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Bandits raid Kaduna communities, abduct 37 in 3 days

Published

3 years ago

December 24, 2022

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

Bandits have raided three communities – Azara, Jangala and Kadara – in Kagarko and Kachia LGAs of Kaduna State, abducting 37 residents in the last three days.

City & Crime reports that the victims were mostly women, including three nursing mothers, and children.

Our reporter further learnt that the rampaging bandits also gunned down a retired soldier and one of his sons at neighbouring Katambi village, two kilometers away from Kateri town, along the Abuja – Kaduna highway.

The Sarkin Azara in Kachia local government, Mustapha Ibrahim, confirmed the abduction over the phone to our reporter on Thursday.

He said the bandits, wielding weapons and in large number, invaded Azara community around 12am on Thursday and abducted 10 people.

According to him, four women, including three nursing mothers and six male adults were among the victims, saying they were asleep in their rooms when the bandits came, woke them up and whisked them away at gunpoint.

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“Before we could alert soldiers who are always on patrol along the highway to come to our rescue, the bandits have already left with their victims,” he said.

He said the bandits proceeded to a Fulani settlement popularly called (Rugan Alhaji Karbo), a few meters away from Azara, and abducted two herders at the camp.

“This morning, again, I received a call that bandits invaded Kurutu village and killed a retired soldier and one of his sons and carted away some foodstuff,” he said.

He further disclosed that 12 people were abducted by the bandits, who invaded Kadara village in Kagarko LGA on Sunday around 10:12 pm.

He said six among those abducted were members of the same family.

“Also, 13 people, 12 women and a male adult, were abducted by bandits at Janjala village in Kagarko LGA last Thursday,’’ he said.

The Madaki of the village, Aliyu Ibrahim, also confirmed the abduction over the phone to our reporter on Thursday.

He said the bandits came via a bush path, which shared border with Kachia LGA and raided the community, whisking away their victims at gun point.

“In fact, for the past three to four days, my people have been under siege as a result of attacks by bandits. We now sleep with our eyes open, even as some of my people are leaving the village as I speak now,” he said.

No immediate report from the police in the state on the incident.

Daily Trust

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Kaduna Residents Storm Govt House, Demand Probe of El‑Rufai

Published

13 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Kaduna Residents Storm Govt House, Demand Probe of El‑Rufai

Hundreds of Kaduna State residents on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Government House in Kaduna metropolis, demanding answers over the disappearance of lecturer Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, and calling for a public audit of former Governor Nasir El‑Rufai’s administration.

The protesters, composed of youths, women, and community members, gathered at the UTC roundabout before marching to the state’s seat of power, chanting solidarity slogans and carrying placards. Some of the messages read “We demand public scrutiny, audit now,” “Malam Nasir El‑Rufai, where is Dadiyata?” and “Publish loan agreement and spending breakdown now.” Other placards demanded justice, stating “Kaduna lived in fear, we want the truth,” and “Sponsoring protest cannot protect El‑Rufai; he must face prosecution.”

Dadiyata, a social media commentator and lecturer, was abducted from his Kaduna residence in 2019 by unknown gunmen and has not been seen since. His disappearance remains a controversial unresolved case, prompting calls for transparency and accountability from both the government and security agencies.

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Addressing journalists during the protest, protest leader Anas Yusuf emphasized that the demonstration was non-partisan, aimed solely at promoting justice and accountability. He highlighted insecurity during the previous administration, noting:

“Kaduna bled. Communities were attacked, Birnin Gwari faced isolation, banditry escalated, citizens were kidnapped, families buried loved ones, and fear became normal. Former Governor Nasir El‑Rufai must answer hard questions.”

Another protest leader, Comrade Joseph Chori, described Dadiyata’s disappearance as “an open wound” for Kaduna residents, saying:

“A family still waits. Kaduna still asks: what happened?”

The protesters also demanded an independent public security audit of the El‑Rufai administration and called for full disclosure of the $350 million World Bank loan obtained during his tenure, insisting the loan agreement and spending breakdown be made public.

“Loans are not free money. Public debt demands public accountability because citizens will repay that debt. They deserve transparency,” the group stated.

Former Governor El‑Rufai has denied involvement in Dadiyata’s disappearance, previously stating that the lecturer was a critic of another state government and not linked to his Kaduna administration.

While the protest remained largely peaceful, organizers stressed their action was intended to strengthen democracy and promote justice, not to incite division. They urged authorities to act transparently and ensure accountability for past misgovernance, while praising the relative calm under current Governor Uba Sani.

