New scandal rocks Yobe NSCDC as herder alleges multi-million naira extortion by Agro Rangers Commander

By: Zagazola Makama

A fresh storm is sweeping through the Yobe State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), following explosive allegations by a livestock owner who says senior Agro Ranger officers unlawfully detained, extorted, and converted his animals for personal use.

The victim, Alhaji Ardo Dan Karami, a respected pastoralist from Kumari Village in Damaturu LGA, is accusing Assistant Commandant Ahmed Isa Michika, head of the NSCDC Agro Rangers Unit in Yobe, and his team of perpetrating what he describes as “daylight robbery under the cover of uniform”.

This latest scandal comes barely months after the NSCDC Command in Yobe was mired in a major corruption case involving the escort of vandalised and stolen railway materials, a development that led to the removal of the then State Commandant.

According to a petition filed by Dan Karami through his lawyer, the ordeal began on Oct. 18, 2025, when Agro Rangers personnel stormed his home in his absence and arrested 340 cows and 18 sheep, accusing them of destroying a farm. The animals were transported to Damaturu, but what followed, according to the victim, “was nothing short of criminality”.

The officers allegedly slaughtered one of the sheep claiming it had a fracture but refused to hand over the carcass to its owner. Even more troubling, three cows were reportedly loaded into their official Hilux vehicle, never to be seen again.

Later, one of the missing cows, which was heavily pregnant at the time of arrest, was discovered to have delivered and died in custody at the Damaturu Pilgrims Camp under the NSCDC’s watch. The remaining two cows are still missing. The petition states that before the officers agreed to even “open the case”, they demanded ₦250,000 from the victim.

After admitting to holding the livestock, the officers then compelled the herdsman to pay ₦2,000,000 as “compensation” for alleged farm damage, despite no court process, no assessment, and no verification of the claim.

But the extortion allegedly did not end there.
The officers reportedly charged ₦3,000 per cow as “bail money” for 300 cows, amounting to close to another ₦900,000. In essence, the victim was allegedly forced to pay: 250,000 “case opening fee”,2,000,000 “compensation” and 900,000 “bail fees” for the cows, bringing total alleged extortion to ₦3,150,000.

After these payments, only 340 cows and two sheep were released. However, 15 sheep, one ram, one slaughtered sheep, and two cows remain unaccounted for, animals the victim values at ₦6.25 million.

When senior authorities from Yobe Sate Government confronted Assistant Commandant Michika and his deputy over the matter, they were forced to refund ₦900,000.
But rather than admit the full amount collected, they allegedly claimed they took only ₦800,000, and said they had already spent ₦50,000 from it. Despite being caught in this contradiction, no known disciplinary action has yet been taken.

This is not the first time that the NSCDC Yobe Command has found itself entangled in accusations of corruption and criminal collusion.
On July 8, 2025, troops of Operation Hadin Kai intercepted a truck loaded with vandalised railway iron sleepers along with a shiny NSCDC-marked Hilux van escorting the stolen materials. Inside the vehicle were five NSCDC officers, They were escorting the loot.

A total of ₦128,500 in bribe money was found stuffed inside the inner clothing of one of the officers. The scandal was so damning that it triggered the removal of the State Commandant.

In community pushed to the brink and region still plagued by insecurity, such actions by security personnel could worsen tensions.

Beyond the financial loss and personal trauma, the victim’s lawyer warns that the actions of the NSCDC officers carry serious security implications for Yobe State and the entire North-East.

In the petition, the counsel stressed that incidents of extortion, illegal seizure of livestock, and abuse of pastoral communities are not isolated misdemeanours — they are triggers of insecurity.

“Acts of injustice like this, if not swiftly addressed, are capable of escalating into full-blown security crises,” the petition warned.

The lawyer cited examples from Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, and parts of Niger and Kaduna States, where years of unchecked harassment, extortion, illegal arrests, and exploitation of Fulani pastoralists by certain security operatives and local vigilantes eventually contributed to the rise of banditry.

New scandal rocks Yobe NSCDC as herder alleges multi-million naira extortion by Agro Rangers Commander

Troops repel ISWAP attack near Kareto, recover rifles

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army, Operation HADIN KAI have repelled an attempted ambush by ISWAP fighters near Wakilti village, close to Kareto in Borno State, recovering two motorcycles and an AK-47 rifle from the fleeing terrorists.

