How Thugs Killed Islamic Teacher in Bauchi Over Political Posters

Residents of Karofin Madaki quarters in Bauchi metropolis were thrown into shock and mourning following the killing of a renowned Islamiyyah teacher in the area, Rilwanu Dauda . Dauda, 42, was allegedly killed on Sunday by two brothers suspected to be political thugs after a quarrel over political posters . Daily Trust gathered that Dauda was stabbed in the stomach with a knife and died on the way to hospital .

Trouble started around 10am on that day after the deceased asked the thugs to remove political posters pasted on a billboard adjacent to his family house . The thugs refused and engaged him in a fight . According to the deceased’s elder brother, Hamza Dauda, the younger of the two thugs struck Malam with a stick while the elder struck him with a knife on the head. The cleric collapsed, and people around intervened to force the thugs to leave the scene . However, the younger thug crossed the road, entered his family house, and returned minutes later holding a knife. He met the late brother at the main gate and stabbed him in the stomach before fleeing. Some neighbours saw him sneak away, and it was only after he had gone that they realised the cleric was bleeding from the injury . He was rushed to the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital, but he was confirmed dead on arrival, having died on the way .

Hamza, who was at work when the incident happened, received a call from a friend informing him of his brother’s death. He described his late brother as someone who “never quarreled with others,” adding: “Unfortunately, look at how he was brutally murdered for no reason” . He called on the government and the police to arrest the killers and bring them to justice, saying: “I want justice in this matter. Everybody knows Malam was not troublesome and he was killed unjustly. His family wants justice. The killers should be arrested and made to pay for their actions” .

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When our reporter visited the deceased’s family house, sympathisers were still trooping in four days after his murder for condolences . Residents, who spoke to Daily Trust, described the late cleric as humble, kind, humane and a gentleman . One of them, Muhammad Aminu, lamented: “I wonder why people no longer value human life. People can kill over a slight provocation. This is unfortunate and something should be done to prevent its recurrence” . He suggested that the thugs may have had a grudge against the deceased, noting that after the fight had ended following intervention, one of the thugs returned to the scene and stabbed him. He described the late cleric as kind, religious, generous, and someone who related well with people, residing with his family along Ibrahim Bako Road .

One of the deceased’s neighbours, Bello Ibrahim, gave further details, stating that the thugs called a colleague who came to the scene and proceeded to paste the poster, resulting in a heated argument, after which one of the thugs brought out a dagger, stabbed the late Ridwan in the chest and fled . Residents rushed out, picked him up, and took him to hospital, but he died on the way .

Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed visited the deceased’s family to offer condolences . The governor pledged to take responsibility for the education of the deceased’s children from primary school through university . He said perpetrators of violent crimes anywhere in the state would have no hiding place, as the government intensifies efforts to safeguard lives and property . He assured the bereaved family that justice would be pursued without fear or favour, and anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law . The governor called on citizens to remain law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to aid investigations .

Confirming the incident, the Bauchi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Nafi’u Habib, said police had commenced investigation . “No stone will be left unturned in the course of our investigation until the killers of the cleric are arrested. We will not relent until we arrest them all,” he said . Asked whether any arrests had been made, the police spokesperson said there had been none but assured that the culprits would surely be arrested and brought to book . He urged the public to always report crimes in their communities, adding that the fight against crime is everybody’s responsibility .

Commenting on the rise in murder cases, a retired Police Commissioner, Muhammad Wakil, attributed the incidents to lack of good moral upbringing, drug abuse, illiteracy, and hatred, among other vices . He said: “It is unfortunate that the majority of our youths are into drug abuse and their level of illiteracy is also a contributing factor. Most of our youths are school dropouts and they also lack Islamic knowledge. They don’t have a sound background. This kind of generation can engage in any crime you can think of. With little money you can persuade them to commit any crime. An empty brain is the devil’s workshop and can engage in all sorts of crimes” . He called for a reflection on how forefathers lived and urged the culture of brotherhood to make these vices disappear .

How Thugs Killed Islamic Teacher in Bauchi Over Political Posters

Troops intercept foreign courier carrying drugs, alcohol to terrorists in Borno

Operation HADIN KAI troops have intercepted a suspected foreign courier allegedly transporting a large consignment of illicit drugs, alcoholic beverages and other prohibited substances believed to be destined for terrorist groups operating in the Lake Chad Islands of Borno State.

The successful operation was carried out by troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, during a coordinated search mission along the Maiduguri–Monguno highway on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Military authorities said the suspect was intercepted while travelling towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area, an area close to the Lake Chad Basin that has remained a strategic route used by insurgents and their logistics networks.

According to the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the suspect was identified as Mrs. Rachael Samuel, a 48-year-old Chadian national from Kelo, Chari-Baguirmi Province, Republic of Chad.

Captain Goni disclosed that preliminary investigations indicate the prohibited items were being transported to locations within the Lake Chad Islands, an area that has long served as a stronghold for Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Items recovered during the operation included seven compressed bundles of suspected cannabis sativa weighing approximately 30 kilogrammes, two 10-litre containers of hydromercuric chloride, popularly known as “Suck and Die,” 48 bottles of dry gin, 61 bottles of herbal alcoholic beverages, one mobile phone, two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, cash and other personal belongings.

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Military authorities said the recovered exhibits are valued at millions of naira, adding that the suspect is currently in military custody while the seized items have been secured pending handover to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further investigation and prosecution.

The military described the interception as another major success in ongoing efforts to dismantle the logistics and supply chains that sustain terrorist operations in Nigeria’s North-East.

