Crime

Inside bandit bloody attack that emptied Kwara community

Published

5 months ago

October 4, 2025

On Sunday, September 28, residents of Oke-Ode, a quiet agrarian town in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, woke up to the staccato of gunfire.

What followed was not just another bandit attack, it was a massacre that shattered the town’s soul.

When the smoke cleared, no fewer than 15 people were confirmed dead— hunters, vigilantes, traders, a traditional leader and young men who had been the community’s first line of defence.

Families were kidnapped, entire compounds emptied, and hundreds of residents fled in panic.

They abandoned farmlands, shops, and schools.

Oke-Ode, once considered the safest town in the Igbomina axis, is now deserted.

Markets that once buzzed with traders are silent, sachet water sellers have disappeared, and bread is no longer available.

Fear is now the only currency that circulates in the town.

Some of those who died in the incident were identified as the Baale of Ogba Ayo, Abdulwasiu Abdulkareem; his brother, Fatai Abdulkareem; a prince from Agunjin, Ishola Muhammed; and Abdulfatai Elemosho from Babaloma.

Others are Salaudeen Bashir from Babaloma; Saheed from Abayan; Olowo-Ila from Oke-Ode, Oluode Ologomo, Oji and Saheed Matubi.

We gave the attackers fire for fire – Hunter

Amid the grief, survivors pointed to what they described as a suspicious security lapse.

It was first a grieving widow who accused men of the Department of State Services of complicity in the attack.

She alleged that the operatives disarmed the hunters and gave the guns to the herdsmen.

But Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said there was no truth to the claim.

He also noted that the leadership of the forest guards had disputed the claim.

But a local hunter, who narrowly escaped death and spoke on condition of anonymity, insisted that their guns were taken away before the bandits struck.

He also narrated how hunters confronted the hoodlums, who carried sophisticated guns.

The hunter said, “It is someone who has not seen a real fight that calls himself a man. It was a tough battle. Those people came with sophisticated weapons. We tried our best, but we were overwhelmed. We gave them fire for fire; the bandits were many.

“A military officer had collected most of our guns the previous day, saying he wanted to service them. Immediately, he collected the guns, he kept them in the house with bullets. He slept at Ajase, and maybe it was one of those supplying the guns that hinted them that the guns had been recovered from us, and that they should start coming.

“That was the way I thought about it because since the guns were given to us, nobody attacked us. But it was the day he collected the guns and bullets for servicing that those people attacked. That looked suspicious.

“The remaining guns we had to protect ourselves were not enough at all. If the guns had not been collected and everything was available, they wouldn’t have been able to do that. They were able to attack us because we had insufficient guns and bullets.”

‘I hid in the roof while baale, brother were killed’

At Ógba-Ayo Quarters, one of the bloodiest flashpoints of the invasion, tragedy struck at the home of Abdulwasiu, the leader of the community.

A relative, who asked not to be named for security reasons, recounted the horror in a trembling voice.

“It was early in the morning, and I was sleeping when I started hearing gunshots,” he said.

“I quickly climbed the roof to hide. After about 30 minutes, I came down and saw my brother — the baale – his younger brother, and son lying dead in a pool of blood. Their bodies were riddled with bullets.”

The local chief left behind two wives and six other children, all now in hiding.

“There is no one left in Ógba Ayo. We don’t know if we will ever return to our homes or what the future holds for us,” the source lamented.

From hiding, another resident, Gbemisola Muhammed, popularly called Yeye Oge, still trembles when she recalls her husband’s final words.

“On Saturday night, he told me not to travel after dark because he had a premonition,” she told Saturday PUNCH.

“He went for a hunters’ meeting the next morning. He was not on duty that day, so he didn’t carry a gun. That was the last time I heard his voice.”

By Sunday, her husband, Prince Ishola Muhammed, was dead.

He was ambushed alongside his younger brother and brother-in-law. The attackers were said to have attempted to abduct his sister-in-law, who narrowly escaped.

“My mother-in-law had just returned from hajj. The bandits asked after her too. They eventually left with my sister-in-law’s bag and phones,” Gbemisola said.

“Now, I am a widow,” she said.

For 27-year-old Rilwan Tajudeen, the pain of loss remains raw.

His father, a charcoal dealer, had only gone to Oke-Ode to buy goods when the bullets found him.

“My father was not a hunter. He was returning from the market when they shot him and the motorcycle rider carrying him,” Rilwan said.

