Month: October 2026

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two men to life imprisonment and an additional 20 years each for offences linked to providing support to the proscribed Boko Haram terrorist group.

Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the sentences after the defendants pleaded guilty to charges of providing logistical support to the group and concealing information.

The convicts were identified as Abba Mustapha, from Bori village in Borno State, and 41-year-old Bukar Ibrahim, also from Borno State.

The judge sentenced each defendant to life imprisonment on the first count and 20 years in prison on the second count.

The convictions formed part of the Federal Government’s ongoing mass trials of terrorism suspects at the Federal High Court, which began on Thursday and are taking place across several courtrooms.

Other judges presiding over the proceedings include Justices James Omotosho, Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, Hauwa Yilwa, Joyce Abdulmalik and Peter Lifu.

At least 34 defendants were listed before Justice Ibrahim, while 25 appeared on the list of cases before Justice Lifu.

In July, the Federal Government announced the resumption of trials involving suspects linked to terrorism and other serious offences against the state. It described the exercise as part of its commitment to social justice through a transparent judicial process.

The government said the Federal High Court was conducting the trials with support from the Complex Casework Group of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and other stakeholders, under the coordination and supervision of the National Counter Terrorism Centre in the Office of the National Security Adviser.

It also disclosed that more than 300 suspects were facing trial before five judges in five courts established to expedite the handling of terrorism-related cases.

In April, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted 386 defendants accused of terrorism following four days of mass trials. Their prison terms ranged from five years to life imprisonment, depending on the seriousness of their offences.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said 508 defendants had been arraigned before 10 courts during that exercise.

Fagbemi added that eight defendants were discharged, while two others were acquitted.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kano State Police Command has arrested two 19-year-old men over alleged unlawful possession of a firearm and recovered a locally made revolver pistol with two rounds of live ammunition.

The command announced the arrests in a statement issued on Thursday by its Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.

According to the statement, the first suspect, Rufai Ahmed, was arrested at about 10:30 pm on October 11 during an intelligence-led patrol along Sokoto Road in Kano.

Police operatives attached to the Farm Centre Police Division reportedly intercepted a tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, after suspecting criminal activity.

“A search reportedly led to the discovery of a bag containing a locally fabricated revolver pistol and two rounds of live ammunition in Ahmed’s possession,” the statement added.

The command said further investigation led to the arrest of the second suspect, Aliyu Ibrahim, a resident of Kawo Quarters, Kano, in connection with the case.

The police command’s Criminal Investigation Department has taken over the investigation following a directive from the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.

“The arrests were made in line with the Inspector-General of Police’s directives on intelligence-led policing and the ongoing efforts to recover illegal firearms.

“The Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough investigation into the case, after which the suspects will be charged to court,” the statement said.

Bakori commended the officers involved in the operation and urged residents to provide credible information to security agencies to support efforts to prevent crime.

The police said the suspects would be charged to court after the investigation is concluded.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have disagreed over when negotiations for a new national minimum wage should begin, as organised labour insists that preparations must start immediately.

The dispute followed an exchange of letters between the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, and NLC President Joe Ajaero over the review of the N70,000 minimum wage signed into law in July 2024.

In a letter dated October 13, 2026, Ajaero challenged the government’s position that beginning a fresh review at this stage would be premature. He argued that the timetable provided under the original National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, remained relevant despite the subsequent amendment.

The NLC president urged the government to initiate the process by inviting nominations and inaugurating the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee, which comprises representatives of the government, organised labour and employers.

“The time is now. The appropriate time is now,” Ajaero wrote, warning that further delays could worsen the economic hardship confronting Nigerian workers.

His response came a day after Dingyadi, in a letter dated October 12, acknowledged a communique issued after a joint meeting of the NLC’s Central Working Committee and National Executive Council.

The minister maintained that the current minimum wage would become due for review on June 1, 2027. He argued that opening another review barely two years after the implementation of the N70,000 wage could be premature and disruptive to industrial relations.

The disagreement comes amid growing labour concerns over rising living costs and the declining purchasing power of workers’ salaries.

In a statement issued on October 1 to mark Nigeria’s Independence Day, the NLC demanded an immediate reduction in petrol prices, a nationwide wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new minimum wage.

