Tag: Bandits

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have invaded Government Day Secondary School in Lassa town, Borno State, killing a teacher and abducting an unspecified number of students writing the National Examinations Council (NECO).

The armed assault occurred on Monday morning in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, reports said.

According to available information, the heavily armed gunmen rode into the town around 9:00 am on motorcycles, dressed in military camouflage.

They opened fire sporadically, triggering mass panic across the school and local communities before whisking away an unknown number of candidates into the bush.

A teacher was reportedly killed during the attack, while another sustained injuries.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said some students remain unaccounted for.

“At about 9 a.m., an unspecified number of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists attacked a secondary school and shot sporadically into the air.

“During the attack, an unspecified number of students were abducted, while some are still missing,” Daso said.

He added that the command could not immediately confirm reports of fatalities among the victims.

The PRO added that security operatives, including the military, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and the area commander in Askira/Uba, have launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.

Daso confirmed that the joint security forces are combing the surrounding forests in an effort to locate the abducted students and apprehend the attackers.

By Iyiola Olalere
The Democratic Front (TDF) has identified a drop in terror-related deaths in Nigeria by 81% as a major achievement in the ongoing war against terrorism in the country.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary Chief Wale Adedayo, TDF said the revelation, which first emerged in President Bola Tinubu’s National Democracy Day speech, was an indication of the administration’s great strides.

The statement read in part: “We are heartened to welcome this remarkable landmark achievement in the ongoing counter terrorism efforts of the Tinubu administration, especially at this crucial period when the spate of insecurity is being weaponised by the opposition against the government.

“This significant drop in the number of Nigerians who have died from terror-related attacks has brought back sad memories of the bombardments of a Catholic Church in Niger state, Nyanya Motor Park, Kano Central Mosque, Maiduguri Central Mosque, the Sani Abacha Military Cantonment in Abuja, and several other civilian targets where scores of innocent people were murdered by terrorists.

“Despite the fact that continuous abductions and sporadic banditry in the ungoverned spaces are still creating security concerns and public apprehension, we pay kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s introduction of non kinetic approach to counter terrorism, as well as the ongoing shift towards “precision targeting” that has led to improved military operations against terrorists.

“Furthermore, the reduction in the number of terror-related deaths in Nigeria aptly explains the monumental success recorded in military operations, which have neutralised over 13,000 insurgents and also led to the surrender of over 124,000 low-level terrorists. And we believe that the immediate impact of these commendable strides is the reduction in terror-related deaths by 81%, as noted by the President.

“It is equally pertinent in this particular regard to note President Tinubu’s cautious, consistent, and effective coordination of the ongoing Deradicalisation Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme.

“We, however, urge the managers of the programme to remain focused and vigilant in ensuring that repentant insurgents do not bypass it to infiltrate civilian communities to cause fear and uncertainty among residents.

“The fruitful partnership between the Tinubu administration and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, is also yielding impressive results by providing repentant fighters, widows, and displaced victims of terrorism with agricultural and economic opportunities to make a decent living.

“Finally, we laud President Tinubu’s diplomatic partnership with other countries like the United States, Turkey, and France in his result-oriented multifaceted counterinsurgency moves. It shows that the President fully understands the true nature of terrorism as a local crime that is fueled by international dimensions.”

The group also called on Nigerians to ignore the rantings of the opposition and continue to give their moral support to the President and the Armed Forces in the unwavering determination to eliminate terrorism in Nigeria.

End

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 3 for judgement in the trial of five men being prosecuted for the terrorist attack in Owo church that killed no fewer than 41 worshippers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) had filed terrorism charge against the suspects for their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

Justice Emeka Nwite had, on May 26, reserved the judgement after lawyers to the prosecution and the defence adopted their final written addresses and presented their arguments for and against the case.

Justice Nwite had said that judgement would be reserved to a date to be communicated to parties.

NAN, however, gathered on Monday that the matter is now fixed for June 3 for judgement.

In his final submission in the last adjourned date, lawyer to the prosecution, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum sentence of death in view of the enormity of the crime they allegedly committed.

On his part, the defendants’ lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, prayed the court to discharge and acquit his clients on the grounds that the prosecution was unable to establish its case against them.

A total of 41 worshippers were killed during the terror attack on the church, while over 140 others suffered various injuries.

The DSS had called 11 witnesses to establish the allegations against the defendants in the trial that began on Aug. 1, 2025.

The trial court had admitted the confessional statements of the defendants following the conclusion of the trial- within-trial conducted to establish that the witnesses’ statements were voluntarily given.

The five defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris (20 years), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 years), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 years) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years).

The DSS had, in the commencement of the trial, sought an accelerated hearing which was granted by the court.

Daily Post

By Racheal Ayodele

Michael Oyedokun, one of the kidnapped teachers of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has been reportedly killed.

DAILY POST reports that the gunmen invaded the school on Friday May 15 and abducted the principal, alongside other teachers and several students.

The attack, which happened some weeks after a failed kidnap attempt that left one traveler dead along Ibadan-Ijebu road, has renewed concerns over rising insecurity in parts of Oyo State and across Nigeria.

However, a new video released by the bandits on Sunday, May 17, 2026, captured the gunmen beheading Oyedokun.

The viral inhumane video has raised fresh concerns over the safety of the remaining victims.

The latest development has thrown the community into mourning as residents, families of the victims and native continue to call on security agencies and the Oyo State Government to intensify rescue operations to secure the release of those still in captivity before being killed.

As of the time of this report, authorities are yet to officially confirm the incident.

Courtesy: Daily Post

A heavy gun battle is reportedly ongoing near Okoloke in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, as troops of the Nigerian Army engage armed bandits.

According to local sources, the exchange of gunfire began few minutes ago in areas close to Okoloke, creating panic among residents and motorists along nearby routes.

The confrontation is believed to be part of ongoing efforts by security forces to repel bandits operating within the region.

Residents in surrounding communities have been advised to remain indoors and avoid the affected areas until the situation is fully brought under control.

As of the time of filing this report, details regarding casualties or arrests have not yet been confirmed. Security authorities are yet to release an official statement on the incident.

The development comes amid growing security concerns in parts of Yagba West, where communities have recently reported cases of bandit attacks and kidnappings.