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Terrorists kill six soldiers, 12 civilians in Zamfara, Sokoto attacks

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Terrorists kill six soldiers, 12 civilians in Zamfara, Sokoto attacks

Terrorists kill six soldiers, 12 civilians in Zamfara, Sokoto attacks

At least six soldiers and 12 civilians were reportedly killed in separate attacks by suspected terrorists in Zamfara and Sokoto states, while more than 70 residents were abducted during a raid on Kasuwar Daji community in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The coordinated attacks, which occurred late Saturday, have renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of the North-West, where rural communities continue to face killings, mass abductions, livestock rustling and repeated attacks by armed groups.

In Zamfara State, residents said heavily armed attackers invaded Kasuwar Daji at about 11:30 p.m., opening fire and reportedly overrunning a military outpost in the community.

Local sources said at least six soldiers were killed during the attack, although the casualty figure had not been officially confirmed by military authorities as of the time of filing this report.

The attackers were also said to have abducted at least 75 residents and taken them into the forest after raiding the community.

A resident, Alhaji Aminu Kasuwar Daji, said the gunmen arrived in large numbers and began firing indiscriminately as they moved through the area.

He appealed to the Zamfara State Government and the Federal Government to strengthen security across the state, warning that residents were increasingly concerned about their safety.

“Our call to the Zamfara State and Federal Governments is to come to the aid of Zamfara people generally over the insecurity bedevilling the state,” he said.

“We are really in danger if terrorists can overpower the military and succeed in their attacks on innocent citizens.”

Former Deputy Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Namadi Kasuwar Daji, also confirmed that the community had been attacked.

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He said he was outside the state when relatives informed him that the attackers had invaded the area, looted shops and abducted an unspecified number of residents.

Namadi said he was informed that soldiers were killed during the attack but could not independently confirm the exact number of military casualties.

He added that the attackers reportedly carted away food items, drinks and other valuables before taking abducted residents into the bush.

The Zamfara State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said he was not aware of the attack and promised to contact police officers in the affected area for verification. However, no further response had been received as of the time of filing this report.

In Sokoto State, at least 12 people were reportedly killed after suspected terrorists attacked Lajinge village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.

Residents said the attackers entered the community at about 11 p.m. on Saturday and operated for several hours, with the attack reportedly continuing until about 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.

According to residents, 11 people died from gunshot wounds, while a woman identified as Agada reportedly died after suffering severe shock during the attack.

Six people were also reportedly burnt alive after the attackers surrounded a room where they had taken refuge.

Residents said the gunmen ordered those inside the room to come out. When they refused, the attackers allegedly poured petrol around the building, set it on fire and opened fire on those who attempted to escape.

Those reportedly killed in the fire included the head of the household, Mallam Wauro, popularly known as Mallam Roro; his two sons, Ukasha and Mujaheed; two relatives identified as Sufyanu and Sani Shanbami; and an internally displaced person who had been staying in the house.

Another resident, identified as Lawwali, was reportedly shot dead at the entrance of the same house while attempting to flee, bringing the number of people killed in the compound to seven.

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Residents said other victims were shot while trying to escape from different parts of the village.

They included a resident identified as Yusuf and three internally displaced persons who had sought safety in Lajinge after fleeing violence in other communities.

A member of the community’s local vigilante group said residents were keeping watch near the village primary school when they suddenly heard heavy gunfire.

He said the vigilante members were unable to withstand the attackers and were forced to flee as the gunmen moved through the community.

“We were at the primary school guarding the village when we suddenly heard heavy gunfire,” the resident said.

“We all ran for safety and kept moving from one hiding place to another whenever the shooting came closer.”

The attackers were reportedly able to move from house to house, stealing cattle and sheep while firing weapons to keep residents away.

A resident said one of the gunmen positioned a rifle at a strategic location while others entered homes and seized livestock.

The attackers later moved to the residence of Mallam Wauro, where he and two of his sons were killed.

Residents also said two of his wives were abducted and that the attackers took away cattle and other livestock from the household.

The exact number of people abducted during the Sokoto attack could not immediately be established.

Residents said several people were taken away, but some, particularly children, were later released by the attackers.

Community members alleged that no security reinforcement arrived during the attack despite repeated distress calls.

They also claimed that security personnel stationed in nearby Unguwar Lalle and Dan Tudu communities, which are about two kilometres from Lajinge, did not respond while the attack was ongoing.

