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HURIWA carpets DSS over ‘inaction’ as Islamic cleric threatens to kill Christians

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DG DSS Yusuf Bichi

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, has lambasted the Department of State Services for allegedly not taking any action against Kaduna-based Islamic cleric who threatened to kill Christians.

The threat is sequel to the murder of 25 Fulani travellers, who were intercepted and killed recently by suspected Irigwe militia in Jos, the Plateau state capital.

In a viral video, the cleric known as Ustaz Abubakar Salihu had over the weekend, threatened to kill Christians in retaliation over the killing by the militiamen.

The Fulani travellers were killed by suspected Irigwe militia at about 10.30 am on August 14, 2021 around the Gada-Biyu-Rukuba Road area in Jos.

The victims were said to be returning from the annual Zikr prayer in Bauchi State and heading for Ikare in Ondo State when they ran into irate youths mourning their kinsmen earlier killed by suspected herdsmen.

Speaking in Hausa in a sermon over the weekend, Ustaz Salihu had reportedly said, “I swear to God Almighty, if such ever occur again, there are Christians in Kaduna, there are Christians in Zamfara, there are Christians in Sokoto, there are in Katsina, Kebbi, there are Christians in Gombe, Damaturu and Yobe and there are major roads. We will also block the roads, waylaid Christian commuters.

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“We are not fools and we are not afraid of anyone, there is no one we are afraid of. If nothing is done, we will take the law in our hands because no life is superior to others and I swear compensation must be paid for the lives of the people lost.

“I swear this will not go unpunished, we won’t accept this, action must be taken and if they don’t take action, we will also react in our states. Every infidel should prepare, he will leave the earth if nothing is done about our people that were killed in Jos. I swear we will revenge and you should know that the life of one Muslim is equivalent to 100 infidels. No life is greater than another.”

HURIWA, in a statement on Monday signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the DSS should have invited the cleric just as it had in the past interrogated a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadiah Mailafia; as well as the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka.

The statement was titled, ‘Why Has DSS Not Invited Ustaz Abubakar Salihu Zaria Over Alleged Incitement Against Christians? :-HURIWA Asks DSS’.

It partly read, “The loud silence and apparent inaction of the hierarchy of the State Security Service also known as Department of State Services or the Nigeria Police Force to the unambiguous incitement against Christians made in a recent viral video allegedly by one Ustaz Abubakar Salihu Zaria has been described as discriminatory, illegal and totally indecorous.

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HURIWA wondered “whether the security forces including the Nigerian Police were waiting for the threats to be fully executed before it can take any lawful measure to bring the said religious preacher to justice, or to account for his treacherous threats to attack Christians in Northern Nigeria to revenge the killing by yet to be named unknown gunmen of Moslem travellers commuting through Jos.”

“We hereby ask them to invite the said Islamic cleric to say what he knows about a future plot to kill Christians in Northern Nigeria should any Moslem be killed by hoodlums in Plateau State and also find out why he classified Plateau State citizens all of whom have one religion or the other as infidels. These inciting comments and the inaction of either the Nigerian Police Force or the DSS are dangerous,” the group stated.

Efforts to reach DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.

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Crime

Five Arrested By Police For Wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts

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Five men have been arrested and arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, after police allegedly found them wearing T-shirts bearing the words “Tinubu Must Go.”

The defendants were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.

According to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department, the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, near West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.

Police charged the five men with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri.

Their lawyer subsequently applied for bail. The court adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, to rule on the bail application, while the substantive trial has been scheduled for October 26.

The case has drawn attention because the alleged conduct involved wearing clothing displaying a political message.

Amnesty International criticised the prosecution, describing the arrests as arbitrary and arguing that peaceful political expression is protected by fundamental human rights. The organisation called for the immediate release of the five men and urged authorities to discontinue the case.

Amnesty International also expressed concern that the prosecution could have implications for political expression and opposition activities in Borno State.

The case has generated reactions on social media, with some commentators questioning whether the display of political messages on clothing should constitute a criminal offence.

There have also been allegations that a prominent politician in Borno State may have influenced the arrests. The allegation has not been independently verified.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were reportedly unsuccessful as of the time of filing.

The defendants remain subject to the court process, and the allegations against them have not been established in court.

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Hisbah Arrests Eight Over Alleged Homosexual Acts in Jigawa

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The Jigawa State Hisbah Board has arrested eight people in Kazaure Local Government Area over alleged homosexual acts, according to the board.

