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Tag: Katsina

  • NAF neutralises over 20 as airstrikes hit terrorists’ camps in Katsina

    NAF neutralises over 20 as airstrikes hit terrorists’ camps in Katsina

    Fighter aircraft of the Nigerian Airforce have neutralized several terrorists hibernating in camps along Funtua – Gusau Road in Katsina State responsible for several Ambushes and kidnapping of innocent Nigerians for ransom

    Group Captain Kabiru Ali, Deputy Director, NAF Public Relations and Information, made this known on Saturday.

    He said, “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has delivered a devastating blow to banditry in Katsina State, as the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma executed a precision airstrike in the early hours of 13 March 2025.

    “The strikes decimated notorious bandit hideouts in Unguwar Goga Hill forest, Ruwan Godiya Ward, Faskari Local Government Area.

    “The airstrikes, which preceded careful and actionable intelligence advancing purposeful lethality, destroyed the fortified camps of notorious bandit kingpins Gero (Alhaji) and Alhaji Riga.

    “The strikes neutralised over 20 criminals, with additional casualties reported in the surrounding rocky hills.

    “The airstrike had a decisive impact on the criminals; an assessment of the full extent of the damage is ongoing.

    The Air Force said, “Riga and Gero were key enablers of banditry, sheltering terrorist elements responsible for relentless ambushes along the Funtua-Gusau Road, particularly between the Yankara and Sheme villages.

    “Their elimination marks a major breakthrough in the ongoing military campaign to restore peace in the North-West.

    “The NAF, in coordination with ground forces, remains relentless in its mission to eradicate all threats and dismantle bandit strongholds.”

  • Katsina Police Arrest SIM Swap Fraud Syndicate and Child Murder Suspects

    Katsina Police Arrest SIM Swap Fraud Syndicate and Child Murder Suspects

    The Katsina State Police Command has apprehended four individuals suspected of engaging in illegal SIM card swapping and bank fraud. The arrests, announced on Thursday, followed a targeted operation based on credible intelligence.

    According to Abubakar Aliyu, the police spokesperson, the suspects used sophisticated techniques to fraudulently access victims’ bank accounts after illegally swapping their SIM cards.

    “The suspected notorious fraudsters who specialized in swapping SIM cards of unsuspecting members of the public to fraudulently use sophisticated tactics to withdraw money from their victim’s bank accounts,” Aliyu said during a press briefing.

    The police recovered 32 SIM cards from the suspects and revealed their identities:

    • Muhammad Murtala, alias Bomboy, age 20, of Rahamawa quarters.
    • Muhammad Umar, alias Dogon Baba, age 33, of Sabuwar Unguwa quarters.
    • Muhammad Quraish, age 29, of Sabuwar Kasuwa quarters.
    • Emmanuel Ogunwoye, alias OG, age 25, a bank staff member.

    The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation.

    “The command, acting on credible intelligence, launched an operation to track down the syndicate. After a thorough investigation, four suspects were arrested and confessed to the commission of the offense,” Aliyu added.

    Arrests in 12-Year-Old’s Abduction and Murder

    In a separate case, the Katsina police also arrested two individuals for the abduction and murder of Salihu Sadi, a 12-year-old boy in Kaita Local Government Area.

    Aliyu disclosed that the suspects, identified as Muttaka Garba and Yusuf Usman, kidnapped the boy while he was running an errand for his mother.

    The suspects demanded a ransom of ₦25 million from the victim’s parents but tragically killed the boy during negotiations.

    “These suspects callously took the life of an innocent child after making financial demands from his family,” Aliyu said.

  • Five Katsina Revenue Officials in EFCC Net Over Alleged N1.29 Billion Fraud

    Five Katsina Revenue Officials in EFCC Net Over Alleged N1.29 Billion Fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained five officials of the Katsina State Internal Revenue Service over allegations of diverting N1.29 billion in state funds.

    In a statement on Monday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale revealed that the suspects colluded to misappropriate funds meant for the Katsina State Government. The detained officials are Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Nura Lawal Sauri.

    “They were arrested following a petition from the Katsina state government alleging that the suspects colluded and diverted the sum of N1,294,337,676.53 accruing to the state from the World Health Organization (WHO), Medicins Sans Frontiers, and the **Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA),” the statement read.

    The EFCC’s preliminary investigation revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former director of collections and now permanent secretary of the revenue board, authorized the opening of a bank account at Sterling Bank under the name “BOIRS.” He allegedly designated Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Director of Revenue Account, and Ibrahim Kofar Soro as sole signatories to the account.

    “Subsequently, the account became the primary channel through which all the funds were allegedly funneled to the main beneficiary, Nadikko General Suppliers, a company owned and controlled by Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, an assistant director of career skills/staff welfare of the board,” the EFCC said.

    The commission further revealed that Nura Lawal and his company, Nadikko General Suppliers, were used as conduits to launder the stolen funds. The misappropriated funds were traced to various bank accounts belonging to the suspects.

    The EFCC confirmed that the suspects are being held at its Kano Zonal Command and will face legal charges upon the conclusion of investigations.