Notorious Bandit Leader Sani Black Eliminated in Zamfara State

By: Zagazola Makama

A major breakthrough in the fight against banditry in northern Nigeria was recorded with the elimination of notorious bandit leader Kachalla Sani Black. Sani Black, a feared warlord responsible for countless terror attacks, was ambushed and killed by local vigilantes supported by military in the Magama Mai Rake area of Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State.

It was gathered that Sani Black and two of his sons were killed during the operation. The vigilantes recovered two AK-47 rifles, a PKT machine gun, and an undisclosed amount of cash from the scene.

Sani Black had long been a menace to communities across northern Zamfara, known for leading deadly attacks, abductions, and sexual violence. With over 150 armed followers, his reign of terror extended beyond Zamfara to neighboring Kaduna, Niger, and Kebbi States. His criminal activities included orchestrating ambushes, kidnapping for ransom, and raiding villages across the region.

Clash with Vigilantes and Military Response

On the morning of September 24, 2024, following information about the clash between vigilantes and terrorists in the Tashar Sahabi area, troops from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Hanutara were deployed to the scene to prevent potential reprisal attacks by the terrorists. Upon arrival, they identified the body of Sani Black but soon came under heavy fire from terrorists in the vicinity.

As the firefight intensified, a Combat Support Vehicle (CSK) bogged down in the village, leaving the soldiers vulnerable. Despite reinforcements being mobilized from Team 3 HQ in Magami and FOB Dansadau, the troops were temporarily withdrawn. The CSK was destroyed, and two soldiers were wounded in action (WIA).

Impact of Sani Black’s Death

Sani Black’s death is a significant victory for security forces and local vigilantes in their ongoing battle against banditry in Zamfara State. Sani Black had been a major competitor to another infamous bandit leader, Kachallah Gwaska Dankarami and his influence in the region was unmatched. His ability to wreak havoc across multiple states had earned him a reputation as one of the most dangerous criminals in the North West.

Bandits Plan Reprisal

In the aftermath of Sani Black’s death, intelligence reports indicate that bandit leaders, including Gwaska Dankarami and fighters from the late Kawaje group, are mobilizing around Kuran Mota to launch reprisal attacks. Security forces are on high alert, prepared to counter any retaliatory measures as they work to stabilize the region.

Notorious Bandit Leader Sani Black Eliminated in Zamfara State

Troops neutralize two vandals, recover arms, arrest 18 in Niger Delta bunkering bust

By: Michael Mike

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have continued to achieve significant operational successes in their anti-illegal bunkering efforts across the Niger Delta Region. In their latest operation, troops neutralized two armed vandals, recovered two AK-47 rifles, arrested 18 suspected oil thieves, and destroyed 13 active illegal refining sites.

The troops also dismantled seven boats, uncovered eight illegal connection points, and seized over 60,000 litters of stolen petroleum products.

In a statement, Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma said the operation commenced after credible intelligence revealed an attempt to vandalize a Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline in Upatabo Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area (LGA). On arrival, troops engaged the vandals in a firefight, neutralizing two while others fled. Recovered at the scene were two AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, and 69 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition. Efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects are ongoing.

In Degema LGA, troops deactivated four illegal refining sites, seized over 6,000 liters of stolen products, and destroyed two wooden boats. At Odagba village, near the Imo River, troops intercepted two wooden boats containing more than 5,000 liters of stolen products and dismantled refining equipment. Elsewhere along the Ndoni-Obiafu road, suspected oil thieves abandoned two vehicles, a KIA and a Toyota Avalon, loaded with 28 sacks of stolen petroleum products. Four motorcycles were also left behind by the fleeing criminals.

Further operations in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA led to the arrest of two oil thieves near an illegal connection point. Troops also deactivated illegal refining sites around the Owaza Odogwa Creeks, confiscated over 6,000 liters of stolen products, and destroyed multiple boats and equipment.

In Delta State, at Okpoko in Warri South LGA, troops intercepted a wooden boat siphoning crude oil from Well 8 at Okpoko Oil Field. The suspects escaped into the bush, but 2,000 liters of stolen crude were recovered.

Additional operations at Ndemili Community and Oleh led to the arrest of five suspects and the seizure of two vehicles loaded with stolen products. In Bomadi LGA, a Toyota bus containing 20 cellophane bags of stolen petroleum products was intercepted, resulting in one arrest.