“I carried him in a pool of blood. Six bullets were removed from his body. He died in my hands. I don’t know how to continue without him.”

Rilwan has since abandoned the only home he knew.

Families wiped out, babies kidnapped

Saturday PUNCH gathered that in Dabu village, a man identified as Taiye, his wife, and their two-month-old baby were kidnapped.

A popular doctor known as Baba Gold was also abducted along with his wife and two children.

“They killed Oluode Ologomo, a powerful hunter whose charms used to protect him. They stripped him of his amulets before shooting him. They wanted to make a statement that nobody is safe,” another resident said.

In Alade village, a Bororo man and a Hausa trader were reportedly killed before the bandits advanced into Oke-Ode.

No fewer than 15 people were killed.

A youth leader, Sesan Okeleye, lamented that the hunters died while serving without any form of remuneration.

“They were killed like chickens because their weapons were taken away under the guise of repairs. Somebody somewhere knows what is happening.”

Another indigene, Sunmonu Jamiu, added, “People here know the bandits’ hideouts. The soldiers too know. Why are they not going into the forests to flush them out? Until they do, we are not safe.”

Exodus in 200 vehicles

By midweek, Oke-Ode had emptied.

From Ajase-Ipo Junction down to the affected villages, residents carried bags of clothes and food as they boarded buses.

Commercial drivers confirmed that more than 200 vehicles evacuated residents between Sunday and Wednesday.

“The whole town has emptied,” one driver said. “It is possible the criminals will now take over after killing the Baale and the vigilantes.”

Even institutions were not spared. At the School of Nursing in Oke-Ode, where about 700 students were enrolled, classrooms and hostels stood empty.

Students were hurriedly relocated to Ilorin for safety.

“We could not take chances with their safety,” said Dr. Nasirudeen Tajudeen, a senior lecturer. “Accommodation has been secured in Ilorin. Academic work will continue there.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, told Saturday PUNCH that the command had scaled up joint operations with other forces to restore normalcy.

She said, “We are not leaving anything to chance. The Kwara State Police Command, in synergy with the Nigerian Army, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and our sister agencies, is intensifying operations to ensure calm is restored to the hinterlands and the bandits terrorising our people are routed out.”

Kwara to set up task force, says gov

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, vowed to ensure justice for the forest guards, hunters, and community leader killed in the attack.

The governor, in a statement posted on X on Friday, also announced plans to set up a civilian task force to bolster local security and tackle the growing wave of kidnappings and violent attacks across the state.

He said he held an emergency security meeting with stakeholders from Edu and Patigi LGAs on Thursday night.

He noted that the new civilian outfit would be drawn from local communities, adequately trained, and supported to work closely with conventional security agencies.

The governor explained that the task force would complement existing security structures, while its modalities would be fine-tuned in consultation with stakeholders to guarantee sustainability.

During the meeting, he noted that discussions also focused on supporting victims of past attacks, upgrading infrastructure at the College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, and improving power supply across the Edu–Patigi axis.

Expressing grief over the Oke Ode tragedy, the governor described the slain men as heroes who laid down their lives for the safety of others.

“They will not die in vain. Beyond our solidarity and planned support for their families, we will not spare the criminals behind their deaths,” he said.

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Crime

Pastor to die by hanging for killing A’Ibom landlord

Published

2 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church Chapel, Ifa Ikot Ubo–Ifa Ikot Okpon Branch, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Umoh, has been sentenced to death by hanging.

Umoh was sentenced by Justice Gabriel Ette of the state High Court for killing a 500-level Civil Engineering student of the University of Uyo, Gabriel Bassey, who was also his landlord.

The pastor was convicted for stabbing Edward to death on December 21, 2020, at Ifa Ikot Ubo in the Uyo Local Government Area of the state.

The court was informed that the deceased relocated to his late mother’s property at Ifa Ikot Ubo to secure the estate and also live closer to school.

His mother, before her death in December 2019, had established a nursery school on the property.

Evidence before the court indicated that the late landlord lived in a two-bedroom flat attached to a long hall within the compound alongside his younger brother, Emmanuel Bassey.

The hall, originally constructed for school purposes, was later rented to Living Faith Church at an annual rent of N150,000, with the consent of his father, Emana Bassey, a retired school principal.

The church was allowed to commence use of the hall, even before full payment of rent, it was gathered.

The convict was subsequently posted to the branch as its pioneer resident pastor.

Evidence presented before the court revealed further that on December 21, 2020, the defendant was seen entering the deceased’s compound, after which the neighbours began to hear screams of “Jesus” from inside the premises.

