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EXCLUSIVE: Army Operations Restore Peace as Over 25,000 Villagers Return in Sokoto but Questions Linger Over Government Neglect
EXCLUSIVE: Army Operations Restore Peace as Over 25,000 Villagers Return in Sokoto but Questions Linger Over Government Neglect
By Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Army’s intensified counter-terrorism operations along the Sokoto–Niger Republic corridor have led to the safe return of more than 25,000 internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities, many of whom fled their homes due to persistent attacks by motorcycle-riding bandits disguised as foreign jihadists known as Lakurawa.
After tears and trauma, peace has finally returned to Tsauna, Tandaza, and other parts of the Gudu–Tangaza axis in Sokoto State, thanks to sustained operations by troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA. Yet, while villagers trek home to their communities, a haunting question persists: where was the state government when bandits reigned?
From 2021 through late 2023, these remote communities bordering Niger were held hostage not by foreign fighters with grand ideologies, but by loosely organized, heavily armed criminal gangs on motorcycles. They murdered, looted, and raped at will, while the state and local governments watched from a distance, often offering conspiracy theories instead of meaningful governance. It was the Nigerian Army’s boots-on-the-ground young men and women who braved forests and perilous terrain, defying the attackers and gave residents the courage to return.
We Were on Our Own
“We were on our own,” said Malam Usman Gidado, a returning farmer in Tsauna. “We ran because there was no protection. Even our traditional leaders fled. But today, we are back, thanks to the Nigerian Army.” Gidado described how soldiers told villagers to farm freely, assuring them they could do so without fear.
Despite repeated intelligence reports of remnants of foreign-trained militants radicalized during the Libyan crisis slipping through the porous Sokoto–Niger border, the government of Sokoto State responded mostly with empty press statements. At one point, officials and some security agencies promoted the narrative that a new extremist group called Lakurawa had taken control of parts of Sokoto.
However, extensive investigations by Zagazola Media Network revealed that this was largely politically motivated posturing designed to attract federal attention. There was no evidence of a structured Lakurawa presence, no camps, no flags, just wandering motorcycle gangs of five to ten armed criminals, often exaggerated and inflated in social media and political discourse.
In Tsauna, a village they claimed was Lakurawa’s headquarters, we found nothing but 15,000 displaced residents struggling to survive. Just 15 kilometers from Illela, Tsauna had never seen a hospital, tarred road, police post or any form of government presence. The only school in the area had been shut down long ago, and the local government chairman had never visited. Yet, when violence erupted, officials and community leaders declared it a terrorist enclave.
“Since the Army Came, Peace Has Returned”
According to Magaji Garba, the Maigari (community leader) of Tsauni, who spoke through an interpreter, the village had been deserted long before the military’s intervention. “Since they came to Tsauni, peace has returned. No attacks have occurred here or in neighboring communities. We are grateful to the Nigerian Army,” he said. Garba added that the community lacked basic social amenities no school, no road, no hospital, no mosque and pleaded with the state government to implement meaningful development.
Alhaji Bashir Mai Adashe, a local resident, described the situation: “Most border villages are cut off from governance. The only government here is the soldier who sleeps in our bush.”
The Turning Point: Women and Brave Action
At the height of the violence, communities were so terrified that just two armed bandits could force hundreds to flee. Men initially refused to resist out of fear. However, a remarkable turn came when the troops instructed women to confront the bandits. They told them, “If any bandit comes again, throw stones at them.”
The women took the advice seriously. When two bandits later tried to infiltrate Tsauna, they mobilized, pelted the attackers with stones, killing one and injuring the other. Soldiers later recovered the bandits’ weapons, and the entire village erupted in celebration. Since then, Tsauna has remained peaceful.
