Seven villagers killed in Katsina attack as two policemen die in Kaduna rescue operation - Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

Seven villagers killed in Katsina attack as two policemen die in Kaduna rescue operation

Published

on

Seven villagers killed in Katsina attack as two policemen die in Kaduna rescue operation
Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Ali Umar-Fage

Seven villagers killed in Katsina attack as two policemen die in Kaduna rescue operation

  • Notorious kingpin Kachallah Muhammad linked to Sayaya attack hours after troop withdrawal; nine kidnap victims rescued before police lose officers in ambush

At least seven people were killed on Thursday when armed bandits attacked Sayaya community in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, while two police officers lost their lives during an operation to rescue kidnapped victims in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The separate attacks underscore the persistent security challenges facing rural communities in Nigeria’s North-West, where armed groups continue to carry out deadly raids despite ongoing military operations.

The latest incident in Katsina occurred in Sayaya community, where witnesses said gunmen invaded the village in the early hours of Thursday, firing sporadically and causing widespread panic as residents fled their homes. Residents described the incident as one of the most brutal attacks in recent months, saying it shattered the fragile calm the community had begun to enjoy after the deployment of security forces to the area. “We were asleep when we heard heavy gunshots,” a resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Daily Trust. “People were screaming, children were crying, and everyone was running in different directions. By the time the gunmen left, seven of our people were lying lifeless.”

The victims were identified as Lawal Chiki, Abdullahi Mustapha, Yalili Mai Ruwa, Isau Maharba, Salma Tasi’u, and Ibrahim Uncle, who was said to be mentally ill, along with a seventh victim whose identity could not be immediately confirmed. The victims, comprising six men and one woman, reportedly included farmers and traders who had hoped to resume normal life after weeks of relative peace.

READ ALSO:

Locals alleged that the attackers were led by a notorious bandit kingpin, Kachallah Muhammad Fulani, whose name has long been linked to deadly raids and abductions across Matazu and neighbouring communities. “This is the same man who has terrorised our villages for years. He is the one who abducted Major General Rabe and his wife. Anytime we hear his name, we know trouble is coming,” another resident, Alaramma Jibrin, said. The retired general later died in captivity, sparking public outrage and renewed calls for intensified action against banditry. Residents linked the renewed violence to the recent withdrawal of troops attached to Operation Fansan Yamma, alleging that the attackers returned almost immediately after soldiers pulled out. “When the soldiers were here, we could sleep peacefully. But once they left, the bandits came back with more aggression. It feels like we have been abandoned,” a community elder said.

Residents further alleged that the same group recently blocked the Karaduwa–Rimaye road in broad daylight, abducting travellers and assaulting others without resistance. “They stopped vehicles on the road as if it were their territory. People were beaten, some were taken away, and nobody could help,” a commuter, Sulaiman Sale Sayaya, said.

In Matazu town, thousands of mourners gathered for funeral prayers held at the residence of the chairman of Matazu Local Government Area, Hon. Shamsuddeen Muhammad Sayaya (Sarkin Yakin Matazu II), in Sha’iskawa. The funeral prayer was led by Imam Malam Lawal and attended by the deputy chairman of Matazu Local Government Area, Hon. Abubakar Sulaiman, elected councillors, traditional leaders, and residents from across the area. Following the prayers, the victims were buried at the Sha’iskawa cemetery amid grief and mourning by family members, friends, and residents. Many families have reportedly fled Sayaya community for safer locations in Matazu town and neighbouring areas. “We cannot stay and wait to be killed,” a displaced woman said while relocating with her children. “At least in town, we can sleep without hearing gunshots.” A farmer added, “Our farms are there, but our lives are more important. If we go to the bush, we may not return.”

Residents appealed to the state and federal governments to take urgent and sustained action, warning that temporary deployments and short-term operations would not bring lasting peace. “We do not want temporary peace,” a community leader stressed. “We want a permanent solution. We want to live without fear. We want our children to sleep at home, not run for their lives.”

READ ALSO:

When contacted, the Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said the command had yet to verify the incident and promised to provide an update, but no further response had been received as of the time of reporting. Several phone calls and text messages sent to the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa, were neither answered nor acknowledged as of press time.

Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, security operatives rescued nine kidnapped victims during an operation in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area after a gun battle that forced suspected bandits to abandon their captives and flee into the bush. The Kaduna State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan. According to the statement, the victims were abducted on Wednesday while working on their farms around Unguwan Sa’idu village, located a few kilometres from Birnin Gwari town.

