NEWS
Bandits Kill Soldier, NSCDC Officer in Benue
Bandits, suspected armed herders, have killed a soldier and an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Udeku community in the Turan district of the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, was confirmed by a community leader from the troubled area, Lawrence Akerigba, who said the attack had forced scores of residents to flee the community.
Akerigba added that all economic and social activities in the area had been grounded as a result of the attack.
It was gathered that the deceased security personnel were among officers deployed to the area to help maintain peace amid incessant attacks by suspected armed herders in the local government.
The slain officers were reportedly returning from Aga Market, where they had gone on a motorcycle to refill their cooking gas.
“Unfortunately, on their way back, they ran into a roadblock mounted by Fulani militants who were attacking the community,” a source said.
“They took them unawares, opened fire on them and killed them instantly,” the source added.
Other sources disclosed that youths in the area quickly mobilised, combed the forest and recovered the charred bodies of the deceased officers, which were taken to the mortuary at Jato Aka.
Recall that that the suspected herders had invaded the area last week and killed five farmers in cold blood.
A senior military officer with Operation Whirl Stroke, who spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of official authorisation to speak to the press, confirmed the incident on Sunday.
“Yes, a soldier was killed, and he was an aircraftman,” the officer said.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, while confirming the incident clarified that no police officer was involved.
“No police officer was killed, but regrettably an officer from our sister agency did not make it,” Edet said.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Michael Ejelikwu, confirmed the incident on Sunday.
Ejelikwu said: “Yes, unfortunately, I can confirm to you that at about 1500 hours on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Fulani militias attacked three security personnel attached to Operation Whirl Stroke and killed two of them.
“The unfortunate incident happened at Udedeku, Maav-Ya, Mbakyor council ward of Kwande Local Government Area.”
The NSCDC spokesperson identified the personnel killed as CCA Tijani Idris, NSCDC service number 76691, from the Kaduna State Command but seconded to the Operation Whirl Stroke Joint Task Force.
He added that despite the unfortunate incident, the NSCDC remained determined and committed to confronting insecurity in all its forms.
Since the US airstrike on ISWAP camps in Sokoto on December 25, there has been a resurgence of killings and attacks on farmers and security operatives in parts of Benue State.
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Meanwhile, a traditional ruler in Gwer West Local Government Area and the Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, HRH Daniel Abomtse and James Ejeh respectively, in separate chats with our correspondent, raised the alarm over the influx of bandits into the state.
In response to the recent security alerts, the Osun State Government has approved the establishment of a Joint Security Taskforce to strengthen security response and alert to threats to lives and properties in the state.
According to a government house statement on Thursday, to ensure smooth take off of the JTF, the state government declared its readiness to provide all necessary logistics that will strengthen the protection of lives and property of the people throughout Osun State .
The decision was adopted at the State Security Council (SSC) meeting convened yesterday by Governor Ademola Adeleke and presided over by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi with the new Commissioner of Police personally in attendance alongside other security top brass.
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The Deputy Governor while opening the meeting conveyed the best wishes of the state Governor to the service commanders and lauded their steadfastness during recent security challenges and tasked them not to relent in the face of fresh security threats.
Accompanied by the Attorney General of the state, Hon Wole Jimi-Bada; the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina; and the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, Mr Samuel Ojo, the Deputy Governor told the commanders that the governor is committed to further empowering the security agencies to secure the state while calling on the traditional rulers to sustain their local security oversight.
The Council during its deliberations also used the opportunity of the meeting which lasted several hours to further allay the fears of the residents on their security and protection, noting that Osun state remains safe and secured.
The Council further tasks residents to be extra vigilant particularly in churches, mosques and schools, tasking stakeholders to put extra security measures around their premises.
While assuring the public of their safety, the Council further requested timely intelligence sharing to security agencies by members of the public to forestall attacks by suspected terrorists and bandits.
The Nigeria Police in conjunction with other security agencies were also directed to be on a 24 hour red alert to curtail the threats of the said bandits and terrorists.
At the meeting, an agreement was also reached between the Ministry of Justice, the Nigeria Police, and the DSS, to collaborate with a view to ensuring that all the suspects are properly investigated and prosecuted accordingly without delay.
The meeting ended with a commendation of the new Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Zungura for instituting policing reforms since his assumption of office and for attending the security meeting in person.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Yola, Adamawa State, to lead a Federal Government delegation on a condolence visit to the family of the late elder statesman, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur.
Shettima’s visit is at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following the death of the former Governor of the old Gongola State and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Vice President was received in Yola by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, alongside members of the state executive council.
Tukur, who died on September 12, 2026, was a prominent businessman, politician and elder statesman whose career in public service and business spanned several decades.
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He served as Governor of the defunct Gongola State and later became National Chairman of the PDP. He was also recognised for his contributions to Nigeria’s political development and Africa’s business community.
The presidential delegation accompanying Shettima includes the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori; former Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel.
Others on the delegation are Hon. Abdulrazaq Sa’ad Namdas; Sarkin Gabas Adamawa, Dr Mahmood Halilu Ahmed (Modi); and APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, among others.
The condolence visit comes as political leaders, government officials and other Nigerians continue to mourn the death of the former governor and PDP national chairman.
Peter Obi has condemned the reported killing of some Nigerians abducted in Borgu, Niger State, saying the country must never normalise the killing of its citizens.
Obi made this known in a statement released via X on Wednesday, where he described the reports emerging from Borgu as increasingly difficult to comprehend and deeply painful.
He recalled that on August 27, he had expressed his anguish over the reported abduction of about 600 Nigerians, including women, children and elderly people, alongside the killing of others.
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According to him, his anguish has deepened following continuing reports of the gruesome killing of some of those abducted, while many others remain unaccounted for.
Obi also referred to another disturbing incident in which a bandit group reportedly beheaded a Nigerian and sent his severed head to a community leader over a ₦50 million levy.
“If the reported killing was intended to increase pressure on the community and extract more money for those still being held, then we must recognise the terrible reality before us: human life is being deliberately turned into a bargaining instrument,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor said one person being killed to terrorise an entire community while others are kept alive as hostages for more ransom amounts to the systematic devaluation of human life.
“These are not statistics. They are Nigerians. They are mothers, fathers, children, brothers, sisters and elderly people,” Obi said.
He questioned how long the country would continue to accept the kidnapping of hundreds of citizens, killings, criminal levies, displacement and ransom payments as unavoidable features of Nigerian life.
Obi said insecurity also affects families, farms, businesses, education and public confidence in government.
He called for intelligence-led operations, stronger community security, rapid response, better coordination and equipment for security forces, effective border protection and sustained action against criminal networks.
“The primary responsibility of government is the security and welfare of its citizens,” he said.
“While politicians prepare for elections, Nigerians are asking for something more fundamental: the right to live.”
Obi urged the government to match prayers with action, insisting that no criminal group should determine who lives or dies anywhere in Nigeria.
“Every Nigerian life matters. Every victim deserves justice. Every community deserves protection. Nigeria must restore security, justice, and the dignity of human life,” he added
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