The board’s Public Relations Officer, Dauda Hadejia, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Hadejia said the arrests followed a complaint filed by a 22-year-old man, who alleged that nine individuals had engaged in sexual acts with him on different occasions.

According to the statement, the complainant also claimed that he later contracted HIV, which he attributed to the alleged encounters. He reportedly appealed to the Hisbah authorities for justice, describing the alleged conduct as deceptive and harmful to his life.

Following the complaint, Hadejia said Hisbah operatives launched an investigation and began searching for the nine individuals named by the complainant.

“So far, eight suspects have been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspect,” Hadejia said.

He added that the eight arrested individuals reportedly admitted during preliminary investigations to having engaged in sexual acts with the complainant.

Hadejia said the board had gathered information and evidence that would be presented before a court. He added that the investigation remained ongoing and that the suspects would be charged upon its completion.

The Deputy Commander-General of the Jigawa State Hisbah Board, Dr. Hussain Baban, reportedly urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s upbringing and the people with whom they associate.

He also called on members of the public to be mindful of the consequences of their actions and to uphold religious and moral values.

The board further expressed appreciation to the Jigawa State Government for its support and cooperation in carrying out its responsibilities.

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Crime

Newlyweds Kidnapped Shortly After Engagement Ceremony

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A newly married couple, Funmilayo Bamidele and her husband, Reverend Abiodun David, have been abducted along the Iyemero-Eruku Road, a border route linking Kwara and Kogi states.

The couple were reportedly returning from their engagement ceremony in Eruku on Saturday evening when armed men intercepted their vehicle and abducted them alongside four other passengers.

According to sources, the vehicle was initially expected to take the Isanlu Road. However, the driver reportedly chose an alternative route to drop off the best man and other members of the group at Iyamoye in Kogi State.

The vehicle was subsequently intercepted by armed men along the Iyemero-Eruku Road, leading to the abduction of all the occupants.

A photograph of the newly abducted couple has since emerged following the incident, while details about the whereabouts of the other passengers remain unclear.

Confirming the incident on Sunday, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said soldiers had been deployed to search the surrounding bushes and rescue the victims while also pursuing the suspected kidnappers.

Ojo disclosed that the vehicle used by the victims was later found abandoned at a former police station in Ayetoro, Ekiti State.

He added that police operatives from Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states were working jointly on the rescue operation because the incident occurred around the border communities of the three states.

Authorities have yet to disclose further details on the identities of the suspected abductors or whether any contact has been established with the victims.

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Crime

Gunmen Kill Five Miners in Plateau State

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At least five miners have been killed and two others injured after gunmen reportedly ambushed them at a mining site in Plateau State.

The incident occurred at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

According to community sources, the miners were carrying out their legitimate activities when they came under attack. The incident has plunged the community into mourning and renewed concerns over the safety of residents in the area.

Confirming the attack, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, said five people lost their lives while two others sustained injuries.

“It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence,” Tengwong said, while calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect communities and prevent similar incidents.

A community member, Simon Mundat, also described the attack as devastating and appealed to the authorities to strengthen security in the area.

“We are deeply saddened by this attack. We appeal to authorities to strengthen security in the area so that our people can go about their legitimate activities without fear,” he said.

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Crime

EFCC Returns ₦84m to Edo Businessman

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The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned ₦84 million to an Edo State businessman, Ekhahon Abraham, following an investigation into an alleged land fraud.

The EFCC said the money was recovered from a woman identified as Anita Eborome, who allegedly collected the funds from Abraham under the pretence of selling him a parcel of land measuring 115ft by 135ft in a community in Edo State.

According to the commission, Abraham paid for the property and subsequently erected a perimeter fence on the land. However, the fence was later demolished by a man who claimed to be the rightful owner of the property.

Abraham reportedly approached Eborome to request a refund but said she became evasive. He subsequently petitioned the EFCC, which commenced an investigation.

The commission said its investigation established that Abraham had transferred the ₦84 million to Eborome, who allegedly diverted the money for her personal use.

The acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Deputy Commander Sa’ad Hanafi, presented a draft for the recovered ₦84 million to Abraham.

Hanafi reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to carrying out its duties professionally and ensuring that individuals involved in fraudulent activities do not benefit from the proceeds of their alleged wrongdoing.

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