Fresh violence erupted in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night, claiming at least 10 lives in near-simultaneous attacks on the communities of Jol and Dorowa Babuje (in the Rob District).

The assaults, which occurred between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., were carried out by armed bandits who struck in coordinated fashion, according to local leaders.

Barrister Solomon Dalyop, National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYMA), confirmed the fatalities in a telephone interview, stating that nine people were killed in Dorowa Babuje, while one person was killed in Jol.

In Jol, attackers reportedly arrived on motorcycles from the Manga axis, despite prior warnings to security agencies about suspicious movements in the area. Personnel from Operation Rainbow, the state’s security outfit, were already deployed and managed to repel the assailants, preventing a higher casualty count.

In Dorowa Babuje, the gunmen emerged from the Jong-Wereh area, where they are believed to have been camping for some time. The military was alerted promptly and responded quickly, which local leaders credit with limiting further deaths.

These latest killings fit into a persistent pattern of night raids, ambushes, and displacement plaguing farming communities in Riyom, one of Plateau State’s most volatile areas in recent months.

Community leaders have highlighted the recurring nature of attacks often conducted after dark along known routes and called for enhanced surveillance, proactive patrols, and the dismantling of suspected camps in nearby forests.

Residents of both affected communities are now living in heightened fear, with families grieving their losses and demanding a sustained security presence to avert more bloodshed.

Youth groups and local leaders have renewed urgent appeals to federal and state authorities to shift from reactive measures to comprehensive, long-term strategies for security and peacebuilding in Riyom and surrounding areas.

Mexican defense officials announced on Sunday that Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” the founder and longtime leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed during a military operation.

Oseguera, widely regarded as Mexico’s most wanted drug kingpin and one of the highest-profile fugitives in the country, had evaded capture for more than a decade despite a multi-million-dollar bounty from both Mexican and U.S. authorities.

The CJNG, under his command, rose to become one of Mexico’s most violent and expansive criminal organizations, responsible for trafficking massive quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin into the United States. The cartel has been linked to thousands of homicides, territorial wars with rival groups, and high-profile attacks on security forces.

The operation marks a significant victory for Mexico’s armed forces and comes amid intensifying pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly demanded stronger action from Mexico against drug cartels fueling the American opioid crisis.

Mexican officials described the killing as the result of targeted intelligence and a swift military engagement, though specific details of the location, circumstances, and any casualties among security personnel were not immediately released.

The death of El Mencho is expected to trigger intense power struggles within the CJNG and could reshape the dynamics of Mexico’s organized crime landscape.

U.S. officials have long listed Oseguera as a top-priority target, with the DEA offering up to $10 million for information leading to his capture or conviction. His elimination is likely to be welcomed in Washington as a concrete step in bilateral efforts to dismantle transnational drug networks.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 20 individuals on Saturday for alleged involvement in vote-buying, vote-selling, and related electoral offences during the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.

Operatives recovered a total of ₦17,218,700 in suspected proceeds from the malpractices, with the largest single seizure being ₦13,500,000 found in a vehicle parked near a polling unit in Kwali Area Council.

The arrests were spread across several councils: nine in Gwagwalada, four in Kuje, four in Kwali (including the major cash haul), and two in Abaji.EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the commission had deployed teams to all six area councils to monitor the process and prevent financial inducements and other irregularities that undermine electoral integrity.

“Investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as inquiries are concluded,” Oyewale stated.

The elections, overseen by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were generally peaceful. The All Progressives Congress (APC) clinched five of the six chairmanship positions, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won one.