We’ve forced Lakurawa terrorists back to Mali, says FG - Newstrends
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We’ve forced Lakurawa terrorists back to Mali, says FG

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Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle

We’ve forced Lakurawa terrorists back to Mali, says FG

The Federal Government has officially announced that Nigeria is now free of the Lakurawa terrorist group following a successful military operation that forced the group to retreat to Mali.

The declaration was made by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, during a press briefing in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Sunday.

Matawalle emphasized that the Lakurawa group, which originated in Mali, no longer poses a threat on Nigerian soil.

He commended the armed forces for their dedication and effectiveness in neutralizing the group’s activities, describing the campaign as a decisive victory for Nigeria’s security efforts.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding national security and preventing the resurgence of any terrorist threats. He also urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

“I want to make it clear that we have no Lakurawa in any part of the country, not even in Zamfara or Kebbi State,” Matawalle stated.

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He credited the success to the Nigerian military’s robust offensive, which dismantled the group’s networks and denied them any foothold in Nigeria.

The Minister’s announcement counters recent reports by Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Shehu Dalijan, who had linked the Lakurawa group to a series of explosive attacks in the region.

Matawalle dismissed the claims, asserting that any recent acts of violence were the work of unrelated criminal elements.

“The Lakurawa terrorists were never firmly established in Nigeria. Their presence here was temporary, and now they’ve been driven out completely,” he added.

The Lakurawa group first emerged in Sokoto State in 2016 as a militia aimed at combating banditry. However, it soon evolved into a radical sect, enforcing strict religious laws and recruiting youths through financial incentives.

Over the years, the group expanded its violent activities, carrying out deadly raids across northwestern Nigeria, including a notorious attack in November 2024 in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

 

We’ve forced Lakurawa terrorists back to Mali, says FG

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Robbery Horror: Suspect Admits Stabbing Couple, Reveals Attempted Assault on Their Daughter

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Robbery Horror: Suspect Admits Stabbing Couple, Reveals Attempted Assault on Their Daughter
Robbery Horror: Suspect Admits Stabbing Couple, Reveals Attempted Assault on Their Daughter

A suspected armed robber has admitted stabbing a couple during a midnight robbery in Ibadan, Oyo State, in an attack that killed the wife, left her husband critically injured and involved an alleged attempt to sexually assault their daughter.

The suspect, identified as Matthew, reportedly confessed to stabbing Mrs Rukayat and her husband, Alhaji Olatokunbo, during the robbery at their residence in Wofun, Olodo area of Ibadan, on August 4.

According to a report by Saturday Tribune, Matthew allegedly led two accomplices, Ibrahim and another suspect identified as Oyo, who is still at large, in the attack.

The robbery came to light amid public outrage over a separate reported incident involving the killing of a family of six following a dispute over a phone.

During the investigation, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Oyo State Police Command arrested three suspected members of the gang at a hideout in Sabo, Ibadan, on October 2.

The suspects were identified as Matthew, Tobi and Ibrahim, although the report withheld Matthew’s surname. Police investigations reportedly linked them to robbery operations in Wofun and Moniya.

According to the report, the gang allegedly approached the couple’s residence under cover of darkness and hid in nearby bushes before entering the house at about 2:30 a.m., when the occupants were asleep.

Matthew told investigators that he headed towards the couple’s bedroom after the gang gained entry. He said the occupants woke up and struggled with the intruders.

Recounting the confrontation, he admitted stabbing the husband and subsequently attacking his wife.

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“That was when I stabbed the man; I won’t lie, I stabbed the man,” he reportedly said.

When asked whether he also stabbed the woman, Matthew answered in the affirmative, adding that he stabbed both victims in the neck.

He claimed that the couple fell to the floor following the attack but that the husband later got up and shouted for help, prompting the robbers to flee.

Rukayat reportedly died from the attack, while her husband sustained severe injuries that left his intestines exposed. He survived after undergoing surgery at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, where he reportedly spent several weeks receiving treatment.

The attackers allegedly escaped with mobile phones, wristwatches, $400 and other valuables estimated to be worth more than ₦3 million.

