Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has inaugurated a new security arrangement to safeguard the zone against banditry, terrorism and other forms of criminal activities.
The move by Adams, who is also National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), was to strengthen the security architecture of the South West, Saturday Sun gathered.
The security arrangement, known as Oodua Dependable Security Team, has been launched in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states already, with Ekiti and Ondo the only remaining states in the region.
Investigation revealed that Yoruba indigenes, who are mostly members of OPC, constitute majorly the team in each state, and the arrangement runs through each local government and wards in the four states. As gathered, the same thing would be repeated when the remaining two states are enlisted in the team set up to complement efforts of the government against crimes and criminalities.
The thrust of his addresses at the separate inauguration ceremonies in Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan and Osogbo echoed that the era of insecurity in the South West was gone. He also warned terrorists to stay away from the region or face the wrath of the OPC.
He explained that the composition of the dependable security team was an intervention strategy of the OPC to nip the security challenges in the bud across the South West region.
The new security arrangement, he said, became necessary as a result of various cases of insecurity, including rape, killings and kidnapping, which had hindered peace and tranquillity across the region.
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An alarm was raised some weeks ago that terrorists had surrounded and infiltrated the South West and had started using Ondo State as a litmus test to know if their operations would be successful in the entire Yorubaland or not. Several attacks by terrorists have been launched in different states in the region, with Ondo State, recording the highest number, including the attack on a Catholic church in Owo, which claimed scores of lives.
Aare Adams added that the leadership of OPC came up with the new security strategic approach in order to rescue the present situation in the region.
Speaking during the inauguration of the team in Osogbo, Osun State, he said: “We are worried that the security situation in the South West is getting worse by the day. We are worried that peace has eluded us in recent times because of the spate of insecurity across the southwest. It was not like this in the past.
“We had it so good in the past. Our security then was fantastic. Issues of killings and kidnapping for ransom were alien to our tradition in the South West. Our leaders prominently catered for our needs in education, and health, and all the social facilities were available for the people. Those were the legacies of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when the people of the region could sleep with our eyes open.
“But things have taken a drastic turn today, because politicians of today clearly abandoned their responsibilities and created a huge gap between them and the electorate. It is a fact that, if the situation continues like this, it will definitely consume the entire nation. Nigeria has lost the battle, and I don’t think this country could survive the next two years under these failed security challenges. As a group that has the capacity to defend our region, we consider it pertinent to rise to the occasion by making sure that the South West is safe for all residents.”
In Oyo State, over 200 persons were verified in each of the 33 local government areas and 35 local council development authorities in Oyo State. In the same vein, more than 100 members were also drawn from each of the 69 local government and LCDAs in Osun State.
According to Adams, it is the job of the team “to assist by complementing the efforts of the police and other security agencies in securing the state.”
During the inauguration of the team held in Ibadan, Adams said: “The OPC Dependable Security Team is a child of necessity that was borne out of our desire to secure the South West region against intruders. It is a combination of about 200 members each from each of the 68 local government and LCDAs in Oyo State, and it is just to show the strength of our dependable forces in the state.
“We are using this to send a strong message to the terrorists masquerading as kidnappers and killers and across the South West region. We will resist any attempt to turn Yoruba land into a hub of terrorism. The South West is no longer a home for terrorists.”
Adams said a recent exploit of the OPC Dependable Security Team was along Ijede Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State, when the team intercepted two buses loaded with caches of live cartridges, heading for the North, and were handed over to the police for proper investigation.
“We are beginning to see the results with the Ikorodu experience. It is my belief that the new security arrangements will usher in a moment of peace in the South West. OPC will not relent in its efforts to rid the region of terrorists and their allies.”
NiDCOM confirms release of Nigerian girls detained in Mauritius
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed the release of Nigerian girls who were reportedly detained at an airport in Mauritius, following public concern and calls for intervention by Nigerian authorities.
