Militant attack on 2 villages in northeast Nigeria kills at least 57, witnesses say

A suspected militant attack on two villages in Nigeria left at least 57 people dead and at least 70 missing on Thursday, witnesses said Sunday, in one of the deadliest incidents in the country’s conflict-ridden northeast this year.

Abdulrahman Ibrahim survived Thursday’s attack on two villages in Baga in Borno State and participated in the burial of the dead. He told The Associated Press that the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction of the militant group Boko Haram gathered more than 100 residents of the neighboring villages of Mallam Karamti and Kwatandashi and marched them into the bush. Later on Saturday, 57 bodies were recovered there.

A spokesperson for the Borno government said he could not confirm the casualty counts. The Nigerian military did not respond to a request for comment.

According to Ibrahim, who is from Mallam Karamti, and another survivor from Kwatandashi who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, the villagers were accused of acting as informants for the rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Although ISWAP has gained notoriety for targeting military personnel and assets, the JAS faction has increasingly resorted to attacking civilians and perceived collaborators and thrives on robberies and abductions for ransom.

“Without the capacity to attack the military like ISWAP, JAS is focused on terrorizing civilians,” said Malik Samuel, an expert on northern Nigeria’s conflicts with nonprofit Good Governance Africa.

The witnesses said burial of the victims was delayed because the military was unavailable to provide support in conducting searches for bodies. Most of the dead victims were found with their throats slit, but others had been shot, the locals said.

“There are probably more bodies because we had to stop further searches with soldiers out of fear of an ambush,” Ibrahim said. More than 70 are still missing, he said.

The mass killing came during a week of intensifying violence in Borno. On Monday, ISWAP militants overran the 50 Task Force Battalion of the Nigerian Army stationed in Marte, seizing arms and ammunition after a deadly assault that killed several soldiers, according to videos shared on social media by soldiers who survived the attack.

Following the attack on Marte, displaced people camped there fled to nearby Dikwa, a humanitarian hub where aid groups are pulling out due to international funding cuts.

In a separate incident on Saturday afternoon, a roadside bomb detonated along the Maiduguri-Damboa road, the second such attack in a week. Three people died at the scene, and a fourth succumbed to injuries Sunday morning at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). More than 10 others were still being treated for injuries at the hospital, a local resident, Lawan Bukar Maigana, who has assisted the community in emergencies, said.

Since 2009, the Boko Haram insurgency has created a humanitarian disaster in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad, with more than 35,000 people killed and 2.6 million others displaced over the last 15 years. Borno in Nigeria, its birthplace, is the worst-affected.

They want to install an Islamic state across the four countries, with Nigeria as their main target. The country is West Africa’s oil giant with more than 200 million people, divided almost equally between a mainly Christian south and a predominantly Muslim north.

The Nigerian government has claimed progress against the insurgency, but the militants continue to attack civilians and military and have expanded into other regions, including central Nigeria where the capital Abuja is located, according to experts and public records on counterterrorism.

By Taiwo Adebayo, AP

At least 23 killed in attacks by gunmen in central Nigeria

Gunmen killed 23 people in four separate attacks in central Nigeria's Benue state, a Red Cross official said Sunday, the latest flare-up of unrest in the region.

The attacks happened Saturday night in four villages.

Clashes between nomadic cattle herders and farmers over land use are common in central Nigeria.

"Reports from the field have confirmed the killings of at least 23 people from different attacks," Red Cross secretary in Benue state Anthony Abah told AFP.

Eight people were killed in Ukum, nine in nearby Logo, three each in Guma and Kwande, he said, citing data from the organisation's field disaster officers. Several others were wounded, he added.

A police spokeswoman said she was unaware of the attacks.

Cephas Kangeh, a retired general manager with a state electricity company who recently relocated to his home village near one of the affected areas told AFP he had heard of three killings, including a couple ambushed while riding a motorcycle which "was taken away by the herdsmen".

Chinese operators are mining gold in the area, he said.

"The attacks did not take place near the mining sites," said Kangeh.

"However, one is puzzled as to why indigenous people are always attacked, maimed... yet there has never been a single case of attack on the Chinese miners who are operating in these areas."

Some of the latest attacks were staged in areas previously targeted by attacks slightly over a month ago, which left at least 56 dead.

With many herders belonging to the Muslim Fulani ethnic group, and many farmers Christian, the attacks in Nigeria's so-called Middle Belt often take on a religious or ethnic dimension.

Two attacks by unidentified gunmen earlier in April in neighbouring Plateau state left more than 100 people dead.

Across the wider Middle Belt, including in Benue, land used by farmers and herders is coming under stress from climate change and human expansion, sparking deadly competition for increasingly limited space.

