Bandits Abduct Zamfara LG Chairman, Kill Four Security Operatives

Suspected bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu (also known as Nura Abdullahi), following a deadly night attack on his residence that claimed the lives of four security operatives. The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m. on Thursday when heavily armed gunmen reportedly invaded Bungudu town, located less than 20 kilometres from the Zamfara State capital, Gusau, and headed directly to the council chairman’s residence in the Zango area. The attackers, who came in large numbers and were equipped with sophisticated weapons, overwhelmed the security personnel stationed at the residence before abducting the chairman and members of his family, leaving the community in shock and fear.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the security team mounted a resistance but was unable to repel the attackers because of the superior firepower deployed by the gunmen. The victims have been identified as Inspector Basiru Lawal, Police Constable Hamza Muhammad, and two vigilantes, Nura ADC and Ibrahim Baare, all of whom lost their lives in the line of duty. Additionally, Bello Abdullahi, a former treasurer in the state Ministry of Finance, sustained injuries during the raid and is currently receiving medical treatment. “The bandits came into the town determined to carry out their mission. The chairman’s security team put up resistance, but they were outgunned,” the resident said. “They killed two policemen and two vigilantes, including one volunteer vigilante who had been actively helping to protect the town from bandit attacks,” he added, highlighting the bravery of the fallen security personnel.

According to the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, troops’ prompt intervention forced the terrorists to abandon five of the chairman’s family members, comprising two of his children, his mother, wife, and a relative, who were successfully rescued from the clutches of the abductors. However, the terrorists narrowly escaped into the surrounding bushes with the chairman, leaving behind the rescued family members who were taken to a safe location for medical evaluation and debriefing. “They kidnapped the chairman along with his wife and children, but security personnel later rescued some of the children. Unfortunately, the chairman was taken away,” the resident said, expressing relief that at least some family members were saved while lamenting the chairman’s continued captivity.

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Beyond the chairman and his family, the gunmen also abducted Halliru Soja, a staff member of the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, and Hussaini Naira, a POS operator, during the same attack, bringing the total number of abductees to at least three individuals in addition to the chairman. Security operatives who responded to the incident pursued the gunmen and reportedly rescued several of the children, but the chairman and the other abductees remain in captivity, with their whereabouts still unknown. The abduction of multiple individuals has heightened anxiety in the community, with residents fearing further attacks and calling on the government to take decisive action.

Following the incident, the Theatre Command activated a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes, demonstrating a multi-agency approach to addressing the security crisis. Security forces are currently conducting deliberate operations at the suspected location of the terrorists, aimed at safely rescuing the abducted chairman and other victims, with intelligence gathering and tactical manoeuvres underway. The Theatre Command has deployed all available resources in the ongoing operation and remains in close coordination with participating security agencies to ensure a swift and successful outcome. The Command assures the Government and people of Zamfara State that every lawful and operational measure is being taken to achieve a successful outcome, urging patience and cooperation from the public. Despite the mobilisation of reinforcement teams, they arrived after the attackers had already escaped, underscoring the challenges security forces face in responding to such rapid and well-coordinated attacks. “The security personnel tried their best, but by the time reinforcements got there, the bandits had already executed their plan and escaped,” the resident said, acknowledging the difficulties security forces encounter in combating banditry.

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The resident attributed the recurring attacks in the area to the sophisticated weapons allegedly possessed by the bandits and the activities of informants who aid their operations, pointing to a well-organised criminal network operating in the region. “They don’t give any warning before attacking. They come heavily armed and in large numbers. Despite the efforts of security forces, they still managed to escape with the chairman,” he added, expressing frustration at the bandits’ ability to evade capture. He called on the government and security agencies to improve security across Bungudu and other vulnerable communities in Zamfara State, emphasising the urgent need for enhanced protection. “Our people resisted alongside the security forces, but the bandits overpowered them. They carry sophisticated weapons that ordinary people cannot match. We appeal to the authorities to do more to protect lives and property,” he said, speaking on behalf of a community that has endured repeated attacks.