NiDCOM said the girls had regained their freedom and were travelling back to Nairobi, Kenya, while efforts were ongoing to address the circumstances surrounding their detention and prevent a recurrence.
The incident gained public attention after a video showing the girls in detention circulated on social media, prompting Nigerians to call on relevant government agencies and diplomatic authorities to intervene.
An Instagram user identified as #Queenbethia shared the video on Sunday and appealed to authorities to take urgent action, alleging that the girls had been held at the Mauritius airport since July 31, 2026.
The post generated widespread reactions, with many social media users expressing concern over the welfare of the girls and demanding clarification on why they were being held.
In a statement issued on Monday through its Digital Media Unit, NiDCOM announced that the girls had been released and were already on their way back to Nairobi.
“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) wishes to inform the public that the Nigerian girls who were previously detained have been released.
“They are currently on their way back to Nairobi,” the commission stated.
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NiDCOM said its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was engaging the relevant Nigerian diplomatic mission, which had formally taken up the matter with the authorities in Mauritius.
According to the commission, the engagement is intended to establish accountability, clarify the circumstances surrounding the detention and help prevent similar incidents involving Nigerian travellers.
“The Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is actively engaging the relevant Nigerian Embassy, who have formally taken up this matter with the authorities of the country concerned, to ensure full accountability and prevent any recurrence,” the statement added.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare and interests of Nigerians living, working, studying or travelling outside the country.
NiDCOM said the intervention aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places emphasis on the welfare and protection of Nigerians at home and abroad.
“NiDCOM, in line with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, remains committed to the welfare and protection of all Nigerians home and abroad,” the commission said.
However, the commission did not disclose the identities or number of the girls, the exact circumstances that led to their detention, or whether the matter was connected to immigration documentation, travel requirements or other airport procedures.
NiDCOM also did not provide details about when the girls were expected to arrive in Nairobi or whether they would later return to Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official public statement from the Mauritius government, immigration authorities or airport officials explaining why the Nigerian travellers were held.
The incident has renewed discussions about the experiences of Nigerian travellers at foreign airports and the importance of timely consular support when citizens encounter immigration, travel or other challenges outside the country.
The release of the girls has brought relief to their families, friends and concerned Nigerians who had called for urgent intervention. Further details are expected as Nigerian diplomatic authorities continue engagement with their Mauritian counterparts over the incident.
Nigerian Navy Intensifies Offensive Against Criminal Networks, Destroys Militant Camp in Cross River
NNS Victory continues sustained pressure on militant elements as troops recover weapons, military gear, and intelligence documents in Bakassi LGA operation
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory has sustained its offensive against militant elements in Cross River State, destroying another suspected camp at the Ine Ikoridung coastal settlement in Bakassi Local Government Area. The raid, conducted on August 2, 2026, followed credible intelligence indicating that militants had relocated to the remote settlement after sustained patrols forced them out of their former base at Dayspring Island. This operation represents the latest phase in a broader campaign by the Nigerian Navy to dismantle militant networks and restore safety to the Calabar waterways and surrounding maritime environment.
According to a statement by the Base Information Officer, Lt. Com. Sulaiman Bala, troops moved into the creeks aboard NNS Victory patrol gunboats. On sighting the approaching vessels, the suspects fled, prompting naval personnel to cordon off the area and conduct thorough searches of the identified huts. The operation yielded significant recoveries, including five empty cartridges, one military camouflage vest, one police camouflage vest, one military pullover, one pair of military jungle boots, and a notebook containing records of suspected militant fighters and the correctional facilities where they are serving prison terms. To deny criminals future safe havens, troops destroyed the identified huts in the settlement.
