Metro
“We Are ready for Peace, living in the Forest was Hell” – Kaduna Repentant bandits

Days after the authorities in Kaduna State in collaboration with the office of National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu entered a peace pact with bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, many repentant bandits in Birnin Gwari Emirate, Buruku and at Sabon Birni community have sought forgiveness for the atrocities allegedly committed and assured Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and the NSA that they would be law-abiding citizens in the future.
They, however, said they had lived solitary lives in the forests, divorced from normal life for over a decade, and would therefore be happy if the government gave them a sense of belonging and allowed their children to attend schools.
A Fulani elder who claimed to be a representative of bandit kingpin Jan Bross and a Fulani community leader, Ardo, said it was time for all Fulani leaders across the federation to talk to their subjects and convince them to fully embrace the peace process.
Speaking in Birnin Gwari, he said, “They should follow the Kaduna example and lay down arms.”
“We are grateful for this peace pact and shall continue to pray for its sustainability. Thank you government,” he said.
The Chairman of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, Hon.Salisu Isa, could not hide his excitement as the Local Government headquarters was bustling with activities again after a very long time of uncertainty due to attacks by bandits and other criminal elements.
During the crisis period, even the Local Council was moved to Kaduna, as bandits had vandalized critical assets and infrastructures in Birnin-Gwari. All banks were razed, the post office destroyed, and schools vandalised. Only the military and other security forces could remain to stop the criminals from completely annexing the historic town that has carved a niche as a major gateway to the Southwestern part of Nigeria.
According to the Local Council boss, the peace pact was reached due to persistent prayers to Almighty Allah.
“I express my gratitude to my boss, our Governor, Senator Uba Sani and the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu for this initiative, the Emir, LG staff, the Mallams and all others, ” he said.
He said in order to sustain and maintain the peace accord, the council inaugurated a Peace and Reconciliation Committee that meets regularly, which comprised key stakeholders from the government, the Hausa and Fulani communities, and others.
Hon.Isa called on interested investors in agriculture, to use the opportunity and key into the agric sector, as Birnin-Gwari had the potential of feeding the entire North with maize and other crops.
“Other places should emulate Birnin-Gwari and come up with the peace pact, ” he advised.
He said the public should continue to pray for Birnin-Gwari to restore its past glory and take the path for continued growth and development.
Alhaji Ibrahim Bokolo, a repentant bandit, said the crisis made him and his family relocate to neighbouring Niger state. Now that he had returned to Kaduna State, he appealed for more understanding, especially from local vigilantes and cautioned troublemakers to desist from any act that could breach the peace pact.
Another Fulani chieftain, Alhaji Isa, said they would listen to the government and abide by the peace pact.
He called on the government to check the activities of some vigilante members in neighbouring Zara, Gidigodi in Niger state, who were allegedly stopping the free movement of trucks loaded with cattle.
The Birnin Gwari LG boss had earlier assured that they would liaise with the authorities in Niger state over the matter.
Muhammadu Lawali, a repentant bandit, assured that the current peace pact was different from previous ones, as both parties had genuine intentions. He prayed for forgiveness and encouraged the Fulani and Hausa to show more love to one another.
According to him,” We now have respite; we can move freely and intermingle with people from different parts of the community. This is a clear departure from the recent past, we were confined to the bush and only saw the town from afar. That was how I lived for the past 7 years. We thank Almighty Allah and the authorities for this peace pact,” he said.
Suleiman Yes Power, another repentant bandit who was full of smiles, was delighted to have sold his cow at the Birnin Gwari cattle market, something he could not do in the previous years.
While displaying a wad of money, he prayed for the peace pact to be sustained so that the town would be full of economic activities, attracting people from far and near. He assured that on their part, they would continue to honour and respect the pact.
The Sarkin Zango Birnin Gwari, Hambali Muhammad, who was in charge of the cattle market, said the cattle market has not been operational for over 10 years due to banditry.
He commended the effort of the Federal and State authorities, the Emir of Birnin Gwari, the Local Government and other stakeholders who ensured that the peace pact saw the light of the day.
“Today, over 50 trucks loaded with livestock, left to different parts of this country. The market is back on track. All praises to Almighty Allah, ” he said.
