Gunmen kill nine family members, two-month-old baby in fresh Plateau attack

Fresh violence has rocked Plateau State after suspected gunmen killed nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, during a deadly overnight attack on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area.

The attack, described by residents as one of the deadliest assaults on the communities in recent months, reportedly began at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and lasted for more than an hour. The attackers, who reportedly operated in large numbers, stormed the communities under the cover of darkness, firing indiscriminately and forcing terrified residents to flee into nearby bushes.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen moved from house to house, attacking helpless residents and leaving a trail of death and destruction. Among those killed were nine members of one family, including a two-month-old infant, in what residents described as a heartbreaking massacre.

A resident, Precious Tok, said the attackers invaded homes without resistance and carried out the killings while many victims were asleep.

“The gunmen came in large numbers, shooting everywhere. We could hear screams from the houses. They entered homes and slaughtered people. It was one of the deadliest attacks we have seen here in recent times,” the resident said.

Another resident, who asked not to be identified, said the victims had no opportunity to escape.

“Even a two-month-old baby was not spared. We ran into the bush for safety and only returned in the morning to see the bodies. We buried our children with our own hands. We are tired of these repeated attacks,” the resident lamented.

The attack also left the village head critically injured after he was reportedly shot by the assailants. He was rushed to a hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers struck while residents were asleep and unleashed violence on defenceless villagers.

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According to him, the attack completely wiped out one family, including the father, mother and their children, while several other residents sustained injuries.

Tengwong described the killings as another tragic reminder of the worsening insecurity confronting communities in Riyom Local Government Area and other parts of Plateau State.

He called on security agencies to intensify efforts to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible, stressing that communities have continued to suffer repeated attacks despite the presence of security personnel in the state.

The latest attack has thrown Kum and Wereng-Camp into mourning, with grieving families calling on the Federal Government, the Plateau State Government and security agencies to strengthen security around vulnerable communities and prevent further bloodshed.

Residents said the recurring attacks have displaced many families, disrupted farming activities and heightened fears among communities that depend largely on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Following the latest assault, security personnel were deployed to the affected communities to restore calm and prevent further violence, while local authorities commenced efforts to assess the extent of the destruction and provide support for affected families.

As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the attack, although community leaders said security agencies had been notified immediately after the incident.

The fresh killings come amid persistent security challenges in Plateau State, where several communities have experienced repeated attacks in recent years, resulting in hundreds of deaths, displacement of residents and destruction of homes and farmlands.

Despite ongoing military and security operations across parts of the state, residents have continued to demand stronger intelligence gathering, increased deployment of security personnel and decisive measures to dismantle armed groups responsible for the recurring violence.

Community leaders, civil society organisations and religious groups have also renewed calls for lasting peace initiatives, justice for victims and improved protection for rural communities vulnerable to attacks.

The latest tragedy has once again highlighted the urgent need for sustained security interventions and closer collaboration among government, security agencies and local communities to end the cycle of violence and restore lasting peace in Plateau State.

Gunmen kill nine family members, two-month-old baby in fresh Plateau attack

NDLEA arrests South African woman with 5.75kg heroin at Abuja airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 38-year-old South African woman, Will Jessica Ann, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 5.75 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, while travelling with her three-year-old son.

The arrest, which forms part of the agency’s sustained crackdown on international drug trafficking, was made on Monday, July 6, 2026, during the clearance of inbound passengers aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR1433 from Doha.

According to the NDLEA, the suspect allegedly concealed 14 large parcels of heroin weighing 5.75kg inside two suitcases in an attempt to beat airport security.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect initially denied travelling with any checked baggage when she was questioned by NDLEA operatives.

However, officers conducting routine profiling and intelligence-led checks discovered that the baggage tags on the two suitcases matched the claim tags attached to her passport.

Confronted with the evidence, the suspect reportedly admitted ownership of the bags, claiming she had forgotten she checked them in before boarding the flight.

According to the agency, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect travelled from Cambodia through Doha, Qatar, before arriving in Abuja.

The NDLEA further disclosed that intelligence gathered during the investigation suggests the suspect is allegedly linked to a multinational drug trafficking syndicate operating between Cambodia and South Africa alongside her husband and suspected accomplice, Jan Coenraad De Jager.

