At least 43 herders have been killed in a series of coordinated attacks by vigilante groups across parts of Kebbi and Niger States, according to community sources.

Soecial corresp9ndent, Zagazola Makama reports that the attacks, which occurred between Oct. 24 and 26, affected several rural settlements in Argungu, Arewa, and Bunza Local Government Areas of Kebbi State, where armed vigilantes reportedly invaded Fulani communities, killing dozens and setting houses ablaze.

In Lailaba District of Argungu LGA, particularly at Maini Fulani settlement, and in Bui and Tilli districts of Arewa and Bunza LGAs respectively, at least 37 people were killed, several others injured, and more than 200 houses destroyed. Many residents, including women and children, were displaced, while some persons remain missing.

Eyewitnesses said the attacks were carried out by groups of vigilantes who stormed the herders’ camps, shooting sporadically and torching homes. The violence was said to have begun on Oct. 24 in Argungu, followed by another on Oct. 25 in Bunza, and a third on Oct. 26 in Bui.

Community members alleged that the assailants came from neighbouring villages in Arewa LGA, including Yeldu District, while others involved in the Bui incident were said to have come from Tunga Bature, Tunga Tsoho, Bui, Sangela, and Danmairago villages.

Authorities in Kebbi have since visited the affected areas, promising to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice. The state government also assured displaced families of support and called for calm to prevent further escalation.

Meanwhile, similar violence was reported in Edati Local Government Area of Niger State, where six Fulani herders were killed and more than 60 houses burnt on Sept. 21 in Ejjin, Runji, Majina, and Ginshi villages.

Such acts of reprisal and mob justice could worsen communal relations and heighten insecurity across the affected states.

Reacting to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has condemned the attacks in a statement issued in Abuja by the association’s National Secretary, Bello Aliyu Gotomo.

The group described the killings and destruction of herders’ settlements as unjustified and inhumane, calling for the arrest and prosecution of all those involved.

MACBAN lamented that herders in the region were already contending with the activities of armed bandits locally referred to as Lakurawa, who extort illegal taxes, seize livestock, and terrorise rural dwellers.

“Now, in addition to these threats, peaceful herders are being attacked by vigilantes acting outside the law. Allowing people to take the law into their hands will only worsen insecurity across the state,” the statement warned.

The group further expressed grief over a similar incident in Niger State, where six Fulani herders were killed and more than 60 houses burnt by vigilantes on Sept. 21, 2025, in the communities of Ejjin, Runji, Majina, and Ginshi in Edati Local Government Area.

MACBAN said the violence followed a misunderstanding between a farmer and a herder, after which some vigilantes mobilised and attacked herders’ homes while the herder involved was already in police custody.

The association commended the Governor of Niger State for his prompt intervention, which prevented the crisis from escalating further.

MACBAN, however, called on the Federal, State, and Local Governments to urgently address the rising wave of insecurity affecting rural communities across the country, noting that the situation had severely impacted livestock rearing and farming activities.

“The security crisis in rural areas demands immediate and coordinated attention from all tiers of government to protect lives and livelihoods,” Gotomo stated.

The Police Command in Kaduna State has arrested a 35-year-old man, Shafiu Dahiru, for allegedly killing his three-day-old baby at Unguwan Lasa in Soba Local Government Area.

Sources told Zagazola that the suspect allegedly strangled and choked the infant, born to his wife, Hadiza Shafiu, aged 25.

Upon receiving the information, the DPO and his patrol team immediately mobilised to the scene and rushed the baby to a hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed the child dead.

Police authorities said the motive behind the tragic act is yet to be ascertained, while the suspect has been taken into custody for investigation.

At the family’s request, the baby’s remains were released for burial in accordance with Islamic rites, without a post-mortem examination.

The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation.

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ilorin has sentenced three persons to various jail terms for possession of fake Naira notes.

The convicts: Olaitan Dina, a 46-year-old aluminium fabricator from Maraba in Ilorin; Opeyemi Jeremiah, a bakery worker from Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State; and Adebayo Mayowa Abiola from Osi, Ekiti State, were arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and handed over to the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for investigation.

Investigations revealed that the Naira notes found in their possession were fake, with several bearing identical serial numbers.

The defendants, who were prosecuted on separate charge pleaded guilty to their respective charge. One of the counts against Dina reads:

“That you, Olaitan Dina sometime in July, 2025, at Ilorin within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court uttered 21 (twenty one) pieces of #1000 (One Thousand Naira) notes to one Abiola Adebayo; eleven of them are with the same serial number; Y/64 235922, five are of serial number; Y/64 235926, three are with serial number; Y/64 235923 and two are with serial number; Y/64 235917 respectively which you knew to be counterfeits and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5(1)(a) of Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, 1983 and punishable under Section 5 (1) (c) of the same Act”

Details of one of the counts against Jeremiah read:

“That you, Opeyemi Jeremiah on or about 19th July, 2025, at Ilorin within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court had in your possession 14 (fourteen) pieces of #1000 (One Thousand Naira) notes; seven of them are with the same serial number; Y/64 235922 three are of serial number; Y/64 235926, two are with serial number; Y/64 235923 and two are with serial number; Y/64 235917 respectively which you knew to be counterfeit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5(1)(b) of Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, 1983 and punishable under Section 5 (1)(c) of same Act”

And, particulars of the charge against Abiola read:

“That you, Adebayo Mayowa Abiola on or about 19th July, 2025, at Ilorin with the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did aid one Afolabi Habeeb Adebayo to procure 7 (Seven) pieces of #1000 (One Thousand Naira) notes; four of them are with the same serial number; Y/64 235922, two are of serial number; Y/64 235926 and one is with serial number; Y/64 235923 respectively which you knew to be counterfeits and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6(1) of Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, 1983 and punishable under Section 5(1)(c) of the same Act.

During the review of facts, the EFCC counsel, Aliyu Adebayo, called Detective Abdulhakeem Sani Umar, an EFCC operative, who testified that the fake notes recovered from the convicts were sent to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja for forensic examination. The analysis confirmed the notes to be counterfeit.

Adebayo tendered the fake currency and the defendants’ extra-judicial statements as evidence, urging the court to convict them as charged.

In a well delivered judgment, Justice Awogboro held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“The issue of Naira counterfeiting is a serious crime against the law and the society. I wonder what this country is turning into, many are involved in drug abuse, some in cybercrime, and now others in counterfeiting. The court must pass a sentence that will serve as a deterrent,” she said.

Justice Awogboro consequently sentenced Dina to 18 months imprisonment, while Jeremiah and Abiola each received 15 months imprisonment. All sentences are to run from October 15, 2025, without an option of fine.

The court also ordered that all counterfeit notes recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

End