metro
308 killed, 746 kidnapped in Kaduna within three months
308 killed, 746 kidnapped in Kaduna – Report
A total of 308 persons were killed in Kaduna State between January and March this year.
Kaduna State Government said this in a new report, adding that 214 of the victims were killed by terrorists during attacks on their areas and communal clashes.
It stated that 94 terrorists also died during clashes with security agents or fratricidal clashes within them.
The state government also said 746 other persons were abducted within the same period.
It said the 214 people killed by bandits/terrorists comprised 196 males, 14 females and four minors across the three senatorial districts.
These details are contained in the Annual Security Report for 2023 presented by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Wednesday in Kaduna.
The report said 89 bandits were killed during engagements with ground forces, military and police across the state within the period.
It said five bandits died due to fratricidal clashes within them, bringing the number of bandits’ deaths to 94 with scores killed in air strikes.
Kaduna Central Senatorial District recorded 115 deaths with 108 of them occurring in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun, and Kajuru LGAs.
Giwa and Birnin Gwari LGAs each recorded 32 deaths, Chikun LGA 25, Igabi 13, and Kajuru six deaths within the first quarter.
Kaduna South Senatorial District recorded 61 deaths, but most were due to reprisal and communal clashes in Zangon Kataf with 19 deaths and 12 killed in Sanga LGA.
Kaduna North District recorded 38 deaths, with 22 occurring in the Zaria LGA.
A total of 746 people were kidnapped in the first quarter with Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounting for 492 (about 66% of the total). All of these occurred in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru LGAs.
Also, 137 people were kidnapped from Birnin Gwari LGA, and 131 from Igabi LGA.
Giwa LGA recorded 100 kidnapped persons, Chikun LGA 83, and Kajuru LGA 41, the report stated.
Southern Kaduna Senatorial District recorded 221 kidnapped persons, with Kachia LGA reporting the highest number of 95. Sixty-three people were kidnapped in Kagarko LGA, and 46 from Kauru LGA.
The Northern Senatorial District recorded 33 kidnapped persons with 17 of these from Lere LGA.
In total, 254 women and 42 minors were kidnapped in the first quarter across the state.
In the 2023 annual report, 3,247 animals were rustled within the period, with 2,353 stolen from Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
According to the report, 12 rape cases were reported within the period, with two females and 10 minors affected, with only five rape cases reported in the 4th quarter of 2022 security report.
Aruwan also said within the period under review, gunrunners were intercepted and arrested with quantities of arms and ammunition.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has appealed to the Federal Government to intensify security operations across the North West.
The governor recalled the military initiated offensive security operations against bandits in the last half of 2022, which helped to improve the security situation in many communities.
He emphasised that the operations must be widened and sustained as the most effective way to protect the people and uphold law and order.
metro
Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism
Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism
Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has strongly denied allegations linking him to terrorism financing in Nigeria, describing the claims as “mischievous and malicious.”
In a statement released on Saturday, December 6, 2025, Emefiele said the reports were “entirely fabricated, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to malign my name, mislead the public, and sow confusion for motives best known only to the publishers and their sponsors.”
He emphasized that the fight against terrorism is too important to be trivialized by irresponsible reporting, warning that Nigerians deserve accurate information rather than “reckless misinformation.”
READ ALSO:
- Doctor Charged With Sexually Assaulting 38 Patients in West Midlands Hospitals
- Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel
- Police Launch Special Enforcement Team to Enforce Tinubu’s Ban on VIP Escorts
“Throughout my service to the nation and in my private life, at no time have I been involved in any activity remotely connected to terrorism, terrorist financing, or any action that threatens the peace and security of our nation,” Emefiele stated. He added that he has never been invited, questioned, or investigated regarding such allegations and has no connection to the individual cited in the media reports.
“There is no scintilla of truth in the allegation,” he said, urging the public to disregard the claims entirely and calling on media organizations to verify facts before publishing sensational stories.
Emefiele’s statement seeks to reaffirm his reputation and distances him from any activities undermining national security.
Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism
metro
Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel
Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday inaugurated the newly constructed multi-million-naira Juma’at Mosque located within the Emir of Gumel’s Palace in Jigawa State.
