Crime
Kwara Massacre: Security Forces Unmask Terror Kingpin Sadiku
Tuesday’s massacre in Woro, a remote community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, which claimed an estimated 176 lives, was not a random act of violence. Investigations indicate that the attack was the outcome of a carefully planned expansion of a jihadist front that Nigeria’s security architecture failed to stop, despite advance warnings.
At the centre of the carnage is Abubakar Saidu, widely known as Sadiku—a seasoned terrorist commander whose violent footprint stretches across more than a decade and multiple regions of northern Nigeria.
From Shadow Figure to Regional Kingpin
For years, Sadiku operated largely out of public view within Nigeria’s insurgency ecosystem. However, security investigations now trace a 12-year trajectory that saw him evolve from a trusted lieutenant of the late Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, in 2014, to what analysts describe in 2026 as the “Shekau of the North-Central.”
As sustained military offensives weakened Boko Haram strongholds in the North-East, Sadiku shifted westward, embedding himself in the vast forest corridors linking Niger and Kwara states. From these hideouts, he coordinated attacks that devastated farming communities, displaced thousands, and ultimately culminated in one of the deadliest mass killings in Kwara State’s history.
Deployed by Boko Haram
Security findings reveal that Sadiku was originally dispatched by Boko Haram to Niger State as a trusted operative charged with expanding the group’s influence beyond its traditional North-East base.
A counterterrorism analyst on X, MobilisingNigeria, linked Sadiku’s rise to his close relationship with Shekau, who reportedly handpicked him to oversee Boko Haram’s interests in Niger State.
“He later worked with Dogo Gide to expand into the North-Central terrain and also collaborated with the Darul Islam terrorist group before the police dismantled it,” the analyst wrote.
Sadiku’s temporary alliance with notorious bandit kingpin Dogo Gide enabled him to acquire weapons, intelligence, and local leverage. The partnership later collapsed over ideological differences, triggering violent clashes that left casualties on both sides.
Kainji Forest: A New Base of Terror
Following the split, Sadiku withdrew deeper into forest territories, eventually establishing a major base inside the Kainji Forest Reserve in July 2025. Security observers describe this move as a strategic shift from profit-driven banditry to a more rigid, ideology-driven campaign of terror.
Spanning Niger and Kwara states, the Kainji Forest Reserve has increasingly become a strategic hub linking insurgents from the North-East with remnants of bandit groups in the North-West. Security experts now refer to it as Nigeria’s “new Sambisa,” providing cover for recruitment, arms trafficking, and coordinated attacks across Kwara, Niger, Kebbi, and parts of Kaduna states.
A Kwara-based security expert, Hassan, said Sadiku’s relocation marked a dangerous expansion of Boko Haram-style insurgency into the North-Central zone.
“For over a decade, Boko Haram violence was concentrated in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa,” he said. “But splinter factions are now exploiting forests, weak security presence and porous borders to push westward.”
Links to Al-Qaeda Affiliate
In a separate analysis, MobilisingNigeria described Sadiku as a Boko Haram factional leader who relocated from the North-East to establish new operational bases in the North-West and North-Central regions.
International security tracker Brandon Phillips directly linked Sadiku’s faction to the Woro massacre, noting that the attack occurred less than four kilometres from Nuku, where Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)—an Al-Qaeda affiliate—claimed its first-ever attack in Nigeria in October 2025.
According to Phillips, the proximity suggests either operational collaboration or a non-aggression pact between JNIM and the Sadiku-led Boko Haram faction. He added that the Woro killings followed a pattern similar to recent attacks in Papiri, Niger State, indicating a continued southward push toward JNIM-dominated zones around the Kainji Reserve.
Between November and December 2025, Phillips said evidence of cooperation between JNIM and Sadiku’s Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’adati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction became increasingly clear, with fighters redeployed into JNIM-controlled areas of Kwara, Niger and southern Kebbi.
He also linked JNIM to the kidnapping of Catholic children in Papiri, noting that some victims were held in JNIM camps after an operation executed by Sadiku’s fighters.
Fighters Converge on Kainji Axis
Another security researcher, Raheem Mutiu, confirmed that JNIM fighters have spread across Kaiama, Baruten, Borgu and surrounding communities near the Kainji Forest Reserve.