France 24

Nigeria Nabs Trafficking, Robbery Syndicate Leaders

Authorities in Nigeria have arrested two internationally wanted fugitives—a convicted human trafficking ringleader sought by Belgium and a suspected leader of a Dubai-based armed robbery syndicate.

Felix Omoregie, and Okwudili Ezeje were captured in separate operations, according to a statement from the Nigeria Police Force announced Wednesday.

Omoregie had been on the run since 2021, when a Belgian court convicted him in absentia on multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and leading a criminal organization. After the conviction, he fled to Nigeria. On December 19, 2023, Belgian authorities issued an Interpol Red Notice describing him as the "mastermind of a large-scale human trafficking operation." He was arrested in Benin City and is expected to appear before the Federal High Court there.

Omoregie is accused of trafficking Nigerian women and minors to Italy, where victims were allegedly sold across Europe for sexual exploitation. Authorities said his network used "voodoo-based oaths" to coerce victims and trap them in fabricated debts ranging from 20,000 euros to 50,000 euros ($22,720 to $56,794).

In a separate operation, Nigeria’s Interpol National Central Bureau arrested Ezeje, at his hiding place in Enugu, in south-central Nigeria. Authorities said he was allegedly running criminal operations remotely from within the country.

Ezeje is wanted by the United Arab Emirates for charges including armed robbery, cult-related activities, drug trafficking, and other organized crimes. He has been directly linked to a series of high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall and several thefts at currency exchanges. Police said his trial is scheduled to “take place shortly.”

By Mariam Shenawy, OCCRP

Video - Nigerian President Tinubu concerned by escalating violence in country

Rising incidents of violence in Nigeria’s north-east and north-central regions has caught the attention of President Bola Tinubu. On Wednesday, the head of state summoned the country's security chiefs and ordered them to immediately arrest the situation. Dozens of people were killed in militant attacks in Nigeria in April.

CGTN

Attack leaves at least 40 people dead in Nigeria

Nigeria's president said on Monday that at least 40 people were killed when Muslim gunmen, believed to be herders, attacked a Christian farming community in the north-central part of the country, the latest in an increasing wave of violence in the West African country.

President Bola Tinubu also said he has ordered an investigation over the late Sunday night attack on the Zike community, extending his condolences to the victims and their families.

"I have instructed security agencies to thoroughly investigate this crisis and identify those responsible for orchestrating these violent acts," Tinubu said in a statement late Monday.

Amnesty International said the victims, who included children and the elderly, were taken by surprise and could not flee from the gunmen.

Such attacks have become common in this part of Africa's most populous country, where gunmen — typically herders from Fulani, a Muslim tribe — exploit security lapses to launch deadly raids on farmers in a fight over land resources.

According to Andy Yakubu, a local resident, gunmen in Sunday night's attack also destroyed and looted homes in the Zike community, located in the Bassa area of Plateau state.

Yakubu said he saw bodies after the attack and that the number of dead could exceed 50. No one has been arrested so far, he added.

The Fulani have been accused of carrying out mass killings across the northwest and central regions, where the decades-long conflict over access to land and water has further worsened the divisions between farmers and herders, Christians and Muslims.

Amnesty says that between December 2023 and February 2024, 1,336 people were killed in Plateau state — an indication that the measures taken by Tinubu's administration to curb the violence are not working.

Samuel Jugo, spokesperson of the Irigwe Development Association, an ethnic organization in the Bassa area, said in a statement on Monday that at least 75 people of the Irigwe, a Christian ethnic group, have been killed since December 2024.

Jugo said that despite deployment of additional security forces to the area, violence still occurs and described the latest assault as "very provocative, vexing and undeserving."

In May 2024, armed men attacked remote villages in Plateau, killing at least 40 people during a late-night raid.

The violence over land resources in north-central Nigeria is separate from the battles with Boko Haram, Nigeria's homegrown jihadis who took up arms in 2009 to fight Western education and impose their radical version of Islamic law. That conflict, now Africa's longest struggle with militancy, has also spilled into Nigeria's northern neighbors.

AP

Video - Boko Haram attacks on military formations concern Nigerian authorities

Boko Haram launched a wave of attacks on military bases in Nigeria's Borno State. Governor Babagana Zulum responded with a call for aggressive military action, warning the group may be regrouping and retaking territory. Officials said the renewed violence could derail efforts to resettle displaced residents.

CGTN

How Nigeria can stop rising 'jungle justice'

A stolen phone, a whispered accusation, and slowly, a crowd gathers. In minutes, the charges are read out to the suspect and "justice" is administered — not in a courtroom, but on the street.

Mob justice, often called "jungle justice" in Nigeria, is the act of a crowd taking the law into their own hands by punishing suspected criminals without giving them the right to defend themselves via judicial procedures.

