News
Gruesome : 6 Soldiers killed, 70 Abducted, Father, Sons Burnt Alive
At least six soldiers and 12 others were reportedly killed at the weekend, by gunmen suspected to be terrorists who attacked Kasuwar Daji in Kaura-Namoda Local Government of Zamfara State and Lajinge village in Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
No fewer than 75 persons were also abducted in the Zamfara attack, while a man and his two sons were burnt alive in the building they ran into, seeking refuge.
Report says the suspected terrorists attacked Kasuwar Daji community around 11:30 pm on Saturday night after over running the military outpost station in the area.
The report also alleged that six soldiers were killed, while over 70 people were abducted and taken into the bush.
A resident, who identified himself as Alhaji Aminu Kasuwar Daji, was quoted in the report as saying that the terrorists who stormed the community in large numbers, immediately started shooting sporadically to overrun the military outpost in the area.
“Our calls to Zamfara State and the federal government is to come to the aide of Zamfara people generally on this insecurity bedivelling the state.
‘’We really in danger if terrorists can overpower the military and succeed in their attacks on innocent citizens,” Aminu Kasuwar Daji said.
Similarly, the former deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Namadi Kasuwar Daji, also confirmed the attack of his community and abduction of unspecified number of residents.
According to him, though he was not around as he travelled out of the state, his relatives called and told him about the attack.
”I was told that the terrorists even killed soldiers but I was not told the actual number, again I was told that the terrorists, after looting shops for foodstuffs, drinks and other properties, also abducted unspecified number of residents whom they took to the bush,’’ he said.
On the Sokoto attack, no fewer than 12 persons were killed, six of whom were burnt alive, after suspected terrorists attacked Lajinge village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
Residents said the attackers invaded the community at about 11pm on Saturday and operated until around 3:30 am yesterday without any security intervention.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said 11 of the victims died from gunshot wounds, while a woman identified as Agada died after suffering severe shock during the attack.
According to him, six people were burnt alive after the gunmen surrounded a room they had taken refuge.
“They ordered those inside to come out but they refused. The attackers then poured petrol on the room and opened fire. When those inside attempted to escape through the door, they kept shooting at them. Their bodies were left inside the burning room,” he said.
He identified those killed in the fire as head of the household, Mallam Wauro (popularly known as Mallam Roro); his two sons, Ukasha and Mujaheed; two other relatives identified as Sufyanu and Sani Shanbami; as well as an internally displaced person, IDP, who had been taking shelter in the house.
The source added that another victim, Lawwali, was shot dead at the entrance of the same house, while trying to flee, bringing the death toll in the compound alone to seven.
He said the remaining victims were shot while attempting to escape from the village. They include Yusuf and three internally displaced persons who had sought refuge in Lajinge.
Another resident, who participated in the community’s local vigilante operation on the night of the attack, said they were keeping watch near the village primary school when the gunmen struck.
“We were at the primary school guarding the village when we suddenly heard heavy gunfire. We all ran for safety and kept moving from one hiding place to another whenever the shooting came closer,” he said.
He said after overpowering the local vigilantes, the attackers moved freely through the village, going from house to house while rustling cattle and sheep.
“They stationed one of their rifles in a strategic location that kept firing while the others entered houses to steal livestock,” he said.
He added that the attackers later moved to another part of the village where they attacked Mallam Wauro’s residence, killing him and two of his sons, abducting his two wives and carting away all his cattle.
Residents said they could not immediately establish the exact number of abducted persons, explaining that although many villagers were taken away, some, especially children, were later released by the gunmen.
The villagers lamented that despite the attack lasting about four hours, no security reinforcement arrived.
“The bandits stayed in our village for hours without any intervention. They even walked along the main road laughing and smoking cigarettes as if they had conquered the community,” one of the residents said.
They alleged that security personnel stationed in Unguwar Lalle and Dan Tudu communities, both located about two kilometres from Lajinge, did not respond to repeated distress calls throughout the attack.
The residents said community leaders had repeatedly appealed to the government to deploy security personnel to the area but lamented that their requests had not been granted.
They added that eight people were also killed in the community about three weeks ago.
“We are Nigerians and we have voter cards. We elected the government to protect our lives and property. We are pleading with the authorities to deploy security personnel to safeguard our communities,” one resident appealed.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he was not aware and was on transit and would verify the incident upon reaching his office, but didn’t reach out before press time, the report said.
Police operatives in Ogun have recovered 11 assorted iPhones,, laptop computer and other items from two members of a robbery gang arrested shortly after their operation at a student hostel in the Eruku/Agbon area of Ewekoro of the state.