Military Campaigns Continue
Few days later, the troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA led by one Col. Abdullahi Umar, Commanding Officer of the 248 Task Force Battalion and head of the Defence Headquarters’ Special Operations Brigade, supported by the COAS Special Intervention Battalion led the troops in a decisive operation and cleared several camps supposedly occupied by the Lukurawa terrorists. Since then, the troops had conducted at least 32 clearance Operations within Tangaza general area. The operation, code-named “Chase Lakurawas Out,” is a continuation of the military’s Operation Forest Sanity III initiative. It aims to consolidate earlier successes recorded in dismantling terrorist strongholds.
The Operation yielded positive results
Military forces destroyed 22 bandits camps, neutralized several sect members, and seized an array of weapons and ammunition.
Key areas targeted in these operations include Rumji Dutse, Sarma, Tsauna, Bauni, Malgatawa, Gargao, Magara, Kaideji, Nakuru, Sama, Sanyinna, Kadidda, Kolo, and Dancha Villages across Illela, Tangaza, and Binji Local Government Areas.
According to Col. Umar, despite recent military successes, he warned that lasting peace remains elusive unless concerned stakeholders especially at the state and local levels steps up to provide solutions to the historical mistrust between Hausa and Fulani communities in the Tangaza–Gudu–Sauna belt, which often complicates military operations. Locals sometimes give false intelligence, leading to near-disasters.
“Someone tells us there are terrorists in a house. We storm in and find women cooking. If we were not cautious, we could have killed innocents,” he said. A young Fulani girl encountered during an operation ran away in fear, assuming the military would harm her. When they caught up with her, she explained: bandits had killed her family, and now the community blamed her for surviving. These are the children at risk of radicalization not because of ideology, but because of abandonment.
“Sources also sometimes exaggerate numbers of the terrorists. Sometimes they tell us that there are about 800 Lakurawa but when we get there we will found out that they are 8 bandits and not even 80. But their initial claims would be everywhere in the media,”said Umar.
During an exclusive tour to the enclaves around the Tangaza–Gudu–Sauna, Binji and Silame, it was discovered that every time troops pass through, children, youth, and elders pour into the streets shouting ‘Inda Rabana’ Ba Wahala” meaning If there is God, there will be no problem.
For these people, the only government that they know is the troops the Nigerian Army.
“We are grateful to the Nigerian Army. They didn’t just fight, they lived with us, protected us, and gave us hope,” said Hajia Hauwa, a Tsauni resident, as she added that “What we face here is not just military. It is social collapse. Ethnic distrust, no schools, no clinics, no leadership. That’s the problem.
Zagazola Makama therefore warn that unless the governments begin to invest in infrastructure, education, and reconciliation, the fragile peace may crumble. You can’t win peace with bullets alone. You need teachers, roads, local leaders, and dialogue. If these people feel the government doesn’t care, they’ll make alliances with whoever promises protection.
The restored peace in Sokoto’s border communities is a hard-won success one built not on myths or exaggerated threats, but on ground-level courage, soldier-civilian collaboration, and a growing belief that home can once again be safe.
Despite the restoration of peace, the border remains dangerously porous, facilitating the movement of armed groups, weapons, and ammunition between Nigeria and Niger. Experts warn that without enhanced surveillance and deterrence, cross-border infiltration will continue. The government would do well to leverage technology by equipping the military with drones, long-range surveillance cameras, and additional platforms capable of monitoring vast, unmanned terrain. These tools will help cover operational gaps in areas where troops cannot be physically present.
The military has done its part by restoring peace, rebuilding trust, and enabling return. Now, it is the turn of government. But gratitude is not enough. Sokoto’s border communities deserve more than just momentary relief from terror. They deserve roads, schools, hospitals, and governance that shows up in peace not only in war. Until then, the silence of the state will remain louder than the bullets of the bandits.
Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region
EXCLUSIVE: Army Operations Restore Peace as Over 25,000 Villagers Return in Sokoto but Questions Linger Over Government Neglect
Nigeria Unveils Net Zero Investment Plan to Unlock Climate Finance, Drive Green Growth
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched an ambitious Net Zero Investment Plan (NZIP), a major policy framework designed to mobilise climate finance, accelerate sustainable economic growth, and strengthen the country’s pathway to net zero emissions by 2060.
