Yasir Salisu (15), and Muhammad Buhari (17) were held by bandits after being kidnapped from Jibia’s Bachaka quarters and Lankwasau village in early October.
The escape occurred in the early hours of November 10, 2024, during an air interdiction as part of Operation Fansa Yamma, the Nigerian military’s intensified campaign against banditry in the northwest.
According to Musa Umar, one of the freed victims, the airstrikes struck the bandits’ enclave, leading to significant casualties among the bandits and forcing guards to abandon their posts. This enabled five of the captives to break free from their chains and flee the area.
Four of the victims sought help at an army Forward Operating Base in Faru and were later transferred to the Jibia Army Camp.
Meanwhile, Umar made his way to Jibia General Hospital for medical assistance. He reported that about 30 people remained captive at Babare Hills, with chains still preventing their escape.
The Nigerian Military has significantly ramped up its operations to tackle the pervasive issue of banditry across the northwest region.
Through a series of strategic airstrikes and ground offensives under Operation Fansa Yamma, security forces have targeted major hideouts and supply routes used by bandit groups. Recent airstrikes, including successful missions around Babare Hills in Katsina State, have not only neutralized scores of bandits but also led to the liberation of kidnapped victims who managed to escape amid the chaos.
The intensified campaign reflects a shift toward proactive and relentless pressure on bandit enclaves across the northwest. High-profile operations involving the Nigerian Air Force and ground troops are focused on reclaiming areas that have long been hotspots of criminal activity.
These ongoing efforts aim not only to weaken the operational capacity of bandits but also to dismantle the infrastructure supporting their movements and activities. Authorities have also underscored the importance of intelligence gathering and sustained air surveillance in locating bandit camps and preventing future attacks, underscoring the military’s evolving strategy to end banditry and secure the region.
Airstrikes by Nigerian Air Force Free Kidnapped Victims from Bandits in Katsina, after several terrorists killed
Man kills replacement herder in Niger over job loss
By Zagazola Makama
The Niger State Police Command has arrested a man for allegedly killing his replacement over a dispute linked to job loss in Malale village, Borgu Local Government Area.
According to a Police Sources, the incident occurred on April 30 at about 12:30 p.m. and was reported to the Malale Police Outstation by the village head, Mallam Musa Abubakar, and one Usman Iliyasu of Tungan-Sule.
Usman Iliyasu told police that he had employed Usman Mohammed as a cattle herder two years ago but sacked him in February 2025 after accusing him of stealing money while he was away on pilgrimage to Mecca.
Subsequently, Iliyasu hired one Ibrahim Salisu, 40, of the same address to replace him.
“The sacked herder, Usman Mohammed, reportedly attacked Ibrahim Salisu with a cutlass, inflicting fatal injuries and accusing him of taking over his job. The victim died on the spot,” said the police sources.
He said Police officers from the New-Bussa Division visited the scene, photographed the corpse, and evacuated it to the General Hospital, New-Bussa, for autopsy.
The suspect was immediately arrested, and an investigation is currently ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident.
Man kills replacement herder in Niger over job loss
Crime
Bandits kill 11 in Sokoto, joint security forces launch manhunt

Bandits kill 11 in Sokoto, joint security forces launch manhunt
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have killed 11 persons in coordinated attacks across three communities in Gwadabawa and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas of Sokoto State, sources confirmed on Saturday that the attacks occurred on May 2 at about 7:30 p.m.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the assailants, in large numbers, stormed Satiru Village and killed five people. They then proceeded to Kunkurus Village, where they killed one person, and later attacked Shadawa community in Sabon Birni LGA, where they shot five more victims dead.
In response to the attacks, troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Sokoto Community Guards jointly responded to the attacks in the affected areas.
On their arrival, the terrorists had already fled.
The troops are currently trailing the terrorists
Bandits kill 11 in Sokoto, joint security forces launch manhunt
Crime
32 suspected IPOB/ESN members Arrested in Enugu raid

32 suspected IPOB/ESN members Arrested in Enugu raid
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police in Enugu have arrested 32 suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), during coordinated raids on criminal hideouts in the state.
According to a Police Sources, the operation, which took place in the early hours of May 2 between 3:10 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., followed credible intelligence on the locations of suspects involved in the recent attack on a patrol team of Mbanabo Division.
The sources told Zagazola Makama that the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, deployed the Commander of the Distress Response Squad to lead a joint operation involving operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Mobile Force (PMF), and other tactical units.
He said the raids were carried out at criminal hideouts located in Mmaku, Ugbo Afam, Ugo Nenwe, and Ugbonabo axis in Enugu State.
“During the operation, thirty-two suspects were apprehended, including ten high-profile members of IPOB/ESN who had been on the command’s watch list for their alleged involvement in previous attacks on Awgu Police Divisional Headquarters and a patrol team from Inyi Division,” the sources said.
He added that discreet investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of each suspect’s involvement and to prosecute those found culpable.
32 suspected IPOB/ESN members Arrested in Enugu raid
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