Crime
Villagers Accuse Soldiers Of Killing 3 Persons, 100 Cows
Villagers at Sabon Birnin Daji in Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State have accused soldiers of killing three persons and over 100 cows at a weekly cattle market on Sunday.
Some of the villagers who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday, demanded compensation.
This is just as the Nigerian Army has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
Reports had said the incident occurred when villagers were engaged in buying and selling at the weekly cattle market.
Witnesses alleged that some persons in army uniform, suspected to be soldiers, opened fire on the cattle, leaving three persons, as well as about 100 of the animals dead.
A video on social media showed the animals scattered across the market along with the three bodies, while some villagers looked on.
A resident, Shehu Sabon Birni, said some of the soldiers involved rode on motorcycles to the location.
“It was a horrific scene when the soldiers arrived at the market, some of them on motorcycles, and started shooting the animals. Two people were killed in the chaos.
“Now, over 100 dead cows are scattered throughout the market, and the nearby houses are overwhelmed by the stench. We are still unsure why the soldiers took such drastic action”, he said.
Dr Ahmad Gumi, who shared the video on his verified Facebook page, said: “Banditry has a cause. And this is part of it. Two wrongs don’t make a right, especially when committed by those entrusted with our protection”.
Residents demand compensation
Shamsudeen Sabon Birni, an orange seller at the market, said over 140 cows were killed and over N50 million worth of goods destroyed.
“I was at the market around 2:30pm (on Sunday) when the soldiers arrived. They went straight to meet with the Sarkin Pawa, who was in charge of the market. Before we knew what was happening, they started beating him up before he was shot dead,” the eyewitness recounted.
Shamsudeen described the uniformed men’s actions as indiscriminate, saying they forced traders to lie down before opening fire on the animals and damaging their goods.
“We deserve compensation if they are going to pay us,” he said.
Another resident, Usman Sabon Birni, called for compensation for the families of the deceased and the traders who suffered losses.
“The Sarkin Pawa, Shitu Kaura was killed at close range. He left behind three wives and 10 children.
His body was packed inside a sack and buried because the body was mutilated after being left outside for days. This is why we want the authorities to pay compensation to those killed, including those whose cows were killed on that Sunday,” he said.
It was gathered that two other people who went to the village searching for their cows were among those killed.
Youths in the village were said to have burnt the dead animals and threw some into a nearby river because of the stench.
Army chief orders investigation
The spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement yesterday, said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, had directed that the incident be thoroughly investigated.
Nwachukwu noted that the probe was with a view to establishing the immediate and remote causes of the incident, and unraveling those behind it.
He said the army sympathises with Sabon Birni community and the families of the affected persons.
He said the allegation would be thoroughly investigated and that any personnel found culpable would be appropriately sanctioned.
“It is also necessary to add that the Nigerian Army, which is constitutionally mandated to protect lives and property of the citizenry, cannot tolerate doing otherwise,” he said.
“We, therefore, appeal for calm and assure the general public that the outcome of the investigation will also be made public,” Nwachukwu added.
The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached for response as his mobile phone line was unavailable.
Amnesty Int’l, HURIWA demand independent, open probe
Speaking to Daily Trust on the incident, Isa Sanusi, Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, said while carrying out security operations, the army must abide by human rights standards in line with international laws.
“While it is good that the army announced that it will launch an investigation, but that is not enough. It is difficult to trust that the Nigerian Army can investigate itself; as in the past, such investigations did not lead to justice for victims and their families.
“The investigation must be open, impartial and transparent. The Nigerian Army must not cover up this atrocity and must ensure that soldiers suspected of responsibility for these killings are brought to justice in fair trials,” he said.
Sanusi said that the Nigerian military must change its ways and stop “incessant violations for which, at the end, no one is held to account.”
Similarly, National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Emmanuel Onwubiko, in an interview with Daily Trust, decried that there had been too many extrajudicial killing of citizens, “and these incidents do go on without the killers in military uniform facing charges for mass murders.
“These extra-legal executions of citizens are absolutely reprehensible, despicable and primitive. The military authority can’t have credible investigative process when their operatives kill Nigerians. Let there be an independent commission of investigators to independently probe these latest killings by the military,” Onwubiko said.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
A total of eight suspected fake Pastors were on Friday arraigned before the Awka High Court in Anambra state.
