Army arrests wanted soldier over alleged supply of military gear to terrorists

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a serving Nigerian Army soldier who had been declared wanted for allegedly supplying military accoutrements and other operational items to terrorist groups operating in Nigeria’s North-East.

The suspect, identified as Private Mohammed Yusuf (service number 23NA/84/1939) of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Training Facility (NAOTF), Lagos, was apprehended on July 25, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation carried out by personnel of the 7 Provost Group in Maiduguri, Borno State.

According to security sources, the operation was the culmination of weeks of surveillance after intelligence reports linked the soldier to the alleged diversion of military equipment to terrorist elements.

Investigators said the suspect allegedly abandoned his duty post before travelling to Maiduguri on July 7, shortly after he was declared wanted by military authorities.

Rather than reporting to his assigned unit, he reportedly went into hiding while allegedly maintaining contact with individuals suspected of supporting terrorist logistics networks in the region.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the soldier was allegedly sheltered at Gomari Costain in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State by another serving soldier, Private Baba Kamal Sale (service number 25NA/89/12687) of the Corps of Intelligence.

Military authorities have launched investigations into the second soldier to determine the extent of his alleged involvement in the case.

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Acting on actionable intelligence, operatives of the 7 Provost Group mounted continuous surveillance before intercepting Private Yusuf at Jidari Bus Stop, where he was reportedly attempting to cross into Cameroon.

The suspect was arrested without incident and is currently being held in military custody.

According to security sources, investigators are interrogating the soldier over allegations that he supplied military accoutrements, uniforms and other operational materials to terrorist groups, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram.

The ongoing investigation is also focused on identifying possible collaborators within and outside the military, uncovering financial transactions linked to the alleged activities and dismantling any logistics networks supporting insurgent operations.

Military officials believe intelligence obtained from the suspect could help expose supply routes used to move military materials to terrorists and reveal individuals facilitating such operations.

The arrest comes as Operation HADIN KAI intensifies coordinated land and air offensives across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, targeting terrorist enclaves and disrupting insurgent activities.

In recent months, troops have recorded significant operational successes, including the neutralisation of terrorist commanders, destruction of camps, recovery of arms and ammunition, rescue of kidnapped victims and the surrender of dozens of insurgents and their family members.

Security experts have consistently warned that insider collaboration remains one of the major threats to counter-insurgency operations, noting that the diversion of military equipment can significantly enhance the operational capabilities of terrorist groups.

They say identifying and dismantling insider networks is critical to protecting military personnel, safeguarding operational intelligence and weakening terrorist logistics.

Military authorities reiterated that the Nigerian Army maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward personnel involved in misconduct, corruption or collaboration with criminal and terrorist organisations.

They stressed that any officer or soldier found undermining national security would face disciplinary measures and prosecution in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable laws.

The Army also appealed to members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies, saying community support remains vital to ongoing counter-terrorism efforts across the North-East.

Investigations into the case are continuing as security agencies work to determine the full extent of the alleged network and ensure that all individuals connected to the diversion of military materials are brought to justice.

Army arrests wanted soldier over alleged supply of military gear to terrorists

BREAKING: Bandits Abduct Kebbi High Court Judge in Midnight Residence Attack

Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria – In a brazen attack that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s judicial community, suspected bandits have abducted a High Court judge from his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, a judge of the Kebbi State High Court, was seized from his home along Zogirma Road in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto State. The abduction is the latest in a growing wave of kidnapping of prominent Nigerians in the country’s troubled North-West region.

According to multiple sources familiar with the incident, the armed men stormed the judge’s residence around midnight, firing several gunshots to intimidate residents and security personnel before whisking their victim away to an unknown destination. “He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen stormed his residence and took him away,” a source close to the family told Daily Trust. The assailants were reportedly shouting during the operation, which alerted neighbors in the area, but the swift and aggressive nature of the raid prevented any immediate intervention.

In a small relief, no member of the judge’s household sustained physical injuries during the attack. The gunmen focused solely on abducting the judge and made no attempt to harm his family or domestic staff. “Immediately the incident occurred, we reported to the appropriate authorities, including the leadership of the High Court,” the source added.

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Confirming the abduction, the Kebbi State Police Command spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, said security operatives had launched a full-scale rescue mission. “I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight,” Usman stated. The Police Commissioner, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, immediately deployed tactical teams and intelligence personnel to track the abductors, according to the spokesperson. “As we speak, our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” the PPRO said. Security sources indicate that the operation involves collaboration with local vigilantes and military units stationed in the region, as bandits often flee into dense forest corridors spanning Kebbi, Zamfara, and Sokoto states.

A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, described the incident as a painful and disturbing development for the judiciary. “I am not authorized to speak formally, but this is a painful moment for us. To hear that one of our judges was abducted at his residence is very disturbing,” the official said. The official revealed that the management of the High Court had already held emergency meetings with heads of security agencies in Kebbi State to coordinate efforts aimed at securing the judge’s immediate and safe release. “Justice Bunza is a dedicated judicial officer. His abduction is not just an attack on him personally, but an attack on the rule of law and the entire justice system,” the official added.

As of the time of filing this report, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of Justice Bunza. However, banditry and mass abductions for ransom have become rampant across Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions, with judicial officers, politicians, and traditional rulers increasingly becoming targets.