Zagazola Makama learnt from reliable sources that the encounter occurred on Monday at about 1:30 p.m., when troops of 145 Battalion (Main) on Main Supply Route (MSR) patrol and piquetting duties, operating in conjunction with Keystone operatives and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), made contact with the insurgents around Wakilti.

The sources said that the troops engaged the terrorists in a heavy firefight, forcing them to retreat in disarray after coming under superior firepower.

According to the source, the soldiers pursued the fleeing fighters but made no further contact.

“During exploitation of the scene, troops recovered two motorcycles, one AK-47 rifle fitted with a magazine. The enemy casualty figure is still unconfirmed,” the source said.

A reinforcement team from Operation HADIN KAI later linked up with the patrol team and dominated the route to prevent further infiltration.

The source said that there was no casualty recorded on the side of the troops.

The sources further added that the Army has intensified Operation Desert Sanity IV under Operation Hadin Kai, with increased surveillance and patrols aimed at denying terrorists freedom of movement around critical routes and communities.

Troops repel ISWAP attack near Kareto, recover rifles

NAPTIP Vows Tougher Measures Against Gender-Based Violence

By: Michael Mike

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajiya Binta Bello has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to eliminating all forms of gender-based violence in the country.

She made the commitment on Monday at a press conference on activities lined up by the agency for the commemoration of the 2025 Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Bello, while describing the annual event as a “powerful reminder of the world’s collective duty to safeguard the rights, dignity, and safety of women and girls,” explained that the 16-day campaign—running from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day)—has evolved into a worldwide movement since its launch in 1991 in memory of the Mirabal sisters of the Dominican Republic.

This year’s UN-led theme focuses on combatting digital violence against women and girls, a rapidly growing threat in the digital age. Bello noted that the campaign seeks to expand awareness, advocate for stronger policies, promote equality and respect, and amplify the voices of survivors.

She said while NAPTIP is best known for its anti-trafficking mandate, the agency also addresses a wider spectrum of abuses, noting that through awareness campaigns, survivor rehabilitation, and law enforcement activities, NAPTIP works to prevent violence and bring offenders to justice.

She highlighted ongoing community outreach programmes as well as partnerships with stakeholders to provide legal, psychological, and social support for victims.

Bello said a major part of the agency’s work revolves around the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015, which criminalizes domestic violence, sexual assault, emotional abuse, female genital mutilation, harmful widowhood practices, stalking, and other forms of violence.

She noted that NAPTIP has consistently championed the enforcement of the Act across states by building capacity among police officers, judicial officers, health workers, and community leaders. Multi-sectoral committees, including the High-Level Multi-Agency Task Team and the Service Providers Accountability Resource Committee (SPARC), continue to support coordinated implementation nationwide.

She however acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly cultural and societal barriers that discourage victims from speaking out.

The Director-General revealed that NAPTIP has secured over 40 convictions related to sexual and gender-based violence, including two life sentences, adding that the agency’s Rapid Response Team continues to respond swiftly to emergency reports.

One of the most recent convictions involved a 19-year-old teacher from Kwali who received a life sentence for raping his nine-year-old pupil.

Bello stressed that ending gender-based violence requires collective action, lamenting that growing insecurity, mass displacement, and economic hardship have contributed to increased cases of sexual and gender-based violence across Nigeria.

She however called on religious and traditional leaders, parents, guardians, civil society, and the media to intensify efforts in educating communities, reporting offenders, and supporting survivors.

Bello promised that NAPTIP will strengthen its strategies in the coming months by scaling up awareness to underserved communities, enhancing digital advocacy targeting Gen-Z populations, and deepening stakeholder engagement.

She said: “It will not be rosy for any perpetrator in the coming season,” warning that: “The VAPP Act is not a promise—it is a law, and it must be enforced without fear or favor.”

She expressed appreciation to development partners, especially the ICMPD, whose “TIPVAP Nigeria” project has significantly improved responses across eight implementing states.

Bello urged Nigerians to actively participate in ending violence: “Through sustained advocacy, enforcement of laws, societal transformation, and personal responsibility, we can build a Nigeria where every woman and girl lives free from fear.”

She revealed that part of activities lined up for the 2025 Sixteen Days of Activism include Awareness Walk, High-Level Policy Dialogue, and Mental Health Training.

She appealed for stronger prevention strategies, saying: “The 16 Days is an opportunity to turn laws into justice and rhetoric into genuine care.

NAPTIP Vows Tougher Measures Against Gender-Based Violence