News
Three notorious bandits go mental after drug abuse
Intelligence reports have it that three bandit leaders, Kachalla Dan Baba, Kachalla Abu Guddi, and Kachalla Bello Kurma, who operate in Zamfara State have lost their sanity after excessive use of hard drugs.
The bandit leaders, according to Zagazola, a counter-security expert, were said to have had sudden mental instability that made their gangs disarm them when they started wandering in the forests.
The development, which took place on March 27, 2025, disoriented their criminal factions, raising speculation among their followers.
Kachalla Dan Baba controls a large criminal network based in Kudo village, near Buzaya Forest in Maru Local Government Area. Dan Baba was said to have over 50 fighters under his command, orchestrating numerous kidnappings, highway ambushes, and cattle rustling operations in Zamfara and neighboring states.
While Kachalla Abu Guddi was another infamous warlord, headquartered in Gidan Garba village, Maru LGA. He was notorious for leading violent raids on communities, killing civilians, and engaging in arms trafficking.
Kachalla Bello Kurma has a base of operations deep within the Buzaya Forest, a known hideout for armed criminal gangs in Maru LGA. Security sources describe him as one of the most ruthless bandits in the region, with links to other terror groups operating in the North-West.
An intelligence source, who is a vigilante operative tracking bandit activities in the region, told Zagazola that the three bandit leaders began showing signs of erratic behavior, including talking to themselves, hallucinating, and making irrational decisions.
Witnesses claim that their own fighters, sensing weakness and fearing for their survival, seized their weapons and abandoned them in the forests.
“This is a very unusual situation. These men were feared warlords, controlling vast criminal networks. But something happened that caused them to lose their senses. Their followers saw that they were no longer fit to lead, so they disarmed them and left them to wander aimlessly,” the source said.
Due to the effects of prolonged drug abuse, many bandit leaders are known to abuse hard drugs, which could lead to severe mental disorders. In local communities, some believe that divine intervention or spiritual forces may have played a role in their sudden downfall, the source said.
“With their leaders gone mad, their gangs will either scatter or seek new alliances. This allows us to strike harder and eliminate them before they reorganize,” he said.
Tragedy struck in Ikobi, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State on Thursday night as gunmen hijacked a fully loaded Benue Links bus, killing the driver and kidnapping all passengers on board.
The gunmen, however, left a toddler behind.
Sources revealed that the assailants ambushed the bus along the highway, fatally shooting the driver before forcibly taking the passengers into the bush. However, a young boy was reportedly spared by the kidnappers.
Although, authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the incident, but security agencies have been alerted and are said to be tracking the whereabouts of the victims.
Reacting to the latest attack, the president of Ochetoha K’Idoma youth wing, Mike Magaji, decried the inaction of the state government over the killings in the state.
He said the governor did not make any meaningful speech during his visit to Otukpo on Thursday.
He said, “It is heartbreaking that our people continue to live in fear while the government remains silent. How many more lives must be lost before decisive action is taken?
“The governor’s visit to Otukpo was a disappointment. Our people expected leadership, not vague reassurances. We need a clear plan to end these attacks.
“The government must rise up to its responsibilities. We cannot continue to mourn our people daily while those in power look the other way.”
Daily Post
Stakeholders and experts in the Seed Sector of Nigeria have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review the recent appointment of a substantive Director General for the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC).
Stakeholders’ concern stemmed from the fact that Hon Fatuhu Mohammed Buhari who was appointed as substantive Director General of the Council did not possess the requisite professional qualification and cognate experience in seed science and technology as provided for in the Act establishing the Council.
In the open letter of appeal to President Tinubu signed on behalf of the Seed Sector by Engineer Olagbaju Akeju, a technical consultant/seed processor, the group cited a breach of Part III, Section 6 of the National Seed Council Act of 2019, which is the regulatory framework to establish food governance and remove quackery from the Nigeria Seed System.
Specifically, Part III, Section 6, states: “The President shall appoint on the recommendation of the Hon. Minister, candidate who possesses professional qualification and cognate experience in Seed Science and Technology.”
The group said that: “This requirement is very fundamental to continue to sustain the gain and international recognition of the Nigerian Agricultural Seed System as African model.”
According to the group, “It is for this purpose that Mr. President’s attention is invited to take another look at the appointment of Hon. Fatuhu Mohammed Buhari as Director General of the Council as earlier announced and confirmed, pending the request for Dr. Ishiaku Othman Khalid to serve as substantive Director-General of the Council for a single term.”
It would be recalled that until a few days ago, before the announcement of Hon. Fatuhu Mohammed Buhari as the Director-General by Mr. President, the Acting Director-General, Dr. Ishiaku Othman Khalid, a seasoned Seed Expert who grew within the system to become a director, was expected to be confirmed as the substantive Director General.
“During his tenure in acting capacity, the Seed Council attained international recognition as testified by the Council of Head of States in Africa Union for Food Security Committee. The Nigeria Seed System has also become remarkable as a model working for Nigeria and should be adopted by other African countries.”
On appointment of core professionals to head the Council, the group noted: “Since its establishment, the leadership of this unique agency has always been selected among the professionals in the relevant seed science and technology for the post of Director-General.
“It appeared that Mr. President was misled to appoint a non-professional as Director-General. This appointment did not only contravene the extant law but also breach Mr. President’s belief to give opportunity for serving officers to reach the pinnacle of their careers.”
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognising Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
In a unanimous judgment, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure National Chairman of the Labour Party, after finding out earlier that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.
The apex court held that the issue of leadership was an internal affair of a party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.
The court further allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman and one other and held that it was meritorious.
It also proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure group of the Labour Party for being unmeritorious.
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