BREAKING: 8 Victims of Plateau Night Attack Laid to Rest; Speaker Celebrates Dangote at 69

Eight Victims of Plateau Night Attack Laid to Rest

Eight victims of a late-night attack in Mbwelle village, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, were buried in a mass funeral marked by grief and anger. The gunmen reportedly stormed the community around 11 pm, shooting for nearly an hour and killing mostly members of the same family, leaving residents shaken and mourning.

Community leaders and residents criticised the slow security response, with some threatening protests over the lack of protection during the prolonged assault. Religious and youth leaders described the incident as devastating, while security forces elsewhere in the state reported killing several suspected terrorists, even as authorities had yet to officially respond to the Mbwelle attack at the time of reporting.

Speaker Celebrates Dangote at 69

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has congratulated Aliko Dangote on his 69th birthday, praising his significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy. In a message, Abbas described Dangote as a leading force in the private sector whose extensive investments have played a key role in driving national economic growth.

He highlighted the impact of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, noting its importance in strengthening Nigeria’s economy and reducing reliance on imported fuel. Abbas commended Dangote’s commitment to investing within the country, calling him a patriotic figure whose business ventures and philanthropic efforts continue to support development and economic self-sufficiency across Nigeria.

Troops arrest terrorist collaborator, rescue infants

Troops conducting internal security operations in Zamfara State have arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator, Mallam Kabiru, and rescued 18 kidnapped victims, including infants and women. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the suspect was apprehended on April 5 after he was seen with notorious terrorist leader Mallam Ado Alero shortly after troops engaged terrorists at Kulchin Kalgo in Tsafe Local Government Area.

Onoja added that the rescued victims were freed on April 8 after troops responded to a distress call about a terrorist attack in Gidan Madi village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Soldiers laid an ambush at a known terrorist crossing point, confronted the attackers and forced them to abandon their captives and flee. The 18 victims, including two infants, were later handed over to the traditional ruler of Wurno to facilitate their reunion with their families.

FG secures 386 convictions in mass trial of terrorism suspects

The Federal Government said it secured 386 convictions out of 508 terrorism-related cases prosecuted at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court during the ninth phase of its mass trial of terror suspects. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, disclosed that eight suspects were discharged, two acquitted, while 112 cases were adjourned to the next phase of proceedings.

Fagbemi explained that the trials, conducted before judges of the Federal High Court, demonstrated the government’s commitment to due process, transparency and the rule of law. He added that the next phase of the mass trial would hold between June 15 and June 18, while the court also ordered rehabilitation and de-radicalisation for convicted persons to promote reform and discourage terrorism in Nigeria.