Crime
Nigerien Troops Arrest Wanted Azawad Militant Leader, Inkinane Ag Attaher, at Border
Nigerien Troops Arrest Wanted Azawad Militant Leader, Inkinane Ag Attaher, at Border
By Zagazola Makama
The Troops of the Niger Armed Forces have arrested Inkinane Ag Attaher, a key figure in the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), at the Niger-Nigeria border during a coordinated intelligence-led operation carried out between April 3 and 4, 2025.
Intelligence sources, told Zagazola Makama that the suspect, a former Malian army officer who deserted to join separatist and terrorist-linked networks in the Sahel, was intercepted while attempting to enter Nigeria to meet some contacts.
Ag Attaher, who has long been on the radar of regional security services, is alleged to have played a strategic role in the training and equipping of FLA fighters with kamikaze drones, and in coordinating external support for terrorists groups.
ISWAP terrorists have intensified the use of Chinese made drones to carry out attacks in Military formations in Nigeria, prompting security agencies to ask the questions “where are the terrorists acquiring drones and training”?
Security reports indicated that Ag Attaher has maintained close ties with Akli Shikka, under whose coordination several FLA militants were sent to Ukraine for advanced combat and drone warfare training. In return, Ukrainian instructors were reportedly deployed to different parts of the Sahel to train fighters.
The suspect was seriously injured during a drone-handling session on February 13, 2024, and was later evacuated through Mauritania for treatment, security sources revealed.
A founding member of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), Ag Attaher also served as an advisor to its leader, Bilal Ag Acharif. He is believed to have played a prominent role in destabilization campaigns targeting countries of the Sahel.
He has also been linked to several deadly attacks in Mali, Burkina, including the bombing of a passenger boat in Timbuktu that killed dozens of civilians, as well as coordinated assaults on military installations.
Security agencies further alleged that Ag Attaher acted as an informant for the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), particularly during the mass killings reported in 2022 across Menaka and Gao regions in Mali.
The Nigerien military described his arrest as a “significant breakthrough” in the ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational terrorist networks operating across West Africa.
Nigerien Troops Arrest Wanted Azawad Militant Leader, Inkinane Ag Attaher, at Border
Man stabbed to death over girlfriend in Minna
By: Zagazola Makama
A 25-year-old man, Usman Mohammed, has died after being stabbed during a confrontation over his girlfriend in the Barikin-Sale area of Minna, Niger State.
Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred late on Monday night when Usman went to visit his girlfriend, Halima Usman, at Deeper Life Upper Base in Barikin-Sale.
While they were seated outside chatting, three young men identified as Barafi, Ayya, and another yet to be identified approached them and allegedly attempted to woo Halima.
According to eyewitnesses, the men offered Halima ₦5,000 to go out with them, which she declined. The situation escalated when the men became violent, leading to one of them stabbing Usman in the back with a dagger.
Usman was rushed to the General Hospital in Minna, where he was admitted for treatment. However, he died from his injuries in the early hours of Tuesday at about 2:30 a.m.
One of the suspects, identified as Ahmed Mohammed, has reportedly been apprehended, while efforts are ongoing to locate the other two individuals believed to be involved in the attack.
Police officers visited the scene and took photographs of the deceased before depositing the corpse at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.
One of the suspects, Ahmed Mohammed, has been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining culprits currently at large.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Man stabbed to death over girlfriend in Minna
Bandits kill three community protection guards in Zamfara ambush
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits on Monday ambushed and killed three members of the Community Protection Guards (CPG) in Tungar Arna bush, Wanke District of Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
Zagazola Makama was informed by reliable sources that the incident occurred at about 1300hrs when the CPG team attached to a local mining site in Wanke District was ambushed by unknown armed bandits.
“Three CPG members were shot dead during the attack. The victims have been identified as Lawali Furniture, Abdullahi Mohammed, and Umar Salisu Bakinwa.
Security forces have intensified efforts to track down the attackers
Bandits kill three community protection guards in Zamfara ambush
Two killed, two injured in Plateau mining route ambush
By: Zagazola Makama
Atleast two killed and two others injured in an early morning ambush along a mining route in Rafin Bauna, Jos South Local Government Area of the state, plateau state.
Zagazola Makama was informed by sources that the incident occurred at about 5:20 a.m. on Sunday, June 8, when the victims were reportedly heading to a mining site near the Mai Farin Mota area.
Police sources confirmed that two corpses were discovered at the scene one identified as Kabiru Mohammed, and the other as David Danlami.
Two other victims, identified as Bilal Ibrahim and Ayobene Ahile, sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries and were immediately evacuated to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for medical attention.
The police sources said preliminary investigation indicates that the victims were on their way to a mining site when they were ambushed and shot by yet-to-be-identified assailants,” the police said.
The sources further disclosed that a search and combing operation is ongoing in the surrounding bush areas to apprehend the attackers.
Two killed, two injured in Plateau mining route ambush
Phone shop operator killed in armed robbery in Abuja
Man stabbed to death over girlfriend in Minna
Bandits abduct eight in Zamfara’s Shinkafi LGA
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions3 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics10 months agoKashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident
