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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
Operation Whirl Stroke arrests cow rustling suspects fuelling violence in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation WHIRL STROKE have arrested suspects linked to cattle rustling in Benue State, following two separate security incidents in Guma Local Government Area.
Security sources said that on Feb. 15, troops responded to an attack on herders at Amua Village, located between Daudu and Umenger/Ukpiam. The attack left one herder dead, while another sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated to Keana in neighbouring Nasarawa State for urgent medical attention. The remains of the deceased were handed over to community representatives for burial according to local customs.
In a related operation on the same day, troops stationed at Ukpiam acted on intelligence provided by vigilant youths concerning suspected cattle rustling. The troops arrested a 23-year-old suspect, Terngu Aondohemba, who reportedly confessed to killing two cattle belonging to Fulani herders. He also implicated two accomplices, Akpehe and Ashinge, who are still at large.
Further investigation led security operatives to Korje Village in Daudu, where Mrs. Mercy Onban, wife of the alleged buyer of the stolen meat, was apprehended along with the recovered meat exhibits. Both suspects remain in custody pending further investigation.
The Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Moses Gara, condemned the attacks and criminality, affirming the commitment of Operation WHIRL STROKE to halting killings and cattle rustling in the Joint Operations Area.
He urged community leaders to strengthen collaboration with security agencies, stressing that timely intelligence sharing is critical to restoring lasting peace. Major General Gara also reassured law-abiding residents of the strong resolve of the Joint Task Force to protect lives and property across the region.
Operation Whirl Stroke arrests cow rustling suspects fuelling violence in Benue
Federal Government arraigns Nasir El-Rufai over alleged phone interception
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Government has charged former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged unlawful interception of phone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Court documents showed that El-Rufai, 65, appeared as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme on Feb. 13, 2026, where he reportedly admitted to involvement in the interception and to knowing individuals who carried out the act without reporting them to security agencies.
The charges, filed under TABU DET CR/99/2026, include: Count One, Allegedly admitting during the television interview that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, contrary to Section 12 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count Two, Allegedly stating that he knew individuals who unlawfully intercepted the same communications but failed to report them, in violation of Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024. Count Three, Allegedly using technical systems to compromise public safety and national security, and instilling apprehension among Nigerians, in breach of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The case, filed by a team of Federal Government lawyers led by ME Ernest, OM Owan, UM Bulla, CS Eze, and VE G. Orubor, is set to proceed with investigations and trial proceedings.
Authorities said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, where the accused will be required to respond to the charges.
The trial is expected to attract significant public attention given the high-profile nature of the accused and the sensitive security issues involved.
Federal Government arraigns Nasir El-Rufai over alleged phone interception
Clash over graveyard access leaves several injured in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
A disagreement between youths over access to a graveyard escalated into violence on Monday in parts of Kaduna South area of Kaduna State, leaving several persons injured and two houses burnt.
Security sources said a distress call received at about 9:00 a.m. indicated that youths from Makera Village had gone to Ungwan Mission to clear bushes around an abandoned Muslim graveyard in an effort to reopen it.
During the exercise, a youth from Ungwan Mission was reportedly prevented from passing through the site, a development that led him to mobilise others from his community to confront those clearing the graveyard.
The confrontation degenerated into a free-for-all fight, during which some participants sustained injuries and were rushed to hospitals for treatment. Two houses were also set ablaze in Ungwan Mission, though no loss of life was recorded.
Authorities said an emergency stakeholders’ meeting was convened by the Kaduna State Government and led by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Internal Security, representatives of the police, military and Department of State Services (DSS), chairmen of Kaduna South and Chikun Local Government Areas, as well as leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), youth leaders and other stakeholders.
Security agencies said efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest those involved in the violence, while measures had been put in place to prevent further breakdown of law and order in the area.
Clash over graveyard access leaves several injured in Kaduna
Operation Whirl Stroke arrests cow rustling suspects fuelling violence in Benue
Federal Government arraigns Nasir El-Rufai over alleged phone interception
Clash over graveyard access leaves several injured in Kaduna
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