Crime
Tension in North As Resurgent terror attacks unsettle Residents
Boko Haram, bandits and armed herders were said to have sacked no fewer than 250 communities in the region, with 6,000 displaced residents reported to be sleeping in religious houses in Plateau State.
On Tuesday, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State stated that hoodlums had taken over 64 communities in the state.
Gunmen had attacked communities in Hurti, Josho, Daffo, and others in Manguna, Bokkos Local Government Area of the state on April 2, killing at least 52 people.
No fewer than 383 houses were burnt and 1,800 displaced.
Similarly, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, expressed concern over the growing influence of Boko Haram in his state.
Zulum, during a security meeting at the Government House on Thursday, said, “Renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities daily without confrontation signal that Borno State is losing ground.”
The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar el-Kanemi, noted that Abadam, Marte and Guzamala LGAs were already under the control of the insurgents.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State in January 2025 said over 1,000 households were displaced in a series of attacks on communities across the state from December 29, 2024, to January 9, 2025.
No fewer than 100 communities spread across 26 council wards in five LGAs of the state were alleged to have been occupied by bandits.
The Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin Ejeh, who spoke to our correspondent, claimed that the hoodlums hoisted flags after sacking the communities.
The leader of the three socio-cultural groups in the state (Mdzou U Tiv, Ochi’Kidoma and Omn’Igede), Iorbee Ihagh, a retired Comptroller of Prisons, decried the invasion of the state by hoodlums, adding that many communities were still under their control.
Ihagh, who also doubles as the President General of Mdzou U Tiv Worldwide, said, “The situation in Moon council ward is pathetic. Every public institution in the area, including schools, health centres and market places, was destroyed and many houses burnt. Personally, my house in the village was burnt. Nobody can access any community there. When my wife died last year, I couldn’t take her corpse home because herdsmen had taken over the communities.”
252 attacks on Borno in five months – Ndume
The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, said between November 2024 and now, there had been more than 252 attacks in Borno State alone.
Ndume stated this while appearing on Politics Today on Channels Television on Friday.
While confirming that three councils in the state were under the control of Boko Haram, he berated the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, for calling on Nigerians to ignore Zulum’s claim that Borno was losing ground to the insurgents.
Ndume attributed the renewed attacks by Boko Haram insurgents to inadequate deployment of troops in the state and lack of ammunition.
The vocal senator insisted that insecurity had remained stagnant, contrary to claims by President Bola Tinubu’s administration that things had improved.
He said, “From November last year to date, there were over 252 attacks in Borno State. We have lost more than 100 soldiers; we have lost nearly 300 civilians even though our soldiers gallantly killed over 800 of the terrorists within this period.
“No, we cannot say things are getting better, we cannot also say things are getting worse. We are in a stagnated situation because when you say we are getting it right today, tomorrow you hear another thing just like what happened in Plateau State last week. Lukarawa came in Sokoto, Kebbi and attacked two days ago, the situation is the same thing in Katsina.”
“The President should concentrate on three things — security, welfare of citizens and economy. If it is possible, he should declare a state of emergency in these three areas.”
We sleep under mango trees – IDPs
Many displaced persons in Agagbe IDP camp in Gwer West LGA of Benue State, lamented that they were ‘living in hell on earth.’
A displaced person, Terna Ibaah, said people were registering in the camp daily due to frequent attacks on communities.
He said the influx of displaced persons into the camp had overstretched the capacity of the facility.
“There are five locations in Agagbe camp, but what we are experiencing now is overpopulation, resulting in many people sleeping under mango trees. Little children who do not have any shelter to lay their heads sleep on their wrappers because they don’t have sleeping mats or mattresses,” he added.
Also speaking, a female IDP, who identified herself as Ugba-Kpa-Nyir, stated that she and her three kids, aged three, five, and seven, went to the camp three weeks ago after armed herders ransacked her village and killed seven people, including her husband.
Speaking in her local language, Nyir said, “We left our village with nothing after armed herders attacked on the first Saturday of March. Seven people were killed, including my husband.
“The whole community has been taken over by armed herders. At the time we arrived in the camp, there was nothing. I had only my three children and we rely on old inmates to survive.”
‘Over 6,000 find shelter in Plateau churches’
Bandit attacks have also ravaged many communities in Plateau State, leaving a trail of death, destruction, and displacement in their wake.
