Fire has gutted 10 shops at the Katsina Central Market, also known as Fatima Baika Market, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Some traders attributed the incident to a solar-powered electricity inverter, alleging that it sparked the blaze that quickly spread through parts of the market.

The spokesperson of the Katsina State Fire Service, Rabe Audi, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying a distress call was received shortly after the fire started, prompting firefighters to swiftly mobilise to the scene.

He said the prompt response helped to prevent the fire from spreading to other sections of the market, adding that seven nearby shops and several goods were successfully saved.

According to him, 10 shops were completely destroyed in the inferno before it was brought under control.

The affected shops reportedly included those dealing in food items, beverages, textiles, curtains and other assorted goods, while a Peugeot 406 vehicle was also among properties rescued from the fire.

Rabe Audi noted that the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but advised members of the public, especially users of solar inverter systems, to ensure proper installation and maintenance to prevent similar incidents.

He assured that a full assessment of the damage would be conducted to determine the extent of losses recorded in the market.

The combined team of security operatives have arrested three suspected kidnappers after they were identified by victims in Jattu market, in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

DAILY POST reports that the suspects were arrested by the combined team of operatives of Edo State Police Command, Jattu Division and the State security outfit codename, Edo State Security Corps, ESSC.

The spokesperson of the Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem disclosed this to newsmen in Benin City.

Ikoedem gave the names of the suspects as Nura Dahiru,  22, Ibrahim Yakubu, 25 and Abubakar Inusa, 23.

She said two of the suspects were identified by one Mrs Ibrahim Jemila, and one other as members of the kidnapping gang responsible for their abduction. 

According to her, on the 15th May, 2026, at about 17:50 hours, the Divisional Police Officer, Jattu Division, received credible information that one of the suspected kidnappers of one Ibrahim Jemila ‘f’, who was abducted and later released on 13th May, 2026, had been sighted at Jattu Market. 

“Acting swiftly on the information, operatives of the Division mobilised in collaboration with members of the Edo State Security Corps to the location where three suspects were arrested.

“In the course of investigation, two of the suspects, Nura Dahiru and Ibrahim Yakubu, have been positively identified by Jemila and one other as members of the kidnapping gang responsible for their abduction”, she said.

Ikoedem described the arrest as another breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes in the State by the Command.

Zamfara State Police Command has neutralised two suspected bandits and recovered explosive devices during separate security operations in Bungudu Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazoo Abubakar, said armed hoodlums invaded the Funture area of Rugar Buda Village via Nahuce District in Bungudu Emirate around 12:30 a.m., firing sporadically in an attempt to cause panic among residents.

He said operatives, alongside other security personnel stationed in Nahuce, swiftly mobilised to the scene and engaged the attackers in a gun duel.

According to him, two bandits were killed during the encounter, while others escaped into nearby forests with possible gunshot injuries.

He added that a vigilante member, identified as Kabiru Auwal, sustained a gunshot injury to his left hand and is currently receiving treatment at a medical facility.

The Command said patrol and confidence-building operations have been intensified in the affected communities to prevent further attacks and ensure residents’ safety.

In a related development, the Command disclosed that operatives of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, in collaboration with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) team, discovered and neutralised an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, along the Bilbis–Kuncin Kalgo Road.

According to DSP Abubakar, the pressure-plate IED, suspected to have been planted by terrorists, was detected at the Hayin Kagana–Kuncin Kalgo axis and safely dismantled without casualties.

He said the device was professionally evacuated and destroyed in line with standard safety procedures to prevent accidental detonation, rendering the area safe for public use.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Muhammad Bello, commended the operatives for their professionalism and assured residents of continued efforts to sustain security across the state.