The statement, signed by Ajaero and titled “Our Hope Depends on the Choices We Make and the Actions We Take”, highlighted the impact of rising transportation, food, rent and education costs on workers’ earnings.

The union also called for the implementation of tax relief measures agreed upon with the government in October 2023, arguing that workers needed additional support amid mounting financial pressures.

Among its demands, the NLC urged the government to reduce petrol prices to the levels that prevailed when the current minimum wage was signed into law in 2024, begin wage negotiations before the end of October and implement outstanding agreements with health and public sector workers.

It warned that failure to meet its demands within the stipulated period could lead to further action as directed by its relevant organs.

In his October 13 letter, Ajaero argued that the 2019 law, signed on April 18 of that year, had envisaged a review by April 2024. He maintained that the 2024 amendment did not erase the original timetable and argued that a new wage should take effect by April 17, 2027.

According to the NLC, negotiations should begin at least six months before the relevant deadline to allow sufficient time for preparations and prevent the accumulation of arrears. Based on its interpretation, the process should have commenced by October 17, 2026.

The union clarified that it was not demanding the immediate implementation of a new minimum wage but wanted the administrative and negotiation processes to begin.

Dingyadi, however, maintained that the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, as amended by the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024, provides for a review every three years.

The differing interpretations have left the timing of the next minimum wage negotiations at the centre of the dispute between the Federal Government and organised labour.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, has urged residents of the North-Central region to support President Bola Tinubu and the governor in the 2027 general elections.

Kula made the appeal during an appearance on TVC News on Wednesday, arguing that Tinubu’s re-election would allow his administration to continue implementing its Renewed Hope Agenda.

He defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, describing them as necessary for sustainable growth and long-term prosperity. He also argued that states across the North-Central region could benefit from the policies.

The governor’s spokesperson linked Benue’s development efforts to cooperation between the state and federal governments, saying Tinubu’s economic policies had supported investments in agriculture, education and healthcare under Alia’s administration.

According to Kula, the policies had also contributed to economic growth and increased federal allocations to state governments.

He cited efforts to revive industrial activities in Benue, including the reactivation of previously dormant facilities such as Benue Brewery, Bensono Orange Juice Company and Taraku Mills.

Kula also highlighted the activities of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), which he said had expanded into the production of bread, nails and steel to promote local manufacturing.

On infrastructure, he pointed to urban renewal projects and road construction across the state as part of the administration’s achievements.

He disclosed that the state government had begun plans to construct three township roads in each of Benue’s 23 local government areas.

Kula further said the welfare of civil servants and pensioners remained a priority for the Alia administration.

He called on voters in Benue and other North-Central states to support both Tinubu and Alia at the polls, arguing that their continued leadership would sustain development efforts in the state and the wider region.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested three men accused of sexually abusing girls aged nine, 10 and 11 in separate incidents across the state.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, October 15, 2026, as he raised concerns about children’s vulnerability to abuse and called for greater community vigilance.

According to the statement, the first case was reported on October 12 at the Tilden Fulani Division in Toro Local Government Area.

The victim’s mother alleged that a 47-year-old man, Auwal Ibrahim, of Unguwar Sarkin Hausawa, lured her 11-year-old daughter into a narrow passage with N500 before sexually abusing her.

The girl was taken to General Hospital, Toro, for medical attention. Police said the suspect initially denied the allegation, while detectives visited the scene and commenced investigations.

The second incident was reported on October 13 at the E Division in Bauchi by a woman from Gwallameji, whose nine-year-old daughter was allegedly abused by a 35-year-old man, Sabitu Muhammed.

The woman alleged that Muhammed lured the child into his room and sexually abused her on several occasions.

Police arrested the suspect and took the girl to the police clinic in Bauchi for medical examination and support. The case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

In the third case, a 40-year-old woman from Wuntin Dada reported to the B Division in GRA, Bauchi, on October 13 that her 10-year-old daughter had been sexually abused.

According to the police statement, the girl had been sent to buy sugar on the evening of the incident when a 22-year-old resident of the neighbourhood, Anas Adam, allegedly intercepted her and took her to his house.

