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Bandits kill Katsina Chief Imam, as Police raise concern over gang murdering women in Makurdi

Published

5 years ago

November 3, 2021

Trends Admin

– I would rather die than follow you

– Police beef up security in UNIABUJA

– Bandits’ attack in varsity under Buhari’s watch shocking — PDP

After the mutilated corpse of an unidentified young lady, whose internal organs were reportedly harvested by her killers, was yesterday found by the Makurdi bridge in North Bank Area of the town, Benue State police command has raised concern over the activities of a criminal gang that specializes in murdering young women.

Meanwhile, gunmen in the early hours of yesterday attacked the staff quarters of the University of Abuja, UNIABUJA, kidnapping six persons, including two professors and four others.

Those abducted included Professor Obansa Malam and his son; Professor Oboscolo, his son and daughter; and Dr. Tobins.

Vanguard gathered that the gunmen struck at about 1:00, and made their way to the staff quarters located at Giri,in Gwagwalada,about 30 kilometres away from the nation’s federal capital city, FCT.

News of the invasion first surfaced on the university’s social media page some few hours after the development.

“Suspected bandits attacked the staff quarters of the university in the early hours of today (yesterday). Our Safety officers, in conjunction with security personnel mobilised to secure the quarters.

“We have report that four of our staff and their children were, nevertheless, abducted by the evil men.

“Efforts are being made to ensure their safe return. A sad day for us, indeed!” the university’s Facebook handle had posted.

Although the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Habib Yakoob, who confirmed abduction did not give details of the number of persons taken away and their identities, it was gathered from sources that the abductees were six in number.

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Also confirming the attack yesterday, the chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, UNIABUJA chapter, Dr Kassim Umaru, identified those abducted to include Professor Obansa and his son; Professor Oboscolo, his son and daughters, and Dr Tobins.

“Please, we need your prayers for their safe return,” the ASUU chairman said in a message.

An eyewitness told Vanguard at the scene of the incident that the invaders forced their way into the houses of their victims through the windows before abducting them.

In one of the houses, the ceiling and windows were broken, while books, clothes, and other wares littered the floor.

A colleague of one of the abductees, who preferred anonymity, said the operation lasted over two hours, with heavy gunshots.

Speaking on the development, FCT Police command spokesperson, DSP Adeh Josephine said: “The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Babaji Sunday, has dispatched additional tactical and conventional policing resources to UNIABUJA, main and satellite campuses as well as the staff quarters and other affiliate formations of the university, to fortify security, improve public safety and protect citizens in and around the university community.

“The CP gave the order, following report that some yet-to-be identified armed criminals invaded the UNIABUJA Staff Quarters located at the GIRI area of the FCT in the early hours of Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

“The CP noted that a combined team of the Police and personnel of the Nigerian Army 176 Guards Battalion were swiftly mobilized to the area to protect the citizens.

“Preliminary investigations, however, revealed that six persons were allegedly abducted and taken into the forest by the criminals on sighting the security operatives.

“The CP, while calling for calm, further noted that the security forces are already working with the locals in the area toward rescuing the victims. He assured that the perpetrators would be arrested and brought to book.

“On this note, the command pledges its undeterred resolve to ensure lives and properties of residents within the FCT are protected.’’

Reacting to the incident yesterday, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, described it as cowardly and demanded an unconditional release of the victims to reunite with their families members.

PDP reacts

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP described the banditry “which occurred within the precincts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s immediate security purview, just 16 kilometres from Aso Presidential Villa, as shocking and further shows the helplessness and failures of his administration.”

The statement read: “With this act of banditry in Abuja, Nigerians expect President Buhari, in line with his promise to lead from the fronts, to straightaway give himself a ‘marching order’ to rescue the victims, just as he gives to others whenever there are cases of security failures in commands outside of his security precincts

“The PDP however charges the security agencies not to relent in the face of the failures of the Buhari administration but rise up to the occasion, track down the bandits and rescue the victims.

“The party laments the persistent insecurity in the nation and urged all the citizens to be at alert and assist security agencies in their genuine efforts to secure the country under an incompetent administration.”

Similarly, gunmen, suspected to be bandits yesterday stormed Sabon Garin Bilbis area of in Faskari Local Government, killing two persons.

‘I would rather die than follow you’

One of those killed in the attack was a religious leader, identified as Malam Adamu, who is the Chief Imam of Bilbis village.