“We will not allow destabilisation to shield anyone from scrutiny. This is not revenge; this is justice and democracy. Kaduna deserves better, and Kaduna will demand it,” the protesters affirmed.

Kaduna Residents Storm Govt House, Demand Probe of El‑Rufai

metro

Fatal Keffi Road Accident: Driver Avoiding FRSC Patrol Causes 6 Deaths

Published

13 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Fatal Keffi Road Accident: Driver Avoiding FRSC Patrol Causes 6 Deaths

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Nasarawa State has confirmed a fatal accident on the Keffi‑Akwanga expressway that claimed the lives of six passengers and left three others injured.

According to FRSC Sector Commander Yahaya Sabo‑Adiku, the crash occurred around 10:20 a.m. on Thursday when a Toyota Sienna space bus attempted to evade inspection by FRSC officials. Instead of complying with the patrol team’s request to stop, the driver sped off, lost control, and collided with another vehicle, resulting in the deadly crash.

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“The accident was caused by the recklessness of one of the drivers who refused to stop for our patrol team. In trying to avoid arrest, he crashed into another vehicle,” Mr. Sabo‑Adiku stated.

The FRSC used the incident to remind motorists that safety officials are partners in road safety, not adversaries. The Corps urged drivers to cooperate with inspections to prevent similar road accidents that often result from reckless driving and traffic violations.

The FRSC continues to emphasize strict adherence to road safety rules, warning that non-compliance during patrols can lead to catastrophic accidents. Drivers are encouraged to view FRSC personnel as allies in ensuring highway safety.

Fatal Keffi Road Accident: Driver Avoiding FRSC Patrol Causes 6 Deaths

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INEC’s New BVAS Update Will Automatically Reject Mismatched Polling Unit Results

Published

15 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Trends Admin

INEC’s New BVAS Update Will Automatically Reject Mismatched Polling Unit Results

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that its latest software update for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will automatically detect and reject mismatched figures between what is entered on the device and what appears on physical result sheets at polling units, a move aimed at strengthening the integrity of elections in Nigeria.

INEC’s Deputy Director of Information and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, explained the enhancement on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Thursday, saying the updated BVAS can now read and cross‑check figures on official result sheets against the data entered by presiding officers before results are formally tabulated on Form EC8A.

According to Ifogah, after votes are counted and aggregated at the polling unit, the presiding officer inputs the figures into the BVAS device. The tool then compares this input against the numbers on the scanned result sheet. If the figures do not match, the BVAS will reject the entry and block the upload, ensuring that only consistent and verified results are transmitted into the electoral database.

“If the figures do not correspond with what is recorded, it will not pick it up,” Ifogah said, adding that this enhancement is a critical measure to prevent manipulation, clerical errors, and inflated results at the polling unit level before collation begins.

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BVAS Mock Trials and Readiness Ahead of Elections

INEC also disclosed that the commission conducted mock trials of the new BVAS update in 289 polling units across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) prior to the recent Area Council elections. The mock deployment was designed to stress‑test the validation feature, identify challenges, and ensure smooth functionality during live elections.
Officials say the trial showed that the enhanced BVAS technology can effectively identify discrepancies and reduce the likelihood of incorrect result uploads — an issue that has fueled suspicion and court challenges in past elections.

The upgrade forms part of INEC’s broader push to improve transparency, accuracy and trust in Nigeria’s electoral process. INEC’s BVAS system is already equipped with internal safeguards that prevent over‑voting (where total votes exceed the number of accredited voters) and flag anomalies during accreditation and result capture. The new update goes further by validating data between paper result sheets and electronic entries before results are accepted into the system.

INEC’s Rationale and Public Assurance

INEC has faced recurring concerns from political parties, observers, and civil society over result discrepancies between physical result sheets at polling units and what is later collated at state and national levels. In response, the commission has increasingly emphasised its commitment to deploying technology to promote credible elections.

Ifogah stressed that the BVAS enhancement does not replace human judgment but acts as a digital check to ensure what is entered electronically aligns with what has been physically recorded by election officials. He said the innovation provides an additional layer of accountability, helping to reduce opportunities for manipulation at the earliest stage of result transmission.

INEC has also promised continued training for presiding officers and election officials on the new BVAS functionalities to ensure they are comfortable with the processes before future nationwide elections, including the 2027 general elections.