Bungudu LGA, located about 21 kilometres from the state capital, Gusau, is frequently targeted by bandits who kidnap for ransom and attack security outposts, making it one of the hotspots of insecurity in Zamfara State. In April, armed bandits riding more than 50 motorcycles invaded Yarkatsinan Laka, a village in the area, attacking a local security outpost and a clinic, killing two police officers, two health workers, and a patient, demonstrating the persistent threat facing the community. The latest abduction of the council chairman underscores the audacity of the bandits and the urgent need for a comprehensive security strategy to address the root causes of banditry in the state. The Theatre Command has appealed to members of the public to remain calm, continue with their lawful activities and provide credible information through established security channels that may assist the ongoing operation, emphasising the importance of community cooperation in the fight against insecurity. “The Theatre remains resolute in its mandate to protect lives and property and will continue working with sister security agencies until the abducted chairman is safely reunited with his family and the perpetrators are brought to justice,” the statement concluded, reaffirming the commitment of security forces to ending the scourge of banditry in Zamfara State. Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Zamfara State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were not returned at the time of this report, leaving the public awaiting further official updates on the ongoing rescue operation.

Bandits Abduct Zamfara LG Chairman, Kill Four Security Operatives

Expose Criminals Among You or Face Consequences, Bago Tells Fulani Leaders

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has issued a strong appeal to leaders of Fulani communities across the state, urging them to partner with security agencies in identifying and exposing criminal elements responsible for kidnappings, banditry, and other violent crimes. The governor warned that continued silence over the activities of armed groups was fuelling public resentment against the ethnic group, with innocent members increasingly bearing the consequences of the actions of a few, making it imperative for community leaders to take decisive action before the situation spirals further out of control.

Speaking in Hausa during a meeting with community leaders, a video of which has since gone viral on social media, Bago delivered a blunt message to Fulani elders, urging them to advise those involved in criminal activities to abandon crime and return to their communities. He stressed that victims of kidnapping almost always blamed their abductors on the Fulani community, making it essential for leaders to intervene and separate the innocent from the guilty. “My relatives, I will not be afraid of you; I had better tell you this. Whoever gets kidnapped in the bush and is later released will say it was Fulanis who kidnapped him,” Bago said. “So, you should warn your children who are in the bush to return so that we can live peacefully. There is no way people can be kidnapped and made to pay ransom without expecting them to be angry with you.”

The governor noted that public frustration over worsening insecurity had reached a boiling point, alleging that some residents had failed to alert authorities about armed groups operating within their communities, including suspected criminals arriving from neighbouring Zamfara State, where banditry has long been a major challenge. He emphasised that while no one was stopping Fulani people from grazing their cattle, attending school, or living peacefully, the failure of community leaders to rein in criminal elements among them would ultimately lead to collective punishment. “People are angry with Fulanis. No one is stopping you from grazing, going to school, or staying peacefully, yet you know your children are doing bad things to people. Even if they are not caught, you will eventually face the consequences,” he warned, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

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Bago challenged Fulani leaders to distance themselves from criminal elements by reporting them to security agencies instead of offering protection or remaining silent, emphasising that collaboration was essential to restoring peace across the state. He stressed that the government was committed to working with all stakeholders to address insecurity but that community leaders had a critical role to play in identifying and rooting out criminals, and that failure to do so would only deepen the distrust between communities and further endanger innocent lives caught in the crossfire.

Despite the governor’s remarks generating significant online attention, social media claims that Bago ordered the removal of all Fulani district heads in Niger State have been fact-checked and found to be false. Independent fact-checking organisations, including Daily Trust and Dubawa, reviewed the full transcript of the governor’s speech and confirmed that he made no such announcement, providing clarity amid the misinformation that had spread rapidly across platforms. According to the fact-check, the governor instead called for better representation of Fulani communities within the traditional emirate system, urging the Emir of Kagara to give Fulani people proper representation as district or ward heads so that everyone feels included, rather than calling for their removal. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bolagi Ibrahim, also refuted the allegations, describing them as deceptive and stating that the governor maintains a leadership style centred on inclusivity and broad community engagement, contrary to the false narratives circulating online.