A visit to Bokkos LGA where attacks occurred on Tuesday, observed that the communities had been deserted.
Many survivors had also fled their homes, seeking refuge in nearby towns or IDP camps.
The Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, revealed that about 2,000 IDPs were staying at St. Thomas Catholic Church, including about 780 displaced residents from Daffo community.
According to indigenes, about 4,000 displaced persons were camping at the ECWA Church in Hurti community.
“Many of the IDPs are sleeping on bare floors. We have more than 5,000 people taking refuge in different camps in Bokkos alone. That is the situation following the recent attacks carried out by bandits in some communities, which left over 50 persons dead.
“The people are facing the challenge of food. They need food to eat, and they need their houses repaired because they’ve been destroyed. Also, their farm implements and foodstuffs have been set ablaze by the bandits.
“We have some communities like Josho that have been completely taken over by the Fulani. Ganda community is facing a similar situation,” Mallai added.
Our correspondents gathered that apart from Bokkos, bandits had also occupied many communities in neighbouring local government areas, including Barkin Ladi and Riyom.
The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Solomon Mwantiri, attributed the attacks to the control of rich natural and mineral resources in the affected areas.
Communities under bandit control in Sokoto
Many communities, especially in the eastern senatorial zone of Sokoto State, were also reported to have fallen under the control of bandits.
Our correspondent learnt that most of the communities were in Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Tangaza, Rabah, Gada, Illela, and Wurno LGAs of the state.
A security expert, Mahmud Abdullahi, told Saturday PUNCH that the majority of the bandits controlling the communities were linked to wanted terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji.
He said the bandits imposed taxes on their hosts before allowing access to farms and livestock.
“In many instances, you can only make use of your farm when permitted to do so — not on your terms or conditions.
“I know of a community where these people determine when and how the market should be operated. You can only go to the market on days they approve; otherwise, you will pay dearly for it. Most of these communities are known to the government, but they won’t talk about it, and they will also harass you if you try to,” he stated.
Another security expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the presence of bandits in some communities in the Sabon Birni LGA of the state.
“I know of some communities in that area where they still collect taxes from the people before allowing them access to farms and other activities. It is disturbing and worrisome that despite all the outcry, the government has not found a lasting solution to such problems,” he stated.
He revealed that a highly anticipated peace negotiation between four rival bandit groups failed, raising fears of continued violence and instability in the region.
The expert added, “The meeting, held in the remote village of Usu in Birnin Magaji LGA of Katsina State, brought together representatives of notorious armed leaders, including Gwaska Dan Karami, Alhaji Shingi, and Bello Turji.
“The talks were meant to ease internal conflicts and end longstanding rivalries among the groups. However, tension quickly flared as demands were tabled. Alhaji Shingi’s representatives accused Gwaska Dan Karami of encroaching on their territory and threatened retaliation. They also demanded the return of stolen cattle belonging to a resident of Safana LGA in Katsina State.
“Another contentious issue involved weapons allegedly seized from the late Sani Dangote. Gwaska Dan Karami was urged to return the guns and compensate Dangote’s family by purchasing new firearms.
“Despite initial hopes, the meeting unravelled when Bello Turji’s group refused to engage in the negotiations altogether. Turji’s faction, instead vowed to continue targeting Gwaska Dan Karami, declaring their intent to hunt him down.”
He said the collapse of the talks sparked renewed fears of escalating violence in parts of Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and neighbouring states already grappling with insecurity.
How bandits replace imams, flog residents – Chairman’s aide
However, the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Chairman of Tangaza LGA, Gazali Raka, denied the presence of bandits in the area.
But he admitted that the council had a growing presence of Lakurawa terrorists.
Raka said the Lakurawa agents, unlike before when they operated at night, now carry out their activities in broad daylight, regardless of the presence of security personnel.
He said, “We don’t have bandits anymore in Tangaza Local Government, and no community here is under their control. But we have more presence of Lakurawa.
“Some of the big names among the bandits have now switched to Lakurawa. We have people like Mezabo and Charambe, who were once arrested by the DSS. Though he was charged to court, he was later released. He has now become one of the strongest Lakurawa agents. We also have Alela, another top member of Lakurawa here in Tangaza.
“Do you know that they now operate even during the day, right in town? They harass people in most communities. When you go to Ruwa-Wuri, Masalaci, among other communities, they move freely, and soldiers are doing nothing to stop them.
