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
Troops ambush, neutralise two terrorists in Bama, recover weapons
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised two terrorists in a successful ambush at Dipchari, near Banki Junction in Bama Local Government Area of Borno.
The ambush, conducted by troops of 151 Task Force Battalion on Friday evening, followed intelligence on terrorist movements in the area, according to a special situation report from the Headquarters 7 Division, Nigerian Army, on Saturday in Maiduguri.
During the encounter, the troops killed two insurgents while others fled with possible gunshot wounds.
Recovered items include two AK-47 rifles, two magazines, 16 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one RPG tube, and a motorcycle.
Operation Hadin Kai troops have intensified clearance operations, ambushes, and patrols across the North East in recent weeks, aimed at denying terrorists freedom of movement and access to logistics.
Troops ambush, neutralise two terrorists in Bama, recover weapons
Two drug kingpins convicted, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
By: Michael Mike
The National Drug Law Enforcement Against (NDLEA) has gotten two drug kingpins convicted and sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency Femi Babafemi read that: “Two notorious drug kingpins: 37-year-old Ajetsibo Emami popularly known as ‘Warri Kinsman’ and 51-year-old Solomon Akpomuai have been convicted and sentenced to a combined 10 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos.”
He said Emami was arrested in Ikeja Lagos on Saturday 28th June 2025 after NDLEA operatives dismantled his drug trafficking network in a three-day operation leading to the arrest of three other suspects.
He added that recovered from Emami’s network were 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 414.2 kilogrammes.
Babafemi said the bust of Emami’s drug ring followed credible intelligence on his attempt to move the shipment to Lekki area of Lagos, from where it will be distributed to other parts of the state and across the country.
He said Emami was subsequently arraigned before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court 8 Lagos in charge number FHC/L/636C/2025 bordering on dealing in illicit drugs.
In his ruling delivered on Monday, the trial judge convicted Emami on the one count charge filed against him by NDLEA prosecutor Assistant Commander of Narcotics Buhari Abdullahi, sentencing him to six years in prison with an option of N50 million fine in lieu of jail.
Babafemi said, in his case, Solomon Akpomuai was first arrested by men of Customs Service along Shagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway with 2,197.8 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis on 3rd June 2025 and transferred to NDLEA on 16th June after which he was arraigned in charge number FHC/L/635C before Justice Dipeolu for trafficking illicit drugs in large commercial quantity. Also delivering his judgement on the matter, the trial judge convicted and sentenced Akpomuai to four years in prison with an option of N50million fine.
Meanwhile the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has described the conviction of the two drug kingpins as an indication that Nigeria will sooner than later surmount the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking as a result of the positive outcomes of the current balanced approach to the agency’s drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
He commended the judiciary, NDLEA officers involved in the investigation and prosecution of the cases as well as other stakeholders for their commitment to the cause of a drug free country.
Two drug kingpins convicted, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
Kidnappers forced to abandon ransom, arms after accident in Nasarawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Kidnappers operating around Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have abandoned a ransom and arms after their getaway vehicle was involved in an accident.
The incident occurred on Monday morning at Angwan Mayo, along Kokona axis, when the gang’s Peugeot 406 car, loaded with guns, crashed shortly after collecting ransom from their victims.
Witnesses said the kidnappers managed to escape the scene, leaving behind the money and weapons.
Troops of the Nigerian Army were swiftly deployed, securing the vehicle and recovering the abandoned items.
Security forces have intensified pursuit of the fleeing suspects.
Kidnappers forced to abandon ransom, arms after accident in Nasarawa
Historic Awolowo House Pulled Down for Space for Growth of ICT, Says Investor
Police confirm killing of farmer in Benue
Security forces destroy bandits’ camps in Benue, recover rifle
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