Bago also directed traditional rulers to monitor religious activities within their domains and take action against preachers whose messages promote division or threaten peaceful coexistence, declaring that anyone using religious sermons to sow discord among Muslims or create hostility between Muslims and Christians should be arrested. He specifically called out the activities of Lakurawa, a militant group that has been operating in parts of northern Nigeria, accusing them of causing trouble under the guise of preaching while actually spreading division. “Also, this Emirate should set boundaries for our preachers,” he said. “Lakurawa come and create trouble among you in the name of preaching, but they are just lying. When they were born, it was Salatul Fatih that was practiced. Shehu Usman Danfodio is the man who laid the foundation for Islam here, yet they are against him. Which books have they read, and where did they study?” He added, “Even if they come to the Jum’at mosque to preach, arrest them. His Royal Highness, I give permission, whoever preaches to divide Muslims, or to divide Muslims and Christians, should be arrested, and we will take them to prison,” signalling a zero-tolerance approach to religious incitement.

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The governor’s remarks came against the backdrop of communal clashes between Fulani herders and the Kamuku community in Rafi Local Government Area that reportedly claimed nearly 80 lives, a tragedy that has heightened tensions and underscored the urgent need for intervention. Bago attributed the violence to alleged land grabbing and political instigation, warning that those responsible would face the full weight of the law, and ordered an immediate halt to all land transactions across the Kagara Emirate unless approved by the state government through the Emirate Council. The governor also raised concerns about the activities of Lakurawa, a militant group that has been operating in parts of northern Nigeria, with the Defence Headquarters confirming that Lakurawa emerged as a new terrorist group in the North-West, particularly in Sokoto, Kebbi and northern parts of Niger State. The group is believed to have links to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), raising fears of a potential alliance between Sahelian extremists and Nigerian actors that could further destabilise the region.

Bago further cautioned vigilante groups against exceeding their responsibilities, urging them to concentrate on protecting border communities and supporting security agencies rather than taking the law into their own hands, as unchecked vigilantism could create new security challenges. He emphasised that the state government was committed to working with all stakeholders to restore peace and stability across Niger State, and that all security operations must be conducted within the limits of the law to avoid further escalation of violence and ensure that justice is served fairly.

The governor also addressed the issue of farming along government road corridors, warning that the practice had been prohibited, and directed that any farmer caught planting crops between the main road and power poles should be arrested, with animals allowed to feed on such crops. “Between the main government road and the power poles, where no farmer is supposed to plant, I have given an order that if any farmer plants between the main road and the power poles, you should let the animals eat the crops and arrest the farmer,” he said. “You have your own designated land, planting close to the main road only shows you are looking for trouble.” Bago had previously made a similar call in July 2026, urging farmers to desist from farming on road shoulders to avoid clashes with herders, as competition for land and resources continues to drive conflict in the state. The governor’s tough stance on insecurity comes as Niger State continues to grapple with the twin challenges of banditry and farmer-herder conflicts, which have displaced thousands of residents and disrupted agricultural activities across the state, threatening food security and livelihoods in one of Nigeria’s largest states.

As of the time of this report, there has been no official response from Fulani community leaders to the governor’s appeal, but the viral video continues to generate widespread discussion on social media about the complex dynamics of insecurity in northern Nigeria. While some commentators have praised the governor’s direct approach, others have called for more nuanced interventions that address the root causes of banditry, including poverty, unemployment, and competition over natural resources, warning that punitive measures alone may not be sufficient to resolve the deeply entrenched conflict. The situation remains fluid, and all eyes are on Niger State as the government moves to implement its security strategy and restore peace to communities that have endured years of violence and uncertainty.