“The bandits stayed in our village for hours without any intervention,” one resident said.

“They even walked along the main road laughing and smoking cigarettes as if they had conquered the community.”

The residents said they had repeatedly appealed to the government to deploy security personnel to the area but that their requests had not been met.

They added that eight people were killed in an earlier attack on the community about three weeks ago, increasing fears among residents over continued violence.

“We are Nigerians and we have voter cards. We elected the government to protect our lives and property,” a resident said.

“We are pleading with the authorities to deploy security personnel to safeguard our communities.”

The Sokoto State Police Command had also not issued an official confirmation of the attack as of the time of filing this report.

Police spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he was not aware of the incident and would verify the report after reaching his office. No further update had been provided at press time.

The latest attacks have again highlighted the security challenges facing rural communities in Zamfara and Sokoto, where residents continue to demand improved intelligence gathering, stronger security deployment and faster responses to distress calls.

The reported killings and abductions have also renewed calls for closer coordination among the military, police, intelligence agencies and community-based security groups to prevent further attacks.

As of the time of publication, authorities had not released final official casualty figures or confirmed the number of people abducted in either state.

Terrorists kill six soldiers, 12 civilians in Zamfara, Sokoto attacks

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Kogi: Troops Destroy Kidnappers’ Hideout, Recover 1,000 Rounds of Ammunition, Six Motorcycles

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12 hours ago

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November 3, 2026

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Kogi: Troops Destroy Kidnappers’ Hideout, Recover 1,000 Rounds of Ammunition, Six Motorcycles
Kogi: Troops Destroy Kidnappers’ Hideout, Recover 1,000 Rounds of Ammunition, Six Motorcycles

Troops of the Nigerian Army have destroyed a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in Edimogbo Forest, Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State, recovering 1,000 rounds of ammunition, six motorcycles and other items during an offensive operation.

The operation, according to the Army, followed credible human intelligence indicating that suspected kidnappers were hiding in the forest.

The spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Appolonia Anele, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the troops recovered a substantial cache of ammunition and other materials from the criminal camp.

Anele explained that the suspected criminals opened fire to alert other members of their group after sighting the advancing troops before fleeing into the forest.

She said the soldiers immediately pursued the fleeing suspects deep into the forest, but were unable to establish contact with them.

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“The troops immediately pursued the fleeing criminals deep into the forest, but no contact was made. The troops, however, destroyed the criminal camp, including all supportive structures,” she stated.

According to the Army spokesperson, the recovered items included 1,000 rounds of 7.62mm x 54 ammunition, seven bandoliers, two shovels, a hand pump, a mobile phone, a Glo modem and six motorcycles.

Other items recovered from the hideout included soap, a jerrycan containing petrol, clothing and pairs of shoes.

The Army said troops were still combing the forest and surrounding areas in an effort to track down the fleeing suspects.

The operation forms part of ongoing military efforts to dismantle criminal hideouts, disrupt the activities of suspected kidnappers and improve security across Kogi State.

The recovery of the ammunition and motorcycles is expected to provide further intelligence on the activities and possible movements of the suspected criminal group.

However, the Army did not disclose whether any arrests had been made in connection with the operation as of the time of the announcement.

Kogi: Troops Destroy Kidnappers’ Hideout, Recover 1,000 Rounds of Ammunition, Six Motorcycles

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Nasarawa: Suspected Kidnapper Arrested While Collecting N200,000 Ransom

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12 hours ago

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November 3, 2026

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Nasarawa: Suspected Kidnapper Arrested While Collecting N200,000 Ransom
Mukaila Iliyasu
Nasarawa: Suspected Kidnapper Arrested While Collecting N200,000 Ransom

Troops of the Nigerian Army, working in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected kidnapper while allegedly collecting a ₦200,000 ransom from a female resident of Nasarawa State.

The suspect, identified as Mukaila Iliyasu, was apprehended at Akwaba in Eggon Local Government Area during an intelligence-led operation involving troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, and DSS personnel.

The arrest followed intelligence reports that Iliyasu had allegedly threatened to abduct a woman unless she paid him ₦200,000.

The Acting Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, confirmed the arrest in a statement.

According to the statement, DSS operatives alerted the military to the alleged threat on October 29, prompting a coordinated operation to track down the suspect and prevent the planned abduction.

As part of the operation, a soldier reportedly went undercover and posed as the person assigned to deliver the ransom.

