Crime
Four Burnt to Death, 10 Injured as Fire Guts Passenger Bus in Jigawap
Four Burnt to Death, 10 Injured as Fire Guts Passenger Bus in Jigawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Four people, including three children, were burnt beyond recognition, while 10 others sustained injuries after a commercial Hummer bus caught fire in Gwaram, Jigawa State.
Security and emergency sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on February 22, 2025, at about 4:00 p.m., near the Government Girls Unity Secondary School, Gwaram.
The bus, a white Hummer with registration number ZAK 382 XA, was driven by Dalha Saleh, a 40-year-old resident of Galdimari Quarters, Saldigal Village, Zaki LGA, Bauchi State.
It was conveying 44 passengers—25 adults and 19 children from Zaki LGA in Bauchi State to Rabadi Village when the fire broke out from the vehicle’s exhaust system.
According to sources, the fire ignited after a mattress tied to the back of the vehicle caught fire from the exhaust sparks.
The four victims, all from Saldigal Village, Zaki LGA, Bauchi State, were identified as: Ziwaira Hassan, Fatima Hassan, Iyatale Hassan, Halima Muhammad (10 years, female)
Ten other passengers sustained varying degrees of burns and were rushed to Gwaram Cottage Hospital for treatment. The remaining passengers were rescued unhurt.
The sources said that the charred remains of the victims would be released to their families for burial after medical examination.
Zagazola reports that reckless overloading of commercial vehicles, particularly those transporting goods from Kano to Maiduguri, has become a serious safety and security concern.
Every day, buses and vans meant for passenger transport are stuffed with goods that should be carried by trailers, turning them into moving hazards on already dangerous highways.
Despite the presence of numerous security and road safety checkpoints, many of these vehicles pass through unchecked not because they meet safety standards, but because they pay their way through.
These drivers mostly traveled at night to evade strict checks from KAROTA in Kano- Jigawa and passed the night in Potiskum. Then proceeded with their journey in the early morning hours. And during that time, those responsible for enforcing compliance will all be out to collect bribes. No single vehicle will be stopped for any checks.
Various personnel at these checkpoints, instead of enforcing regulations, often turn a blind eye in exchange for bribes, allowing these overloaded vehicles to continue their journeys without scrutiny. Many of these vehicles exceed weight limits, causing faster deterioration of roads and bridges, which leads to costly repairs and more hazardous road conditions.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), police, and other security agencies have been largely ineffective in stopping this dangerous trend. While FRSC officers are stationed at multiple checkpoints, many prefer to look the other way rather than enforcement of the regulations.
Overload vehicles have poor stability which increased braking distance, and there are higher chances of tire blowouts, which can lead to deadly crashes. Incidents like the recent Jigawa fire disaster, where four passengers were burnt beyond recognition, are tragic recollections of this recklessness.
The Drivers always give the excuse that they opted to overload their vehicles to carry more goods in order to cover the cost that they spent giving the security agencies at various checkpoints.
This lack of oversight has further created loopholes that terrorists and criminal groups exploit. There have been several reports of terrorists smuggling weapons, fuel, and other logistics under the disguise of commercial transport. These activities are sometimes being intercepted by the Military Intelligence troops of the Nigerian Army.
There is therefore an urgent need for strict enforcement of weight limits, vehicle safety regulations, and thorough inspections at checkpoints. The government must: Empower road safety officers and security personnel to perform their duties without compromise. Impose severe penalties on both drivers and security personnel who violate or neglect their responsibilities.
Without immediate intervention, the unchecked overloading of vehicles will continue to claim lives and compromise national security, making it easier for criminal networks to operate freely across Nigeria’s highways.
Four Burnt to Death, 10 Injured as Fire Guts Passenger Bus in Jigawa
Crime
NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency
NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a wanted drug baron, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, alias Chisco Bee, allegedly operating under the cover of a businessman and hotelier.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, his arrest was after weeks of intelligence and surveillance on his criminal activities.

Babafemi, said the 42-year-old Ibemesi, who is the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig Ltd, was arrested at his Daisy Garden Hotel, 66-68 Agbeke street, Ago palace way, Isolo Lagos in the early hours of Saturday after which he was taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi street off Ago place way, Isolo where 42 jumbo bags and four cartoons of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 1,762.8 kilogrammes were recovered.
Also seized from him at the point of his arrest include: US$11,600; £2,000; €2,200 and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash.
Babafemi also said an attempt by a suspected drug syndicate operating at Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve, Ife South local government area, Osun state to load and distribute across the country large quantities of processed skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 11,135 kilogrammes were thwarted last Tuesday by NDLEA operatives after days of surveillance in the forest. Two trucks being used to transport the illicit consignments: a Volvo truck marked WWR 29 XA and a Mercedes truck with registration number AWK 713 YZ were seized and seven suspects arrested.
Those in custody in connection with the seizure are: Lucky Abiodun; Julius Amos; Victor Ngbikili; Sunday Oduegwu; Ibrahim Akanni; Eze Godstime; and Fred Ifeanyichukwu.

