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Bandits suspected to be loyal to Jammo, on Friday, invaded farmlands in Goron Namaye district under Maradun local government area of Zamfara State, killing 17 farmers while injuring 13 others who were out for farming activities.

Confirming the incident, the chairman of Maradun local government area, Hon. Sanusi Dosara, said he received with shock a report that armed bandits have launched a fierce attack on Goron Namaye farmlands at Goron Namaye.

“Receiving the information, I quickly communicated to all security agencies in the area to take immediate measures with a view to preventing further damage by the criminals who embarked on criminal operations aimed at denying farmers access to farming activities,” Dosara said.

Alhaji Wada, a resident of Goron Namaye, who has a farm nearby, said; “I just heard people screaming and were running towards the town. Later, all my labourers were back and told me they were chased away by armed bandits while working on the farm.”

Another resident identified as Dan Inna Gora, said he counted not less than 17 corpses lying in farms, a few kilometres from the town, while 13 others sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries and have been conveyed to the hospital for medical attention.

Gora further revealed that they had a report that the bandits’ leader had sent a warning message that people in Goron Namaye should forget about working on their farms for the 2026 raining season.

Recall that bandit leader Jammo had imposed a levy of N100 million on farmers of Maradun LGA this season while holding on to 37 village elders abducted during a botched peace meeting.

Attempts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful as he didn’t answer the phone calls placed to his known phone line as at press time.

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Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, has ordered a statewide clampdown on vehicles plying Lagos roads without number plates or with concealed registration marks, warning that offenders would be arrested and their vehicles impounded with immediate effect.

The directive, according to Fatai, formed part of measures to strengthen security architecture and prevent criminal elements from infiltrating the state through unregistered vehicles.

The CP gave the order during a strategic meeting with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, and Commanders of Tactical Units at the Officers’ Mess, Ikeja, yesterday.

He briefed the officers on resolutions from a recent conference with the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, and outlined new security measures to tighten security across Lagos.

According to Tijani, “The Inspector-General of Police emphasised the need to ensure that all vehicles plying the roads in the country have their plate numbers on them. On no occasion should anybody put a vehicle on the road without a plate number or with a covered plate number. If anybody is found driving such a vehicle, that vehicle will have to be impounded.

He observed that “Most of the vehicles being used by these criminals are either not registered at all or have their plate numbers covered. Apart from those genuinely permitted by law to cover their plate numbers, there are no other exceptions”.

CP Tijani also directed all DPOs to intensify community policing and intelligence gathering at the grassroots, stressing that effective security requires active collaboration between the police and residents.

He further disclosed that the command would sustain joint patrols and intelligence-sharing with other security agencies, particularly in border communities and along waterways, to forestall the movement of criminal elements into Lagos.

Assuring residents of the command’s readiness to tackle emerging threats, Tijani said , “ Lagos Police Command had maintained a strong intelligence network and would continue working closely with transport unions, community leaders and other stakeholders to keep the state safe. Our goal is to ensure that Lagos remains secure and that criminal elements find no space to operate.

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Suspected gunmen have abducted a cleric with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), identified as Pastor Gbenga Sanny, in Ondo State.

It was gathered that Sanny was seized by three gunmen on Sunday evening in the presence of his children.

Sources who confirmed the abduction to The Nation on Monday said the incident occurred at about 7.00 p.m in front of his residence located at Ilu-Abo community in Akure North Local Government.

Sanny, who is also a staff of the Akure North Local Government Area of the state, was taken to an unknown destination by the attackers.

His wife reportedly escaped the attack.

“The three armed men reportedly came out of the nearby bush and whisked him away,” one of the sources revealed.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the police command, Jimoh Abayomi said investigation has been launched into the abduction case.

He stated that officers and tactical teams of the command have already been mobilised to the area and working to secure the safe rescue of the victim and apprehend those responsible for the crime.