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

Spate in Bloodshed in the North: KACRAN Calls for Diplomatic Solution

By: Michael Mike

As fresh waves of violence leave communities in mourning across Northern Nigeria, the Kulen Allah Vitality Self-Reliance Association (KACRAN) has called for an immediate diplomatic surge to end the spiraling insecurity that has claimed more than 200 lives in recent attacks in Niger and Kwara states.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the association condemned what it described as a relentless cycle of killings, kidnappings and livestock rustling that has devastated families and crippled rural economies.

It also decried the reported abduction of 176 persons in parts of Kwara State, urging security agencies to ensure their swift and unconditional release.

KACRAN said while the military has continued to confront armed groups across the region, force alone cannot deliver lasting peace.

“Permanent peace is built on trust, dialogue and unity of purpose, not bullets alone,” the association said, warning that prolonged militarisation of internal conflicts risks creating more complex and entrenched crises.

The group acknowledged ongoing security interventions under President Bola Tinubu and commended the leadership of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa.

It praised the sacrifices of troops on the frontlines but expressed concern that despite a defence budget exceeding N5 trillion in 2026, attacks continue in several communities.

According to KACRAN, the persistence of violence suggests the need for a complementary political and diplomatic framework to address the root causes of instability, including poverty, youth unemployment, communal mistrust and competition over land and grazing resources.

The association proposed what it termed a “diplomatic roadmap” anchored on three key pillars: coordinated leadership among Northern governors and stakeholders; structured dialogue to rebuild trust between affected communities; and economic reinvestment in agriculture and youth empowerment.

It stressed that redirecting resources toward job creation, infrastructure and holistic agricultural development — spanning crop farming, livestock and fisheries — would undercut the economic incentives driving criminality.

“Peace and security in the North is the bedrock of peace in Nigeria,” said Hon. Khalil Bello, National President of KACRAN, urging Northern leaders to close ranks and take collective responsibility for restoring stability.

The North has faced years of overlapping security challenges, from banditry and kidnapping to farmer-herder clashes and organized criminal networks. Entire villages have been displaced, schools shut down and farmlands abandoned, worsening food insecurity and economic hardship.

Security analysts note that while military operations have recorded tactical successes, the absence of sustained dialogue and socio-economic reforms has allowed violence to resurface in cycles.

KACRAN warned that Nigeria must avoid the prolonged instability seen in conflict-ridden nations, emphasizing that unity and inclusive engagement remain the only viable path to sustainable peace.

Spate in Bloodshed in the North: KACRAN Calls for Diplomatic Solution

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Boss Demands Justice Over Killing of Nigerian Driver in South Africa

By: Michael Mike

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has strongly condemned the killing of a 22-year-old Nigerian e-hailing driver, Isaac Satlet, in Pretoria, South Africa, describing the incident as deeply troubling and unacceptable.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, Dabiri-Erewa called on South African authorities to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the crime. She said the recurring cases of violence and criminal attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa have become a serious source of concern.

The NiDCOM boss noted that Nigeria and South Africa share a long history of diplomatic, economic and historical ties, rooted in solidarity during the anti-apartheid struggle, however expressing disappointment that despite this relationship, some individuals continue to perpetrate violent crimes against fellow Africans.

Dabiri-Erewa urged South African authorities to guarantee the protection of lives and property of non-indigenes, stressing that justice must not only be done but be seen to be done in the case of the murdered driver.

She reiterated the Commission’s resolve to strengthen rapid response protocols and institutionalise structured escalation mechanisms for handling diaspora-related emergencies. According to her, NiDCOM will intensify risk mapping strategies and deepen structured engagement with host authorities to improve the safety of Nigerians abroad.

Meanwhile, South African police have reportedly arrested a female suspect in connection with the brutal murder of Satlet, which occurred on February 11, 2026, in Pretoria West. The suspect is expected to appear before the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on February 16, 2026, on charges of car hijacking and murder.

Police reports indicate that Satlet had picked up two passengers — a male and a female — through an e-hailing platform before he was attacked and his vehicle hijacked. His body and the stolen car were later discovered in Atteridgeville.

Dashcam footage reportedly captured part of the incident and played a crucial role in the swift arrest of the female suspect. Authorities are still searching for the male suspect, with further arrests anticipated.

The killing has sparked widespread outrage within the Nigerian community in South Africa and back home, with renewed calls for improved safety measures for e-hailing drivers who often operate in high-risk environments.

Satlet, described by friends and associates as hardworking and ambitious, was a student preparing to graduate next month. He had reportedly planned to pursue further studies in Canada, making his death even more devastating for his family and loved ones.

Over the past decade, diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa have occasionally come under strain due to recurring xenophobic attacks and criminal incidents involving foreign nationals, including Nigerians. Several bilateral meetings and joint commissions have been convened to address concerns over citizens’ safety and promote cooperation on migration and security issues.

NiDCOM, established to engage and protect Nigerians in the diaspora, has repeatedly advocated structured frameworks with host countries to respond swiftly to emergencies affecting Nigerian nationals abroad. The Commission has also called for improved documentation, safety awareness, and collaboration between diaspora groups and local law enforcement agencies.

Dabiri-Erewa reaffirmed that while Nigeria respects the sovereignty of South Africa, the safety and protection of Nigerian citizens abroad remain non-negotiable.

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Boss Demands Justice Over Killing of Nigerian Driver in South Africa