He said a total of 1,902.1 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered in parts of Edo state. While 184.1 kilogrammes was recovered along a bush path at Oza/Igbanke road, Igbanke, in Orhionmwon local government area last Thursday, 672 kilogrammes was evacuated from Utese forest, Ovia North East local government area on Friday, with 494 kilogrammes recovered from a Mercedes Benz car marked DE311BEN along Benin-Akure road where a suspect Felix Edah, 45, was arrested same day, just as Lucky Abagha, 51, was nabbed in another Mercedes Benz car marked JJJ 56 JW conveying 552 kilogrammes.
While four suspects: Micheal Okoh; Offor Agada; Raphael Nkemjika and Nwabueze Franklin were arrested with 68 kilogrammes skunk and 3.150 kilogrammes methamphetamine along Ijebu-Ode expressway in Ogun state, Danjuma Tukura, 50, was nabbed with 172 kilogrammes skunk at Sunkani area of Ardo Kola local government area, Taraba state on Friday and Wisdom Titus, 24, with 84 kilogrammes of same substance at Takum area of the state.
In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Friday recovered 396,000 capsules of tramadol from a suspect Ahmed Nda, 50, at Aliyu Mustapha International Airport Yola, while 785 kilogrammes of skunk was evacuated from the warehouse of a drug dealer currently at large at Asob Maraba Karu, Nasarawa state.
Two suspects: Jamiu Kardoso and Oriyomi Waliu were on Friday arrested with 130 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 65.150 kilogrammes in Surulere area of Lagos, just as Taofeek Moraina was nabbed same day with 282 blocks of Ghana Loud with a gross weight of 141 kilogrammes at Otto, Oyingbo area of Lagos.
In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives last Thursday intercepted a truck marked T- 0262KT along Ilorin – Jebba expressway conveying 197 blocks of skunk weighing 78.565 kilogrammes and 155 cartons of rubber solutions. The truck driver Umar Yakubu was taken into custody.
In another operation, a commercial bus with registration number KJA- 657CY was intercepted at Eiyenkonrin, Ilorin last Wednesday with 20 blocks of skunk concealed in a 50-litre jerry can recovered and the driver Ibrahim Bello arrested.
The commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa while commending the officers and men of the SOU, Osun, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Kwara commands for the arrests, and seizures, (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency
Crime
Breaking! THREE MONTHS AFTER ARRAIGNMENT OF YELWATA AND PLATEAU MASSACRE SUSPECTS, DSS, SUSPECTED MAJOR ARMS SUPPLIER
Breaking!
THREE MONTHS AFTER ARRAIGNMENT OF YELWATA AND PLATEAU MASSACRE SUSPECTS, DSS, SUSPECTED MAJOR ARMS SUPPLIER
▪︎Musa Abubakar Admits to Patronage From Armed Groups.
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have successfully disrupted a high target arms supply network linked to terrorist activities in Plateau and neighboring states.
The operation, which followed precise intelligence on November 12, 2025, led to the arrest of Musa Abubakar, an alleged key arms dealer.
A top security source, said: “The suspect confessed to having manufactured and distributed high-calibre weapons and ammunition to armed groups involved in violent attacks in Plateau State and other northern regions.”
His arrest reportedly followed credible intelligence on activities of the suspect, which led to a targeted raid on his arms manufacturing workshop located in the Mista Ali area of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State.
Prior to the raid, DSS operatives had conducted extensive surveillance on Abubakar’s residence and workshop to gather critical intelligence.
‘Abubakar was apprehended red-handed with various Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components, chemicals, and equipment, which have all been confiscated by DSS operatives’, added the source.
This significant arrest comes shortly after the recapture of Abdulazeez Obadaki, aka Bomboy, a Kuje Prison escapee who masterminded Owo and Deeperlife Church attacks.
These recent operational successes recorded by the DSS display the Agency’s commitment to combating terrorism and enhancing national security.
It could be recalled that the DSS arrested a total of 9 high-profile suspects involved in the Plateau and Benue attacks including Timna Manjol (46), who already pleaded guilty to two of four count charges including illegal possession of firearms in a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/451/2025. Manjo, of First Baptist Chuch, Mangu LGA, Plateau State.
Breaking!
THREE MONTHS AFTER ARRAIGNMENT OF YELWATA AND PLATEAU MASSACRE SUSPECTS, DSS, SUSPECTED MAJOR ARMS SUPPLIER
Crime
Bandits kill two, injure six in Ikara community attack
Bandits kill two, injure six in Ikara community attack
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have killed two residents and injured six others during an attack on Gidan Duma in Gangarida village, Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred at about 12:35 a.m. on Friday.
The source said the gunmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the residence of one Yakubu Samaila, 37, and abducted him after firing multiple shots.
According to sources , members of the community mobilised in an attempt to rescue the victim, during which Samaila managed to escape with gunshot wounds.
The sources said two other residents Ibrahim Isah, 45, and Solomon Ishaya, were shot and fatally injured during the confrontation.
“Four others, namely Irimiyah Samaila, Halilu Isah, Abel Markus, and Elkana Mohammed, all from Katsinawa village, also sustained various gunshot injuries,” the source added.
The sourcss disclosed that security teams were mobilised to the area and evacuated the injured victims to the hospital for treatment.
Those confirmed dead were certified at the hospital, while the injured are currently receiving treatment at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria.
The source added that intensified operations were ongoing to track down the attackers.
“Investigation has commenced and further updates will be communicated,” he said.
Bandits kill two, injure six in Ikara community attack
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years agoTHE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
News7 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
