Bandits attack mosque, kill five worshippers during dawn prayers in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits on Friday attacked a mosque in Yandoto community, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing five worshippers during dawn prayers.

Eyewitnesses told Zagazola Makama that the attackers stormed the mosque at the early hours of the morning while prayers were ongoing and opened fire on the congregation.

The incident, which occurred around 5:00 a.m., caused panic among residents as the assailants also abducted an unspecified number of worshippers, who were taken away into the forest.

Community members and sympathizers later conducted funeral prayers for the five victims, who were described as devout Muslims known for their regular attendance at the mosque.

The attack has sparked outrage and grief in the community, with residents calling on authorities to intensify security measures in Tsafe and across Zamfara to end recurring violence.

“We pray Allah to forgive their shortcomings, accept them as martyrs, and bring an end to this bloodshed in our land,” a community elder said.

Bandits attack mosque, kill five worshippers during dawn prayers in Zamfara

Nigeria urged to deepen probe into arms deals, engage Niger republic in joint investigations

By: Zagazola Makama

Security experts have urged the Nigerian government to intensify investigations into arms procurement networks linked to bandit kingpins in the northwest, by working closely with Niger Republic and other Alliance of Sahel States (AES) members.

This follows intelligence reports that AES agencies in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are probing Nigerian bandit leaders and their alleged financiers over cross-border arms deals.

Credible sources revealed that some Nigerian politicians, involved in peace agreements with armed groups, may have diverted large sums of state funds to the kingpins. The funds are allegedly being used to purchase weapons through proxies along the Nigeria–Niger border.

According to the report, the kingpins who have carried out kidnappings of schoolchildren, expatriates, and attacks on Nigerian security forces procure high caliber weapons using hard currency. Several suspected gunrunners connected to the arms network have recently been arrested by AES operatives and are under interrogation.

“The AES agencies have arrested gunrunners crossing into Nigeria who have links to these kingpins. The scale of their arms transactions is alarming,” a security source told Zagazola Makama.

The ongoing probe also seeks to establish whether officials who brokered peace deals with bandits knowingly enabled the diversion of public funds for arms purchases.

Meanwhile, intelligence sources said investigations are ongoing into alleged arms procurement by notorious bandit kingpins in northwestern Nigeria.

Key discoveries include arms acquisition by bandit leaders through proxies along the Nigeria–Niger border and recent arrests of gunrunners linked to the criminal networks.

Security experts stressed the need for renewed collaboration between Nigeria and Niger to dismantle transnational terrorism networks and identify sponsors.

The two countries have historically cooperated in the fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State-linked groups, though relations have been strained since the 2023 coup in Niger.

Nonetheless, recent arrests of suspects accused of funding and transporting recruits from West Africa to the Middle East for training point to the importance of intelligence sharing and diplomatic engagement.

Analysts say Nigeria must take advantage of this AES-led investigation by engaging Niger in joint probes to unravel the full scale of the arms procurement networks and expose both local and foreign sponsors fueling insecurity in Nigeria, West Africa and the Sahel.

Nigeria urged to deepen probe into arms deals, engage Niger republic in joint investigations

VC UNIMAID COMMENDS ASUU FOR COMMITMENT TO MEMBERS WELFARE

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The Vice-Chancellor University of Maiduguri, Professor Mohammed Mele, has commended the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for its commitment to the welfare of members in the unimaid community.

He made the commendation based on the myriads of self help projects such as the renovation of the ASUU secretariat and the construction of the perimeter fence around the Secretariat.

The VC represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics Professor Mohammed Waziri congratulated ASUU on its achievements and urged other unions to emulate their efforts aimed at cushioning the welfare of their members, when the National President of ASUU, Professor Christopher Piwuna, paid a courtesy visit to the University recently.

During the visit, Professor Piwuna lauded the University of Maiduguri ASUU Branch Chairperson, Dr. Abubakar Saidu Mshelia, for his remarkable commitment to members’ welfare. He emphasized the importance of collective action in achieving the goals of Academic Staff across Nigerian Universities, describing the University’s branch as a model of effective leadership and member engagement.

Welcoming the ASUU President, to the Ivy Tower, Dr. Abubakar Saidu expressed gratitude to the National President for the visit despite his busy schedule and for the support given them since assuming office.

He therefore reaffirmed the branch’s dedication to safeguarding the welfare and health of members, advocating for improved working conditions, better health benefits, and overall staff well-being.

The highlight of the event was the commissioning of the Secretariat’s perimeter wall and the formal dedication of its renovation.

VC UNIMAID COMMENDS ASUU FOR COMMITMENT TO MEMBERS WELFARE