Author: Gabby

The Zamfara State Police Command successfully located and neutralized an improvised explosive device (IED) that had been planted by bandits along the Kunchin Kalgo section of Tsafe Local Government Area. The operation was carried out without any casualties, thanks to the swift response of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit.

According to DSP Yazid Abubakar, the command’s spokesperson, the device was discovered on Saturday and promptly rendered harmless. Preliminary investigations suggest that the IED was intended to cause maximum harm to travelers and commuters using that route.

The police credited the successful intervention to timely intelligence gathered through community cooperation, which allowed security forces to act quickly and prevent a potential tragedy. The command expressed gratitude to residents for their vigilance and assistance, emphasizing that public support is vital in the fight against insecurity in the region.

Authorities have launched an investigation to track down those responsible for planting the explosive. In a bid to enhance security, convoy patrols have been deployed along key routes to deter further threats and ensure the safety of all road users.

The Commissioner of Police called on the public to stay alert and share credible information with law enforcement, assuring that all reports will be handled confidentially and acted upon promptly.

The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has officially launched the screening of pilgrims’ luggage, aiming to verify weight compliance and detect prohibited items. The exercise, which commenced on Thursday night, is being led by Professor Muhammadu Mustapha Gwadabe, Chairman of the Luggage Screening and Weighing Sub-Committee.

In a statement released on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, Malam Ibraheem Musa, Professor Gwadabe expressed satisfaction with the cooperation shown by pilgrims in adhering to airline regulations. He noted that the agency has placed weighing scales on every floor of the building, enabling pilgrims to weigh their luggage before the official screening.

The first batch of passengers has already undergone successful screening, and their checked bags, each limited to 23 kilograms, are being transported from the pilgrims’ accommodation. Additionally, hand luggage must not exceed eight kilograms. Professor Gwadabe emphasized that sharp objects and liquids are strictly banned from carry-on bags, and large quantities of perfume are also prohibited on flights.

Furthermore, the return flight schedule has been adjusted, now commencing on June 16 instead of the previously announced June 15. The sub-committee chairman urged pilgrims to remain patient and utilize the extra day for prayers for themselves, their families, Kaduna State, and Nigeria as a whole.

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Osun State, has called on Nigerians to stay resolute and back the federal government and security forces in tackling the nation’s security challenges.

Speaking with reporters in Osogbo on Sunday, Oyintiloye voiced confidence that the ongoing security crisis would be resolved through collective effort. He highlighted that the government is ramping up measures to combat crime and protect citizens.

According to Oyintiloye, the administration is deeply troubled by the security situation and is implementing firm actions to end all forms of violence. He referenced President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day address, where a zero-tolerance policy for terrorists and their backers was declared, as evidence of the government’s dedication to restoring peace.

The former lawmaker noted that the President’s ultimatum to bandits, kidnappers, and terrorism sponsors—to surrender or face the full force of the law—signals their impending downfall. “We share the anguish of parents, families, and relatives of victims affected by mass abductions, particularly of schoolchildren, and the relentless killings. It is a heartbreaking ordeal, and no one would wish such suffering on themselves or their loved ones. We deeply empathize with their pain,” he said.

“Nevertheless, we must stay hopeful and continue supporting government initiatives to free those in captivity and bring criminals to justice. Intelligence and security operatives are working relentlessly to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for violent acts. No criminal element will be permitted to disrupt the nation’s peace and stability,” Oyintiloye added.

He affirmed that the government is doing everything possible to secure the release of abducted individuals and end the unnecessary bloodshed across the country. Oyintiloye expressed faith in the professionalism, skill, and commitment of Nigeria’s security personnel, stating they have the ability to eliminate criminal elements and restore lasting peace.

“If needed, service chiefs should promptly reassess and modify their operational strategies because time is critical,” he advised. He also urged state governors to bolster the President’s efforts by offering adequate support and resources to security agencies in their regions.

Recognizing the President’s constitutional role as the nation’s Chief Security Officer, Oyintiloye emphasized that governors and local government chairmen, being closer to the grassroots, must take proactive steps to enhance local intelligence and maintain order. He stressed that no country can achieve meaningful development in an insecure environment, as economic growth, infrastructure projects, investment, and social services flourish only under peaceful conditions.

