The Deputy Amirul Hajj and Grand Khadi of Sokoto State, Alhaji Sodangi Acida has disclosed that two female pilgrims from Sokoto State have died in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, after the successful completion of the 2026 Hajj exercise.
A statement issued by the Head of Information and Communications of the Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Faruku Umar, said the deceased were identified as Ladi Umar from Bodinga Local Government Area and Hadiza Umar from Yabo Local Government Area.

Acida said two other female pilgrims involved in the same accident are currently receiving treatment at a Saudi hospital, with one being treated for a fracture and the other for an arm dislocation.

The statement conveyed the condolences of the Sokoto State Government to the families of the deceased and prayed for Allah to forgive their shortcomings and grant them Aljannatul Firdaus.

The Deputy Amirul Hajj said the first batch of Sokoto pilgrims is scheduled to depart Saudi Arabia for Nigeria on June 14, adding that the return flights would be based on the principle of “first to arrive, first to depart.”

He also urged pilgrims to comply with the approved luggage regulations, stressing that each pilgrim must ensure their luggage does not exceed the stipulated 32-kilogram limit.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar JJ, expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmad Aliyu for his support towards the welfare of Sokoto pilgrims throughout the Hajj exercise.

He also commended members of the state delegation, the agency’s board and staff, and the pilgrims for their cooperation and support, which contributed to the successful conduct of the 2026 Hajj operation.

The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested seven suspected bandits linked to criminal activities, including the killing of three Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, personnel in Bagudo Local Government Area.

Police spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, said in a statement on Monday, that the arrests were made during intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks operating around the Soda Forest axis and neighbouring border communities.

He said mobile police operatives intercepted three suspects along the Illo–Lolo road while they were travelling on a motorcycle from the Soda Forest area towards border settlements.

The suspects were identified as Muhammadu Bande, Aliyu Abubakar, and Muhammadu Aliyu.

Preliminary investigations showed that they were allegedly moving to deliver food supplies to armed groups operating in forest hideouts.

In a separate operation along the Bakin Ruwa–Ka’oje axis, four additional suspects, Haruna Abubakar, Abubakar Lawali, Anme Shehu, and Yahaya Shehu, were arrested as part of ongoing clearance operations in the area.

The police said investigations are ongoing to determine their level of involvement in recent attacks, including the killing of three FRSC officers in the area.

The suspects are in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Umar Hadejia, commended the operatives for the arrests and praised residents for providing useful intelligence that supported the operation.

No fewer than four hostages and a solider were reported killed during a kidnapping incident targeting Chinese expatriates in Magbon Village, Mowe area of Obafemi-Owode Local Government, Ogun State.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers stormed the dredging site popularly called Capo in the early hours of Monday.

According to eyewitnesses, one of the military personnel, protecting the people, was killed while another sustained gunshot injuries.

DAILY POST learnt that during the bush-combing exercise, a local hunter supporting the operation lost his life in an encounter with the fleeing criminals.

Confirming the incident, in a statement on Tuesday, the Assistant Director Army Public Relations 35 Artillery Brigade, Idereghi  Akari, noted that the troops in conjunction with the Nigerian Police responded  to the distress call at a dredging site where expatriate workers were engaged in operations. 

Akari stated that a fierce exchange of fire ensued, during which one of the attackers was neutralized and the remaining assailants reportedly abandoned their mission, withdrawing through surrounding forest terrain toward the Ogun River. 

According to the statement, the kidnappers reportedly took five hostages as human shields to evade pursuit by a Quick Response Force deployed as reinforcement.

He disclosed that four hostages were killed by the fleeing attackers before they escaped through the river channel with a boat and one hostage who escaped recounted how the assailants took the body of their dead colleague along with them.

Part of the statement reads, “The incident occurred on Monday, June 8, 2026, when the joint security patrol was ambushed by armed men suspected to be kidnappers while responding to a distress call at a dredging site where the expatriate workers were engaged in operations. 

“A fierce exchange of fire ensued, during which one of the attackers was neutralized. The remaining assailants reportedly abandoned their mission and withdrew through surrounding forest terrain towards the Ogun River, taking five hostages as human shields to evade pursuit by a Quick Response Force deployed as reinforcement.

“The four hostages were later killed by the fleeing attackers before they escaped through the river channel with a boat.”

The army also confirmed that a soldier lost his life during the encounter, while another soldier and two police officers sustained gunshot injuries. 

He added that the deceased soldier and the recovered bodies of the four victims have been deposited at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Sagamu and the injured personnel are currently receiving medical attention.

“Following the incident, the Quick Response Force and other security agencies have intensified patrols and surveillance in the area to restore calm and prevent further security breaches,” the statement added.

Major Akari reiterated the military’s commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring residents that operations in the Mowe axis would be sustained until the fleeing assailants are apprehended.