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

Lagos impounds 309 motorcycles in fresh crackdown on illegal okada operations

The Lagos State Government has intensified its campaign against illegal okada operations, with the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, popularly known as the Lagos Taskforce, impounding 309 commercial motorcycles during a large-scale enforcement operation along the ECOWAS Road corridor and surrounding communities.

The exercise, carried out in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and supported by the Lagos State Police Command, also targeted street trading, illegal structures, environmental violations and other activities considered detrimental to public safety, traffic management and sanitation.

According to the Taskforce, the operation forms part of the Lagos State Government‘s ongoing enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycles operating on highways and other restricted routes. Officials said the exercise also aligns with the state’s THEMES Plus Agenda, which prioritises safer roads, improved environmental standards and enhanced security across Lagos.

Authorities noted that illegal commercial motorcycle operators have continued to violate traffic regulations despite repeated warnings, contributing to road accidents, traffic congestion and security concerns in different parts of the state.

The enforcement covered multiple locations along the busy ECOWAS Road corridor, including Orile-Iganmu Bus Stop, Suru-Alaba Bus Stop, Mile 2 Underbridge, Mazamaza Bus Stop, Festac First Gate, Iyana-Ira, Abule-Ado, Alakija Bus Stop, Iyana-Iba, Alaba Rago, Old Ojo Road and Okoko Bus Stop.

These locations have long been identified by the government as flashpoints for illegal commercial motorcycle activities, indiscriminate street trading and environmental infractions that disrupt traffic flow and threaten public order.

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Beyond seizing the 309 motorcycles, enforcement officers dismantled illegal kiosks, makeshift stalls, roadside shanties, unauthorised plank structures and other illegal developments erected on road setbacks and public spaces.

The operation also led to the removal of abandoned household items, illegally displayed building materials and domestic animals obstructing roads, drainage channels and pedestrian walkways. Officials said the exercise significantly improved traffic movement, restored order and enhanced environmental sanitation across the affected communities.

The Taskforce disclosed that all 309 impounded motorcycles would be processed for forfeiture to the Lagos State Government through the courts in accordance with the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

Authorities warned that commercial motorcycle operators who continue to ply prohibited routes risk losing their motorcycles permanently in addition to possible prosecution under existing traffic laws.

Speaking after the operation, Chairman of the Lagos Taskforce, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Adetayo Akerele, described the level of lawlessness and indiscriminate development along the ECOWAS Road corridor as deeply concerning.

According to him, illegal ticketing, roadside trading and the activities of commercial motorcycle operators on restricted routes have created conditions that encourage criminality, traffic congestion and environmental degradation.

Akerele stressed that the government would continue to enforce the law without compromise to ensure that Lagos remains safe and orderly.

He said, “No stone will be left unturned in our determination to restore sanity. It is high time criminal elements operating in Lagos State either desist from these unlawful activities or relocate. We will continue to enforce the law without fear or favour in order to guarantee a safer, cleaner and more orderly Lagos for everyone.”

The Taskforce chairman added that some criminal elements have allegedly exploited illegal commercial motorcycle operations as cover for offences such as robbery, kidnapping and other security breaches, making sustained enforcement necessary.

The latest operation forms part of the Lagos State Government‘s broader efforts to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion, strengthen environmental sanitation and combat crime across the state.

Over the past few years, the government has maintained restrictions on commercial motorcycles on major highways and designated routes, arguing that the policy has helped reduce fatal road accidents, improve traffic management and enhance public safety.

The Taskforce said enforcement operations would continue across all parts of Lagos, warning that violators of the state’s transport and environmental laws would face arrest, prosecution and forfeiture of their motorcycles where applicable.

Residents were also urged to support government efforts by complying with existing regulations and reporting illegal activities capable of threatening public safety or disrupting traffic flow.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven enforcement operations aimed at ensuring a cleaner, safer and more organised Lagos.

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Lagos impounds 309 motorcycles in fresh crackdown on illegal okada operations

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