Shortly afterwards, the defendant emerged wearing a white garment stained with blood, claiming he fell off while attempting to hang a banner.

The deceased was never seen alive again.

On December 26, 2020, a day after Christmas, Edward’s decomposing body was discovered in his room, wrapped in a mat with multiple lacerations and a butcher’s knife found beside him.

The defendant, being the last person seen with Edward and possessing unexplained bloodstains, was promptly arrested and charged with murder.

The defendant, who was arraigned on December 6, 2021, on one-count charge of murder, pleaded not guilty.

To establish its case, the prosecution called six witnesses, including the deceased’s father, Emana Bassey, who testified as the first prosecution witness.

He told the court that shortly after the church began operations, the defendant requested permission to store church chairs and other items inside the deceased’s flat for security reasons, as the hall lacked doors and windows.

The father said the request was granted.

However, the arrangement soon became problematic.

Whenever the defendant needed access to church property kept in the flat, the deceased, often away, had to return home to grant access, incurring transport expenses that were not refunded.

Following complaints, the father directed his son to give the defendant a spare key to ease access.

The prosecution led evidence that after the key was handed over, items belonging to the deceased’s late mother, including clothes, plates and other valuables, began to get missing.

The defendant, being in possession of the spare key, became a suspect.

When confronted, the defendant claimed he had lost the key.

The matter was reported to the church’s senior pastor, Owoidoho Akpan, who testified as a defence witness who provided N5,000 to enable the deceased change the locks.

According to evidence before the court, no further items went missing after the locks were changed.

Tensions later arose between the deceased and the defendant over the handling of rent money reportedly paid for the use of the hall and intended for repairs.

Delivering judgment which lasted for over two hours, Justice Gabriel Ette described the case as “very sympathetic,” recounting the efforts of the deceased’s late mother to build and develop the property for educational purposes before her death.

The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Ette condemned the act, noting the irony of a religious leader taking a life within church premises.

“Life is sacred and those who represent God on earth should teach that. It is an irony and quite appalling when a man who claims to be the representative of the divine on earth stoops so low as to denigrate the very essence of his calling and take someone’s life on the premises of the church,” Justice Ette held.

He further stated that individuals, who betray public trust in such a manner, pose a danger to society and must face the full weight of the law.

“Having found you guilty as charged, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging,” the court declared.

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Crime

Mirabel: How false rape alarm turned into money-making venture

Published

2 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Nigerians woke up on Monday to the video of a young TikToker, Abigail Nsuka, aka Mirabel, claiming that she had been raped in her apartment in the early hours of Sunday, February 15.

Within hours, the video had gone viral across social media platforms as thousands, including popular artiste, Simi, demanded justice for her.

Findings showed that Mirabel did not only win sympathisers, she also made a lot of money after sharing her account details until the bubble burst.

She is now in the custody of the Ogun State Police Command.

Wild rape claim

In an emotional post, Mirabel, amid sobs, had claimed she was raped by an invader around 9am.

She said, “I have insomnia. If I’m not drunk or high, I can’t sleep. So, on Saturday, I drank, and it wasn’t working. But I needed to be high enough so I could sleep.

“My eyes were tired, but I couldn’t sleep. I slept around 6am, and around 9am, I heard someone knocking on my door. I thought it was one of my neighbours because it was Sunday morning. Most of them would have gone to church, or maybe one of them wanted to ask for something. I stood up. I had a headache.

“I was still drunk and had a headache. Immediately I opened the door, I was pushed back. Before I got to my door, there was my fridge, and a few steps forward was the door. I hit my head on the fridge when I was pushed back, and I passed out. When I opened my eyes, there was a man over me.

“There was a cloth tucked in my mouth, and I was tied. I was just there mumbling, hoping somebody could hear me. It was Sunday, and most people would have gone to church; even the neighbour close to me had gone to church. Those were the only people who might faintly hear me mumbling.”

She claimed the attacker inserted a blade in her private parts to make her bleed.

“Later on, I was bleeding. I didn’t know why I was bleeding. I thought I got my period. The person texted me. It turns out this person inserted a face blade into my body and cut me so I could bleed,” she added.

The graphic details riled up many Nigerians as people shared the video.

Advocacy groups also showed readiness to take up her case.

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and the Ogun State Government indicated interest in ensuring justice was served.

The donations

Social media influencer, Martins Otse, aka Very Dark Man, claimed that he transferred N100,000 to her account, explaining that he initially intended to send N500,000 but her bank could not receive the money.

