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PHOTOS: Bandit leaders ‘surrender’ to troops in Katsina, ‘free’ hostages

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Several notorious bandit leaders terrorising Batsari, Safana, and Jibia LGAs of Katsina, have reportedly surrendered to the troops of the Nigerian Army.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, identified those who surrendered as Abu Radda, Umar Black, Abdullahi Lankai, Jijjige, and Dabar Musa Dan Gandu, who have all operated from the Jibia axis.

The publication quoted security sources as saying the bandits embraced the peace deal and surrendered following sustained military operations in the region.

Makama said the repentant bandits handed over their weapons to the troops and released several hostages they had abducted.

According to the publication, the former bandits appealed to the government to provide them with alternative means of livelihood, requesting engagement in the construction of markets and hospitals.

They vowed to embrace peace and end their involvement in criminal activities, it added.

 

Their surrender was reportedly facilitated by the National Community for Security and Societal Advancement in Katsina (NCSOSACK), led by Hamisa Batsari.

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On Monday, the defence headquarters (DHQ) said 800 former Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to the military are currently undergoing deradicalisation for onward reintegration into society.

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Mother, son escape death as Lexus SUV somersaults in Lagos road crash

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A mother and her son narrowly escaped death early Wednesday morning after a Lexus sport utility vehicle they were traveling in overturned multiple times at the NYSC Bus Stop along the LASU–Isheri Expressway, in Lagos.

According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), preliminary findings indicate that the Lexus with registration number KJA 39 JT, travelling from Isheri towards Igando, lost stability and somersaulted three times before coming to rest amid heavy peak-hour traffic on the busy corridor.

LASTMA operatives stationed in the area swiftly mobilised to the scene and carried out a coordinated rescue operation. The occupants—a woman and her son—were safely extricated from the badly damaged vehicle with minor bruises and signs of mild shock, averting what could have been a fatal incident.

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Igando Division, provided security support, effectively controlling the crowd and securing the scene throughout the rescue and evacuation process.

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Family members later arrived and transported the victims to a medical facility for further evaluation and treatment.

To prevent secondary crashes and ease congestion along the heavily trafficked route serving the Lagos State University axis, LASTMA coordinated the prompt removal of the wrecked vehicle, assisted by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

The vehicle was subsequently handed over to the police for investigation and necessary administrative procedures.

Commenting on the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed relief that no life was lost.

He wished the victims a speedy recovery and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to rapid emergency response, effective traffic control, and sustained road safety enforcement.

Bakare-Oki also urged motorists to strictly adhere to speed limits and to conduct routine vehicle checks, particularly of critical components such as the braking system, before embarking on any journey.

He warned that excessive speed, when combined with mechanical faults, remains a major cause of severe road accidents on expressways.

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Man electrocuted while vandalising electricity transformer in Anambra

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A yet-to-be-identified cable thief has met his Waterloo after he was electrocuted while vandalising electricity equipment belonging to FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited at Ogechukwu Street, Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The cable thief was reportedly operating at a transformer substation in the area and had finished cutting the cable when a heavy explosion occurred, electrocuting him.

According to reports, the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, when the lifeless body was discovered on the floor of the substation, while personnel of the electricity distribution company assessed the situation.

A press statement issued by the Head of Communications of FirstPower, Izunna Okafor, confirmed the incident and appealed to residents and community leaders to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities around electricity installations to FirstPower.

He said the Anambra State Police Command had been contacted, evacuated the body, and commenced further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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The statement read in part, “FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited confirms an unfortunate incident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Ogechukwu Street, Awka, involving the electrocution of a suspected vandal.

“Preliminary reports indicate that a heavy explosion occurred at a transformer substation within the area. Upon further assessment, it was discovered that the explosion resulted from unlawful tampering with FirstPower’s electricity network infrastructure by a suspected vandal dressed in security uniform.

“The yet-to-be-identified individual was immediately electrocuted in the process.

“The operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have been contacted, evacuated the corpse from the scene, and commenced further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

In his reaction, the Managing Director of FirstPower, Okechukwu Okafor, condemned acts of vandalism and energy theft, which continue to undermine efforts to provide stable and reliable electricity in Anambra State.

*”Beyond the significant financial losses and service disruptions caused by such criminal activities, they also endanger the lives of perpetrators and innocent members of the public.

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“FPEDL also appeals to residents and community leaders to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities around electricity installations via 08161652465 (WhatsApp or SMS), or to the nearest security agency.

“Protecting power infrastructure is a collective responsibility, and community cooperation remains vital in safeguarding assets meant to serve the public good.

“FirstPower remains committed to delivering safe, efficient, and improved electricity services to our customers. We will continue to work closely with security agencies and stakeholders to curb vandalism and ensure adequate protection of our network facilities,” Okafor added.

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US-based Nigerian fashion designer shot dead by drunk man in New York nightclub

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One Sheriff Shittu, a 30-year-old Nigerian fashion designer based in the United States, has been shot dead following an altercation with a drunk patron at a nightclub in Brooklyn, New York.

Shittu was fatally shot during a birthday celebration at the Quilox Restaurant and Lounge in the East Flatbush area in the early hours of February 14, according to local media reports.

Authorities said the incident occurred at about 4:25 a.m. when a suspected gunman, who was being escorted out of the club by security personnel, allegedly opened fire.

Accounts of the incident indicated that the shooting followed a confrontation involving the intoxicated patron, who was said to have caused a disturbance inside the lounge.

According to reports, the suspect had been behaving disorderly and allegedly inappropriately touched some female guests, including Shittu’s girlfriend, leading to a heated exchange.

Shittu had attended the event alongside his younger brother, Fawaz Shittu, to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

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Speaking with local media, Fawaz recounted the moment his brother was shot.

“I was screaming his name. I was trying to wake him up,” he said.

He explained that the disagreement began after the patron engaged in unruly behaviour inside the club, before the situation escalated.

News 12 Brooklyn reported on Friday that members of Shittu’s family have called for justice, raising concerns about security procedures at the venue.

“We don’t know how the security did not do the job and search properly before somebody could bring a gun into the club,” Salem Shittu, the deceased’s brother, was quoted as saying.

“He was being kicked out, and he was being escorted out when he did it,” he added.

Police authorities said the suspect fled the scene after the shooting and remains at large.

Shittu was reportedly taken to One Brooklyn Health–Brookdale University Hospital Medical Centre, where he was later pronounced dead.

Family members described him as an aspiring fashion designer who was working to establish himself in the United States before the tragic incident.

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Investigations into the shooting are ongoing, while authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspect.

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