Metro
Tension in Zamfara over killing of Islamic scholar arrested by state guards
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Mr Hassan, a respected Islamic teacher, was picked up by the guards in the evening “for questioning” but was allegedly killed.
A source in the community told BBC Hausa, That Mr Hassan was arrested by five members of the group a few minutes after 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
“Yesterday in the evening some of them came on motorcycles. We were told they were members of the group from Tsafe (another local government area). They teamed up with some of their colleagues here in Mada and asked Malam to follow them for investigation.
“We didn’t suspect anything because they were in a friendly mood and made everyone believe that it was just a normal investigation. But when they went out of the community, they stopped, slaughtered him like a ram and left his dead body there,” the BBC Hausa source, who was anonymous, said.
Terrorists have been active in Zamfara and other North-west Nigerian states for over a decade that had led to the death or displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
The terrorists, who mostly live in the forests, procure information from residents about the movements of security agents and rich people in the community to attack.
Suspected informants have been arrested by both conventional and unconventional security agents but several innocent people have also been wrongly tagged as informants.
This is the second time the guards have killed an influential person in the state over allegations of supporting terrorists.
Newsmen reported last month how a traditional title holder in Yandoto, Magaji Lawali, was also picked up and later killed by the guards.
Sources in Mada, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told journalists that the deceased had a long-running battle with a member of the CPG in the community.
“The Malam (Mr Hassan) was not arrested with any exhibit, he was never associated with the terrorists. His only offence was when Malam intervened when some innocent youths who were arrested by Yan Sakai were about to be killed.
“Malam and some elders in the community, including the district head, stood for the two boys and they were released. The boys were arrested by the vigilante members (before the formation of CPG) while they were returning from the South-west where they went to do some menial jobs to get money,” he said.
The source, who said, the situation has thrown the community into confusion, insisted some of the CPG members who were part of the vigilante group, were unhappy with Mr Hassan.
Commenting on BBC Hausa on the development, the commander of the CPG in the state, Rabiu Yandoto, said the state government and the group would take action against those who killed Mr Hassan.
“We have ordered that all the CPG members around Mada should be brought forward so that we can make a comprehensive investigation into the killing.
“We have not given order to any of our members to arrest any person and kill. We are not made to kill people because we are not supposed to take laws into our hands,” he said.
A 46-year-old man posing as a medical doctor, who identified himself as Osazee Okungbowa, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command.
Okungbowa was arrested after a woman he allegedly assisted during childbirth reported to the police that her baby was missing.
He was paraded alongside 44 other suspects, including alleged kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers, and murder suspects, by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, on Friday.
Parading the suspects, Agbonika said they were arrested through intelligence-driven operations and coordinated tactical responses carried out across the state during the period under review.
Providing a breakdown of the arrests, the police commissioner said 15 suspected cultists, three suspected armed robbers, 11 murder suspects, and 14 suspects linked to rape and defilement cases were apprehended.
He said the command had intensified operations against kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers, and other violent criminals through enhanced intelligence-led policing.
According to him, the command’s determination to ensure that criminal elements have no hiding place in Edo State has been strengthened by sustained efforts that continue to yield significant operational successes.
He said: “The accomplishments we showcase today are the outcome of the commitment, professionalism, and selflessness of officers of the Edo State Police Command, working in close collaboration with other security agencies and with the patriotic support of the public.
“Within the period under review, a total of 45 suspects involved in violent crimes were arrested.
“These achievements underscore our unwavering resolve to rid Edo State of criminal elements and demonstrate that the command remains proactive, responsive, and relentless in confronting every form of violent crime.
“As we continue the fight against criminality, I sincerely thank the law-abiding citizens of Edo State for their continued cooperation and confidence in the police. The timely information, intelligence, and assistance we receive from members of the public remain crucial to our operational successes.”
Speaking on his arrest, Okungbowa said: “I am a clinic doctor and the manager of Grace Health Nursery and Maternity. The owner of the hospital is licensed and employs both qualified and unqualified staff.
“On that day, a man identified as Mr. Godwin brought a pregnant woman to the hospital and informed me that she was due for delivery. I was unwell at the time and told them I could not handle the delivery.
“I then called a colleague to assist at the facility. According to her, the woman agreed, and she delivered the baby the following day. After the delivery, the nurse said the baby was premature and should be taken to an incubator, but the baby later died.
“I was trained as an auxiliary nurse in 2003 and have worked in different hospitals as a health assistant.”
Kidnapped victims from Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State have narrated how they escaped from their abductors, stressing that they escaped after their abductors slept off.
Speaking on behalf of other victims at the Edo. State Police Command Headquarters during a parade of the suspects, Braimah Destiny said their abductors became tired after making them (victims) walk all night.
Braimah, who narrated that he was returning from the farm when he ran into six men armed with guns and cutlasses, disclosed that the kidnappers abducted 10 other persons and took them into the forest.
He narrated, “I was coming from the farm when I met six of them armed with guns and matchets. They also captured others making us 11 victims. They took us from one bush to another. It was around 6:00PM and we heard the police shooting. They made us walk throughout the night. We got to a place and they told us to hide. They were very tired and they slept off.
“That was how we helped ourselves and ran away. We ran to the police station and went to meet the police. The kidnappers beat us and maltreated us.”
Another victim, Gloria Inyanugbo, who identified her abductors said she spent four days at the kidnappers’ den before her husband paid N3m for her release.
“I was kidnapped on the 12th of January when I was working inside the farm. They asked how much I have in my account after taking me inside the bush. I spent four days. until my husband raised N3m and another N300,000 to buy hard drugs, food and other items.
“Community vigilante nabbed two of them inside the bush and the police arrested the other through tracking. I saw one of them that boasted that nobody can do him anything. I can’t imagine the police could.arrrest them.”
A woman identified as Nana Batula and her two children have regained their freedom after spending about one month in the custody of armed bandits in Zamfara State.
The victims were abducted on May 30, 2026, when suspected bandits reportedly attacked their family home in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
During the attack, the assailants allegedly killed Batula’s husband, Sagir Umar, before abducting his wife and their two children.
Security analyst Bakatsine confirmed the family’s release in a post shared on July 1, 2026.
A source close to the family also confirmed that the victims had returned safely, expressing gratitude for their release after weeks in captivity.
According to the source, Nana Batula and her children are currently receiving medical attention and psychological support following their ordeal.
Police have yet to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding their release.
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