One of Mirabel’s friends, identified as Ifedolapo, said another person sent N200,000 to the account.

Ifedolapo also confirmed that N100,000 and N300,000 were also received separately into the bank account.

Many social media users said they had sent varying amounts to the account number.

An influencer, known as Immunizer, alleged that Mirabel made between N1m and N5m from sympathisers.

The controversies

Mirabel’s video had over seven million views and trended for days until some individuals began probing her claims.

Netizens such as Immunizer analysed the pattern of her claims and concluded that she made everything up.

They pointed out that her writing style was similar to the messages she claimed the rapist sent to her.

One of Mirabel’s neighbours also dismissed her claim that she drank Sniper in a suicide attempt, saying nothing of the sort happened.

Amid the backlash, a YouTuber, Vick TV, alleged that the story was concocted to raise funds to renew her rent.

Dramatic U-turn

As the heat was turned on, her friends began backing out, saying they were never part of the scheme.

Mirabel, in a recorded audio conversation with VDM, also admitted that she made it all up.

“I used to masturbate, and I’m a lesbian. I often self-harm when I have panic attacks. It might be a hallucination,” she said in the audio clip.

She admitted that she created a separate TikTok account to send herself messages to make it appear as though a rapist had contacted her.

The reported confession stunned supporters who had amplified her story and donated money.

As the confession circulated, public sympathy quickly turned to anger.

Several Nigerians who donated money demanded refunds as many expressed concern about the wider impact of a false rape claim, noting that such allegations could undermine the credibility of real victims.

One user wrote that many Nigerians were in prison due to false accusations, while another argued that genuine rape survivors often struggle to speak up.

The Founder and Executive Director of Project Alert on Violence Against Women, Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, slammed Mirabel for making false claims.

In a post on Facebook, she demanded that she be prosecuted for making light of a serious offence.

She wrote, “What nonsense is this? Does she think rape is something to joke about, chase clout and make money from? Does she realise that her irresponsible action can negatively affect real victims?

“As women’s right activists, we are are still dealing with secondary victimisation (blaming, shaming, ridiculling and poor response by the police) and then this reckless and badly behaved young girl pulls this stunt. Criminal this is. What’s wrong with people? Please let her face the full wrath of the law for owning up to lying.”

The Coordinator of the Lagos State Domestic Violence Response Team, Lola Adeniyi, in a statement on X, warned that false claims and misinformation could erode public trust and make it harder for genuine survivors to be believed, while cautioning against creating an atmosphere that silences real victims.

“Justice requires truth, evidence and due process,” the agency stated.

Punishment for false rape claim

Mirabel may face trial for the criminal offence of giving false information, which attracts a three-year jail term under Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.

Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act provides that if someone knowingly sends false information via social media, email or online platforms and it causes annoyance, danger, insult, criminal intimidation, hatred or needless anxiety, such a person is liable to three years’ imprisonment, a N7m fine, or both.

This law has been widely used against bloggers and social media users.

A human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said Mirabel could be prosecuted.

He said, “If she had reported the matter earlier to the police, and it is later found to be false, she can also be charged with giving false information to the police.

“In the event of conviction, she may go to jail. My position is that people who come out to make false accusations of rape should be severely punished. It is a matter the legislature should look at.

“The effect is that it discourages genuine victims from coming out and makes it hard for the public to believe those who are actually victims of rape. That sort of behaviour is reprehensible and stands condemned.”

Also, the Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, Omenazu Jackson, described the Tiktoker’s actions as both “a criminal offence and a social crime.”

The lawyer said, “It is punishable to give false information to the public. That is deception, and it is punishable under the law because such information can cause public outcry and disturbances.

“So, it behooves any citizen to give correct information to the public. The law frowns on it seriously. The law states she can suffer imprisonment for such a false alarm.

“She must be prosecuted so that others will not give false information next time. This is to ensure that information given to the public is verifiable. In the criminal justice system, the onus of proof lies on the prosecution.”

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Oluseyi Babaseyi , said Mirabel had been discharged from the hospital where she was admitted, adding that she was in police custody.

He declined to comment when asked if she would be prosecuted for raising false alarm.

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Crime

Night of terror in Zamfara

Published

2 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Zamfara State was on Friday thrown into mourning as bandits reportedly killed no fewer than 50 residents of Dutsin Dan Ajiya village, Anka Local Government area of the state.

