Troops Arrest Fulani Youth Leader Over Deadly Kaduna Community Attack

Troops of Sector 7 under Operation Enduring Peace have arrested a Fulani youth leader, Zakari Yahu Adamu, in connection with the recent terrorist attack on Naridon Community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State that left over 30 people dead. Security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed on his X (formerly Twitter) account that Adamu was apprehended on Wednesday at Fadan Chanwe following intelligence-led investigations into the incident. The suspect, who serves as a Fulani youth leader in the area, is currently in military custody as investigators work to determine the extent of his involvement and identify other individuals connected to the attack. The arrest comes nearly two weeks after the deadly assault on Naridon Community, which occurred late Sunday, July 26, 2026, when unidentified gunmen invaded the remote village around 11:00 p.m., opening fire on residents and setting houses and shops ablaze.

Local sources confirmed that more than 30 people, including children, women, and the elderly, were killed in the attack. In one heartbreaking case, five siblings from the same family—Deborah Emmanuel, Friday Emmanuel, Yusuf Emmanuel, Yunana Emmanuel, and Irimiya Emmanuel—lost their lives while their parents escaped. Dogon Rana, secretary to the village head, reported that the gunmen surrounded the remote community and attacked indiscriminately, with the assault lasting approximately three hours. A resident, Barnabas Musa, told AFP that at least 30 dead bodies were gathered, including women and children. Community leader Yunusa Babados recounted that attackers broke into family homes, with one household losing six children. The attackers reportedly told the parents: “We will spare you and kill all your children.”

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The Naridon community shares a border with Plateau State, an area that has experienced recurring herder-farmer clashes and communal tensions for years. Former Chairman of Kauru LGA, Musa Waziri, confirmed that the area has faced repeated security challenges, though he cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about the incident’s cause. Residents noted that security forces arrived after the attackers had already departed, highlighting longstanding concerns about response times in rural communities. Naridon reportedly lacks a motorable access road, making it difficult for security personnel and emergency responders to reach the area promptly. The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) condemned the attack and called on the Kaduna State Police Command to strengthen security across vulnerable communities. Amnesty International also condemned the killings, describing it as one of the deadliest recent assaults on communities in Southern Kaduna, and urged authorities to ensure accountability and improve civilian protection.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani condemned the killings and extended condolences to the affected families. He directed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to survivors. The Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, stated that the government received news of the attack with “deep sorrow” and has directed security agencies to intensify operations to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The government also announced plans to strengthen security cooperation with Plateau State, traditional institutions, and security agencies along the border.

The arrest of Zakari Yahu Adamu is part of sustained intelligence-led operations by Operation Enduring Peace aimed at tracking down those responsible for violent attacks and dismantling criminal networks operating in Kaduna State. Security sources confirmed that Adamu was apprehended at approximately 4:00 p.m. on August 6 at Fadan Chanwe in Kauru LGA. His arrest follows a separate operation by troops of Sector 3 of Operation Enduring Peace, which resulted in the detention of another suspect, Salihu Miakailu, 48, in Bassa LGA of Plateau State on August 3. Investigations are continuing to determine the full scope of involvement and identify other individuals linked to the Naridon attack. Security authorities have indicated that they would sustain offensive and intelligence operations to improve security and prevent further attacks across affected communities in Kaduna State.

Troops Arrest Fulani Youth Leader Over Deadly Kaduna Community Attack

Osun Govt Sues EFCC, First Bank for ₦2 Billion Over Unlawful Account Freeze

The Osun State Government has initiated legal proceedings against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and First Bank Nigeria Limited, demanding ₦2 billion in exemplary and aggravated damages over what it describes as the unlawful freezing of its statutory allocation account. The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenges the anti-graft agency’s authority to place a Post-No-Debit restriction on the state’s account without first obtaining a court order. Governor Ademola Adeleke, the state’s Attorney-General, and the Accountant-General are listed as plaintiffs in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1762/2026. The defendants are the EFCC, its Executive Chairman, and First Bank of Nigeria Limited. A legal team led by Prof. M. T. Adekilekun (SAN) is representing the state government.

The dispute centres on a letter dated August 5, 2026, signed by Assistant Commander Adenike Babalola on behalf of the EFCC’s Director of Investigation, which directed First Bank to place restrictions on Osun’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account (No. 2017170947). The state government argues that this directive was issued without any court order authorising the freeze and that the EFCC acted outside its statutory powers.

The plaintiffs are asking the Federal High Court to determine whether the EFCC possesses lawful authority to freeze, restrict, or otherwise interfere with a state government’s statutory allocation account without regard to due process. They contend that the EFCC’s action constitutes an “egregious act of executive lawlessness, an unlawful resort to self-help, and a flagrant abuse of statutory powers.” According to court documents, the state government argues that the EFCC’s directive violates several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, including sections on federalism, fair hearing, property rights, and revenue allocation. The plaintiffs also rely on the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, maintaining that these laws require the EFCC to obtain a specific court order before freezing a state government account—something they say did not happen in this case. The state also questioned whether First Bank could lawfully restrict access to the account solely on the basis of an administrative letter from the EFCC. The plaintiffs argue that the bank should not have complied with the directive without being served with a valid court order and that it breached the duty of care owed to the state government by denying it access to the statutory account.

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Beyond a declaration that the freeze was unlawful and unconstitutional, the Osun Government is seeking several reliefs from the court. These include an order setting aside and nullifying the EFCC’s directive, an order mandating First Bank to immediately unfreeze the account and restore unrestricted access, a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from interfering with state accounts without due process, and a similar injunction preventing First Bank from complying with future restriction requests lacking court orders. The state is also seeking N2 billion in exemplary and aggravated damages for what it termed as “unlawful interference with public funds,” plus litigation costs. The state government maintained that the restriction was capable of disrupting salary payments, government programmes, and other constitutional obligations owed to residents.