At the grains market, 25-year-old Yusuf Ibrahim Jonga said one of the benefits of the peace pact was that they now have contact with the Fulani, unlike before.
” We now communicate with the Fulani, they tell us their grudges and we find ways to resolve issues. ”
” Now, the Birnin-Gwari- Lagos Road is accessible 24 hours, and vehicles are now plying the road comfortably, without any fear of attack by bandits, unlike before. Economic activity has picked up. Farmers have started clearing farmlands ahead of the next planting season. ”
” I lost 2 brothers during the crisis, and my relatives in the Randagi area were dislodged. But now we are grateful to Almighty Allah for this peace pact, ” he said.
Another farmer, Malam Mustapha said nothing could be more enjoyable than the freedom to move and interact
” We see them now, they see us too. The Fulani in the bush, and we, the Hausa, in the town. We are now together enjoying peace and harmony, ” he said.
“Now, we can go to where we couldn’t go before, during the crisis period. We buy and sell, Alhamdulillah, “he said.
“There are places in the forest where we could not plant crops. This year we are going to cultivate in these forests,” he said.
He called on the people to feel free and visit the Birnin-Gwari grains market, a market he said had in the past, attracted buyers from neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameron.
At the Buruku market, the situation was peaceful and calm, with buying and selling going on, under the careful watch of market and LG officials.
A local trader said over 100 trucks departed the market full of farm produce, to different parts of the country.
The Sabon Birni community near the Kaduna International Airport, which was a no-go area due to banditry weeks ago, was in a festive mood on Sunday as people from far and near trooped to the market.
The District Head of the community was full of praise for Governor Uba Sani and NSA Ribadu, calling on the government to rebuild infrastructures in the community, like schools and others, which were affected during the crisis period.
The coordinator of the peace trip and the Dan Masanin Birnin Gwari, Zubairu Idris AbdulRauf, was optimistic that ultimate peace would return in the entire state and beyond.
From Birnin Gwari, Buruku, Sabon Birni Daji, Kidandan and Giwa, bandits have keyed into the process and life returned to normal.
Idris AbdulRauf said once the Kaduna Peace Pact, as exemplified by the Governor Uba Sani administration, through the adoption and application of a kinetic approach, is emulated, such would lead to the continuation of peace and a new lease of life for the people.
Metro
Outrage As Police Officer Vows to Kill Southerners Over Edo Killings

Reactions have trailed the comment of a Kaduna State police officer, Hadaina Hussaini Dan-Taki over the killings in Uromi area of Edo State.
Dan-Taki has threatened reprisal attacks on southerners living in northern Nigeria.
His remarks followed the brutal killing of 16 northerners in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Dan-Taki made the inflammatory comments in a Facebook post on Tuesday, vowing that northerners would retaliate.
“I swear to Almighty God, we must do something for you guys. Have you forgotten all your brothers living here in the North? Mark my words, after one week, you shall see the result,” he reportedly wrote.
Following backlash, Dan-Taki changed his Facebook name and restricted access to his profile, limiting public visibility of his posts and comments.
Dan-Taki’s post was flagged by an X user identified as Uche, who shared a screenshot while tagging Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
Adejobi swiftly acknowledged the post, stating, “Noted for necessary action. Thanks.”
Meanwhile, law enforcement continues to investigate the attack in Uromi. Fourteen suspects linked to the killing of hunters from Kano State have been arrested and transferred to Abuja for further interrogation. Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo confirmed the arrests and assured Nigerians that justice would be served.
The victims were reportedly traveling to Kano for Sallah celebrations when they were ambushed by a mob. Their vehicle was stopped and ransacked before they were killed, sparking nationwide outrage and calls for swift justice.
Governor Okpebholo condemned the attack as “tragic and condemnable,” emphasizing that law enforcement agencies are taking decisive steps.
“The president is deeply concerned, and the suspects arrested so far are being transferred to Abuja for further interrogation,” he stated.
The killings have heightened tensions, prompting leaders across the country to call for calm and restraint. Officials from Kano and Edo States have been engaging in discussions to prevent further escalation.