In Bayelsa State, seven suspects were intercepted along the Nun River in Southern Ijaw LGA with over 1,000 litters of stolen products. Troops also dismantled illegal refining sites in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw LGAs, confiscating thousands of litters of stolen products. At Clough Creek, a suspect was caught with vandalized NAOC armoured cables.

In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted six drums of premium motor spirit (PMS), estimated at 1,500 litters, at Ibaka waterside in Mbo LGA. The products were allegedly being prepared for smuggling to a neighbouring country.

Major General Jamal Abdussalam, General Officer Commanding 6 Division, commended the troops for their success and reaffirmed the division’s commitment to safeguarding the region’s critical infrastructure. All arrested suspects have been handed over to prosecuting agencies, while confiscated products are being managed in accordance with regulations.

Troops neutralize two vandals, recover arms, arrest 18 in Niger Delta bunkering bust

NDLEA intercepts N14.9bn opioids, arrests octogenarian, community leader’s wives, son

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have 25 million pills of tapentadol, an opioid three times stronger than tramadol and 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the Tincan port complex in Lagos.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said the seizures were made on Tuesday 17th and Friday 20th September 2024 from three containers which had been on the watchlist of the agency following processed intelligence.

He added that as a result of the intelligence, the NDLEA had requested for 100% joint examination of the shipments with men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies. The 25 million pills of tapentadol have an estimated street value N13,725,000,000 while the codeine consignment has an estimated street value of N2,450,000,000 bringing the total value of the seizures to N14,950,000,000.

He disclosed that the tapentadol consignment packed in 500 cartons was discovered in one of the containers last Tuesday while another container examined same day contained 175,000 bottles of Barcadin cough syrup with codeine packed in 875 cartons. The third container containing 175,000 bottles of CSC cough syrup with codeine was examined last Friday.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Lagos State Strategic Command of the agency last Friday arrested an 80-year-old grandfather, Pa Aremu Shojobi with 14 kilogrammes of cannabis at his home in Iyana Ipaja area of the state.

Babafemi said the Octogenarian in his statement, claimed he has been in the business of selling illicit drugs for 25 years, and that he gets his supplies from Benin republic, and sells to his customers from his residence between 7am and 10pm every day.

NDLEA operatives in Lagos last Wednesday raided the two homes of a community leader and Sarkin Yamma of Badagry West LCDA, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, where a total of 226 kilogrammes of cannabis was recovered from his two wives and son.

Babafemi said though Alhaji Talba is currently at large, a search of his house in Ashipa area of Seme Badagry led to the recovery of 93 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 57.6 kilogrammes from his first wife, Asma’u Bashiru, 35, and son, Sadat Bashiru, 22, while another search of his house at Aketegbo area of Seme Badagry led to the seizure of 302 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 168.6 kilogrammes from his second wife Hauwa Bashir, 42.

He added that no less than 720 blocks of Arizona, a strain of cannabis weighing 390 kilogrammes were also recovered from a Mitsubishi delivery van marked MUS 720 XH at Ojo area of Lagos last Monday.

The spokesman said at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 15th September arrested a 38-year-old drug mule, Okafor Ifeanyi while attempting to board a Qatar Airlines flight to Iran via Doha with 76 wraps of cocaine in his stomach.

He said after three days in excretion observation, Okafor excreted the 76 pellets of the ingested cocaine weighing 1.267 kilogrammes.

In Kogi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway last Tuesday recovered 700,000 pills of exol-5 coming from Lagos for distribution in Kano and Kaduna, while a suspect Udemefuna Chibuike, 23, was arrested by operatives last Friday along Mokwa-Jebba road, Niger state, in possession of 49,000 tablets of tramadol, 20,000 tablets of diazepam, 100 ampoules of tramadol injection and 50 bottles of cough syrup with codeine.

A total of 451 blocks of cannabis weighing 213 kilogrammes were intercepted along Azikiwe road, Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Wednesday 18th September, by NDLEA officers who apprehended a suspect Ogochukwu Paul, 33, conveying the consignment to a notorious drug haven in Borikiri.

While operatives in Plateau state on Friday 20th September arrested a wanted suspect Jonathan Ali, 46, at Agingi- Rukuba road Bassa LGA in possession of 808 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa concealed in 68 bags of sugar and fertilizer, their counterparts in Kwara also nabbed Shaibu Musa with 28 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive substance.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of Tincan, MAKIA, Lagos, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Kogi, Edo and Kwara commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.