At least two newly deployed Mobile Police officers attached to Ayilamo community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State have been killed after they were ambushed by armed invaders.

Our correspondent reports that the incident occurred at about 6pm on Monday while the officers were on their way to escort the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ayilamo, who was returning to the community from Makurdi.

The incident brings to six the total number of policemen killed in Ayilamo within three days, following Friday’s attack, which claimed the lives of four Mobile Police officers and seven civilians in the community.

Although the identities of the slain officers were not immediately disclosed as of the time of filing this report, the deceased personnel were reportedly attacked along the route while making their way to meet the DPO, who was returning to Ayilamo after his trip to Makurdi.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Peter Aondongu, confirmed the incident to journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday by telephone.

Aondongu said the DPO’s entourage was ambushed on its way back from Makurdi to Ayilamo, confirming that the incident involved an attack on police personnel.

The PPRO admitted that the incident claimed the lives of two policemen.

Residents of the area also told newsmen that the attackers were suspected to be armed invaders operating from forests and deserted villages within Tombo Council Ward of Logo LGA.

The residents also expressed concern over the alleged movement of armed men through forests and abandoned settlements in the area, calling for sustained security operations to prevent further attacks. (Daily Trust)

President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has attributed the high price of petrol in Nigeria partly to the continued smuggling of the commodity to neighbouring countries where it sells for significantly more.

Dangote said petrol prices in neighbouring countries were between 30 and 50 per cent higher than in Nigeria, arguing that the price difference creates a strong financial incentive for traders to move petrol out of the country.

He stated this in an interview aired on Arise TV on Tuesday while speaking about petrol prices and the availability of the product amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

Explaining why Nigerians may perceive petrol as expensive despite the country producing the commodity domestically, Dangote said the price could not be considered in isolation from the prices in neighbouring countries.

“You know, expensive is relative. In the sense that today, maybe, you know, a lot of them, there’s ignorance also. What they need to do is ask, what is the neighbour’s price?”

He said the continued movement of Nigerian petrol across the borders was partly driven by the significant difference between domestic prices and those obtainable in neighbouring countries.

“I don’t know if you know that there’s still a lot of smuggling of the same petrol we are producing to our neighbouring countries.”

The price gap means that petrol bought in Nigeria can potentially be resold across the border at a substantial premium.

Dangote said this creates an incentive for smugglers to divert petrol meant for the Nigerian market rather than sell it domestically.

“Because those neighbouring countries are about 30 to 50 per cent more expensive than Nigeria. So, it’s not actually like for like.”

Dangote specifically cited Niger, where he said petrol was selling at a premium of between 20 and 25 per cent compared with Nigeria.

He used the example to illustrate why the border trade could be financially attractive, particularly when the price difference is large enough to provide an immediate return on the commodity.

“And people can now go and ask, okay, fine, what is the price of, even now at N1,350? Okay, the price in Niger is 20 to 25 per cent more than Nigeria,” he said.

He questioned what other legitimate business could provide such an immediate return.

“So, what business are you going to do that will make you have an instant 25 per cent return?” he asked.

Dangote further explained how petrol intended for domestic distribution could allegedly be diverted towards the border for sale to buyers in neighbouring countries.

“So, it means that, yes, you take the [petrol], you go and take it across the border. You pretend you are taking it to Sokoto, you go and just take it to Ilela, and you sell.

“Actually, they don’t have.”

The implication, according to Dangote, is that a product that should remain available to Nigerian consumers can be moved out of the country because of the higher prices obtainable across the border.

Beyond the issue of price, however, Dangote said the current crisis in the Middle East could pose a different challenge to the Nigerian downstream market.

He warned that the major concern could shift from how much petrol costs to whether sufficient volumes would be available to consumers.

“And the problem now, going forward, I must also warn that this crisis in the Middle East is not even about price; it’s about availability,” Dangote said.

The comment comes against the backdrop of concerns over how developments in the Middle East could affect global energy markets, including the availability and cost of petroleum products.

Asked whether Nigerians should be worried about petrol supplies, Dangote said the Dangote refinery was prepared to continue meeting domestic demand.

“We will deliver to Nigeria. Nigerians don’t need to worry. There will not be any shortage from our own part.

“There won’t be any shortage. There will not be any queues. We will make sure that we keep satisfying the market, despite all odds,” Dangote added.

The remarks came as investors flooded the Nigerian Exchange on Monday following the opening of the initial public offering of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.

The N2.15tn IPO was formally opened during the opening gong ceremony at the NGX trading floor in Marina, Lagos, with Dangote sounding the gong to mark the commencement of the offer.

The refinery became the first petroleum refinery to be offered to investors on the Nigerian stock market in the Exchange’s 66-year history.

The IPO comprises 4.1 billion ordinary shares offered at N525 per share, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares valued at N5,250.

The offer is open to retail, institutional and eligible African investors and is scheduled to close on October 13, 2026.

The Nigerian Army has warned that terrorist groups, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), may be planning coordinated attacks on churches, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable public places across Nigeria.

The warning was contained in a communication dated September 9, 2026, signed by AM Sodiq and addressed to the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan. SaharaReporters obtained the document.

According to the Army, intelligence indicates “increasing mobilisation of resources and foot-soldiers” by terrorist groups for possible attacks in parts of the North-East, North-West, North-Central and some areas of the South-West.

It warned that the attacks could happen “any moment from now” and identified Catholic and Protestant churches, primary and secondary schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations as possible targets.

The Army also said it had received information about the movement of scores of armed fighters from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.

The military further disclosed that suspected ISWAP members had started monitoring some of the identified targets, allegedly with the help of local collaborators.

“Further intelligence revealed that suspected members of Islamic States West African Province (ISWAP) have commenced surveillance and reconnaissance activities against identified targets with support from their local collaborators,” the document stated.

The Army expressed particular concern about schools ahead of the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session.

It said the terrorists could be planning to exploit the return of large numbers of students and teachers to cause mass casualties and create fear.

“Of particular concern is the targeting of educational institutions, with the anticipated period of the attack assessed to coincide with the resumption of schools for the 2026/2027 academic session,” the document stated.

It added that the timing was “intended to exploit concentration of students and staff to cause mass casualties and heighten public fear and insecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.”

The Army said the intelligence suggested that the groups may have moved beyond planning and could already be preparing for the attacks.

“This development suggests possible progression from intent to preparatory activity and therefore warrants heightened vigilance around identified locations and similarly exposed facilities,” it said.

The military consequently called for increased surveillance and stronger security measures around the identified targets and other public places considered vulnerable.