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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
News
Ogwashi-Uku Palace Attack Trial: Gunshot Victim Identifies Mike Nwaukoni As Ringleader As Multiple Witnesses Place Defendants At Scene With Weapons
Ogwashi-Uku Palace Attack Trial: Gunshot Victim Identifies Mike Nwaukoni As Ringleader As Multiple Witnesses Place Defendants At Scene With Weapons
Ogwashi-Uku Palace Attack Trial: Gunshot Victim Identifies Nwaukoni As Ringleader As Multiple Witnesses Place Defendants At Scene With Weapons
Fresh revelations emerged at the Federal High Court, Asaba, as the trial over the October 12, 2023 terrorist-style attack on the Palace of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku resumed, with witnesses giving direct, consistent, and corroborated testimony identifying Mr Mike Nwaukoni as the principal actor who led an armed mob to the palace, resulting in gunfire, injuries, and destruction of property.
On Tuesday, January 13, the court heard the gripping testimony of PW2, Mr Lawrence Obasi, an Otulu vigilante who sustained gunshot injuries that left his right arm paralysed for months.
PW2 told the court that he was officially deployed alongside the police to protect the palace on the day of the attack, having undergone formal vigilante training by the police two years earlier. According to him, Mike Nwaukoni personally led a large mob armed with dangerous weapons to the palace gate at Ogbe-Nti.
He testified that despite clear warnings and instructions from the Divisional Police Officer and the police commander at the scene, the mob—acting on Nwaukoni’s direct encouragement—attempted to forcibly break into the palace.
“He told them to break the gate and said he had money to take care of anything that happened,” the witness told the court.
Moments later, gunshots rang out.
PW2 narrated how armed supporters opened fire, damaging police and vigilante vehicles and hitting him with live ammunition as he sought cover inside one of the vehicles. He positively identified Elue Adigwe and Francis Okolie as being present at the scene and fully armed.
His account directly corroborated the earlier testimony of PW1, the police commander who had testified last year that Mike Nwaukoni personally led the armed crowd, stressing that no police officer accompanied the mob and that it was not a lawful procession but an armed attack.
The police commander had also told the court that Nwaukoni had invited him and the DPO to his residence days before his testimony in what observers concluded was an attempt to obstruct justice by getting him to stop his testimony scheduled for the next week.
THIRD WITNESS CONFIRMS IDENTITIES, WEAPONS, AND HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
On Wednesday, PW3, Mr Emeka Nwaolisa, a palace vigilante, took the stand and reinforced the prosecution’s case, confirming the identity of the same defendants, their presence at the palace gate, and the use of offensive weapons during the attack.
PW3 testified that he was stationed at the locked palace gate when over 200 persons marched toward the palace, among them Mike Nwaukoni, Elue Adigwe, Francis Okolie, and others. He stated that on Nwaukoni’s orders, gunfire erupted as the mob attempted to force entry, leading to chaos and injuries.
During cross-examination, PW3 also revealed that Eugene Ojo Izediunor had previously boasted at a public drinking spot that he used money to “settle” his way out of an earlier case, a conversation witnessed by multiple persons.
He further told the court that the defendants had a long-standing history of orchestrated violence and unrest aimed at destabilising the community and undermining the traditional institution.
SPIN FAILS TO DENT CORE FACTS
While defence counsels consisting of four senior advocates attempted to divert attention to procedural arguments and minor inconsistencies, the central facts remained unshaken:
• Multiple eyewitnesses independently identified the same defendants
• Weapons were present and used
• Gunshots were fired
• A vigilante suffered gunshot injuries
• Vehicles were damaged
• The palace came under armed siege
The court admitted two statements made by PW3 as exhibits and adjourned the matter to April 21 and 22, 2026, with the trial set to continue.
The five defendants—Mike Nwaukoni, Elue Adigwe, Francis Okolie, Eugene Ojo Izediunor, and John Nwona—were all present in court.
As proceedings continue, the testimony so far paints a clear, consistent, and deeply troubling picture of a coordinated armed assault on a traditional institution, now firmly laid before the court under oath.
Armed bandits kill man, abduct nine in macitta village, niger state
By: Zagazola Makama
Nine people were abducted and one man killed when armed bandits attacked Macitta village in Mariga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State late Wednesday night, sources confirmed.
Sources said that around 11:30 p.m., a large group of armed bandits entered the community via Kotonkoro District, shooting sporadically. One of the residents, Aliyu Dan Tsohon Soja, 35, was shot dead during the attack. The identities of the nine abducted victims are yet to be confirmed.
Security forces , local vigilantes, and hunters were mobilized to the area, and the body of the deceased was evacuated to the General Hospital, Bangi, for autopsy. Efforts are ongoing to track down the attackers and ensure the safe rescue of the kidnapped individuals.
Authorities have urged residents to remain alert and report any information that may assist in the rescue operations and apprehension of the bandits.
Armed bandits kill man, abduct nine in macitta village, niger state
Three children die in bush fire while grazing cattle in Mokwa, Niger state
By: Zagazola Makama
Three children lost their lives after being engulfed by fire while grazing cattle in Tungan-Noma village, Mokwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State on Wednesday, sources confirmed.
According to sources, the children Huzairu (12), Aliru (11), and Kabiru Surajo (12) went out for cattle grazing around 12:30 p.m. and entered a deep gully in the bush.
They reportedly set dried grasses on fire in an attempt to trap small bush animals. Unfortunately, the flames spread rapidly, trapping the children and preventing their escape.
The lifeless bodies were recovered and evacuated to the General Hospital, Mokwa, for autopsy. Authorities visited the scene to assess the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The incident draw attention to the dangers children face in rural areas, particularly when engaging in outdoor activities without supervision.
Parents have been urged to exercise caution and ensure children’s safety during such activities.
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