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TheGift:
You don't create jobs by creating job centers. You create employment by creating and supporting employers.

Nine Killed, Several Abducted As Bandits Mount Coordinated Attacks On Kaduna Communities

A heartbreaking and chilling report has emerged from Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where armed bandits launched coordinated attacks on Thursday evening.

A resident of Birnin Gwari town, the local government headquarters, confirmed the incident, describing it as a well-coordinated assault by the attackers.

According to one source, the bandits surrounded Layin Danauta village in Kuyello Ward on Thursday evening, blocking all entry and exit routes while firing sporadically.

Another resident reported that by around 7 p.m., after the attackers had retreated, nine bodies were recovered, while about 13 injured persons were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Several villagers were also believed to have been abducted during the attack.

The source added that the full extent of the casualties might not be known until Friday morning, when search and rescue operations were expected to resume.

Efforts to continue the search on Thursday night were halted due to darkness and fears that the assailants might still be nearby.

The recovered bodies are expected to be buried today (Friday), either before or shortly after the Friday congregational prayers.

Bandits in Zamfara State have killed eight security personnel, comprising policemen and members of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guard (CPG), popularly known as ‘Askarawa.’

A security official confirmed the development to SaharaReporters on Thursday.

The forces were ambushed by the dare-devil bandits on the Funtuwa-Gusau road in the state.

The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has also confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Hausa, which translates to English as follows: “Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him, we shall return. We received the news with great sadness that bandits ambushed and attacked a police convoy and our Community Protection Guard personnel on the Funtuwa-Gusau road, killing eight officers.

“May Allah have mercy on them and grant their families and loved ones patience in this loss.

“We pray to Allah to bring an end to this security problem in Zamfara State, the North, and Nigeria as a whole."

SaharaReporters earlier reported that bandits on Thursday morning stormed a mosque in Maradawa, Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, abducting several worshippers during the early morning Subhi prayers.

Witnesses said the assailants, who arrived in large numbers, surrounded the mosque and whisked away an unspecified number of people before fleeing into the nearby forest.

The attack has thrown the community into panic, with residents anxiously awaiting updates on the fate of the abducted worshippers.

As of press time, neither security agencies nor the Zamfara State Government had issued an official statement regarding the incident.

Efforts to secure the release of the victims are reportedly underway.

In a similar incident, on September 26, 2025, bandits stormed a mosque in Yandoto community, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing at least five worshippers and abducting several others.

LAGOS—The Federal Government has launched the National Job Centre Project, a nationwide network of employability hubs aimed at tackling unemployment and promoting dignified, inclusive, and transformative work for Nigerians.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, announced the initiative while speaking at the Mastercard Foundation Annual Nigeria Partner Convening held in Lagos yesterday.

According to the Minister, the project is a key component of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to connect trained Nigerians to real job opportunities and strengthen the country’s labour market infrastructure.

“The National Job Centres will integrate digital job matching, data tracking, and career advisory services to create a harmonised and inclusive system,” Onyejeocha said.

“They form part of a national labour framework that empowers youth to contribute meaningfully to local industries and compete confidently on the global stage.”

She also unveiled the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme, LEEP, a flagship initiative of the Ministry targeted at enhancing the employability of young Nigerians and bridging the gap between training and employment.

“Our goal is not just to create jobs but to build systems that protect workers’ rights, ensure fair wages, and strengthen labour market governance,” the Minister added.

Onyejeocha commended the Mastercard Foundation for its sustained collaboration with Nigeria through the Young Africa Works strategy, which has supported job creation, entrepreneurship, and skills development for thousands of Nigerian youths over the past six years.

She noted that the Foundation’s approach aligns with the government’s drive to transform skills into sustainable employment, stressing that achieving decent and productive work requires the collaboration of all stakeholders — including the private sector, development partners, and civil society.

“Building an inclusive and sustainable ecosystem for work requires collective effort. We invite partners to collaborate with us in driving job access through these platforms and accelerating economic outcomes across Nigeria’s labour ecosystem,” she said.


Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to the President’s Renewed Hope vision, Onyejeocha said the government will continue to pursue policies that promote employment creation, social inclusion, and economic stability.

“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment stands ready to continue working with the Mastercard Foundation and all stakeholders to build a future where work is dignified, inclusive, and transformative,” she concluded.

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