Recall that Governor Charles Soludo had at a church service in Awka announced that some suspected fake Pastors are already under the custody of the state government for activities that are unbecoming of their roles as servants in God’s Vineyard.
Recall also that at the peak of the clampdown on fake Native Doctors, the affected Native Doctors protested that the Anambra state government has been neck deep in selective justice contending that the fake Pastors obtain their powers from Native Doctors.
They queried why their colleagues are being arrested while their clients who are Pastors are left to walk the streets freely.
It was against this backdrop that the Anambra state government beamed it’s searchlight on the activities of some Pastors which led to the arraignment of eight suspected fake Pastors.
It was gathered that the alleged fake pastors violated the 2025 Homeland Security law established by the administration of Prof Charles Soludo.
The Senior Special Assistant to Soludo on New Media Sir Ejimofor Opara who confirmed the development said the Homeland security law was passed in February 2025 and it frowns at certain forms of religious practices that are deemed inimical to the public, especially as it pertains to creation of illegal wealth.
Last year, some native doctors who were promoting get-rich-quick practices (Okeite rituals) were also arrested and prosecuted accordingly with some of them serving jail terms while othere are currently undergoing trial.ls.
The names of those arraigned before the High Court include; Peter Chukwu, Chinedu Egwuonwu, Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, Ebele Nnachukwu and Ekeleme Chris Ugochukwu.
Others are Ndubisi Nnachukwu,
Miracle Iruoma and Chukwukadibia Ogwuama.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, is leading the prosecution.
The Muslim community in Oyo State has condemned the Sharia-related demands reportedly made by terrorists holding teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, declaring that the criminals do not represent Islam or Muslims.
The position came as public and private schools across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas shut down in solidarity with the abducted victims.
Also, security analysts in separate interviews, offered differing views on how the Federal Government could respond to the terrorists’ demands.
The abductors, who attacked three schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15, reportedly demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law before freeing the captives.
In a statement issued on Friday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Sanvni, and Secretary-General, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the Muslim community in Oyo State described the terrorists’ action as criminal and contrary to Islamic teachings.
The group said attempts by the abductors to justify their actions through religious rhetoric amounted to a distortion of Islam.
“Islam forbids kidnapping, terrorism and the extortion of innocent citizens. Legitimate Sharia promotes justice, peace and the sanctity of human life, values that stand in direct opposition to the activities of criminal groups,” the statement said.
The organisation added that terrorists could not claim to speak on behalf of Muslims.
“Terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims,” it stated.
Quoting Chapter 5 Verse 32 of the Holy Qur’an, the community stressed that Islam places a high premium on the protection of human life and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue those in captivity.
The development came amid growing concerns over the fate of the abducted teachers and pupils.
A traditional ruler in one of the affected communities, the Eleshi of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, appealed to the government to secure the release of the victims.
“We are aware of the ransom demands of the terrorists, but we are helpless. We are looking up to the government and pleading for intervention,” he said.
Schools shut in 33LGAs
Findings by revealed that the management of private schools issued a statement on Wednesday directing all schools to shut down from Friday, June 5.
One of the internal memos obtained by our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday read, “Due to the situation at hand and the ongoing protest in the state, all pupils and students should stay at home until further notice. No school for now until further notice.”
Also, a message circulated to private schools by the Ibadan District Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Joshua Olaoluwa, and obtained by Saturday PUNCH, read, “Good day, all school owners/administrators. Due to the recent kidnapping of teachers and students in Oriire LGA and rising security concerns, all NAPPS member schools in Ibadan District will be closed on Friday, June 5, 2026, as a mark of solidarity and for prayers for the victims’ safe release and the protection of all schools.
“If anyone tries to disrupt school activities before or after Friday, please record a video if it is safe to do so, report to the nearest police station, and inform your NAPPS LGA coordinator and the district office immediately.”
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Fatai Hassan, had earlier disclosed that all public secondary and primary schools would remain closed until the abductees are rescued alive.
