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Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have reportedly killed Bako Gorgore, a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

According to Zagazola, a counter-insurgency expert focused on the Lake Chad region, Gorgore,  also known as Abou Mustapha, was killed during an encounter with troops in Kukawa LGA of Borno state.

His death was reportedly confirmed through multiple intelligence channels after security operatives intercepted internal communications among ISWAP fighters acknowledging the development.

Gorgore, believed to be about 60 years old, was regarded as one of the longest-serving figures within the insurgent group.

Over the years, he held several key positions, including senior membership of ISWAP’s Shura council, the group’s highest decision-making body.

He had previously been reported dead in 2022 alongside Aba Ibrahim, another senior ISWAP figure.

In May 2021, Gorgore and Ibrahim led a major onslaught against the faction of Boko Haram known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS).

The offensive culminated in the death of Abubakar Shekau, the longtime leader of the faction. Seventeen of Shekau’s commanders subsequently surrendered and pledged allegiance to ISWAP.

Zagazola said Gorgore’s death could have significant implications for the leadership structure of the group.

“The confirmed killing of Gorgore could have important implications for the leadership cohesion of ISWAP. As a senior Shura member with deep operational experience dating back to the early Boko Haram years, his removal potentially disrupts command continuity within the group,” it said.

“The insurgency in the Lake Chad region has historically depended on experienced commanders capable of navigating the complex terrain and maintaining loyalty among fighters.

“The death of a veteran figure like Gorgore weakens institutional memory within the insurgent network and may also trigger internal power struggles as younger commanders compete to fill the vacuum.”

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No fewer than 20 security operatives and vigilantes were reportedly killed when heavily armed bandits ambushed a joint patrol team in Wanka and surrounding communities of the Garga area in the Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The Kanam Development Association (KADA) disclosed this in a statement signed by its Secretary, ND Shehu Kanam, and Chairman, Garba G. Aliyu, issued on Saturday in Dengi, Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The association said the victims included 12 security personnel, among them two senior military officers, and eight vigilante members who were assisting security forces to protect the communities.

According to the statement, the patrol team—made up of military personnel and local vigilantes—was travelling in two vehicles on routine security operations across the communities of Garga, Kyaram and Gyambau when they were suddenly ambushed by hundreds of heavily armed bandits on their way to Wanka at about 2:00 p.m. on Friday.

“In the unfortunate exchange of gunfire that followed the ambush, our nation lost brave defenders who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty,” the statement read.

KADA described the deaths of the security personnel and vigilantes as “deeply painful and unacceptable,” noting that the fallen operatives died while defending rural communities that have long faced repeated attacks.

The association added that after the ambush, the bandits reportedly stormed the Kyaram community, where they looted properties worth millions of naira and rustled a large number of cattle belonging to residents.

KADA warned that the incident was not isolated, stressing that communities around Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau and neighbouring settlements located along the borders of Plateau, Taraba and Bauchi states have endured persistent attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling for the past three to four years.

The association said it had previously issued several appeals to authorities over the deteriorating security situation but lamented that the crisis had continued to escalate.

It therefore called on the local, state and federal governments to urgently intervene to prevent further bloodshed in the affected communities.

Among its demands, KADA urged the immediate deployment of additional military and security personnel to Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau, Wanka and neighbouring communities, as well as the establishment of a permanent security presence in the border areas.

The group also called for coordinated security operations along the Plateau–Taraba–Bauchi border corridor, which it said bandits exploit due to the difficult terrain.

In addition, it appealed for relief support for affected residents, many of whom have reportedly lost homes, livestock and other sources of livelihood as a result of the attacks.

“The people of these communities are law-abiding citizens whose only desire is to live peacefully, farm their land, raise their families and contribute to the development of our nation. They cannot and must not be abandoned to the mercy of armed criminals,” the statement added.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation of the incident from security authorities were unsuccessful, as both the military and the police did not respond to calls and messages seeking confirmation as of press time.

KADA also extended condolences to the Nigerian Armed Forces, the families of the fallen soldiers and vigilantes, and the affected communities, saying their sacrifice would not be forgotten.

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The traditional ruler of Mbajiir in Tongov, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, has been abducted and murdered by armed men.

According to Vanguard, the deceased, Zaki Sughter Agamber, was abducted on March 6, 2026, by suspected gunmen at Kam Village in Tongov, an incident that left residents of the community in shock and fear.

Sources in the area said the traditional ruler was taken away from his home in the presence of his family by the armed men.

The monarch’s lifeless body was later discovered the following day in a nearby bush, sparking anger and grief among residents and traditional institutions in the area.

The source stated that “no group has so far claimed responsibility for the killing, while the motive behind the attack remains unclear.”

The development has drawn widespread condemnation, including the Benue State House of Assembly, which strongly condemned the abduction and subsequent killing of the Kindred Head, describing the incident as barbaric and unacceptable.

The House described the murder as a grave threat to traditional institutions and community leadership.

The Assembly reached the resolution during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Alfred Emberga.

The lawmakers called on security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to intensify efforts to track down those behind the crime.