He noted that these areas were previously controlled by the Mahmuda group, whose influence declined sharply after the arrest of its leader in August 2025.
African conflict researcher James Barnett observed that the extreme brutality of the Woro massacre distinguished Sadiku’s faction from the Mahmudawa group, which had focused largely on preaching and social control, with violence mostly triggered by military operations.
Following the Mahmuda leader’s arrest, Barnett said some fighters defected to Sadiku’s camp, while others fled into Benin Republic, consolidating Boko Haram splinter dominance around the Kainji axis.
A Warning Ignored
Investigations reveal that Woro was warned weeks before the attack.
The village head, Salihu Umar, confirmed receiving a letter written in Hausa and dated 19 Rajab 1447 (January 8), about three weeks before the massacre. Signed by JAS, the letter requested a “secret” meeting with community leaders for preaching purposes and assured residents they would not be harmed.
Umar said he photocopied the letter and submitted it to the Kaiama Emirate, while also forwarding a soft copy to the Department of State Services (DSS) office in Kaiama.
The Night of Bloodshed
On the day of the attack, eyewitnesses said the gunmen arrived around 5pm on motorcycles, armed with AK-47 rifles and explosives. They surrounded the community, sealing all exit routes.
By 6pm, the attackers stormed the Emir’s palace, dragged out his family and set the building ablaze as gunfire echoed across the town. Residents reported seeing a white helicopter with markings hover briefly over the area before departing without intervention.
Between 6:30pm and 8pm, survivors said the attackers entered what they described as an “execution phase,” rounding up men, tying their hands behind their backs, and killing them systematically.
A military aircraft reportedly reappeared around 8pm, forcing the assailants to retreat into nearby bushes. Believing the danger had passed, some residents emerged around 9pm. The attackers regrouped, used the call to prayer as a decoy to lure people out, and resumed the killings.
The violence finally subsided around 2am, when the terrorists withdrew into the forest, abducting women and children and leaving behind a devastated community.
A 25-year-old amateur boxer, Kehinde Asimiyu, popularly known as KBlaq, has been stabbed to death following a disagreement over transport fare involving a commercial motorcyclist in Oyo State.
The incident occurred at Olodo Garage in Lagelu Local Government Area of the state.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the killing, announcing the arrest of two suspects in connection with the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said in a statement that the command received a report of the incident on November 1, 2026.
According to the police, the deceased was allegedly stabbed with a broken bottle by a suspect identified as Taiwo Babarinde during the disagreement.
“Following receipt of the report, police operatives, accompanied by a patrol team, immediately mobilised to the scene, while the victim was rushed to Academy Hospital, Texaco, Iwo Road, Ibadan, where he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,” the statement said.
The police added that the deceased’s remains were subsequently deposited at Adejare Embalming Centre for preservation, while photographs were taken as part of the preliminary investigation.
Two suspects, identified as Taiwo Babarinde, who allegedly inflicted the fatal injury, and Ishola Semiu, who is suspected of involvement in the incident, have been arrested.
“Both suspects are currently in police custody, while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan, for comprehensive investigation,” Ayanlade stated.
The police said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released four men arrested over suspected links to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and awarded them a total of N20 million in compensation after investigations cleared them of the allegations.
The four men described their release as the happiest day of their lives after spending about four years in DSS custody.
The Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, reportedly ordered their release and the payment of N5 million to each of them following their clearance.
The beneficiaries are Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry. They were arrested in May 2022 in Sampou and Akeddei communities in Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.
According to Vanguard, a source familiar with the development disclosed that investigations established that the men had been misled into believing they would receive a monthly payment of N100,000 under the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme.
They were allegedly lured by individuals linked to IPOB, who are currently facing trial.
Speaking on behalf of the four men, Emele Uduma Ibe expressed gratitude to the DSS leadership, describing the day of their release as the happiest moment of his life.
He said the experience had taught him valuable lessons which he intended to share with others, while offering prayers for the DSS Director-General and the management of the Service.
Meanwhile, their lawyer, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, commended the DSS for its efforts towards national security and respect for human rights.
The law firm particularly praised Ajayi’s approach to human rights issues, describing the level of hygiene and professionalism within the Service as exceptional.