The command said credible intelligence received at about 12:45 p.m. indicated that about 15 armed bandits, wielding sophisticated weapons, were operating in the area and had taken several people hostage. Following the report, the Area Commander of Birnin Gwari and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) mobilised patrol teams, including personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVIS), and moved to the scene to rescue the victims. Police said the operatives encountered the bandits on arrival and engaged them in a fierce gun battle, forcing the criminals to flee on motorcycles into the surrounding bush. “The team launched a hot pursuit, forcing the criminals to abandon their captives and flee for safety,” the statement said.

The rescued victims were identified as Hudu Rabiu, 31; Yusuf Sagir, 20; Sagir Rabiu, 17; Muhammad Kabir, 23; Kabir Lawal, 20; Idris Abubakar, 17; Mustapha Zayyanu, 18; Kabiru Rabiu, 18; and Usman Lawal, 18. According to the command, the victims were found tied with ropes and abandoned by their abductors during the chase. They were rescued unharmed and later reunited with their families.

Tragedy, however, struck while the operatives were returning from the operation. The police said suspected bandits, believed to have laid an ambush along the route, opened fire on the security team, leaving two officers with fatal gunshot wounds. The officers later died in the line of duty. Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commiserated with the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased officers. He described their sacrifice as a testament to the courage, dedication, and selflessness of security personnel who risk their lives daily to protect citizens. The commissioner said the command would continue to honour the memory of the fallen officers and remain committed to tackling insecurity across the state. He added that investigations and tactical operations were ongoing to track down the attackers and bring them to justice.

The fresh incidents have renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in Nigeria’s North-West, with residents calling for sustained military deployments and long-term measures to restore peace to the region.

Seven villagers killed in Katsina attack as two policemen die in Kaduna rescue operation


Loading

metro

FRSC Confirms 15 Dead, 25 Injured in Enagi-Mokwa Road Accident

Published

on

FRSC Confirms 15 Dead, 25 Injured in Enagi-Mokwa Road Accident

FRSC Confirms 15 Dead, 25 Injured in Enagi-Mokwa Road Accident

FRSC confirms Saturday evening accident along Enagi-Mokwa Road, blames overspeeding and wrongful overtaking

Fifteen travellers were burnt to death and 25 others sustained injuries in a fatal road crash along the Enagi-Mokwa Road in Niger State on Saturday evening. The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Aishatu Sa’adu, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Sunday.

According to Sa’adu, the crash involved two commercial buses travelling in the same direction. She said the buses collided head-on after one of the drivers allegedly attempted to overtake wrongly at a bend, resulting in both vehicles catching fire. “Fifteen people were burnt to death in the crash, while 25 others sustained injuries,” she stated. The injured victims were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre in Bida and the General Hospital in Kutigi for treatment.

READ ALSO:

Sa’adu attributed the accident to overspeeding and wrongful overtaking, advising motorists to always maintain a good speed limit and avoid dangerous overtaking. “The accident was a result of overspeeding and wrongfully overtaking. I advise motorists to always maintain a good speed limit and avoid wrongful overtaking,” she said. The FRSC commander also urged commercial drivers to exercise greater caution when navigating sharp bends, especially during the rainy season when road conditions can become hazardous.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the crash occurred at a sharp bend around Costain Duma, where the bus reportedly caught fire, trapping passengers inside. An eyewitness, Ahmed Ndagana, said the vehicle was engulfed in flames shortly after the crash, leaving occupants with little chance of escape. The tragic incident has renewed concerns over the dangers posed by sharp bends and difficult road conditions in the region.

It also highlights the persistent challenge of road safety in Nigeria, where speed violations and reckless driving frequently lead to fatal accidents. At the time of filing this report, further details from the police were not immediately available.

FRSC Confirms 15 Dead, 25 Injured in Enagi-Mokwa Road Accident

Loading

Continue Reading

metro

Family Recounts Temitope Osoba’s Last Moment, Says Actress Repeatedly Predicted Her Death

Published

on

Family Recounts Temitope Osoba's Last Moment, Says Actress Repeatedly Predicted Her Death
Family Recounts Temitope Osoba's Last Moment, Says Actress Repeatedly Predicted Her Death

Family Recounts Temitope Osoba’s Last Moment, Says Actress Repeatedly Predicted Her Death

Aunt reveals fiancé told actress she would die that day as family calls for police investigation amid conflicting accounts surrounding her passing

The family of late Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba has recounted her final moments, revealing that she repeatedly expressed fears that she would die on the same day she eventually passed away. Osoba’s maternal aunt, Pejuola Ogunesan, made the disclosure during an interview with actor Kunle Afod and another family member, Dupe, on Sunday. According to Pejuola, Osoba told her at a police station that her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko, had previously told her that she would die that day. The revelation comes amid controversy surrounding the circumstances of the actress’s death, with conflicting accounts emerging from the family and her fiancé. Temitope Osoba, a Yoruba Nollywood actress who survived breast cancer, died at the age of 40 on August 4, 2026. Her final public message was “Ogo Tuntun” (A New Glory), which she posted on WhatsApp.

