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‘We’re beggars in Ibadan because bandits, terrorists killed our husbands in the North’

Published

5 years ago

November 13, 2021

AISHA Ibrahim is a young woman but she appears to have the weight of the world sitting on her shoulders. She had great plans for her life but fate had something else in store for her.

She is one of several women from the Northern part of the country who are taking an exhausting walk through life in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. They had been forced to embark on unexpected journeys southwards after being dealt cruel fates by Boko Haram terrorists back in their home states. This writer caught up with some of these women. Some of them shared their pathetic stories.

For Aisha, the nightmare which has now become her life started on a dark night in Makasara in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, a place she, her husband, father and siblings had thought would provide a safe haven for them. They had relocated to Kaduna State to escape the ceaseless strife which was making life difficult for them in Katsina State.

One day, marauders came, brandishing weapons and shooting into the air. They were unprepared for the midnight invasion of their village. The invaders left in their trail, blood and sorrow.

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Houses were set ablaze, farmlands were destroyed, cattle were rustled and many villagers were killed. Among the dead were Aisha’s father and husband, Ibrahim. The village became desolate; life became difficult for the survivors, having been stripped of their livelihoods. The invaders had rustled their cattle and laid waste their farmlands. At 35, Aisha, the first of the five children of her parents, had to find a means of survival and thus began her journey to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

In pursuit of a better life, Aisha had left her once-peaceful home alongside several other women. She boarded a truck to a destination unknown.
“It was just God that brought me here. When I left, I had no idea where I was going to. I met other women like me at the park and I joined them and here I am today,” she said.

Prior to her journey to the South West, Aisha was happily married. “I was living with my husband in Makasara in Kaduna State when bandits killed him. God had not blessed us with a child. I had to leave. I came in company with other women. I don’t have an idea how my siblings are doing. I don’t know whether they have found a way around life or if they are dead,” she told Saturday Tribune.

For Rukkaya Bello, her once peaceful nomadic life was cut short in Borno State when Boko Haram fighters invaded their settlement in Doron Baga in Baga Local Government Area of the state about three years ago. The havoc done by the terrorists had left her widowed and homeless. “I came here about a year ago. It was a year last month since I came to Ibadan,” she said.

Rukkaya narrated her ordeal and how she found her way to Ibadan. “I don’t have any children anymore. Boko Haram killed all my seven children and my husband. They rustled our cattle and abducted my daughters-in-law. I have no one left; it is just me and God. I didn’t have female children; my kids were all boys but Boko haram shot and killed them all. I was all alone and lonely, so I came here. God brought me here. After they killed our husbands and male children, they left a lot of women in the bush. We couldn’t stay in the bush without our cattle so we had to move to town.

“We were moving around with our cattle when the gunmen followed us into the bush. They killed all the men and the boys. The Boko Haram men offered them bombs and guns to attack people in another town but they refused. The Boko Haram then killed them because they would not join their cause.

“If they had accepted to be part of them, they could have been alive today but I would rather my sons are dead than living as Boko Haram terrorists. After killing our husbands and children, they said we, the mothers, could go. We headed in different directions but God brought me here. We take all that has happened as the will of God,” Rukkaya said.

Aisha and Rukkaya are among several women with similar stories begging on a bridge in the Ojoo area of Ibadan under harsh and unhealthy conditions. These women, together with their children, survive mainly on alms and food given to them by people of goodwill. “God usually sends Yoruba people to give us food, money and clothes,” Aisha said.

As a way of preserving some of the cooked food they get, these women spread the leftovers on the bridge to allow them dry after they have had enough to eat. They told Saturday Tribune that they re-cook the dry foods at home. “We understand the value of food, so in order to avoid any waste, we dry the foods here then we wash and re-cook them when we get home.”

The question of menstrual hygiene is far from routine for these women. According to Aisha, they use rags for sanitary towel. They lack other essentials to maintain a good hygiene.

“We don’t find joy in sitting by the roadside but we don’t know what else to do. If we stay at home, who will provide for us? We could not even have chosen to stay back in the North because the gunmen continued to lay siege to our homes both during the day and at night,” Indatu Abdullahi another of them said.

These women come out to beg under the sun and in the rain to ensure survival for themselves and their children. For some of them, they still shoulder the responsibilities of their children and relatives back home.

For Zainab Aliyu, she still caters for her mother and her 11 children after her husband was killed by bandits five years ago in Funtua, Katsina State.

“Two of the children are taking care of my mother who has been bedridden as a result of the injury she sustained during the attack in which my husband was murdered. Three are with my in-laws and I have the remaining six with me. So, the little money we get from begging, I send it home for them to feed as well,” Zainab said.

