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Displaced Borno residents recount Boko Haram invasion

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Victims of the recent Boko Haram attack on Kirawa, a community in Gwoza local government area of Borno state, have recounted the ordeals and strategies the insurgents used to seize the community.

In an interview with our correspondent on Sunday, the victims described the experience as “disastrous.”

One victim, Aji Modu, explained that the terrorists entered the community on motorcycles.

In his words, “They came with motorbikes and started shooting while gradually entering the village.

“On their way, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters tried to hold them off in a gun battle, and they exchanged gunfire.

“The CJTF held the insurgents in a gunfight that lasted for hours, slowing their advance into the community. That gave us enough time to quickly run away.”

Another victim, Mustapha Umar, added that the insurgents succeeded in killing one person and abducting a teenager.

“After many of our people crossed the border while the gun battle was ongoing, the CJTF, who were holding the terrorists at gunfire, also began to withdraw. As soon as they withdrew toward our side, the insurgents overtook the town.

“They captured and entered every corner of the town. They took over almost everywhere and began burning houses.

“Unfortunately, one young man, less than 20 years old, was caught near the immigration office. The insurgents killed him.

“There was also a child, around 13 years old, running with his mother, whom the insurgents captured and took away. So, we had one death and one hostage taken from our community,” he said.

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Recounting the losses, a community member identified as Garba said properties including televisions, beds, mattresses, and farm produce were left behind.

“I couldn’t risk my life for material things. I left behind my television, mattresses, and clothes. All were burnt down,” he said.

PUNCH had earlier reported that community members called for a military base in the town following the redeployment of Cameroonian troops after a recent attack.

Days after the attack, our correspondent learned that the state governor, Babagana Zulum, mobilized troops to the community.

Speaking on the issue, Zulum said, “Yes, Cameroonian troops have withdrawn, but that doesn’t mean the Nigerian Army should leave the area vacant.

“We resettled this town about seven years ago, with the support of Cameroonian soldiers. Unfortunately, the returnees were displaced by insurgents.

Regarding the attack, the governor said he had informed the military earlier of the dangers of leaving the community without a military post.

“I duly notified the Nigerian military about the risks of leaving this town without security. This is a border community. Wilgo, Kirawa, Baga, Damasak, Malamfatori, among others, are border towns that must be protected given their strategic importance.

“Unfortunately, my request did not receive the attention it deserved, and the insurgents came on Wednesday and vandalized everything we worked so hard to rebuild.

“Lives were lost; 50 houses, heavy-duty equipment, and eight vehicles were burnt down. We thank God the casualties were not more.”

He added, “All of us have agreed that, as soon as possible, the Nigerian army will deploy soldiers to Kirawa town.”

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Meanwhile, Yakubu Mabba Ali, Chairman of Kirawa Development Association, noted that the governor promised various social amenities during his visit.

“The governor said he will bring the military here. He said he is going to consider our roads, hospitals, and provide palliatives to our people,” he said.

Residents Plan to Return

Our correspondent gathered that residents have begun returning to the community after spending several days in a Cameroonian village called Sabon Kasuwa.

Speaking with Khadijat Sanni through a language interpreter, she said the state government has deployed a local security outfit in the community.

“The government deployed some members of the vigilante group called Karan-Kara to Kirawa. Their presence gave us the assurance to return,” she said.

Those who escaped the attack to Maiduguri confirmed to PUNCH that they held a meeting on Monday (yesterday) alongside their district head, who was previously displaced to Cameroon.

One of them, Aliyu Liman, said at the meeting they planned strategies to raise funds to assist the most affected families.

He added that their plan to return stems from the need to resume farming activities they left midway.

“Ninety percent of our people are farmers. Take me for instance; I left behind my bean farm. Now that I am aware peace has returned, I do not want to continue staying here in Maiduguri.”

Speaking about the meeting, Aliyu said, “We met with the district head yesterday in the Polo area of Maiduguri. Our discussion focused on how to assist our loved ones who were most affected. We are contacting organizations and people near and far across Nigeria to support the community with funds.

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“Whatever we raise by the time we return will be used to cushion the effects of the attack for families in one way or another,” he explained.

According to him, many dignitaries and community members present made significant donations totaling 600,000 naira.

“In the meeting, indigenes of the community residing in Maiduguri showed us solidarity.

“As of yesterday, about 600,000 naira was raised. We intend to use the fund to support the community until the state government fulfills its pledge.”

Providing more details, he said, “More than 50 people gathered yesterday. Prominent people from our town were present, including the Chairman of Kirawa Development Association, Yakubu Mabba Ali; Barrister Abba; Former Education Secretary Muhammad Abba, among others. Many dignitaries were present.

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Crime

Four rescued, one arrested for organ harvesting in Nasarawa

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The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old man, Maro Ebojoh, for his alleged involvement in organ harvesting in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, made the disclosure during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters on Tuesday in Lafia, the state capital.