The plan, unveiled in Abuja by the National Council on Climate Change, represents a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to translate its climate commitments into concrete investment opportunities capable of attracting both domestic and international financing.
Developed under the NDC Partnership’s “Global Call for NDCs 3.0 and LT-LEDS,” the framework received technical support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and funding from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety through the International Climate Initiative.
The NZIP is expected to serve as a strategic roadmap for implementing Nigeria’s long-term climate agenda by identifying priority sectors for investment, outlining financing needs, and proposing mechanisms to bridge existing climate finance gaps.
Government officials said the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader economic transformation agenda and reinforces the country’s aspiration to emerge as a leading climate-responsive economy in Africa in line with the African Union Agenda 2063.
The investment framework builds on key national policies, including the Nigeria Agenda 2050, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), all of which provide the policy backbone for Nigeria’s transition toward sustainable and climate-resilient growth.
Under the LT-LEDS framework, Nigeria targets net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, while the NDCs outline short- and medium-term actions under the Paris Agreement.
Speaking at the launch, Country Director of GIZ, Markus Wagner, described the NZIP as a critical instrument for transforming climate goals into bankable projects capable of attracting large-scale investment.
According to him, the framework goes beyond policy declarations by providing a structured mechanism for mobilising public and private capital toward climate resilience, low-carbon industrialisation, and sustainable economic development.
Wagner noted that achieving net zero emissions would require strong collaboration among government institutions, development partners, financial organisations, and the private sector.
He said the plan demonstrates Nigeria’s determination to align climate action with economic development priorities while creating opportunities for innovation, green jobs, and long-term sustainable growth across strategic sectors of the economy.
Analysts say the launch of the NZIP could improve investor confidence in Nigeria’s green economy ambitions and position the country to access increasing pools of global climate finance targeted at low-carbon and climate-resilient development initiatives.
Nigeria Unveils Net Zero Investment Plan to Unlock Climate Finance, Drive Green Growth
Nigeria Reaffirms One-China Policy, Seeks Deeper Economic Partnership With Beijing
By: Michael Mike
The Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the One-China Principle, describing the country’s position on Taiwan as settled, consistent and non-negotiable.
The reaffirmation comes amid renewed global attention on China’s insistence that the People’s Republic of China remains the sole legitimate government representing China, with Taiwan regarded by Beijing as an inseparable part of its territory.
According to the NCSP, Nigeria’s adherence to the One-China policy dates back more than five decades to the establishment of diplomatic relations with China in 1971, and has remained a cornerstone of bilateral relations between both countries.
The agency noted that Nigeria again demonstrated its commitment during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing in 2024, where both nations issued a joint statement reaffirming Nigeria’s recognition of the People’s Republic of China as the only legal government representing the whole of China.
The NCSP said Nigeria also expressed support for China’s pursuit of national reunification during the high-level engagement.
The statement followed heightened diplomatic conversations surrounding the Taiwan issue after a recent visit to Beijing by a United States delegation reportedly led by President Donald Trump alongside leading American business executives.
Director-General of the NCSP, Joseph Tegbe, said Nigeria intends to build on its longstanding diplomatic ties with China to unlock broader economic opportunities in manufacturing, technology transfer, industrialisation and export-driven production.
Tegbe observed that China has played a major role in supporting Nigeria’s infrastructure development through investments in railway projects, ports, energy facilities, telecommunications and industrial expansion.
He stressed that the partnership should now evolve into deeper collaboration in Nigeria’s digital economy, solid minerals development, agro-processing and consumer markets in order to create a more balanced and productive economic relationship.
The NCSP reiterated its commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China across trade, infrastructure, investment, technology transfer and capacity building, with the ultimate objective of delivering measurable economic benefits to Nigerians.