As harrowing as their stories are, the women expressed the hope that one day, things would get better; the government would be more responsive and they would return home and be reunited with their families.
Tribune

Related Topics:Bandits beggars husbands Ibadan killed North Terrorists

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Sheikh Gumi Reacts to Killing of ISIS Commander Al-Minuki

Published

3 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Trends Admin

Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi

Sheikh Gumi Reacts to Killing of ISIS Commander Al-Minuki

Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reacted to the reported killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as a senior commander of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), during a joint counterterrorism operation involving American forces and the Nigerian military.

Gumi, in a Facebook post on Saturday, stated that combating terrorism remains a religious obligation but criticised collaboration with individuals he claimed had “hands stained with the blood of innocent men, women, and children.”

“It’s a religious obligation to annihilate terrorists, but not with Beelzebub and hands stained with the blood of innocent men, women, and children,” the cleric wrote.

Although Gumi did not directly mention specific countries or military actors in his statement, his comments appeared to reference the joint operation announced by former United States President Donald Trump.

Trump had disclosed via his Truth Social platform that American forces, working alongside the Nigerian Armed Forces, successfully carried out an operation that eliminated al-Minuki after months of intelligence gathering and coordinated surveillance.

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According to Trump, the ISIS commander was among the most active extremist figures operating in Africa and was allegedly involved in coordinating attacks against Americans and African communities.

The former US president claimed the operation would significantly weaken ISIS activities globally and reduce the terror group’s influence across parts of Africa.

He also commended the Nigerian government and military authorities for their cooperation and intelligence-sharing during the mission.

The development comes amid renewed global attention on extremist activities linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other terror networks operating across the Sahel and Lake Chad regions.

Nigeria’s Presidency had earlier confirmed al-Minuki’s death, describing it as a major breakthrough in ongoing counterterrorism efforts.

However, the Presidency later admitted that security agencies had mistakenly declared the terrorist commander dead in 2024 during earlier military operations in Kaduna State.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga explained that the earlier report resulted from mistaken identity during complex counterinsurgency operations.

According to the Presidency, the latest operation involved extensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities, including digital tracking, communications interception and human intelligence gathering conducted over several months.

Security sources disclosed that authorities initially intended to capture al-Minuki alive before the operation eventually turned into a lethal mission.

Counterterrorism analysts have described the killing as a potentially significant blow to ISIS-linked operations in West Africa, though experts warned that extremist groups often reorganise quickly after losing top commanders.

Gumi’s reaction has generated mixed responses online, with some Nigerians agreeing with his concerns over foreign military involvement, while others argued that international cooperation remains necessary in the fight against terrorism.

The Islamic cleric has previously advocated dialogue, reconciliation and non-kinetic approaches to addressing insecurity in northern Nigeria, positions that have frequently generated public debate and criticism.

Meanwhile, Nigerian security agencies continue intensified operations against insurgent groups across Borno, Yobe and parts of the North-West amid ongoing efforts to contain terrorism, banditry and kidnappings.

Sheikh Gumi Reacts to Killing of ISIS Commander Al-Minuki

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Terrorists Kill 17 Police Officers During Attack on Army School in Yobe

Published

3 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Trends Admin

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu

Terrorists Kill 17 Police Officers During Attack on Army School in Yobe

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has officially confirmed the killing of 17 police officers during a deadly terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The attack, which occurred in the early hours of May 8, 2026, targeted security personnel undergoing specialised counterterrorism and tactical training at the military institution.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Placid, the police described the incident as a tragic loss to the nation and the security community.

According to the statement, heavily armed terrorists launched a coordinated assault on the facility from multiple directions at about 1:15 a.m., leading to intense gunfire and heavy casualties.

“The Nigeria Police Force regrettably announces the tragic loss of seventeen (17) police officers who paid the supreme price in service to the nation following a terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Buni Yadi,” the statement read.

The police disclosed that the slain officers were participating in advanced operational and counterterrorism training programmes at the institution when the terrorists attacked.

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Several Nigerian Army personnel were also reportedly killed during the operation while attempting to repel the attackers and protect the facility.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, described the fallen officers as courageous and dedicated personnel who demonstrated patriotism and commitment to national security through their participation in specialised tactical training.

The IGP extended condolences to the families of the deceased officers, assuring them that the sacrifices of the slain personnel would never be forgotten.

In a further show of solidarity, the Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, CP Usman Kanfani Jibrin, visited the military institution on behalf of the IGP to commiserate with the Commandant of the School, Brigadier General A.C. Enuagu, military personnel and surviving police officers undergoing training.

According to the statement, the police commissioner praised the resilience of the surviving officers and encouraged them to remain committed to completing the training programme in honour of their fallen colleagues.

Security sources said the terrorists invaded the facility under the cover of darkness, using sophisticated weapons and coordinated assault tactics commonly associated with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Although authorities did not officially identify the group responsible for the attack, security analysts believe the operation bears the hallmarks of ISWAP insurgents who remain active in parts of Yobe and Borno states.

Buni Yadi and surrounding communities have repeatedly witnessed attacks by insurgent groups due to their strategic location within Nigeria’s conflict-prone North-East region.

