Bandits kill one, abduct farmers in Kajuru LGA, Kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have killed one farmer, injured another and kidnapped an unspecified number of persons in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Sources confirmed the incident occurred on Wednesday, at Sarkin Bajaga village while the victims were working on their farmland. Security forces were mobilized to the scene.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that one Titus Victor, 34, was shot and fatally injured, while another, Nathan Andrew, 33, sustained gunshot injuries on his left thigh.

“The injured victim was rushed to Bege Hospital, Maraban Kajuru, and is responding to treatment. The deceased was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” said the sources

The sources added that an unspecified number of farmers were abducted to an unknown destination during the attack.

The sources said concerted efforts by security agencies were ongoing to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.

Bandits kill one, abduct farmers in Kajuru LGA, Kaduna

Slain army officer shot by police inspector buried in Bauchi

By: Zagazola Makama

Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Ali Haruna of the Nigerian Army, who was shot dead by a mobile police inspector in Bauchi State, has been laid to rest amidst tears and grief.

Haruna, until his death, was the Guard Commander at a checkpoint in Futuk, Alkaleri Local Government Area, where he was shot on Aug. 25 while intercepting a truck suspected to be conveying illegally mined solid minerals.

The funeral, conducted in accordance with Islamic rites and military tradition, drew senior army officers, colleagues, family members, and community leaders who gathered to pay their last respects.

The atmosphere was solemn as fellow soldiers carried the remains of the officer, draped in the national flag, to his final resting place. Emotions ran high as mourners described him as a dedicated soldier who paid the supreme price in service to the nation.

Brig.-Gen. U.J. Simon, Commander 33 Artillery Brigade, who led officers to the burial, described Haruna as “a gallant officer whose loyalty and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

He assured that investigations were ongoing to ensure justice was served, adding that the army was working closely with the police to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

The suspect, a mobile police inspector identified as Yusuf Ibrahim, is currently in army custody, while the intercepted truck has been impounded for further investigation.

The burial also rekindled concerns over the involvement of security personnel in illegal mining operations in Bauchi and other parts of the country.

Slain army officer shot by police inspector buried in Bauchi

DSS, Army Neutralizes 50 Bandits, Rescuing Kidnapees, as Niger Assembly Speaker hailed operation

By: Zagazola Makama

The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army have struck a major blow against banditry in Niger State, neutralizing over 50 armed men and rescuing kidnapped victims in a daring joint operation.

The incident, which occurred on Aug. 26 in Kumbashi village of Mariga Local Government Area, is being hailed as one of the most successful security interventions in recent times.

The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulmalik Mohammed Sarkin-Daji, described the operation as “a demonstration of superior intelligence, training and firepower,” while commending the operatives for their courage in the face of overwhelming odds.

Eyewitnesses told Zagazola Makama that about 300 bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, attempted to invade Kumbashi at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The attack targeted a DSS service asset camp in the area.

However, security operatives swiftly repelled the assault after a fierce gun duel that left no fewer than 50 of the assailants dead. Several others reportedly fled with gunshot wounds.

“My constituents confirmed that the bandits, clearly shaken by the scale of their losses, were seen dismembering the corpses of their dead colleagues, loading them in sacks, and hauling them off on motorcycles,” Sarkin-Daji said.

The Speaker, who represents Mariga constituency in the Assembly, added that seven kidnapped victims were freed during the operation, while rustled cattle were also recovered from the criminals.

The development follows an earlier breakthrough by the DSS in Wawa, Niger State, where its operatives arrested alive Abubakar Abba, leader of Mahmuda, one of the most notorious terror groups in Nigeria.

For many locals, the latest operation offers renewed hope that security agencies are regaining the upper hand against banditry that has plagued the North-Central state.

Community sources in Kumbashi said that the success of the operation was particularly inspiring because the security operatives were outnumbered nearly six to one, yet held their ground.

“They stood firm when hundreds of bandits surrounded them. If not for their bravery, Kumbashi would have been wiped out,” a local resident said.

Sarkin-Daji, in his commendation, urged residents of the state to continue supporting security agencies with timely information to sustain the momentum against the criminal groups.

He also assured that the Assembly would continue to provide legislative backing to enhance security interventions in the state.

The Niger State operation adds to the growing list of successful joint missions by the DSS and the military, reflecting a wider strategy of intelligence-led warfare to dismantle terror and bandit networks across the country.

DSS, Army Neutralizes 50 Bandits, Rescuing Kidnapees, as Niger Assembly Speaker hailed operation