MAN disburses ₦5.48 million, empowerment tools to 32 zakat beneficiaries in Ibadan

The Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ibadan Branch, has distributed ₦5.48 million in cash grants and empowerment materials to 32 beneficiaries under its 2026 Zakat and Sadaqah Programme, reaffirming its commitment to poverty alleviation and economic empowerment within the Muslim community.

The distribution ceremony, held at the association’s headquarters in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, brought together Islamic scholars, community leaders, donors and beneficiaries to celebrate another milestone in MAN’s humanitarian outreach.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of MAN, Ibadan Branch, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Abdul-Ganiy, said the initiative, coordinated through the Muslim Association of Nigeria Zakat Administration Programme (MANZAP), has disbursed more than ₦28 million to 340 deserving beneficiaries since its inception in 2017.

He noted that the programme has continued to expand despite prevailing economic challenges, stressing that the association remains committed to supporting vulnerable members of society through the Islamic principles of zakat and sadaqah.

Chairman of the Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ibadan branch, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Abdul-Ganiy (second right), with, from left, the branch’s Deputy Imam, Alhaji Mubashir Adeleke Lawal; Chairman, Muslim Association of Nigeria Zakat Administration Programme (MANZAP) Management Committee, Alhaji Wahab Adisa Lateef (Olokuta); and the branch secretary, Mr. Tunji Aleem, at the organisation’s 2026 zakat distribution programme held in Oke Ado, Ibadan, last weekend.

Abdul-Ganiy recalled that during the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the association provided relief worth about ₦1.7 million, comprising zakat funds and food palliatives, to struggling households across Ibadan.

He assured members that MAN would continue to strengthen its humanitarian interventions by mobilising more resources to assist widows, orphans, persons living with disabilities, unemployed youths and other vulnerable groups.

“Our commitment remains unwavering. We will continue to strive to support members of the Ummah and other vulnerable people in society through sustainable empowerment programmes,” he said.

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Delivering a lecture at the event, the Deputy Imam of MAN, Ibadan Branch, Alhaji Mubashir Adeleke Lawal, described zakat as one of the fundamental pillars of Islam and a powerful tool for promoting social justice and reducing economic inequality.

He urged wealthy Muslims to faithfully fulfil their obligation of paying zakat, warning that neglecting the religious duty deprives the less privileged of much-needed support and weakens communal development.

Lawal also advised beneficiaries to make judicious use of the financial assistance and vocational tools provided to them, urging them to invest the support in productive ventures capable of improving their livelihoods.

Earlier, Chairman of the MANZAP Management Committee, Alhaji Wahab Adisa Lateef (Olokuta), explained that the committee was established to professionally manage the collection, administration and transparent distribution of zakat and sadaqah contributions.

According to him, the 2026 programme represents the 10th edition of the initiative and the fifth distribution exercise conducted by the current management committee since assuming office in June 2021.

Lateef disclosed that the committee received 54 applications for this year’s exercise, out of which 32 beneficiaries were selected after a comprehensive screening and interview process to ensure fairness and transparency.

He said a total of ₦5,483,629.52, comprising cash grants and empowerment materials, was approved for disbursement to support beneficiaries in establishing or expanding businesses and improving their economic conditions.

The beneficiaries received various empowerment items, including equipment for tailoring, hairdressing, barbing, catering, farming and other vocational trades, alongside financial support to strengthen their businesses and promote self-reliance.

Lateef commended members of the association’s Advisory Council, led by Prof. Dawud Noibi, for their continuous guidance and support, revealing that 308 beneficiaries had received assistance before the latest disbursement, bringing the cumulative number of beneficiaries under the programme to 340.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Malam Moshood Saheed Muhammed expressed gratitude to MAN, donors and members of the zakat committee for the intervention, describing it as timely and life-changing.

He pledged that the beneficiaries would utilise the funds and equipment responsibly to improve their businesses, cater for their families and contribute positively to society.

A former beneficiary, Mrs. Glory Onabade, a widow, also shared her testimony during the programme, recounting how previous assistance from the association helped her survive difficult times, including her battle with cervical cancer.

She attributed her recovery and improved living conditions to God’s mercy and the support received through the association’s humanitarian programme, encouraging donors to continue supporting the initiative.