The Oyo State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, reportedly disclosed the arrests in a statement, saying an iPhone 7 Plus believed to have been stolen during the robbery was recovered from the suspects.

Suspect Admits Approaching Couple’s Daughter

The investigation also uncovered allegations that one of the suspects attempted to sexually assault a daughter of the couple during the incident.

Matthew reportedly admitted seeing the young woman bathing before the gang entered the house and acknowledged approaching her in her room.

Asked whether he attempted to sexually assault her, he admitted making a move towards her but denied touching her.

“I made a move, truly, but I didn’t touch her,” he reportedly said.

Matthew also acknowledged that the woman told him she was menstruating. Asked whether that was why he left her alone, he answered in the affirmative.

The allegation forms part of the reported account of the attack, although the suspect’s denial of physical contact remains part of his statement.

Second Suspect Links Moniya Robbery to Alleged Stolen-Phone Dealer

The investigation also linked some of the suspects to a separate robbery in the Moniya area of Ibadan.

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Tobi, who reportedly admitted participating in that operation, alleged that a man identified as Sefianu supplied information about the targeted property and helped the gang locate the house.

He accused Sefianu of dealing in stolen mobile phones and laptops and alleged that the gang returned to sell stolen phones to him after the operation.

“Sefianu was the one who told us of the location, because I didn’t know the place before. He even asked a commercial motorcyclist to take us there,” Tobi reportedly said.

He further alleged that Sefianu operated around Sabo and Mokola in Ibadan.

The claims against Sefianu remain allegations attributed to Tobi and would require independent verification by investigators.

Ibrahim, the third suspect, reportedly admitted participating in the Moniya robbery but denied involvement in the fatal attack on the couple.

“Truthfully, speaking of the place Matthew said he went and killed someone, I wasn’t there at all,” he reportedly said.

He identified the Moniya operation as the robbery in which he participated and linked it to the alleged assistance provided by Sefianu.

Suspects’ Previous Encounters With the Law

The Saturday Tribune report also detailed the suspects’ previous encounters with the criminal justice system.

Matthew was reportedly arrested in 2020 over an alleged armed robbery and remanded while his case was before a court. He claimed that he was released in October 2025 during an exercise to decongest correctional facilities in Oyo State.

Tobi, meanwhile, was reportedly convicted of phone theft and sentenced to one year in prison. He said he was released in June 2026.

According to Tobi, he met Matthew at a birthday party held at a hotel in Ibadan in July, where he noticed that the celebrant and some other guests were former inmates. He claimed that his encounter with Matthew at the gathering eventually led to his involvement in robbery.

The report did not establish that the suspects’ previous detention or conviction alone caused their alleged involvement in the subsequent incidents.

Police Intensify Investigation

The suspects’ arrests followed an investigation by the VCRU, acting on the directives of Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Ayodeji Abimbola.

Police investigations reportedly linked the suspects to multiple robbery operations, while the recovery of a phone believed to have been stolen during the Wofun attack formed part of the evidence gathered.

Investigators are expected to pursue other suspects allegedly involved in the operations and examine claims concerning the alleged supply of intelligence and disposal of stolen property.

The case has renewed concerns about violent robbery and the safety of residents in Ibadan, particularly during night-time attacks on homes.

The suspects’ statements and the allegations against them remain subject to further investigation and judicial proceedings. Any determination of criminal responsibility must be made through the appropriate legal process.

 

Robbery Horror: Suspect Admits Stabbing Couple, Reveals Attempted Assault on Their Daughter

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2027: Ekiti Driver Takes ₦3.5m Loan to Back Tinubu’s Re-election Bid

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The driver, Adeleye Adeniyi, popularly known as “Online Loan Man for BAO”
2027: Ekiti Driver Takes ₦3.5m Loan to Back Tinubu’s Re-election Bid

An Ekiti State commercial driver has revealed that he borrowed ₦3.5 million to support the 2027 re-election ambitions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Ekiti State House of Assembly member Steve Fatoba.

The driver, Adeleye Adeniyi, popularly known as “Online Loan Man for BAO”, made the disclosure in a video interview shared by Ekiti State Television (EKTV), attracting attention over his decision to take a loan to support political candidates.