“If they see anyone playing music on their phone or in their shop, they will destroy the device and give that person 50 strokes of the cane. They go to any mosque and summon the imam for questioning. If he fails to answer, he gets flogged and replaced.
“The most annoying part is that only the Nigerian Police Force is helping us. They come out both during the day and at night — unlike the soldiers, who have stopped operating at night,” he stated.
But the lawmaker representing Sabon Birnin West in the state House of Assembly, Almustapha Boza, confirmed that bandits had taken control of some communities in Isa LGA.
He promised to provide details but had not responded as of the time of filing this report.
When contacted, the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Sokoto State Governor, Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.), denied knowledge of any community being under the control of bandits.
While admitting there were security challenges, especially in the eastern senatorial district of the state, he said security agents, in conjunction with the state Community Guard Corps, were working to tackle the problem.
This is as the agency said terrorist financiers were opening bank accounts in women’s names as well as using phone numbers for mobile banking or account alerts that are not registered to the account holder or the true beneficiary.
The disclosures are contained in the NFIU’s 2025 Annual Report, obtained by The PUNCH from a top official.
According to the report, the crowdfunding scheme involves foreign-based facilitators using social media platforms to solicit donations under the guise of humanitarian relief or educational support, before moving the funds through multiple layers to terrorist operatives in Nigeria.
The NFIU said hundreds of sympathisers were typically encouraged to make relatively small donations, ranging from $50 to $500, through PayPal pages or conventional bank accounts, with the amounts deliberately kept low enough to evade automated anti-money laundering alerts.
“The following is a case study on Crowdfunding Network identified during the year: A foreign-based facilitator runs social-media campaigns claiming humanitarian relief or educational support and uses encrypted apps (Telegram, Signal) to share links to convincing PayPal pages or standard bank accounts.
“Hundreds of sympathiser donors contribute $50–$500 each, amounts small enough to avoid most automated AML alerts,” the report read.
The funds are subsequently pooled into a “master account” controlled by a senior member of the group living legally abroad.
“When the pool reaches a threshold, that account becomes the hub for onward movement,” the report stated.
The NFIU said the funds were then fragmented into dozens of smaller payments and transferred through International Money Transfer Operators and remittance applications to a network of money mules in Nigeria.
It identified students, small-business owners and relatives among those used as mules, noting that the strategy was designed to avoid reporting thresholds and obscure the origin and destination of the funds.
“Rather than sending one large transfer, the senior member fractures the funds and sends dozens of sub-threshold payments through IMTOs and remittance apps to a network of money mules in Nigeria; students, small-business owners, or relatives, avoiding reporting triggers.
“Upon receipt, the money was either converted to cash, used to purchase dual-use items such as motorcycles, fertilisers and satellite internet equipment, or transferred through mobile banking channels to logistics managers and field operatives,” it added.
The report described the final stage as the “integration” of the funds into terrorist operational financing.
The Unit also identified the use of gender-based proxy accounts as another emerging terrorist financing technique, with terrorists opening bank accounts in women’s names while male commanders or logistics managers secretly control them.
“Terrorist financiers are opening bank accounts in women’s names while male commanders and logistics managers secretly control them.
“They exploit cultural norms that make women less likely to be suspected by authorities, using wives, sisters, or female associates as fronts to distance illicit funds from the true operatives.
“This tactic functions as identity laundering: women’s accounts are managed by men who hold ATM cards, mobile-banking credentials, and PINs, while the women often remain unaware of the transactions and volumes,” the report stated.
The report further revealed that terrorist facilitators were using telephone numbers that were not registered to the account holders or actual beneficiaries for mobile banking and transaction alerts.
It said pre-registered SIM cards, numbers registered to deceased persons and SIMs linked to gender-based proxies were being used to break the connection between bank accounts, SIM cards and Bank Verification Numbers.
“Terrorist facilitators use phone numbers for mobile banking or account alerts that are not registered to the account holder or the true beneficiary.
“They bypass the security link between SIM cards and BVNs by using pre-registered SIMs, SIMs registered to deceased people, or SIMs tied to gender-based proxies. This severs the audit trail: when a transaction is flagged, investigators trace the phone to an unrelated person, letting the real facilitator stay anonymous and continue operations,” it stated.
The NFIU also uncovered sophisticated methods of disguising terrorist transactions through detailed or coded narrations.