The development is part of a broader review of inherited terrorism-related cases initiated by Ajayi after assuming office in 2024.
The DSS reportedly reviewed more than 300 cases, with the exercise leading to a reduction in the number of detainees at its facilities to about 100 following investigations. The agency has also reportedly paid over N1 billion in compensation to individuals cleared of allegations or affected by operational mistakes.
Other beneficiaries include a Jos-based businessman who received N20 million after being mistakenly shot by DSS operatives in Plateau State, Chineze Ozoadibe, who was paid N10 million following her wrongful arrest, and Sunday Ifedi, who also received N10 million after investigations cleared him of links to IPOB.
Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor was similarly awarded N5 million after investigations absolved him of IPOB-related allegations.
A source disclosed that the four newly released men would also receive psychological and medical support, in addition to assistance with their reintegration into society.
In a recent media interview, Ajayi acknowledged that the DSS, like every human institution, could make mistakes, stressing that such errors must be addressed.
He reportedly maintained that whenever the Service acknowledges wrongdoing, it has a responsibility to provide remedies, including compensation, while improving its operations in line with the rule of law.
Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said some bandits he engaged with claimed they could not abandon their violent activities because they feared being killed if they surrendered or gave up their weapons.
Gumi said the armed men described the persistent attacks as a cycle of revenge, alleging that military operations and killings in their communities had fuelled their resolve to continue attacking.
According to the cleric, some of the bandits admitted that the bloodshed had become excessive but insisted they felt compelled to sustain the violence in retaliation for attacks against their communities.
“One of the bandits was telling us the bloodshed is too much,” Gumi said.
He added, “They, too, are not happy. And they say they are forced to do it.”
Gumi made the remarks during an interview on PAPShow, published on October 29, with excerpts from the conversation circulating widely on social media on Tuesday.
Explaining the grievances of the armed groups, the cleric said they accused security forces and local vigilantes of killing women and children during operations initially aimed at tackling cattle rustling.
He said the bandits questioned the killing of civilians in their communities and viewed such incidents as justification for retaliatory attacks.
“But why did they kill their women and children? Why are they killing their women and children? Why are the vigilantes arresting them and killing them? Why?” he quoted the bandits as asking.
Gumi said the armed men believed the situation had degenerated into a cycle of violence characterised by revenge, attacks and counterattacks.
“So, they feel it’s a field of blood, revenge, attack and counterattack,” he said.
The cleric called for negotiations to end the killings, arguing that religious leaders should help create an avenue for dialogue between the parties.
“So, we, as clergy, our own duty is to look at how to stop it. Let’s stop the bloodshed. Let’s come to the table,” he said.
Asked why the bandits could not abandon their activities, Gumi attributed their reluctance to fears that they would be killed if they surrendered.
“Because they thought they were killed. So, we need to reaffirm to them, to put confidence in them that they will not be killed,” he said.
The cleric also alleged that financial sponsorship and rivalry among armed groups were contributing to the proliferation of sophisticated weapons.
Asked whether individuals were financing the bandits, Gumi said such a possibility could not be ruled out.
“It’s possible now. You know, it’s possible now,” he said.
He explained that rival groups were acquiring more powerful weapons to outmatch and intimidate one another, creating what he described as an arms race.
“They buy more weapons because there’s an arms race between them. You know, there are different groups.
“There’s an arms race. So, this den has more machine guns than this one. So, they should fear them,” he said.
On the source of the firearms, Gumi claimed that the armed groups obtained weapons through illegal markets, where buyers could access them if they had the money.
“Well, it’s a black market, like drugs. It’s a black market. If you just have the money, you get them,” he said.
Gumi further alleged that foreign intelligence agencies were involved in supplying weapons to armed groups operating in Nigeria, although he did not provide evidence to substantiate the claim.
“Foreign intelligence definitely have a hand in it,” he said.
Asked whether foreign countries could be supplying weapons to Nigerian bandits and terrorists, the cleric said it was possible, suggesting that countries with strategic interests in Nigeria could be involved.
“It’s possible,” he replied.
…Ondo State Police Arrest Suspect, Recover Three Bags of Fake Dollar Notes
Men of the Ondo State Police Command have uncovered a suspected counterfeit United States dollar printing factory in Kiniso Village, via Ajue, Odigbo Local Government Area, arresting one suspect and recovering three bags of suspected fake dollar notes.