Over the past decade, such violence in Nigeria has surged, fueled by distrust in law enforcement, economic hardship, and the rapid spread of misinformation.

"It's [mob justice] been a long time with us," said Frank Tietie, a Nigerian legal expert and Executive Director of Citizens for Social Economic Rights in Abuja.

"Where law enforcement agents are seen to be restricted only to capital cities or the various states or in the nation's capital, people tend to have a sense that the government is far away and they can do whatever they like," he said.

A case of mistaken identity

Recently, 16 hunters traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano were lynched in Edo State on mere suspicion of being bandits and kidnappers.

According to local reports, the victims were traveling back to their home in Kano after attending Muslim Eid al-Adha celebrations when local vigilantes stopped the vehicle they were in.

Upon searching, the vigilante members found homemade Dane guns used by the hunters. The discovery quickly attracted a crowd who concluded the travelers were criminals and burned them alive.

Their gruesome deaths have reignited debates on lawlessness, justice, and the failure of policing in Africa's most populous nation.

President Bola Tinubu and human rights groups condemned the incident, and Tinubu vowed to pursue those who perpetrated the act and bring them to justice.

Nigeria's constitution stipulates that under no circumstances should the life of any Nigerian be taken except in accordance with the provisions of the law, with the pronouncement of the judgment of a court.

Common scenarios that lead to vigilantism

Apart from petty theft, such as pickpocketing, stealing mobile phones, bicycles, or motorcycles, suspicions of witchcraft or child theft can lead to mob justice.

However, cases of false accusations, mainly driven by personal vendettas, such as business competition, have also been documented by Amnesty International.

As Nigeria is a deeply religious country with dozens of ethnic communities, tensions can easily trigger mob actions, particularly during periods of unrest or crisis.

"There are instances even in police stations the case will reach there, and you find people round the police station, they want to get the culprit out and set him ablaze," Ben Shemang, DW correspondent in Abuja, said.

Over the past decade, Amnesty International has documented at least 555 victims of mob violence in Nigeria.


How Nigeria can curb 'jungle justice'

To reverse the trend and end the vice, experts say the Nigerian government needs to intervene by increasing public awareness campaigns against mob violence.

There is also an urgent need for police reforms and human rights training.

"We should put more pressure on the national assembly to decentralize the police system," Frank Tietie said, adding that the federal-controlled police have become incompetent and corrupt.

"The hope is that when we have a decentralized police system, where various states and local governments can organize proper police for us, then we may have less issues of jungle justice and extra judicial killings as we had in Edo State," he said.

Additionally, there needs to be increased advocacy for justice reforms and promotion of peaceful conflict resolution, and most importantly, local communities and security agencies must emphasize collaboration to build mutual trust and responsiveness.

Josephine Mahachi, DW

Nigeria battles growing money laundering menace

Nigeria's reputation as one of Africa's economic powerhouses is blighted somewhat by a surge in international and inter-state financial crimes, marked by high rates of money laundering, cybercrimes, currency counterfeiting and other financial infractions.

This paradox of economic growth – the World Bank projects Nigeria's economy to expand by 3.5% in 2025 despite global uncertainties – and a widening spectrum of financial fraud has triggered a surveillance overdrive across the West African nation over the past few months.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria's primary financial fraud watchdog, has already arraigned a suspect arrested in March at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the country's economic hub.

According to court filings, the flyer allegedly failed to declare US $578,000 in cash, resulting in four charges, including money laundering and counterfeiting.

Shuaibu Idris Miqati, who heads the Lagos-based financial intelligence advisory firm Time-Line Consult Ltd, sees the trend as reflecting the inherent disadvantages of an almost open and interconnected global economic system.

"International air travellers being routinely intercepted with undeclared cash while leaving or arriving in Nigeria suggests that loopholes remain, although prevalence was higher in previous years," Miqati tells TRT Afrika.

"There are signs of exacerbating corruption and a crime network whose reach now extends beyond Nigerian shores."

Systemic factors

Nigeria's customs regulations prohibit cash carry-on exceeding $10,000, which means anyone wanting to breach the limit has to employ one or more of multiple illegal options.

Arrests, particularly at airports, frequently involve travellers attempting to move money from illegal activities such as human trafficking, drug smuggling and illegal mining.

Money laundering typically refers to the offence of concealing the origins of ill-gotten money, often through complex banking transfers or commercial transactions. These methods are not only illegal but also damaging to the economy.

"Transactions outside the purview of the banking system undermine the economy. When a significant portion of financial dealings goes unreported, economic indicators like GDP become skewed, affecting taxation, planning and economic policies," explains Miqati.

Laundering also enables kleptocracy or political looting and fuels organised crime, including racketeering, human and drug trafficking, cybercrime, tax evasion and terrorism.