Expose Criminals Among You or Face Consequences, Bago Tells Fulani Leaders

PFICP scandal: How ₦1.3bn ‘fake agency’ traced to Buhari’s government entered 2026 budget 

The Budget Office of the Federation has disclosed that the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) — now declared fake and under investigation — originated from institutional records linked to the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, made this known while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the matter. He explained that although ₦1.302 billion was appropriated for the council in the 2026 budget, not a single kobo was released because statutory spending controls prevented the funds from ever being accessed.

Providing a detailed account of how the PFIPC found its way into the 2026 budget, Yakubu traced the council’s institutional origin to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), which President Buhari inaugurated on October 9, 2019. By the time the 2026 budget preparations began, official government instruments had already been issued by key institutions. The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation had assigned an administrative budget code to the PFIPC, while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had approved an authorised establishment and a recruitment waiver. Yakubu emphasised that the Budget Office did not create the council or approve its establishment — it merely acted on official documents received from other government institutions. In his words, “The Budget Office did not create the Council. It did not assign its code. It did not approve its establishment. It did not grant its recruitment waiver. It received official instruments and did what the law required of it: it measured their fiscal effect.”

Giving a breakdown of how the ₦1.302 billion allocation was calculated, Yakubu disclosed that the PFIPC initially requested ₦3.85 billion for personnel costs, but the Budget Office independently calculated a reduced figure of ₦802,978,783. This amount, which represented 61.63 per cent of the total ₦1.302 billion appropriation, was based strictly on the authorised establishment, the approved recruitment waiver, the applicable public-service salary structure, and the extant costing methodology. The overhead component stood at ₦200 million, while capital expenditure was set at ₦300 million. Despite the full appropriation of ₦1.302 billion, not a single kobo was disbursed to the council.

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Explaining why the money was never released, Yakubu stated that despite the appropriation, the council could not access the funds because the Budget Office withheld Financial Clearance — the mandatory approval required before recruitment, payroll enrolment, or salary payments can commence. He clarified that two conditions remained incomplete: first, the 2026 Appropriation Bill only became law on March 31, 2026, meaning final clearance could not be issued before presidential assent; second, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission had not confirmed that the proposed staffing and remuneration arrangements complied with the approved public-service compensation framework. Yakubu stressed that “There was no Financial Clearance. There was no lawful recruitment. There was no payroll enrollment. There was no salary payment. Not one kobo of the personnel provision could lawfully have been drawn. Not one kobo was drawn.” The overhead allocation of ₦200 million could not be released because it required treasury warrants and cash backing from the Federal Ministry of Finance, while the capital allocation of ₦300 million never progressed beyond appropriation because no procurement plan was initiated, no tenders board approved any project, and no Certificate of No Objection was issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement.

The scandal surrounding how a ‘fake agency’ gained official recognition became public on June 11, 2026, when the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, declared the council fake and petitioned law enforcement agencies. Subsequent investigations revealed that the PFIPC had secured office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, that the Central Bank of Nigeria opened two foreign currency accounts — one in US dollars and another in British pounds — on the directive of the Office of the Accountant-General, and that the agency was listed in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budget of ₦1.302 billion. It was also discovered that the self-declared Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, presented forged appointment letters and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee. On July 7, 2026, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report within 30 days.

In the midst of counterclaims and the ongoing investigation, before his arrest, Adeniyi Adeyemi alleged that Gbajabiamila received ₦400 million through a proxy and demanded an additional ₦200 million to secure his appointment. The Chief of Staff has denied the allegations and filed a defamation suit seeking ₦15 billion in damages. The ICPC investigation is now examining forged appointment letters and official documents, the use of false presidential claims to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, the opening of multiple bank accounts using allegedly forged documents, the role of public officers, private individuals, and financial institutions that may have facilitated the scheme, as well as broader weaknesses in government procedures that may have been exploited. The Budget Office has maintained that the episode demonstrates the strength of Nigeria’s public financial management system, as the controls held firm and prevented any actual loss of public funds.

PFICP scandal: How ₦1.3bn ‘fake agency’ traced to Buhari’s government entered 2026 budget