The operation followed a complaint by a businessman, Yusuf Nasiru, from Sabo, Okitipupa, who allegedly lost $6,000, equivalent to about N8.6 million, to two men in a fraudulent foreign exchange transaction.
The suspects reportedly approached Nasiru for a currency exchange transaction but allegedly returned counterfeit dollar notes to him.
According to Nasiru, the incident occurred on October 25, 2026, when two men, identified as Peter Desmond and Olami Toro, visited his shop and requested to exchange United States dollars for their naira equivalent.
He said he handed over $6,000 to the men but they later returned the money, claiming they did not have enough funds to complete the transaction, before leaving.
Nasiru said he subsequently discovered that the dollar notes returned to him were counterfeit and reported the incident to the police on October 28.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, who confirmed the arrest and discovery of the suspected printing factory, said detectives immediately commenced an investigation following the complaint.
Jimoh said operatives from the Okitipupa Divisional Police Headquarters launched an investigation, while intelligence gathering and technical tracking led them to Kiniso Village, where one of the suspects was traced.
He disclosed that police operatives raided the suspected hideout on October 29 following intelligence provided by members of the community.
However, some occupants reportedly escaped through the perimeter fence during the operation.
A search of the premises led to the recovery of three bags containing suspected counterfeit United States dollar notes and a small wooden box believed to be connected to the alleged illegal printing operation.
The arrested suspect, whose identity was not disclosed, reportedly provided useful information to assist the ongoing investigation.
The police spokesman said the command had ordered an intensified investigation to apprehend other members of the suspected criminal network and establish the full extent of its operations.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to bringing all those found culpable to justice and warned members of the public against engaging in suspicious foreign exchange transactions with unverified individuals.
Jimoh also advised residents to authenticate foreign currencies before accepting them and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected kidnapper while attempting to collect a ₦200,000 ransom from a female resident of Nasarawa State.
The suspect, identified as Mukaila Iliyasu, was apprehended at Akwaba in Eggon Local Government Area of the state during a joint intelligence-led operation involving troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, and DSS operatives.
The arrest followed intelligence reports that the suspect had allegedly threatened to abduct a woman unless she paid him ₦200,000.
The Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement.
According to the statement, DSS operatives alerted the military to the threat on October 29, prompting the deployment of security personnel to track down the suspect and prevent the planned abduction.
In a coordinated operation, a soldier reportedly went undercover and posed as the person assigned to deliver the ransom.
The suspect was subsequently arrested while collecting the money, with operatives recovering the sum of ₦200,000 believed to be the ransom demanded from the intended victim.
The military described the operation as a successful intelligence-driven intervention that prevented a possible kidnapping and demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in tackling criminal activities.
Following his arrest, Iliyasu was handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke and General Officer Commanding, 5 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Moses Kolo Gara, commended the troops and DSS operatives for their professionalism, courage and effective coordination.
Gara urged security personnel to sustain their collaboration and strengthen intelligence sharing to combat kidnapping and other security threats across their areas of responsibility.
He also emphasised the importance of continued cooperation among security agencies in protecting lives, securing communities and maintaining peace in the region.
-
Crime5 days agoPolice Arrest Pastor, Accomplice Over Alleged Car Theft in Abuja
-
News5 days agoEnugu West Senate: Court Dismisses Suit, Affirms OAU Onyema as ADC Candidate
-
Crime5 days agoBusinessman’s Suspected Suicide: Family Alleges Foul Play, Demands Autopsy
-
News5 days agoNUJ to induct Arthur Eze into Hall of Fame as Umahi receives Bridge Builder Award
-
Special Report4 days agoSPEAKER ABBAS: A GOOD HEART, THE COMPASSIONATE SERVANT
-
Politics3 days agoEnugu APC Warns Residents Against NDC’s ‘Alarmism’, Urges Vigilance
-
Politics3 days agoNwifuru vs Wike: Gov fights back says No Rainbow Coalition In Ebonyi
-
Opinion3 days agoHONOURABLE REP. BASHIR ZUBAIRU USMAN: BLESSED HEART, BLESSED MIND