Central Bank of Nigeria, the country's apex bank, has launched a campaign against currency smuggling while promoting financial inclusion.

Inflation hedging

So, why do individuals and even business entities risk smuggling hard currencies despite sophisticated airport surveillance systems?

Miqati points to Nigeria's prevailing inflationary crises, including erosion of household and business incomes, as a driving factor.

"There is an increasing tendency to 'invest' in foreign currencies, which some people see as a stable defence against domestic inflationary pressures," he tells TRT Afrika.

Money mules, who physically transport illicit money across borders, often employ both official and unofficial means to evade airport security.

At Lagos airport, EFCC personnel zeroed in on the suspect arrested last month when he declared only half of the $578,000 cash he was carrying from Johannesburg in South Africa. A search of his belongings revealed an equal amount in US dollars concealed in multiple packets.

Enhanced surveillance

In March, Nigerian border security and financial intelligence reported a breakthrough in the crackdown on money laundering when a traveller was intercepted with $1.154 million and 135,900 Saudi riyals in undeclared cash at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the busiest in northern Nigeria. The undeclared cash was hidden inside packs of imported date palm.

The case has since been handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and legal proceedings.According to Nigerian financial law, the offender's conviction would likely lead to the forfeiture of the entire quantum of undeclared cash to the federal government.

Experts like Miqati believe Nigeria's financial system could face more daunting challenges from money laundering and other economic crimes as criminal networks get smarter and find newer ways to dodge surveillance.

By Mazhun Idris, TRT Global

Corruption watchdog in Nigeria recovers nearly $500 million in one year

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced a major anti-corruption milestone, recovering nearly $500 million in misappropriated funds last year.

The recovery effort is part of the agency’s anti-corruption campaign under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to the agency, more than 4,000 criminal convictions were secured last year, its highest record since the EFCC was established over two decades ago.

Some of the recovered money was reinvested in government projects. Besides recovering cash, the EFCC said it also seized 931,052 metric tons of petroleum products, 975 real estate properties, and company shares.

The $500 million recovered last year is on par with the amount lost to corruption in 2022. Additionally, cybercrime suspects accounted for the majority of the 3,455 convictions recorded during this period.

Like many other countries, corruption has been a thorn in Nigeria’s side for years, holding back development in Africa’s most populous country and fourth-largest economy.

Despite efforts to tackle it, the country still ranks 140 out of 180 on Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

In Africa, South Sudan takes the title of the most corrupt nation, scoring 8 and ranking 180th globally. Right behind it is Somalia at 179th with a score of 9, while Libya isn’t far off at 173rd with 13 points.

These countries continue to struggle with weak institutions, poor governance, and corruption that affects almost every aspect of life.

By Adekunle Agbetiloye, Business Insider Africa

Thieves Are Hitting Nigeria's Gas Lines. But Not to Steal Gas

Gangs of thieves are tapping the pipelines that feed Africa’s biggest liquefied natural gas plant, collecting condensate — a hydrocarbon more desirable locally than crude — in a dangerous pursuit that’s sent Nigeria’s LNG exports plummeting.

Criminal groups have for decades targeted the oil pipelines that criss-cross the country’s Niger Delta region, but a government crackdown on crude theft has driven them to gas conduits where they seek an ultra-light form of oil that’s easy to process at makeshift refineries.

The surge in activity has crippled gas supply to Nigeria LNG Ltd., a joint venture owned by Nigeria, TotalEnergies SE, Shell Plc and Eni SpA.

“It is a very high risk, very dangerous operation, that’s not always successful. But when it’s successful, they make a lot of money,” said Effiong Okon, managing director of ANOH gas plant, a Seplat Energy Plc subsidiary that operates a $700 million gas project in the area. Decades ago, he was part of an engineering group at Shell that rerouted condensate flows to avoid such theft.

NLNG was held up as a model state-backed enterprise when exports of the super-chilled fuel started in 1999, but its footprint has dwindled. Nigeria accounted for 3.5% of the total global LNG supply last year, steadily decreasing from 6% in 2020, according to BNEF.

At the same time, plans are under way to boost condensate output, which doesn’t count against the oil-production quota Nigeria agreed to as a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Africa’s biggest producer aims to reach a combined output target of 3 million barrels a day — half condensate — Minister of State for Petroleum Heineken Lokpobiri said last month.

The rise of illegal operations adds another obstacle to increasing that production.

Eight-Year Low

NLNG exports tumbled in February, according to commodities tracking company ICIS. That month, the plant only received one-fifth of its gas supply, forcing a shutdown of processing units.

While five of its six production units are back up, a disruption of several months of all NLNG exports would have “a significant impact on the global gas markets,” said Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a researcher at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy.

The vandalism potentially threatens supply for a seventh NLNG unit that’s under construction, along with existing supply contracts and other planned projects to develop the fuel.

