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

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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

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Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram

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Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Government has distributed relief materials to 434 indigenes of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area who were recently rescued by security agencies after spending three months in Boko Haram captivity.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited the victims in Pulka on Monday and directed the immediate distribution of food and non-food items to support their recovery and reintegration.

In compliance with the Governor’s directive, the Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Ali Abdullahi Isa, promptly supervised the distribution exercise.

Each rescued person received a bag of rice, a bag of maize grits, a mattress, a wrapper, and a shadda, while children received two pairs of clothing.

In addition, 208 heads of households received N50,000 each, fulfilling Governor Zulum’s earlier pledge of financial assistance.

Speaking during the distribution, the SEMA Director General said the intervention was part of the government’s immediate response to ease the hardship faced by the rescued victims.

“I am here at the instance of His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who was here some few days ago, and to deliver the items he directed that it should be given to you as emergency relief,” Ali stated.

The rescued individuals are currently receiving medical care and psychosocial support at a government facility. Upon completion of the rehabilitation process, they will be reintegrated into their respective communities.

The exercise was carried out alongside the Chairman of Gwoza local government, representatives of the Ngoshe community, and other officials.

Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram

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Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs

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Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, marked Democracy Day with the handover of two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and critical logistics to the Nigerian Army, after joining internally displaced persons (IDPs) for a symbolic celebration and distribution of food items to 2,500 beneficiaries.

The armoured MRAPs delivered to the Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai on Friday are intended to enhance troop protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and ambushes which remain a persistent threat in the fight against insurgents. Additional logistics include operational Hilux vehicles and motorcycles for frontline soldiers in difficult terrains.

Zulum also marked Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Madinatu camp where he distributed food supplies, non-food items, and cash gifts to thousands of beneficiaries.

The distribution, held at the Madinatu IDP camp, served to consolidate Zulum’s resettlement gains. Over the past seven years, Borno State Government has successfully resettled more than 2 million IDPs in their ancestral communities in a dignified and voluntary manner.

“It gladdens my heart today, the 12th of June, 2026, to celebrate June 12th, Democracy Day, here in Madinatu Camp, the only formal camp that is standing inside Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, today, to the glory of God and the benefit of mankind, for the distribution of food and non-food items. Inshallah, this camp will be closed this year. This will be our last distribution exercise in this camp, or the second to the last,” Zulum said.

However, Governor Zulum used the occasion to announce a timeline for the camp’s closure. The governor ordered that Madinatu camp be shut down within one month, vowing to similarly close most IDP camps across various Local Government Areas in the coming phase of his administration’s resettlement strategy.

“Democracy must translate into restoring the dignity of our people,” Zulum told the IDPs. “Living in camps is not a permanent solution. Our goal remains to return every displaced person to their ancestral homes with security and means of livelihood.”

In addition to the food items, Zulum approved N50,000 each for the 2,500 beneficiaries present at the event.

“Each of the 500 beneficiaries mentioned will receive a 25kg bag of rice and a 25kg bag of sorghum. Women will receive wrappers. I also promise to provide 50,000 naira to each beneficiary. This amount can be credited into their own individual accounts, inshallah,” Zulum said.

The exercise was attended by the APC’s State Deputy Chairman, Garba Mulima, APC State Vice Chairman (Central) Abdur Rahman Abdulkarim, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mallumbe, Member representing Jere at the State Assembly, Abba Kyari Kolo, commissioners and commissioner designates and several other senior government officials.

Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs

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Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano

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Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano

By: Michael Mike

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for the arrest of a suspected gun courier intercepted while allegedly transporting weapons believed to be destined for criminal elements in Katsina State.

The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday, June 12, 2026.

Governor Yusuf described the operation as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes threatening communities across Northern Nigeria.

According to information provided by the DSS, the suspect, identified as Muhammad Abubakar, 30, was apprehended in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State while allegedly transporting four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes, three AK-47 rifles and two empty magazines to Funtua in Katsina State.

Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the suspect collected the weapons from an individual identified as Bello in the Maigatari border area of Jigawa State and was expected to receive N450,000 upon successful delivery of the arms.

Governor Yusuf praised the professionalism, vigilance and intelligence-driven approach of DSS operatives, noting that the timely interception prevented the weapons from falling into the hands of bandits and other criminal groups.

He said the operation underscored the critical role of intelligence gathering and effective collaboration among security agencies in tackling emerging security threats across the country.

The governor reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to supporting security agencies through sustained cooperation, logistics assistance and policies aimed at strengthening public safety throughout the state.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security agencies to aid efforts to combat crime and maintain peace.

Governor Yusuf expressed confidence that ongoing investigations would lead to the arrest and prosecution of all individuals connected to the alleged arms trafficking network.

The statement was signed by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.

Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano

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