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Dynamite explosion in Niger leaves one dead, six injured

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The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that a deadly explosion in the Sabon Pegi area of the Mashegu Local Government Area on Sunday was caused by dynamite stored in a residential building.

According to a statement from the police spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the explosion claimed the life of one Fatima Sadauki, while six others were injured and taken to the General Hospital Kainji, New Bussa, for treatment.

“The explosion of dynamites occurred in densely populated residential buildings in Sabon Pegi, Mashegu Local Government Area, on Sunday,” Abiodun said. “The suspected dynamites were stored in a residential house by one Yushau for a purported mining activity.”

Abiodun also disclosed that the blast affected around 12 houses in the vicinity, causing extensive damage to properties.

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In light of the tragedy, the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, CP Shawulu Danmamman, has ordered an investigation into the circumstances leading to the explosion.

This incident follows closely on the heels of a fuel tanker explosion along the Dikko-Maje-Minna road, further heightening concerns over public safety in the state.

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JAMB Candidates Feared Dead In Oyo-Ogbomosho Accident

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A tragic accident on the Oyo-Ogbomoso road in Oyo State has claimed the lives of several students who were on their way to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.

In a video clip seen by SaharaReporters, the incident occurred on the morning of Saturday. It involved a commercial vehicle conveying the students to a JAMB centre in Ogbomoso.

Eyewitnesses at the scene said the crash happened when the vehicle had a brake failure.

“Fatal accident claimed the life of the students that were going to write JAMB in OGBOMOSO on OYO road, Oyo State,” the video was captioned.

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The Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, Adewale Osifeso has not responded to calls and messages confirming the report.

SaharaReporters reported that JAMB said it arrested 27 impersonators in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB had noted the 27 impersonators apprehended had been handed over to the Nigerian police for immediate prosecution.

The board also announced that it delisted four Computer-Based Test, CBT centres that had failed to meet the stringent technical standards required for the UTME.

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JAMB named the delisted centres as Adventure Associate, Behind Sheshe Supermarket, Off Hadejia Road, Kano, Kano State; Saadatu Rimi College of Education, Zaria Road, Naibawa, Kano, Kano State; Penta M & F Technical Services Ltd, Centre 2, 96km Sokoto-Jega Road, Tambuwal and Penta M & F Technical Services Ltd, Centre 1, 96km Sokoto-Jega Road, Tambuwal.

“While JAMB commends the 883 centres that have demonstrated exceptional performance, it unequivocally warns that any centre which failed the ethical or technical standards , regardless of ownership, will be blacklisted,” JAMB said in a statement on Friday by its spokesman, Fabian Benjamin.

“Candidates who were previously scheduled to take their exams at the delisted centres are urged to urgently reprint their examination notification slips to access their new centres and rescheduled dates. We regret any inconvenience this may cause, but we will not tolerate excuses by candidates who fail to reprint their slip to get their new schedules,” it said.

The board revealed that “As of Friday, 25th April, 2025, over 900,000 candidates have successfully completed the UTME out of the 2,083,600 registered for the 2025 examination.”

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Troops nab wanted bandit, recover weapons in Taraba

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Troops of the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have arrested a notorious bandit identified as Yusuf Hammadu, popularly known as “Dogo,” in the Lainde Jessy area of Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Hammadu, who had been on the watchlist of security agencies for his alleged involvement in multiple kidnappings and other criminal activities, was apprehended following an intelligence-led operation on April 19.

The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, Capt. Olubodunde Oni, disclosed this in a statement issued in Jalingo on Friday.

According to the Army, the suspect confessed during preliminary interrogation to being a member of a criminal syndicate responsible for several abductions and ransom negotiations across Jalingo, Ardo-Kola, Lau, and Yorro LGAs.

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The Army also arrested one Richard Ongu, who was allegedly impersonating a serving Major in the Nigerian Army.

Ongu, who was apprehended on April 22, allegedly claimed to have been posted to 20 Model Battalion, Gashaka, but later admitted to being a dismissed Flight Sergeant of the Nigerian Air Force.

Ongu was said to have defrauded several individuals by falsely posing as a military officer.

The Army noted that Ongu would be handed over to the relevant authorities upon the conclusion of investigations for prosecution.

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Meanwhile, in a separate operation on April 16, troops acting on a distress call raided a suspected bandit camp in Dutsen Kachalla, Lau LGA.