“Security issues may put in question future investments in the gas industry in Nigeria, especially if Nigeria wants to expand its LNG exports,” said Corbeau, citing a glut of projects planned globally and additional LNG exports from the US backed by President Donald Trump.

Crude-theft Crackdown

For decades, crude theft has sparked conflict, exacerbated environmental devastation caused by oil companies, stoked corruption and robbed the country of billions of dollars in revenue a year.

In 2022, as Nigeria struggled to meet its OPEC quota, the head of the national oil company estimated that it could be producing as much as 700,000 barrels a day more if not for criminals stealing crude and oil companies holding back for fear of theft.

Since coming into office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu has increased security at the oil pipelines, sparking a rebound in output — a boost of more than 40% from three years ago — that exceeded Nigeria’s OPEC production pledge in January.

Some of the security measures have been war-like: using drones and fighter jets to drop bombs on illegal refining sites that dot the delta, while on the ground, private security firms managed by former militants — who used to blow up the pipelines and hold workers for ransom — have ensured better protection of the main crude lines.

“Improved security at the oil pipelines is pushing criminals in other directions,” said Salahuddeen Tahir, head of assets and investments management at NNPC Gas & Power Investment, a unit of the national oil company.

While in the past gangs tapped oil pipelines with tools and hacksaws, today’s gas thieves shows signs of more sophisticated engineering skills — in line with the more dangerous nature of the work.

“These pipelines operate at high pressure, and any rupture poses a significant risk of explosion or uncontrolled fire,” said Claudio Steuer, a senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and former general manager at Shell Nigeria.

Condensate can sell for as much as Nigeria’s expensive crude grades like Forcados and Bonny Light and is easily refined or fed straight into generators. The fuel is sold on the streets of most southern cities like Port Harcourt and Aba.

Olu Verheijen, Tinubu’s aide on energy, said the government is dealing with the attacks, but declined to give details. NLNG is working with government agencies “to strengthen the security of upstream production and transmission assets,” it said in a statement.

Criminals are willing to face significant danger even though they’re usually accessing small volumes of condensate, said Okon, of Anoh Gas Plant.

Gangs install valves that slow down the pressure on the lines before cutting through pipes to leak out gas so they can collect the condensate at the bottom.

“High risk, high reward,” he said.

By Nduka Orjinmo, Bloomberg

Nigeria bets on deradicalization program in North West

The Nigerian government said it is expanding its deradicalization program, Operation Safe Corridor, to the country's North West to tackle rising insecurity in the region. In Nigeria, the North West is a geopolitical zone comprising the states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.

The North West has been locked in a decade-old conflict as criminal gangs, otherwise referred to as bandits, raid villages and run a large kidnap-for-ransom industry. They are known to sexually assault women, kill citizens, and tax locals across vast swaths of northern Nigeria.

Chief of Defence Operations Emeka Onumajuru, who represented General Christopher Musa, the chief of defence staff, said the deradicalization program is "vital to breaking the cycle of terrorism and banditry through a structured pathway for rehabilitation and reintegration" of bandits. The program has also been used to deradicalize former Boko Haram fighters in the North East zone.

Deradicalization efforts yield results in North East

So far, Nigerian officials say Operation Safe Corridor has been instrumental in the fight against insurgency in the North East. The program aimed to rehabilitate former insurgents who surrendered or defected, reintegrating about 2,190 repentant terrorists back into the society.

The initiative is built on five pillars, says Onumajuru. These are: disarmament, demobilization, deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

While the program has been relatively successful in the North East region, concerns have been raised about recidivism, with reports of some rehabilitated individuals returning to terror groups.

Now with the intended expansion of the program to the North West, analysts have raised questions about Operation Safe Corridor's effectiveness. This is because the banditry in North West is largely driven by financial incentives like ransom payments, cattle rustling, and illegal mining, rather than ideology.

Can Operation Safe Corridor repeat successes?

Samuel Malik, a senior researcher at the pan-African think tank Good Governance Africa, believes the replicating the program is not inherently flawed. He says only "kinetic responses" that involve aggressive measures, often with military action, cannot solve Nigeria's security challenges.

But Samuel Malik adds the program can only succeed in the North West "if it is properly structured, monitored, and adapted to local realities, rather than being a rushed initiative."

"Deradicalization is effective when dealing with individuals who have been indoctrinated into violent extremist ideologies, but most bandits in the North West have explicitly rejected jihadist agendas," Samuel Malik said.

Oluwole Ojewale, an analyst with Dakar-based Institute for Security Studies, said the problem with "Safe Corridor" is that it was developed for terror groups who share extreme views.

"If what the government wants to do is demobilization, it is quite in order. But they cannot afford to copy and paste what they did in the North East and replicate the same in the North West," he told DW.