Adeniyi said the money was intended to demonstrate his support for the three politicians ahead of the 2027 general election. He also displayed a cardboard cheque bearing the name of Wema Bank, detailing how he planned to distribute the funds.

Under the proposed arrangement, Tinubu would receive ₦2 million, Bamidele ₦1 million and Fatoba ₦500,000, bringing the total to ₦3.5 million.

“I am supporting Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his second-term ambition. I have borrowed money. I want to use this money to support him because he’s doing a very great job,” Adeniyi said.

He also pledged to campaign for Tinubu, expressing his intention to mobilise support for the President’s re-election bid.

“Like I said again, I am fully ready to go out to campaign for him. And I’m going to use this song to back him up. On your mandate, we shall stand,” he said.

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Adeniyi urged Nigerians to support Tinubu for another term, saying he believed the President would deliver more benefits to citizens if re-elected.

He also expressed support for Bamidele and Fatoba, citing what he described as their contributions to development. He praised Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji as well, referring to improvements he associated with the administration in healthcare, education, electricity and rural infrastructure.

The driver said Bamidele’s involvement in development projects had strengthened his confidence in the senator’s leadership. He expressed the hope that the lawmaker would continue to advance in his political career.

Adeniyi’s latest declaration follows a similar gesture reported in February 2026, when he reportedly obtained a loan through the digital lending platform OPay to brand a vehicle in support of Oyebanji’s re-election campaign.

The earlier incident brought him public attention and reinforced his reputation as a supporter willing to make personal financial commitments to political campaigns.

His latest pledge extends that support to Tinubu and two other politicians as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, the driver’s statement and the displayed cardboard cheque do not independently establish that the loan has been disbursed or that the politicians have received the money. The proposed allocations therefore remain a stated commitment rather than a confirmed donation.

The disclosure has also drawn attention to the financial risks individuals may face when borrowing money to support political causes, particularly when repayment obligations remain regardless of the eventual election outcome.

 

2027: Ekiti Driver Takes ₦3.5m Loan to Back Tinubu’s Re-election Bid

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Fresh Kidnap at Cocoa Institute: Gunmen Seize Three Workers in Oyo

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Fresh Kidnap at Cocoa Institute: Gunmen Seize Three Workers in Oyo

Fresh Kidnap at Cocoa Institute: Gunmen Seize Three Workers in Oyo

Gunmen have reportedly abducted three workers of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Ibadan, Oyo State, triggering another security operation as police intensify efforts to rescue the victims and arrest those responsible.

The incident occurred on Friday, October 9, 2026, while the workers were inspecting crops on a farm within the institute’s premises, according to the Oyo State Police Command.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the abduction, saying the command had launched a manhunt for the suspected kidnappers and was working to secure the victims’ safe release.

Police operatives are reportedly pursuing leads to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The command has also urged members of the public with credible information that could assist the investigation or rescue operation to contact the authorities.

The latest attack has heightened concerns about the safety of staff members at the federal agricultural research institution, following previous reports of abductions involving people connected to the institute and its surrounding communities.

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In March 2026, gunmen reportedly abducted four cocoa farmers in the area around the institute, prompting security operations. Subsequent reports indicated that the victims were eventually freed following efforts by security personnel.

In another incident in May, two CRIN staff members were reportedly abducted after armed men invaded the institute’s premises. Police later announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with that case.

The latest incident has renewed calls for stronger security around the institute and neighbouring farming communities, where workers may need to conduct field inspections away from the main administrative facilities.

The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, a federal institution involved in research on cocoa and other industrial crops, plays an important role in agricultural development and the improvement of farming practices.

The abduction has raised fresh questions about the protection of agricultural researchers and field workers, particularly those whose duties require them to work on farms and other locations vulnerable to criminal attacks.

As of Friday, police reports identified three victims in the latest incident. The rescue operation and search for the suspected kidnappers were ongoing, with no further details about the victims’ identities or the circumstances of their possible release immediately confirmed.

Fresh Kidnap at Cocoa Institute: Gunmen Seize Three Workers in Oyo

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