Gunmen attack Fulani settlement in Niger, rustle 200 sheep, injure herder

By: Zagazola Makama

Unidentified armed men have attacked a Fulani temporary settlement along the Kontagora–Makera Road in Niger State, rustling about 200 sheep and injuring a herder in the process.

Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred at about 11 p.m. on Feb. 2.

Sources said that the attack was reported at about 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 3 by the District Head (Sarkin-Udawa), Mallam Mustapha Sani, at the ‘B’ Division Police Station in Kontagora.

According to the sources, the gunmen stormed the Fulani settlement and opened fire, shooting Dahiru Daudu, a 44-year-old man from Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State, on the hand before making away with about 200 sheep.

“Upon receipt of the report, security forces visited the scene, and the injured victim was rushed to General Hospital, Kontagora, where he is currently responding to treatment,” the sources stated.

The sources said investigations had commenced to track down the attackers and recover the stolen livestock.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies as efforts continue to curb cattle rustling and violent crimes in the area.

Gunmen attack Fulani settlement in Niger, rustle 200 sheep, injure herder

Kwara reopens schools as security forces haunt bandits

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The kwara state government has directed that all schools across the State including the formerly besieged region to reopen from Monday February 2, 2026.

With the statement by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, all schools formerly silenced due to the threat of banditry have since bounced back with activities since Monday this week.

The Commissioner in a statement made available to newsmen went on to state that “school authorities have been notified of the decision which came amid continuous security operations to neutralise all threats to the public institutions, including schools in the affected areas.

“The government deems the situation now to be a lot better than it was before. Even so, we continue to maintain vigilance,” the statement noted.

Meanwhile, security operations continue steadily to sustain the gains of the past weeks while the government builds community resilience along with the kinetic efforts.

This reporter recalls that schools were temporary closed down in kwara due to the daring rampage of terrorists which made the government to direct the closure of schools from primary to.the tertiary level.

Following the temporary shutdown of the College of Education Oro and the concerns people expressed over the issue of insecurity, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo had summoned an emergency meeting involving the Oloro of Oro, Omo Ibile Igbomina, the management of the College, and representatives of the Kwara State Government.

The meeting, which was held at the Headquarters of the Omo Ibile Igbomina and chaired by the Olupo Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu, took briefings from stakeholders and the Oloro of Oro on the subject matter.

A statement signed by Bisi Fakayode who is the National President Omo Ibile Igbomina noted that the meeting had therefore observed and resolved as follows: That they commend the proactive efforts and approach of the government on the matter.

⁠That the government, in truth, acted in the best interest of the public and the decision, while painful, is proactive and inevitable in the face of the available intelligence that was communicated to the meeting.

That the school management was equally right in its assessment of the threat and its communication of same to relevant authorities.

That the current situation calls for calm and balanced assessment for residents to appreciate the weight of the situation and government’s decisions on issues of public importance.

That while they acknowledge the apprehension of members of the public on the issue, they urge them to remain calm and supportive of the government’s decision, which is the best in the circumstance.

That the closure was a temporary setback, which is a safer option than risking the lives of students, teachers, and other citizens to being cheap prey to bandits.

⁠That they sincerely express their profound appreciation to the Olupo and the Oloro for their fatherly roles in convening the emergency meeting in collaboration with the Omo Ibile Igbomina.

That they sincerely thank the management of the College of Education Oro for the mature handling of the situation, especially the proactive communication to the students and other stakeholders on the issue.

Kwara reopens schools as security forces haunt bandits

Troops clear ISWAP enclaves, recover arms, neutralise IEDs in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have intensified offensive operations against Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements, clearing multiple terrorist enclaves in the Kashimori axis of Borno State and recovering arms, logistics and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted in the early hours of Feb. 2, 2026, under Operation Desert Sanity, with troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade (SAB) operating in conjunction with volunteer forces.

The sources said the troops carried out a coordinated clearance of several ISWAP hideouts clustered around the Kashimori area, spanning multiple locations within Guzamala axis, following actionable intelligence on terrorist presence and logistics activity.

According to the sources, although the enclaves were active prior to the operation, the terrorists abandoned their positions before the arrival of troops, apparently fleeing on sensing the advancing force.

“During the clearance operations, troops destroyed terrorist life-support structures across the enclaves and recovered one motorcycle, one tricycle, five AK-47 magazines and five terrorist flags,” the sources stated.

It added that two IEDs were discovered at separate locations during the operation and were safely detonated in situ by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, while one unprimed IED was recovered intact.

The military said the operation was executed across difficult terrain, with troops encountering significant mobility challenges due to sandy soil conditions and mechanical faults affecting several vehicles and motorcycles.

Despite the constraints, the troops successfully completed the mission objectives and later harboured at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kawuri without casualty.

The sustained pressure was being maintained on terrorist elements to deny them freedom of movement, logistics corridors and safe havens.

Operation Hadin Kai has in recent weeks intensified clearance and domination patrols as part of efforts to degrade ISWAP and Boko Haram remnants, disrupt their IED networks and prevent regrouping ahead of the dry season movement window.

Troops clear ISWAP enclaves, recover arms, neutralise IEDs in Borno