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
Renewed ISWAP–Boko Haram faction clash leaves dozens dead in Abadam, Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Dozens of fighters were killed on both sides on Tuesday following a renewed violent encounter between the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and elements of the Bukura faction loyal to Abu Umaima along the Lake Chad Basin axis of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the clash broke out between 6:00 a.m. and about 10:15 a.m. around Dogon Chiku Buhari village, a border settlement in Abadam LGA, barely one kilometre from the Nigeria–Niger frontier.
The sources said the Bukura faction fighters, believed to be operating from settlements around the Lake Chad Basin on the Niger Republic side, engaged ISWAP elements resident on the Nigerian side of the border.
“The fighting took place around Dogon Chiku Buhari, east of Tubum Mota and the Bosso–Diffa axis in Niger Republic. It lasted several hours and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides,” a source said.
Tubum Mota village, is located east of Malam Fatori, about 19 kilometres from the town, which has remained a flashpoint for rival extremist groups.
The renewed violence is rooted in longstanding rivalries within the jihadist ecosystem. ISWAP has sought to consolidate authority across the basin by absorbing or eliminating splinter groups, while the Bukura/Abu Umaima faction has resisted subordination, relying on cross-border mobility and local alliances.
The border’s porous nature allows fighters to shift bases quickly, complicating counterterrorism operations by Nigerian and MNJTF forces.
Renewed ISWAP–Boko Haram faction clash leaves dozens dead in Abadam, Borno
Police arrest four Liberians over alleged visa fraud in Lagos
By: Zagazola Makama
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four Liberian nationals over an alleged visa fraud case in Ikorodu area of the state.
According to security sources, police received information at about 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 that some Liberian nationals were engaged in a serious dispute at their base in the Mowonla area of Ikorodu.
“Based on the report, a team of police personnel was immediately mobilised to the scene. On arrival, four Liberian nationals were arrested and brought to the station for investigation,” the sources said.
The suspects were identified as Rebecca Mollie, 30; Joseph Brisbane, 45; Bility Famba, 35; and Reina Kartec, 24.
During interrogation, Mollie alleged that in August 2025, one Patrick Charman, a 47-year-old Liberian national, lured her from Liberia to Nigeria on the pretext that he was based in Australia and could facilitate her travel from Nigeria to Australia.
She said Charman demanded and collected 1,500 dollars from her for visa arrangements.
Mollie further alleged that upon arrival in Nigeria, she was received by another Liberian national, Naomi Koso, 36, who collected an additional 1,290 dollars from her for continued visa processing.
“The complainant stated that she later realised she had been defrauded and demanded a refund of her money to enable her return to Liberia,” the security sources added.
The police said the four suspects are currently being detained, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend Patrick Charman and Naomi Koso.
Investigation into the case is in progress, the sources said.
Police arrest four Liberians over alleged visa fraud in Lagos
Bandits ambush joint security team in Zamfara, officials trapped
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected armed bandits on Monday ambushed a joint security team, including the Chairman of Tsafe Local Government Area, along the Kunchin Kalgo–Danjibga road in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State, the police have said.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 20.
According to the sources, the joint team was travelling to Danjibga to reunite some villagers from the Keta area who had recently regained their freedom from their abductors when the attack occurred.
The suspected bandits, who appeared to have had prior knowledge of the movement of the team, laid an ambush along the route.
The sources added that following the attack, the local government chairman and members of his entourage were trapped in Danjibga, with some persons feared kidnapped, while some vehicles were believed to have been set ablaze.
The sources said reinforcements had been dispatched to the area to secure the release of those trapped and restore normalcy.
Efforts are ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the incident, while security forces have intensified operations in the area, the sources added.
Bandits ambush joint security team in Zamfara, officials trapped
Renewed ISWAP–Boko Haram faction clash leaves dozens dead in Abadam, Borno
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