“A nation with a robust and effective security system is better positioned for rapid development, economic prosperity, and sustainable social services,” he noted. Oyintiloye called on citizens to remain alert, cooperate with security forces by providing timely and useful information, and continue praying for peace, unity, and progress in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has voiced strong condemnation regarding the tragic death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was held captive by kidnappers. Obi described the incident as a stark reflection of the worsening security crisis plaguing the nation.

In a statement posted on his verified X handle late Saturday, Obi expressed deep sorrow, noting that a distinguished military officer who served the country with honor and rose through the ranks of the Nigerian Armed Forces should not have met such a heartbreaking fate at the hands of criminals.

The former Anambra governor termed Abubakar’s death a national tragedy and a sobering reminder of the pervasive insecurity. He called on the Federal Government and security agencies to move beyond mere rhetoric and adopt a more proactive, intelligence-led, technology-driven, and coordinated approach to combat insecurity.

Obi stated, “Nigeria cannot continue like this. I received with deep shock and sadness the tragic death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar. Earlier, I also received disturbing reports of renewed bandit attacks in Sokoto and Kwara States.”

He emphasized that the kidnapping of traders on a market route in Sokoto and the invasion of communities in Kwara, where many were abducted and innocent lives lost, are deeply alarming. These incidents, he noted, are not isolated tragedies but part of a broader pattern of escalating violence.

Obi remarked, “When traders cannot travel safely to markets, farmers cannot access their farms, communities live under constant fear, and even retired senior military officers are not spared from kidnapping, it is evident that our nation faces a grave security emergency.”

He further stressed that security remains the foremost responsibility of any government. Every life lost, every citizen abducted, and every community displaced represents a painful failure of the collective duty to protect Nigerians. The recurring attacks in Sokoto, Kwara, and other parts of the country demonstrate that insecurity is not only persisting but expanding in scope and intensity.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 41-year-old entrepreneur, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, a resident of São Paulo, Brazil, for attempting to bring 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine into Nigeria. The illicit substance was cleverly hidden within shirts and towels.

According to a Sunday statement by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the suspect was captured at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, upon his arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight on June 11, 2026.

A meticulous examination of his luggage uncovered 14 towels and shirts saturated with dried liquid cocaine, meticulously pressed to evade detection. The suspect claimed he had resided in Brazil for over 14 years, managing an African eatery, and was visiting Nigeria to see his wife and procure provisions for his business.

In separate operations, the agency also arrested two individuals with disabilities: Chidimma Sunday, 60, and Abubakar Usman, 28. Chidimma was captured by the Umuosu Vigilante Group in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isialangwa North LGA, Abia State, with 1.8 kilograms of skunk, and handed over to NDLEA on June 10. Usman was nabbed in a raid at Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on June 9, with 400 grams of skunk, five grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams of tramadol, five grams of swinol, and 18 grams of diazepam.

In Delta State, operatives seized Onya Jude, 36, at Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South LGA on June 8, finding five gas cylinders hiding 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a potent cannabis strain. The agency further detained drug dealers Jamilu Idris, 40, alias Jama, and Aminu Abdullahi, 33, alias Momo, at Kasuwan Katako in Gombe State, with 2.738 kilograms of skunk.

In Kano State, Ngozi Gaius, 39, was arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road on June 12 transporting 6,000 tramadol pills (225mg each). Similarly, Nasiru Hamza, 47, and Muhammad Sani, 38, were intercepted on Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State on June 9, conveying 600 compressed blocks of skunk (304 kilograms) in a black Toyota jeep (registration PJHR 783).

In Taraba State, a raid on Ali Adamu’s, 45, warehouse in Maihula village, Bali LGA, on June 13 yielded 63 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa (1,121.5 kilograms). That same day, Emmanuel Nnadi, 46, was stopped on the Gwagwalada Expressway in the FCT, leading to the seizure of 30,400 tramadol pills of various strengths, 750 pregabalin 300mg pills, 200 molly pills, and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.

In Lagos State, operatives recovered a 1,102-kilogram consignment of Ghana Loud near Alaba International Market in Ojo area on June 13. The agency’s commands have intensified anti-drug abuse campaigns through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, targeting schools, communities, workplaces, and traditional institutions.

NDLEA Chairman Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the MMIA, Abia, Rivers, Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos, and FCT commands for their successes, urging continued efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse nationwide.