• Police confirm CJTF commander’s arrest, allay fears

Suspected bandits have reportedly killed a prominent businessman, Bello Gwamnati, along the Birinin Magaji-Kaura Namoda Road in Zamfara State and abducted several others.

The Guardian learnt that the traders were abducted on Wednesday evening on their way from Birinin Magaji Market, after the gunmen attacked Gwamnati’s vehicle and killed him.

On a cheery note, however, the Chairman of Bungudu Local Council Area, Nura Abdullahi, has regained his freedom after 61 days in captivity following his abduction alongside others during the July 25, 2026 attack on his residence in Bungudu Town.

The Media and Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt.-Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed in a statement that Abdullahi and four others escaped during an intelligence-led operation by troops targeting a suspected terrorist location in the area.

In another development, the Public Relations Officer, Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Orchia, has confirmed the arrest of the North Central Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force, Dr Jonah Ogbaji.

He explained that he was whisked away by the Special Tactical Squad (STS) attached to the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja, over an ongoing investigation.

There had been unease in the Makurdi metropolis and across the state yesterday as residents wondered whether Ogbaji was kidnapped by terrorists or arrested by the police.

Ogbaji, who is also the proprietor of Multicare Clinic, was reportedly attending to patients in his hospital at Ankpa in Makurdi on Wednesday night when he was picked up.

His daughter, Patience Ogbaji, told The Guardian that the family made a public announcement yesterday morning concerning his arrest and whereabouts, having failed to locate him in any of the police stations in Makurdi on Wednesday.