One abducted victim escapes as bandits kill cyclist, detonate IEDs in New-Bussa in Niger

By: Zagazola Makama

One of the four abducted family members in the recent bandit attack at Baban-Rami in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State has escaped from captivity, security sources have said.

The sources identified the victims as Suwaiba Sahabi Buba Abdullahi, Khadija Sahabi Buba Abdullahi, Fatima Sahabi Abdullahi and Nafisa Sahabi Buba Abdullahi.

They said Nafisa Sahabi Buba Abdullahi had successfully escaped from the abductors, while efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining victims unhurt.

The incident was a follow-up to an earlier attack in which the head of the family, Alhaji Sahabi Buba Abdullahi, was shot dead by suspected armed bandits.

In a related development, armed bandits reportedly detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along a bypass road near a damaged bridge in the Luma National Park forest axis of New-Bussa.

According to the sources, the attackers also shot dead a cyclist plying the route, while a truck driver travelling towards Wawa unknowingly drove over another IED, which exploded and damaged the vehicle.

The whereabouts of the truck driver were yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

Security operatives, including tactical teams and local vigilantes, have since been deployed to the area and are currently trailing the perpetrators.

Authorities said efforts were being intensified to secure the area, rescue victims and prevent further attacks.

One abducted victim escapes as bandits kill cyclist, detonate IEDs in New-Bussa in Niger

CP Nasarawa tasks his personnel to hunt down the culprits of the recent killing of 11 in Udege

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The Commissioner of Police (CP), Nasarawa State Command, Shetima Mohammed, has ordered an intensive manhunt for all perpetrators of the heinous act which led to the death of 11 residents in Udege.

He has equally directed all tactical teams and investigative units to ensure the prompt identification of the killers and further prosecution when they are finally caught.

He gave the directive recently when he
visited Udege Development Area in Nasarawa council Area following the recent communal attack that resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property in the area.

During his visit to the affected communities of Akyawa and Udege Kasa on April 3, 2026, the CP expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident which claimed the lives of 11 residents and the further burning of several homes.

He commiserated with the families of the deceased and the entire community, assuring them of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that justice is served accordingly.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the same day, involved hoodlums from one side suspected to have carried out a reprisal attack over the alleged killing of two of their kinsmen.

A release signed by the police spokesperson Raman Nansel noted that in the course of the attack, 11 persons were killed, while about 50 homes were burnt in Akyawa while Udege Kasa lost only two residences.

To prevent any further breakdown of law and order, the CP has also directed the immediate reinforcement and sustained deployment of additional Police personnel, in synergy with the Military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to provide adequate security and restore lasting peace in the area.

A stakeholders’ meeting was held during the visit, where the CP urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to support ongoing investigations.

“The Command reassured members of the public that normalcy has been restored to the affected communities, while proactive measures are in place to prevent any recurrence of violence.” Said the release.

CP Nasarawa tasks his personnel to hunt down the culprits of the recent killing of 11 in Udege

Zamfara bandits plan reprisals after heavy losses in military, DSS operations that killed Ado Aliero’s son, 65 others

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits are reportedly planning coordinated retaliatory attacks across parts of Zamfara State following recent large-scale security operations that resulted in significant losses among their ranks, including the killing of a notorious kingpin’s son and several commanders.

The planned reprisals are believed to be linked to sustained offensives conducted by Nigerian military forces in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and hybrid security units under Operation FANSAN YANMA, which targeted bandit enclaves in Tsafe Local Government Area and surrounding forest corridors.

The operations reportedly led to the neutralisation of about 65 armed bandits, including high-profile commanders operating under the network of Ado Aliero, a notorious figure linked to years of violent attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling across Zamfara and neighbouring states.

Among those killed was Kachalla Iliya Sarki, identified as the son of Ado Aliero, alongside other field commanders who were said to play key roles in coordinating armed operations in the region.

Other commanders reportedly eliminated during the offensive included Dogo Sule and Iliya Mai Rasha, as well as additional field leaders who coordinated attacks across Tsafe, Maru and surrounding communities.

The losses are understood to have significantly disrupted the operational structure of the criminal network, even as indications suggest attempts by surviving elements to regroup and launch retaliatory attacks against security formations and nearby communities.

The planned reprisals are also said to involve large-scale movement of armed fighters across forest routes, with motorcycles used for rapid mobilisation and coordination across multiple axes.

The sources said the movement involved suspected bandits operating on over 200 motorcycles, assembling around Unguwar Tsamiya forest axis, with indications that a well-known bandit leader, Bello Turji, had been linked to the planned mobilisation.

Security sources said the sustained operations also dismantled several bandit enclaves in Munhaye and adjoining forest belts, disrupting logistics networks and freeing victims previously held in captivity.

One of the slain commanders, Kachalla Biyabiki, was said to have been holding several abducted victims at the time of the operation, while another leader, Kachalla Dogon Bete, was also neutralised during the engagement.

The development, according to intelligence officials, has significantly weakened the operational structure of Ado Aliero’s network but may also trigger retaliatory violence from surviving fighters seeking revenge.

Security authorities said the latest intelligence pointing to the likelihood of reprisal attacks, particularly against soft targets and isolated rural communities.

They added that surveillance and troop deployments had been intensified across vulnerable locations, with emphasis on forest fringes and highway corridors in Tsafe, Maru, and neighbouring areas.

Authorities also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, while assuring that ongoing operations would be sustained to prevent any breakdown of security.

Operation FANSAN YANMA forces, alongside DSS operatives and hybrid units, are continuing clearance operations aimed at dismantling remaining bandit camps and preventing regrouping across the North-West theatre.

Zamfara bandits plan reprisals after heavy losses in military, DSS operations that killed Ado Aliero’s son, 65 others