Deep-rooted problems remain

Critics of Operation Safe Corridor have said the program is perpetrator-centered and risks being seen as a reward system for terrorists.

Dengiyefa Angalapu, a counterterrorism and peacebuilding researcher, said this argument is reductionist. He told DW the initiative can be implemented in the North West as there are multiple actors in the region, including ideological terror groups, which often get generalized under the catchphrase of banditry.

Dengiyefa added that the deep-rooted grievances among herders prompt some to take up arms and make the initiative suitable for the region.

"Kinetic strategy alone cannot lead to a decline in terrorism. This is an initiative that should be expanded to other parts of the country to provide a national framework for countering terrorism," he told DW.

The analysts seem in agreement that this strategy should involve local peacebuilding mechanisms and economic empowerment to prevent relapse.

"While certain elements of the initiative such as psychological support, vocational training, and community reintegration remain crucial, the government should prioritize economic reintegration, conflict resolution, and mechanisms that prevent re-engagement in criminal activities," Samuel said.

By Abiodun Jamiu, DW

Nigerian robber spared deportation because he would be considered 'possessed' in home country

A Nigerian man convicted of armed robbery and drug dealing has been allowed to remain in Britain because he is "possessed" - despite deportation orders being issued over a decade ago.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is said to suffer from mental health issues including psychosis and believes he can "hear voices all the time".

A judge allowed him to stay in Britain on human rights grounds as he would not receive adequate treatment in Nigeria - where his condition might be considered demonic possession.

The man was jailed for seven years in 2011 for carrying out an armed robbery on a brothel and seven years later was handed another prison sentence for supplying crack cocaine in 2018, The Telegraph reports.

A deportation order was issued back in April 2014, more than 10 years ago, and experts have deemed him "high risk of serious harm" to the public.

A doctor found he "hears voices all the time" and suffers from "a trauma-related disorder with psychotic features", experiencing intrusive memories and nightmares, and is preoccupied with demonic forces "playing tricks with his mind".

The criminal believes his "mental ill-health is a result of being possessed" and that these demons prevent him from moving when he wakes up.

He continues to receive treatment for an addiction to crack cocaine.

Upper Tribunal Judge Stephen Smith ruled against deportation due to the convict's specific treatment needs, saying: "We note the appellant's recurring belief that his mental ill-health is a result of being possessed.

"We assess that him expressing this belief would increase the likelihood that others will see his illness as being a manifestation of possession."

The judge concluded that Nigeria could not provide the same level of care.

A report prepared by Amnesty International for the appeal reads: "He is at substantial risk of being identified as suffering from demonic forces and faces a resultant risk of being targeted as a result."

Amnesty assessed that in Nigeria, the man would "encounter widespread attitudes that confirm and amplify his belief in demonic forces and witchcraft as being at the root of his problems"

The man has seemed to express a desire to reform, saying: "I really want to stay away from crime. I don't want to get into that predicament again, I want to live a normal life."

His key worker reports he has been attending the gym five to six days a week and participates in volunteer work once a week.

He currently lives in the community rather than in secure accommodation.

This case is the latest in a series where foreign criminals have used human rights laws to remain in the UK - following cases such as an Albanian criminal who avoided deportation by claiming his son had an aversion to foreign chicken nuggets.

By Susanna Siddell, GBN

Five sentenced to death in Nigeria over 'witchcraft' murder

Five men have been sentenced to death by hanging in Nigeria's Kano state for the 2023 murder of a woman they accused of witchcraft.

The convicted men attacked Dahare Abubakar, 67, as she was working on her farm, beating and stabbing her to death.

Ms Abubakar's family went to the authorities and the suspects were swiftly arrested in a village 45km (28 miles) from Kano - the largest city in northern Nigeria.

The case gained attention across the country and raised discussions over how people in rural areas continue to be murdered following witchcraft accusations.

The ones who make the claims without any proof believe that those they accuse are responsible for either a death of a family member, sickness or misfortune.

Giving his ruling, Judge Usman Na'abba said the the prosecution had proven its case against the five men beyond reasonable doubt.

The prosecutor, Abba Sorondiki, said he hoped the judgement would deter others from making wrongful accusations and then taking matters into their own hands.

The court heard that the victim was murdered after the sick wife of one of the accused, Abdulaziz Yahaya, had a dream that she was being pursued by Ms Abubakar, who was holding a knife.

Yahaya then organised a group to confront Ms Abubakar, which resulted in her murder.

"There have been similar cases like this but this is the first time we are seeing up to five people sentenced to death for murder over wrongful witchcraft accusation," Mr Sorondiki told the BBC.

The victim's son, Musa Yahaya, said that the day his mother was killed was the worst day of his life and that he was pleased to see justice being served.

