News April 10, 2026 8 killed as gunmen raid Plateau community

Gunmen on Thursday night launched an attack on Mbwelle village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing no fewer than eight people.

Findings revealed that the majority of the victims belonged to the same family.

The deceased have been identified as Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus, Mr Luck Titus Dakus, Mr Habila Istifanu Dakus, Mr Hassan Istifanus Dakus, Mrs Hassan Moses Dakus, Biggie Lucky Dakus, Sunday Gideon Dakus and Mr Innocent Barnabas Makwin.

Confirming the incident in Jos on Friday, the Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, said the attackers struck at about 11pm, shooting indiscriminately at residents.

According to him, aside from those killed, about three people sustained injuries, while several others were yet to be accounted for.

Mallai said: “There was an attack last night at Mbwelle village. The village is very close to Bokkos town. So far eight persons have been confirmed dead this morning.

“The people are saying they want to protest because the security men have not protected them and the attack lasted for hours and yet, no presence of security to repel the assailants until those people finished and left. No trace.”

He added: “The attack lasted for several hours with no visible security presence to repel the attackers.”

Mallai further alleged that despite the closeness of security formations, there was no response, claiming that operatives were instead deployed to guard a community suspected by Bokkos natives to be linked to the attackers.

Also speaking, the Youth Leader of Bokkos, Christopher Luka, described the incident as tragic and devastating.

“The gunmen came around 11pm and started shooting sporadically. They targeted one family mostly. We have eight confirmed dead, some seriously injured, and others still unaccounted for,” Luka said.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful.

Similarly, the Media Officer of the Joint Military Taskforce, Chinonso Oteh, could not immediately provide details on the development.

“I will get back to you,” he said.

Bokkos and neighbouring local government areas in Plateau State have continued to grapple with persistent security challenges in recent years.

Tensions escalated last week when the Berom Youth Moulders Association raised concerns over recurring attacks and killings in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South LGAs, despite the presence of security personnel.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, the association, under the leadership of National President Dalyop Mwantiri, alleged that the violence was part of a deliberate campaign aimed at taking over ancestral lands.

The group disclosed that on Wednesday, gunmen ambushed travellers returning from mining activities near the Great Commission area along Bokkos Road en route to Nding in Fan District of Barkin Ladi LGA at about 4:15pm.

During the attack, Mr Ayuba Pam of Nding Sesut was killed, while Mr Alfred Dung and Mr Nathaniel Bitrus sustained serious injuries and were hospitalised.

Later that same day, at about 6:30pm, another attack occurred along the Gwolhoss–Byei road in Riyom LGA, where Mr Christopher Joshua, a father of three from Byei community, was shot dead while returning home.

The association condemned the incidents, describing them as part of sustained attacks on Berom communities, and expressed concern that such violence persisted along major rural routes frequently used by farmers, miners and commuters.

It called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and patrols across key routes, including the Great Commission–Bokkos road, Great Commission–Gashish axis, Rahoss–Rim road, Kwi–Farin Lamba road, Gwolhoss–Jol–Sho road and Rim–Bachi road.

 

(PUNCH)

News April 10, 2026 Fear, displacement in Kwara as bandits hold church members, demand N150m ransom

Residents of Omugo community in Oro Ago District, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, have raised concern over the continued detention of eight worshippers abducted during a church service, revealing that their captors are demanding ₦150 million for their release.

The community appealed to government and security agencies for immediate intervention, citing growing fears over the victims’ safety.

The alarm was raised on Thursday during a press briefing addressed by the community’s spokesperson, Olaitan Tajudeen Jimoh, who lamented the deteriorating security situation in the area.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped on March 22, 2026, during a service at the Evangelical Church Winning All in Omugo. The incident marks the third attack recorded in the community within a six-month period.

Jimoh said the latest abduction has heightened fear among residents, forcing many to flee their homes.

“This is not merely a security breach; it is a brutal assault on our faith, our dignity, and our very right to exist. Many people had and continue to flee their home even as we speak,” he said.

He noted that most of the abductees are elderly and remain in captivity under harsh conditions, describing the development as a humanitarian crisis.

According to him, “initial contact with the abductors indicated a ransom demand of ₦1 billion, which was later reduced to ₦150 million”.

He stressed that the amount is beyond what the affected families can afford.

The community also warned of “persistent security gaps”, cautioning that failure to act promptly could embolden attackers and extend violence to neighbouring communities.

Among their demands is an immediate, intelligence-driven rescue operation involving both federal and state authorities alongside security agencies.

They further called for the deployment of personnel to a police station reportedly built by the community but yet to be operational, noting that the absence of security presence has exposed the area to attacks.

In addition, the residents advocated for the establishment of a Joint Task Force base made up of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to ensure swift response and sustained security coverage.

They also urged the formal inclusion of local vigilante groups and hunters in the security framework, citing their familiarity with the terrain as vital in combating armed groups.

While acknowledging previous efforts by the state government in 2025, the community insisted that the current situation demands urgent and sustained action.

