Crime
Experts Share Insights On Improving Intelligence To Deter Bandit Assaults On Military And Police
Experts Share Insights On Improving Intelligence To Deter Bandit Assaults On Military And Police....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Security and intelligence agencies in Nigeria could significantly enhance their effectiveness and responsiveness if they were shielded from political influence and given the autonomy to address matters of national importance.
Prominent security experts and former service personnel have made this assertion in the wake of the recent killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) by cultists in Rivers State.
During separate discussions with The Guardian, these experts concurred that the ambush and murder of the DPO in Rivers State serves as a distressing reminder of the extent of insecurity and may even signify a complete breakdown of the security intelligence framework.
This incident in Rivers State underscores similar incidents nationwide, where bandits, cultists, and other criminal elements have easily attacked, overrun, kidnapped, or killed Nigerian security personnel.
For instance, on May 4, 2023, gunmen killed three police officers at a checkpoint in Umunze, Orumba South local council in Anambra state. They had invaded the area and opened fire on the officers.
On February 20, 2023, gunmen attacked the Awada police station in Onitsha, Anambra State, killing two police officers and setting the station on fire. This followed an attack on the 3-3 Police Divisional Headquarters in Nkwelle-Ezunaka in the Oyi Local Council of the state, where six persons were killed.
On July 4, 2022, Assistant Commissioner of Police Aminu Umar Dayi, in charge of Dutsinma Area Command in Katsina, was ambushed and killed by bandits.
These incidents highlight a disturbing reality in Nigeria, suggesting that the intelligence system, which should detect and prevent attacks on police and military installations, may have been severely compromised or has collapsed altogether.
Dennis Amachree, a former Director of Nigeria’s secret police, lamented the rise of non-state actors like bandits, terrorists, and cultists who operate with apparent impunity, often due to their illicit ties with politicians in high positions.
He cited instances in Zamfara and Niger states where documented evidence showed leaders of bandits appearing in photos with top government officials and attending their events without fear of arrest.
Amachree urged for a review of the security infrastructure, particularly within the Nigeria Police. He suggested that decentralizing the police force could bring law enforcement closer to the grassroots, potentially ameliorating the security situation.
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Frank Oshanugor, a Certified Protective Officer, expressed deep concern over the killing of a DPO by cultists, emphasizing the need for a change in political leadership to address the prevailing issues. He pointed out that the security forces’ effectiveness is compromised by a lack of independence and a system that prioritizes loyalty to politicians over the nation.
Dr. Wilson Esangbedo, former President of Private Security Practitioners, acknowledged that ambushes can happen in policing or warfare but highlighted the importance of advance teams, surveillance, and proper funding to prevent them. He emphasized the need to enhance personnel quality and motivation.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, attributed the attack on the DPO to a progressive decline in intelligence-based policing. He stressed the importance of police reform in line with modern global standards and called for a reconsideration of current policing strategies.
Onwubiko noted issues such as widespread bribery at checkpoints and the need for Nigeria Police to adopt community-oriented policing models, in line with the Peelian principles of modern policing.
In conclusion, the experts and commentators highlighted the urgency of depoliticizing security, implementing police reforms, and adopting modern policing practices to address the rising security challenges in Nigeria effectively.
On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja handed down death sentences to three individuals following their convictions for terrorism-related crimes. These rulings occurred as part of a broader series of terrorism trials, with the defendants receiving their sentences after entering guilty pleas to charges brought by the Federal Government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The individuals condemned to death by hanging are Danladi Lawal, Abdullahi Mohammed, and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu.
Case Summaries
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Danladi Lawal (alias Dankawu): Presiding over the case, Justice James Omotosho sentenced the 33-year-old to multiple penalties, including death by hanging, life imprisonment, and additional prison terms, following his guilty plea to a five-count charge. Lawal was accused of abducting an elderly man in Katsina State in 2020 and collecting a portion of the demanded ransom, an act prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act 2013.
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Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu: Justice Salim Ibrahim issued death sentences to both men after they pleaded guilty to their respective terrorism charges. In addition to the death penalty, Shaibu received a sentence of life imprisonment.
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Additional Convictions:
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Mohammed Dezami Sherife was sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Ibrahim across three counts of a ten-count charge.
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Shamsudeen Muhammad Ibrahim (alias Abu Harira) received a life sentence and an additional 35-year term from Justice Omotosho for supporting the ISWAP terrorist group and failing to report information regarding their activities.
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Lawi Abubakar Mohammed was sentenced by Justice Emeka Nwite to a cumulative 40 years in prison—running consecutively—with a mandate that he undergo rehabilitation and deradicalization prior to his eventual release.
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A Kogi State High Court, presided over by Justice Abdul Nicodemus Awulu, has sentenced Jibrin Halilu to death for his role in the kidnapping and murder of Uche Andrew Offo, a hotel owner in Obajana. Halilu was found guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping, in violation of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The incident occurred on March 23, 2023, when Halilu and an armed gang abducted Offo from his hotel, the Everready Hotel. Although Offo’s family paid a ₦2.5 million ransom, he was killed after recognizing Halilu—his own neighbour—among his abductors. Halilu was eventually arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on December 4, 2025, and was also linked to the April 2, 2023, kidnapping of Ibrahim Abdullahi in Lokoja, for which a ₦5 million ransom was paid.
This verdict is part of a series of recent major legal successes for the DSS:
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Owo Church Attack: On June 3, 2026, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris—to death for the 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, which resulted in over 40 deaths and 100 injuries.
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Katsina Arms Courier: Just 24 hours prior to the Kogi ruling, a Katsina State High Court sentenced a female arms courier apprehended by the DSS to death.
Security sources stated that these consecutive convictions serve as a strong message that those involved in terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime will be held accountable and face the full extent of the law.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has argued that electoral manipulation persists in Nigeria largely because voters fail to remain at polling units to safeguard their ballots. During a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Obi pledged to do everything in his capacity to protect votes leading up to the 2027 general elections. However, he emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for ensuring electoral integrity lies with the citizens, urging them to actively monitor the counting process rather than leaving immediately after casting their votes. Obi stated that if voters insist on monitoring their polling units, their votes will be counted; he criticized the tendency of some citizens to vote and then rely on prayer instead of taking ownership of the electoral process, asserting that Nigeria’s core challenge is a leadership issue.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi claims that election rigging continues in Nigeria because citizens do not adequately defend their votes at the polling stations. While promising to work toward protecting the ballot for the 2027 elections, Obi noted that true electoral accountability depends on the public’s willingness to stay and ensure that votes are correctly tallied. He suggested that many Nigerians contribute to the problem by leaving their polling units early and expecting supernatural intervention, reaffirming his view that the nation’s primary struggle remains one of leadership.
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