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Take battle to bandits, others, Senate tells Service chiefs

Published

4 years ago

February 3, 2022

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Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan

•Kidnap suspects shot dead after shoot out with security operatives on Benin-Auchi road

The military should take the battle to bandits, the Senate said yesterday.

It urged the Federal Government to deploy fighter jets to flush out terrorists from their hideouts.

These were some resolutions taken after a debate on worsening insecurity in the country.

Bandits have been on the rampage in Northwest states of Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara and Niger State in the Northcentral, killing hundreds and displacing communities.

The Kaduna State government said bandits killed 1,192 persons and kidnapped 3,348 last year.

Over 18 people, including soldiers, were killed and 40 injured when terrorists invaded Galadima Kogo community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State at the weekend.

Last Sunday, gunmen abducted 38 people from Ruwan Godiya community in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The Senate resolutions followed a debate on a motion: “Urgent need for the Federal Government to take drastic actions to bring to an end the act of banditry and kidnapping in Faskari Local Government Area.”

It was sponsored by Senator Bello Mandiya.

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The Senate urged security agencies to comb all known hideouts of kidnappers in Katsina to rescue 38 abducted villagers.

The Federal Government, it said, must take drastic action to end insecurity.

Lawan said the cases make it imperative for the military to “wake up” to protect Nigerians.

He believes a full-scale action should have been carried out by the military considering the increased security funding.

Lawan said: “This Senate expects that there is supposed to be a remarkable difference in success in terms of the fight against insurgency, banditry and militancy in Nigeria.

“The military is getting better funding from the government and what we expect is to see an improvement in output.

“I know the resources are not enough, but recently, for one and a half years, the government has upscaled the level of funding for our military.

“Secondly, when we declared bandits as terrorists, my understanding was they are going to be dealt with ruthlessly now. I wonder whether that is the case.

“The military, as some of our colleagues have said, need to wake up. We want to see a difference because we have made a difference in terms of funding.

“I know funding alone will not be enough, but funding can make a difference and we expect a difference in the outcome.

“Thirdly, we need to mobilise our citizens, because when a hundred people are kidnapped and abducted, they are not taken by aircraft; they are taken by motorbikes, pass through the villages and possibly towns. How do we then say that nobody has seen something?

“We need our citizens to be part and parcel of our security architecture. There’s no way we can achieve better security for this country without the participation of the citizens in the fight against insecurity.”

Senator Kabiru Barkiya (Katsina Central), said the hideouts of terrorists are known.

He urged the Federal Government to order a bombing to flush them out.

Barkiya said: “After declaring the bandits as terrorists, we shouldn’t allow them again to continue their rubbish act. We have to look at it critically.

“Security agents are doing their best but to me, they need to do more. How can the bandits just go and kidnap 38 people in a single community?

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“Can’t we just order the soldiers to enter the bush and just bomb all of them? Our condemnation of banditry activities every day is not enough.”

Mandiya said the act of banditry and kidnapping had become a daily incidence in Katsina, with communities displaced and lives lost.

The resolution added: “The Senate further notes that on Sunday, 31st January 2022, gunmen struck Ruwan Godiya, a community in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State where 38 members of the community were kidnapped.

“The Federal Government had made a frantic effort in curbing the menace by setting up Operation Sharan Daji an inter-agency task force to tackle cases of banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping in Katsina state.”

Yesterday in Edo State, security operatives shot dead three suspected kidnappers who engaged them in gun duel on the highway to Abuja.

The Senate said it was “worried” about the “continuous security challenges and related attacks by bandits on towns, villages and communities in Faskari Local Government Area”.

It said the situation has resulted in “untold hardship on the people and have subjected the affected areas under serious survival threat”.

“If this menace is not drastically and promptly addressed, the consequence is going to be huge on food sufficiency since the affected communities are mostly farmers,” the Upper Chamber added.

The Nation

Related Topics:Bandits battle Senate service chiefs

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Police Arrest Suspect Over Fake Job Interview Robbery in Magodo

Published

38 minutes ago

April 12, 2026

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Police Arrest Suspect Over Fake Job Interview Robbery in Magodo

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with a fake job interview robbery scheme in which unsuspecting job seekers were allegedly lured to Magodo area of Lagos and dispossessed of their valuables.

The incident came to public attention after a viral video posted on X by user @General_Somto on April 10, which triggered widespread concern over the rising trend of job scam robberies in Lagos targeting young applicants searching for employment.

In the video, one of the victims narrated how the group was deceived into attending what appeared to be a legitimate interview, warning the public to be cautious when responding to job offers online.

“Nigerians, let’s be careful out there. Not all job offers are legit. We went for a job interview in Magodo, Lagos only to be robbed. They took our phones, money, and everything we had on us,” she said.

The victims said the suspects created a convincing interview environment that appeared professional and trustworthy, which initially reduced suspicion. However, shortly after they were asked to step out briefly, they returned to discover that their mobile phones, cash, and personal belongings had been stolen.

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Security sources believe the operation may have been carefully planned and could be part of a wider network using fake recruitment adverts to carry out armed robbery and theft under the guise of employment opportunities.

The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement released on Sunday, noting that the case was reported at about 11 p.m. on April 9, 2026.

According to the police, one suspect has been arrested and is currently in custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang involved in the operation. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full structure behind the fake job recruitment scam.