Investigators also alleged that she travelled with her three-year-old son in what they believe was an attempt to reduce suspicion during airport screening, a tactic the agency described as a disturbing abuse of a child’s innocence.

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The agency said investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of the syndicate’s operations and identify other members of the international drug network.

NDLEA arrests Lagos-bound passenger with methamphetamine

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, arrested Onyechere Chinadu, a 48-year-old commercial motorcycle rider, shortly after he arrived from Madagascar via Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

According to the agency, an initial search of the suspect’s backpack led to the recovery of 87 wraps of methamphetamine concealed inside clothing.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that he had worked as an okada rider in Lagos for about 15 years before he was recruited into international drug trafficking by a Ugandan associate.

He allegedly admitted swallowing several pellets of methamphetamine in Uganda before embarking on the journey to Madagascar, where he was expected to deliver the illicit consignment.

The operation, however, failed after immigration authorities in Madagascar denied him entry into the country.

The NDLEA said his sponsors subsequently instructed him to travel to Nigeria, where he was arrested immediately after landing in Lagos.

Because the suspect could not state the exact number of drug pellets he had swallowed, NDLEA officials placed him under medical observation.

Between the date of his arrest and July 11, he excreted 13 additional pellets, bringing the total recovery to 100 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 1.715 kilograms.

NDLEA intensifies nationwide anti-drug operations

The two arrests are part of a broader nationwide offensive by the NDLEA against drug trafficking and organised criminal networks.

The agency recently announced the seizure of 4,143.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud cannabis worth more than ₦10.3 billion at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, describing it as one of its largest cannabis interceptions in recent times.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), has repeatedly reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening intelligence-driven operations at airports, seaports and land borders to dismantle international drug trafficking syndicates.

Marwa has also urged officers to sustain the momentum in the fight against illicit drug trafficking while calling on Nigerians to continue supporting the agency with credible intelligence capable of disrupting the activities of criminal networks.

The NDLEA said both suspects remain in custody and will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations in accordance with Nigeria’s drug control laws.

NDLEA arrests South African woman with 5.75kg heroin at Abuja airport

Oyo High Court to deliver judgment in landmark hijab case Tuesday

The Oyo State High Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, is set to deliver judgment on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in a landmark case that will determine whether Muslim students can wear the Islamic hijab with their school uniforms in some government-owned schools across the state.

The case, Suit No. 47/2026, was instituted by five Muslim schoolgirls, represented by their guardians, against the Oyo State Government and relevant education authorities.

The defendants include the Governor of Oyo State, the Commissioner for Education, the Attorney-General of Oyo State, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education.

According to a press release issued on Sunday by Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, a member of the Oyo State Muslim Community, the judgment is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at Court 17 of the High Court of Justice, Iyaganku.

The claimants are asking the court to determine whether the alleged restriction on the use of the Islamic hijab in certain government-owned schools with historical ties to Christian missionary bodies violates their constitutional rights.

The suit centres on claims that Muslim students have been denied the right to wear the hijab as part of their school uniforms, a practice the claimants argue is protected under Nigeria’s constitutional provisions on freedom of religion, equality before the law, and the protection of fundamental human rights.

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Agunbiade described the case as one of the most significant legal disputes on religious freedom in Oyo State, saying its outcome could have far-reaching implications for religious accommodation in public educational institutions.

He called on members of the Muslim community across the state to attend the court proceedings peacefully and lawfully to witness the judgment.

“Our attendance should demonstrate respect for the judiciary and confidence in the rule of law,” he said, urging supporters to remain orderly and comply with all directives issued by court officials and security agencies.

He added that the case extends beyond the issue of school uniforms, touching on broader constitutional questions regarding the rights of students to practise their religion within public schools.

The Muslim community also expressed hope that the court’s decision would uphold the principles of justice, fairness, equity and the rule of law.

The judgment is expected to attract significant public interest, with religious groups, education stakeholders, legal practitioners and civil society organisations closely monitoring the outcome.

The case comes amid recurring debates in parts of Nigeria over the use of religious attire in public schools and the balance between school regulations and constitutionally guaranteed religious freedoms.

Tuesday’s ruling is expected to provide legal clarity on the issue in Oyo State and could influence future discussions on religious rights within the country’s public education system.

Oyo High Court to deliver judgment in landmark hijab case Tuesday