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The security operatives subsequently arrested Iliyasu while he was allegedly collecting the money.

They also recovered ₦200,000, believed to be the ransom demanded from the intended victim.

The military described the operation as a successful intelligence-led intervention that prevented a possible kidnapping, highlighting the importance of cooperation among security agencies in tackling criminal activities.

Following his arrest, the suspect was handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke and General Officer Commanding 5 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Moses Kolo Gara, commended the troops and DSS operatives for their professionalism, courage and effective coordination during the operation.

Gara urged security personnel to sustain their collaboration and strengthen intelligence sharing to tackle kidnapping and other security threats across their areas of responsibility.

He also stressed the importance of continued inter-agency cooperation in protecting lives, safeguarding communities and maintaining peace across the region.

 

Nasarawa: Suspected Kidnapper Arrested While Collecting N200,000 Ransom

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US-Convicted Osun Monarch Drags Adeleke to Court, Moves to Stop Appointment of Successor

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13 hours ago

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November 3, 2026

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US-Convicted Osun Monarch Drags Adeleke to Court, Moves to Stop Appointment of Successor
The deposed Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede
US-Convicted Osun Monarch Drags Adeleke to Court, Moves to Stop Appointment of Successor

The deposed Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has instituted a legal action against Governor Ademola Adeleke, seeking to stop the state government from appointing a new traditional ruler to replace him.

Oloyede, who was removed from the throne following his conviction for fraud-related offences in the United States, is challenging the legality of his deposition and asking an Osun State High Court to prevent the government from filling the vacant stool pending the determination of his suit.

The former monarch is listed as the second claimant in suit number HIF/50/2026, filed before the High Court sitting in Ile-Ife.

In a motion on notice dated September 16, 2026, Oloyede sought an interlocutory injunction restraining Adeleke and other government officials from taking steps to appoint another person as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu until the substantive case is determined.

He argued that the state government failed to formally notify him of any wrongdoing or give him an opportunity to respond before taking the decision to remove him from the traditional institution.

The monarch also challenged an instrument reportedly signed by Adeleke on May 7, 2026, which formalised his removal from the throne.

Oloyede maintained that the process leading to his deposition violated his right to fair hearing, insisting that he was not given an opportunity to defend himself against the allegations before the government acted.

Other claimants in the suit include Princes Oyewusi Adewusi, Isaac Adewuni and Abiodun Oyetoro. They instituted the action on behalf of themselves and other members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.

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The defendants include Governor Adeleke, the Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Afolabi Adedeji, the Asalu of Ipetumodu and head of the kingmakers, Chief Adesoye Babalola, the Malefon of Ipetumodu, and Ife North Local Government.

The latest court proceedings took place on Monday, November 2, 2026, but the hearing could not proceed because of disagreements over the service of hearing notices on the defendants.

Only counsel to the claimants, O. Ogbewe, and counsel representing the fifth defendant, Soji Oyetayo, appeared before the court.

Ogbewe informed the court that the defendants had been served with the relevant court processes.

However, Oyetayo disputed the claim, telling the court that he had not received the hearing notice. He consequently requested an adjournment to allow proper service on all parties.

In his ruling, Justice Dapo Adeniji adjourned the matter until January 21, 2027, directing that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.

The legal battle follows Oloyede’s conviction by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio over his involvement in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving COVID-19 relief funds.

The former monarch was sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment on August 26, 2025, after pleading guilty to offences involving wire fraud, filing false tax returns and conducting financial transactions involving proceeds of criminal activity.

The US court also ordered him to pay approximately $4.4 million in restitution.

Following the conviction, the Osun State Government initiated steps that culminated in his removal from the traditional stool.

Adeleke approved the deposition in May 2026 after the state government obtained a certified true copy of the American court judgment.

The administration said the decision was necessary to protect the integrity of the traditional institution and subsequently declared the Apetumodu stool vacant.

However, Oloyede’s latest court action challenges the procedure adopted by the state government, particularly the circumstances surrounding his removal and the proposed appointment of a successor.

The outcome of the case could determine whether the state government’s action withstands judicial scrutiny and whether the process of installing a new Apetumodu can proceed without further legal complications.

For now, the traditional stool remains at the centre of a legal dispute, with the court expected to resume proceedings on January 21, 2027.

 

US-Convicted Osun Monarch Drags Adeleke to Court, Moves to Stop Appointment of Successor

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