Crime
JUST IN: 13 dead as police, bandits exchange gunfire in Benue
The Police Command in Benue says it has neutralized 12 bandits terrorizing the Buruku Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Sewuese Anene, made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday in Makurdi.
Anene said that the command unfortunately lost one of its personnel, Insp. Terfa Anyiatse, during an exchange of gunfire with the bandits.
The PPRO stated that the Commissioner of Police, Steve Yabanet, had on March 6 ordered tactical commanders and divisional police officers to clamp down on criminals in the state.
Anene said that the order became necessary when the command noticed a regrouping of criminal gangs.
She said that following the directives, the Operation Zenda Joint Taskforce embarked on raids across the state.
According to her, on March 19, while some of the operatives were on their way to a criminal hideout at Agwabi, Tombo Ward, Buruku LGA, they ran into an ambush laid by the bandits, who engaged the police in a fierce gun duel.
“The police countered the ambush with superior firepower that subdued the gang.
“At the end of the crossfire, 12 bandits were neutralized, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
“The bandits were taken to a hospital, where they were confirmed dead, and the corpses were deposited at the hospital mortuary.
“Items recovered from them include three AK-47 rifles, six rounds of live ammunition, camouflage uniforms, and assorted charms.
“Unfortunately, one of the police team members, Insp. Terfa Anyiatse, sustained a gunshot injury and was eventually confirmed dead by a doctor.
His corpse has also been deposited at the morgue,” she said.
The CP commiserated with the family and friends of the deceased officer and prayed for the repose of his soul.
He also extolled the courage of the operatives involved in the operation.
“Similarly, operations carried out around Daudu and Makurdi by various divisions led to the recovery of seven locally made pistols and the arrest of five suspected robbers and 32 suspected cultists,” she added.
Crime
NDLEA Busts 1.6kg Cocaine Swallower to China, Meth in Yogurt/Speakers, Ibadan Colos Factory (Images)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 62-year-old Lagos-based auto parts dealer, Nwabueze Nicholas Izueke, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for attempting to smuggle 1.589kg of cocaine to China by ingesting 95 wraps concealed in his stomach.

Izueke was nabbed on January 31, 2026, during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to China via Addis Ababa. A body scan confirmed ingestion, and he excreted the 95 pellets over seven sessions under observation. He claimed the act was to fund his village home construction in Iwollo, Enugu State.

In related operations, NDLEA foiled methamphetamine smuggling attempts: 1.8kg hidden in Hollandia yogurt packs intercepted in Taraba State on February 6 en route to Adamawa; and consignments concealed in MP3 speakers from Enugu, leading to arrests of Ebube Okeke in Abuja and three others in Kaduna.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, operatives raided a “Colorado” (synthetic cannabis) production facility on February 7, arresting kingpin Jimoh Nurudeen, 40, and accomplice Ogundipe Yusuf, 27. Seizures included precursor chemicals, 14g skunk, production tools, ₦7.4 million cash, and two vehicles.

Other busts included 395,400 tramadol capsules in a petrol tanker in Kwara State; 149.6kg skunk in Oyo; large skunk recoveries in Imo and Ondo; 31 cocaine wraps from a boat arrival in Lagos; and various drugs plus cash from dealers in Enugu and Lagos.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended operatives across commands for the seizures and urged sustained professionalism in supply and demand reduction efforts, including ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitizations in schools and communities.




Crime
Teen Wife Flees After Severing Husband’s Manhood in Yobe
An 18-year-old housewife, identified as Khadija Jamilu, is on the run after allegedly attacking her 25-year-old husband with a knife, inflicting a deep cut to his genital area during a domestic dispute in Potiskum Local Government Area.
The incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. on February 6, 2026. According to the Yobe State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, police responded to a distress call and found the victim with severe injuries to his manhood. The suspect fled the scene immediately after the attack.
The victim was rushed to a medical facility for treatment, though details remain limited to protect his privacy and avoid further trauma. Authorities have launched a manhunt for Khadija Jamilu, describing the act as a serious assault stemming from a marital conflict.
Police urged anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact the Potiskum Divisional Police Headquarters. The case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence in the region, with investigations continuing.
Crime
President Tinubu Meets Kwara Governor Amid Response to Deadly Kaiama Attack
*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday held a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa with Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, days after a brutal terrorist attack claimed over 160 lives in the Worro community of Kaiama Local Government Area.
The encounter follows President Tinubu’s swift directive on Wednesday for the deployment of an army battalion to the troubled region and the launch of Operation Savannah Shield, a dedicated military initiative to combat terrorist elements, secure vulnerable communities, and prevent further violence in the border area near Niger State.
Authorities, including the Kwara State government and security sources, have attributed the Tuesday night assault on Worro (also spelled Woro) and nearby Nuku communities to suspected jihadist fighters, possibly linked to groups like Boko Haram or affiliates of Islamic State West Africa Province. Gunmen reportedly rounded up residents, bound some victims, and opened fire after locals rejected demands to abandon allegiance to the Nigerian state in favor of Sharia law.
Homes, shops, and the traditional ruler’s palace were set ablaze during the hours-long raid, with the death toll rising to at least 162 according to the Nigerian Red Cross and local lawmakers, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent times.
President Tinubu strongly condemned the killings as “cowardly and inhumane,” expressing particular outrage that victims were targeted for upholding peaceful Islamic practices over extremist ideology.
He emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration between federal and state security agencies to support affected communities, pursue justice against perpetrators, and restore peace.
After the meeting, Governor AbdulRazaq briefed State House correspondents, expressing appreciation for the President’s rapid response. He voiced confidence that the troop deployment and Operation Savannah Shield would deter future attacks, bring calm to Kaiama, and help rebuild security in the area.
The President also called for sustained efforts to address the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria’s North-Central and border regions, where armed groups have increasingly carried out village raids, mass killings, and kidnappings.
Other high-profile figures present at the Presidential Villa included the Senate President, the Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and governors from Imo, Kebbi, and Cross River states, though their attendance appeared unrelated to the Kwara discussions.
The meeting underscores the federal government’s intensified focus on curbing the spread of terrorism into previously less-affected areas like Kwara, amid ongoing nationwide security challenges. Search and recovery operations continue in the affected communities, with many residents still reported missing.
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