metro
Two herdsmen killed by lightning not kidnappers – police
Two herdsmen killed by lightning not kidnappers – police
The Kwara State police command on Sunday said some people struck dead by lightning in Oro Ago, Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state last week were herders.
Locals had claimed the victims were members of an eight-man kidnap gang, who reportedly operated in Iwo, Isin Local Government Areas of Kwara State about two weeks ago.
A local chief was killed by a stray bullet during the incident while the chairman of CAN in the community was kidnapped.
The police had promised to investigate the matter.
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While giving an update on its investigation of the viral video, the police spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi SP, in a statement, said the victims who were burnt beyond recognition, were herders aged 10 and 12 years old.
“This was revealed by the father of the victims, who was accompanied by Mohammed Oni Anishere, the chairman of the Oro-Ago vigilante group, Mumini Usman; the leader of the vigilante in Oko, Chief Olukosi of Oke-Oyan; and Idris Male, also of Oke-Oyan.
“The command wishes to confirm that lightning killed two young people, but they were not kidnappers as amplified in the viral video,” Okasanmi said.
He, however, did not give any details on the circumstances that led to the incident.
Two herdsmen killed by lightning not kidnappers – police
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VIDEO: NDLEA Discovers Gun Factory in Kaduna, Arrests 45-Year-Old Owner
VIDEO: NDLEA Discovers Gun Factory in Kaduna, Arrests 45-Year-Old Owner
KADUNA — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered an illegal firearms manufacturing factory in Kaduna State and arrested its alleged owner during an intelligence-led raid.
The operation, which took place in Sabon Garin Kangin area of the state on Monday, November 9, 2026, led to the recovery of locally manufactured firearms and materials used in producing weapons.
The NDLEA disclosed the development on Sunday through its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a security update shared on his X account.
Babafemi identified the arrested factory owner as Sagiru Musa, 45.
According to the agency, operatives discovered the facility during a raid targeting criminal activities in the area.
Items recovered from the suspected gun factory included 17 locally manufactured Dane guns, two pistols, 25 Dane gun barrels and other materials used for firearms production.
The agency said the discovery exposed an illegal weapons manufacturing operation and resulted in the arrest of the person allegedly responsible for running the facility.
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In his update, Babafemi stated that the operation uncovered finished firearms alongside materials intended for the production of additional weapons.
He said the discovery further reinforced concerns about the connection between substance abuse, drug trafficking and other forms of criminal activity.
“This reinforces the already established fact that there’s a nexus between substance abuse, drug trafficking and other forms of crime,” Babafemi said.
The Kaduna operation was among several enforcement activities carried out by NDLEA commands across the country.
In another operation along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, NDLEA operatives reportedly intercepted a 31-year-old woman, identified as Tabara Dauda, on Friday, November 13, recovering 196 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition and N675,000 in cash.
The agency also reported other drug-related arrests and seizures as part of its nationwide operations.
The arrest of the suspected gun factory owner comes amid continuing security concerns over the circulation of illegal firearms and their potential use by criminal groups.
The NDLEA has yet to provide further details about the suspect’s alleged customers, the duration of the factory’s operation or whether additional arrests are expected.
The suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/2121872742454530403/video/1
VIDEO: NDLEA Discovers Gun Factory in Kaduna, Arrests 45-Year-Old Owner
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Bandits Kill Two Abducted Victims After Collecting ₦6m Ransom in Niger State
Bandits Kill Two Abducted Victims After Collecting ₦6m Ransom in Niger State
KONTAGORA, Niger State — In another disturbing incident highlighting the worsening insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, suspected bandits have reportedly killed two kidnapped residents despite collecting a ₦6 million ransom from their families.
The victims, identified as Anas and Sallama, popularly known as Babawo, were reportedly killed along Maidubu Road in Yamma Ward, Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State.
The tragic development came after their families allegedly paid the kidnappers ₦6 million in an effort to secure their release.
The two victims were among eight residents abducted during a bandit attack in the area. Although some of the kidnapped persons were subsequently released, Anas and Sallama reportedly did not survive their ordeal.
Security expert Bakatsine disclosed the incident in a post on his official X account on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
According to the security analyst, the families of the victims had made efforts to negotiate with the kidnappers and secure the freedom of their loved ones.
However, despite the reported ransom payment, the armed men allegedly went ahead to kill the two captives.
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The incident has once again raised serious concerns over the activities of armed groups operating in Niger State and the growing dangers faced by residents in vulnerable communities.
The killing also underscores the helplessness of families caught in the grip of kidnapping gangs, who are often forced to raise huge sums of money in desperate attempts to rescue abducted relatives.
The fact that the victims were reportedly killed despite the payment of ransom further highlights the brutality of the perpetrators and the uncertainty surrounding ransom negotiations with criminal gangs.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no further official information on the circumstances surrounding the killings or whether security agencies had launched an operation to track down the perpetrators.
The Niger State Police Command had also not issued an official statement on the incident in the report that disclosed the killings.
Bandits Kill Two Abducted Victims After Collecting ₦6m Ransom in Niger State
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Zamfara Bloodbath: 53 Killed as Vigilantes Ambush Bandits After Kidnapping Spree
Zamfara Bloodbath: 53 Killed as Vigilantes Ambush Bandits After Kidnapping Spree
GUSAU, Zamfara State — No fewer than 53 people have reportedly been killed following a bloody gun battle between local vigilantes and suspected bandits in Zamfara State, in another grim reminder of the worsening security crisis in Nigeria’s North-West.
The deadly confrontation occurred on Thursday in Zoma village, Bukkuyum Local Government Area, after local vigilantes reportedly laid an ambush for an armed gang passing through the community.
The suspected bandits were said to have been travelling through the area after allegedly abducting several people from neighbouring Gummi Local Government Area.
Residents, who spoke to the Agence France-Presse (AFP), said the vigilantes had received information about the movement of the armed group and positioned themselves to intercept the attackers.
A traditional village chief, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the ensuing exchange of gunfire left dozens of people dead on both sides.
According to him, 44 suspected bandits were killed, while nine vigilantes also lost their lives during the fierce confrontation.
The traditional ruler further claimed that a notorious bandit commander identified as Jijji, who allegedly led the earlier kidnapping operation, was among those killed.
Two other residents, Kabiru Tafida and Basiru Buhari, reportedly corroborated the account of the confrontation and the casualty figures.
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However, the reported death toll has not been independently verified, while the Zamfara State Police Command said it had yet to receive detailed information about the incident.
The development has renewed calls by residents for stronger government support for community-based security groups confronting heavily armed criminal gangs across the state.
One of the residents, Buhari, appealed to the authorities to provide vigilantes with adequate weapons and ammunition, warning that the bandits operating in the area were equipped with sophisticated firearms.
Zamfara remains one of the states worst affected by banditry in Nigeria’s North-West, with armed groups repeatedly attacking communities, abducting residents for ransom, rustling cattle and looting or burning properties.
The persistent violence has forced many rural communities to rely on local vigilante groups for protection amid concerns over the ability of conventional security agencies to contain the attacks.
The latest incident further highlights the worsening insecurity confronting communities in the region, particularly those in remote areas where poor telecommunications infrastructure often delays the reporting of violent attacks.
Zamfara Bloodbath: 53 Killed as Vigilantes Ambush Bandits After Kidnapping Spree
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