It was learned that the attack lasted about an hour, without any response from security Recall that telecoms service had been shut down in the area by the state government.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the bandits came in large number, shooting sporadically to scare the villagers who fled into the bush to avoid being hit by spray bullets.

Another witness, who identified himself as Lawal Mamman, explained that the bandits met the Chief Imam in his farm with his labourers, dragged him to the bush but put up a resistance due to leg injury.

Mamman said the bandits gave him the last warning to follow them or be killed instantly.

It was gathered that the Chief Imam said he would prefer to die than follow the banits into the bush.

This was said to have led to an argument between him and the bandits who subsequently shot him dead in his farm.

Some of his labourers were also said to have sustained various degrees of injuries.

Spokesman of Katsina police command, SP Gambo Isah, could not be reached for comments yesterday but a senior office attached to the command confirmed the attack.

Benue murderous gang

Meanwhile, after the mutilated corpse of an unidentified young lady, whose internal organs were reportedly harvested by her killers, was yesterday found by the Makurdi bridge in North Bank Area of the town, Benue State police command has raised concern over the activities of a criminal gang that specializes in murdering young women.

The development is coming on the heels of a similar incident when a 24-year-old graduate of Mass Communication was murdered and her remains dumped by the roadside in the same North Bank Area of the town.

The remains of the latest victim was picked by men of the State Police Command by the foot of the River Benue bridge.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the command, DSP, Catherine Anene, said the recovered corpse of the young lady was taken to the Makurdi Federal Medical Centre for autopsy, while the matter was being investigated.

The PPRO in a statement, also advised parents and guardians to watch over their children and wards to save them from falling victim to the criminal elements.

The statement read: “the attention of Benue State Police Command has been drawn to a new trend of crime where some criminal elements deceive young women into hidden places and eventually kill them for reasons best known to them.

“The command is on a trail of these persons and will definitely apprehend them but this will be made easier by the cooperation of members of the public.

“Parents and guardians are also advice to watch over their children/wards to avoid such cases.”

Vanguard

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Katsina Police Foil Bandit Attack, Rescue 9 Kidnapped Passengers

Published

13 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Some Nigerian policemen

Katsina Police Foil Bandit Attack, Rescue 9 Kidnapped Passengers

Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command have rescued nine passengers abducted by suspected bandits along the Katsina-Kankara highway following a fierce gun battle that forced the attackers to flee.

The incident occurred on Thursday, June 12, 2026, at about 2:30 p.m. when armed bandits reportedly blocked the road at Tashar Kanya village in Kankara Local Government Area and intercepted a red commercial Volkswagen Golf III saloon car conveying 11 passengers from Dandume to Katsina.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said the bandits forcefully abducted the occupants of the vehicle before security operatives launched a swift rescue operation.

According to the police spokesperson, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Kankara Division immediately mobilised a team of officers, including personnel of the Violent Crime Rescue Unit (VCRU), to the scene after receiving a distress report.

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The operatives engaged the criminals in a fierce exchange of gunfire, compelling them to abandon most of their captives and escape into the surrounding forest.

DSP Aliyu stated that the security team’s superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres played a crucial role in the successful rescue of the victims.

The command disclosed that nine kidnapped passengers were rescued unharmed during the operation.

However, two individuals identified as Buhari Kabir and the vehicle driver, Aliyu, popularly known as “Maitakabari,” remain missing.

Police authorities said an intensive search-and-rescue operation is currently underway to locate and safely recover the remaining victims while efforts are being intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

The latest breakthrough highlights ongoing efforts by the Katsina Police Command and other security agencies to combat banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes across the state.

In recent months, security operatives have recorded several successes against criminal groups operating in parts of Katsina State, rescuing abducted victims, recovering stolen property, and disrupting bandit hideouts through intelligence-led operations.

Commending the officers involved in the rescue mission, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Umar Fage, praised their bravery, professionalism, and dedication to duty.

He reassured residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to securing lives and property and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information that would aid ongoing security operations.

The police chief further emphasized that the command remains determined to rid Katsina State of criminal elements and ensure that those responsible for violent crimes are brought to justice.

Katsina Police Foil Bandit Attack, Rescue 9 Kidnapped Passengers

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DSS Foils Arms Delivery to Zamfara Bandits, Arrests Suspect in Kano

Published

14 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Trends Admin

DSS Foils Arms Delivery to Zamfara Bandits, Arrests Suspect in Kano

ABUJA, NIGERIA – Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against banditry and arms trafficking following the arrest of a suspected arms courier allegedly transporting weapons intended for delivery to a notorious bandit leader operating in Zamfara State.

