Terrorists strike again, behead health officer, abduct another 50 in Benue, Zamfara

. Tinubu vows to defeat terrorism, applauds security personnel
. As Defence Minister canvasses youth education to curtail terrorism, extremism

Suspected herdsmen ambushed and killed a health officer identified as Ojoma Emie in Ikobi, Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, on Monday morning.

According to DAILY POST, Emie, a father of three who resided in Oloke, Ikobi, was returning from Ugbokpo town, where he had gone to purchase medicine, when the attackers allegedly ambushed him at Ugbobi Junction, a notorious spot along the Ikobi-Olegogba axis of the Ikobi-Ugbokpo road where residents say armed herders frequently lay ambush for travellers.

Sources said the assailants macheted him to death, severed his head and fled with it, leaving his headless body in a pool of blood.

The corpse was later discovered by residents of the community.

Confirming the incident, the Vice President of the Ikobi Progressive Forum, Dr. Edoh Ofugocho, said that residents became alarmed after hearing multiple gunshots from the area.

“Our people heard gunshots about 10 to 15 times. People immediately became apprehensive because they knew he was on his way to Ugbokpo to buy medicine. Later, it was discovered that he had been attacked and killed at Ugbobi Junction,” Ofugocho said.

He added that Emie was a health worker in the community and was married with children before his tragic death.

Ofugocho lamented that Ikobi had been subjected to repeated attacks by suspected herdsmen, alleging that little or no effort had been made by the relevant authorities to adequately protect residents.

He lamented, “We are deeply worried that this particular route has become a recurring ambush point for suspected herdsmen. Our people can no longer travel freely on roads within their own communities.

“The manner in which he was killed is heartbreaking. After taking his life, the attackers severed his head and fled with it. This level of brutality is difficult to comprehend.

“This is not the first time our people have come under attack. We have continued to cry out for improved security, but the attacks persist. Residents now live in constant fear.”

He disclosed that the deceased had since been buried and called for urgent security measures to end the persistent killings in the area.

“We call on security agencies and the government to take urgent steps to secure our communities and bring those responsible for this heinous act to justice,” Edo added.

Meanwhile, a notorious bandit kingpin identified as Jammo has kidnapped 50 community members in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State after luring them into a peace initiative.

The victims were part of a self-constituted dialogue committee sent by local communities to negotiate an end to hostilities in the area.

The chairman of Maradun Local Government, Hon. Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident, stating that the villagers took the decision to meet with the forest kingpin without obtaining clearance from the local council or state government.

“We are against reconciliation with the bandits and Governor Dauda Lawal never supported that, but unknown to us the people chose to go on with it,” Dosara said.

According to the chairman, the local government had consistently provided weekly security escorts to help the villagers safely access and return from the local market after Jammo blocked their primary supply routes. The council boss expressed deep concern over why the community chose to engage their rivals independently despite the ongoing structural security support.

Following the mass abduction, the bandit leader released 11 elderly members of the delegation to deliver a message to the community, while the remaining 39 individuals are still being held hostage in the forest.

The councilor representing the Magami/Faru ward, Bello Husseini, also speaking, revealed that the relationship between the community and the gang deteriorated after the state’s security outfit, the Askarawa, killed two of Jammo’s lieutenants and seized their rifles.

In a reprisal attack during the last fasting period, the bandits killed two security personnel and took their weapons.

“You see we are one to one, they killed two of us and took away their rifles and we also killed them and possessed their firearms initially,” Husseini said.

Husseini explained that Jammo initiated the call for a truce after losing another operative in a recent military strike at Kandare village, a gesture the desperate community accepted against official state policy.

Upon their arrival in the Muntsira forest for the meeting, Jammo betrayed the 50-man delegation, held them hostage, and is now demanding a sum of N24 million as a condition to release the captives and return the three seized firearms.

The councilor, who has since fled his ward due to the threat level, reiterated that the criminal group cannot be trusted and called for a military intervention.

In his advice over the increasing numbers of terror attacks, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.) has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to defeating terrorism and violent extremism by expanding access to quality education in underserved communities.

The Minister made this known on Sunday, 7th June 2026, during the commissioning of the Kaduna Christian Academy in Ungwan Sunday, Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area. The school was constructed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Describing Nigeria’s current security challenges as an “asymmetric war,” General Musa said adversaries rely on radicalisation and false narratives and that the most effective counter is education delivered in a safe environment.

This was contained in the statement signed by the Special Assistant ( Media) to the Minister, Leah Katung- Babatunde.

“As Minister of Defence, I view this school as a critical military asset without a single rifle,” he stated. “True and lasting security is anchored on the defeat of ignorance and the conquest of hopelessness. This school is a weapon of mass instruction in the right hands.”

He said the commissioning was not just a ceremonial event but a demonstration of community resilience, inter-agency collaboration, and the human dimension of Nigeria’s security architecture.

The Kaduna Christian Academy was built by the DSS in partnership with Nest Global Resources, Dan Oil Exploration Limited, and Tantina Security Services. It follows a similar intervention by the DSS in Danbushiya, Chikun LGA, where a school was constructed for the Muslim community to promote inclusive development.

“We see the DSS in a different light – as builders of the future,” the Minister said. “By constructing this academy, the Service has shown that internal security is not just about surveillance and arrest. It is about winning the confidence of the people. A secure mind – one that is educated and enlightened – is the best defence against the merchants of chaos.”

General Musa urged the people of Ungwan Sunday and Kaduna State to take ownership of the academy, outlining its value for three groups:

For students: “This school is a sanctuary of hope. Here you will learn not only Mathematics and English, but also the values of citizenship, tolerance, and critical thinking.”

For parents: “This is a sign that the State has not abandoned you. When your children learn in a classroom built by the security services, it sends a clear message that the government cares about your future beyond the next election cycle.”

For Kaduna State: “This facility complements the state government’s efforts to provide inclusive, quality education and bridges the gap between tactical security operations and community development.”

While named to serve the Christian community, the Minister said the academy stands as a symbol of inter-faith harmony, mirroring the earlier project for the Muslim community. He charged the school management and teachers to uphold discipline and professionalism, and called on local youth to protect the facility.

“See this school not as a target, but as your inheritance. Work with the DSS and other security agencies as partners in progress,” he said.

The event was attended by officials of the Kaduna State Government, members of the clergy, and traditional leaders. Governor Uba Sani, represented by the Commissioner for Justice, Barr. James Kanyip, welcomed the initiative and assured continued collaboration between the state government, security agencies, and private partners to drive development.