Security Operatives Arrest Yobe Village Head Over Alleged Banditry

Security operatives have arrested Lawan Ganga, the Village Head of Azere community in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, over alleged involvement in banditry and kidnapping in parts of the state.

Ganga was reportedly apprehended by police detectives from the Force Headquarters in the early hours of September 18, 2026, following a formal petition accusing him of coordinating the activities of a criminal gang operating in Gujba and Gulani local government areas.

His arrest has been welcomed by residents of Zango community in Gulani LGA, who have accused the suspected gang of carrying out repeated attacks, killings and abductions in the area.

A community leader, Yakubu Buka Ibrahim, in a statement commended the Nigeria Police Force for acting on the petition and responding to the security concerns raised by residents.

Ibrahim alleged that the gang, reportedly coordinated by Ganga, had subjected Zango community to a series of violent attacks, resulting in the deaths and injuries of residents, displacement of families and destruction of property.

He claimed that more than 200 indigenes had been killed or injured in the attacks, leaving many residents homeless and living in fear.

According to him, an elderly member of the community was killed while working on his farm on July 16, 2024, while another attack on July 19 of the same year reportedly left several residents dead and others missing.

The community leader further alleged that suspected bandits abducted residents on November 7, 2024, and demanded ransom after taking them to an undisclosed location.

He said the community had recorded seven attacks, with the incident of August 9, 2025, leaving several people dead and others wounded.

Ibrahim also accused the suspected attackers of raiding a dispensary in neighbouring Dokshi village, carting away drugs worth millions of naira and setting fire to the village primary school.

He alleged that the attacks were intended to force residents out of their ancestral homes.

The community leader expressed hope that Ganga’s arrest would pave the way for a thorough investigation into the incidents and help bring those responsible for the alleged crimes to justice.

Residents commended the police for the arrest, expressing hope that it would contribute to improved security in the affected communities.