By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Armed bandits, in large numbers, have again reportedly launched an attack, killing a local vigilante, Mustapha Baba, and abducting a woman and her son at Kyauta, Millennium City, in Kaduna State.

The brother of the deceased, Yusuf Baba, who confirmed the incident on his social media handle, said Mustapha Baba was shot by the bandits during the attack and rushed to Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, where he later died on Wednesday night.

The terrorist group reportedly attacked a house located near the popular Mai-Rago Friday Mosque in the area.

According to a family source, the attackers demanded to see the owner of the house but later abducted his wife and son when they could not find the main target.

Series of attacks

It was gathered that the incident is the latest in a series of attacks targeting Kyauta and other communities within Millennium City.

A previous attack was reported at the Police Estate in Baban Saura, where five residents were reportedly abducted.

During a recent security meeting, residents of Millennium City appealed to the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to improve road access to some parts of the community as part of efforts to address insecurity.

Stakeholders demand action

The Chairman of the Millennium City Security, Development and Enhancement Forum and Chairman of Katukan Danhonu Community, Alhaji Abu Mohammed, said stakeholders had identified the completion of the Eastern Bypass road project as a top priority, describing the abandoned road and bridge construction as a major challenge to effective security operations in the area.

The stakeholders urged the Federal Government to expedite work on the Eastern Bypass and complete the bridge to improve accessibility for security agencies, facilitate the movement of heavy-duty vehicles and ensure prompt emergency response to security threats.

They also called for the deployment of additional police and military personnel, as well as more sophisticated security equipment, to strengthen the capacity of security agencies to combat banditry and protect communities in the area.

Police yet to comment

The police had yet to issue any official statement regarding the attack as at the time of filing this report on Thursday.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, has lauded the Department of State Services (DSS), for rescuing kidnapped victims and dislodging a criminal camp on the outskirts of Atabula village, Aloshi District, Obi LGA of the state.
Governor Sule spoke on the heels of the recent rescue, by DSS operatives, of one Joseph Obagwu, who had gone to secure the release of his son, Samuel Olom Obagwu, a student of the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA).
DSS officers had on the same Tuesday arrested three members of the kidnap syndicate at Gidigidi Hotel, behind Shinge Market in Lafia LGA. The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Musa, Titus Baka Fidelis, and Sani Adamu.
It was revealed that Adamu had received ₦200,000 from the victim’s family, as part of the ransom demanded by the syndicate.
Governor Sule described the arrests as a demonstration of the effectiveness and dedication of the security agencies, urging them to sustain the momentum and remain resolute in the fight against criminal elements.
He appealed to citizens to remain vigilant and provide timely, credible and useful information to security agencies, stressing that collective vigilance and cooperation are essential to maintaining peace and security in the state.
Also commending the DSS, the traditional ruler of Duduguru community, in Jenkwe Development Area of Obi Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State, Chief Pius Ogu, said the rescue operations had brought huge relief to his community.
He disclosed that the elder Obagwu was abducted after paying Two million Naira ransom for the release of his son, a FULAFIA student who was earlier kidnapped on August 11, 2026.
“The kidnappers released the son and took in the father as replacement,” disclosed the traditional ruler.
He continued, “the DSS operatives, apparently acting on credible intelligence,stormed the kidnappers’ camp in the early hours of Tuesday, forcing them to flee into nearby bushes. In the process, they successfully rescued the victim, Joseph Obagwu, who had been held hostage since August 15, 2026. The operatives thereafter razed the criminals’ camp”.
He added that the suspects are currently in custody for interrogation,” stressing that the rescue and arrest had brought so much relief to his community.

“We used to hear that the DSS has been unrelenting in its effort to wipe out kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes across the country. We witnessed this first hand, and are very happy for it.
“As the agency continues to deploy a combination of intelligence-driven operations, sustained surveillance, and strategic collaboration with sister security agencies to track down perpetrators and dismantle their hideouts, we, the citizens pledge our support to help them continue on this great path,” he declared.

The 7th China-Africa Media Cooperation Forum opened in Beijing on Thursday, with African and Chinese officials and media practitioners calling for stronger cooperation in broadcasting, audiovisual content, technology and professional development.

Themed “Share Development Opportunities, Shape the Audio-Visual Future,” the forum seeks to promote media cooperation and strengthen people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa.

In his remarks, Alhaji Mohamed Sarjoh Bah, the African Union’s Permanent Representative to China, said the creative industries could drive economic growth, create jobs and attract investment.

Bah called for deeper Africa-China cooperation in film production, broadcasting, animation, gaming, digital content and other creative industries, saying the sector could create jobs, attract investment and stimulate innovation.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that Africa tells its own stories, urging stronger partnerships between African and Chinese media organisations in content production and distribution.

The envoy also advocated responsible use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies and called for increased investment in youth skills, professional exchanges and knowledge transfer.

Director-General of the African Union of Broadcasting, Gregoire Ndjaka, said China-Africa broadcasting cooperation had produced tangible results through technology, equipment and training that have supported the modernisation of African broadcasting.

Ndjaka called for expanded cooperation in modern broadcasting technologies and professional training, while urging greater distribution of African audiovisual content on Chinese media platforms.

He said a more balanced flow of content would allow Chinese audiences to see Africa through African perspectives and strengthen mutual understanding.

UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, said the media had a critical role in reshaping perceptions of Africa and promoting greater ownership of the continent’s narrative.

She described Africa as resource-rich, idea-rich and youthful, noting the growing potential of its audiovisual industry to create jobs, support services trade and promote cultural exchange.

Eziakonwa urged African and Chinese media organisations to move from simply transmitting content to co-creating it, including through the use of artificial intelligence in African languages and contexts.

Delivering the keynote address, Cao Shumin, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of the National Radio and Television Administration, called for stronger two-way media cooperation and content exchange.

Cao said China-Africa media cooperation had contributed to people-to-people bonds through high-quality content and urged both sides to focus on technological development, professional exchanges and regular cooperation among media practitioners.

She noted that China and Africa had already co-produced audiovisual programmes and encouraged further collaboration, including the use of artificial intelligence in content generation.

The forum, which runs from August 19 to 21, also featured a release of achievements in China- Africa Radio, and an adoption of the joint declaration of the 7th forum on China-Africa Media

Supporting events such as the China-Africa audio-visual program exchange, the China-Africa Audio-visual Youth Cooperation initiative and the China visit program for Africa media practioners will also be held alongside the forum.

Participants are expected to use the forum to deepen content cooperation, technological innovation and professional exchanges while strengthening China-Africa friendship and people-to-people relations.