The association reaffirmed its resolve to sustain the annual zakat and sadaqah programme, noting that economic empowerment remains one of the most effective ways of reducing poverty, promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening social welfare in Nigeria.

MAN disburses ₦5.48 million, empowerment tools to 32 zakat beneficiaries in Ibadan

Bandits Burn Niger Primary School After Collecting N10m Protection Levy

• Gunmen emerge from Kainji Lake National Park to torch Central Primary School, Dekara, despite receiving payment meant to secure peace; separate attacks in Shiroro LGA leave one dead and another abducted

Suspected bandits have reportedly set ablaze a primary school in Dekara town, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, despite allegedly collecting a N10 million levy from communities in the area who hoped the payment would prevent attacks . The incident occurred on Wednesday when the assailants emerged from the Kainji Lake National Park and invaded the district headquarters, torching the Central Primary School, Dekara .

Residents told Daily Trust that villages and communities in Dekara District had recently raised and paid the N10 million demanded by the bandits after they threatened to attack them if the levy was not paid . The payment was made following assurances from the bandits that residents would be allowed to remain in their communities without further attacks .

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, expressed shock at the betrayal. “The bandits imposed a N10 million levy on communities in the district. The money was paid because they threatened to attack us if we failed to comply. But despite receiving the money, they still attacked the district headquarters and burnt down the primary school,” the resident said . Another community source added, “We contributed the money because they promised not to attack us again. Instead, they returned and burnt our school after receiving the levy” .

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In a related development, bandits reportedly launched fresh attacks on Dnakau, Lanta and Unguwan Kawo communities in Shiroro Local Government Area . Residents said one person was killed while another was kidnapped during the attacks. The abducted victim was identified as Moses Joseph of Unguwan Kawo, while Emma, a resident of Bagna community, was reportedly shot dead during the raid .

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Niger State Police Command were unsuccessful. The command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, neither answered phone calls nor responded to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report .

The attacks are the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Niger State, one of the hardest-hit states by banditry in Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions. The destruction of the Central Primary School in Dekara adds to the growing toll on educational infrastructure in the region, where attacks on schools have become increasingly common as armed groups target educational institutions to spread fear and exert control over rural communities.

The fresh incidents have renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in Niger State, with residents calling for sustained military deployments and long-term measures to restore peace to the region. The state has witnessed numerous deadly raids, mass abductions, and extortion campaigns by armed groups who frequently operate from remote forest and park areas, including the Kainji Lake National Park, which serves as a hideout for bandits launching attacks on surrounding communities.

Bandits Burn Niger Primary School After Collecting N10m Protection Levy

Seven villagers killed in Katsina attack as two policemen die in Kaduna rescue operation

• Notorious kingpin Kachallah Muhammad linked to Sayaya attack hours after troop withdrawal; nine kidnap victims rescued before police lose officers in ambush

At least seven people were killed on Thursday when armed bandits attacked Sayaya community in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, while two police officers lost their lives during an operation to rescue kidnapped victims in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The separate attacks underscore the persistent security challenges facing rural communities in Nigeria’s North-West, where armed groups continue to carry out deadly raids despite ongoing military operations.

The latest incident in Katsina occurred in Sayaya community, where witnesses said gunmen invaded the village in the early hours of Thursday, firing sporadically and causing widespread panic as residents fled their homes. Residents described the incident as one of the most brutal attacks in recent months, saying it shattered the fragile calm the community had begun to enjoy after the deployment of security forces to the area. “We were asleep when we heard heavy gunshots,” a resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Daily Trust. “People were screaming, children were crying, and everyone was running in different directions. By the time the gunmen left, seven of our people were lying lifeless.”

The victims were identified as Lawal Chiki, Abdullahi Mustapha, Yalili Mai Ruwa, Isau Maharba, Salma Tasi’u, and Ibrahim Uncle, who was said to be mentally ill, along with a seventh victim whose identity could not be immediately confirmed. The victims, comprising six men and one woman, reportedly included farmers and traders who had hoped to resume normal life after weeks of relative peace.