It said cells, particularly those linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province, used precise transaction descriptions to maintain what analysts described as an internal accounting system.
According to the report, frequent logistics-related payments with detailed narrations were often sent from a single source to multiple recipients, reflecting a structured financial system within the terrorist network.
“Terrorist cells, particularly those linked to ISWAP, routinely use precise, professional-sounding transaction narrations to maintain internal accounting. Operating like “shadow states” with strict bureaucratic controls, they require detailed descriptions so field commanders can justify expenses to central financial controllers. Although truthful narrations appear counterintuitive, they create an internal audit trail; analysts repeatedly observe high-frequency, logistics-related payments with accurate narrations sent from a single source to multiple recipients,” the report said.
However, the NFIU said some facilitators used innocuous words, secret codes and alphanumeric strings in transaction descriptions, sometimes switching between languages, to conceal the purpose of payments and evade automated bank filters.
“Transaction descriptions employ innocuous words, secret codes, or alphanumeric strings to conceal intent. Facilitators use this coded language, often switching languages to evade banks’ automated keyword filters that flag terms like ‘Jihad,’ ‘Arms,’ or ‘Boko.’
“This practice obscures the true purpose of transfers, preventing detection and enabling continued financing,” it said.
The NFIU said its risk and crime analysis during the year identified an increasingly interconnected threat landscape involving financial crime, technology and cross-border activity.
It noted that fraud remained a dominant predicate offence, with growing cases of Ponzi schemes, fraudulent crowdfunding arrangements, cryptocurrency-enabled investment scams and hacking-related fraud.
The Unit said the schemes increasingly exploited fintech onboarding gaps, including tiered accounts requiring minimal identification, while digital platforms were used to rapidly recruit victims and move funds.
The report also highlighted persistent vulnerabilities in public sector financial management, including the diversion of state and local government funds through accounts belonging to finance officers and associated third parties.
It identified procurement processes and cash transactions as significant risk areas, saying the latter complicated audit trails and efforts to trace illicit assets.
The NFIU said its findings were translated into targeted advisories, executive alerts and strategic intelligence products to support competent authorities, reporting entities and policy responses.
Six suspected members of a gang of gunmen terrorising Amiyi Community and neighbouring towns in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State have been killed by a joint security task force.
The gunmen met their end after security operatives, acting on intelligence gathered over several days, tracked them to their camp around the River Niger creek.
The operation involved personnel of the Nigeria Police Force Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu; Department of State Services (DSS); 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha; Nigerian Navy personnel from Ogbaru; and Agunachamba operatives from the community.
The security team trekked for about four hours through difficult terrain and dense palm forest before reaching the suspected criminal camp.
On sighting the operatives, the gunmen opened fire, triggering a prolonged gun battle.
At the end of the encounter, six suspected members of the group were neutralised, while others fled, some reportedly with gunshot wounds.
Two pump-action guns and charms were recovered from the camps, while structures believed to have been used by the gang were subsequently dismantled.
However, the operation came at a cost, as one security operative was killed and another injured after an explosive device suspected to have been planted in the area detonated.
The injured operative is receiving treatment in a hospital.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, commended the security personnel and community-based operatives for their courage and resilience, describing the operation as a demonstration of the importance of intelligence sharing, inter-agency cooperation and community support in tackling violent crime.
He commiserated with the family and colleagues of the fallen operative and wished the injured officer a speedy recovery.
The Commissioner assured residents that security agencies would sustain intelligence-led operations to dismantle criminal camps, recover illegal weapons and prevent armed groups from establishing operational bases across Anambra State.
Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have rescued three victims of abduction and recovered their Lexus RX350, two locally made firearms and ammunition following a hot pursuit of suspected kidnappers in Enugu.
The operation was carried out by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Sub-Unit of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), with support from members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group and local residents.
According to a statement by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the operation followed credible intelligence received at about 1:30 a.m. on August 18, 2026, while the operatives were conducting crime-prevention patrols along the Port Harcourt Expressway.
The information concerned the carjacking and abduction of occupants of a Lexus RX350 by armed hoodlums in the Independence Layout area of Enugu.
The operatives immediately launched a hot pursuit which led to Hillview Road, Independence Layout, where the suspects abandoned the vehicle and firearms before fleeing into the area.
The three victims were subsequently rescued unharmed and taken to safety with the assistance of Neighbourhood Watch members and other residents.