According to him, a distress call was received from the Alhaji Yahaya Sabo Motor Park, Bukan Sidi, Lafia, on Monday, at about 1100 hours, when it was reported that a suspect had been intercepted by motor park officials for alleged involvement in organ harvesting.

The CP, therefore, noted that upon receiving the information, he immediately directed the Divisional Police Officer of ‘B’ Division, Lafia, to proceed to the scene. He added that the suspect was subsequently handed over to the operatives, and four victims were successfully rescued.

He said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that on Friday, November 14, 2025, one Maro Ebojoh ‘M’, 40 years old, of Ogbara Inland Area, Ethiope East LGA, Delta State, arrived in Lafia to source potential organ donors and prepare them for an immediate kidney transplant.

“He lured the following victims with a promise of N2,000,000 payment upon completion of the procedure: Umar Ahmadu Barau, 25 years, Suleiman Alhaji-Garba, 20 years, Williams Dadung, 32 years, and Stanley Ezekiel, 27 years.

“The suspect took all the victims to a hospital for medical evaluation. One of the victims, having passed the initial screening, was moved to Abuja for the transplant, but the procedure could not hold due to issues related to blood pressure. The victim was subsequently lodged in a hotel to stabilise. Operatives of the command swiftly moved to Abuja and rescued the victim unhurt.”

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Mohammed narrated that the suspect confessed to the crime and further stated that the agreed amount between him and his client was ₦6.5m, out of which he had received an advance payment of N500,000, while the donors were to be paid ₦2m.

“He also confessed to having successfully procured a donor for another client two months ago. In that case, he received ₦1m while the donor was paid ₦2.5m,” the CP explained.

The CP further urged members of the public to remain vigilant and cautious, particularly against individuals who disguise themselves as genuine organ donor solicitors but are, in fact, involved in organ harvesting for financial gain.

In another development, the state police boss narrated how operatives of the command raided a criminal hideout in the Karu Local Government Area of the state, where nine suspects were arrested.

He mentioned the names of the suspects to include Ahmed Ibrahim, 27 years; Yusuf Abdulazeez, 23 years; Ismaila Abubakar, 18 years; Abdulrahman Mujahid, 20 years; Abdullahi Abdulazeez, 29 years; Muntaka Garba, 21 years; Hashiru Adamu, 21 years; Abdulrahman Jamilu, 22 years; and Auwalu Bashiru Attah, 20 years.

He said, “On 04/11/2025 at about 1030hrs, police operatives attached to the Mararaba ‘A’ Division raided a criminal hideout located along Musbawu Street, Mararaba, Karu LGA, Nasarawa State.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were responsible for numerous gang-related robbery operations at night within Mararaba and its environs. Their modus operandi involved attacking residents, stealing mobile phones, and transferring funds from victims’ bank accounts before selling the stolen devices to unsuspecting buyers.”

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He added, “The suspects confessed to the crimes and also admitted to carrying out a robbery operation on 20/05/2025 at the Uke area of Karu LGA, during which they attacked and killed the son of a serving police officer.

“The case is currently under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia, and the suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations.”

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Cameroonian fleeing from suspected ritualists found in Osun

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A Cameroonian, Ondigui Nnomo Germain, has been found in Osogbo, Osun State, while fleeing from some suspected ritualists.

Germain, who ran into the head office of the Osun Amotekun Corps in the Powerline Area, Osogbo, around 11 am on Tuesday, said he was brought to Nigeria from the Ahala Barriere area in Yaounde by a Nigerian who promised to get him a job.

To get money for his trip to Nigeria, Germain, who was working at a shop in Yaounde, said he sold some of his belongings, adding that he began to suspect the person who brought him to Nigeria when he and his colleagues visited him at a hotel where he was lodged along Osogbo/Ikirun Road on Monday.

Upon realising that the person who brought him from Cameroon may have an ulterior motive, the 28-year-old said he ran out of the hotel and was chased in a vehicle.

After escaping from those chasing him, he said he passed the night in an abandoned building and was wandering around the street until he got to the gate of the Osun State Security Network, also known as Amotekun Corps, located in the Powerline area of Osogbo in the early hours of Tuesday.

Narrating his ordeal in the French language at the entrance to the Osun Amotekun Office using a mobile phone language translator, Germain, who looked disheveled, said, “I am Ondigui Nnomo Germain. I am 28 years old and I am from Yaounde (Ahala Barriere). I was working for a woman in a second-hand shop in Yaounde when his son, a Nigerian, came to me and suggested there was a job for me in Nigeria.

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“I told him that I didn’t have money for the trip, and he told me not to worry, that it was a good job. I sold my belongings and I gave him the money. The money was what he demanded from me before leaving Cameroon. He made sure that I and another person who made the trip had no money in our pockets. They gave us SIM cards when we got to Nigeria.

“We got to Nigeria three days ago (Sunday). What happened thereafter was that yesterday (Monday), the person who brought me here came with another man. I asked him about the work, but he mentioned the post of stock manager.

“I observed that the man who brought me had guys everywhere on the road, even at the border. Then, at about 9 a.m. yesterday, they came to pick me up at the hotel for the interview for the job they promised me.

