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Just in: Kwara youths protest prolonged abduction of 176 women, kids by Boko Haram

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Some concerned youths in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have staged a peaceful protest, calling on authorities to urgently address the worsening security situation and ensure the safe return of 176 women and children reportedly abducted during a recent attack on Woro community.

The demonstrators, who marched through parts of Kaiama town on Tuesday, carried placards bearing messages such as, “Hear our voices, stop the killing. Bad road. Bad network. Bring back our women and children.”

The protest comes barely 24 hours after a deadly attack on Kemanji community in Kaiama LGA, which left multiple casualties and scores missing.

The media had earlier gathered that suspected terrorists invaded Kemanji in the early hours of Monday, killing at least four soldiers and leaving a local vigilante member critically injured after overpowering security operatives.

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According to community sources, the attackers struck at about 3am, executing a threat earlier issued in a letter reportedly sent to the community days before the assault.

Residents said the gunmen stormed the town under the cover of darkness, firing sporadically and triggering panic as villagers fled for safety.

Security personnel, including soldiers of the Nigerian Army and local vigilantes, were said to have engaged the assailants in a fierce gun battle that lasted nearly two hours.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the attackers as heavily armed and highly coordinated.

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“They came in large numbers and started shooting immediately. The soldiers tried their best to repel them, but the attackers had already gained ground,” the source said.

The media learned that four soldiers were killed during the confrontation, while a member of the local vigilante group sustained gunshot wounds and remains in critical condition.

Sources further disclosed that the attackers deployed explosive devices against a military position shortly after arriving, causing significant damage and weakening the defence.

“They used explosives on the soldiers’ camp. That was what gave them the upper hand,” another community source added.

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In the aftermath of the attack, dozens of residents were reported missing, with fears that many were abducted by the fleeing gunmen.

“They took many people away. As we speak, families are searching for their loved ones. Nobody knows the exact number yet,” a local resident said.

The assailants were also said to have carted away military patrol vehicles and motorcycles before escaping.

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‘Not same Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki killed in 2024’ – DHQ clarifies identity of dead ISWAP commander

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The Defence Headquarters has clarified the recent public discussions surrounding the neutralisation of a prominent terrorist commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki.

A collaborative operation with the United States Africa Command on May 16, 2026, led to the killing of Bilal Al-Minuki.

Following the development, certain media outlets referenced a similar operation from 2024, which involved the elimination of a terrorist commander with the same name.

This has understandably raised questions regarding the identity of the individual who was recently neutralised.

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In a statement signed by Somalia Uba, Director of Defence Information, the DHQ said: “It is crucial to note that in the North East region and throughout the Lake Chad Basin, the use of similar or identical names, aliases and nom de guerres is prevalent among ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists.

“This practice is a deliberate part of their indoctrination strategy, aimed at obscuring identities. This fact has been corroborated over the years during counter-terrorism operations in Northeast Nigeria.

“The Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki who was eliminated on May 16, 2026, has been positively identified through human intelligence and technical surveillance as a senior global operative within the Islamic State network, possessing direct connections to international terrorist coordination, funding and operations across the Sahel. Thus, there is no ambiguity regarding his identity.”

The statement added that the strike represents a significant achievement in the country’s counter-terrorism initiatives.

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It said the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in collaboration with the United States, remain dedicated to dismantling terrorist networks and will continue to disseminate verified information through official channels.

It called on the general public and the media to rely solely on authorised sources to prevent confusion arising from coincidental name similarities.

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Aiyedatiwa’s preferred aspirants disqualified from APC Reps primaries in Ondo

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Three aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who were anointed as consensus candidates by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State for House of Representatives seats have been disqualified by the party.

The three aspirants endorsed by Aiyedatiwa, who have been screened out, were identified as Tajudeen Adefisoye (Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency), Victor Ategbole (Akoko South-East/South-West federal constituency) and Samuel Arowele (Owo/Ose federal constituency).

Others not cleared along with the governor’s preferred aspirants are Seun Ajongbolo (Akoko South-East/South-West federal constituency), Morufu Ibrahim, Oyeniyi Oseni ((Akoko North-East/North-West) and Olaleye Adedipe (Akoko North-East/North-West).

With the reasons for the disqualification of the aspirants not revealed in a statement issued on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, some aspirants in the state have kicked and condemned the endorsement of the anointed aspirants.

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Meanwhile, there was large turnout of APC members on Saturday during the direct primaries conducted across the 203 wards of the state.

In Akur metropolis, party members arrived at the designated wards in their numbers around 8:00 am with the officials of the party doing a headcount of everyone.

At Wards 4, 5, and 8, members of the party were seen queuing behind the poster of the aspirants they are supporting.

Meanwhile, there was an uproar in some of the wards as party faithful lamented that electoral officials were not on the ground to take record of the exercise.

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Six suspected ISWAP bomb makers killed in premature IED explosion in Borno

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Six suspected Islamic State West Africa Province members, including a bomb expert, were killed early Friday when an improvised explosive device detonated prematurely in Marte Local Government Area.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the blast occurred around 7:00 a.m. on May 16, 2026, at Jubilaram while the group was assembling the device. The team was led by Abu Umar, identified as a bomb expert, who died in the explosion along with five other militants. Three others were reportedly injured.

Intelligence assessments say the deceased were part of ISWAP’s IED cell operating along the Marte–Kerenoa–Wulgo axis in the Lake Chad Basin. The explosion destroyed the site, located between Arinna Maimasallaci and Arinna Ciki, and is expected to temporarily disrupt the group’s bomb-making operations in the area.

Military sources said the incident could weaken ISWAP’s capability along key routes in the Marte axis. Authorities are considering follow-up air and ground operations to exploit the disruption.

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