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Nigerian Navy Intensifies Offensive Against Criminal Networks
Lt. Com. Bala noted that the relocation of the group to a remote coastal settlement was a direct result of continuous operational pressure from the Nigerian Navy, which is restricting their freedom of action and forcing them to abandon established hideouts. He stated that the relocation of the group to a remote coastal settlement is a result of continuous operational pressure from the Nigerian Navy, which is restricting their freedom of action and forcing them to abandon established hideouts. He added that NNS Victory would continue to sustain maximum pressure on criminal elements until total security is restored to the maritime environment.
This latest operation forms part of a wider offensive targeting not just militant fighters but also the financial and logistical networks that sustain their activities. In a related operation on Dayspring Island in June 2026, naval personnel disrupted a suspected militant financing network operating within the Ini Abasi fishing settlement in Akpabuyo Local Government Area. During that operation, troops recovered several wraps of suspected cannabis sativa and a handwritten ledger containing names and monetary entries amounting to ₦5.529 million. The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Abiodun Folorunsho, explained that preliminary assessments suggested the document was used to record illegal levies imposed on fishermen and maritime transport operators in the area. The proceeds from these extortion activities were believed to serve as a significant source of funding for militant operations and other criminal enterprises within the Dayspring Island axis. By targeting illicit revenue streams, the Nigerian Navy continues to degrade the operational capability of criminal elements and deny them the resources required to sustain their activities.
The Nigerian Navy has maintained a sustained presence in the Calabar waterways, with NNS Victory conducting multiple operations against militancy, piracy, smuggling, and illegal oil bunkering in the region. In May 2026, naval personnel launched a major offensive against militants and kidnappers along the Calabar-Oron channel, destroying a hideout linked to a wanted militant kingpin known as “Juju” on Dayspring Island. That operation, conducted in collaboration with troops of the Nigerian Army 13 Brigade, forced suspected militants to flee their camps while securing key waterways and restricting their movement. The Navy has also targeted support networks, recently handing over a suspected militant collaborator, Mr Ubong Clement, to the Department of State Services (DSS) in Cross River State. Intelligence linked the suspect to a notorious militant identified as Steven Joseph, alias “Juju,” and revealed that he allegedly acted as a conduit for the disposal of goods stolen from market boats intercepted by militants.
Following operations, naval personnel have consistently engaged community leaders and residents, reassuring them of the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to maintaining a sustained security presence and conducting intelligence-driven operations aimed at restoring lasting peace within the waterways. The Navy reaffirmed its resolve to sustain aggressive patrols, targeted raids, and community-focused engagements to eliminate criminal elements, disrupt their support networks, and ensure that legitimate economic activities thrive within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Terrorists kill six soldiers, 12 civilians in Zamfara, Sokoto attacks
At least six soldiers and 12 civilians were reportedly killed in separate attacks by suspected terrorists in Zamfara and Sokoto states, while more than 70 residents were abducted during a raid on Kasuwar Daji community in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The coordinated attacks, which occurred late Saturday, have renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of the North-West, where rural communities continue to face killings, mass abductions, livestock rustling and repeated attacks by armed groups.
In Zamfara State, residents said heavily armed attackers invaded Kasuwar Daji at about 11:30 p.m., opening fire and reportedly overrunning a military outpost in the community.
Local sources said at least six soldiers were killed during the attack, although the casualty figure had not been officially confirmed by military authorities as of the time of filing this report.
The attackers were also said to have abducted at least 75 residents and taken them into the forest after raiding the community.
A resident, Alhaji Aminu Kasuwar Daji, said the gunmen arrived in large numbers and began firing indiscriminately as they moved through the area.
He appealed to the Zamfara State Government and the Federal Government to strengthen security across the state, warning that residents were increasingly concerned about their safety.
“Our call to the Zamfara State and Federal Governments is to come to the aid of Zamfara people generally over the insecurity bedevilling the state,” he said.
“We are really in danger if terrorists can overpower the military and succeed in their attacks on innocent citizens.”
Former Deputy Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Namadi Kasuwar Daji, also confirmed that the community had been attacked.