The abduction of Justice Bunza comes amid a troubling rise in kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria. Just days earlier, suspected bandits reportedly abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in neighbouring Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, in a late-night raid that left four security personnel dead. In May 2015, Justice Samuel Obayomi of the Kogi State High Court was also kidnapped on his way to work, with his police orderly shot dead during the attack. He was released after 34 days in captivity. The judiciary in Nigeria has repeatedly called for enhanced protection for judicial officers, many of whom carry out their duties in volatile regions without adequate security coverage.

Security analysts believe the bandits may soon make contact with the judge’s family or the authorities to demand a ransom, though police have not confirmed any communication with the abductors. The Kebbi State Government has yet to issue an official statement, but sources say Governor Nasir Idris has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely. The National Judicial Council (NJC) is also expected to weigh in on the matter, as the abduction of a sitting High Court judge raises serious questions about the safety of judicial officers across the country.

This is a developing story. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available on the rescue operation for Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza and the broader security situation in Kebbi State. If you have any information that could assist in the safe rescue of Justice Bunza, please contact the Kebbi State Police Command or the nearest security agency.

BREAKING: Bandits Abduct Kebbi High Court Judge in Midnight Residence Attack

Osun NURTW Crisis: Oyewale Takes Office, Declares Peace as Govt, Police Maintain Stance

The newly inaugurated Caretaker Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) , Osun State Council, Alhaji Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Ashiri Eniba, has officially assumed office and assured residents that peace has returned to motor parks across the state, announcing the resumption of union activities following the resolution of its leadership crisis. The state council had been embroiled in a leadership dispute between the Oyewale faction and the faction led by Nurudeen Wakili, popularly known as Alowonle. The crisis resulted in protests, violence, disruption of commercial activities and the suspension of union operations in motor parks by local government chairmen across the state.

The crisis escalated on July 20, 2026, when members of the Oyewale faction staged a protest in Osogbo, alleging that the dominant faction prevented their vehicles from accessing a motor park. The protest degenerated into violent clashes, with gunshots causing panic among residents, and three security operatives sustained gunshot injuries during the confrontation. The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), comprising chairmen elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, subsequently announced the suspension of public transport union activities in motor parks across the state and appointed Oyewale as chairman of the NURTW caretaker committee. He was later inaugurated by the national leadership of the union at its headquarters in Garki, Abuja, despite the Osun State Government‘s opposition to the move.

Speaking after assuming office on Saturday, Oyewale said the newly constituted state executive members were recently invited to Abuja, where they were inaugurated to oversee the affairs of the Osun State Council. He appealed to residents not to associate members of the union with violence, describing commercial drivers as law-abiding citizens committed to their livelihoods. Oyewale also urged the police to conclude investigations into the killings of some union members during the crisis and called on members who had stayed away to return to the union. According to him, leadership changes are normal in every organisation, which is why they were invited to Abuja for their inauguration to officially take charge of the affairs of the Osun State Council. He assured the people of Osun State that commercial drivers are not hoodlums but responsible family men, expressing hope that the police would complete their investigations into the killings recorded during the crisis and ensure justice is served.

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Oyewale further stated that their doors remain open to every member because they are one family, appealing to those who have stayed away to return to the union. He also urged the Osun State Government to work with them, stressing that they are ready to cooperate with all stakeholders because they are an independent union. He assured residents that peace has returned to motor parks and all issues have been resolved, commending the Nigeria Police Force for its role in restoring peace and encouraging officers to remain committed to maintaining security. He added that commercial activities would fully resume across garages on Monday.

Also speaking, the union’s Interim Secretary and Group 2 Chairman for Ife Federal Constituency, Ayinde Mutiu, said normal activities had resumed across motor parks following the resolution of the leadership dispute. He appealed to members to embrace peace and avoid actions capable of disrupting public order, stressing that the NURTW remains one united family despite the recent challenges.

The national leadership of the NURTW, led by President Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has backed the caretaker committee, insisting that no state governor has the legal authority to suspend the union’s activities. Represented by Deputy National President Aliyu Issa Ore, MC Oluomo argued that the NURTW is a statutory body established by law and operates independently of state governments, pointing out that the union had successfully challenged similar actions by state governments in court in the past. Ore explained that the caretaker committee was constituted to provide leadership for the union in Osun ahead of the forthcoming governorship election, citing the union’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the transportation of election materials.

However, the Osun State Government has maintained its opposition to Oyewale’s leadership. In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Alimi, clarified that the government only suspended union activities in motor parks pending the restoration of peace and did not dissolve the Alowonle-led executive. The government reaffirmed that Alowonle and his executive remain the only recognised leadership of the union and directed security agencies to remove Oyewale and his supporters from motor parks across the state. The Osun State Government further argued that the move by ALGON to appoint a caretaker committee was illegal and unconstitutional, noting that Governor Ademola Adeleke did not at any point remove the NURTW leadership. The government submitted that the tenure of the Alowonle executive is yet to lapse and that attempting to impose a suspect in violent crimes as state chairman is an affront to the law.

The Osun State Police Command has also confirmed the arrest of a suspect in connection with the July 20 clash, with Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan disclosing that operatives recovered six expended cartridges, four vehicles, four motorcycles, military camouflage and suspected criminal charms from the suspects. Meanwhile, the Osun State APC has criticised Governor Adeleke’s directive suspending NURTW activities, describing the order as unconstitutional and beyond the governor’s powers. The party cited a Court of Appeal judgment involving the Oyo State Government and the NURTW, where the appellate court declared Governor Seyi Makinde’s 2019 suspension of the union’s activities unlawful and unconstitutional.

Osun NURTW Crisis: Oyewale Takes Office, Declares Peace as Govt, Police Maintain Stance