Reckless police teargas firing sparks fire outbreak in Katsina cement shop

By: Zagazola Makama

A routine police patrol in Katsina State on Monday degenerated into a fire incident after officers recklessly fired teargas into a cement shop, causing a blaze and injuring a trailer driver in Charanchi Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. on Feb. 2, when personnel attached to the Malumfashi Division intercepted an unregistered cement trailer while returning from special duty en route from Katsina to Malumfashi.

Witnesses said that instead of handling the traffic offence with restraint, the patrol team fired teargas, which strayed into a nearby cement shop owned by Umar Abdullahi, and ignited a fire.

“The teargas landed inside the shop and immediately started a fire. People ran out in panic. We had to struggle to put it out,” a resident said.

The fire destroyed some goods before it was eventually extinguished by residents and emergency responders.

The trailer driver, Gambo Abdurrahman, of Gidan Dawa, Katsina, also sustained a fracture on his right leg during the incident. He was rushed to General Hospital, Kankia, and later referred to an Orthopaedic Hospital for specialist treatment.

Police sources confirmed that the situation had been brought under control and that the officers involved had been defaulted for disciplinary action.

“The Command has ordered a full investigation into the reckless use of teargas that led to the fire outbreak and injury. Appropriate sanctions will follow,” a senior officer said.

Reckless police teargas firing sparks fire outbreak in Katsina cement shop

Terrorists kill scores in Kwara village attack – lawmaker

By: Zagazola Makama

Scores of persons were killed in a terrorist attack on Woro Village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, the lawmaker representing Kaiama in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Saidu Baba Ahmed, has confirmed.

Ahmed who disclosed this on Wednesday said that the death toll had risen to 35 as of this morning, while many residents were still missing in the surrounding bush after fleeing the community during the attack.

“I’m on my way to Woro where the mayhem took place yesterday, along with a detachment of soldiers from Ilorin. I have also been informed that other soldiers are following the attackers. I’m glad to say that I spoke with the Emir this morning and he is alive,” he said.

Security sources said the attack occurred on Feb. 3 at about 7:07 p.m., when terrorists suspected to be Boko Haram Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) stormed Woro, setting houses and shops ablaze as residents fled in panic.

The assailants reportedly withdrew after spotting an approaching aircraft, but intelligence indicates they may still be lurking nearby and could attempt to return once security pressure eases.

Meanwhile, security sources warned that terrorist operations are escalating across the North-West and North-Central, with attacks spreading into border communities with the Republic of Benin, particularly in Kwara and Niger States.

The sources noted that terrorists infiltrating from the Sahel axis have merged with local criminal groups. Two major groups – JNIM/AQIM and IS Sahel are said to be competing for territory, using forest corridors and borderlands as launch pads for further attacks.

While parts of the North-West face encroachment from ISIS-linked elements along Niger’s borders with Sokoto and Kebbi, JNIM’s operations reportedly stretch from the W–Arly–Pendjari (WAP) Forest Complex into Benin, diverting into North-Central Nigeria.

Zagazola stressed that containing the threat requires strong regional cooperation, describing the violence as part of a wider Sahelian security crisis rather than an isolated state-level problem.

Terrorists kill scores in Kwara village attack – lawmaker

Nigerian Immigration rescues 59 women, children from human trafficking in borno

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rescued 59 women and children from a human trafficking attempt from Katsina State to N’Djamena, the capital of the Republic of Chad.

The Borno State Comptroller of Immigration, Muktari Tanimu Musa, disclosed the development in Maiduguri on Tuesday, saying the victims were intercepted at Ngamboru, a border town near Nigeria’s frontier with Cameroon.

Musa said the group was travelling with a suspected trafficking agent, who allegedly lured them with promises of “good jobs” in Chad.

“After interviewing them, it became clear they were being trafficked. The agent deceived them with false employment offers. Many of the victims did not understand the risks involved,” he said.

The comptroller noted that the command had intensified surveillance along the Maiduguri–Ngala axis and was working with the Borno State Government to strengthen border security and curb the movement of trafficked persons through the corridor.

He urged Nigerians to be cautious of individuals offering foreign job opportunities, particularly those promoting so-called white-collar jobs abroad, stressing that legitimate employment opportunities exist within Nigeria.

Musa warned that traffickers often exploit victims for criminal activities, including organ harvesting, and highlighted that trafficking networks sometimes operate with local support.

“These activities are sometimes aided by community members. But recent breakthroughs came because of stronger cooperation with transport operators, drug control officers, and community leaders in Banki and Ngamboru Ngala,” he said.

He added that he had visited the border communities to meet chairmen and stakeholders, urging them to share timely intelligence with officers.

The NIS has profiled the rescued victims and will hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further care and investigation.

Musa appealed to media organisations to support public awareness campaigns, saying, “The media play a crucial role in educating communities about the dangers of irregular migration and human trafficking. Their support is essential.”

Nigerian Immigration rescues 59 women, children from human trafficking in borno