Police, Army Disagree Over IED Materials Recovered From Suspect in Borno - Newstrends
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Police, Army Disagree Over IED Materials Recovered From Suspect in Borno

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Police Public Relations Officer in Borno, ASP Kenneth Daso
Police Public Relations Officer in Borno, ASP Kenneth Daso

Police, Army Disagree Over IED Materials Recovered From Suspect in Borno

The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army have issued conflicting accounts over items allegedly recovered from a suspect arrested in Banki town, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, raising public concern over the true nature of the incident.

Both security agencies confirmed the arrest of the suspect, identified as Abubakar, and said preliminary investigations were carried out. However, while the Nigerian Army described the suspect as a would-be suicide bomber in possession of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) materials, the Borno State Police Command dismissed the claim and cautioned against misinformation.

In a statement dated December 30, 2025, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lt-Col. Sani Uba, said troops had apprehended a suspected suicide bomber and intercepted primed IED components.

According to the statement, the arrest followed sustained joint security operations and intelligence-led efforts to secure Banki town by troops of the 152 Task Force Battalion, working alongside other security agencies.

Lt-Col. Uba said the suspect, identified as Abubakar Mustapha, was arrested at about 5:40 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, near the Banki Central Mosque, and was allegedly found in possession of materials indicating an imminent terrorist attack.

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“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect hails from Bama Local Government Area and was further discovered to be in possession of additional incriminating materials linked to terrorist activities,” the statement said, adding that the suspect was undergoing further interrogation to uncover possible terrorist links and sponsors.

However, hours later, the Borno State Police Command released a counter-statement through its spokesman, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, titled ‘Borno Police Command clarifies arrest of suspect over alleged IED materials in Banki LGA, cautions against misinformation’.

The police said it had observed the circulation of social media videos alleging the recovery of IED components and sought to clarify the situation.

According to the police, operatives on surveillance duty around a mosque in Banki LGA at about 6:10 p.m. on December 29, 2025, arrested Abubakar with a bag containing electrical wires, old mobile phone batteries, assorted gadget scrap materials, and pairs of shoes.

The Command stressed that preliminary findings showed no evidence of active IED fabrication or priming, contrary to claims circulating online.

The police added that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a comprehensive investigation, while the suspect remains in custody.

The Command warned the public against spreading unverified information capable of causing panic, urging residents to rely on official and credible sources for accurate updates, and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.

Police, Army Disagree Over IED Materials Recovered From Suspect in Borno

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MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

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MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor
MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor

MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has condemned in strong terms an alarming audio recording circulating on social media that allegedly calls for violence against Igbo Muslims, describing it as hate speech and a direct incitement to criminality.

The audio, which gained widespread attention on TikTok, is attributed to Mazi Kanayo and reportedly urges members of the Igbo ethnic group to abduct, brutalize, and eliminate fellow Igbos who practice Islam, while falsely accusing them of abandoning their faith for material gain.

In a statement released on Wednesday, MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor warned that such rhetoric poses a serious threat to public safety and undermines Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of life, religious freedom, and peaceful coexistence.

“History has repeatedly shown that genocidal rhetoric does not start with violence—it begins with words left unchecked, unchallenged, and unpunished,” the statement read.

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MPAC urged security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), to investigate the origin and circulation of the audio and ensure that all those responsible are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The group also called on regulatory authorities and social media platforms to take swift action to curb the spread of content that promotes hatred or threatens communal harmony, and asked political, community, and religious leaders—particularly in the South-East—to publicly denounce the incitement to violence and reaffirm their commitment to peaceful coexistence.

MPAC stressed that freedom of expression does not include incitement to murder, ethnic cleansing, or religious persecution, urging Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and stand against attempts to weaponize ethnicity or religion.

“The security of one group is inseparable from the security of all,” the statement emphasized.

The organization confirmed it will continue engaging authorities and monitoring the situation to ensure that the dangerous rhetoric is addressed before it escalates into violence.

MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

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MURIC Calls for Arrest of Maazi Kanayo Over Alleged Threats to Igbo Muslims

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Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola
Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola

MURIC Calls for Arrest of Maazi Kanayo Over Alleged Threats to Igbo Muslims

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on Nigerian security agencies to arrest and prosecute Maazi Kanayo for allegedly inciting the Igbo people of South Eastern Nigeria to kidnap and kill Igbo Muslims.

The call was made in a statement released on Wednesday, 31st December, 2025, by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola. According to the organization, a viral audio clip showed Kanayo allegedly instructing potential kidnappers and attackers to target Muslims of Igbo extraction living in Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo States.

“Maazi Kanayo specifically directed his potential kidnappers and killers to target Muslims of Igbo extraction. This is the last thing Nigeria needs at a time when the country faces serious insecurity,” the statement said.

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MURIC described the threats as extremely dangerous, warning that the audio could put thousands of Igbo Muslims’ lives at risk, including some who hold positions as traditional rulers, potentially triggering communal tensions in the South East.

“Every minute counts as the lives of thousands of people hang in the balance,” Professor Akintola said, urging the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police to take immediate action against Kanayo.

MURIC emphasized that the threats were directed at individuals simply for embracing Islam, framing the issue as a grave human rights and security concern. The organization called on the public to remain vigilant and support security agencies in protecting at-risk communities.

#DSS, #NigeriaPolice, #PlotToKillIgboMuslims, #NoToMuslimGenocide.

MURIC Calls for Arrest of Maazi Kanayo Over Alleged Threats to Igbo Muslims

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Three Killed, Nine Injured in Gunmen Attack on Akunza Ashige, Nasarawa

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Spokesman, Nasarawa State Police Command, Ramhan Nansel
Spokesman, Nasarawa State Police Command, Ramhan Nansel

Three Killed, Nine Injured in Gunmen Attack on Akunza Ashige, Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed that three people were killed and nine others injured during a gunmen attack on the Akunza Ashige community in Lafia Local Government Area on Tuesday.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, told journalists on Wednesday that two victims were found dead at the scene, while a third succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital.

Following a distress call, Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, deployed Mobile Police personnel and other tactical teams to the area to contain the situation.

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“During the response operation, two corpses were recovered, while nine injured persons were rescued and rushed to nearby hospitals, where they are currently receiving medical attention. One later died in the early hours of today,” Nansel stated.

The commissioner has directed senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, to conduct a comprehensive investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

“CP Mohammed has assured residents of Akunza Ashige and environs that the Command remains resolute and will not relent in its efforts until all those responsible for this heinous crime are brought to justice,” Nansel said.

The Police also urged community members to remain calm and provide timely and useful information to assist in the investigation.

Three Killed, Nine Injured in Gunmen Attack on Akunza Ashige, Nasarawa

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