Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Banditry

  • Plateau Abductions: Families Told to Pay ₦1.5m Per Victim as Search Efforts Begin

    Plateau Abductions: Families Told to Pay ₦1.5m Per Victim as Search Efforts Begin

    Photo Credit: Premium Times
    2025-12-23

    According to Premium Times kidnappers who seized travellers in Plateau State demanded ₦1.5 million per person as ransom, including for women and children.

    The victims were reportedly travelling to a Maulud event when gunmen ambushed their vehicle in the Bashar District area of Wase LGA, after which the bus was left by the roadside.

    Relatives say contact has been made and demands communicated directly to families, raising concerns about timelines for rescue and the safety of the captives.

    Xinhua reported that police “have launched a search-and-rescue operation for at least 28 travelers kidnapped…”. Premium Times quoted a family member saying: “The kidnappers called me last night and said we must pay ₦1.5 million for each person…”.

    Echotitbits take: The pattern is becoming predictable—remote routes plus weak deterrence. Watch for concrete updates: arrests, rescued victims, and whether security presence increases on identified blackspots.

    Source: Premium Times — December 23, 2025 (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/844988-plateau-kidnappers-demand-%E2%82%A61-5m-ransom-for-each-of-28-travellers.html)
    Premium Times 2025-12-23

  • Nigeria moves to buy 24 M‑346 fighter jets in €1.2bn deal to bolster counter‑insurgency

    Nigeria moves to buy 24 M‑346 fighter jets in €1.2bn deal to bolster counter‑insurgency

    Photo Credit: Punch
    2025-12-17

    According to multiple reports, the federal government is advancing a €1.2 billion procurement for 24 M‑346 fighter jets as part of a wider push to strengthen air power against insurgency, banditry and kidnapping threats.

    The acquisition is expected to include training, logistics and longer‑term maintenance support, a key factor for keeping aircraft operational in difficult theatres.

    If delivered on schedule, the jets could expand Nigeria’s precision‑strike and surveillance capacity, particularly in the North‑East, while easing pressure on older platforms and improving pilot training pipelines.

    The real impact, however, will depend on basing, sustainment budgets, intelligence integration and rules of engagement — the ‘tail’ often matters as much as the ‘tooth’ in air campaigns.

    Business Insider Africa: “deliveries of 24 M-346FA fighter jets… almost finalised, signalling a major upgrade of its air power.”

    TheCable: “The deal was reportedly worth around €1.2 billion… [and] included… 25 years of logistical support.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Big-ticket defence buys can shift capability — but sustainment is everything. Watch for financing terms, delivery milestones, and whether procurement transparency improves amid broader security spending scrutiny.

    Source: Punch — December 17, 2025 — https://punchng.com/insurgency-fg-to-acquire-24-fighter-jets-for-e1-2bn/

  • Kukah Denies Endorsing Secret Talks With Bandits

    Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah denied claims that he signed any document endorsing secret negotiations with bandits. He described the reports as false and urged caution against misrepresentation of his views.

    The clarification comes amid renewed debate over dialogue, amnesty and force in addressing Nigeria’s banditry crisis.

    2025-12-10

    The Nation

    2025-12-10

  • Nigerian Army launches Operation Sahel Sanity to tackle banditry, terrorism

    Nigerian Army launches Operation Sahel Sanity to tackle banditry, terrorism

    Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai has lunched “Operation Sahel Sanity” to tackle terrorism, banditry, Cattle rustling, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the Northwestern part of the country.

    The Operation which was flagged off at the Nigerian Army Super Camp 4, Faskari in Katsina State was designed to flush out criminals in Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto and Niger states.

    Lt. Gen. Buratai explained that, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the military to end all act of terrorism and other criminal activities in the country, hence the need to adopt new tactics to accomplish the task.

    He said, Special Forces would continue onslaught to flush out bandits terrorizing innocent people in the region, as operation end in September, 2020.

    Similarly the COAS inaugurated Ten military operation vehicles named, Mime Resistance Ambush Protector (MRAPs) nicknamed CONCARARS, Constructed by the 107 Brigade Maiduguri using Local materials with a view to boosting military operations to ensure peace and security across the country.

    The Nigerian Army however, appealed for the support of Nigerians by providing information that would lead to curbing criminal activities.