According to a statement by Zainab Rabo, Senior Special Assistant on Media Affairs to Governor Umar Namadi, the event drew high-level dignitaries, including top politicians, first-class emirs, captains of industry, and prominent Islamic scholars from across the country.
Rabo disclosed that the mosque was built by the Kashim Shettima Foundation, adding that Governor Umar A. Namadi and the Sultan of Sokoto graced the ceremony.
READ ALSO:
- Police Launch Special Enforcement Team to Enforce Tinubu’s Ban on VIP Escorts
- Akpabio denies filing new ₦200bn lawsuit against Natasha
- Two Pilots Survive as Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet Crashes in Niger State (Video)
During the occasion, the Vice President congratulated the Emir of Gumel, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Sani, on marking 45 years on the throne, describing the milestone as a blessing and testament to exemplary leadership.
Shettima also reaffirmed his commitment—through his foundation—to initiatives that would improve the lives of Nigerians.
The Vice President further commended Governor Namadi for his notable strides in modern agriculture, noting that Jigawa’s progress under his leadership had positioned the state competitively within Nigeria and beyond.
“Governor Namadi is equal to the task, looking at his two-year achievements and the way he transformed Jigawa in modern agriculture,” Shettima stated.
Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel
metro
Police Launch Special Enforcement Team to Enforce Tinubu’s Ban on VIP Escorts
Police Launch Special Enforcement Team to Enforce Tinubu’s Ban on VIP Escorts
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has deployed a Special Enforcement Team in Lagos to enforce President Bola Tinubu’s directive ending the use of police officers as escorts and guards for Very Important Persons (VIPs).
The operation, according to a statement posted on the Force’s official X account on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, commenced at about 10:00 a.m. on December 6, 2025, across key locations in Lagos State.
Hundeyin confirmed that the team carried out compliance checks at major points, including the Lekki–Ikoyi Link Bridge, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport domestic terminal, and other strategic hotspots within the state.
READ ALSO:
- Akpabio denies filing new ₦200bn lawsuit against Natasha
- Two Pilots Survive as Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet Crashes in Niger State (Video)
- FG Clarifies WAEC Subject Selection, Says Students Free to Choose Across All Fields
He disclosed that officers found “satisfactory and commendable” compliance with the presidential directive, with no incidents of unauthorised police escort and no arrests recorded.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reiterates the Force’s commitment to the full implementation of the presidential directive,” the statement said. “The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in redeploying its personnel to core policing duties aimed at enhancing general security, crime prevention, and the protection of lives and property nationwide.”
Hundeyin added that enforcement would continue across the country “without fear or favour,” urging Nigerians to support the push for a more professional and citizen-focused policing system.
President Tinubu had, on November 23, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers from VIP protection, directing that they be reassigned to frontline policing roles. According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, VIP protection will now be handled by armed operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The policy aims to free up police manpower for critical security operations, particularly in underserved communities, and enhance overall national security efficiency.
Police Launch Special Enforcement Team to Enforce Tinubu’s Ban on VIP Escorts
-
News3 days agoDefence Minister Unveils New Security Strategy, Orders Troops to Shoot Armed Bandits on Sight
-
metro3 days agoTeam Justice accuses authorities of attempting to exclude Mohbad’s father from DNA test process
-
metro2 days agoSenate Launches Emergency Probe into Widespread Lead Poisoning in Ogijo, Lagos/Ogun
-
International3 days agoMeta to Block Under-16s from Instagram, Facebook, Threads ahead of Australia’s World-First Youth Social Media Ban
-
metro3 days agoShocking confession: Boyfriend admits luring FRSC officer, child to death in Osun ritual murder
-
Sports3 days agoLeeds United Stun Chelsea 3-1 at Elland Road to Climb Out of Relegation Zone
-
News3 days agoBREAKING: Tinubu Sends Fresh Ambassadorial Nominations to Senate, Names Ibas, Ita Enang, Dambazau
-
News3 days agoEmber-months safety: Carloha, FRSC intensify campaign against distracted driving

