Gunmen, believed to be terrorists, have abducted at least 25 people, mostly women and children, in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The incident occurred late Sunday night in the Ajasa community, where several homes were also looted by the attackers.

A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that the gunmen arrived in large numbers and fired indiscriminately into the air to announce their presence.

While no one was killed, the assailants took the 25 victims and transported them into the forest.

The resident also noted that the attackers faced no resistance as security forces did not arrive in the area until hours after the gunmen had left.

Concerns were raised about the well-being of the abducted individuals, particularly the children and infants, who would likely suffer in the cold harmattan conditions in the forest.

The gunmen have yet to make contact with the community regarding the victims, a pattern consistent with previous abductions in the region.

The source called for increased security in the area, as communities have been frequently targeted by such attacks.

He pointed out a similar incident that occurred just days earlier, when gunmen attacked a neighboring village, killing one person and injuring another during the day while farmers were harvesting crops.

The police spokesperson for the state, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed that inquiries would be made into the incident.

As at the time of this report, no further details have been released.

A significant portion of murder cases in Nigeria remains unreported, with over 28% of such incidents not being brought to the attention of the police, according to a recent report from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The report, titled Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024, was released on Tuesday and covers the period from March 2023 to April 2024.

The survey reveals that only 0.7% of the 614,937 murder cases in the country were reported to law enforcement, with many victims’ families opting to report the crime to other authorities or handle the matter privately.

The primary reason for this is a lack of confidence in the police, as many believe the authorities would not take adequate action.

Another 27.5% of cases went unreported because victims’ families lacked evidence to identify the perpetrators or feared that the police would not act on the information.

According to the report, 39.9% of murder cases were reported to other agencies, while 15.8% were not reported out of fear of retaliation from the perpetrators.

Notably, no cases were resolved by the families of the victims, the report states.

The survey also highlighted that the North-West region recorded the highest number of murders, with over 206,000 cases, while the South-West had the lowest at 15,693.

The NBS noted that, nationwide, more than 51.8 million crime incidents were reported by households during the period.

The North-West also experienced the highest number of overall crime incidents (14.4 million), followed by the North-Central (8.8 million), while the South-East reported the least (6.2 million).

Furthermore, the report indicated that rural areas had higher crime rates (26.5 million incidents) compared to urban areas (25.4 million incidents).

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has mandated a comprehensive investigation into the deaths of two Okuama community leaders who allegedly died while in Army custody.

Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, made the announcement during the Strategic Communications Interagency Committee (SCIPC) end-of-year briefing in Abuja, organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The deceased individuals, Pa James Oghoroko, the President General of Okuama Community, and Pa Denis Okugbaye, the community’s 81-year-old treasurer, reportedly died six days apart while detained by the military.

The two were among six individuals detained in August in connection with the deaths of 17 military personnel on March 14, during a peace mission to mediate a dispute between the Okuama and Okoloba communities.

In response to inquiries, Gusau confirmed that the CDS had instructed the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, based in Port Harcourt, to conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths and submit its findings by December 16.

In other news, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters has dismissed claims of the presence of any foreign military base in the country.

This comes in response to reports suggesting the establishment of a French military base in northeastern Nigeria. Major General Edward Buba, spokesman for the Defence Media Operations (DMO), refuted these reports, calling them “false, misleading, and the work of mischief-makers.”

The Defence Headquarters reiterated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains focused on fulfilling its constitutional duties and safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity, urging the public to disregard the rumors.

The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has reiterated the ban on the sale and unauthorized use of fireworks, including “knockouts,” “bangers,” and “crackers,” for the duration of the festive season.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu Command, Daniel Ndukwe, the commissioner emphasized that the prohibition is aimed at preventing criminals from using fireworks to carry out illegal activities, reducing public panic, and minimizing risks to lives and property.

The statement also urged businesses and individuals involved in the sale or use of fireworks to cease immediately, with the warning that violators will face legal consequences.

The commissioner further appealed to parents and guardians to discourage children and wards from purchasing or using fireworks, stressing that anyone caught violating the ban will be held accountable under the law.

Uzuegbu also warned against indiscriminate bush burning during the harmattan season, highlighting the serious risks of fire outbreaks, which could endanger lives, destroy property, and disrupt the social and economic stability of the community.

He urged residents to remain law-abiding and vigilant throughout the yuletide season and beyond, advising against actions that could compromise their safety and security.

The public was also encouraged to report any suspicious activities or crimes to the nearest police station or by calling the provided police hotlines: 08032003702, 08086671202, or 08098880172. For reports of police misconduct, residents can contact 09160002486, 07059160602, or 08176255557, or send text or WhatsApp messages to 09160002486.