Days after over 40 people were killed in a terror attack in Niger State, marauders struck again across Kwara, Katsina and Kaduna states, abducting numerous victims, including a veteran photojournalist, and spreading fear in affected communities.
The fresh spate of violence comes as villagers in Niger State narrowly averted another tragedy after discovering three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Ganaru community, Zungeru District, Mashegu Local Government Area.
No fewer than seven persons were kidnapped in the Adanla community of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, following a foiled attempt to abduct the traditional ruler, Oba David Oyerinola, and his wife.
Prince Oyerinola Olakunle, spokesperson of Adanla, who confirmed the development in Ilorin on Tuesday, named the victim, all members of the traditional ruler’s extended family, to include Sikiru Oyerinola, Taye Oyerinola, Idowu Oyerinola, Faruk Oyerinola and two minors.
He said bandits had demanded N300 million ransom for their release, warning that the community has been completely deserted.
“Our peoples’ lives are not safe in the community which has been deserted. The people have fled… I don’t think you can find a single person or human being there for now, except animals such as goats,” Olakunle said.
Oba Oyerinola and his wife escaped the attack after the monarch, who was away attending a function in neighbouring Igbaja, dodged the gunmen.
Olakunle narrated, “When the six armed terrorists stormed the palace, they were shouting and asking where is the Kabiyesi, where is the Olori?
“When they realised that Kabiyesi was not in the palace, they just asked the people sitting outside the palace to stand up and were taken into the bush. Seven people were picked, and they shot a girl who saw them and ran. She is now in the hospital for treatment.”
Olakunle appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to intervene, noting that the family could not raise the huge ransom demanded.
Terrorists Attack Several Katsina Communities
On Monday night, suspected terrorists armed with dangerous weapons launched coordinated attacks on several communities in Katsina State, residents said.
Eyewitnesses who spoke with Vanguard reported that the attackers struck Unguwar Barau, Gidan Dan Mai‑gizo and Gidan Hazo communities in Na’alma Ward, Malumfashi Local Government Area, operating for hours before security forces could respond.
While the exact number of abductees and casualties remains unclear, the Katsina State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement.
Spokesman Abubakar Sadiq, when contacted, claimed he was unaware of the developments and promised to revert, but did not provide further details.
Malumfashi has become a terror hotspot despite recent peace agreements between local authorities and armed groups, with a mosque attack in August 2025 leaving at least 32 worshippers dead.
Kaduna Photojournalist Abducted, Residents In Shock
In Kaduna State’s Chikun Local Government Area, terrorists struck again on Monday night at Danhonu 11 community, abducting veteran photojournalist Malam Umar Usman Iyale.
Usman Iyale, a retired staff member of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Kaduna Station, and a former Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Kaduna employee, was reportedly whisked away from his home at about 9:00 p.m.
A community source said the gunmen entered the compound quietly and demanded money from the journalist before forcibly taking him to an unknown destination.
“He is not someone who can withstand hardship for long. Everyone here is deeply worried about his safety,” a resident said, expressing fear for his well‑being due to his age and health challenges.
Another community leader lamented what he described as a recurring wave of kidnappings in the area, noting that repeated attacks had forced many residents and landlords to abandon their homes, thus stalling development in the community.
The incident has also revived memories of the July 2024 abduction of two journalists from the same community, the current Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kaduna State council, AbdulGafar Alabelewe of The Nation newspaper, and AbdulRaheem Aodu of Blueprint newspaper, who were kidnapped alongside members of their families.
Residents called on security agencies to take more decisive and sustained action to halt the activities of criminal gangs, stressing that ongoing efforts under the Kaduna Peace Model must be strengthened to address persistent pockets of kidnapping.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the incident, assuring the public that efforts were underway to rescue the abducted journalist.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, had immediately deployed a team of operatives to track the perpetrators and ensure the safe rescue of Malam Umar Usman Iyale.
“We are making concerted efforts to rescue the victim unhurt,” the police spokesman said.
Bloodbath Averted, Three IEDs Discovered In Mashegu LGA Of Niger State
Meanwhile, three Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, planted by the roadside, along farm lands, that could have led to another bloodbath in Niger State were uncovered yesterday.
The explosives were discovered at the Ganaru community in Zugurma District of the Mashegu Local Government Area of the state by villagers on their way to the farms.
This is another dimension by terrorists to unleash terror on innocent residents in the state.
The Chief of Army Staff has assured the people of the state of the determination of the Army to wipe out terrorists from the state and other parts of the country.
According to Vanguard, the villagers heading to their farms to harvest crops discovered explosives along their path and quickly raised the alarm.
No life was, however, lost as security agents were immediately alerted, while the area was subsequently cordoned off to avoid any explosion and bloodshed.
Chairman of Mashegu Local Government Council, Alhaji Jibrin Egade, who confirmed the story to newsmen yesterday, said, “The news of the explosives was shocking and strange to us in this community but thank God that our people raised an alarm on noticing the strange items on their path.
“Security agents have been alerted and the area has been cordoned off to avoid eventual explosion and casualties.’’
TheNiger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, who spoke with Vanguard on the development, said, “the command had deployed bomb disposal experts to the scene and the situation is under control.’’
In a related development, the Nigerian Army has declared its readiness to deploy more troops to bandit-infested communities in Niger state and other parts of the country, with the strong determination to crush terrorism across the country.
Speaking at the opening of the Chief of Army Staff Conference at the Training and Doctrine Command, TRADOC, Minna, Niger State, yesterday, the COAS, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu, said the Nigerian Army will carry out to the letter, the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that all terrorists, bandits and gunmen be wiped out of the country.
“The president directed we should ensure the recent waves of attacks in Niger and other parts of the country are curtailed and we will ensure that all the terrorists behind these dastardly attacks are apprehended and brought to book.
“We will massively do more deployments across the country towards achieving our goal of making Nigeria safer for all law-abiding citizens,” he assured.
He said the army is adopting technology in its operational capabilities across the country, which, he assured, would make the effort easier.
Earlier, the Commander, TRADOC, Major General Peter Malla, said the conference marks the commencement of training for 2026, adding that it will provide an intellectual platform for engagements.
“The extant operational environments required an Army that is agile, forward-looking and doctrinally grounded, which the meeting aims to achieve,” he declared.