Bandits have yet again struck two local government areas (LGAs) in Kaduna state killing about 18 persons. The commissioner for security and internal affairs in the state, Samuel Aruwan, while confirming the attack in a statement on Wednesday said security agencies reported a sequence of attacks by armed bandits on soft targets at Anaba and Barinje villages in Igabi and Chikun LGAs respectively, occurring over the 48 hours, leading to the killing of about 18 persons. Aruwan said, “According to the reports, Anaba village in Igabi local government area was attacked, with seven residents killed, listed as: Ali Musa, Isa Sharehu, Tijjani Isa, Auwalu Shehu, Hashim Abdullahi, Hassan Saidu, and Umar Rilwanu.” “Many of the houses in the community were burnt down, along with storehouses and barns. About 20 cows were rustled and a number of poultry slaughtered and carted away.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has instructed its personnel to begin impounding rickety vehicles plying Nigerian roads. The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, who issued the directive to Commanding Officers across all formations of the Corps said the clampdown was an integral part of readjusted efforts of the Corps in the year 2021 to further reduce road traffic crashes across the country by 15 percent and fatalities by 20 percent. Dr. Oyeyemi’s order was contained in a statement issued by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, on Tuesday, at the National Headquarters, Abuja. The Corps Marshal said the operation, which will be implemented nationwide, forms part of the corps’ commitment towards enhancing its operational activities and creating a safer motoring environment.

In a bid to rid Marte and its neighbouring communities in Borno state from ISWAP and Boko Haram elements, Nigerian troops have continued to neutralize land mines laid on their paths by the terrorists. The troops have de-mined some communities and villages on the major routes to Marte. It was learned that the terrorists had laid landmines on the part leading to Marte to deter troops and apart from landmines, the terrorists’ infiltration of the civilian population in the community had prevented the military Air Task Force from launching aerial bombardments, to avoid collateral damages. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru had on Sunday issued a 48-hour dateline for troops to clear terrorists from Marte and adjoining villages, including Kirenowa, kirta, Wulgo, Chikingudo communities of in Borno State.

A Niger Delta militant group who call themselves ‘The Supreme Egbesu Liberation Fighters’ has threatened to launch hostilities in the major cities of Abuja and Lagos. In a video aired on Tuesday by Africa Independent Television (AIT), the group which accused the federal government of marginalising the South-South region also condemned the amnesty program. The video showed several men dressed in military uniforms with covered faces. They danced around and brandished rifles. Reading from a statement, one of the masked members of the group said since the birth of the amnesty pact, “till date, there are no schools, no potable water, no light, no hospital and access roads for our people to enjoy.”

The Nigerian Senate has on Tuesday confirmed former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; former Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin; former Chief of Naval Air Staff, Abubakar Sadique; and former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ibas as non-career ambassadors. Also, Mohammed S Usman, former intelligence Chief was confirmed.

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed dismay over the sudden eruption of violence in Billiri town in Gombe State over chieftaincy tussle. Spokesperson to Mr. President, Garba Shehu, in a press statement on Monday, said the president appealed to the feuding parties to sheathe their swords and allow the civil process to prevail in the matter. President Buhari decried the resort to violence over the matter; he said he was “seriously disturbed by the outbreak of violence in Gombe State and call on the parties involved to exercise maximum restraint to avoid escalation.” “The easy resort to violence is uncalled for because there are enough avenues to resolve differences amicably without threatening law and order,” the President said.