The attack is considered one of the deadliest assaults on a security training facility in recent months and has renewed concerns over the growing sophistication of terrorist operations in the region.

The Nigeria Police Force assured Nigerians that it would continue working closely with the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“The Nigeria Police Force salutes the courage, sacrifice, and service of the fallen officers whose dedication to duty will forever remain honoured by the nation,” the statement added.

The tragic incident has triggered widespread reactions across Nigeria, with many citizens mourning the officers and calling for stronger protection, improved intelligence gathering and better welfare for security personnel fighting terrorism.

Security experts have also renewed calls for enhanced surveillance technology, improved military-police coordination and increased investment in counterinsurgency operations to curb persistent attacks in the North-East.

Terrorists Kill 17 Police Officers During Attack on Army School in Yobe

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Presidency Admits Error in Earlier Reported Death of ISIS Commander

Published

3 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba

Presidency Admits Error in Earlier Reported Death of ISIS Commander

Nigeria’s Presidency has admitted that security agencies mistakenly identified notorious ISIS-linked commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, as dead in 2024, following fresh confirmation of his killing during a recent joint counterterrorism operation involving Nigerian and American forces.

The clarification came amid growing public scrutiny over conflicting official reports surrounding the terror leader, who had earlier been described by former United States President Donald Trump as one of the “most active terrorists in the world.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had recently confirmed Al-Manuki’s death, describing it as a major breakthrough in ongoing counterterrorism efforts and a sign of improving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.

However, attention quickly shifted to an earlier announcement by the Defence Headquarters in 2024, which had already listed Al-Manuki among terrorists allegedly eliminated during military operations in northern Nigeria.

At a briefing held in Abuja in 2024, the then Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, stated that the insurgent commander — also known as Abubakar Mainok — was killed during military operations conducted between January and March of that year.

Buba had identified Al-Manuki as a key figure linked to ISWAP and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) activities around the Birnin Gwari forest in Kaduna State and along the Abuja-Kaduna highway corridor.

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According to the military’s earlier report, the terror commander was reportedly killed on February 21, 2024, alongside several fighters during operations targeting insurgent hideouts.

The resurfacing of the 2024 announcement after the latest confirmation of Al-Manuki’s death triggered widespread reactions online and renewed concerns over the accuracy of official military casualty reports involving terrorist commanders.

Reacting to the controversy, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga acknowledged that the earlier report was based on mistaken identity and explained that such errors could occur during complex counterinsurgency operations.

“It is acknowledged within military and intelligence circles that Al-Manuki’s name had appeared among lists of suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram commanders reportedly killed in 2024 during operations around the Birnin Gwari forest axis in Kaduna State,” Onanuga stated.

“However, security officials now clarify that the earlier listing was a case of mistaken identity or misattribution in the fog of sustained counterinsurgency operations.”

The Presidency further explained that updated intelligence assessments later showed that Birnin Gwari was not within Al-Manuki’s known operational territory, casting doubt on the credibility of the earlier military assessment.

“Importantly, intelligence now confirms that the Birnin Gwari theatre was never within Al-Manuki’s established operational sphere, which negates the accuracy of the earlier assessment,” the statement added.

According to Onanuga, the latest operation that led to the confirmed killing of Al-Manuki followed months of intelligence gathering, surveillance operations and collaboration involving Nigerian and foreign security agencies.

He disclosed that the operation involved extensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities, including communications interception, digital tracking and human intelligence gathering beginning from December 2025.

“The intelligence trail did not emerge overnight,” Onanuga said.

“Rather, it was built over months of persistent tracking, digital surveillance, and human intelligence inputs to map Al-Manuki’s movements across key locations in northern Nigeria.”

The Presidency also revealed that security agencies initially hoped to capture the terror commander alive before circumstances eventually led to a final military operation.

“This explains why he was reportedly under surveillance in multiple locations, including Abuja and Maiduguri, up to just days before the final operation,” the statement noted.

According to the Presidency, unlike previous battlefield reports that later turned out to be inaccurate, the latest operation underwent several stages of verification before the final strike was approved.

“Officials maintain that multiple layers of verification were applied before authorisation of the final kinetic action, making this operation distinct from earlier incidents in which battlefield assessments later required revision,” the statement added.

“In their assessment, this time, there is no ambiguity.”

Onanuga also pointed to previous international counterterrorism experiences, noting that false reports had circulated years earlier regarding the death of former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi before his eventual confirmed killing.

He warned against dismissing military achievements without fully understanding the complexities involved in security operations, stressing that public scepticism could negatively affect troop morale and confidence in ongoing efforts against terrorism.

Security analysts say the incident highlights the challenges intelligence agencies face in tracking insurgent leaders operating across remote regions and porous borders in West Africa.

The latest development has also renewed debate about the need for improved intelligence coordination, verification procedures and public communication in Nigeria’s ongoing war against terrorism.