According to an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, the suspect was arrested on Friday during an intelligence-led operation in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

Security sources disclosed that the operation was carried out following actionable intelligence that exposed the movement of a cache of weapons and ammunition suspected to be destined for criminal groups operating in the North-West.

The report stated that the suspect was intercepted while allegedly transporting the arms consignment from Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa State to Funtua in Katsina State, from where the weapons were expected to be delivered to armed groups linked to bandit activities.

Items recovered from the suspect included three AK-47 rifles, four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes and warheads, as well as two empty magazines.

Security experts describe the recovery of RPG launch tubes as particularly significant because such weapons possess greater destructive capability than conventional firearms commonly used by criminal groups. Their presence in the shipment has raised concerns about the growing sophistication of weapons being circulated among armed gangs operating in parts of northern Nigeria.

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Preliminary investigations reportedly linked the recovered weapons to a suspected bandit kingpin believed to be coordinating criminal operations from parts of Zamfara State, one of the regions most affected by banditry, mass abductions, cattle rustling, and attacks on rural communities.

According to the report, the suspect allegedly confessed during preliminary interrogation that he had been contracted to transport the weapons and was promised a payment of N450,000 upon successful delivery.

“The suspect confessed that he was contracted to transport the weapons from Maigatari to Funtua and was promised a payment of N450,000 upon successful delivery,” the report stated.

Investigators are now working to uncover the wider criminal network behind the operation, including the suppliers, financiers, transport coordinators, and intended recipients of the weapons.

Security officials believe the arrest could provide valuable intelligence capable of exposing major logistics and supply chains sustaining armed bandit groups across the North-West.

The latest seizure comes amid intensified efforts by security agencies to dismantle the logistics networks that enable terrorist groups, bandits, kidnappers, and other organised criminal gangs to acquire weapons and ammunition.

In recent months, security agencies have increased intelligence-driven operations targeting arms traffickers, informants, and criminal collaborators believed to be supporting violent groups responsible for attacks on communities, highways, schools, and rural settlements.

Analysts say cutting off access to weapons remains one of the most effective strategies for weakening the operational capabilities of criminal groups and reducing their ability to launch large-scale attacks.

The operational report described the arrest as a major success in ongoing efforts to disrupt the flow of illegal weapons into conflict-prone areas and prevent further escalation of insecurity in the region.

Authorities confirmed that the suspect remains in DSS custody and will face further interrogation as investigations continue.

Security agencies have also indicated that additional arrests may follow as efforts intensify to identify and apprehend other individuals connected to the arms trafficking network.

The development underscores the growing reliance on intelligence-led security operations to combat banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and arms trafficking across Nigeria.

As investigations progress, authorities have reassured Nigerians of their commitment to dismantling criminal supply chains and bringing all those involved in the movement of illegal weapons to justice.

DSS Foils Arms Delivery to Zamfara Bandits, Arrests Suspect in Kano

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Kidnapped Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar Dies in Bandits’ Captivity

Published

15 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Katsina Confident of Rescue as Search Intensifies for Retired General, Wife

Kidnapped Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar Dies in Bandits’ Captivity

A retired senior military officer and former Director of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd), has died while in the custody of bandits who abducted him in Katsina State.

The retired general was kidnapped alongside his wife about two weeks ago while travelling through the Matazu area of Katsina State to attend a wedding ceremony.

The Katsina State Government confirmed his death in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasiru Mu’azu, on Saturday.

According to the commissioner, the former military officer died as a result of health complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while in captivity.

“The deceased retired general died a natural death from complications of diabetes and hypertension,” the statement said.

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The death of the retired officer has sparked renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of the North-West, where bandit attacks, kidnappings and killings have continued despite ongoing military operations.

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda expressed profound grief over the development and extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, describing the incident as a tragic loss not only to the family but also to the nation.

The governor noted that the unfortunate development underscores the urgent need to intensify efforts against criminal groups operating in the state and neighbouring areas.

Radda reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with the Federal Government, security agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure that those responsible for the abduction are apprehended and brought to justice.

He also assured residents that the state government remains determined to eradicate banditry and safeguard lives and property across Katsina State.

Major General Abubakar, who served as Director of Defence Information during his military career, was widely respected for his contributions to national security and strategic communications.

His abduction had generated widespread concern across the country, with security agencies launching rescue operations aimed at securing his freedom and that of his wife.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not provided further details regarding the condition or whereabouts of his wife.