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Nigeria’s Terror Paradox: If Authorities Know the Criminals, Why Do Attacks Continue?
Nigeria’s Terror Paradox: If Authorities Know the Criminals, Why Do Attacks Continue?
Nigeria’s seemingly endless war against terrorism in Nigeria, banditry in northern Nigeria, and the growing kidnapping crisis in Nigeria continues to raise one troubling question.
It echoes after every mass burial of villagers killed in midnight attacks. It lingers in deserted communities where farms lie abandoned and classrooms stand empty. It trembles in the voices of parents who send their children to school each morning with silent prayers that they will return safely.
The question is simple but deeply unsettling: If the government knows who the terrorists are and where they hide, why do they still roam free?
This question has gained renewed attention following claims by prominent figures, security experts and even serving officers who insist that intelligence about armed groups already exists. According to them, the identities of several criminal networks responsible for bandit attacks in Nigeria are known and their locations mapped. Yet the killings continue.
The gap between what authorities allegedly know and what is actually done has become one of the most disturbing paradoxes in Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis in northern Nigeria.
The debate intensified recently when Islamic cleric Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, who has often positioned himself as a mediator between authorities and armed groups, made a striking claim during a television interview. Speaking on DRTV, Gumi said the Nigerian government already knows the identities and locations of terrorists operating across the country.
“The government knows every terrorist by name and by location,” he said.
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The cleric also disclosed that some of his controversial visits to forests where bandits operate were conducted under the watch of security agencies. His statement raised an uncomfortable question for many Nigerians: if a cleric can walk into bandit camps with security escorts, why is it so difficult for the state to dismantle those camps entirely? Gumi has long advocated dialogue with armed groups as a strategy for reducing violence in the north-west, a stance that has generated intense debate among security analysts and government officials.
The controversy deepened when Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal also suggested that intelligence on bandit leaders exists. In a widely circulated video recorded in September 2025, the governor expressed frustration over persistent attacks in his state.
“I swear to Almighty Allah, wherever a bandit leader is in Zamfara State, I know it. If he moves, I know,” he said.
According to Lawal, modern surveillance tools make it possible to monitor the movements of some criminal groups. However, he explained that operational decisions regarding security deployments largely fall under federal authorities rather than state governments. This has left many governors frustrated as communities continue to face banditry in northern Nigeria.
Adding fuel to the debate, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai earlier alleged that authorities once attempted to discourage bandits by secretly paying them to stop attacks — a claim that sparked nationwide controversy.
Across northern Nigeria, several bandit commanders have become widely known to residents living in affected communities. Among the most feared is Bello Turji, a notorious warlord linked to attacks and kidnappings across Zamfara and Sokoto states. His group has been blamed for deadly raids on rural settlements and large-scale abductions. Another feared figure is Dogo Giɗe, whose network has been associated with mass kidnappings and violent raids in several north-western states. Despite repeated military operations targeting such groups, they have continued to launch attacks, raising questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations.
Nigeria’s insecurity has evolved beyond a single insurgent movement. Today, the country faces multiple armed threats including Boko Haram insurgency, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), bandit gangs operating across north-western states, and organized kidnap-for-ransom networks. Over the past decade, tens of thousands of people have been killed while millions have been displaced from their homes. Entire communities have been abandoned as farmers flee their land and schools shut down due to attacks. In some regions, local vigilante groups have emerged to defend communities where security forces remain overstretched.
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Security analysts say the crisis is complicated by geography, governance failures and regional instability. According to intelligence and security consultant Yahuza Getzo, Nigeria’s porous borders play a major role in sustaining armed violence. Weapons and fighters move across borders linking Nigeria with Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin, creating a vast network of cross-border criminal activity.
“The security challenges we face are influenced by our neighbours and trans-border trade routes,” he said.
Getzo also raised concerns about accountability within Nigeria’s security architecture. “Yes, we may have equipment and gadgets, but the real question is whether we are holding personnel accountable for using them effectively.” Some analysts argue that intelligence alone cannot end the crisis without stronger coordination between security agencies and political authorities.
Another factor fueling violence is the growing criminal economy built around kidnapping in Nigeria. Retired United States Army officer Capt. Bishop Johnson believes ransom payments have transformed kidnapping into a highly profitable enterprise for armed groups.
“If you come into Nigeria and you are able to kidnap people and ransom is paid, your life changes,” he said.