According to the statement, intelligence gathered over the years has consistently shown that terrorist groups often rely on illicit drugs, alcohol and other intoxicants to stimulate fighters, suppress fear and sustain violent attacks against both civilians and security personnel.

By intercepting the consignment before it reached its intended destination, the troops disrupted what the military described as a critical support network used by terrorist elements operating within the Lake Chad Basin, a region spanning parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon that has witnessed years of insurgency.

The latest operation adds to a series of recent offensives by Operation HADIN KAI targeting terrorist logistics, weapons supplies and cross-border movements. Nigerian troops, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, have intensified coordinated land and air operations across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, leading to the destruction of terrorist enclaves, recovery of weapons, rescue of kidnapped victims and the surrender of several insurgents and their family members.

Security analysts have repeatedly warned that disrupting terrorist logistics remains one of the most effective strategies for weakening insurgent groups. Beyond military offensives, cutting off access to drugs, food supplies, fuel, weapons and financial support significantly reduces the operational capability of armed groups.

The Theatre Command commended the troops for their vigilance, professionalism and commitment to protecting national security. It reaffirmed that operations against terrorists and their collaborators would continue until lasting peace is restored across the North-East.

The military also urged residents to continue providing credible and timely intelligence to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains crucial in identifying suspicious movements, dismantling criminal networks and sustaining the gains recorded in the fight against terrorism.

Troops intercept foreign courier carrying drugs, alcohol to terrorists in Borno

Kogi Teacher’s Murder: Three Suspects Arrested, to Face Trial for Culpable Homicide

The brutal murder of Maryam Usman, a 30-year-old teacher at Brains Minds Nursery and Primary School in Ugbamaka-Igah, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, has sparked national outrage and renewed calls for greater protection for teachers in Nigeria. Usman died on June 25, 2026, after enduring a series of vicious assaults by the family members of a pupil she had disciplined, a tragedy that has laid bare the deep-seated vulnerabilities that educators across the country face daily.

The chain of events leading to Maryam Usman’s death began on June 17, 2026, when routine classroom discipline escalated into a nightmare. According to police investigations, Abdullahi Isiaka, the father of an 11-year-old pupil, assaulted Usman at her residence over disciplinary measures she had taken against his son during school hours. Later that same day, while the teacher was on her way to the mosque for prayers, she was attacked again, this time by Ramatu Isiaka Eleojo. The attacks did not end there; on June 18, Ojonojima Mary, younger sister to Ramatu Isiaka Eleojo, reportedly went to Brains Minds Nursery and Primary School and assaulted Usman at her workplace, demonstrating a chilling pattern of sustained violence that ultimately proved fatal. Following these brutal assaults, Usman received initial treatment at Grace Clinic in Ugbamaka before being referred to Eleojo Clinic in Okpo for further medical attention, but she tragically succumbed to her injuries on June 25, 2026, leaving a nation in mourning.

Upon receiving the report of the case on the same day of her death, detectives from the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lokoja launched a comprehensive investigation that moved with commendable speed. The investigation led to the arrest of the three principal suspects: Abdullahi Isiaka, Ramatu Isiaka Eleojo, and Ojonojima Mary, who had initially fled but were tracked down by diligent law enforcement officers. According to the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Saliu Oyiza, a prima facie case of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide has been established against the suspects, meaning there is sufficient evidence to proceed with formal prosecution. The police have confirmed that the investigation has been concluded, and the suspects will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction for prosecution, marking a critical step in the pursuit of justice for the slain teacher.

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Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, has been vocal in his commendation of the professionalism, diligence, and commitment displayed by the detectives of the Homicide Section, SCID, in ensuring that justice is served in this high-profile case. He reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to bringing perpetrators of violent crimes to justice and assured the public that the Command will continue to investigate all criminal cases diligently and professionally, without fear or favour. The Commissioner also strongly advised members of the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to always seek lawful means of resolving grievances, a statement that comes amid reports of attempts by the pupil’s family to resolve a brutal killing through elders and cultural norms—an approach the police have firmly rejected as unacceptable for a capital offence.

The tragic death of Maryam Usman highlights the dangerous vulnerabilities facing educators in the line of duty, reviving painful conversations about the systemic failures that leave teachers exposed to violence. Educators across Nigeria frequently suffer physical and verbal assaults from parents, yet teachers’ grievances are routinely overlooked or dismissed by school administrators and authorities. This toxic trend is dangerously prevalent within private schools, where commercial interests often override staff welfare, leaving teachers vulnerable to unchecked parental rage and treated as submissive servants rather than respected professionals. The failure to protect educators has become a national shame that undermines the very foundation of the educational system.

As the trial of the suspects begins, the Kogi State Government, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) , and civil society organisations must closely monitor the proceedings to ensure that justice is served without interference or undue delay. Ensuring that those responsible are held accountable through the legal system serves as a necessary deterrent against future assaults on schoolteachers, sending a clear message that violence against educators will not be tolerated. Nigerian teachers have quietly endured violence for years, and the case of Maryam Usman is a grim reminder that protecting our educators is a fundamental duty—not just for the sake of teachers, but for the future of Nigerian education itself. Stakeholders must urgently institute robust, uniform measures to protect teachers nationwide, from remote rural villages to urban centres, because only by shielding teachers from violence can we safeguard the classroom, preserve the dignity of the profession, and secure the future of Nigerian education.

Kogi Teacher’s Murder: Three Suspects Arrested, to Face Trial for Culpable Homicide