According to the Army, though the suspects fled into surrounding hills, the soldiers recovered an AK-47 rifle butt, a magazine, a military headgear, and a National Identity Card belonging to one Adamu Umaru Jauro.

The Army said on April 24, a joint operation involving Army troops and operatives from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Jatau-Nyimu village, Donga LGA, also led to the recovery of 86 rounds of 5.6mm ammunition, a Tarvor mag

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Two killed, 20 farms destroyed in fresh Plateau attack

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Two people have been killed and two others injured in a fresh attack in the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday morning, was reportedly carried out by Fulani militias who ambushed three Irigwe youths.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Youths Movement, Joseph Yonkpa, who confirmed the killings, identified the victims who lost their lives as Adamu Bala, 38, and Gado Trra, 45.

Yonkpa said one of the victims survived the attack with bullet injuries and is currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

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He said a military personnel was also injured during the ambush, adding that the attack resulted in the destruction of over 20 farms.

Yonkpa said, “This morning, three of our people were ambushed by Fulani militias. Two died instantly, and one survived with bullet injuries and is currently hospitalised in an undisclosed location.

“Those killed are Adamu Bala, 38 years, and Gado Trra, 45 years. Additionally, a military personnel sustained bullet injuries during the ambush. Over 20 farms were destroyed.”

The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached for comment on the incident as calls put across to his mobile phone rang out.

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Meanwhile, over 300 cattle were reportedly rustled on Tuesday evening around Jouckchal community in Panyam district of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Mangu, Musa Muhammad, told journalists in Jos that the incident occurred around 4:30 pm when the cattle were grazing in the area.

The secretary said the rustlers stormed the area in large numbers, shooting sporadically as the herders fled for their lives.

“The cattle, over 300, belonging to three persons, including Jeji Boro with 130, Shagari Manu with 70, and Tambaya Jouckchal with 103, were taken by the attackers,” Muhammad said.

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According to the secretary, they informed the Commander of Sector 8 of Operation Safe Haven, the DPO, OC DSS, and the Chairman of Mangu LGA about the incident.

He added that the Sector 8 Commander had deployed troops on Tuesday night to trail the perpetrators, saying that “only 5 out of the 300 cattle were tracked by the security so far.”

Muhammad accused Mwaghavul youths of rustling the cattle and called on security agencies to recover the stolen cattle and address the ongoing attacks, stressing their commitment to peaceful coexistence.

The spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom, had yet to respond to the development as of press time.

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But the National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, in a reaction, denied the allegation made by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association that the Mwaghavul people rustled 300 of their cows.

Dabit described cattle rustling as a criminal activity that should be investigated by security agencies, rather than being attributed to a particular tribe.

“Cattle rustling is not a tribal activity, but rather a criminal act that requires investigation and prosecution,” he said, expressing concern that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association’s allegations on social media are “overheating the system” and stereotyping the Mwaghavul people as thieves.

He urged the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to report any incidents of cattle rustling to security agencies for investigation, rather than taking to social media.

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Dabit questioned the plausibility of the allegations, asking where the Mwaghavul people would keep 300 cows if they had indeed rustled them.

“I have always told them that cattle rustling is not a tribal activity. It is an activity of criminals. I don’t know about what they are saying, but assuming without conceding that, I’m not thinking of 300, but even if it is one cow that is missing, it is big enough for security agencies to investigate. When something like that happens, they should stop talking about it on social media.

They should report to the security agencies to investigate because this social media activity that they are doing is not helping matters. It is making our people very angry because they feel they have been stereotyped as thieves.

It is the work of the security agents to unravel any criminal activity and it is equally wrong and criminal to stereotype another group and say that the whole Mwaghavul people are stealing their cows.

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We live in a very small place. Where can we keep 300 cows? I think this kind of discussion coming from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association is overheating the system and they should do away with it.”

Meanwhile, the secretary disclosed that the death toll from the alleged cattle poisoning around the INEC office on Tuesday morning in the same Mangu LGA had risen to 36, with an additional ten cattle dying between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

The secretary lamented the losses, recalling that on April 9, 60 cattle were rustled in Murish community in the same LGA, and the herder tending to them remains missing.

MACBAN, however, called on security agencies to recover the stolen cattle and address the ongoing attacks, stressing their commitment to peaceful coexistence.

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