At least five people have been killed and many women abducted after suspected bandits led by notorious kingpin, Bello Turji, invaded Lajinge community in Sabon Birni Local Council of Sokoto State.

The attack was disclosed in a post shared on Wednesday by conflict reporter, Bakatsine, via his X handle.

Following incessant bandits’ attacks, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), has directed security personnel to shoot armed bandits and terrorists, saying that any operative who fails to neutralise criminals under the excuse of awaiting orders would be treated as collaborating with them.

The Northern States Governors Forum has launched a fund to tackle banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, drug abuse and other forms of criminality, which continued to undermine peaceful coexistence, disrupt livelihoods and weaken social cohesion, thereby slowing the pace of development in the region.

However, Nigeria’s former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Japan, Prof.Gana Isa, has declared that it would take only a more committed and genuine patriotic leadership to restore security in the country.

According to the report, the assailants stormed the community on Tuesday night, killing five residents and injuring eight others, who were subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment.

The attackers also reportedly abducted many women, although the exact number of those kidnapped remains unknown.

They also allegedly rustled a large number of livestock and looted valuables belonging to residents before fleeing the area.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to confirm the incident or issue any official statement on the reported attack.

Meanwhile, Delta State security outfit, SafeCity Security Service, in collaboration with the police, has arrested a notorious wanted bandit, Abubakar Usman.

The arrest followed the kidnapping of one Mrs Blessing Chiedu, a native of Umunede Kingdom, on July 2, 2026, along the Ani-Ifekide Farm Road, Ubulu-Uku. The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N100 million from her family.

Spokesperson for the SafeCity Security Service, Harrison Gwamnishu, disclosed this in a post on X yesterday.

According to Gwamnishu, upon receiving the information, he escalated the matter, and the Delta State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Asaba, led by CSP Osakpolor, swung into action.

He said that using their Hydra Tech Surveillance System, a coordinated rescue operation was launched, and MrsChiedu was successfully rescued unharmed along the Ubulu-Unor/Ashama Road.

After her rescue, the team reportedly launched a manhunt for the fleeing kidnappers until the early hours of Wednesday when their surveillance system located the gang to their hideout in the Ogwashi-Uku/Adonta Forest of the state.

“A gun battle ensued, during which our combined team overpowered the criminals. One of the most wanted suspects, Abubakar Usman, was captured, while other members of the gang escaped into the forest with their firearms.

WHILE commissioning 62 operational vehicles and security equipment worth N27.127 billion in Sokoto State procured by the state government to strengthen security operations, Musa said: “Once you are deployed, do not wait for any order from anybody to shoot any bandit or any terrorist. Anybody who refuses to shoot or kill any bandit or terrorist in the name of waiting for an order, we will treat you like a bandit.”

The minister described the intervention as a demonstration of strategic leadership and praised Governor Ahmed Aliyu for consistently supporting security agencies with logistics and operational equipment.

He, however, cautioned security personnel against neglecting the newly acquired assets.

Earlier, Governor Aliyu said the latest intervention formed part of his administration’s sustained investment in security since assuming office.

SPEAKING in Kaduna yesterday at the meeting of the Forum and the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Security Trust Fund, its Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, said the governors were united in the conviction that the security crisis in Northern Nigeria requires prompt, coordinated and decisive measures to rescue the region from the brink of total collapse.

He said: “While the Federal Government bears primary responsibility for national security, the complementary efforts of the 19 Northern states are needed so as to support federal security efforts, facilitate intelligence sharing, foster community resilience, and establish a lasting framework for regional security and prosperity.”

ISA, at a media parley in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday, said the country needed a more serious leadership that would personalise insecurity and thus successfully tackle the menace.

He wondered about the effects of all the existing security agencies on the unending wars against kidnapping, banditry and general insecurity across the country.

The former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Kwara called for support for independent and regional security bodies, describing them as more formidable.

According to the former Deputy Speaker in the state, “Insecurity has consumed the entire country and our government is not serious about it. What we hear regularly is negotiation with the bandits. Banditry has become a trade with actors cashing in on it. What has the Federal Government done/said about the killing of a serving Army General?

“We need a leadership that would be serious about tackling the insecurity menace; with all our security agencies in Nigeria, we cannot still police our country.”