Bandits have wreaked havoc in Matane, hometown of the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane. The village is in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, which has recorded multiple attacks in recent times. Bandits invaded the village on Tuesday, setting shops, houses and other valuables ablaze. The attackers also invaded Bamba-Lamba community, a few kilometers Eastern Kontagora. A resident of Bamba-Lamba, Hashimu Ahmed, told our correspondent that the the bandits struck around 5pm and set the entire community ablaze. “They surrounded the community. I was able to escape to Kontagora town with my family. They set…

Awwal Gambo, chief of naval staff, says illegal oil refining sites in the Niger Delta are usually reactivated hours after demolition. The navy chief spoke on efforts to combat illegal oil refining in the region during a media chat on Saturday. Gambo said there are over 3,000 creeks in the Niger Delta, which he says makes it difficult to track activities of all illegal oil refiners. “I have to bring to note: Illegal refining sites as we speak take about seven to eight hours after destruction to be reactivated for illegal operation by those involved,” he said. “We have over…

Kaduna State Government has advised residents to be vigilant as explosive devices have been planted by terrorists in various parts of the state. The government gave the advice on Monday through a statement by the state commissioner for Internal Security and Homeland Affairs, Samuel Aruwan. It said security agencies feared the terrorists may be planning to “discreetly place explosives in public facilities such as schools, hospitals, hotels, bars, entertainment centres, restaurants, parks, major roads and places of worship.” The statement reads: “Kaduna State Government wishes to issue an crucial advisory to citizens across the state, for heightened alertness to the…

Bandits on Monday blocked Minna-Suleja road, around Lambata-Kwakuti, stopping travellers from moving for about two hours. Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident. He said; “armed bandits were reported to be crossing Suleja road at about 1500hrs from Gbajibe village via Lambata, Gurara LGA” Abiodun said a combined team of Police operatives and military personnel from Suleja were mobilized to the scene and engaged the bandits before the hoodlums escaped into the forest. He said the road was immediately cleared and normalcy restored for free flow of traffic It was gathered that bandits in their…