Nigeria Reaffirms One-China Policy, Seeks Deeper Economic Partnership With Beijing
NDLEA Busts Mega Nigerian-Mexican Meth Syndicate, Seizes N480bn Drugs in Largest Lab Raid Ever
By: Michael Mike
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has dismantled what officials described as one of the most sophisticated transnational drug syndicates ever uncovered in Nigeria, arresting a notorious drug baron, three Mexican methamphetamine experts, and six Nigerian collaborators in a sweeping operation spanning Ogun and Lagos states.
The operation also led to the discovery and destruction of what the agency called the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory ever found in the country, hidden deep inside a forest in Ijebu area of Ogun State.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, disclosed the details on Wednesday during a media briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, describing the raid as a major blow against transnational organised crime and illicit drug manufacturing networks operating in Nigeria.
According to Marwa, elite operatives from the agency’s Special Operations Unit executed coordinated strikes across Ogun and Lagos within 48 hours after months of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
He said the primary target was a remote property located inside Abidagba forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, allegedly operated by a drug trafficking organisation headed by suspected kingpin, Anochili Innocent.
Marwa revealed that operatives stormed the forest laboratory on May 16, catching members of the cartel while processing illicit substances.
Among those arrested were three Mexican nationals identified as methamphetamine production specialists allegedly brought into Nigeria to run the operation. They were named as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles, and Torrero Juan Carlos.
Four Nigerian collaborators arrested at the laboratory were identified as Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor.
Simultaneously, another tactical team raided the Lekki residence of the alleged cartel leader at Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lagos, where Anochili was arrested.
Marwa said a search of the property uncovered the passports and mobile phones of the three Mexican suspects, linking the alleged drug baron directly to the importation and coordination of foreign methamphetamine specialists.
The NDLEA boss disclosed that follow-up operations on May 18 led operatives to another property linked to the suspect at Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, where another alleged syndicate member, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, was arrested.
Investigators also stormed the residence of another suspected collaborator, Emeka Nwobum, said to have operated a strategic stash house for the cartel.
The arrests brought the total number of suspects in custody to 10, including the kingpin, the Mexican specialists, and six Nigerian collaborators.
Marwa said the operation yielded an unprecedented 2,419.48 kilograms of chemical substances, including crystallised and liquid methamphetamine as well as dangerous precursor chemicals and industrial solvents.
He estimated the international street value of the seized narcotics at 362.9 million dollars, equivalent to over N480 billion.
According to him, the volume of drugs recovered represented millions of potential street doses capable of fueling addiction, violence, and organised crime across local and international markets.
The agency also recovered operational vehicles including a Toyota Tacoma allegedly used at the forest laboratory and a Toyota Highlander seized from the cartel leader’s residence.
Marwa warned that Nigeria would remain hostile territory for drug cartels and foreign criminal networks attempting to establish manufacturing bases in the country.
“We are fully aware of the shifting tactics of these cartels, including the disturbing trend of hiring South American cartel specialists to set up production factories in our rural communities,” he said.
“No matter how deep into the bush you hide, no matter how secure your gated estate is, the NDLEA will hunt you down, dismantle your network, and seize your illicit wealth.”
The NDLEA chairman also linked the latest operation to the recent takedown of another international drug trafficking network allegedly headed by Simon Amadi, saying the agency was intensifying cooperation with global law enforcement partners to combat organised narcotics operations.
He commended operatives of the Special Operations Unit and the agency’s chemical and forensic teams for what he described as exceptional professionalism and bravery during the operation.
Marwa also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, warning that the Ogun forest laboratory had operated under the guise of a legitimate farm.
NDLEA Busts Mega Nigerian-Mexican Meth Syndicate, Seizes N480bn Drugs in Largest Lab Raid Ever
Nigeria Unveils Net Zero Investment Plan to Unlock Climate Finance, Drive Green Growth
Nigeria Reaffirms One-China Policy, Seeks Deeper Economic Partnership With Beijing
NDLEA Busts Mega Nigerian-Mexican Meth Syndicate, Seizes N480bn Drugs in Largest Lab Raid Ever
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