Nigerian Army troops have repelled an attack by armed bandits and recovered weapons and other items during a clearance operation in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the operation, codenamed Operation Lafiyan Nakowa, was conducted on Tuesday morning following credible intelligence on the hideouts of the criminals around Badekoshi, Fajul, Kurmi, and Dampar villages.

The troops made contact with the bandits at Badekoshi, forcing them to retreat towards Fajul. They were pursued into the nearby forest, where the soldiers overpowered them with superior firepower.

During the exploitation, the troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, a round of 7.62mm special ammunition, five blank cartridges, two fragmental jackets, two camouflage uniforms, and one Jincheng motorcycle suspected to have been stolen during a previous attack in Tapga.

The troops have since returned safely to their base in Dampar.

The general security situation within the area of operation was said to be calm but unpredictable, while troop morale and fighting efficiency remain high.

A 20-year-old herder, identified as Manu Mamuda, has been declared missing after suspected gunmen attacked a grazing field in Labau village, Wuroyanka District of Shelleng Local Government Area in Adamawa.

Community sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when the victim went out to graze his family’s cattle and failed to return home.

Family members and local hunters later organised a search party, which led to the discovery of Mamuda’s blood-stained cap and shoes at the grazing area.

Residents said the attackers also killed about 33 cattle, injured six others, and rustled 18 during the attack.

Items recovered from the scene included two arrows, an empty cartridge shell, and an empty shell of AK-47 ammunition.

As of the time of filing this report, the missing herder had yet to be found, while efforts were ongoing by local vigilantes and hunters to trace the perpetrators and recover the missing cattle.

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Republican Mayor of Blanco, Texas, Mike Arnold, has criticised Nigeria for condemning U.S. comments on terrorism while continuing to seek financial aid from Washington.

Speaking on Arise Television on Monday, Arnold said it was hypocritical for Nigeria to reject America’s stance on its internal security issues yet expect the U.S. to provide financial support.

“I don’t understand why a nation as rich in minerals as Nigeria has to beg for help to save its own people,” Arnold said.
“Nigeria has abundant resources to provide stability for its citizens. People are displaced, their homes are destroyed without warning — it’s horrific. You don’t want America to speak on terrorism, but you want America’s money. That makes no sense whatsoever.”

His remarks come amid renewed diplomatic friction between Nigeria and the United States following discussions about religious persecution and terrorism in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, dismissed claims that the violence in Nigeria is driven by religious persecution.

Sowore argued that the country’s crisis stems from bad governance and insecurity, not from animosity between Muslims and Christians.

Reacting to calls by some U.S. lawmakers for Nigeria to be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged Christian persecution, Sowore described both the Nigerian and U.S. governments as hypocritical in their handling of the issue.

“There’s genocide against the poor — Muslims, Christians, and children alike,” he said.
“Trying to separate it by religion is dishonest. Nigeria doesn’t check who carries a Bible or a Quran before counting the dead.”

He also accused the U.S. of selective outrage, saying Washington ignores similar or worse situations elsewhere.

“Why is the U.S. silent about Gaza, where Muslims are being killed by Israel? That’s international hypocrisy,” Sowore stated.

According to him, insecurity in Nigeria cuts across all regions and religions, with most attacks happening in the North, affecting both Christians and Muslims.

“Gunmen even attack mosques — 35 worshippers were recently killed, and the attackers were likely Muslims too,” he noted.

Sowore warned that framing the crisis as religious only helps Nigerian leaders evade accountability.

“When the U.S. says it wants to protect Christians, that’s not a solution. Even if all Christians were taken away, people would still be killed,” he argued.

“The problem isn’t religion — it’s failed leadership and chronic insecurity,” he concluded.