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Locals alleged that the attackers were led by a notorious bandit kingpin, Kachallah Muhammad Fulani, whose name has long been linked to deadly raids and abductions across Matazu and neighbouring communities. “This is the same man who has terrorised our villages for years. He is the one who abducted Major General Rabe and his wife. Anytime we hear his name, we know trouble is coming,” another resident, Alaramma Jibrin, said. The retired general later died in captivity, sparking public outrage and renewed calls for intensified action against banditry. Residents linked the renewed violence to the recent withdrawal of troops attached to Operation Fansan Yamma, alleging that the attackers returned almost immediately after soldiers pulled out. “When the soldiers were here, we could sleep peacefully. But once they left, the bandits came back with more aggression. It feels like we have been abandoned,” a community elder said.

Residents further alleged that the same group recently blocked the Karaduwa–Rimaye road in broad daylight, abducting travellers and assaulting others without resistance. “They stopped vehicles on the road as if it were their territory. People were beaten, some were taken away, and nobody could help,” a commuter, Sulaiman Sale Sayaya, said.

In Matazu town, thousands of mourners gathered for funeral prayers held at the residence of the chairman of Matazu Local Government Area, Hon. Shamsuddeen Muhammad Sayaya (Sarkin Yakin Matazu II), in Sha’iskawa. The funeral prayer was led by Imam Malam Lawal and attended by the deputy chairman of Matazu Local Government Area, Hon. Abubakar Sulaiman, elected councillors, traditional leaders, and residents from across the area. Following the prayers, the victims were buried at the Sha’iskawa cemetery amid grief and mourning by family members, friends, and residents. Many families have reportedly fled Sayaya community for safer locations in Matazu town and neighbouring areas. “We cannot stay and wait to be killed,” a displaced woman said while relocating with her children. “At least in town, we can sleep without hearing gunshots.” A farmer added, “Our farms are there, but our lives are more important. If we go to the bush, we may not return.”

Residents appealed to the state and federal governments to take urgent and sustained action, warning that temporary deployments and short-term operations would not bring lasting peace. “We do not want temporary peace,” a community leader stressed. “We want a permanent solution. We want to live without fear. We want our children to sleep at home, not run for their lives.”

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When contacted, the Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said the command had yet to verify the incident and promised to provide an update, but no further response had been received as of the time of reporting. Several phone calls and text messages sent to the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa, were neither answered nor acknowledged as of press time.

Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, security operatives rescued nine kidnapped victims during an operation in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area after a gun battle that forced suspected bandits to abandon their captives and flee into the bush. The Kaduna State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan. According to the statement, the victims were abducted on Wednesday while working on their farms around Unguwan Sa’idu village, located a few kilometres from Birnin Gwari town.

The command said credible intelligence received at about 12:45 p.m. indicated that about 15 armed bandits, wielding sophisticated weapons, were operating in the area and had taken several people hostage. Following the report, the Area Commander of Birnin Gwari and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) mobilised patrol teams, including personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVIS), and moved to the scene to rescue the victims. Police said the operatives encountered the bandits on arrival and engaged them in a fierce gun battle, forcing the criminals to flee on motorcycles into the surrounding bush. “The team launched a hot pursuit, forcing the criminals to abandon their captives and flee for safety,” the statement said.

The rescued victims were identified as Hudu Rabiu, 31; Yusuf Sagir, 20; Sagir Rabiu, 17; Muhammad Kabir, 23; Kabir Lawal, 20; Idris Abubakar, 17; Mustapha Zayyanu, 18; Kabiru Rabiu, 18; and Usman Lawal, 18. According to the command, the victims were found tied with ropes and abandoned by their abductors during the chase. They were rescued unharmed and later reunited with their families.

Tragedy, however, struck while the operatives were returning from the operation. The police said suspected bandits, believed to have laid an ambush along the route, opened fire on the security team, leaving two officers with fatal gunshot wounds. The officers later died in the line of duty. Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commiserated with the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased officers. He described their sacrifice as a testament to the courage, dedication, and selflessness of security personnel who risk their lives daily to protect citizens. The commissioner said the command would continue to honour the memory of the fallen officers and remain committed to tackling insecurity across the state. He added that investigations and tactical operations were ongoing to track down the attackers and bring them to justice.

The fresh incidents have renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in Nigeria’s North-West, with residents calling for sustained military deployments and long-term measures to restore peace to the region.

Seven villagers killed in Katsina attack as two policemen die in Kaduna rescue operation