At least 31 killed in Yatakala attack in Niger Republic

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than 31 persons have been killed following a deadly attack by suspected terrorists in Yatakala, Tillaberi Region of the Republic of Niger, near the tri-border area with Mali and Burkina Faso.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred on Jan. 18 in the Yatakala/Bolsi area of Tera Commune, where the assailants reportedly gathered residents together and opened fire on them.

The sources said that several other people, believed to be mostly women, were abducted during the attack, while five persons were injured as they tried to escape.

“They went from house to house, rounded people up and shot them. Those who managed to flee sustained injuries.

“Residents were rounded up and summarily executed, while an uncertain number mostly women, were abducted. At least 31 people were killed and five others injured as they fled,”one of the sources said.

The sources noted that Yatakala and surrounding villages toward the Burkinabe border had already been deserted by many inhabitants due to persistent attacks by armed groups.

No organisation had formally claimed responsibility for the latest atrocity, but the pattern and area of operation point strongly to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the Al-Qaeda-linked group active across the Liptako-Gourma axis

The area had previously come under attack on Jan. 3, 2026, when Yatakala/Garoul was assaulted and about 17 soldiers were reportedly killed.

Zagazola report that the Tillaberi theatre is under sustained pressure. The enemy appears intent on clearing large swathes of territory, forcing communities to abandon their homes and creating humanitarian corridors of displacement that terrorists then exploit for further expansion.

The attacks also draws to the attention of the accelerating expansion of jihadist violence across the Sahel and its dangerous spillover implications for Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region.

The attack fits into a broader campaign by both Al-Qaeda- and ISIS-aligned factions to dominate borderlands, forest reserves and riverine routes, particularly around the W Park–Panjari complex, with a creeping approach toward Niamey.

The strategic objective was to degrade state presence, terrorise civilians into flight, and establish uncontested movement and recruitment zones.

Its draws parallels with past atrocities, including the January 2025 killings in Kasuwan Daji in Borgu area of Niger State, allegedly carried out by JNIM in collaboration with JAS/Ansaru networks, as well as recent mass abductions at worship centres in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru LGA, Kaduna State.

These are not isolated incidents. They form part of a synchronised regional campaign aimed at destabilisation, psychological dominance and narrative warfare.

Zagazola warned that beyond the kinetic dimension, insurgents were also leveraging disinformation, including the manipulation of religious and ethnic narratives, to internationalise their cause and weaken regional cohesion.

The humanitarian crisis generated by these attacks will push refugees and internally displaced persons toward north-west and north-central Nigeria, with attendant security, social and economic consequences.

Therefore, Nigeria’s response must go beyond internal counter-terrorism operations to include strengthened diplomatic and security cooperation with Niger, Benin and other frontline states.

Border challenges cannot be curbed unilaterally. There must be deeper intelligence sharing, coordinated patrols and joint operations. ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) must urgently re-engage on collective security mechanisms to contain this expanding threat,” he said.

Yatakala massacre was both a warning and a call to action.

If proactive regional measures are not taken, the Sahelian conflict arc will continue to bend southward, with Nigeria increasingly in the line of fire.

At least 31 killed in Yatakala attack in Niger Republic

School renovation: You’ve renewed our hope, Students with disabilities tell Gombe Govt, NEDC

Some students from the Special Education Centre in Gombe, have commended the Gombe State Government, and the North East Development Commission (NEDC), over ongoing renovation of their school.

The students told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe, that the move would boost access to education for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

A NAN correspondent who visited the school, reports that there was ongoing renovation of facilities.

A visually impaired student of the Senior Secondary three class (SS3), Husseini Abubakar, said that the renovation sends a strong message of inclusion to them.

According to him, the ongoing upgrade of the school has renewed their hope in education and a better Nigeria, as emphasised by President Bola Tinubu.

“I was suprised to hear that our school is being renovated after many years of neglect.

“We had lost hope of any intervention, but see what Gombe State government and NEDC are doing; we lack words to express how we feel.

“Today, I feel that our President, Bola Tinubu’s statement of “let’s renew the hope” is being fulfilled in our school because our hope has indeed been renewed,” he said.

Another visually impaired student, Mr Ahmad Umar, noted that they use to share classrooms with junior students during the rainy season, following dilapidated classrooms.

“Some days, we prayed against rainfall so that we will not be beaten by the rain, but thank God the suffering has now ended, and a better structure is here,” he said.

He said that now, he feels relieved.

Another student with hearing disability, Mr Basesa David, who spoke through an interpreter, said he was happy that the days of cold were over

He noted that the rehabilitation of toilets facilities and regular water supply, would improve hygiene and health condition in the school.

“We are grateful, especially the female students who usually suffer severe cold from exposure and poor toilets; thank you Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and the entire leadership of NEDC,” he said

NAN reports that the school, a specialised institution in the state, was established in 1996, to cater for children with disabilities.

The renovation project, is aimed at improving access to inclusive, equitable and quality education for PWDs, who are learners in the state and the North-East.

The centre currently has a population of 615 students

School renovation: You’ve renewed our hope, Students with disabilities tell Gombe Govt, NEDC

NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025

By: Michael Mike

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has warned that 2026 will be an extremely difficult year for human traffickers operating in the country, as the agency intensifies its crackdown on trafficking networks across Nigeria.

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Hajiya Binta Bello made this known in Abuja while reviewing the agency’s activities in 2025 and outlining its operational plans for 2026.

Bello disclosed that in 2025, NAPTIP secured the conviction of 93 human traffickers, describing the achievement as significant given the complexity of prosecuting trafficking cases.

She also stated that the agency intercepted over 2,500 potential victims who had been deceived and recruited for various forms of exploitation within and outside Nigeria, adding that many of them were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

According to her, the agency’s increased surveillance and coordination among its commands led to a rise in rescues, arrests, and successful prosecutions during the year. She noted that traffickers were effectively disrupted, with several high-profile suspects arrested and convicted.

Among those apprehended were operators of some orphanages and care homes allegedly involved in trafficking and exploitation of children. Bello said over 120 suspected trafficked children were rescued from such facilities.

She further revealed that in collaboration with international partners, NAPTIP rescued more than 370 Nigerian victims from countries including Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Looking ahead to 2026, the NAPTIP boss said the agency would scale up its operations by strengthening partnerships with other security agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners. She also pledged closer collaboration with federal, state, and local governments, including the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), to improve grassroots monitoring and prevention.

Bello emphasized that NAPTIP would work more closely with the legislature and judiciary to ensure stronger legal backing and faster prosecution of traffickers.

She added that within the first weeks of 2026, NAPTIP had already secured three convictions and warned that more traffickers would face jail unless they abandon their criminal activities.

The Director-General reiterated the agency’s commitment to nationwide awareness campaigns, particularly in rural communities, to reduce vulnerability and protect potential victims from traffickers.

NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025