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Charcoal business now a death sentence in kwara state
Charcoal business now a death sentence in kwara state
By: Bodunrin Kayode
For residents of northern and southern senatorial zones in kwara state, charcoal production which is an economic pastime of some local council residents is now a security challenge.
Those whose livelihood have been tied to the activity now avoid the savannah like a plague especially with the absence of forest guards or civil defenders to watch over them while they eke their livelihoods.
Most of them have now resigned to fate as even firewood still used by local bakers to bake bread is now a luxury not to talk about house wives who rely on it to cook.
Recently, a single mother of four from Igbaja was kidnapped by bandits while she went in to the savannah to source for charcoal, which she sells for a living.
Her family and other sympathisers had responded to the ransom demands by the bandits by sourcing and taking five million out of the initial 100 million naira demanded by her captors in the bush.
In spite of that speedy payment they made, the criminals had, refused to release her asking instead for more money to match up with their initial demands.
However while the criminals were haggling with her family for more chunk of the expected ransom, she escaped from their grip and is back at her home in Igbaja.
Kwara state in north central Nigeria has been badly infested by criminal bandits who have been unleashing sorrow, tears and blood on the people.
The latest group to join the previous hit, kill and run group is the lakurawa which has alliances with groups in the sahelian states between the Maghreb north African region down to West African countries.
Sadly, the nation’s security architecture seem to lack the intelligence and sophistication using modern equipment to stop these elements even after they have written memos to certain communities that they are coming.
They actually came and operated in Kayama council area recently for long hours without even the Nigerian police force present in such remote places not to talk about the kwara command seeing every stick and stone inside its territory in real time through buyable technology.
Nigeria needs at least a minimum of two million federal, state and local council police personnel policing its residents all over the country if we must heave a sigh of relief in the area of internal security.
The implementation of the recently approved state police by the sub nationals is the first step towards securing individual states since the federal police are very well over stretched having shown a clear lack of capacity to police almost 250 million people in the country.
Sadly, many states in the South west of Nigeria already have uniformed Amotekun personnel doing intelligence and community policing of their states but they lack the real technology which would give them edge in seeing what occurs through their numerous rain forests which is a far different ball game from what kwara is dealing with.
The Nigerian military however is the worse hit in terms of boots on the ground, air or on sea because recruitment has never achieved the desires of the people within the last four decades yet hundreds retire yearly after 35 years of service.
Charcoal business now a death sentence in kwara state
News
One killed, three injured as gunmen attack Plateau community in reprisal over livestock incident
One killed, three injured as gunmen attack Plateau community in reprisal over livestock incident
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits have killed one person and injured three others in an attack on Shonong community in Bachi District, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, in a sustained reprisal attack linked to an earlier livestock-related incident.
Security sources said the attack occurred at about 8:40 p.m. on April 19 when the armed men invaded the community and opened fire on residents.
The sources said the assault was believed to be in retaliation over the killing of nine livestock in the area, an incident that had heightened tensions between farming and herding communities in the locality.
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) deployed in the area reportedly came under fire while responding to the attack and engaged the assailants in a gun duel, forcing them to withdraw after a heavy exchange of fire.
Reinforcement teams were later deployed and moved into the community to stabilise the situation and restore order.
According to the sources, the attackers killed a woman identified as Mrs Fibi Solomon, while three others — Mr Solomon, Master Jacob Solomon and Miss Jacobeth Solomon — sustained gunshot wounds.
The injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Riyom for treatment, alongside the remains of the deceased.
Troops also rescued 12 civilians comprising three men, six women and three children, who were relocated to nearby Fang village for safety.
Security sources added that troops had intensified pursuit operations to track down the fleeing attackers, while the general area remained calm but tense.
One killed, three injured as gunmen attack Plateau community in reprisal over livestock incident
Yobe: Baba Malam Wali paid condolences to Senator Mustapha
By: Yahqya Wakili
The immediate past secretary to the Yobe State Government, Alhaji Baba Malam Wali mni, today paid a condolence visit to Senator Musa Mustapha, senator representing Yobe East in the National Assembly, following the death of his mother-in-law, the late Hajiya Fatima Mustapha Jibrin.
This was contained in a statement issued and signed by his press secretary, Alhaji Shuaibu Abdullahi, made available to newsmen in Damaturu, the state capital.
During the visit, the former secretary to the state government, Baba Malam Wali mni, offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the deceased’s soul.
He urged the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude, noting that death is inevitable and a path that every mortal must take.
Hajiya Fatima Mustapha Jibrin passed away yesterday, Thursday, 16th April 2026, in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital. She was buried the same day in accordance with Islamic injunction.
Baba Malam Wali further prayed to Almighty Allah SWT to forgive the shortcomings of the late Hajiya Fatima, have mercy on her, and grant her Al-Jannatul Fiddausi as her final abode.
Yobe: Baba Malam Wali paid condolences to Senator Mustapha
Troops Foil ISWAP Attack Attempt in Guzamala
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 3 Area of Responsibility have foiled an attempted attack by suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorists on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
Sources said the incident occurred at about 1329hrs on April 19, when the terrorists attempted to infiltrate the base through Charlie/Delta Company axis.
The attackers, operating with two gun trucks, were sighted advancing toward the entrance gate of Mairari town along the Gajiram axis.
Troops immediately engaged the advancing terrorists, forcing them to abandon their mission and retreat.
Following the encounter, troops dominated the general area with patrols, while air support was also deployed and hovered over the vicinity. However, no further terrorist presence was observed after the exchange.
Security sources said exploitation and clearance operations are ongoing to prevent regrouping and to secure surrounding communities.
Troops Foil ISWAP Attack Attempt in Guzamala
Angry youths, women attack soldiers, burn military checkpoint in Plateau over killing of villager
One killed, three injured as gunmen attack Plateau community in reprisal over livestock incident
Troops destroy terrorist hideouts, arrest 9 suspected informants in Taraba
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