Deadly attacks by insurgents and bandits are forcing families from their homes and devastating rural communities across Nigeria. Despite recent arrests and convictions, critics say weak enforcement and internal security lapses are fueling the violence.
Showing posts with label Crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crime. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2025
Video - Nigeria’s rising insecurity puts pressure on authorities
Deadly attacks by insurgents and bandits are forcing families from their homes and devastating rural communities across Nigeria. Despite recent arrests and convictions, critics say weak enforcement and internal security lapses are fueling the violence.
Video - Kidnapping-for-ransom thrives in Nigeria
A new report by SBM Intelligence reveals that kidnappers in Nigeria demanded nearly $1.7 million in ransom between July 2024 and June 2025, highlighting the growth of kidnapping into a lucrative criminal enterprise. Despite government warnings against ransom payments, many families comply, thus encouraging kidnappers to continue the practice.
Related story: More than 2 million kidnapped in Nigeria in one year
At least 60 people dead in Boko Haram attack in northern Nigeria
More than 60 people were killed in overnight attacks by the jihadist group Boko Haram in the northern Nigerian state of Borno, local officials said. At least five of the people killed were soldiers.
The militants struck the village of Darul Jamal, the location of a military base along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The Nigerian Air Force said it killed 30 militants after it received reports of attacks on the village.
"In a series of three precise and successive strikes, the fleeing terrorists were decisively engaged, resulting in the neutralization of over 30 insurgents," Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame said, according to BBC News.
Ejodame said the insurgents were fleeing north from the town toward nearby bushes.
Residents recently returned to the rebuilding village after years of being displaced by fighting between Boko Haram and rival groups, including the West African branch of the Islamic State group, authorities said.
"This community was settled a few months ago and they went about their normal activities, but unfortunately, they experienced a Boko Haram attack last night," Gov. Babagana Zulum told local media. "Our visit is to commiserate with them and build their resilience."
Zulum called for the immediate deployment of newly trained specialty guards to help the military defend vulnerable communities.
A decade ago, Boko Haram controlled large areas of Borno state before being pushed back.
The militants struck the village of Darul Jamal, the location of a military base along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The Nigerian Air Force said it killed 30 militants after it received reports of attacks on the village.
"In a series of three precise and successive strikes, the fleeing terrorists were decisively engaged, resulting in the neutralization of over 30 insurgents," Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame said, according to BBC News.
Ejodame said the insurgents were fleeing north from the town toward nearby bushes.
Residents recently returned to the rebuilding village after years of being displaced by fighting between Boko Haram and rival groups, including the West African branch of the Islamic State group, authorities said.
"This community was settled a few months ago and they went about their normal activities, but unfortunately, they experienced a Boko Haram attack last night," Gov. Babagana Zulum told local media. "Our visit is to commiserate with them and build their resilience."
Zulum called for the immediate deployment of newly trained specialty guards to help the military defend vulnerable communities.
A decade ago, Boko Haram controlled large areas of Borno state before being pushed back.
Monday, August 25, 2025
Nigeria Extradites Chinese Gang Leader in Landmark Interpol Operation
Nigeria has extradited Chinese gang leader Dai Qisheng to Beijing following a coordinated operation with Interpol, marking a significant step in international law enforcement cooperation.
Dai, wanted in China for orchestrating violent organized crimes in Guizhou Province, fled the country in 2024. He was apprehended in Abuja on August 8, 2025, by operatives from Nigeria’s National Central Bureau, in collaboration with Chinese authorities. The extradition was finalized on August 15 under a police-to-police cooperation framework facilitated by Interpol.
Inspector-General of Police Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun commended the operation, emphasizing Nigeria’s commitment to combating transnational crime. “This operation sends a clear message to criminals worldwide: Nigeria will not be a safe haven for fugitives,” he said.
The successful extradition highlights the growing international collaboration in addressing transnational crime and underscores Nigeria’s role in global law enforcement efforts. It also demonstrates adherence to international legal standards throughout the process.
This development follows recent measures by Nigerian authorities to tackle organized crime, including the deportation of 50 Chinese nationals convicted of cybercrime and internet fraud. These actions reflect Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to strengthening partnerships with international law enforcement agencies.
The extradition of Dai Qisheng is being viewed as a testament to the effectiveness of global cooperation in tackling criminal networks and reinforces Nigeria’s position as a proactive partner in international justice initiatives.
Dai, wanted in China for orchestrating violent organized crimes in Guizhou Province, fled the country in 2024. He was apprehended in Abuja on August 8, 2025, by operatives from Nigeria’s National Central Bureau, in collaboration with Chinese authorities. The extradition was finalized on August 15 under a police-to-police cooperation framework facilitated by Interpol.
Inspector-General of Police Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun commended the operation, emphasizing Nigeria’s commitment to combating transnational crime. “This operation sends a clear message to criminals worldwide: Nigeria will not be a safe haven for fugitives,” he said.
The successful extradition highlights the growing international collaboration in addressing transnational crime and underscores Nigeria’s role in global law enforcement efforts. It also demonstrates adherence to international legal standards throughout the process.
This development follows recent measures by Nigerian authorities to tackle organized crime, including the deportation of 50 Chinese nationals convicted of cybercrime and internet fraud. These actions reflect Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to strengthening partnerships with international law enforcement agencies.
The extradition of Dai Qisheng is being viewed as a testament to the effectiveness of global cooperation in tackling criminal networks and reinforces Nigeria’s position as a proactive partner in international justice initiatives.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Gunmen kill at least 27 in mosque attack in northern Nigeria
At least 27 worshippers have been killed and several wounded when armed bandits stormed a mosque in northern Nigeria’s Katsina state during morning prayers, a village head and a hospital official said.
The gunmen opened fire inside a mosque as Muslims gathered to pray at around 04:00 GMT in the remote community of Unguwan Mantau in the Malumfashi local government area, residents said.
No one immediately claimed responsibility, but such attacks have become more common in Nigeria’s northwestern and north-central regions, where local herders and farmers often clash over limited access to land and water.
The attacks have killed and injured scores, with a June attack in north-central Nigeria killing more than 100 people. Amnesty International called for the government to end the “almost daily bloodshed in Benue state”. That attack took place in Yelwata, a town in Benue State, according to Amnesty.
The prolonged conflict has become deadlier in recent years, with authorities and analysts warning that more herdsmen are taking up arms.
The state’s commissioner, Nasir Mu’azu, said the army and police have deployed in the area of Unguwan Mantau following Tuesday’s bloodshed to prevent further attacks, adding that gunmen often hide among the crops in farms during the rainy season to carry out assaults on communities.
The gunmen opened fire inside a mosque as Muslims gathered to pray at around 04:00 GMT in the remote community of Unguwan Mantau in the Malumfashi local government area, residents said.
No one immediately claimed responsibility, but such attacks have become more common in Nigeria’s northwestern and north-central regions, where local herders and farmers often clash over limited access to land and water.
The attacks have killed and injured scores, with a June attack in north-central Nigeria killing more than 100 people. Amnesty International called for the government to end the “almost daily bloodshed in Benue state”. That attack took place in Yelwata, a town in Benue State, according to Amnesty.
The prolonged conflict has become deadlier in recent years, with authorities and analysts warning that more herdsmen are taking up arms.
The state’s commissioner, Nasir Mu’azu, said the army and police have deployed in the area of Unguwan Mantau following Tuesday’s bloodshed to prevent further attacks, adding that gunmen often hide among the crops in farms during the rainy season to carry out assaults on communities.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Video - Nigeria arraigns five accused in 2022 Catholic church massacre
Nigerian prosecutors arraigned five men accused of carrying out a deadly Islamist militant attack on a Catholic church in Owo, in the southwestern Ondo state, that killed at least 50 worshippers in 2022 and wounded over 100 others.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Nigeria kidnappers kill 35 hostages even after ransom paid
Kidnappers in Nigeria have killed at least 35 people they abducted from a village in northern Zamfara state despite ransoms being paid for their release, a local official told the BBC.
In recent years, criminal gangs in the region, known in the country as bandits, have taken to kidnapping people as a means to raise money.
In this incident, 56 people were taken from Banga village, Kauran Namoda local government area in March. The gunmen then demanded a ransom of one million naira ($655; £485) per captive, media in Nigeria report.
Local government chairman Manniru Haidara Kaura said that most of those killed were young people who "were slaughtered like rams".
"What happened was that the bandits demanded ransom money, and after some back-and-forth, they were given what they asked for. They then released 18 people, including 17 women and one young boy, on Saturday," Haidara added.
"Only they [the gunmen] know why they killed them. They are senseless and heartless people. They forget that they are killing their own brothers, and we will all meet before Allah."
Residents said three pregnant women who were among the hostages gave birth while in captivity, but all the new-borns died due to lack of care.
Survivors recounted being forced to witness the brutal killing of fellow hostages before being allowed to leave the forest.
Sixteen of those released on Saturday are in hospital receiving treatment, while the bodies of the 38 killed by the bandits are unlikely to be returned as in these cases corpses are rarely released.
In a statement, the Zamfara government condemned the killings calling them "barbaric and cowardly" and declared that such atrocities added to its resolve to wipe out terrorism from the state.
"To the grieving families, we share your sorrow and pray for strength and healing. To the good people of Zamfara, remain united and vigilant. Report suspicious activities, and together, we will defeat evil."
The government has said that the killers would be brought to justice.
In an attempt to curb the spiralling and lucrative kidnapping industry, a law was enacted in 2022 making it a crime to make ransom payments. It carries a jail sentence of at least 15 years, however no-one has ever been arrested on those charges.
It also made abduction punishable by death in cases where victims die.
But families often feel forced to pay to save their loved ones, citing the government's inability to ensure their safety.
By Chris Ewokor & Mansur Abubakar, BBC
In recent years, criminal gangs in the region, known in the country as bandits, have taken to kidnapping people as a means to raise money.
In this incident, 56 people were taken from Banga village, Kauran Namoda local government area in March. The gunmen then demanded a ransom of one million naira ($655; £485) per captive, media in Nigeria report.
Local government chairman Manniru Haidara Kaura said that most of those killed were young people who "were slaughtered like rams".
"What happened was that the bandits demanded ransom money, and after some back-and-forth, they were given what they asked for. They then released 18 people, including 17 women and one young boy, on Saturday," Haidara added.
"Only they [the gunmen] know why they killed them. They are senseless and heartless people. They forget that they are killing their own brothers, and we will all meet before Allah."
Residents said three pregnant women who were among the hostages gave birth while in captivity, but all the new-borns died due to lack of care.
Survivors recounted being forced to witness the brutal killing of fellow hostages before being allowed to leave the forest.
Sixteen of those released on Saturday are in hospital receiving treatment, while the bodies of the 38 killed by the bandits are unlikely to be returned as in these cases corpses are rarely released.
In a statement, the Zamfara government condemned the killings calling them "barbaric and cowardly" and declared that such atrocities added to its resolve to wipe out terrorism from the state.
"To the grieving families, we share your sorrow and pray for strength and healing. To the good people of Zamfara, remain united and vigilant. Report suspicious activities, and together, we will defeat evil."
The government has said that the killers would be brought to justice.
In an attempt to curb the spiralling and lucrative kidnapping industry, a law was enacted in 2022 making it a crime to make ransom payments. It carries a jail sentence of at least 15 years, however no-one has ever been arrested on those charges.
It also made abduction punishable by death in cases where victims die.
But families often feel forced to pay to save their loved ones, citing the government's inability to ensure their safety.
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Troops kill at least 95 'bandits' in northwest Nigeria
Armed gangs known as "bandits" have taken root across Nigeria's rural hinterlands amid poverty and government neglect. They raid, loot and burn villages, exact taxes, and conduct kidnappings for ransom.
On Tuesday, Nigerian air and ground troops "foiled an attempted bandit attack, launching air strikes and shootouts" in the northwestern state of Niger, according to the report, which was produced by a private conflict monitor.
It added that "at least 95 bandits" were killed in the clash, which occurred near the villages of Warari and Ragada in the Rijau local government area.
The Nigerian military put out a statement about the clash Wednesday, saying that forces "engaged terrorists in a firefight, neutralizing several."
One soldier was killed, it said.
Tuesday's attack follows a slew of battles where the Nigerian military -- which has in the past has been quick to publicise and sometimes exaggerate its gains -- has kept relatively mum on apparent victories where scores of bandits were killed.
An intelligence source told AFP the military was changing tack after realising publicising their gains was keeping jihadists and bandits abreast of their operations.
The army declined to comment.
Nigeria's myriad bandit gangs maintain camps in a huge forest straddling Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states, in unrest that evolved from clashes between herders and farmers over land and resources into a broader conflict across the sparsely governed countryside.
Since 2011, as arms trafficking increased and the wider Sahel fell into turmoil, organised armed gangs formed, with cattle rustling and kidnapping becoming huge moneymakers in the largely impoverished northwest.
Groups also levy taxes on farmers and artisanal miners.
Violence has spread in recent years from its heartland in the northwest -- where analysts say some gains have been made by the military recently -- into north-central Nigeria, where observers say the situation is getting worse.
Increasing cooperation between the criminal gangs, who are primarily motivated by financial gains, and jihadists -- who are waging a separate, 16-year-old-armed insurrection in the northeast -- has seen attacks worsen.
Despite recent gains in the northwest, the military remains overstretched. While improved cooperation between the army and air force has aided the fight, analysts say, airstrikes have also killed hundreds of civilians.
Between 2018 and 2023, there were more deaths from bandits than there were from jihadist groups, according to figures from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a US-based monitor.
Last week motorcycle-riding bandits rounded up a group of farmers working their fields outside Jangebe village in Zamfara state, killing nine and kidnapping around 15 others, local residents told AFP.
Earlier this month, Nigerian soldiers killed at least 150 bandits in an ambush in northwestern Kebbi state, a local official said.
On Tuesday, Nigerian air and ground troops "foiled an attempted bandit attack, launching air strikes and shootouts" in the northwestern state of Niger, according to the report, which was produced by a private conflict monitor.
It added that "at least 95 bandits" were killed in the clash, which occurred near the villages of Warari and Ragada in the Rijau local government area.
The Nigerian military put out a statement about the clash Wednesday, saying that forces "engaged terrorists in a firefight, neutralizing several."
One soldier was killed, it said.
Tuesday's attack follows a slew of battles where the Nigerian military -- which has in the past has been quick to publicise and sometimes exaggerate its gains -- has kept relatively mum on apparent victories where scores of bandits were killed.
An intelligence source told AFP the military was changing tack after realising publicising their gains was keeping jihadists and bandits abreast of their operations.
The army declined to comment.
Conflict spreading
Nigeria's myriad bandit gangs maintain camps in a huge forest straddling Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states, in unrest that evolved from clashes between herders and farmers over land and resources into a broader conflict across the sparsely governed countryside.
Since 2011, as arms trafficking increased and the wider Sahel fell into turmoil, organised armed gangs formed, with cattle rustling and kidnapping becoming huge moneymakers in the largely impoverished northwest.
Groups also levy taxes on farmers and artisanal miners.
Violence has spread in recent years from its heartland in the northwest -- where analysts say some gains have been made by the military recently -- into north-central Nigeria, where observers say the situation is getting worse.
Increasing cooperation between the criminal gangs, who are primarily motivated by financial gains, and jihadists -- who are waging a separate, 16-year-old-armed insurrection in the northeast -- has seen attacks worsen.
Despite recent gains in the northwest, the military remains overstretched. While improved cooperation between the army and air force has aided the fight, analysts say, airstrikes have also killed hundreds of civilians.
Between 2018 and 2023, there were more deaths from bandits than there were from jihadist groups, according to figures from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a US-based monitor.
Last week motorcycle-riding bandits rounded up a group of farmers working their fields outside Jangebe village in Zamfara state, killing nine and kidnapping around 15 others, local residents told AFP.
Earlier this month, Nigerian soldiers killed at least 150 bandits in an ambush in northwestern Kebbi state, a local official said.
Friday, July 11, 2025
Security forces kill 30 gunmen after armed attacks in northwest Nigeria
Nigerian security forces have killed at least 30 gunmen after armed attacks in the country’s troubled northwest, authorities said Thursday.
The joint police and military operation occurred Wednesday after hundreds of armed men attacked several villages, State Commissioner for Home Affairs Nasir Mua’zu said in a statement.
Mua’zu said three police officers and two soldiers died during the counter-attack which was launched against the gunmen who attacked the villages Tuesday evening.
“We are working tirelessly with federal security agencies to ensure the safety of all citizens,” he said.
In recent months, the northwestern and north-central regions of Nigeria have recorded an uptick in attacks by armed gangs on communities in these regions. Hundreds have been killed and injured in the attacks.
Bandit groups are known for mass killings and kidnappings for ransom in the country’s conflict-battered north. Most of the groups are made up of former herders in conflict with settled communities.
Dozens of armed groups take advantage of the limited security presence in Nigeria’s mineral-rich northwestern region, carrying out attacks on villages and along major roads. Kidnappings for ransom have become a lucrative way for bandit groups to fund other crimes and control villages.
Aside from the conflict in the country’s north-central and northwest, Nigeria is battling to contain an insurgency in the northeast where some 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than 2 million displaced, according to the U.N.
By, Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP
The joint police and military operation occurred Wednesday after hundreds of armed men attacked several villages, State Commissioner for Home Affairs Nasir Mua’zu said in a statement.
Mua’zu said three police officers and two soldiers died during the counter-attack which was launched against the gunmen who attacked the villages Tuesday evening.
“We are working tirelessly with federal security agencies to ensure the safety of all citizens,” he said.
In recent months, the northwestern and north-central regions of Nigeria have recorded an uptick in attacks by armed gangs on communities in these regions. Hundreds have been killed and injured in the attacks.
Bandit groups are known for mass killings and kidnappings for ransom in the country’s conflict-battered north. Most of the groups are made up of former herders in conflict with settled communities.
Dozens of armed groups take advantage of the limited security presence in Nigeria’s mineral-rich northwestern region, carrying out attacks on villages and along major roads. Kidnappings for ransom have become a lucrative way for bandit groups to fund other crimes and control villages.
Aside from the conflict in the country’s north-central and northwest, Nigeria is battling to contain an insurgency in the northeast where some 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than 2 million displaced, according to the U.N.
Friday, June 27, 2025
Video - Nigeria tackles methamphetamine crisis
Nigerian drug enforcement agency officers report that Nigeria, once merely a transit point for methamphetamine, is now a producer, thanks to secret laboratories left behind by South American cartels. The agents state that the meth being produced in Nigeria is among the most sought after worldwide. Authorities are intensifying their efforts to crack down on meth traffickers and users.
Friday, June 20, 2025
Unmasking the silent rise of ritual killings in Nigeria
Nigeria is grappling with an alarming surge in ritual killings—a trend that has left many citizens in shock and fearful of what seems like an unrelenting menace. The country has witnessed a rise in these heinous crimes, with young people, particularly young girls, becoming frequent victims, Ruth Tene Natsa writes.
These ritual killings have spread across all regions of the country, sparing no one. From the South-West to the South-East and even the capital city located in Nigeria’s North-Central region, no area appears immune.
Just a few weeks ago, social media users were shocked by the arrest of a well-known herbalist from Enugu State, suspected of being involved in ritual killings. Eyewitnesses claimed that several bodies were discovered buried in a secret soakaway in his house. He was eventually apprehended while attempting to cross the border into the Republic of Benin.
Similarly, a recent incident in Gwarinpa, an Abuja suburb, sparked national outrage when a young woman was found tied, gagged, sexually assaulted, and murdered in a hotel. In response, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command launched a manhunt for those responsible.
This came shortly after a disturbing case in January 2025, where a man was apprehended during a church service in Orozo for carrying the decapitated head of his alleged girlfriend in a polybag. Despite the gruesome evidence, there are growing fears that Timileyin Ajayi’s case may eventually fade into obscurity like many others.
These appalling acts have raised serious concerns about the safety and security of Nigerians, particularly women and children.
Many experts attribute the rise in ritual killings to a toxic pursuit of wealth, power, and perceived protection. Some individuals believe that human sacrifice can guarantee good fortune or success, leading them to commit unspeakable atrocities.
According to President Muhammadu Buhari, the increasing cases of ritual killings and deadly attacks against innocent Nigerians are matters of urgent national concern requiring immediate intervention.
The consequences of these killings are devastating, inflicting deep emotional trauma on victims’ families and fostering a culture of fear and distrust. Nigerians are now more cautious, often suspicious of those around them, especially strangers.
In Abuja, some residents attribute the surge in such crimes to the indifferent “mind your business” attitude among neighbours. Others blame the excellent road networks, which, while a sign of progress, unfortunately make it easier for criminals to flee the scene of their crimes.
Beyond ritual killings, Nigeria is also witnessing a rise in “One Chance” criminal gangs. These gangs pose as commercial vehicle operators, only to rob and sometimes kill unsuspecting passengers. One such victim, Madam Bolanle, recounted being held captive for over four hours, during which she was driven around the city and coerced into handing over large sums of money.
Experts warn that the relentless pursuit of wealth and social validation is fuelling these crimes. Reports have implicated a diverse range of individuals, including medical professionals and politicians. The growing “get-rich-quick” culture, especially among the youth, has contributed to a dangerous trend that now threatens the moral foundation of Nigerian society.
To address this crisis, security agencies must be strengthened, properly equipped, and held accountable in tracking and dismantling criminal networks. Community-level efforts are equally crucial, building trust between local populations and law enforcement and establishing early warning systems to prevent crimes before they occur.
Some stakeholders have proposed stringent penalties, including the death sentence without the option of imprisonment, for anyone found guilty of ritual killings.
The Nigerian government has been repeatedly urged to take immediate and decisive action. According to media executive Sunday Oyinloye, “The federal government and other tiers of government, as well as relevant stakeholders, must urgently confront the alarming rise in the ritual killing of girls for money-making purposes.”
In a rare move, the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has also weighed in on the matter, instructing Imams across the state to preach against ritual killings during Friday sermons.
Ultimately, combating ritual killings requires a united front involving government institutions, security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, and the general public.
Nigeria must return to its moral compass, where hard work and integrity are recognised as the true paths to success. Parents must instil in their children a strong work ethic, while religious leaders must teach values that promote honesty and diligence, not materialism.
Only through collective action can Nigeria build a safer, more secure society. The government must prioritise the safety of its citizens and take bold, sustained measures to reverse this deadly trend.
In conclusion, the rise in ritual killings in Nigeria demands urgent attention and concrete action. By confronting the root causes, strengthening law enforcement, and reviving core societal values, Nigeria can begin to restore hope and safety for all its citizens.
By Ruth Tene Natsa, Business Day
These ritual killings have spread across all regions of the country, sparing no one. From the South-West to the South-East and even the capital city located in Nigeria’s North-Central region, no area appears immune.
Just a few weeks ago, social media users were shocked by the arrest of a well-known herbalist from Enugu State, suspected of being involved in ritual killings. Eyewitnesses claimed that several bodies were discovered buried in a secret soakaway in his house. He was eventually apprehended while attempting to cross the border into the Republic of Benin.
Similarly, a recent incident in Gwarinpa, an Abuja suburb, sparked national outrage when a young woman was found tied, gagged, sexually assaulted, and murdered in a hotel. In response, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command launched a manhunt for those responsible.
This came shortly after a disturbing case in January 2025, where a man was apprehended during a church service in Orozo for carrying the decapitated head of his alleged girlfriend in a polybag. Despite the gruesome evidence, there are growing fears that Timileyin Ajayi’s case may eventually fade into obscurity like many others.
These appalling acts have raised serious concerns about the safety and security of Nigerians, particularly women and children.
Many experts attribute the rise in ritual killings to a toxic pursuit of wealth, power, and perceived protection. Some individuals believe that human sacrifice can guarantee good fortune or success, leading them to commit unspeakable atrocities.
According to President Muhammadu Buhari, the increasing cases of ritual killings and deadly attacks against innocent Nigerians are matters of urgent national concern requiring immediate intervention.
The consequences of these killings are devastating, inflicting deep emotional trauma on victims’ families and fostering a culture of fear and distrust. Nigerians are now more cautious, often suspicious of those around them, especially strangers.
In Abuja, some residents attribute the surge in such crimes to the indifferent “mind your business” attitude among neighbours. Others blame the excellent road networks, which, while a sign of progress, unfortunately make it easier for criminals to flee the scene of their crimes.
Beyond ritual killings, Nigeria is also witnessing a rise in “One Chance” criminal gangs. These gangs pose as commercial vehicle operators, only to rob and sometimes kill unsuspecting passengers. One such victim, Madam Bolanle, recounted being held captive for over four hours, during which she was driven around the city and coerced into handing over large sums of money.
Experts warn that the relentless pursuit of wealth and social validation is fuelling these crimes. Reports have implicated a diverse range of individuals, including medical professionals and politicians. The growing “get-rich-quick” culture, especially among the youth, has contributed to a dangerous trend that now threatens the moral foundation of Nigerian society.
To address this crisis, security agencies must be strengthened, properly equipped, and held accountable in tracking and dismantling criminal networks. Community-level efforts are equally crucial, building trust between local populations and law enforcement and establishing early warning systems to prevent crimes before they occur.
Some stakeholders have proposed stringent penalties, including the death sentence without the option of imprisonment, for anyone found guilty of ritual killings.
The Nigerian government has been repeatedly urged to take immediate and decisive action. According to media executive Sunday Oyinloye, “The federal government and other tiers of government, as well as relevant stakeholders, must urgently confront the alarming rise in the ritual killing of girls for money-making purposes.”
In a rare move, the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has also weighed in on the matter, instructing Imams across the state to preach against ritual killings during Friday sermons.
Ultimately, combating ritual killings requires a united front involving government institutions, security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, and the general public.
Nigeria must return to its moral compass, where hard work and integrity are recognised as the true paths to success. Parents must instil in their children a strong work ethic, while religious leaders must teach values that promote honesty and diligence, not materialism.
Only through collective action can Nigeria build a safer, more secure society. The government must prioritise the safety of its citizens and take bold, sustained measures to reverse this deadly trend.
In conclusion, the rise in ritual killings in Nigeria demands urgent attention and concrete action. By confronting the root causes, strengthening law enforcement, and reviving core societal values, Nigeria can begin to restore hope and safety for all its citizens.
Thursday, June 19, 2025
President Tinubu orders crackdown on gangs after 150 killed in conflict-hit north
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday directed security agencies to hunt down the perpetrators of a weekend attack that killed at least 150 people in the country's northcentral, as he faces growing pressure over a worsening security crisis.
Tinubu visited Benue state, the site of the recent deadly attacks, seeking to calm tensions and promise justice for the victims. “We will restore peace, rebuild, and bring the perpetrators to justice. You are not alone.” the Nigerian leader said on X.
Assailants stormed Benue state’s Yelewata community from Friday night till Saturday morning, opening fire on villagers who were asleep and setting their homes ablaze, survivors and the local farmers union said. Many of those killed were sheltering in a local market after fleeing violence in other parts of the state.
Authorities in Benue state blamed herdsmen for the attack, a type of violence frequently seen in northern Nigeria's decadeslong pastoral conflict.
Opposition leaders and critics have accused Tinubu of a delayed response to the killings, noting his office issued a statement over 24 hours after the attack. His visit to the state occurred five days later.
The Nigerian leader traveled to Makurdi, Benue State’s capital, where he visited a hospital to see those injured in the attack and met with local leaders to discuss how to end the killings. He did not visit the Yelewata community.
He also appeared to reprimand the police for not making any arrest yet more than four days after the killings.
“How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals,” Tinubu asked as he addressed senior police officers during a gathering in Benue.
Analysts blame Nigeria's worsening security crisis on a lack of political will to go after criminals and ensure justice for victims.
“In the end, the result is the same: No justice, no accountability, and no closure for the victims and their communities," said Senator Iroegbu, a security analyst based in Nigeria's capital Abuja. “Until this changes, impunity will remain the norm, and such tragedies will continue to occur.”
By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP
Tinubu visited Benue state, the site of the recent deadly attacks, seeking to calm tensions and promise justice for the victims. “We will restore peace, rebuild, and bring the perpetrators to justice. You are not alone.” the Nigerian leader said on X.
Assailants stormed Benue state’s Yelewata community from Friday night till Saturday morning, opening fire on villagers who were asleep and setting their homes ablaze, survivors and the local farmers union said. Many of those killed were sheltering in a local market after fleeing violence in other parts of the state.
Authorities in Benue state blamed herdsmen for the attack, a type of violence frequently seen in northern Nigeria's decadeslong pastoral conflict.
Opposition leaders and critics have accused Tinubu of a delayed response to the killings, noting his office issued a statement over 24 hours after the attack. His visit to the state occurred five days later.
The Nigerian leader traveled to Makurdi, Benue State’s capital, where he visited a hospital to see those injured in the attack and met with local leaders to discuss how to end the killings. He did not visit the Yelewata community.
He also appeared to reprimand the police for not making any arrest yet more than four days after the killings.
“How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals,” Tinubu asked as he addressed senior police officers during a gathering in Benue.
Analysts blame Nigeria's worsening security crisis on a lack of political will to go after criminals and ensure justice for victims.
“In the end, the result is the same: No justice, no accountability, and no closure for the victims and their communities," said Senator Iroegbu, a security analyst based in Nigeria's capital Abuja. “Until this changes, impunity will remain the norm, and such tragedies will continue to occur.”
By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Video - Persistent clashes in Central Nigeria over land and resources
Residents of Yelewata in Benue State, Central Nigeria, are struggling to recover from a devastating overnight attack this weekend. Such attacks are frequent in the region, driven by ongoing conflicts between farmers and nomadic herders over competition for land and resources.
Death toll from an attack by gunmen in north-central Nigeria reaches 150
The death toll from an attack by gunmen over the weekend in north-central Nigeria has climbed to 150, survivors said Monday as the villagers were still digging through burned homes, counting their dead and looking for dozens of people still missing.
Assailants stormed Benue state’s Yelewata community late on Friday night, opening fire on villagers who were asleep and setting their homes ablaze, survivors and the local farmers union said. Many of those killed were sheltering in a local market after fleeing violence in other parts of the state.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the killings, but such attacks are common in Nigeria’s northern region where local herders and farmers often clash over limited access to land and water. The prolonged conflict has become deadlier in recent years, with authorities and analysts warning that more herdsmen are taking up arms.
The farmers accuse the herders, mostly of Fulani origin, of grazing their livestock on their farms and destroying their produce. The herders insist that the lands are grazing routes that were first backed by law in 1965, five years after the country gained its independence.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, whose government has fallen short of expectations in ending the country’s deadly security crises, described the Benue attack as “senseless bloodletting” while his office said he would visit the stricken community on Wednesday.
Titus Tsegba, who lost his wife and four of his children in the attack, said more than 20 bodies were recovered on Monday. The initial death toll was reported to be 100 on Saturday.
His wife and children — the youngest 8 and the oldest 27 — were “burned into ashes beyond recognition,” he told The Associated Press, adding that he survived because he was sleeping in another part of the community.
“Everything is gone,” he said.
Benue Deputy Gov. Sam Ode said he suspected the perpetrators were herdsmen. Ode and the survivors spoke to the AP by phone.
The gunmen made it difficult for many to flee after surrounding the Yelewata community, which is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the state capital of Makurdi, said Jacob Psokaa, who lost his 55-year-old father in the attack.
“They were coming from different sides at the same moment … it was sporadic shooting,” Psokaa said. “The situation is very bad now with many people in the ground … your people leaving you suddenly.”
The gunmen also burned food stores in the local market, razing a year’s harvest that included rice and yam, staple food mainly exported from Benue to other parts of Nigeria.
“Enough is enough!” said Tinubu, the president. “I have directed the security agencies to act decisively, arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict, and prosecute them.”
Assailants stormed Benue state’s Yelewata community late on Friday night, opening fire on villagers who were asleep and setting their homes ablaze, survivors and the local farmers union said. Many of those killed were sheltering in a local market after fleeing violence in other parts of the state.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the killings, but such attacks are common in Nigeria’s northern region where local herders and farmers often clash over limited access to land and water. The prolonged conflict has become deadlier in recent years, with authorities and analysts warning that more herdsmen are taking up arms.
The farmers accuse the herders, mostly of Fulani origin, of grazing their livestock on their farms and destroying their produce. The herders insist that the lands are grazing routes that were first backed by law in 1965, five years after the country gained its independence.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, whose government has fallen short of expectations in ending the country’s deadly security crises, described the Benue attack as “senseless bloodletting” while his office said he would visit the stricken community on Wednesday.
Titus Tsegba, who lost his wife and four of his children in the attack, said more than 20 bodies were recovered on Monday. The initial death toll was reported to be 100 on Saturday.
His wife and children — the youngest 8 and the oldest 27 — were “burned into ashes beyond recognition,” he told The Associated Press, adding that he survived because he was sleeping in another part of the community.
“Everything is gone,” he said.
Benue Deputy Gov. Sam Ode said he suspected the perpetrators were herdsmen. Ode and the survivors spoke to the AP by phone.
The gunmen made it difficult for many to flee after surrounding the Yelewata community, which is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the state capital of Makurdi, said Jacob Psokaa, who lost his 55-year-old father in the attack.
“They were coming from different sides at the same moment … it was sporadic shooting,” Psokaa said. “The situation is very bad now with many people in the ground … your people leaving you suddenly.”
The gunmen also burned food stores in the local market, razing a year’s harvest that included rice and yam, staple food mainly exported from Benue to other parts of Nigeria.
“Enough is enough!” said Tinubu, the president. “I have directed the security agencies to act decisively, arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict, and prosecute them.”
By Chinedu Asadu, AP
Monday, June 16, 2025
Video - At least 45 killed by gunmen in Nigeria’s Benue state
The spokesperson for Benue state's governor's said armed bandits attacked Yelwata town early on Saturday, killing 45 people. A police spokesperson confirmed the attack, saying they had engaged suspects in a gun battle. The attacks are the latest violence to hit Benue, a state facing land disputes.
Police break up Nigeria protest as anger mounts over killings in southern state
Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the central city of Makurdi on Sunday, as anger mounted over the killing of dozens of people by gunmen in a nearby town.
Gunmen attacked the village of Yelewata on Friday night in a region that has seen a surge in violence amid clashes between Muslim Fulani herders and mostly Christian farmers competing for land and resources.
Police fired tear gas to break up a protest by thousands of people, witnesses said, as demonstrators called on the state’s governor to act swiftly to halt the cycle of violence.
“The protesters were given specific time by the security to make their peaceful protest and disperse,” Tersoo Kula, spokesperson for Benue state’s governor, told AFP.
John Shiaondo, a local journalist, said he was covering the “peaceful protest” when the police moved in and started firing tear gas.
“Many people ran away for fear of injuries, and I also left the scene for my safety,” he told AFP.
Joseph Hir, who took part in the protest, said people were protesting the killings in Benue when the police intervened.
“We are not abusing anyone, we are also not tampering with anybody’s property, we are discharging our rights to peacefully protest the unabated killings of our people, and now the police are shooting tear gas at us,” he told AFP.
Benue state governor Hyacinth Alia told a news conference late Sunday that the death toll had reached 59 in Yelewata, though residents said the toll could exceed 100.
“We will move very quickly to set up a five-man panel... to enable us find out who the culprits are, to know who the sponsors are and to identify the victims and to see how justice will be applied,” Alia said.
Amnesty International put the death toll at more than 100.
The rights group called the attack “horrifying,” saying it “shows the security measures (the) government claims to be implementing in the state are not working.”
Pope Leo XIV also condemned the killings, in comments during his Sunday prayer in Rome, calling it a “terrible massacre” in which mostly displaced civilians were murdered with “extreme cruelty.”
He said “rural Christian communities” in Benue were victims of incessant violence.
Authorities typically blame such attacks on Fulani herders but the latter say they are targets of violence and land seizures too.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said in a statement Sunday night he had “directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.
“Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings,” he said.
Governor Alia said earlier that “tactical teams had begun arriving from the federal government and security reinforcements are being deployed in vulnerable areas.”
“The state’s joint operational units are also being reinforced, and the government will not let up its efforts to defend the lives and property of all residents,” he said.
Attacks in the region, part of what is known as the central belt of Nigeria, are often motivated by religious or ethnic differences.
Two weeks ago, gunmen killed 25 people in two attacks in Benue state.
More than 150 people were killed in massacres across Plateau and Benue states in April.
Gunmen attacked the village of Yelewata on Friday night in a region that has seen a surge in violence amid clashes between Muslim Fulani herders and mostly Christian farmers competing for land and resources.
Police fired tear gas to break up a protest by thousands of people, witnesses said, as demonstrators called on the state’s governor to act swiftly to halt the cycle of violence.
“The protesters were given specific time by the security to make their peaceful protest and disperse,” Tersoo Kula, spokesperson for Benue state’s governor, told AFP.
John Shiaondo, a local journalist, said he was covering the “peaceful protest” when the police moved in and started firing tear gas.
“Many people ran away for fear of injuries, and I also left the scene for my safety,” he told AFP.
Joseph Hir, who took part in the protest, said people were protesting the killings in Benue when the police intervened.
“We are not abusing anyone, we are also not tampering with anybody’s property, we are discharging our rights to peacefully protest the unabated killings of our people, and now the police are shooting tear gas at us,” he told AFP.
Benue state governor Hyacinth Alia told a news conference late Sunday that the death toll had reached 59 in Yelewata, though residents said the toll could exceed 100.
“We will move very quickly to set up a five-man panel... to enable us find out who the culprits are, to know who the sponsors are and to identify the victims and to see how justice will be applied,” Alia said.
Amnesty International put the death toll at more than 100.
The rights group called the attack “horrifying,” saying it “shows the security measures (the) government claims to be implementing in the state are not working.”
Pope Leo XIV also condemned the killings, in comments during his Sunday prayer in Rome, calling it a “terrible massacre” in which mostly displaced civilians were murdered with “extreme cruelty.”
He said “rural Christian communities” in Benue were victims of incessant violence.
Authorities typically blame such attacks on Fulani herders but the latter say they are targets of violence and land seizures too.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said in a statement Sunday night he had “directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.
“Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings,” he said.
Governor Alia said earlier that “tactical teams had begun arriving from the federal government and security reinforcements are being deployed in vulnerable areas.”
“The state’s joint operational units are also being reinforced, and the government will not let up its efforts to defend the lives and property of all residents,” he said.
Attacks in the region, part of what is known as the central belt of Nigeria, are often motivated by religious or ethnic differences.
Two weeks ago, gunmen killed 25 people in two attacks in Benue state.
More than 150 people were killed in massacres across Plateau and Benue states in April.
Monday, May 19, 2025
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.
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
Monday, May 12, 2025
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.
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.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
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
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
Monday, May 5, 2025
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.
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