Crime
Former president of Burkina Faso, Compaore gets life imprisonment
Former president of Burkina Faso Compaore gets life imprisonment
A military tribunal on Wednesday ruled that Burkina Faso’s former president Blaise Compaore be sentenced to life imprisonment for complicity in the 1987 murder of his predecessor Thomas Sankara in a coup.
The charismatic Marxist revolutionary Sankara was gunned down in the West African nation’s capital Ouagadougou at the age of 37, four years after he took power in a previous putsch.
Compaore was charged in absentia along with his former Head of Security, Hyacinthe Kafando, who was also sentenced to life imprisonment.
Both have previously denied any involvement in Sankara’s death along with 12 other defendants accused of involvement in the plot, three of whom were declared innocent on Wednesday.
“The court finds Blaise Compaoré and Hyacinthe Kafando guilty of attack on state security, complicity in murder and concealment of a corpse,” the tribunal said in its ruling.
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Compaore went on to rule for 27 years before being ousted in another coup in 2014 and fleeing to Ivory Coast, where he is still believed to live.
Fondly known as Africa’s “Che Guevara”, Sankara took power on a promise to thwart corruption and post-colonial influences, denouncing foreign aid as a control mechanism.
He rolled out mass vaccination against polio, banned female circumcision and polygamy, and was one of the first African leaders to publicly recognise the growing AIDS epidemic as a threat for the continent.
A former fighter pilot, Sankara won public support in the impoverished nation by selling a government fleet of Mercedes, lowering the pay of well-off public servants and forbidding first class state travel.
He cut his own salary, refused to work with air conditioning and jogged through Ouagadougou unaccompanied.
Critics said his reforms curtailed freedoms and did little to enrich ordinary people. But admiration remains.
Over the weekend, students gathered around white flowers marking the spot where Sankara was shot.
(Reuters/NAN)
Crime
Troops recover 42 rustled cattle, return them to owner in Plateau
Troops recover 42 rustled cattle, return them to owner in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have recovered 42 cattle rustled by suspected criminals in the Jwak Maitumbi-Sarbot general area of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that troops responded at about 1:32 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2026, following reports of sporadic shootings by suspected cattle rustlers in the area.
The troops launched a pursuit on two fronts along the suspected escape routes of the criminals.
Faced with pressure from the troops, the rustlers abandoned the cattle and fled towards the Sabon Gari general area.
The troops subsequently recovered all 42 cattle.
Further investigation established that the cattle belonged to Alhaji Hussaini Sale of Dorowa Babuje. The troops contacted him and formally handed over the 42 cattle to him.
The successful recovery underscores the troops’ continued efforts to protect rural communities and prevent cattle rustling in the area.
Troops recover 42 rustled cattle, return them to owner in Plateau
Crime
Troops arrest soldier, recover 69 rounds of ammunition in Plateau
Troops arrest soldier, recover 69 rounds of ammunition in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1, Operation ENDURING PEACE, have arrested a serving soldier and recovered ammunition and other military items during a stop-and-search operation at Babale Checkpoint in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The soldier, identified as 13NA/70/8069 Corporal Legedu Denebari, is serving with 109 Special Forces Battalion, Magumeri, Borno State, under Operation HADIN KAI.
He was arrested at about 8:15 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2026, during routine security checks at the checkpoint.

Items recovered from the soldier included one magazine, 69 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm Special ammunition, two Strike Force ballistic plates, two jack knives, one mobile phone, one power bank, one helmet, a Nigerian Army identity card and two pairs of camouflage uniforms.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the soldier was on pass from his unit to Rivers State with effect from Sept. 2, 2026.
The soldier and the recovered items have been taken into custody for further investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the movement and possession of the ammunition and other military equipment.

The development underscores the importance of ongoing stop-and-search operations by security forces to prevent the unauthorised movement of arms, ammunition and military equipment across the Joint Operations Area.
Troops arrest soldier, recover 69 rounds of ammunition in Plateau
Crime
Troops arrest four suspected motorcycle thieves, recover weapons in Plateau
Troops arrest four suspected motorcycle thieves, recover weapons in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 4, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), have arrested four suspected motorcycle thieves and recovered three motorcycles and weapons during an operation in Exland Village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The operation was conducted at about 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 1, following a report on the activities of suspected motorcycle snatchers operating in the area.
Sources said that the troops of Sub-Sector 41 deployed in Exland responded to the report and arrested four suspects at the location.
The suspects were identified as Yusuf Tahiru, 25; Ayuba Aliyu, 23; Anas Usman, 20, also known as “Kurra Berom”; and Ibrahim Muhammad, 20.

Following the arrests, troops conducted a cordon-and-search operation within the suspected area of activity and recovered three motorcycles believed to be connected to the suspects.
The troops also recovered one locally fabricated firearm, one cutlass and one knife during the operation.
The suspects and recovered exhibits have been taken into custody for further investigation and necessary legal action.
The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by Operation ENDURING PEACE to tackle criminal activities, including motorcycle theft and armed crime, and strengthen security across communities in Plateau State.
Troops arrest four suspected motorcycle thieves, recover weapons in Plateau
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