Pejuola said she had been estranged from Osoba since 2023, when the actress left Evercare Hospital, Lekki, where she was receiving treatment for breast cancer, with Onadeko and actress Foluke Daramola. She explained that the relationship deteriorated after Osoba accused the family of taking her phone away while she was preparing for surgery. “She had told them that she didn’t want to see us because we collected her phone when she was supposed to focus on the surgery for her breast cancer,” Pejuola said. “We tried calling her and discovered that she had blocked all of us. Since then, I swore never to have anything to do with her again. I called my elder sister, whom she had also called, and we headed for the police station where she was.” When Pejuola and her sister arrived at the police station, Osoba recognised them and introduced them to the Divisional Police Officer as her aunties. “She (Temitope) would complain of not being able to sleep, seeing monsters and the fiancé. Now that Aunty Peju is here, she would die. She mentioned that the fiancé had told her that they would post her obituary that day,” the aunt said.

READ ALSO:

The aunt further alleged that Osoba jumped out of a vehicle after officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority stopped another vehicle travelling ahead of them. Osoba told one of the officials that she did not know where they were taking her and demanded that they be taken to a police station. At the police station, Osoba allegedly made several allegations against Onadeko. Pejuola claimed that the prophet had relationships with multiple women and had asked Osoba to leave his home and pretend that they had ended their relationship for two months, which eventually led her to stay with her hairstylist. The aunt also said Osoba told her that she had suffered three miscarriages despite being advised against becoming pregnant within five years of her surgery.

Pejuola explained that Osoba had planned to visit a prophetess, Kehinde Osoba, whom she considered a family member, after being advised to seek spiritual help over strange dreams that had reportedly affected her ability to eat. However, when the family contacted the prophetess, she reportedly asked them not to bring the actress to the church, promising instead to pick her up after her programme. After waiting for several hours, the family found the church locked and the prophetess could no longer be reached. The family then took Osoba to another church, where prayers were offered after the actress became increasingly distressed. “She was just saying that the guy said she would die today,” Pejuola added.

Osoba later stayed with the family, but her condition continued to worsen. She made a social media post titled “Ogo tuntun” (new glory), sent messages to several people and complained of feeling uncomfortable. As her condition deteriorated, the family rushed her to a hospital. Pejuola said they were referred to the Ogun State University Teaching Hospital, but Osoba died shortly after arriving. “When we got there, they referred us to OSUTH. Suddenly, she just defecated in the car. Her head suddenly dropped. Before we could get to the emergency, she was confirmed dead,” she said.

READ ALSO:

Prophet Itunu Onadeko, Osoba’s fiancé, has given a different account of events. In an interview with the Celestial Reality Check, Onadeko alleged that Osoba died at a police station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, and dismissed claims that she died from cancer complications, poisoning, or maltreatment. He said he was informed of her death through a phone call around midnight. “It was a random person that called me around 12 am that she died in a police station in Ikorodu,” Onadeko said. He said he did not know the particular police station where Osoba died but reported himself at a nearby station. Onadeko said Osoba had gone to see Mrs Kehinde Osoba shortly before her death. “She had insisted to see Mrs Kehinde Osoba, she also has a church, although she said she wanted to see me too. When they left for there, I told them that I wasn’t chanced to go that day because of church programmes,” he said. The prophet also denied allegations that he had access to funds donated for Osoba’s cancer treatment or used the money to construct his church. “It wasn’t my account they sent the money to, it was hers. And I didn’t use the money to build church as rumoured. What I know is that people gave her money including Mike Adenuga who offered her a cheque. I never had access to her money,” he said. Onadeko further denied claims that Osoba was prevented from driving her car, saying she drove it herself when she travelled to Iperu shortly before her death. He also revealed that Osoba struggled with smoking and said he had encouraged her to stop. He denied allegations that Osoba was maltreated before her death, including claims that faeces or urine was poured on her body as punishment for allegedly stealing biscuits.