Corpses of the victims were robed in white in preparation for a mass burial as seen in a video by Saturday PUNCH.

A resident of the village, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the bandits, who carried sophisticated weapons, raided the village on Thursday night and shot sporadically.

He added that the terrorists blocked all access roads linking the community to prevent people from running away.

He said, “After blocking all the roads, the bandits started to shoot at sight and the villagers ran helter-skelter.

“After the attack, we realised that 30 people were killed; some were wounded, while several others are at large and nobody knows their whereabouts.”

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the attackers also abducted many residents during the raid which lasted till the wee hours of Friday.

However, Reuters said at least 50 people were killed in the attack.

A lawmaker representing Bukkuyum South, Hamisu Faru, told the news agency that the attackers raided the village from around 5pm on Thursday until about 3.30am on Friday, burning down buildings and shooting residents who tried to flee.

“They have been moving from one village to another … leaving at least 50 people dead,” Faru added.

A 41-year-old resident of the village, Abdullahi Sani, also said three family members were killed in the attack.

He said, “No one slept yesterday, we are all in pain.”

According to Sani, residents alerted security forces and local authorities when they saw more than 150 motorcycles carrying the hoodlums, but they got no support.

The state police spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, could not be reached for comment.

He did not take his calls and had yet to respond to a text message sent to him as of press time.

Also, an aide to the governor promised to get back to Saturday PUNCH on the incident.

He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The attack came a day after the Zamfara State Government donated Armoured Personnel Carriers and a drone to security personnel to fight against banditry.

The Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (rtd), who received the donation, had urged troops of the Nigerian Army to take decisive measures against any bandit or terrorist who failed to surrender or lay down their arms during the operation.

Zamfara is part of the North-West states being ravaged by banditry despite sustained military onslaught.

On Wednesday, no fewer than 33 residents of Bui District in Arewa LGA of Kebbi State were killed by Lakurawa terrorists in a reported attempt to rustle cattle.

Similarly, the Lakurawa terrorists attacked the Maganho community in Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State, killing five persons on February 13, 2026

The attackers also rustled a large number of livestock belonging to residents, most of whom are farmers.

In Katsina, the bandits killed 21 residents in Doma town, Faskari LGA on February 3.

The attack shattered a six-month non-aggression pact the community had earlier reached with the gunmen.

‘Killings not a resurgence’

Reacting to the tragedy, the Executive Director of the Foundation for Peace Professionals, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, dismissed the notion that the latest killings represent a resurgence of violence.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, Hamzat characterised the situation as a grim continuation of a long-standing security deficit.

He said the nation’s security architecture was fundamentally flawed and trapped “in a cycle of reactive measures rather than proactive prevention.”

“I do not think it is a resurgence; it is just the continuation of existing insecurity,” he stated.

Hamzat observed that the federal security apparatus was spread too thin to provide sustainable protection across the country’s vast territory.

He noted that the current strategy often involves moving troops from one crisis point to another, leaving recovered areas vulnerable once the military presence is withdrawn.

“Our security approach has always been about responding to situations as they happen. The security has been overstretched, before they effectively complete an operation in one location, they’re deployed to other places with more pressing demands,” said.

As a lasting solution to the carnage, the PeacePro boss maintained that the decentralisation of the police force is no longer a matter of debate but a necessity for national survival.

He insisted that the establishment of state and local police is the only viable option to provide the granular level of security needed to deter bandits in remote areas.

According to him, without a permanent, localised security presence that understands the terrain and maintains a constant vigil, the cycle of killings in states like Kebbi and Zamfara will continue to defy the efforts of a centralised, over-burdened federal command.

Similarly, a security expert, Akin Adeyi, suggested that the government and the military should commence offensive attacks on the bandits.

He said the government should have prepared for the fallout of the December 25, 2025 US strike on the bandits, which he said was responsible for attacks in new areas.

Adeyi said, “It is terrible that we are having this kind of situation, and that we are not prepared for it is a minus for the government. I said with the way the US struck on December 25 last year, these people (bandits) will run helter-skelter, and start spreading into places where there was peace, launching uncoordinated attacks. That is what they will be doing now.

“The government is supposed to have engaged the civil defence, the mobile police and all other paramilitary fully. The moment they are scattered and running into safety, they should have had a plan to curtail them to stop them from entering into society.

“It is not that they (security forces) will just go and sit and rely on repelling attacks. No, it is time for them to be on the offensive now. Anywhere, anytime they gather or receive information about their decision, let them not wait until they attack.”

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