Security
Armed Bandits Kidnap Five Foreign Miners in Zamfara Gold Heist
Five foreign nationals from Burkina Faso were kidnapped by suspected armed bandits at a gold mining site near Arafa village in Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
The abduction occurred around 11:15 a.m. on March 14, when a large group of assailants reportedly hiding between Arafa and Gidan Dankande villages stormed the site and forcibly took the workers to an unknown location.
Sources told reporters that the attackers fled into the bush before security operatives from a nearby Operation FANSAN YAMMA base could respond.
Efforts are ongoing to locate the abductees, with security forces combing the area for intelligence to secure their release.
The incident underscores the link between illegal mining and banditry in Zamfara. The North West’s rich deposits of gold, copper, and lithium have attracted both legitimate investors and criminal networks, with many bandit leaders collecting weekly “protection” fees from miners.
These payments finance kidnappings, weapons purchases, and recruitment of fighters.
In 2019, the federal government banned gold mining in Zamfara to curb illegal mining and insecurity, but violence increased by 183% in the four years following the ban.
The ban forced displaced miners to operate under armed groups, who profited from illegal mining activities.
Although the ban was lifted in December 2024, regulatory reforms remain largely unimplemented, leaving communities vulnerable.
Analysts warn that without strict law enforcement, effective regulation, and community engagement, Zamfara’s mineral wealth will continue to fuel criminal networks, putting workers and local residents at constant risk.
General News
Nigerian Troops Foil Drone Attack, Recover 74 Terrorists’ Bodies in Major North-East Crackdown
The Defence Headquarters has announced that troops operating in the North-East have recovered 74 bodies of suspected terrorists following a series of coordinated offensives, including the disruption of a drone-assisted attack.
The military said the operations, conducted between March 13 and March 19 under Operation Hadin Kai, underscore a shift in tactics by insurgent groups in the region.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, disclosed that troops successfully foiled what he described as a “complex drone-assisted attack,” before launching follow-up missions that led to the recovery of weapons and the bodies of the নিহত fighters.
Recovered items include 38 AK-47 rifles, three PKT machine guns, and a rocket-propelled grenade tube.
In Borno State, troops reportedly repelled a major assault in Mallam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area, killing several insurgents, including top commanders. Additional attempts by fighters to infiltrate communities in Bama, Gujba, and Kaga local government areas were also thwarted.
The military added that coordinated air and ground strikes in Baga, Damboa, Buratai, and Njimtilo weakened the operational strength of Islamic State West Africa Province.
Outside the North-East, security operations extended to other regions. In Taraba State, suspected gunrunners were intercepted with ammunition, cash, and motorcycles recovered.
Troops also rescued kidnapped victims in Plateau and Benue states, while illegal mining activities were disrupted within the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding areas.
In the Niger Delta, personnel under Operation Delta Safe uncovered illegal bunkering sites and seized over 3,000 litres of stolen petroleum products. Arrests were made in Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states over alleged involvement in oil theft, kidnapping, and drug-related offences.
Meanwhile, in the South-East, troops of Operation Udo Ka neutralised suspected terrorists in Imo State and recovered improvised explosive devices. Further arrests were recorded in Ebonyi and Cross River states during clearance operations.
The Defence Headquarters said the nationwide operations demonstrate the Armed Forces’ commitment to curbing insecurity and restricting the movement of criminal elements.
However, despite the reported gains, security concerns persist in several parts of the country, with stakeholders calling for sustained and improved strategies to address ongoing threats.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, arrived in Maiduguri on an operational assessment visit to the Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), barely 24 hours after recent suicide bomb incidents within the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.
Addressing officers and troops at the Maimalari Cantonment, the CDS commended personnel for their resilience, sacrifice, and sustained operational pressure against terrorist elements across the theatre. He urged them to remain resolute and fully committed to the discharge of their duties.
This was contained in a press release signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI.
In a move to consolidate recent gains and prevent a recurrence of attacks, General Oluyede directed commanders to intensify offensive operations, strengthen intelligence gathering mechanisms, and adopt innovative, proactive strategies to dominate the battlespace.
He emphasised the need to maintain operational momentum and assured troops of continued strategic support from Defence Headquarters towards the decisive defeat of terrorism.
In his remarks, the COAS also praised the troops for their dedication, resilience, and sustained pressure on insurgents. He charged field commanders to escalate ongoing offensives and institutionalise a firm “never again” posture to deny terrorists any operational space, particularly during critical periods such as Ramadan and beyond.
Lieutenant General Shaibu further assured the Theatre Command of additional support and critical resources to enhance operational effectiveness, improve force protection, and reinforce ongoing military operations in the region.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander presented a detailed operational briefing on activities within the Joint Operations Area, outlining recent successes, ongoing engagements, and operational challenges. He noted that despite isolated setbacks, troops have continued to dominate the battlespace through sustained offensives carried out with professionalism and commitment.
According to him, over 200 terrorist elements were neutralised in recent operations, with several others sustaining severe injuries, significantly weakening their combat capability and limiting their ability to return to the battlefield.
The Theatre Commander reaffirmed that troops of Operation HADIN KAI remain determined, undeterred, and fully committed to sustaining intensified operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action and restoring lasting peace and economic stability across the North East.
The Delta State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on violent crime, rescuing three kidnapped victims, arresting a suspect, and recovering an AK-47 rifle after a gun battle in Issele Uku.
The operation followed a kidnapping report received at the Issele Uku Police Division on March 16, 2026.
Acting swiftly, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Aderemi Badiru, in collaboration with military personnel, local vigilantes, and hunters, launched a coordinated search and rescue mission across identified hideouts in nearby bush areas.
The security team engaged members of the kidnapping syndicate in a fierce exchange of gunfire.
During the confrontation, one suspect was fatally wounded, while the three victims were successfully rescued unharmed and later reunited with their families.
Further combing of the area led to the arrest of a 22 year old suspect, Ahmadu Hassan, from Kange Village in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
He was found with gunshot injuries. Operatives also recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with four rounds of live ammunition.
Police confirmed that another suspect who sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter later died, and his body has been deposited in a mortuary.
The arrested suspect is currently receiving treatment under police custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.
The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Aina Adesola, commended the bravery and coordination of the operatives and supporting security groups.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
Police spokesperson SP Bright Edafe also confirmed the development.