“There were many in the room where the interview was held inside the hotel. Each of them took their turn trying to convince me. I noticed it was like a voodoo circle; they all had rings except the man who brought me from Cameroon. When I observed that, I sneaked out, but they chased me until I ran into this place.”

Asked what he wanted, Germain said he would like to return to his country. He said, “If you can even accompany me to the border via Buea because I noticed they have guys along the road, I will get to Cameroon. I have fear that I am not safe again.”

When the PUNCH Metro correspondent reported the matter to the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, he said the report should be made at the nearest police station for investigation to commence.

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Germain was immediately led to the Obelawo Police Post, where he reported the matter.

PUNCH Metro reported on October 27, 2025, that the Osun State Police Command announced the arrest of 10 people suspected to be members of an unlawful society at a lounge in Moro Community.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, who disclosed the arrest during a press briefing, said those arrested were in a lounge planning evil acts when operatives acting on a tip-off swooped on them.

Gotan, who said the suspects had engaged police operatives in a gun duel immediately they arrived at the scene, added that the cops were, however, able to subdue them and arrested 10 suspects, comprising nine males and one female.

Speaking further, Gotan said five guns, ammunition, five vehicles, and 10 motorcycles were recovered from the scene, noting that efforts had been intensified to arrest the owner and the supervisor in charge of the lounge, believed to be on the run to evade arrest.

Explaining further how the suspects were nabbed, Gotan said, “At about 12:45 am on 25th October, 2025, the command received credible information from public-spirited citizens that some suspected multifaceted criminals, i.e., criminals involved in cultism, kidnapping, thuggery, etc, were shooting sporadically and causing panic at a lounge located at Moro.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the lounge has become a criminal hideout where they plan attacks within its environs.

“Upon receipt of the information, a team of Police Rapid Response Unit operatives, led by the commander, swiftly mobilised to the scene, and on sighting the police team, the suspected evildoers opened fire, but our gallant officers responded decisively and successfully repelled the attack without any casualty.”

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Crime

Missing FRSC officer, daughter feared killed by Osun herbalist

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A 39-year-old senior officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Funmilayo Oluwamayokun Lasisi, and her daughter, Sewa Lasisi, who were declared missing in Ogun State, have been found dead with a mutilated body part at a suspected herbalist’s den in Osun, in what is suspected to be a ritual killing.

Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday from a Facebook user, Ayomideji Solanke, who was privy to the incident, that the discovery was made over the weekend.

Recall that PUNCH Metro earlier reported that 39-year-old Lasisi and her teenage daughter were reported missing on the morning of Sunday, November 2, after they left their residence at the Obasanjo Hilltop Estate, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, and never returned.

Oluwamayokun, a Superintendent Route Commander, is a fourth-level senior operational officer in the FRSC hierarchy, responsible for overseeing multiple routes and coordinating strategic enforcement operations.

The Ogun State Police Command had said that efforts by family members and colleagues to reach the officer and her daughter on their mobile phones were unsuccessful.

Sharing an update on the incident on Facebook, Solanke disclosed that a family source had revealed that the remains of the missing officer and her daughter were found at a suspected herbalist’s den in Osun.

Solanke wrote, “The mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Federal Road Safety Corps officer, SRC Lasisi Funmilayo Oluwamayokun, and her young daughter, Sewa, has taken a tragic turn as their remains were reportedly discovered in the home of a suspected herbalist in Osun State.

“Fresh revelations emerged at the weekend when a source close to the bereaved husband disclosed that the bodies of the officer and her daughter were recovered from the residence of a traditional healer in an undisclosed community in Osun State.”

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He added that while the wife of the herbalist has been arrested, the herbalist has since been on the run.

Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Tuesday, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, disclosed that the Osun State Command has arrested some suspects in connection with the incident.

According to Ogunlowo, the Osun command also discovered some exhibits at the scene, which were suspected to be body parts of the missing officer and her daughter.

“The Osun command has commenced investigation, and they have made some arrests. They found some exhibits that are body parts.

“For convenience’s sake, Osun will be investigating the matter, and we will be lending the necessary support. The suspect is with them,” Ogunlowo said.

This is not the first time a missing person has been found dead with a mutilated body part across different states in the country.

PUNCH Metro reported on July 26 that the Ogun State Police Command investigated the death of a 16-year-old boy, Lawal Wahab, whose mutilated body was discovered days after he was declared missing.

Wahab, who was living with his grandmother, was reported missing by his father, Lawal Olumide, before his decomposing remains were found on July 23 along the Old Express Road in Igbile-Ijebu.

Similarly, in January 2020, the dismembered body of a business mogul, Ignatius Adunukwe, was recovered from a bush in the Ajah area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro had gathered that Adunukwe was about to sell a landed property to some supposed buyers when he was allegedly kidnapped by the potential buyers, forced to sign some documents, and strangled to death.

See also  Cultists kill four in Lagos, Ogun communities

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