Vigilante in Yobe gunned down Fulani herder over alleged destruction of farmland

By: Zagazola Makama

A Fulani herder has been shot dead and a vigilante injured following a confrontation between herders and security operatives in Jakusko Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that at about 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, a group of Fulani herdsmen were allegedly destroying farmlands in Lafiya, Saban, Garin, Sara, Jaba and Muguram villages.

According to him, a joint patrol team comprising the police, Joint Task Force (JTF) and vigilantes was immediately deployed to the affected areas.

“Upon arrival at the scene, one of the herders attacked a vigilante, Saidu Yau of Lafiya village, with a machete, inflicting a deep cut on his left thigh.

“The same herder also attempted to attack a soldier, Private Adamu Ismail, attached to the JTF. The soldier, in self-defence, fired at the attacker, leading to his death,” said the sources.

The sources said that both the injured vigilante and the herder were rushed to the General Hospital, Jakusko, for medical attention.

“The herder was confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while the injured vigilante is responding to treatment,” the sources added.

Police sources said the remains of the deceased herder had been released to the Sarkin Fulani, Hon. Hassan Lamido Manu, pending the arrival of the family.

He said investigation into the incident was ongoing to ascertain the circumstances and prevent further clashes.

Vigilante in Yobe gunned down Fulani herder over alleged destruction of farmland

killings of 259 cattle spark rising tension as attack on herders escalate across Gwer West, Guma in Benue

By: Zagazola Makama

Fresh tension is building in Benue State following coordinated attacks on Fulani herders and the killing of hundreds of cattle in Gwer West and Guma Local Government Areas, in incidents that could trigger another cycle of violence if not urgently addressed.

According to field reports made available to Zagazola Makama, heavily armed men, alleged by herder associations to be members of local security outfits, supported by local security outfits, launched multiple assaults on pastoral communities since Nov. 12, killing an estimated 259 cattle in two separate attacks.

The first incident occurred near Naka in Gwer West LGA, where the government backed security outfits operating on motorcycles and vehicles reportedly targeted herders grazing peacefully in the area. The cattle owners Abdullahi Musa said 50 of his cattle were killed, Wakili Musa another harder said 51 of his livestock were killed while Maibargo Abubakar lost 21 of his cattle in the ambush without any provocation.

Multiple Witnesses said the attackers transported the carcasses of the killed animals into Naka town in broad daylight, where they were seen celebrating. Some of the community members described the attack as “deliberate provocation aimed at escalating ethnic tensions.”

A second attack was recorded the same day behind Okohol village near Ikpam in Guma LGA, where another group of armed men reportedly killed 137 cattle belonging to Alhaji Anaruwa Yongo and his brother. Several carcasses were reportedly removed from the scene while others remained littered across the grazing area.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that military personnel deployed in the affected corridors visited some of the locations after the incidents and confirmed the attacks. Security operatives, however, have not issued an official statement on the attacks while government of Benue remained mum.

Leaders of pastoralist communities described the Benue incidents as part of a “recurring, underreported pattern” of attacks on Fulani herders in several states, including Enugu, Niger and Kebbi. They accuse some local authorities of quietly supporting armed groups that target pastoralists, while only issuing statements when reprisals occur.

Community representatives further allege that despite repeated reports and identification of perpetrators in past incidents, the Benue State Government has not taken concrete steps to halt the killings, creating what they describe as “a climate of impunity that encourages attacks.”
They warn that the continued silence from state actors, coupled with worsening hostilities, risks sparking a renewed wave of communal violence.

They appealed for urgent intervention from federal security agencies, including Defense Headquarters and the Office of the National Security Adviser, to prevent further escalation.
They also called for an impartial investigation into the killings, protection for vulnerable herders, and proactive engagement with community leaders to avert retaliatory attacks.

They described the situation as “a ticking time bomb” and urged the Federal Government to address what they see as a widening security gap that could destabilize the region if left unchecked.

killings of 259 cattle spark rising tension as attack on herders escalate across Gwer West, Guma in Benue

NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a wanted drug baron, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, alias Chisco Bee, allegedly operating under the cover of a businessman and hotelier.

According to a statement by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, his arrest was after weeks of intelligence and surveillance on his criminal activities.

Babafemi, said the 42-year-old Ibemesi, who is the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig Ltd, was arrested at his Daisy Garden Hotel, 66-68 Agbeke street, Ago palace way, Isolo Lagos in the early hours of Saturday after which he was taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi street off Ago place way, Isolo where 42 jumbo bags and four cartoons of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 1,762.8 kilogrammes were recovered.

Also seized from him at the point of his arrest include: US$11,600; ⁠£2,000; €2,200 and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash.

Babafemi also said an attempt by a suspected drug syndicate operating at Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve, Ife South local government area, Osun state to load and distribute across the country large quantities of processed skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 11,135 kilogrammes were thwarted last Tuesday by NDLEA operatives after days of surveillance in the forest. Two trucks being used to transport the illicit consignments: a Volvo truck marked WWR 29 XA and a Mercedes truck with registration number AWK 713 YZ were seized and seven suspects arrested.

Those in custody in connection with the seizure are: Lucky Abiodun; Julius Amos; Victor Ngbikili; Sunday Oduegwu; Ibrahim Akanni; Eze Godstime; and Fred Ifeanyichukwu.

He said a total of 1,902.1 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered in parts of Edo state. While 184.1 kilogrammes was recovered along a bush path at Oza/Igbanke road, Igbanke, in Orhionmwon local government area last Thursday, 672 kilogrammes was evacuated from Utese forest, Ovia North East local government area on Friday, with 494 kilogrammes recovered from a Mercedes Benz car marked DE311BEN along Benin-Akure road where a suspect Felix Edah, 45, was arrested same day, just as Lucky Abagha, 51, was nabbed in another Mercedes Benz car marked JJJ 56 JW conveying 552 kilogrammes.

While four suspects: Micheal Okoh; Offor Agada; Raphael Nkemjika and Nwabueze Franklin were arrested with 68 kilogrammes skunk and 3.150 kilogrammes methamphetamine along Ijebu-Ode expressway in Ogun state, Danjuma Tukura, 50, was nabbed with 172 kilogrammes skunk at Sunkani area of Ardo Kola local government area, Taraba state on Friday and Wisdom Titus, 24, with 84 kilogrammes of same substance at Takum area of the state.

In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Friday recovered 396,000 capsules of tramadol from a suspect Ahmed Nda, 50, at Aliyu Mustapha International Airport Yola, while 785 kilogrammes of skunk was evacuated from the warehouse of a drug dealer currently at large at Asob Maraba Karu, Nasarawa state.

Two suspects: Jamiu Kardoso and Oriyomi Waliu were on Friday arrested with 130 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 65.150 kilogrammes in Surulere area of Lagos, just as Taofeek Moraina was nabbed same day with 282 blocks of Ghana Loud with a gross weight of 141 kilogrammes at Otto, Oyingbo area of Lagos.

In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives last Thursday intercepted a truck marked T- 0262KT along Ilorin – Jebba expressway conveying 197 blocks of skunk weighing 78.565 kilogrammes and 155 cartons of rubber solutions. The truck driver Umar Yakubu was taken into custody.

In another operation, a commercial bus with registration number KJA- 657CY was intercepted at Eiyenkonrin, Ilorin last Wednesday with 20 blocks of skunk concealed in a 50-litre jerry can recovered and the driver Ibrahim Bello arrested.

The commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa while commending the officers and men of the SOU, Osun, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Kwara commands for the arrests, and seizures, (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency