Author: Sani Nura

GRIEF and fear have enveloped the Sayaya community in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State following a deadly bandit attack in the early hours of Thursday that claimed the lives of seven people, including a woman. News Point Nigeria reports that residents described the incident as one of the most brutal attacks in recent months, saying it shattered the fragile calm the community had begun to enjoy after the deployment of security forces to the area. According to witnesses, the attackers stormed Sayaya in the early hours of Thursday, firing sporadically and triggering widespread panic as residents fled their…

THE Kebbi State Government has raised concerns over the presence of the terror-linked ‘Sai Malam’ sect in Argungu Local Government Area, warning that the group could pose a significant security threat if not swiftly contained. News Point Nigeria reports that the alarm was raised on Wednesday by the State Security Adviser, retired Colonel Danladi Ribah, during a town hall meeting between the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the North-West Geo-Political Zone, DIG Suleiman Muhammad Abdul, and security stakeholders in Birnin Kebbi. Ribah disclosed that the sect was initially detected in neighbouring Sokoto State, where security agencies were able…

JUSTICE Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed 14 July to begin hearing of a suit filed by an aspirant for the Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Lubna Mohammed, who is alleging exclusion from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in the state. News Point Nigeria reports that among the five sued by the aspirant are her party, the APC, the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and INEC. At the day’s hearing, her counsel, Umar Bukar, asked for a new date to enable him to serve the fourth Defendant with the processes. Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the case…

SUSPECTED terrorists on Saturday launched an attack on Tsamiya community in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, setting several structures ablaze, including a security checkpoint belonging to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a local brothel and a residential building. News Point Nigeria reports that the attackers also abducted a resident, identified as Alhaji Yusuf Bazamfare, during the raid on the community. Confirming the incident in a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, said the armed attackers invaded Tsamiya and carried out the assault before fleeing the area. According…

THE Gombe State Police Command has recovered a Toyota Highlander vehicle that was stolen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, nearly five years ago, following a routine verification exercise carried out by security and regulatory agencies in the state. News Point Nigeria reports that the vehicle was intercepted during a vehicle verification operation conducted by operatives of the State Intelligence Department (SID) in collaboration with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service’s vehicle licensing office. Confirming the development in a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Buhari Abdullahi,…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Rabiu Garba Aiki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Zuru State Constituency by-election for the Kebbi State House of Assembly. News Point Nigeria reports that announcing the result at the collation centre, the Collation Officer, Professor Muhammad Bashar Danladi of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi, said Rabiu Garba Aiki polled 4,871 votes to defeat Aliyu Galadima Muhammad of the Labour Party (LP), who secured 168 votes. Professor Danladi disclosed that the total number of registered voters in the constituency stood at 109,385, while 5,156 voters were accredited…

AT least two soldiers were reportedly killed and several others injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly detonated on a military vehicle conveying troops to Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The troops were said to be responding to a distress call following a bandit attack on the community in the early hours of Saturday when the incident occurred. News Point Nigeria gathered that armed bandits reportedly invaded the village between 12:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., firing sporadically and forcing residents to seek military intervention. Residents who spoke on the incident alleged that the attackers…

OFFICIALS of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are currently waiting for voters to arrive and cast their ballots at some polling units visited by Channels Television in Kebbi State, as voting gets underway in the Zuru State House of Assembly by-election. Our correspondent noted that at Alhaji Budo Polling Unit in Rafin Zuru Community, INEC officials are currently waiting for voters to arrive and cast their ballots. INEC officials are sitting idle and waiting for voters to cast their votes News Point Nigeria reports that a low turnout of voters in some polling units visited across the area. In…

TARABA Governor Agbu Kefas has approved the immediate suspension of all forms of mining activities across the state. The decision is based on credible security reports indicating threats capable of undermining the current peace being enjoyed by all citizens and residents of the state. Consequently, the government will constitute a new task force to ensure security and safety for all responsible mining operations after all security threats have been cleared. A statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Gebon Kataps, says all local government councils and traditional rulers are hereby directed to…

THE Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old woman for allegedly killing her 97-year-old grandmother in the Daura Local Government Area of the state. News Point Nigeria reports that according to the police, the incident occurred at approximately 7:00 p.m. on June 12, 2026, when an argument reportedly broke out between the suspect and her paternal grandmother. Police investigations revealed that during the altercation, the suspect allegedly struck the elderly woman on the head with a wooden chair, inflicting serious injuries. The victim was found unconscious in a pool of blood when police operatives responded to a distress report…

THE Kebbi State Police Command has recorded major security breakthroughs, including the arrest of suspected terrorists, bandits, informants and logistics suppliers, as well as the rescue of a kidnapped victim, in ongoing efforts to combat crime across the state. News Point Nigeria reportds that speaking at a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi, the Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, said the command achieved the successes within the last month through intelligence-led policing and collaboration with other security agencies, vigilante groups and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). One of the major operations led to the arrest of three suspected members of…

THE Katsina State Government has announced the successful rescue of four kidnap victims by troops of the Nigerian Army. News Point Nigeria reports that the victims, aged 36 to 68, were rescued during ongoing operations targeting a suspected notorious bandit leader, one Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani, and members of his criminal gang. The government explained that they regained their freedom during sustained military offensives in locations believed to be hideouts of the bandits. The victims were said to have received immediate medical attention for gunshot wounds sustained while in captivity. The latest breakthrough comes weeks after security forces rescued the wife…

THE Zamfara State Government has expressed deep sorrow over the death of three policemen who paid the supreme price while carrying out their duties in the state. News Point Nigeria reports that the three officers, attached to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit of the Zamfara State Police Command, were killed on Monday after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by bandit terrorists exploded along the Anka-Bagega Road in Anka Local Government Area. The tragic incident claimed the lives of the gallant officers while they were on official duty, underscoring the growing dangers faced by security personnel in the fight…

A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Katsina has sentenced a woman, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, to death by hanging after finding her guilty of terrorism-related offences. News Point Nigeria reports that Mukhtar was convicted on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit terrorism as well as aiding and abetting terrorist activities. The woman was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on September 16, 2023, at Jibia Motor Park in Katsina State while she was allegedly attempting to deliver ammunition to a suspected bandit leader. Following her arrest, the DSS subsequently arraigned her before the court on charges…

RESIDENTS of at least 26 communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have reportedly begun contributing money to meet fresh levies imposed by bandits, who have also barred them from accessing their farmlands ahead of the wet season farming period. Sources within the affected communities told News Point Nigeria that the armed groups issued a three-day ultimatum, warning farmers against visiting their farms until the demanded levies were fully paid. The development has heightened fears among residents who rely heavily on farming for their livelihoods. The communities affected by the directive include Garin Faji, Cina Barka, Zululu,…

OPERATIVES of the Katsina State Police Command said it has foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued nine abducted passengers following a swift tactical operation along the Katsina-Kankara highway. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed this in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Saturday, detailing how police operatives engaged suspected armed bandits in a fierce gun duel and forced them to abandon their captives. According to the statement, the incident occurred on Friday, June 12, 2026, at about 2:30 PM when a group of armed bandits barricaded the Katsina-Kankara Road at Tashar Kanya Village in Kankara…

SCORES of traders, farmers and travellers were abducted by armed bandits on a major road leading to the popular Sabon Birni Market in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, in the latest wave of insecurity troubling communities across the state. News Point Nigeria reports that the residents said the attackers blocked a strategic route linking Sabon Birni and several surrounding communities before launching the assault on people heading to the weekly market. According to eyewitness accounts, the gunmen arrived around 10 a.m. on Wednesday on nearly 20 motorcycles and immediately opened fire, causing panic among travellers, traders and…

GOVERNOR Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has softened his earlier stance against negotiating with bandits terrorising communities across the state, declaring that the door remains open for dialogue with those willing to renounce violence and embrace peace. News Point Nigeria reports that the governor said his administration is prepared to engage bandits and kidnappers who genuinely abandon criminal activities, stressing that the state government is willing to support their reintegration into society. Radda made the appeal on Thursday during the official commissioning and handover of 152 housing units to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jibia Local Government Area. The…

NO fewer than 10 people have been confirmed dead, while seven others sustained injuries following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion along the Bagega–Anka Road in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State. News Point Nigeria reports that the incident occurred at about 6:15pm on Monday when a commercial Volkswagen Golf 3 Wagon conveying passengers from Bagega to Anka reportedly ran over the explosive device allegedly planted by suspected bandits operating in the area. The blast, which occurred between Tungar Kudaku and Bagega communities, triggered an immediate response from security operatives who were deployed to the scene for rescue and…

FRESH court documents have revealed details of how former Bauchi State Accountant-General, Dr. Sa’idu Abubakar, allegedly obtained billions of naira in loans through forged government approvals and diverted the funds using non-existent motorcycle supply contracts without the approval of Governor Bala Mohammed or the State Executive Council. News Point Nigeria reports that the allegations are contained in a 16-count amended charge filed before the Bauchi State High Court by the state government, accusing the former Accountant-General of fraud, forgery, deception, criminal breach of trust, abuse of office and diversion of public funds estimated at about N40 billion. According to the…