Temitope Kofoworola Osoba was born on December 2, 1985, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and raised by her grandparents after losing both parents at a young age. She began her acting career in 2005 after being discovered during a movie rehearsal in Lagos and went on to appear in productions including Gucci Girls, Igboro Ti Daru, Oogun Mi, Ifedolapo, and Accident. In late 2024, Osoba discovered a lump in her breast during a routine self-examination and went public with her diagnosis immediately. Her corrective surgery carried a price tag of N12 million, and actresses Foluke Daramola and Iyabo Ojo spearheaded fundraising efforts that helped cover her bills. She underwent surgery in November 2024 and announced her recovery in August 2025. In December 2025, she turned 40, describing the milestone as “a victory, a blessing and a reminder that miracles happen.”

The family of the late actress has announced that Temitope Osoba will be laid to rest on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Saint James Anglican Church, Iperu Remo, Ogun State. The family has also requested that mourners wear white attire for the burial service. Friends and colleagues have announced a candlelight procession and artistes’ night tagged “An Evening of Love, Music & Memories” scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, at LTV 8 Blueroof, Ikeja, Lagos. Meanwhile, the family has urged the public to ignore rumors surrounding her passing and requested privacy as they mourn her loss.

Family Recounts Temitope Osoba’s Last Moment, Says Actress Repeatedly Predicted Her Death

Loading

Continue Reading

metro

“President Eats Once a Day” — NRS Boss Dismisses Tinubu’s Extravagant Lifestyle Claims

Published

on

"President Eats Once a Day" — NRS Boss Dismisses Tinubu's Extravagant Lifestyle Claims

“President Eats Once a Day” — NRS Boss Dismisses Tinubu’s Extravagant Lifestyle Claims

Zacch Adedeji defends President’s lifestyle amid economic hardship, says Tinubu does not live extravagantly

The Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) , Zacch Adedeji, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu walks to his office and eats only once a day, while dismissing claims that the President lives an extravagant lifestyle amid Nigeria’s economic difficulties. Adedeji made the remarks during an interview with Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, while responding to questions from journalist Seun Okinbaloye about the lifestyles of political office holders as Nigerians continue to grapple with rising living costs and growing economic pressures. His comments come amid public debate over government spending and the perceived extravagant lifestyles of some public officials, at a time when citizens are confronting high living costs and other economic pressures.

According to Adedeji, Tinubu usually walks from his residence to his office and only uses a vehicle when he is heading to the airport. “Mr President goes from home to office on foot, not even driving except when he is going to the airport. I don’t know where you see the convoy. Before he became president, what is he riding?” Adedeji said. He further claimed that the President eats only once daily and had not travelled outside Nigeria in the previous three months. “What is living large? In the last months, he has not even left the shores of this country, trekking and working. If you go there now, you will see him review one document or the other,” he said.

READ ALSO:

The NRS boss was also questioned about reports concerning the number of Cadillac Escalades allegedly attached to Tinubu’s convoy. Responding, Adedeji challenged the basis of the concern, arguing that the President could afford such vehicles and should not be portrayed as living extravagantly because of their use. “How much is an Escalade that the president of Nigeria cannot afford? Please don’t embarrass this country,” he said. He further questioned how frequently the President attends social events, arguing that his activities do not suggest a lavish lifestyle. “So what is living large? The president eats once in a day. How many parties have you seen him at in the last three years? Tell me where you have seen him, whether on holiday or anywhere?” Adedeji asked.

His comments follow President Tinubu’s own admission in May 2026 that he had lost weight and sleep since assuming office, which he attributed to the demands of his reform agenda. Speaking after securing the APC presidential ticket, Tinubu said: “I know what it takes to reform this nation we met in tatters. If you lost sleep, I’ve lost some too. If you’ve lost weight, I’ve lost some too.” Critics have however pointed to what they describe as the disconnect between Adedeji’s description of Tinubu’s lifestyle and the visible security presence and protocol that typically accompany a president.

The discussion comes against the backdrop of rising food inflation at 17.52 percent and headline inflation at 15.91 percent, alongside a N70,000 minimum wage that many Nigerians argue is inadequate amid the current economic climate. The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has warned that rising food prices continue to erode household purchasing power, worsen poverty and food insecurity, and weaken the inclusiveness of the current reform programme. Nigerians on social media have also reacted with skepticism to Adedeji’s claims, with some describing his comments as insensitive given the economic realities facing ordinary citizens.

“President Eats Once a Day” — NRS Boss Dismisses Tinubu’s Extravagant Lifestyle Claims

Loading

Continue Reading

Trending