The EFCC has defended its decision, stating that it has been investigating Osun State since March 2026 over alleged fraudulent handling of approximately N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and FAAC allocations. The commission claimed it observed suspicious transfers from the account into various corporate entities since August 2, 2026, and that its preventive mandate required it to protect public funds from being looted. EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, insisted that the action was not politically motivated or connected to the forthcoming governorship election in the state, stating that the EFCC “has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians.” He argued that the EFCC possessed statutory powers under Section 34 of the EFCC Act and Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, to place a temporary restriction on accounts for up to 72 hours, after which a court order would be required. The EFCC spokesman stressed that the restriction was a targeted measure on one account and did not constitute a blanket freeze on all of Osun State’s finances. He maintained that the Adeleke administration still had access to other government accounts and could continue its operations.

The controversy escalated when President Bola Tinubu publicly distanced himself from the timing of the account freeze, which came just days before Osun’s August 15 governorship election. In a personally signed statement, the President said he felt “deeply embarrassed, not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action.” He directed the EFCC to approach the court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue all proceedings instituted against the Osun State Government. President Tinubu emphasised that “Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election.” He reaffirmed his commitment to allowing anti-corruption agencies to operate independently but stressed that the timing of the action necessitated his intervention.

Senior lawyers, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), have faulted the EFCC’s action, insisting that the anti-graft agency lacks the constitutional and legal authority to freeze a state’s accounts without first obtaining a court order. Constitutional lawyer Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN, said the law is clear that bank accounts can only be frozen pursuant to a valid court order. Human rights lawyer Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu maintained that “EFCC needs a court order to do that. It cannot be done lawfully as an administrative act.” The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) also condemned the EFCC’s action, warning that democracy could be undermined where institutions with coercive powers are perceived as acting in a politically selective manner.

In summary, the Osun State Government is challenging the EFCC’s authority to freeze its statutory allocation account without a court order, seeking N2 billion in damages. The EFCC maintains its action was lawful and part of an ongoing N11 billion investigation. President Tinubu has intervened, directing the EFCC to vacate the freeze due to concerns about the timing ahead of the governorship election. No hearing date has been fixed for the suit.

Osun Govt Sues EFCC, First Bank for ₦2 Billion Over Unlawful Account Freeze

Military uncovers identities of senior ISIS, ISWAP commanders operating around Lake Chad

The

 has identified several senior ISIS and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commanders operating around the Lake Chad Basin in northern Borno State following the forensic exploitation of intelligence materials recovered during a recent offensive operation.

The development was disclosed by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammed Goni, in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

Goni said troops recovered several technical devices and other high-value intelligence materials during an operation targeting ISWAP fighters along the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State.

Among the items recovered was a camcorder allegedly used by ISWAP members to record propaganda materials and document their operational activities.

According to the military, forensic analysis of the recovered devices produced actionable intelligence that enabled security forces to identify terrorist locations and uncover the identities of several senior ISWAP commanders operating within the Mangari–Metele–Dogon Chukun axis along the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin.

The identified areas are located in Abadam and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno State, a region that has remained an important operational theatre for insurgent groups because of its difficult terrain, waterways and proximity to the borders of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

The military identified Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa as the Wali, or governor, of ISIS West Africa Province. His deputy, Amirul Jaish Muhammad Jidda, popularly known as “The One-Handed Man”, was also identified, alongside Hamad Abu Hanifa, described by the military as the Amirul-Fiya of ISWAP.

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The military said Baa Shuwa remains its most wanted ISWAP leader operating within the Lake Chad Basin and announced a financial reward for anyone who provides credible and actionable information that directly leads to his arrest.

Authorities assured potential informants that information supplied would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality and that their identities would be protected in line with established security procedures.

The latest intelligence breakthrough comes amid sustained military operations aimed at disrupting ISIS and ISWAP networks in the North-East and preventing the groups from rebuilding their command structures, logistics networks and operational bases.

The development also follows a major Nigeria-US counter-terrorism operation in May that targeted senior ISIS leadership around the Lake Chad region. On May 16, a joint operation killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom US authorities described as a senior ISIS figure responsible for global operations, along with several of his associates.

The operation demonstrated the increasing role of intelligence-sharing and international cooperation in efforts to track senior terrorist commanders operating in the Lake Chad Basin.

The military has continued to rely on intelligence-led operations, air surveillance and ground offensives to disrupt insurgent networks across Borno State. The exploitation of recovered electronic devices is also expected to provide security agencies with further information about the movements, locations and networks of terrorist commanders.

The identification of Baa Shuwa and other senior commanders could therefore provide the Nigerian military with additional intelligence for ongoing operations aimed at degrading ISWAP’s leadership structure and disrupting its activities in the Lake Chad region.

The Lake Chad Basin, which encompasses parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon, has faced prolonged insecurity from Boko Haram and ISIS-affiliated groups. The persistence of the insurgency has prompted regional governments and international partners to intensify cooperation on intelligence sharing, border security and counter-terrorism operations.

The military’s latest disclosure underscores the continuing importance of intelligence gathering in the fight against terrorism, particularly in remote areas where insurgent groups have historically exploited difficult terrain and cross-border movements to evade security forces.

While announcing the reward for information on Baa Shuwa, the military urged members of the public to provide credible information through appropriate security channels and avoid confronting suspected terrorists themselves.

Military uncovers identities of senior ISIS, ISWAP commanders operating around Lake Chad