Police said they recovered one locally fabricated Beretta-like pistol loaded with five rounds of 9mm live ammunition, one locally made cut-to-size firearm and one live cartridge.
Other items recovered were a pair of hand gloves, a ski mask and a mobile phone.
The Command said investigation had been intensified and a manhunt launched for the fleeing suspects, with efforts ongoing to identify and apprehend them, recover additional exhibits and establish their involvement in the crime.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the police operatives, Neighbourhood Watch members and residents for their swift and coordinated response.
Giwa reiterated the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led and community-supported operations against kidnapping, armed robbery, car snatching and other violent crimes.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide the police with timely and credible information that could assist in preventing and solving crimes.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a suspect for allegedly swindling 16 job seekers within Enugu metropolis.
The Commandant of NSCDC Enugu State Command, Dr Elijah Willie, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the arrest and investigation on Monday.
Willie said that the suspect collected a total of N6,139,000 from the ignorant and unsuspecting job seekers.
He said that the suspect, Mrs Serah Onyemerela, had been evading arrest by many security agencies until a resourceful officer of the command tracked her down and brought her to the Command.
The Commandant said that the suspect collected the sum of N306,000 from each of the 16 job seekers in the alleged job racketeering or job scam,which totalled N6,139,000.
“On August 12 and 18, 2026, Mrs Love Nnenna Onyema and Mrs Chidimma Ubah, the complainants, reported that Mrs Serah Uchechukwu Onyemerela, the suspect, defrauded them of N770,000 and N424,500 respectively.
“This amount to a total of N1,194,500 from both. However, the ones collected among the remaining people that made up the 16 job seekers at N306,000 each totalled N6,139,000.
“The suspect allegedly promised to assist the complainants in securing employment at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH).
“However, there is evidence indicating a lack of genuine intent, as there are no current job vacancies available, and the suspect has failed to refund the amounts as promised,” he said.
Willie said that on Aug. 17, 2026, the suspect was summoned, tracked and subsequently detained due to her inability to fulfil the conditions of an administrative bail application facilitated by the NSCDC Enugu State Command.
“The suspect has since confessed to the charges of job fraud and obtaining money under false pretences.
“The funds were transferred to a personnel account linked to Mrs Onyemerela Serah Uchechukwu,” he said.
The Commandant also warned job seekers and people seeking for help in any form to ensure no one places them in a condition to pay first before rendering a help.
Willie called on Nigerians, enlightened or not, to see the red flag that any help being offered even in prayer houses and money payment comes before the job or help is “total fraud”.
He said, “Our people should get wise like people in advance world and stop falling prey to swindlers and wicked people who are bent on taking the little they have from them.
“However, the NSCDC has a mandate to take away these unscrupulous elements out of the society for Nigerians to experience peace as well as the trust and bond in the society continue.”
The suspect would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) soon as the NSCDC conclude its preliminary investigations on the matter.
A police inspector has been killed and another officer seriously injured after gunmen allegedly ambushed a joint security team in Jigawa State.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 22, 2026, after security personnel responded to reports of farmland destruction in Gwaram Local Government Area.
According to a security report obtained by Zagazola Makama, the attack took place at about 3pm in a forested area.
The joint team comprised personnel from Gwaram and Fagam police divisions, the 35 Police Mobile Force and local security outfits. Members of the Vigilance and Community Response Unit (VCRU) and Operation Salama also participated in the operation.
The report said the team had been patrolling the area following recurring complaints involving suspected herders and farmland destruction.
The personnel reportedly came under attack after entering the area, with the assailants said to have used arrows.
Inspector Bukar Wakili, attached to Gwaram Division, was reportedly struck in the face and sustained serious injuries.
Another officer, Inspector Mohammed Shafiu of the VCRU in Dutse, was also injured during the incident.
Both officers were taken to a hospital, where Shafiu was confirmed dead, according to the report.
Bukar was later referred to the Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for further medical treatment.
The identities and affiliation of the attackers have not been independently confirmed, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Additional tactical teams were subsequently deployed to reinforce the security personnel and support efforts to identify those responsible.
Police have opened an investigation into the incident and maintained a security presence in the affected area.
The attack comes amid recurring disputes involving farmers and herders in parts of northern Nigeria, where disagreements over farmland and grazing routes can sometimes escalate into violence.
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