…Youths protest at Och’Idoma’s palace, block roads with corpses, demand action

No fewer than 27 persons have been killed in separate attacks on communities in Benue and Plateau states, following fresh assaults by suspected armed groups that have left residents mourning and demanding urgent government intervention.

In Benue State, at least 18 persons were killed in separate attacks on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, while nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, were killed in an attack on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

In Benue South, suspected armed herdsmen reportedly launched attacks on Akpachi village in Ugboju community and Otukpo-Nobi community over the weekend.

The first attack occurred on Friday when the assailants invaded Akpachi village, killing two farmers on their farmland. Their bodies were recovered on Saturday and buried.

Barely 24 hours later, at about 4am on Sunday, the attackers struck Otukpo-Nobi community, killing at least 16 persons and injuring several others.

The renewed violence came about two weeks after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his companion, Yakubu Isah, who were ambushed and killed at Okutu community in Otukpo while returning from a peace meeting in Idekpa, Ohimini Local Government Area.

The latest killings triggered outrage in Otukpo as angry youths stormed the palace of the Och’Idoma with the bodies of victims, disrupting an ongoing church service and demanding decisive action from the authorities.

The protesters, chanting war songs, accused government and security agencies of failing to protect their communities, insisting that the recurring attacks must stop.

The protest caused tension in the town as youths blocked major roads, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

A resident, Ebi Adoyi, who joined the protest, said the attacks had thrown affected communities into mourning, adding that more casualties could be recorded as searches for missing persons continue.

“After killing two people in Akpachi on Friday, they attacked Otukpo-Nobi, killing 16 persons, including women and children. My neighbour lost her elder sister and her children in that attack,” he said.

Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attacks, linking them to possible reprisals following the killing of the MACBAN chairman.

He said the first attack occurred when three villagers went to their farms in Akpachi.

“The attackers came and killed two of them. One escaped and alerted the community. We recovered the corpses on Saturday and buried them. We had combed the bushes believing the attackers had fled, but early Sunday morning, around 4am, we received reports that they had besieged Otukpo-Nobi, killing several people and injuring many others,” Ogiri said.

He added that efforts were ongoing to relocate survivors to safer locations, provide medical assistance and strengthen security in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the Benue attacks, describing them as barbaric and an assault on the lives and peace of the people.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor directed security agencies to intensify surveillance, collaborate with neighbouring states, track down the attackers and ensure they are prosecuted.

In Plateau State, the attack on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area occurred late Saturday night.

Residents said the gunmen stormed the communities at about 11:30pm and operated for over an hour, shooting indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes.

A resident, Precious Tok, said the attackers invaded a home and killed nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby.

The village head was also reportedly attacked and sustained critical injuries.

National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers struck under the cover of darkness and unleashed violence on helpless residents.

He said security agencies had been alerted and expressed hope that those responsible would be arrested and brought to justice.

The latest attack has heightened fears among residents, who called on the Federal and Plateau State Governments to strengthen security measures in Riyom and other vulnerable communities.

Security personnel have reportedly been deployed to the affected areas, while many residents remain displaced and apprehensive over possible further attacks.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. (Vanguard)

…His body dragged through roadway in victory parade

Hybrid security forces supporting counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations in Nigeria’s North-West have reportedly killed Kachalla Sani Yellow, a notorious bandit commander accused of masterminding deadly attacks, kidnappings, cattle rustling and widespread sexual violence across Zamfara State, before dragging his body through a roadway in a victory procession.

PRNigeria obtained a video purportedly showing members of the hybrid force tying Sani Yellow’s lifeless body to a motorcycle and dragging it along a road as a convoy of armed volunteers celebrated what they described as the elimination of one of the region’s most feared criminal leaders.

The operation followed a carefully coordinated intelligence-led ambush, resulting in the death of the feared gang leader.

Highly placed security and community sources told PRNigeria that the hybrid forces—comprising local volunteers and reformed former insurgents from the North-East (Repented Boko Haram), working alongside security agencies in some operational areas—have become increasingly effective at tracking criminal movements through intelligence provided by local communities.

Their operations have focused on ambushing armed bandit convoys, disrupting logistics networks and targeting high-value commanders responsible for attacks on vulnerable communities.

According to the sources, Sani Yellow was intercepted while visiting a local market, where he had allegedly gone to collect proceeds from rustled livestock and negotiate ransom payments from kidnapped victims.

“He was positively identified through local intelligence. Once his identity was confirmed, the hybrid forces moved swiftly and neutralised him before he could escape,” one source disclosed.

Security sources described Sani Yellow as one of the most influential bandit commanders operating within the forests spanning Anka, Bukkuyum, Maru and neighbouring local government areas of Zamfara State.

He was allegedly responsible for coordinating repeated attacks on rural communities, organising large-scale kidnappings for ransom, rustling livestock and leading violent raids that displaced thousands of residents across the North-West.

Community sources further alleged that Sani Yellow routinely subjected kidnapped victims to severe abuse and reportedly ordered members of his gang to sexually assault female captives whose families were unable to raise ransom payments.

Sani Yellow was reported to be related to the late Kachalla Yellow Danbokolo, another notorious North-West bandit commander who was reportedly killed in 2025 alongside more than 170 of his fighters during a major operation conducted by the Shinkafi Yan Sakai Volunteer Forces.

Security analysts believe the latest development represents another significant setback for criminal networks operating across Zamfara, Katsina and parts of Sokoto States.

A senior defence intelligence source, who spoke to PRNigeria on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that security agencies were monitoring developments following Sani Yellow’s reported killing.

According to the source, troops have heightened surveillance across affected communities to prevent possible retaliatory attacks by members of the deceased commander’s gang.

“The security architecture is already on alert. Necessary deployments have been made to protect vulnerable communities and respond promptly to any attempted reprisal,” the source said.

Security experts believe the reported elimination of Sani Yellow could weaken bandit operations in parts of Zamfara if sustained intelligence-driven operations continue against remaining criminal leaders.

However, they caution that such operations often trigger reprisals by surviving gang members, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance across the region.

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dismissed Works Minister Dave Umahi’s invitation to a public debate, saying the minister must first become a presidential candidate before challenging him.

Obi made the remark during an interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo while responding to questions about Umahi’s call for a debate following his criticism of the condition of some federal roads.

The former Anambra State governor argued that the issue had already been resolved, noting that his criticism of a deteriorating road had prompted the government to begin repairs.

“First of all, I already started the debate by standing on that road and saying the road was bad. The only reply should have been that the road was good. But I thank him because he is now repairing the road, so the debate is closed. There is nothing else to debate.”

Obi maintained that if Umahi intended to challenge him in his capacity as a presidential candidate, the minister would first have to qualify for that position.

“If he is inviting me to a debate as a presidential candidate, then he has to become a presidential candidate first.”

Explaining his position, Obi likened the situation to a football team that failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup attempting to challenge one that had already earned its place in the tournament.

“The World Cup is going on now. You cannot stay outside and invite a team that qualified for the World Cup to come and play against you simply because you think you are good. No. There is a qualification process.”

He added that presidential debates are traditionally reserved for candidates seeking the nation’s highest office, insisting that such engagements should be between presidential contenders rather than ministers or other public office holders.

“I am a presidential candidate. Around the world, not all presidential candidates participate in debates. It is usually the leading candidates. It is like someone in Division One asking a Premier League team to play a match. No. You compete within your own level. When he becomes a presidential candidate, then he can debate with those who are in that category,” he added.

Umahi had earlier dismissed Obi’s criticism of the Tinubu administration and challenged him to a debate on the Federal Government’s performance, insisting that President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructure projects and appointments had transformed the South-East.