Speaking separately, Revd Sunday Omole, who officiated during the incident, said “several communities have remained deserted”.

He added that residents have continued to live in fear since the attack, noting that the “trauma of those in captivity for 18 days now has been deeply distressing for families and the entire community”.

(DAILY TRUST)

News April 10, 2026 Married woman who was declared missing found in hotel with man

A 42-year-old woman who was earlier declared missing in Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, has reportedly been located in a hotel in Ugbe-Akoko, sparking concern and varied reactions over the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

The woman was said to have left her matrimonial home in Ilara-Mokin without informing her family, prompting fears that she might have been abducted.

Sources familiar with the incident disclosed that her husband raised the alarm after she could not be found, leading to anxiety among relatives and residents of the community.

According to a source, the sudden disappearance triggered concern within the neighbourhood as family members and locals feared that something unpleasant might have happened to her.

Investigations later traced the woman to a hotel in Ugbe-Akoko, located in Akoko North-East Local Government Area, about 124 kilometres from Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area.

The journey between the two locations typically takes between two hours and 40 minutes and two hours and 45 minutes under normal traffic conditions.

She was reportedly discovered in the company of a 55-year-old man.

Sources indicated that preliminary findings suggest the woman was not abducted as initially feared but had left home voluntarily without notifying her family.

The development has since generated mixed reactions among residents, with many expressing surprise over the circumstances surrounding the incident.

(NEWS DIRECT)

 

News April 10, 2026 Boko Haram member to die by hanging as court convicts 6 in terrorism trial

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a Boko Haram member, Auwalu Samaila, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of terrorism-related offences.

The trial judge, James Omotosho, delivered the verdict following Samaila’s guilty plea to a six-count charge brought against him by the federal government.

While delivering judgment on Thursday, the judge noted that the defendant showed no sign of remorse despite the seriousness of his crimes.

“It is when somebody is remorseful and seek forgiveness with God that he can have mercy from him,” the judge said.

“The convict before me is not remorseful despite a lot of atrocities and lives that had gone from his hand.

“May God have mercy on his soul.”

Samaila, a native of Gulak in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, was linked to a series of attacks carried out between 2012 and 2017.

The charges against him included belonging to a banned terrorist organisation, undergoing training in terrorism and weapons handling, and participating in violent attacks across communities in Borno and Adamawa states.

The court heard that he was involved in assaults in Damboa, Borno, as well as Gombi and Hong in Adamawa, where both civilians and military personnel lost their lives.

These offences are punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by Jemila Ade, deputy director of public prosecutions, presented the defendant’s confessional statement, which was admitted as evidence.

In the statement, Samaila said he transported female suicide bombers to target locations.

“I took her to Muna Garage in Maiduguri,” he said, referring to one of the bombers.

He also admitted participating in attacks in Mubi, Chibok, Damaturu, Michika, and Gulak.

According to him, he lost his left leg during a confrontation with the military in Konduga.

In sentencing, Omotosho ordered that Samaila be executed by hanging on counts four, five and six.

The court further sentenced him to 25 years’ imprisonment on counts one and two, and 30 years on count three.

In separate rulings, two other Boko Haram members — Shura Abdullahi and Abdulrahman Ari — were sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to terrorism charges.

Additionally, three others — Aisami Kadi, Umaru Usman, and Abdulrahman Hassan — received prison terms ranging from 20 to 21 years.

Earlier in the week, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, disclosed that 500 suspects are currently being prosecuted in phase nine of the ongoing mass trial of alleged terrorists in Abuja.

The cases are being heard before judges of the Federal High Court.

(The CABLE)

News April 10, 2026 Ex-Iran foreign minister dies after US-Israel strikes

A former Iranian foreign minister, Kamal Kharazi, has died from injuries sustained during US-Israel strikes carried out on April 1, Iranian media reported on Thursday.

Kharazi, who was 81, was serving as the head of the Strategic Council for International Relations, a body under the foreign ministry, at the time of his death.

According to the Mehr and Isna news agencies, “who was injured in a terrorist attack carried out by the American-Zionist enemy a few days ago, died a martyr tonight,” as reported on their Telegram channels.

Reports also indicated that his wife was killed when their residence in Tehran was hit during the strike.

Kharazi previously represented Iran as its envoy to the United Nations in New York before serving as foreign minister from 1997 to 2005 under reformist president Mohammad Khatami.

His death comes amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, where spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military and political figures have been killed in strikes since the conflict escalated following US-Israeli attacks on February 28.

AFP

News April 10, 2026 Pope Leo XIV begins landmark Africa tour, to visit 4 countries

Pope Leo XIV will on Monday begin his first major international journey since ascending to the papacy, embarking on an 11-day tour across Africa that will take him to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

The US-born pontiff is expected to address a wide range of global and regional concerns, including interfaith dialogue with Islam, peacebuilding efforts, inequality and human rights, during the trip which will cover more than 18,000 kilometres (11,000 miles).

Since assuming leadership of the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion faithful in May, Leo will, during the tour, deliver 11 speeches, celebrate seven masses and visit about a dozen locations before returning on April 23.