The Chief of Defence Staff has also condemned the attack and vowed that justice will be served.
Authorities continue to investigate both the killings and Dan-Taki’s comments, with expectations that decisive action will be taken to prevent further unrest.
Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.
Metro
Police uncover ‘yahoo’ training school in Lagos, arrest suspects

The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a building in the Iju area of Lagos State, used for internet fraud training.
Popularly called “Yahoo School’, the command said four Yahoo experts who had been running the school were arrested alongside six trainees who were undergoing training in cybercrime and fraud during the operation.
Nine of the suspects were between ages 20 and 26, while the tenth, a trainee, is 12 years old.
Consequently, the command has directed owner of the facility to turn himself in for investigation.
Preliminary investigations according to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hudenyin, revealed that the principal suspects of the facility recruited their trainees from Anambra State and engaged them to commit internet fraud and other related crimes.
He said the proceeds from their fraudulent activities were confiscated by the principal suspects.
Hudenyin said: “All suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID Yaba, for further discreet investigation and prosecution.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the sponsors who financed the trainees’ enrollment in the school as well as the owner of the facility where these criminal and illegal activities took place. The owner of the facility is hereby warned in his own interest to turn himself in immediately, at the SCID Panti from wherever he is hiding.The Lagos State Police Command will ensure that all suspects are charged to court for prosecution upon the conclusion of the investigation into the case”
He noted that ” In line with due process of the law, the underage suspect among them, Minachi Ugochukwu, 12 years old, with healing marks of injuries on his body allegedly inflicted on him by the main principal suspect to compel him into the commission of the criminal acts, is being given medical attention and kept in protective custody till his relatives are identified and reunited with him”
He therefore advised parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards , with a view to preventing them from being ” exploited, lured, or compelled into criminal activities”.
Furthermore, Hudenyin called on members of the public who had fallen victim to the fraudulent activities of the syndicate to visit the SCID, Yaba, with their complaints.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, also commends the police personnel involved in this operation for their dedication and professionalism that resulted in this success.
“CP Jimoh assures all Lagosians that the Command remains resolute and committed to combating all forms of crimes and criminalities, including cybercrime tagged “yahoo”.He urges residents to report every suspicious activity or incident to the Police in their localities for prompt police action.
Metro
Mortuary Attendants Arrested Over Dead Man’s Missing Genitals

There was pandemonium resulting from a sad discovery by relations of a deceased young man in Abia state, that his testicles were missing in a mortuary his remains were kept.
The situation led to the destruction of the mortuary and near lynching of it’s workers in Umuezibe, Obingwa area, along the Aba/Ikot Ekpene highway, where it is located.
The deceased, whose name was simple given as Chimaobi, in his twenties, was allegedly electrocuted while fiddling with high tension electricity cables in Abayi Okorator, in the same area with his corpse kept in the mortuary, pending burial.
However, things got awry, when youths from his (the deceased) community went to retrieve his corpse only to discover that his genitals were missing from the body they were being shown by the attendants who thereafter, tried to escape but got apprehended.
The situation got so tensed that relations of dead person’s whose bodies were deposited in the mortuary quickly came to remove them either for immediate burial or to other locations, as the youths insisted on destroying the facility.
Eyewitness account told our correspondent that a quick intervention of the police in Eastern Ngwa, saved the mortuary attendants who were said to have been taken into custody.
A senior police source in the area, said the situation was under control, though he didn’t speak further on the issue.
-
News18 hours ago
Natasha: Kogi PDP hammers Ododo, reiterates unfeigned support for her
-
Economy18 hours ago
SEE Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 3rd April 2025
-
News13 hours ago
Just in: “Ignore rumour mongers, there was no time I collapsed “-Wike asserts
-
News13 hours ago
CJ transfers Natasha’s case to Justice Nyako
-
News17 hours ago
Just in: INEC dumps recall petition against Sen Natasha
-
News21 hours ago
Just in: Finally, Trump imposes 14% tarriff on Nigeria oil, others
-
News10 hours ago
We’re putting together new 2025 Budget for Rivers-Ibas
-
News18 hours ago
US cancels ex- president ,Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias visa