Residents flee Kano community as gunmen kill three in night raid 

Suspected gunmen on Monday night invaded Yankamaye community in the Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State, killing three residents and forcing scores of villagers to flee for safety.

Residents said the attackers stormed the community late at night, firing sporadically and throwing the area into panic as terrified residents ran for cover.

The member representing Ghari and Tsanyawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Sani Bala, confirmed the attack in a statement shared online, revealing that three bodies had been recovered after the assault.

“As at the time of this update, three people have been confirmed dead,” the lawmaker stated, while lamenting the worsening security situation in the area.

A resident, Saifullahi Sulaiman Sorodaya, described the attack as sudden and terrifying.

“The attackers entered the town shooting without stopping, and people had no option but to run for their lives,” he said.

Another resident, Madahuru Isah Ibrahim, disclosed that several persons sustained injuries during the attack and were rushed to hospital for treatment.

Following the incident, residents of Yankamaye and neighbouring communities appealed to security agencies to intensify surveillance and deploy more personnel to prevent further attacks and restore confidence in the area.

Edo Kidnapping: Arrest of Suspects Exposes Alleged Insider Network, Criminal Hideout

A chilling kidnapping case in Edo State has exposed an alleged network of insider collaboration, drug-related activities, and a suspected criminal hideout after security operatives arrested nine suspected kidnappers in a coordinated operation.

The development comes amid rising insecurity across parts of Edo Central, including Ekpoma, Ubiaja, Irrua and surrounding communities, where residents say kidnappings and killings have become increasingly frequent and brutal.

The case gained widespread attention following the killing of 30-year-old entrepreneur Justin Otene, popularly known as “Jusewayne,” owner of the fast-food outlet Principal Takeout in Ekpoma. He was reportedly attacked at his home in the Idumebo area after resisting abduction by armed men and was killed just days before his child’s dedication ceremony.

Residents say his death is part of a disturbing pattern of repeated kidnappings and killings in the region, which has left many families devastated and communities on edge.

In Ubiaja, Esan South-West Local Government Area, residents also pointed to earlier cases where a young man was kidnapped and killed last year, with his younger brother reportedly suffering a similar fate this year. Similar incidents have been recorded in parts of Etsako East, Akoko-Edo and other areas of Edo State.

Attention later shifted to a heavily fenced property in Ubiaja owned by a man identified as Jerry Okoyomo. The building, described by residents as resembling a fortified compound, allegedly raised suspicion due to restricted movement, unusual night activity, and claims that it was being used as a cover for cattle rearing.

Community members also alleged that the owner conducted high-value transactions in cash, bypassing normal banking channels, further heightening suspicion around the property.

Following a kidnapping incident in Irrua, security operatives arrested nine suspected kidnappers believed to be part of a wider criminal syndicate operating across the state.

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During interrogation by the Edo State Special Security Squad, the suspects allegedly linked their operations to the Ubiaja property, claiming it served as a coordination centre where ransom negotiations were conducted, communication was managed, and escape routes were planned.

Security officials described the house as a suspected operational base used for kidnapping activities and, allegedly, drug-related operations.

Acting on intelligence gathered during investigations, the state government ordered the demolition of the property. The structure was subsequently pulled down using earthmoving equipment in the presence of security operatives and cheering residents who said the building had long been a source of fear in the community.

Chairman of the Special Security Squad, Noah Paddy Idemudia, confirmed that the building was identified during investigations into recent kidnapping cases and said preliminary findings linked it to both kidnapping and illegal drug activities. He also warned landlords across the state to properly profile tenants to avoid providing safe havens for criminals.

In a separate account, a victim of the kidnapping gang narrated her ordeal, describing how she was held in a forest camp, threatened, and forced to watch her captors assemble a newly acquired firearm during negotiations. She said the kidnappers demanded a ₦10 million ransom, but her family could only raise ₦3 million, and she was threatened with death during the standoff.

One of the arrested suspects, Musa Mohammadu, reportedly claimed he was deceived into travelling from northern Nigeria under the guise of a cattle-rearing job, only to later discover he had been recruited into a kidnapping network.

Meanwhile, the alleged property owner, Jerry Okoyomo, is said to have denied involvement in kidnapping activities but did not dispute the demolition of his building, reportedly insisting that he was only involved in illicit drug dealings.

Security analysts say the case highlights a growing pattern of organized kidnapping networks, possible insider collaboration, and the use of disguised properties as operational bases in parts of Edo State.

Authorities have intensified security operations in the affected areas while urging residents to report suspicious movements as investigations continue.

Edo Kidnapping: Arrest of Suspects Exposes Alleged Insider Network, Criminal Hideout

Mutfwang Bans Night Mining, Grazing After Deadly Plateau Attacks

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has imposed a sweeping ban on night mining activities, night grazing, and the use of underage children for grazing, in a major security intervention aimed at curbing the rising wave of violence in the state.

The decision was announced on Monday during a sympathy visit to communities in Barkin Ladi and Bassa Local Government Areas, following recent deadly attacks that left several residents dead and forced many families to flee their homes.

Governor Mutfwang was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, as well as other senior government officials and security stakeholders. The delegation toured affected communities to assess the level of destruction and engage with victims of the attacks.

In Barkin Ladi, the governor met with survivors, including widows and children who lost their breadwinners. He assured them that the government would not abandon them and promised stronger protection for vulnerable communities across the state. “The life of every Plateau citizen is precious, and we will do everything within our power to protect our people. Those who take pleasure in killing and inflicting pain on others will not know peace,” he said.

The governor explained that the ban on night mining and grazing was necessary due to security intelligence linking nighttime movements in mining and grazing areas to criminal activities. Under the new directive, all mining operations must now cease by 5:00 p.m. daily, while night grazing is completely prohibited across the state.

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He also outlawed the use of underage children for grazing activities, describing it as both a security risk and a child protection concern. Security agencies have been directed to enforce the order strictly across all local government areas.

The measures come in response to renewed violence in parts of Barkin Ladi and Bassa, where recent attacks reportedly claimed multiple lives and displaced residents. In Ngbrazongo village in the Kwall District of Bassa LGA alone, more than 10 people were reportedly killed in one of the incidents.

Governor Mutfwang said he had been closely monitoring the situation before deciding to visit the affected areas personally to better understand the scale of the crisis and reassure residents of government support.

During meetings with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and youth representatives, the governor pledged that those responsible for the attacks would be tracked down and brought to justice. He also directed security agencies to intensify surveillance and increase deployment to vulnerable communities to prevent further incidents.

According to him, the state government is working with federal security agencies to stabilise the situation and enable displaced residents to safely return to their communities. “We are deploying more security personnel to these communities. We will not allow a repeat of these tragedies,” he said.

The Plateau State Government said the new restrictions form part of a broader strategy to tackle insecurity linked to communal violence, illegal mining activities, and unregulated movement in rural areas, which have long been flashpoints in the state.

Security analysts have noted that Plateau remains one of the most volatile regions in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, with recurring attacks often linked to land disputes, banditry, and resource-related tensions.

Mutfwang Bans Night Mining, Grazing After Deadly Plateau Attacks