At 70, the pope’s engagements are likely to draw significant global attention, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical tensions triggered by the Middle East war and its accompanying energy crisis.

This will mark Leo’s third trip outside Italy, following earlier visits to Turkey and Lebanon last year, as well as Monaco in March.

READ ALSO:Pope warns of regional spillover from Israel-Iran war

Algeria (April 13–15)

The visit to Algeria will be historic, as Leo becomes the first pope to travel to the North African nation where Islam is the state religion.

During his stay, he is scheduled to visit the Great Mosque of Algiers and hold talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He will also meet members of the Augustinian order in Annaba, a city closely associated with Saint Augustine.

The pope is “a brother who comes to visit his brothers”, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, the archbishop of Algiers, told AFP ahead of the visit.

He is also expected to pray privately at a chapel dedicated to 19 priests and nuns killed during Algeria’s 1992–2002 civil war.

Ahead of the trip, three international NGOs urged the pontiff to raise issues relating to the treatment of religious minorities with Algerian authorities.

Cameroon (April 15–18): Focus on peace

In Cameroon, where Christians form the majority, the pope’s message is anticipated to centre on peace and reconciliation, particularly in the conflict-ridden English-speaking northwest region.

The highlight of his visit will be a mass and address in Bamenda, regarded as the epicentre of the crisis, with tight security expected.

Leo will also tour Catholic-run hospitals, schools and charities in the country, where about 37 per cent of the population is Catholic.

He is also expected to meet President Paul Biya, 93, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, who has faced periodic criticism from senior Catholic figures over his continued rule.

Angola (April 18–21)

The pope’s stop in Angola is expected to highlight social and economic concerns.

Despite its wealth in oil and minerals, the country continues to grapple with widespread poverty and the legacy of a civil war that ended in 2002.

Leo is likely to stress the importance of fair distribution of natural resource wealth and the need to combat corruption.

While many Angolan Catholics—who make up about 44 per cent of the population—are enthusiastic about the visit, some citizens have expressed reservations.

“At the societal level, it represents nothing, because millions of dollars will be taken from the state treasury to prepare, without bringing any benefits to our country,” teacher Rosa Kanga, 42, told AFP.

The pope will visit Luanda, where stark contrasts exist between affluent districts and sprawling slums, and will also travel to Muxima, home to a historic church along a former slave-trading route and one of the region’s most revered religious sites.

Equatorial Guinea (April 21–23): A delicate mission

Leo’s final stop will be Equatorial Guinea, where President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled since 1979.

With around 80 per cent of the population identifying as Catholic, the visit carries both religious and political significance. Pope John Paul II remains the only pontiff to have previously visited the country, nearly 50 years ago.

Observers believe Leo will need to carefully balance support for local Catholics with the risk of appearing to legitimise the government, while also addressing issues of human rights and social justice.

In Malabo, recently stripped of its capital status by presidential decree, large images of the pope have been displayed ahead of his arrival, with state media continuously airing promotional material about the visit.

AFP

News April 10, 2026 Hip-hop pioneer, Afrika Bambaataa, is dead

Hip-hop pioneer, Afrika Bambaataa,  has died at the age of 68, the Hip Hop Alliance has confirmed.

In a statement, the organisation said Bambaataa helped shape a “global movement rooted in peace, unity, love, and having fun”, paying tribute to his role in the emergence of hip-hop as both a musical genre and a cultural force.

Born Lance Taylor in the Bronx, Bambaataa came of age during the black liberation movement. In 1973, he co-founded the Universal Zulu Nation, an international collective promoting hip-hop culture.

In later years, his reputation was overshadowed by allegations of child sexual abuse and trafficking, which he denied.

According to TMZ, which first reported the news, the artist died in Pennsylvania on Thursday due to complications from cancer.

Bambaataa was born to parents who had immigrated from Jamaica and Barbados.

As a teenager, he joined the Black Spades gang, later using his leadership experience to establish the Universal Zulu Nation, which aimed to steer young people away from violence and toward creative expression.

His 1982 track Planet Rock brought him international recognition and is widely credited with influencing the sound and direction of hip-hop in the 1980s.

His vision for the genre helped turn the Bronx into “the birthplace of a culture that now reaches every corner of the world”, said Reverend Dr Kurtis Blow Walker, the executive director of Hip Hop Alliance.

Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Bambaataa collaborated with a wide range of artists, including James Brown and John Lydon. He also contributed to politically conscious efforts such as the 1985 anti-apartheid song Sun City.

Bambaataa led the Universal Zulu Nation until 2016, when he stepped down following allegations of sexual abuse dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.

He denied the accusations in a statement, saying they “are baseless and are a cowardly attempt to tarnish my reputation and legacy in hip-hop at this time”.

In 2025, he lost a civil case in which he was accused of child sexual abuse and trafficking after failing to appear in court, according to The Guardian.

Hip Hop Alliance acknowledged that the allegations complicated his musical legacy, which “has been the subject of serious conversations within our community”.