Police authorities also warned members of the public, especially job seekers, to be extremely cautious when responding to job advertisements shared on social media and unofficial platforms.

They advised applicants to verify job offers through official company channels, avoid attending interviews in isolated or unverified locations, and always inform trusted contacts before attending any interview.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to tackling emerging forms of cyber-enabled fraud, job scams, and violent robbery networks across Lagos State.

Police Arrest Suspect Over Fake Job Interview Robbery in Magodo

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BREAKING: Military Intensifies Offensive, Destroys ISWAP Enclave in North-East

Published

2 hours ago

April 12, 2026

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BREAKING: Military Intensifies Offensive, Destroys ISWAP Enclave in North-East

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), operating under Operation Hadin Kai, has announced the destruction of a major ISWAP logistics hub and terrorist enclave in Jilli, Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Air Force said the precision strike, carried out on April 11, 2026, targeted a suspected insurgent stronghold used for coordinating terrorist logistics operations and movement of fighters across the North-East.

According to a statement by the Joint Task Force North-East spokesperson, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the operation followed sustained intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions along the Bindul–Jilli axis, identified as a key corridor for Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) activities.

The military explained that intelligence reports had indicated movement of gun trucks and motorcycles believed to be transporting fighters and supplies into the enclave. Continuous aerial surveillance reportedly confirmed the convergence of these assets at a single location before the strike was approved.

Precision Airstrike on Terrorist Enclave in Jilli

The Air Component said it conducted a series of precision-guided airstrikes on the identified target after confirming its coordinates through human intelligence and aerial surveillance.

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According to the statement, the strikes achieved high accuracy, destroying the ISWAP logistics base in Borno State and neutralising several fighters inside the enclave. Vehicles and equipment reportedly used for logistics and operations were also destroyed, while surviving militants were seen fleeing the area.

The military added that the operation likely disrupted planned coordinated attacks on troops stationed within the Gubio axis, where insurgents were reportedly preparing for offensive operations.

Strategic Blow to Insurgent Supply Network

The Air Force noted that the Jilli axis has remained a hotspot for insurgent activity in recent months, with previous attacks in nearby communities underscoring its strategic importance to terrorist supply chains and mobility routes.

The military also referenced earlier security incidents in the region, including an IED attack in January that killed soldiers and coordinated assaults in surrounding communities, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the area.

Troops Arrest Suspected Logistics Courier

In a related development, troops arrested a suspected insurgent logistics courier identified as “Turja Bulu” in Ngamdu on April 12, 2026.

The suspect reportedly confessed to involvement in previous attacks and admitted to transporting food supplies and logistics materials from Jilli to other insurgent cells operating across the region.

Military Reaffirms Motorcycle Ban in North-East

The Joint Task Force also reiterated the ban on motorcycles across the North-East operational theatre, warning that insurgents continue to rely heavily on motorcycles for movement and attacks.

Authorities stressed that violations of the restriction would be treated as a serious security concern and urged residents to comply fully with operational directives.

NAF Pledges Continued Counter-Terrorism Operations

The Nigerian Air Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining aggressive operations aimed at dismantling ISWAP and Boko Haram logistics networks across the North-East.

Officials said operations under Operation Hadin Kai would continue with renewed intensity until all terrorist enclaves are destroyed and lasting peace is restored to affected communities.

BREAKING: Military Intensifies Offensive, Destroys ISWAP Enclave in North-East

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Police Arrest 23-Year-Old Man Over Alleged Killing of Six-Year-Old Girl in Ibadan

Published

2 hours ago

April 12, 2026

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Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka

Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Ayanlade Olayinka

Police Arrest 23-Year-Old Man Over Alleged Killing of Six-Year-Old Girl in Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old man over the alleged killing of a six-year-old girl in Ibadan, the state capital, in a case that has sparked shock and outrage in the affected community.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the incident occurred on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Adigun Village in the Olorunda Ogunsola area of Ona-Ara Local Government Area.

The command said the arrest followed intelligence reports that a young girl had been unlawfully killed, prompting immediate deployment of operatives to the scene to secure the area and apprehend the suspect.

The suspect, identified as Sodiq Kayode Akorede (23), was reportedly found in possession of the victim’s remains, including her severed head, which was recovered by police during the operation. The victim was identified as six-year-old Mutiyatu Sunday.

Police said the suspect was nearly lynched by an angry mob before officers intervened and rescued him from jungle justice, restoring order and taking him into custody.

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Police Say Suspect Confessed During Investigation

Preliminary investigation by the police indicates that the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime during interrogation. Authorities added that he sustained injuries during the mob attack and was taken to a medical facility for treatment before further processing.

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ayodeji Olugbenga, ordered the immediate mobilisation of officers to the scene and directed that evidence be properly secured for investigation and prosecution.

He also condemned the attempt at mob action, warning residents against taking the law into their own hands, noting that such actions hinder proper criminal investigation and undermine the justice system.

The suspect is expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ibadan for further discreet investigation and possible prosecution.

Police Urge Calm as Investigation Continues

The police command appealed to residents of the area to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the alleged killing.

Authorities also urged members of the public to report suspicious activities promptly, stressing that community cooperation remains key in preventing violent crimes and ensuring public safety.

The incident has left residents of the Adigun community in shock, with calls for swift justice and increased security presence in the area.