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Over 150 suspected terrorists drown as boat capsizes in Sokoto
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Tragedy struck on Saturday evening following reports that more than 150 suspected bandits drowned after a boat conveying them capsized in the Sabon Gida area of Sokoto State.
According to multiple local sources, the ill-fated vessel was carrying a large group of armed men believed to be involved in banditry activities across parts of the North-West when it overturned while attempting to cross a body of water. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, but early accounts suggest overcrowding and possible instability of the boat may have contributed to the disaster.
Eyewitnesses familiar with the development disclosed that the boat was heavily loaded with passengers at the time of the incident. The vessel reportedly lost balance midway through the journey, throwing all occupants into the water.
A local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that many of the individuals on board were unable to swim, significantly worsening the situation and leading to what is feared to be a mass casualty event.
“Preliminary information indicates that a large number of them drowned almost immediately after the boat capsized,” the source said. “It was a chaotic scene, and given the number of people involved, survival chances were very slim.”
Initial reports suggest that none of the passengers survived although this has not been independently verified. As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from security agencies or government authorities confirming the number of casualties or providing further details about the incident.
The Sabon Gida axis, where the घटना occurred, is known to be one of several اin Sokoto State that have experienced persistent security challenges in recent years. Banditry, kidnapping, and violent attacks have remained a major concern across the wider North-West region, with armed groups often moving through remote اwaterways to evade security forces.
Security analysts say the reported loss of such a large number of suspected bandits, if confirmed, could represent a significant setback for criminal networks operating in the region. Over the years, bandit groups have relied on mobility and difficult terrain to sustain their operations, often crossing rivers and forests to launch attacks and retreat undetected.
However, authorities have yet to verify whether those involved in the حادث were indeed members of organized bandit groups. There are also unanswered questions about the destination of the यात्रियों and the purpose of their journey at the time of the incident.
Residents in nearby communities reportedly expressed mixed reactions to the development. While some described the incident as shocking and tragic, others viewed it as a possible turning point in the ongoing fight against insecurity in the region.
“This is something we have never seen before,” another local resident said. “If it is true that they were bandits, then it may reduce the attacks we have been experiencing.”
Despite these sentiments, experts caution against premature conclusions, emphasizing the need for official confirmation and thorough investigation. They note that misinformation can easily spread in volatile environments, especially in areas where communication infrastructure is limited and access to verified information is often delayed.
Efforts to reach local authorities and security operatives for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. It is expected that the police or other relevant agencies will provide an update once preliminary investigations are concluded.
In recent years, the Nigerian government has intensified military operations across the North-West, deploying troops and launching coordinated offensives aimed at dismantling bandit camps and restoring stability. While there have been reported successes, the region continues to grapple with sporadic attacks and security breaches.Nigeria News Updates
The reported incident in Sabon Gida adds a new dimension to the ongoing crisis, highlighting not only the scale of bandit movements but also the risks associated with their methods of transportation and coordination.
As investigations unfold, residents and observers alike are awaiting official confirmation to clarify the true extent of the tragedy and its potential implications for security in Sokoto State and the broader North-West region.
For now, the incident remains a developing story, with authorities expected to provide further details in the coming hours or days.
Fresh reports from Kogi State say the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership has quietly lined up former Governor Yahaya Adozi Bello and two sitting senators for unopposed runs in the 2027 senatorial elections.
Party insiders claim the automatic tickets are already reserved for three names:
Alh. Yahaya Adozi Bello (Kogi Central) Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho (Kogi East) , Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West)
Bello’s Move to the Senate
The headline here is Yahaya Bello stepping forward for the Kogi Central seat. If it sticks, the man known as the “White Lion” will trade Government House for the National Assembly. Analysts see it as a calculated step to keep his influence alive at both state and federal levels.
A frontline Support Group for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has lauded the nomination of Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, as a Minister from Oyo State.
Tinubu had on Thursday, sent the name of Chief Tegbe as the ministerial nominee from Oyo State, to replace Hon. Adebayo Adelabu.
