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New terror group ‘Mahmuda’ kills one, burns houses in Kwara
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Suspected terrorists from the Mahmuda group on Sunday launched a deadly attack on Karongi town in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing one person and setting several houses ablaze.
The assailants, who struck in the early hours of the morning, reportedly exploited the absence of local vigilante operatives, many of whom were away for a training workshop in Ilorin or had travelled for the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.
The attack, which lasted from around 6:00 am to 11:00 am, was eventually repelled by a combined force of soldiers and vigilante members from neighbouring communities.
While the Kwara State Police Command did not confirm the incident as of press time, the Nigerian Army acknowledged the attack.
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview with journalists, the Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umoru Sariki, said the terrorists struck Karongi town in his emirate, leaving one dead and many homes destroyed.
“Yes, the bandits from the Mahmuda group struck around 6:00 am on Sunday. They attacked Karongi town, killed one person, and set several houses on fire,” the Emir said.
He noted that the terrorists capitalized on the absence of security operatives in the town and operated unchallenged for hours.
“They took advantage of the absence of vigilantes, many of whom had travelled for Sallah or gone for training. They invaded the town from 6:00 am to 11:00 am We had to mobilise vigilante groups from surrounding communities to chase them away,” he added.
The Emir lamented the distance of military personnel from the area, stating that soldiers stationed in Chikanda were too far from Karongi to respond quickly.
He appealed to the Federal Government and the military authorities to establish a military base in Karongi or its environs to enhance security and protect residents.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kwara, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said she was not yet aware of the incident but promised to investigate and respond accordingly.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the 22 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Lt. Stephen Nwankwo, confirmed the incident on Monday.
“Yes, I can confirm the attack. One vigilante operative was killed, and several makeshift houses were burnt by the gunmen,” he said.
Nwankwo explained that the vigilante member killed had accompanied soldiers to the village. The terrorists fled upon sighting the military.
“The soldiers responded swiftly when alerted. The deceased was part of the local security escort. The attackers escaped on sighting the troops,” he added.
Suspected armed bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Abdullahi, killing four persons, including two policemen and two local vigilantes who attempted to foil the attack.
A family source said the gunmen invaded the chairman’s residence and took him, his mother, wife and two children away. The source, however, said the family members were later released, while the abductors moved away with the council chairman, a health worker from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gusau, and a Point of Sale (POS) operator.
The bandits reportedly engaged security personnel and local vigilantes in a gun battle while making their escape, leaving several people injured by stray bullets. Among those affected was a retired treasurer of the Zamfara State Ministry of Finance and elder brother to the abducted chairman, Bello Umar Abdullahi.
The chairman’s wife said the bandits informed them that their target was only the council boss and asked the family members to return home.
“They released us at a shallow distance into the bush,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY), Northwest, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, said troops of the Nigerian Army successfully rescued the family members of the abducted chairman after a fierce gun battle with the bandits.
The Gombe State Police Command has handed over a Toyota Highlander to its rightful owner, Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, nearly five years after the vehicle was stolen.
The SUV was presented to its owner on Friday after police concluded investigations that confirmed her ownership.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer in Gombe, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, said the vehicle was recovered on June 8, 2026, by operatives of the State Intelligence Department, SID, in collaboration with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC.
He said the SUV was intercepted during a routine vehicle data verification exercise at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office, where discrepancies in its registration documents raised suspicion.
According to the police, investigations revealed that the Toyota Highlander was stolen in Rivers State on September 17, 2021, before it was smuggled to the Republic of Niger in 2023.
The command said the vehicle later re-entered Nigeria through the Illela border in Sokoto State in October 2025. It was then sold in Kaduna State and eventually brought to Gombe for re-registration, leading to its recovery.
The police described the successful recovery and return of the vehicle as proof of the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and inter-agency collaboration in combating vehicle theft and related crimes.
The command said efforts were ongoing to track down and prosecute those responsible for stealing and illegally transporting the vehicle across international borders.
It also advised prospective vehicle buyers to verify the authenticity of ownership documents before purchasing any vehicle, and urged members of the public to report suspicious transactions promptly to security agencies.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft, arresting a vessel allegedly involved in illegal oil bunkering and taking 12 crew members into custody during an intelligence-led operation in Akwa Ibom State.
The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, saw naval personnel intercept the vessel, MT FILIA, at the UTUE Terminal while it was allegedly siphoning crude oil from an oil well terminal jacket.
Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the successful operation followed credible intelligence generated through the Navy’s surveillance systems and continuous monitoring by its operational platforms.
He disclosed that preliminary investigations showed the vessel was carrying about 32.82 metric tonnes of fuel oil and 650 metric tonnes of crude oil without lawful authorisation or the required documentation.
According to him, the vessel, its 12 crew members and the recovered products have been taken into custody pending further investigation and possible prosecution.
Reacting to the development, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, praised the officers and ratings who carried out the operation, describing their professionalism and vigilance as commendable.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s determination to stamp out crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other maritime crimes that continue to undermine Nigeria’s economy.
The Naval Chief said Operation DELTA SENTINEL has continued to deliver measurable results through intelligence-driven operations, robust surveillance and collaboration with other security agencies and key stakeholders.
Folorunsho recalled that between April and June 2026, the Navy recovered more than 4.7 million litres of petroleum products, dismantled 58 illegal refining sites, destroyed 239 dugout pits and 13 refining ovens, and arrested 91 suspects linked to crude oil theft.
He added that the sustained operations coincided with Nigeria’s crude oil production rising to 1.89 million barrels per day in July 2026, surpassing the country’s OPEC production quota.
The Nigerian Navy assured Nigerians that it would sustain operations aimed at protecting the nation’s oil and gas assets and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to support the fight against maritime crimes.
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