Johnson also pointed to illegal mining as another driver of violence in northern Nigeria. Some regions rich in mineral resources are believed to be controlled by criminal groups that exploit gold deposits while using armed attacks as diversions.
Nigeria has also introduced a controversial deradicalisation programme aimed at rehabilitating former insurgents. Under the federal government’s Operation Safe Corridor, thousands of fighters have surrendered and undergone rehabilitation before being reintegrated into society. Officials say more than 2,600 former insurgents have completed the programme. Supporters believe the initiative weakens insurgent groups by encouraging defections. However, critics worry that the policy could allow dangerous individuals to return to communities without sufficient monitoring. Some serving officers have privately raised concerns that individuals who once fought alongside terrorist groups may still maintain connections with active networks, potentially contributing to intelligence leaks in security operations. Authorities strongly deny that repentant insurgents are integrated into military units.
Security expert Dr Tony Ofoyetan believes Nigeria’s terrorism crisis is rooted in deeper networks operating quietly within communities. He warned about sleeper cells — individuals who live ordinary lives while secretly gathering intelligence for armed groups. They may appear as traders, shop owners or ordinary residents while quietly collecting information about security weaknesses. According to Ofoyetan, terrorist attacks often represent the final stage of a long planning process that involves infiltration and surveillance.
Retired naval officer Rear Admiral Dickson Olisemelor has also questioned the scale of bandit movements across rural areas. In some cases, large groups of armed men travelling on motorcycles have reportedly moved through communities before launching attacks on villages or schools. Such incidents have reinforced public suspicion that the war against banditry in northern Nigeria remains far from being decisively won.
For travellers along northern highways, every journey carries the fear of abduction. For villagers in remote communities, every dawn brings uncertainty about what the next attack might bring. Children walk to school with silent prayers. Farmers work their land with fear in their hearts.
Yet the most haunting question remains unanswered: If Nigeria knows the terrorists and where they hide, why does the violence continue?
Until that question is confronted with transparency and decisive action, millions of Nigerians will continue to live under the shadow of insecurity.
Nigeria’s Terror Paradox: If Authorities Know the Criminals, Why Do Attacks Continue?
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Police Rescue 5 Gateway Polytechnic Students After Gun Battle With Kidnappers
Police Rescue 5 Gateway Polytechnic Students After Gun Battle With Kidnappers
Five students of Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade, Ogun State, who were abducted by suspected kidnappers, have been rescued by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command after an intense intelligence-led operation involving multiple tactical units.
The students were reportedly kidnapped late on Monday, April 27, 2026, around the Sapade area in Remo North Local Government Area, throwing the institution and surrounding communities into panic.
According to the Ogun State Police Command, the incident was first reported at about 10:55 p.m. when officers at the Ipara Division received a distress call about a suspected abduction.
Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that a patrol team immediately moved to the scene where they discovered an abandoned ash-coloured Toyota vehicle riddled with bullet holes and stained with blood.
“The vehicle was observed with visible bullet impacts and blood stains, while mobile phones and other personal belongings were recovered from within,” Babaseyi said.
Further checks by operatives reportedly revealed an identity card belonging to a student of Gateway Polytechnic, confirming that the occupants of the vehicle were students of the institution.
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The discovery prompted the immediate activation of a large-scale rescue mission ordered by the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni.
According to the police, the rescue operation involved operatives from the Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Quick Response Squad (QRS), and OP MESA.
Security teams subsequently launched coordinated bush-combing operations and tracking exercises across suspected escape routes used by the abductors.
Police authorities said the sustained pressure mounted by the operatives forced the kidnappers into a confrontation with security personnel during the rescue effort.
“During the rescue operation, the kidnappers engaged operatives in a gun duel but were overwhelmed by superior firepower and tactical response, forcing them to flee with suspected gunshot wounds,” Babaseyi stated.
The five students were eventually rescued on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, less than 24 hours after the abduction.
Authorities confirmed that the victims were immediately evacuated from the forest, debriefed, and taken for medical attention due to the physical and psychological conditions they suffered while in captivity.
Police also confirmed that no casualty was recorded among security operatives involved in the operation.
The Ogun State Police Command has since intensified bush-combing and manhunt operations to track down the fleeing suspects, with authorities expressing confidence that arrests will soon be made.
Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni commended the tactical teams involved in the operation, describing the rescue as a result of swift coordination, intelligence gathering, and rapid deployment.
The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over kidnapping and insecurity affecting students and commuters across parts of Nigeria, particularly along highways and semi-rural communities.
Residents around Sapade and neighbouring communities have called for increased security patrols and surveillance around schools and major roads to prevent future attacks.
The police meanwhile urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue sharing credible information that could assist security agencies in tracking criminal groups operating within the state. (Royal News)
Police Rescue 5 Gateway Polytechnic Students After Gun Battle With Kidnappers
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ASP Nuhu: Viral Delta Police Shooting Raises Questions Over Officer’s Past
ASP Nuhu: Viral Delta Police Shooting Raises Questions Over Officer’s Past
The fatal shooting of 28-year-old Mene Ogidi by a police officer in Effurun, Delta State, has continued to generate outrage across Nigeria, with fresh scrutiny now focused on the operational history and conduct of the officer identified as ASP Usman Nuhu.
The controversy began after a disturbing viral video surfaced online showing Ogidi seated on the ground with his hands tied behind his back while pleading for his life before he was shot at close range during a police operation along the Warri–Sapele Expressway.
In the footage, the victim repeatedly begged the officers not to kill him, insisting he had been misled by a friend and offering to cooperate with investigators.
“Officers, abeg, I go tell you everything. Na my friend deceive me. E dey Sapele. I go carry you go the place,” Ogidi was heard saying moments before the shooting.
Despite the suspect being restrained and posing no visible threat, an officer later identified as ASP Usman Nuhu allegedly cocked his rifle and fired directly at him. The suspect immediately collapsed as shocked residents and passers-by watched the scene unfold.
Following public outrage triggered by the video, the Delta State Police Command confirmed that the officer involved was ASP Usman Nuhu, attached to the Effurun Area Command.
Police spokesperson Bright Edafe stated that Ogidi had allegedly been arrested during an operation involving suspected illegal possession and transportation of a Beretta pistol and ammunition.
However, the command admitted that the shooting violated Force Order 237 and the Standard Operating Procedures of the Nigeria Police Force, which regulate the use of firearms during operations.
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The police subsequently arrested ASP Nuhu, queried him internally, and transferred him to Force Headquarters in Abuja for disciplinary proceedings and possible prosecution.
As the case gained national attention, reports and eyewitness accounts also began emerging about the officer’s alleged operational history.
Several local reports claimed ASP Nuhu was known in parts of the Niger Delta by the nickname “Ogbegbe,” loosely translated as “Gun-shooter,” allegedly due to his aggressive operational style and frequent use of force.
Some residents and online commentators further alleged that he had previously served in tactical policing units, including the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and may have faced complaints over excessive force in earlier postings.
Unverified reports also suggested that the officer had been transferred from previous commands following allegations of misconduct. However, no official police records confirming prior disciplinary action against him have been publicly released.
The growing revelations have intensified public criticism, with many Nigerians questioning how an officer accused of repeated aggressive conduct remained in active service.
Meanwhile, rights groups and civil society organisations have called for a broader investigation into all officers present during the incident, arguing that accountability should not stop with the officer who pulled the trigger.
Witnesses alleged that other officers were present during the operation and failed to intervene despite the suspect already being restrained.
The Delta State Police Command has maintained that investigations are ongoing and assured the public that justice will be served.
Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, condemned the incident and extended condolences to the family of the deceased, insisting that the command remains committed to transparency and accountability.
The killing of Mene Ogidi has once again reignited national conversations around police brutality in Nigeria, use of excessive force, and the need for deeper reforms within the Nigeria Police Force.
Human rights advocates have continued to demand stricter enforcement of operational guidelines, independent oversight, and tougher sanctions against officers involved in unlawful killings.
As disciplinary proceedings continue at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, many Nigerians say the outcome of the case will test the sincerity of ongoing promises of police reform and accountability.