Adelabu had resigned as Minister of Power a week ago, to enable him run for the governorship of Oyo State.
In a statement signed on Friday by the National President, Mr. Gideon Oche Onazi, and the Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Kudu, the Tinubu Consensus Network (TCN) said the appointment of Chief Tegbe was “a good step in the right direction”.
The group, a cardinal think-thank forum amongst the national support groups of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said, with Chief Tegbe been empowered as a Minister, the votes of Oyo State would swell for APC across boards.
“He has done it before. He has been doing it when he was just a private person, how much more now that he is going to be a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? The votes from Oyo State will swell double for our dear President and all our APC candidates in Oyo State”, the statement read.
The TCN reminisced the role played by Chief Tegbe in the last general elections, especially during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, where he mobilized party stakeholders in his local government area and other areas financially, to give APC the victory it had, “even in a state controlled by the PDP”.
“Our Coordinator in Oyo State, Alhaji Wasiu Akanbi, has records of the wonderful contributions Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe made towards the success of our party in Oyo State in 2023, and he did send the report.
“In fact, he collapsed his governorship campaign structure of 2019 into the APC Support Group and instructed and mandated all of them to deliver APC allround. We are pleased with the news of his appointment and we can’t thank the President enough, for this great honour done to a man who is loved by the people”, the group added.
On the capability of the nominee, the TCN extolled the capacity of Chief Tegbe, adding that, his scorecard in places he has work, stands him out as an astute technocrat.
“His work in the private sector has been stellar. He has been the lead partner and adviser on several national level development reforms across several industries including: Housing and Infrastructure; Trade and Investment; Financing; Skills Development; Information Technology; Telecommunications; and Social Security.
“Through his career, he has worked to improve his capacity to provide solutions into increasingly diverse areas with formal and informal training courses.
“Chief Tegbe, no doubt, has more than three decades of experience spanning consulting, fiscal policy and institutional reform. He is a former Senior Partner at KPMG, who led advisory services across Africa, working on governance, regulatory frameworks and large-scale transformation projects.
“The man also has engagements with key institutions in Nigeria’s power sector, including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company. He is very versatile and can serve Nigeria in any sector”, the statement added.
Until his nomination, Tegbe was a director-general of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, where he coordinated development cooperation initiatives and investment engagements between Abuja and Beijing. He also chairs Nigeria’s tax implementation committee, underscoring his role in shaping broader economic policy.
Tegbe’s appointment comes at a critical juncture for Africa’s most populous economy, where persistent electricity shortages continue to weigh on growth, industrial output and investor confidence.
In a significant move set to turnaround Adamawa politics, former governorship candidate and ex-senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani has dumped the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC redrawing battle lines ahead of 2027.
Binani walked into the NDC fold in Abuja Friday, greeted by National Leader Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, party chiefs, and a full National Working Committee. It’s her second defection in months — APC to ADC, now ADC to NDC.
“This is not about me,” Binani said, voice firm. “It’s about the people who have stood with me. They are central to my journey.” She pointed to the NDC’s promise of “structured, policy-driven governance” as the pull, vowing to plant the party deep in Adamawa soil and fight for fairness, justice, and real internal democracy.
Dickson didn’t hesitate. He handed her the keys to Adamawa. “Leadership responsibility of the party in Adamawa has been entrusted to her,” he declared, charging her to heal divisions and build a machine strong enough to win.
He cast a wider net too, calling on women and political heavyweights nationwide to see NDC as home. “We are an inclusive platform,” Dickson said, underscoring the party’s pledge to affirmative action for women.
For Binani, the stakes are personal. The APC flagbearer who came within inches of the Adamawa Government House in 2023 is now carrying NDC’s banner. Her arrival instantly gives the young party muscle, structure, and a battle-tested general in one of the North’s fiercest political arenas.
With 2027 already rumbling, Adamawa just got a new power map. And Binani is holding the compass.
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