Shock in Enugu as mother allegedly murders two children in suspected mental breakdown

By: Zagazola Makama

The quiet morning calm of Unity Road in Trans Ekulu, Enugu, was shattered on Monday when neighbours made a harrowing discovery: two children, a four-year-old girl and her three-month-old baby brother, were found dead in their home, allegedly murdered by their own mother.

Zagazola report that the suspect, identified as Chidima Arinze, reportedly committed the act at her residence, No. 47 Unity Road, in what police sources describe as one of the most disturbing domestic incidents in recent memory.

According to a Police sources, the tragic event unfolded on July 21 at about 9:00 a.m. when the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Trans Ekulu received a distress call. Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene.

On arrival, the operatives met the lifeless bodies of Esther Arinze, aged 4, and Chibusoma Arinze, aged 3 months. Both victims reportedly bore marks of violence, suspected to have been inflicted with a sharp object. The scene was cordoned off, and forensic photographs were taken before the suspect was taken into custody.

The children’s remains were evacuated to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUT), Parklane, where they were certified dead by a medical officer. Their bodies have since been deposited at the hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.

The suspect, their mother, was arrested at the scene without resistance. Preliminary investigation is currently ongoing at the Trans Ekulu Division, while the case is being prepared for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a more discreet and comprehensive probe.

While police have not disclosed a motive, early speculation from community members points to a possible case of postpartum mental health crisis, though this remains unconfirmed.

“This is not something we’ve seen before in our area,” said one resident, who asked not to be named. “She was quiet, kept to herself. No one suspected she was struggling with anything.”

The Enugu State Police Command assured the public that justice would be pursued with thoroughness and sensitivity.

“We understand the emotional weight of this case,” a senior police official said. “Investigators are looking at every angle, including psychological evaluation of the suspect.”

Meanwhile, the Trans Ekulu community remains in mourning, stunned by a crime that unfolded behind closed doors in one of its homes.

“We are devastated,” said a neighbour. “Two innocent lives gone, and a mother behind bars. No one wins in this situation.”

Shock in Enugu as mother allegedly murders two children in suspected mental breakdown

Fulani herders in Kaduna count losses as armed cattle rustlers raid Igabi community

By: Zagazola Makama

A renewed wave of insecurity has hit rural communities in Kaduna State, following a brazen night attack on a Fulani settlement in Dutsen Mai village, Igabi Local Government Area, by heavily armed cattle rustlers.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the attack, which occurred at about 10:00 p.m. on Monday, has left residents reeling in shock, as scores of cattle were carted away under the cover of darkness by an unspecified number of attackers wielding sophisticated weapons.

Yusuf Abdullahi, a resident of the area, was among the first to raise the alarm. He told the police that the assailants struck without warning, firing sporadically to scare off herders before herding the stolen livestock into the nearby forest.

The stolen cattle are said to belong to prominent pastoralists in the area, including Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, and Usman Isiya, all residents of Dutsen Mai.

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA with other security forces, upon receiving the distress call around 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, promptly mobilized his patrol team. Working in synergy, they launched a search operation, cordoning off adjoining bushes and suspected hideouts to trail the rustlers.

Although the number of cattle stolen is yet to be officially confirmed, eyewitnesses estimate the figure to be in the dozens, dealing a significant blow to the livelihoods of the affected families.

“This is not just theft; this is an attack on our way of life,” lamented a relative of one of the victims. “Cattle are everything to us our wealth, our pride, our survival. Now they are gone.”

The Kaduna State Police Command says it has intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen animals.

“We are leaving no stone unturned. Our tactical teams are in the bush and the search is ongoing,” a senior officer who preferred anonymity said. We are also working closely with vigilante groups and local intelligence sources.”

Cattle rustling remains a persistent threat across northwestern Nigeria, often feeding into larger security challenges such as armed banditry, communal conflicts, and forced displacement.

Fulani herders in Kaduna count losses as armed cattle rustlers raid Igabi community

Troops repel ISWAP attack on Bitta, expose deep-rooted terror collaboration network

By: Zagazola Makama

The troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled an orchestrated attack by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), neutralising scores and forcing the terrorists into a hasty withdrawal, in what could have been a devastating raid on Bitta, a community nestled in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State,

Zagazola Makama report that Preliminary findings following the July 21 offensive reveal that the assault was masterminded by a prominent ISWAP Qaid and executed by fighters infiltrating from the Sambisa Forest axis.

However, swift and gallant action by Nigerian troops prevented the attackers from breaching Bitta town, a strategic civilian-populated location in southern Borno.

The troops’ performance was hailed by local leaders and residents alike. The Chairman of Gwoza LGA described their defense as “gallant and impressive,” citing the prevention of widespread infiltration as a major success.

Yet beneath the battlefield triumph lies a disturbing undercurrent, the apparent complicity of terrorist collaborators and sympathisers embedded within Bitta.

Credible intelligence gathered during and after the attack indicates that most of the looting and burning within the town were not directly perpetrated by the terrorists themselves, but by suspected local sympathisers acting on their behalf.

Additionally, informants within Bitta reportedly provided ISWAP with sensitive information on troop movement and routines, compromising the integrity of defensive operations and suggesting an urgent need for internal security sanitisation.

Tragically, one civilian casualty initially believed to be unintended has now been identified as a suspected ISWAP collaborator. His death resulted from a stray bullet during the chaos.

Despite these challenges, troops managed to kill several ISWAP fighters in the ensuing firefight. As is customary with ISWAP operations, the attackers evacuated their casualties to conceal their losses. One terrorist corpse was recovered, while others are believed to have been transported back to their stronghold.

In a significant intelligence gain, troops recovered a camcorder used by the terrorists’ in-house propaganda unit. The device, which belonged to a now-deceased ISWAP cameraman, is expected to contain valuable operational footage and communications.

The ISWAP fighters withdrew to the Sabil Huda axis in Sambisa Forest, an area now under close surveillance for potential follow-up air and ground interdiction operations.

Military analysts describe the early deployment of reinforcement, as well as the prompt visit to the frontline by the Brigade Commander and Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), as an exemplary display of leadership and morale boosting for troops under pressure.

However, security authorities are warning that the threat in and around Bitta remains active, especially with the discovery of terrorist collaborators. Vigilance and continuous intelligence gathering are paramount to forestall future attacks.

Troops repel ISWAP attack on Bitta, expose deep-rooted terror collaboration network