ASP Nuhu: Viral Delta Police Shooting Raises Questions Over Officer’s Past
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“I Can’t Eat or Sleep”: Sisialagbo Cries Out, Begs For Forgiveness Over Leaked Video
“I Can’t Eat or Sleep”: Sisialagbo Cries Out, Begs For Forgiveness Over Leaked Video
IBADAN – For nearly four years, Eniola Fagbemi, better known as **Eniola Sisialagbo**, has built a small empire from her living room in Oyo State. With a warm smile and confident declarations of herbal expertise, she amassed nearly **400,000 followers on Facebook**—mostly Nigerians seeking solutions for fertility issues, infections, and male enhancement. But in the past 72 hours, that carefully crafted image has collapsed. A **private video**, allegedly showing Eniola, her husband **Hakeem**, and another woman in a sexual encounter, has leaked across Nigerian social media. The clip, believed to have originated in a **private WhatsApp group**, has since been shared thousands of times on **Facebook, Twitter (X), TikTok, and Instagram**. In the recording, Eniola is reportedly seen **filming the scene** while her husband engages with the second woman. The fallout has been brutal.
Eniola Sisialagbo was no ordinary influencer. She marketed herself as a **certified herbal expert**—a woman of faith who sold remedies for **stubborn infections, low sperm count, and fertility problems**. Her clients trusted her. Her followers admired her. Many viewed her as a **model of marital virtue**. That perception has now shattered. Within hours of the leak, Eniola’s social media pages were flooded with **insults, mockery, death threats, and calls for her business to be shut down**. Fellow Nigerians labeled her a **hypocrite**. Rivals celebrated her downfall. Even a woman claiming to be **Hakeem’s godmother** stepped forward—not to calm the storm, but to pour fuel on it. *“God just wanted to expose them,”* the woman said, adding that the video was *“leaked by mistake.”* The statement only deepened public ridicule.
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On the morning of April 29, 2026, Eniola posted a **raw, unfiltered apology** on her social media pages. Unlike the polished statements often issued by celebrities, hers read like a **cry for mercy**. She wrote: *“I own my mistakes and I apologize with all sincerity for the video circulating online. I am deeply sorry to everyone who felt disappointed in me. This is a difficult phase for me. I pray for God’s forgiveness and my fans’ forgiveness.”* She then made a plea that stunned many readers: *“Please, let’s move past this because this media platform is where I get the little support I need to feed myself. Do not condemn or castigate me. I am already passing through a lot. I can’t eat or sleep for days, and even sleeping medications aren’t working any longer.”* It was the final line that alarmed mental health advocates most: *“I am deeply sorry, everyone. Please forgive me. I don’t want to injure myself. I only have a little strength left.”*
Eniola’s admission of **suicidal thoughts** and **self-harm ideation** has sparked a secondary debate across Nigerian social media. While some commenters continue to mock her, others have called for **immediate compassion**. Dr. Femi Adeyemo, a Lagos-based clinical psychologist who reviewed her statement, said: *“When someone says sleeping medication has stopped working and they cannot eat for days, that is a psychiatric emergency. Bullying her further could have tragic consequences.”* As of press time, Eniola has **locked comments** on her pages to prevent further harassment. She has not deactivated her accounts, but her herbal business—her only source of income—remains in freefall.
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Legal analysts note that while the public is focused on Eniola’s conduct, the **original leak** of a private video may constitute a crime under Nigerian cyber laws. Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees privacy, and the **Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015** criminalizes non-consensual sharing of intimate images. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for leaking the video. Eniola’s husband, Hakeem, has **not issued any public statement**. The identity of the second woman in the video remains unknown.
Across Nigeria, reactions remain sharply split. **Sympathizers** argue that a private mistake—however embarrassing—should not destroy a woman’s ability to feed herself. They point out that **no law was broken** by Eniola herself, and that the real wrong was the leak. **Critics** counter that **public figures who preach morality** must be held to higher standards. *“She sold herbs based on trust,”* one commenter wrote. *“If she lies about her own life, why should we trust her medicine?”* Others simply express exhaustion with the cycle of leaks, apologies, and online mob justice.
As of this writing, Eniola Sisialagbo remains **at home in Oyo State**, reportedly under the watch of family members. Her social media presence has gone silent except for the locked apology post. No word has come from brand partners or herbal suppliers. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988) has been shared widely in response to her plea, though it remains unclear whether Eniola has sought professional help. One thing is certain: the video will not disappear. But whether Eniola Fagbemi survives this—personally, professionally, or even physically—depends now not on the internet’s memory, but on its mercy.
**If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or contact a local mental health professional immediately.**
“I Can’t Eat or Sleep”: Sisialagbo Cries Out, Begs For Forgiveness Over Leaked Video
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