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He said he was outside the state when relatives informed him that the attackers had invaded the area, looted shops and abducted an unspecified number of residents.
Namadi said he was informed that soldiers were killed during the attack but could not independently confirm the exact number of military casualties.
He added that the attackers reportedly carted away food items, drinks and other valuables before taking abducted residents into the bush.
The Zamfara State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said he was not aware of the attack and promised to contact police officers in the affected area for verification. However, no further response had been received as of the time of filing this report.
In Sokoto State, at least 12 people were reportedly killed after suspected terrorists attacked Lajinge village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
Residents said the attackers entered the community at about 11 p.m. on Saturday and operated for several hours, with the attack reportedly continuing until about 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.
According to residents, 11 people died from gunshot wounds, while a woman identified as Agada reportedly died after suffering severe shock during the attack.
Six people were also reportedly burnt alive after the attackers surrounded a room where they had taken refuge.
Residents said the gunmen ordered those inside the room to come out. When they refused, the attackers allegedly poured petrol around the building, set it on fire and opened fire on those who attempted to escape.
Those reportedly killed in the fire included the head of the household, Mallam Wauro, popularly known as Mallam Roro; his two sons, Ukasha and Mujaheed; two relatives identified as Sufyanu and Sani Shanbami; and an internally displaced person who had been staying in the house.
Another resident, identified as Lawwali, was reportedly shot dead at the entrance of the same house while attempting to flee, bringing the number of people killed in the compound to seven.
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Residents said other victims were shot while trying to escape from different parts of the village.
They included a resident identified as Yusuf and three internally displaced persons who had sought safety in Lajinge after fleeing violence in other communities.
A member of the community’s local vigilante group said residents were keeping watch near the village primary school when they suddenly heard heavy gunfire.
He said the vigilante members were unable to withstand the attackers and were forced to flee as the gunmen moved through the community.
“We were at the primary school guarding the village when we suddenly heard heavy gunfire,” the resident said.
“We all ran for safety and kept moving from one hiding place to another whenever the shooting came closer.”
The attackers were reportedly able to move from house to house, stealing cattle and sheep while firing weapons to keep residents away.
A resident said one of the gunmen positioned a rifle at a strategic location while others entered homes and seized livestock.
The attackers later moved to the residence of Mallam Wauro, where he and two of his sons were killed.
Residents also said two of his wives were abducted and that the attackers took away cattle and other livestock from the household.
The exact number of people abducted during the Sokoto attack could not immediately be established.
Residents said several people were taken away, but some, particularly children, were later released by the attackers.
Community members alleged that no security reinforcement arrived during the attack despite repeated distress calls.
They also claimed that security personnel stationed in nearby Unguwar Lalle and Dan Tudu communities, which are about two kilometres from Lajinge, did not respond while the attack was ongoing.
“The bandits stayed in our village for hours without any intervention,” one resident said.
“They even walked along the main road laughing and smoking cigarettes as if they had conquered the community.”
The residents said they had repeatedly appealed to the government to deploy security personnel to the area but that their requests had not been met.
They added that eight people were killed in an earlier attack on the community about three weeks ago, increasing fears among residents over continued violence.
“We are Nigerians and we have voter cards. We elected the government to protect our lives and property,” a resident said.
“We are pleading with the authorities to deploy security personnel to safeguard our communities.”
The Sokoto State Police Command had also not issued an official confirmation of the attack as of the time of filing this report.
Police spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he was not aware of the incident and would verify the report after reaching his office. No further update had been provided at press time.
The latest attacks have again highlighted the security challenges facing rural communities in Zamfara and Sokoto, where residents continue to demand improved intelligence gathering, stronger security deployment and faster responses to distress calls.
The reported killings and abductions have also renewed calls for closer coordination among the military, police, intelligence agencies and community-based security groups to prevent further attacks.
As of the time of publication, authorities had not released final official casualty figures or confirmed the number of people abducted in either state.
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