"I am happy because they would get the same treatment they meted out to my mother," he said.

Defence lawyer Ma'aruf Yakasai said his clients plan to appeal against the verdict.

The death penalty is rarely carried out in Nigeria and those convicted often spend the rest of their lives in prison on death row.

By Mansur Abubakar, BBC

U.S. Donates New Office Space to NDLEA, Boosts Nigeria’s Counter Narcotics Efforts

The United States Government, through the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has donated an office space to the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos.

Acting U.S. Consul General JoEllen Gorg formally handed over the keys to the new office space to NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retired), during a ceremony attended by representatives from AFRICOM and the DEA.

Acting Consul General Gorg noted that the donation of a new office, equipped with a solar power system, represents a significant step forward in U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation. She noted that the new facility will provide NDLEA officers with a secure and professional environment to carry out critical investigative functions, including processing detainees and conducting post-arrest interviews.

“The U.S.-Nigeria security partnership remains strong. This donation is the latest example of the robust and productive cooperation between the U.S. government and the NDLEA,” Acting Consul General Gorg said. “Over the years, our joint efforts have helped build the capacity of Nigerian authorities to disrupt drug trafficking networks, dismantle clandestine meth labs, and conduct advanced forensic analyses of synthetic drugs.”

NDLEA Chairman/CEO Marwa lauded the U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation in the fight against illicit drugs and countering narcotics trafficking. He described the United States as a steadfast ally in Nigeria’s fight against drug-related crimes and noted that that the collaboration has significantly enhanced the NDLEA’s operational efficiency.

In 2024, the U.S. government invested approximately $500,000 to modernize and equip the chemical forensic laboratory at the NDLEA zonal office in Lagos. The upgraded laboratory, now equipped with cutting-edge technology, enhances the NDLEA’s capacity to analyze suspicious substances and process evidence from crime scenes and suspects.

Since the establishment of the NDLEA in 1990, the U.S. Mission to Nigeria has partnered with the agency to combat narcotics trafficking. Through training in intelligence, evidence collection, management, and tactical skills, including equipment donation, the U.S. Mission continues to deepen its cooperation with the NDLEA.

U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria

Nigerians mourn woman allegedly beheaded by gospel singer

 

Nigerians on social media are mourning the death of a woman who was allegedly beheaded by a man reported to be her boyfriend in Nasarawa state.

Police arrested Timileyin Ajayi, a gospel singer, on Sunday with the severed head of his victim, 24-year-old Salome Adaidu, near a church.

He is alleged to have been carrying the head in a bag which drew attention from other people who accosted him before police took over and arrested him.

Other dismembered parts of the deceased's body were alleged to be have been recovered later in his home.

Mr Ajayi has not commented on the allegations.

"The suspect was found with a fresh human head, and when we got to the scene, we rescued him from being mobbed," Nasarawa police spokesman Ramhan Nansel was quoted by the Punch news website as saying.

The deceased was identified as a member of the National Youth Service Corps who was serving in the federal capital, Abuja.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing, the police said.

Ms Adaidu's family has urged the Nigerian government to thoroughly investigate and prosecute those responsible for her death.

A friend of the deceased, Abby Simon, told BBC Pidgin that it was a sad experience for Ms Adaidu's mum who lost her husband only seven months ago. She said the mother had fainted from the shock of losing her daughter.

She also said the deceased was not in a relationship with the suspect.

"Nobody deserves to die this way. Even if she was his girlfriend, she didn't deserve to die this way," she said.

The deceased's sister, Patience Adaidu, told local TV outlet News Central that she was disappointed at the way the police were handling the case and called for help from Nigerians.

"Police have not given us any information about my sister... They have not answered our questions... We demand justice, we need help from Nigerians."

Nigerians on social media have been sending messages of support following the incident.

"RIP Salome Adaidu. Your killer will never have rest even after death," Avni James said.

Amara Josephine said on X: "That gruesome image of that young lady saddens my heart. I pray for her family."

BBC

More than 2 million kidnapped in Nigeria in one year

Security officials in Nigeria are raising concerns after a National Bureau of Statistics survey revealed that more than 2 million people were kidnapped in the West African nation between May 2023 and April 2024, and that Nigerians paid a cumulative $1.42 billion to kidnappers within the same period.

The NBS released its Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024 on Tuesday. The report said some 600,000 Nigerians were killed and 2.2 million others abducted across the country between May 2023 and April 2024.

Armed gangs, known locally as bandits, were mostly responsible for the escalation of violence in northwest and north central Nigeria, while terror-related violence was reported in the northeast region of Nigeria.

The report said 91% of the kidnappings were attributed to ransom demands, while other cases were due to political, criminal or terrorist motives. It also said Nigerians spent $1.4 billion cumulatively to free their loved ones from kidnappers at an average of $1,700 per incident.

