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Villagers call on Gov. Buni to intervene over cattle routes in Gamawa
Villagers call on Gov. Buni to intervene over cattle routes in Gamawa.
By: Yahaya Wakili
Residents of Gamawa village in the Potiskum local government area of Yobe state have called on Governor Mai Mala Buni CON and the National President of the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), Hon. Khalil Mohammed Bello, to rescue their long cattle route, which the Potiskum local government has converted into plots of land.
Speaking to newsmen in the village, the spokeswoman of the residents, Mallam Muhammed Ali, said the cattle route starts right from the Niger Republic down to Cameroon, and this is the only cattle route that we have been using for over hundreds of years.
The residents of Gamawa village have accused the village head of Juma’a, Alhaji Yusufu Baba, of being the mastermind for converting their hundreds-year-old cattle route into a pilot, which they said will cause clashes between the hards and farmers during the rainy season.
“There is no development reaching the place, and before the development reaches the place, it will take over 30 years. First, we write four letters: one to the emir of Pataskum, one to the district head, one to the local government secretariat, and the last one we take to our village head, Alhaji Yusuf Baba, who said he would not receive it because the government has already done its work.” he said.
Also speaking, the National Trustee of the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), Malam Lamido Damina Yarima, said there was a time the Potiskum local government chairman constituted a committee for cattle rearers, and I am among them.
“The committee members comprised the police, civil defense, local government staff, and three members from cattle rearers associations: two from Miyetti Allah and one from Kulen Allah, that is, me. The term and reference for the committee is to go round all the local government and see the cattle routes that were encroachment or temper with a view to correcting them.
In our first trip, we start from Mamudo, Turkish, and Danchuwa, and also in our second trip, we meet the district head of Yarimaram Bataba. We come out with him, we go round and round, and the Gamawa cattle route is included. We were told that this cattle route has a long history; it comes from the Niger Republic and up to Cameroon, and we were confirmed that this is the longest cattle route.
“I know the chairman of Potiskum local government area, Alhaji Salisu Muktari, is not aware of this matter, because if he knew it differently, he would not accept it because the chairman is a peace-loving person.” Lamido Damina said.
When the members of the press call on the village head of Juma’a, Alhaji Yusufu Baba, for balancing their reports, The village head, Alhaji Yusuf Baba, said, Yes, he has some things to say about the conversion of the Gamawa cattle route into a pilot.
He further said that the criminals turned the cattle route into their terrorist activity grounds, where people were attacked and killed, and women were also attacked and raped on this cattle route. He lamented that, three years ago, he was attacked there on the same cattle route as Gamawa.
“Sometime a boy was attacked and killed there and took the corpse and brought it close to his village, Juma’a, and many women were attacked and raped there, adding that the impact of terrorist activities in the Gamawa cattle route is too much. Therefore, he summoned a meeting with the five ward heads of the area and ended up reporting the matter to the local government council.
“When I report the case to the local government, the local government sends the people from the department of land and conducts a survey to clear the cattle route and convert it into a pilot. During the clearing of the cattle route, they found five corpses of baby children, which they were dumping by their mothers,” he said.
When the members of the press went to the chairman’s office of the Potiskum local government, he was not sitting, and when they sent him an SMS message, there was no reply by the time we filed this report.
Villagers call on Gov. Buni to intervene over cattle routes in Gamawa
Police recover 15 rustled cows in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Zamfara says its operatives have recovered 15 cows rustled by armed bandits during an attack on Gidan Kwagiri village in Damba District of Gusau Local Government Area.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 15 when the bandits invaded the community and carted away cows and sheep belonging to residents.
According to the sources, upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Damba Division mobilised personnel alongside patrol teams from the Department of Operations to pursue the attackers.
The team was said to have successfully recovered 15 cows, which were subsequently handed over to their owners.
Efforts, however, are ongoing to track down the suspects and recover the remaining rustled animals, while security patrols have been intensified in the area to forestall further attacks.
Police recover 15 rustled cows in Zamfara
Operation Whirl Stroke arrests cow rustling suspects fuelling violence in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation WHIRL STROKE have arrested suspects linked to cattle rustling in Benue State, following two separate security incidents in Guma Local Government Area.
Security sources said that on Feb. 15, troops responded to an attack on herders at Amua Village, located between Daudu and Umenger/Ukpiam. The attack left one herder dead, while another sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated to Keana in neighbouring Nasarawa State for urgent medical attention. The remains of the deceased were handed over to community representatives for burial according to local customs.
In a related operation on the same day, troops stationed at Ukpiam acted on intelligence provided by vigilant youths concerning suspected cattle rustling. The troops arrested a 23-year-old suspect, Terngu Aondohemba, who reportedly confessed to killing two cattle belonging to Fulani herders. He also implicated two accomplices, Akpehe and Ashinge, who are still at large.
Further investigation led security operatives to Korje Village in Daudu, where Mrs. Mercy Onban, wife of the alleged buyer of the stolen meat, was apprehended along with the recovered meat exhibits. Both suspects remain in custody pending further investigation.
The Force Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Moses Gara, condemned the attacks and criminality, affirming the commitment of Operation WHIRL STROKE to halting killings and cattle rustling in the Joint Operations Area.
He urged community leaders to strengthen collaboration with security agencies, stressing that timely intelligence sharing is critical to restoring lasting peace. Major General Gara also reassured law-abiding residents of the strong resolve of the Joint Task Force to protect lives and property across the region.
Operation Whirl Stroke arrests cow rustling suspects fuelling violence in Benue
Federal Government arraigns Nasir El-Rufai over alleged phone interception
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Government has charged former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged unlawful interception of phone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Court documents showed that El-Rufai, 65, appeared as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme on Feb. 13, 2026, where he reportedly admitted to involvement in the interception and to knowing individuals who carried out the act without reporting them to security agencies.
The charges, filed under TABU DET CR/99/2026, include: Count One, Allegedly admitting during the television interview that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, contrary to Section 12 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count Two, Allegedly stating that he knew individuals who unlawfully intercepted the same communications but failed to report them, in violation of Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024. Count Three, Allegedly using technical systems to compromise public safety and national security, and instilling apprehension among Nigerians, in breach of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The case, filed by a team of Federal Government lawyers led by ME Ernest, OM Owan, UM Bulla, CS Eze, and VE G. Orubor, is set to proceed with investigations and trial proceedings.
Authorities said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, where the accused will be required to respond to the charges.
The trial is expected to attract significant public attention given the high-profile nature of the accused and the sensitive security issues involved.
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