Speaking in Ibadan, the chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association of one of the affected schools, who requested anonymity, said, “We had already held a meeting over the closure of the school. You know this is more or less a remote area. It is not that remote, but we cannot compare schools in this environment with those around the Agbowo-UI, Bodija, Sango or Mokola axis.
“But we had to consider those students writing their terminal examinations. Otherwise, we would have joined the public protest since Monday. We eventually shut down the school on Wednesday,” the source said.
It was gathered that the bandits entered the community at about 1am, shooting sporadically to scare residents. They reportedly destroyed two houses before picking up the victim and whisking him away to an unknown destination. The boy, identified as Oluwatobi, is said to be the son of a pastor in the community, Isaac Olaosebikan.
A source said that, on hearing the sporadic gunshots, residents of the community fled their homes and ran to neighbouring communities for safety.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi, who confirmed the incident in a WhatsApp message, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.
He said, “The Ondo State Police Command has commenced an intensive manhunt for suspected kidnappers who abducted a nine-year-old boy during a violent attack on residents of Ugbosi Quarters, Idogun, in Ose Local Government Area of the state.
“The incident was reported in the early hours of Friday, 5th June 2026, at about 2:30 a.m. by Mr. Olaosebikan Isaac and Mr. Joel Owalekan, both residents of Ugbosi Quarters, Idogun. According to their reports, at approximately 1:30 a.m. on the same day, a group of armed men invaded the community, firing gunshots sporadically and causing panic among residents.
He added that personnel of the command and the Amotekun Corps had been mobilised to the scene and had launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
“Security operatives combed the surrounding forests and likely escape routes in a bid to rescue the abducted child and apprehend the perpetrators,” the PPRO stated.
Jimoh also noted that investigations had commenced while relevant exhibits had been recovered and documented to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and track down those responsible.
“The State Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Felix Ohagwu, has directed all tactical teams, intelligence units and other relevant security assets to intensify efforts toward the immediate rescue of the victim unhurt and the arrest of the perpetrators.
“The Command is also working closely with other security agencies and local vigilante groups to ensure that the criminals are brought to justice.”
Ogunleye was arraigned on Wednesday alongside three other suspects before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The Ekiti State Police Command said the suspects were brought before the court after the conclusion of investigations into the matter.
The prosecutor, Akinwale Oriyimi, informed the court that the case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
Oriyimi subsequently requested the court to remand the defendants pending further directives from the DPP.
Ruling on the application, the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered that Ogunleye and the other defendants be remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
Kano Times recalls that Ogunleye was declared missing on May 20 after her vehicle was reportedly found abandoned along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti Road.
Reports at the time indicated that she was allegedly abducted by suspected gunmen shortly after leaving the local government secretariat.
She was later found unharmed during a joint operation involving security agencies.
However, police investigations later alleged that the kidnapping was staged in a bid to raise money to offset financial obligations and outstanding political commitments.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Dada, condemned the alleged act.
Dada described the incident as embarrassing and unacceptable, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in government officials and security agencies.
He further stated that no public office holder would be protected from prosecution if found culpable of any wrongdoing.
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested three suspects linked to alleged armed robbery, kidnapping, and drug trafficking in separate intelligence-led operations across the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, who reaffirmed the Command’s determination to sustain its crackdown on criminal activities through proactive policing and intelligence-driven operations.
According to the statement, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) on May 30, 2026, at about 7:30 p.m., stormed a drinking spot along the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway following credible intelligence and arrested two suspected armed robbers and kidnappers identified as Ogbonna Chinonso, 22, and Nnachi Cypril, 35.
Items recovered from the suspects included a locally made revolver pistol, a locally made cut-to-size double-barrelled gun, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, and one live cartridge.
Enugu CP
In a separate operation conducted earlier the same day at about 4:30 p.m., VCRU operatives raided a suspected criminal hideout in Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, where they arrested a suspected drug dealer, Izunna Ani, 36.
The police said large quantities of substances suspected to be “Loud” and “Kolos” were recovered from the suspect.
The Command noted that investigations into the cases are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigations.
Commending the operatives for their professionalism and vigilance, CP Giwa reiterated the Command’s commitment to ridding Enugu State of violent crimes and other forms of criminality. He also urged residents to remain security-conscious and continue providing useful information to assist the police in combating crime.
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