The gang of robbers also forced one of the victims to transfer N200,000 to an account during the robbery operation. Ogun Police command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abeokuta.
The Ogun Police Command spokesperson said the suspects were arrested following a distress call from an anonymous caller at about 2:40 a.m. on Sept. 13.
According to him, the caller alerted the police to an armed gang robbing students at a hostel in the area.
According to him, operatives of the Ewekoro Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, promptly responded to the distress call.
”On sighting the police operatives, the suspects abandoned their loot in a school bag and attempted to flee.
”However, the team pursued and successfully apprehended two suspects,” he said.
Babaseyi said a search of the abandoned school bag led to the recovery of 11 assorted iPhones, an HP laptop and various items of clothing.
He added that some victims had identified the recovered property as belonging to them.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang allegedly forced one of the victims to transfer N200,000 to an account during the robbery,” he said
He also said that detectives had visited the crime scene, documented the forced entry and secured the recovered exhibits.
He further said that the suspects and the recovered property had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation and prosecution.
According to him, efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang and locate the owner of the beneficiary account.
He quoted the state Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, as commending the Ewekoro operatives for their vigilance and prompt response.
Ojajuni reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting students and residents across the state from criminal elements.
He urged operators of off-campus student hostels and landlords to maintain emergency contact numbers and promptly report security threats or suspicious activities.
“Residents are advised to use the Gateway Shield toll-free line, 0800 000 9111, or 09164859299 and 09154293464 to report emergencies,” he said.
Two officers have been killed after suspected armed herders ambushed the convoy of the divisional police officer (DPO) in Ayilamo, Logo LGA of Benue state.
Aondongu, spokesperson for the Benue state police command, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, report said.
The DPO, who reportedly travelled to Makurdi on official duty, was returning to Ayilamo on Monday when armed assailants ambushed his entourage.
The victims were said to have been among the newly deployed mobile police officers in the area.
Last Thursday, four police officers and seven civilians were killed when bandits attacked the community.
Aondongu said “suspected armed bandits in large numbers” invaded and attacked the community before killing the victims.
The police spokesperson said police operatives comprising the PMF unit, tactical team and conventional police officers deployed to the area responded and engaged the attackers in a firefight that lasted seven hours.
“The operatives stood firm in defence of the community and successfully repelled the attack, forcing the criminal elements to retreat into the surrounding forest with heavy casualties in the early hours of 11th September 2026,” Aondongu said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful 2027 general election, assuring Nigerians that the outcome of the polls will reflect the sovereign will of the electorate.
The assurance was given by the Acting Chairman of INEC, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, on Tuesday while receiving the African Union (AU) Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission on behalf of the Commission at its headquarters in Abuja.
The AU delegation, led by former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, is in Nigeria to assess the country’s overall electoral preparedness and identify areas requiring further support and intervention.
Welcoming the delegation, Gumus described the mission as an important opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral processes at a critical period in the country’s democratic journey.
She said INEC valued its partnership with the AU in advancing democratic standards and credible electoral governance across the continent.
According to her, the mission should not be viewed as a formality but as an important mechanism for strengthening institutional resilience and reinforcing public confidence in the electoral process.
Gumus highlighted the scale of preparations already underway for the 2027 general election, saying INEC was undertaking extensive operational, technological and logistical preparations to ensure effective participation by all eligible Nigerians.
She added that lessons from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states continued to provide valuable learning opportunities for the Commission.
The Acting Chairman also outlined areas where technical and institutional support from the AU would be valuable.
They include digital training for ad hoc election personnel, countering election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, as well as deepening inclusivity and gender-mainstreaming frameworks.
She emphasised that electoral integrity remained a collective responsibility involving electoral institutions, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and the electorate.
Gumus also reaffirmed the independence and neutrality of the Commission, saying it remained committed to conducting the 2027 election professionally.
She assured that under the current Commission led by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, every administrative decision would strictly follow the law, while technical deployments would be designed to promote transparency.
She said the final outcome of the 2027 general election would reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian electorate.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Mekonnen said the AU mission was designed as a supportive and consultative engagement aimed at assessing activities already underway, identifying gaps and risks, and exploring possible areas of technical assistance.
He said the mission would engage INEC and other key stakeholders to assess preparedness in voter registration and register integrity, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.
Mekonnen underscored the continued partnership between Nigeria and the African Union in promoting democratic governance and credible elections across the continent.
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