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Bandits storm Zamfara community, abduct worshippers from mosque
Bandits storm Zamfara community, abduct worshippers from mosque
Bandits kidnapped scores of worshippers in one of the mosques in Tsafe town, the headquarters of Zamfara State’s Tsafe Local Government Area.
An indigene of the region only identified as Garba reported that the bandits invaded the mosque around 5 a.m. on Thursday, just as the congregants were preparing to begin the morning prayer.
Garba said, ”We were about to start the morning prayer today, Thursday when suddenly they (bandits) entered into the mosque and directed everybody to go out and follow them.
“Everybody scampered for safety but the bandits blocked everywhere and warned us that they would kill anybody who tried to run away.
“I was able to jump out of the window and ran quickly into one of the uncompleted buildings near the mosque where I hid myself.”
Garba maintained that the bandits left their motorcycles far away from the mosque so that the worshippers would not notice their movement.
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“They came on foot, leaving their motorcycles outside the town so that they would not attract the attention of the people of the area.
“They later marched the worshippers to their motorcycles and took them to the forest,” he added.
According to Garba, the number of abducted worshippers could be more than 30.
He added that “the mosque was full to capacity when the bandits attacked the place and very few of us were able to escape.”
One of the community leaders who spoke to PUNCH Online on the phone on condition of anonymity said members of the Community Protection Guards are on the trail of the bandits in order to rescue the kidnapped worshippers.
Tsafe Local Government is one of the local government areas in the state worst hit by banditry.
The Tsafe-Gusau Road which is 56km has now become the most dangerous spot in the state where people are being kidnapped daily.
Scores of bandits lost their lives a few days ago within the local government when two rival groups clashed.
All efforts to get comments from the spokesperson for the state police command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, proved abortive, as he could not be reached on the phone after several attempts.
Bandits storm Zamfara community, abduct worshippers from mosque
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Lagos Police Dismiss School Bandit Attack Threat, Deploy Security to Schools
Lagos Police Dismiss School Bandit Attack Threat, Deploy Security to Schools
LAGOS – The Lagos State Police Command has officially dismissed fears over a circulating threat letter claiming that bandits planned to target and abduct schoolchildren in the state. The Command stated that no verifiable intelligence supports such a threat, while simultaneously ordering heightened security deployment to schools and strategic locations as a precautionary measure. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, June 8, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Lagos State Command, Superintendent of Police Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed that the Command was aware of the report but urged parents, guardians, school authorities, and residents to remain calm. “There is presently no verified intelligence indicating any imminent threat of such an attack within Lagos State,” Adebisi said. “While every security concern is treated with the utmost seriousness, members of the public are advised to remain calm and avoid panic.” The threat letter, which circulated widely on social media, warned of a planned bandit attack and abduction of pupils, sparking anxiety among parents and school administrators across Lagos. However, the police command moved swiftly to assess the situation and provide reassurance.
The Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, CP Tijani Fatai, has directed an immediate assessment of the situation and ordered the implementation of watertight security measures across the state. According to the Command, police personnel working alongside other security agencies have been deployed to ensure the safety of schools, critical infrastructure, and vulnerable communities. “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, has directed immediate assessment of the situation and ordered watertight security measures across the affected area and other strategic locations within the State,” the police statement read. Officials confirmed that operatives have been dispatched to protect schools, important infrastructure, and communities as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s security architecture. The Command further stated that security authorities will not tolerate any attempt by criminal elements to instill fear or disrupt public order in Lagos State.
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The Lagos State Police Command issued a stern warning to miscreants, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals attempting to threaten the peace and safety of residents. “The Command will not tolerate any attempt by miscreants, bandits, kidnappers, or other criminal elements to threaten the peace and safety of residents,” Adebisi said. “Anyone found engaging in acts capable of causing fear or insecurity will be decisively dealt with in accordance with the law.” The Command reassured citizens that Lagos remains secure and that aggressive measures are in place to prevent any breach of public safety. It reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining law and order while ensuring the safety and security of all residents across the state.
The police command urged residents to remain vigilant and provide security services with timely and credible information, emphasizing that effective policing relies on public participation. Members of the public were advised to report any suspicious persons, objects, movements, or activities to the nearest police station or through the following emergency contact numbers: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870, and 09168630929. “It reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety and security of all residents across Lagos State,” the Command stated, assuring the public that all hands are on deck to ensure the continued safety, security, and well-being of every resident of Lagos State.
Lagos Police Dismiss School Bandit Attack Threat, Deploy Security to Schools
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NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Escalating Insecurity
NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Escalating Insecurity
Organised labour has threatened a nationwide industrial action over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, warning that workers may be forced to shut down economic activities if the government fails to curb the growing wave of terrorism, banditry and kidnappings across the country.
The warning was issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) during engagements at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
The labour centres said the persistent insecurity facing many parts of the country has become a direct threat to the safety, livelihoods and productivity of Nigerian workers, stressing that no nation can achieve sustainable economic growth while citizens live in fear.
According to the unions, thousands of workers now face daily risks while travelling to work, conducting business or carrying out official duties, as incidents of kidnapping, armed attacks and violent crimes continue to rise in several states.
The labour leaders noted that insecurity is no longer limited to isolated communities but has spread to schools, hospitals, farms, highways and workplaces, disrupting economic activities and deepening hardship for ordinary Nigerians.
They expressed concern over recent abductions involving teachers, schoolchildren and other citizens, arguing that the situation has exposed workers and their families to unprecedented dangers.
The threat of a broader labour action comes amid growing support from organised labour for the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in some affected areas over the abduction of teachers and pupils.
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President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, recently backed the teachers’ action, describing it as a necessary response to the country’s worsening security situation.
Ajaero said workers should not be expected to perform their duties under constant threats to their lives, warning that organised labour may be compelled to mobilise nationwide solidarity actions if governments fail to take stronger steps to protect citizens.
He maintained that the safety of workers must remain a priority, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare and local government services, where employees often operate in vulnerable environments.
The labour unions further argued that the security crisis in Nigeria has become both a humanitarian and economic challenge, discouraging investment, reducing productivity and worsening the cost of doing business.
While calling on federal and state governments to take decisive action against criminal groups, the unions urged authorities to move beyond public assurances and implement practical measures capable of tackling terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
They also called for intensified efforts to secure the release of victims currently being held by kidnappers and other armed groups across the country.
Meanwhile, the labour centres dismissed reports suggesting that negotiations were progressing on a proposed ₦100,000 minimum wage, describing claims by some state governors as misleading.
According to labour officials, no agreement has been reached on such a figure, insisting that discussions on workers’ welfare and remuneration remain ongoing.
The unions warned that continued failure to address workers’ concerns over security and welfare could trigger stronger actions from organised labour in the coming weeks.
The latest warning highlights growing frustration among labour leaders over the country’s security challenges, which have increasingly dominated national discourse amid recurring attacks on communities, schools and public institutions.
NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Escalating Insecurity
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