Security analyst Senator Iroegbu said the report is no surprise.

"The figure is not surprising. The only difference is that the media focus has shifted, and that's what makes it look as if it [insecurity] has reduced,” Iroegbu said. “So, this report has brought back to light what is going on."

According to the NBS report, 82.1% of the kidnapped victims were released, 12.8% were killed, 3.3% remained in captivity and the outcome of about 1.3% of victims was unknown.

The report comes amid growing security concerns in Africa's most populous nation already struggling to curb a range of insecurities that have stretched the security forces thin.

It also revealed that nearly seven out of 10 households in Nigeria reported murder cases to the police within the same period.

Security analyst Saheed Shehu said the trend is worrying.

"These figures should serve as a yardstick as a baseline for the president and commander-in-chief to hold his military, police, accountable,” Shehu said. “The figures should serve as a tool to hold the leaders of the security agencies accountable. We should not just be reading figures and then wait for the end of 2025 to release another figure."

In November, Nigeria announced the discovery of a new terror group known as Lakurawa but said security forces were already on their trail.

Two weeks ago, Nigerian defense authorities said the military killed a total of 8,000 terrorists and apprehended over 11,000 suspects and rescued over 6,000 victims between January and December.

But Shehu is skeptical.

"This report coming from the National Bureau of Statistics — to be honest, it makes me to be at a quandary whether the reports we're getting from security agencies of successes ... it does not balance with this report,” Shehu said. “So, something must be wrong somewhere."

Improving security is a major challenge for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's government as it desperately seeks to attract foreign investments to grow the country's struggling economy.

Nigeria allocated about $4 billion, or 12% of this year's budget, to defense and security — the largest single allocation to any sector.

By Timothy Obiezu, VOA

Related story: Video - Nigeria’s Zamfara State police search for dozens abducted from village

Video - Nigeria’s Zamfara State police search for dozens abducted from village

Gunmen kidnapped dozens in a raid on Kakin Dawa village on Sunday. Zamfara police said that additional security forces were being deployed to search for the victims. Some analysts said high poverty and unemployment rates and the high cost of living may have contributed to the increased cases of kidnappings and other crimes.

CGTN

Video - Nigeria's Northwest region turns into epicenter of abductions

Kidnappings are rising in Nigeria. Experts blame the issue on worsening economic conditions. Gangs of armed men kidnap people for ransom, even though the Nigerian government outlawed paying the abductors.

CGTN

Gunmen kidnap at least 50 in Nigeria's Zamfara state

A gang of gunmen kidnapped more than 50 women and children in a raid on Kakin Dawa village in Nigeria's northwest Zamfara state, police and residents said.

Kidnapping for ransom by gunmen, known by locals as bandits, is rife in northwest Nigeria due to high levels of poverty, unemployment and the proliferation of illegal firearms.

Zamfara police said the incident took place on Sunday and that additional security forces were being deployed to the area.

Residents said dozens of assailants riding on motorcycles arrived in the village at around 1230 GMT, armed with assault rifles, and went from house to house kidnapping residents.

"Later we found out that they kidnapped more than 50 women, including married women and girls," said Hassan Ya'u, who escaped the attack but whose younger sister was taken.

"We are appealing to the federal and Zamfara state governments to send more soldiers and security personnel to fight those bandits," he said.

There is widespread insecurity in northwest Nigeria, while a 15-year Islamist insurgency has plagued the northeast of the country and gang and separatist violence affects the southeast.

"We are currently waiting to hear the kidnappers' demands for the release of the abducted individuals," said Abdulkadir Sadia, another resident of the village. "The entire community is in distress." 

By Ahmed Kingimi, Reuters

Suspected bandits lay explosives on Nigerian road, causing damage

A gang of armed men planted explosives along the Dansadau-Gusau road in northwest Nigeria's Zamfara state, causing significant damage and casualties, a military spokesperson and witnesses said on Wednesday.

Armed gangs in northwest Nigeria, known by locals as bandits, have escalated their attacks, resorting to a dangerous new tactic of planting explosives on major highways to target civilians and security forces.

Witnesses Bello Dansadau and Abubakar Ismail told Reuters at least 12 travellers were killed and six others wounded after their vehicle ran over an explosive on the road.

Joint Task Force spokesperson Abubakar Abdullahi said in a statement that the military had deployed an explosive ordnance disposal team to the area to neutralize any remaining explosives. He did not say how many people had been killed.

Abdullahi said a JTF unit is working closely with local authorities to investigate the attack and apprehend the perpetrators.

"We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities," he said.

Bandits in northwest Nigeria have frequently raided communities, killing and kidnapping residents, farmers, students and motorists for ransom. 

By Camillus Eboh, Reuters