Detectives visited the scene, while the victim was taken to the police clinic for medical examination. Adam was arrested in connection with the allegation.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the alleged offences, describing them as inhumane and barbaric. He assured the victims and their families that the command would conduct thorough investigations and pursue prosecution where the evidence supports it.

Aliyu urged parents, guardians and community leaders to pay close attention to children’s safety and report suspicious behaviour or suspected abuse to the nearest police station.

He stressed that protecting children required collective responsibility and called on residents to remain vigilant to help prevent further abuse.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu is attracting support from politicians across party lines ahead of the 2027 general election.

Kwankwaso said the participation of politicians from different political parties in Tinubu’s re-election campaign demonstrated the president’s expanding political support base.

He made the remarks on Thursday while commenting on the inauguration of the campaign council for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“To me, the inauguration of the Campaign Council is like a congregation celebrating the re-election of President Tinubu back to office,” he said.

The APC chieftain cited the presence of politicians from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party as evidence that Tinubu was receiving support beyond his party.

He argued that the development was unusual in Nigeria’s political history, particularly given the disagreements that had previously divided some of the politicians now supporting the president.

“It has never happened in Nigeria’s political history that one man could attract nearly all opposition parties, not only opposition politicians, but people who have never agreed to sit together yet, because of Tinubu, they have accepted to come on board and pursue a common goal,” he said.

Kwankwaso also defended Tinubu’s economic policies, arguing that comments by Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and other political leaders reflected an understanding of the challenges facing Nigeria and the global economy.

He maintained that the 2027 election should be viewed beyond Tinubu’s political future, arguing that the president should be allowed to serve another term to consolidate his economic reforms.

His position comes amid continuing political debate over the administration’s economic policies and their effects on Nigerians ahead of the next general election.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Senate has ordered an investigation into the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Comrade Etimbuk Daniel, at the orientation camp in Enugu State.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance raised on Thursday by Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bassey expressed shock over Daniel’s death and identified him as a former Students’ Union Government president of Akwa Ibom State University who had proceeded for the mandatory national service.

The senator said reports indicated that Daniel died from complications linked to a minor headache after allegedly experiencing delays in receiving adequate medical attention at the camp clinic.

He said the incident had raised concerns about the quality of healthcare available at NYSC orientation camps, particularly the availability of qualified medical personnel, functional facilities and effective emergency referral systems.

Bassey added that the government had a constitutional responsibility to protect citizens’ welfare and ensure that graduates undertaking national service received appropriate medical care.

He said Daniel’s death had plunged his family, the university community and Akwa Ibom State into mourning.

Seconding the motion, Senator Tahir Monguno, representing Borno North, called for a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the death and ensure accountability where necessary.

The Senate subsequently directed its committees on Police, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Youth Development, and Health to investigate the incident in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The investigation is expected to determine whether negligence or other failures contributed to Daniel’s death.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, commended Bassey for bringing the matter before the chamber and urged the committees to conduct a thorough investigation.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Dr Tijjani Ahmad, an accountant and lecturer at Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure, has criticised the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) assessment of the Nigerian economy, questioning the benefits of economic growth amid widespread poverty and food insecurity.

In a Facebook post, Ahmad argued that the IMF’s reported economic growth of 4.2 per cent and its claim that reforms had strengthened the economy’s resilience contrasted sharply with the hardship facing millions of Nigerians.

He cited figures in the report indicating that poverty affected about 63 per cent of the population, or roughly 140 million people, while 27 million Nigerians faced food insecurity.

“If growth leaves people poorer and hungrier, what exactly is growing?” Ahmad asked, describing the situation as one in which the government had become richer while citizens became poorer.

He, however, identified what he considered a deeper contradiction in the IMF’s position on Nigeria’s fuel subsidy policy, arguing that the debate should go beyond simply removing or restoring the subsidy.

According to him, Nigerians had experienced the consequences of both prolonged subsidy arrangements, which he described as corrupt, and the hardship associated with subsidy removal.

Ahmad maintained that the central issue was not necessarily whether the subsidy should be removed or restored, but how the government managed whichever policy it chose.

He proposed that if the government decided to maintain subsidy removal, it should ring-fence the reported N15.8 trillion in savings for investment in transport and healthcare, expand targeted assistance beyond the N25,000 support scheme, and ensure that domestic refineries operated effectively to help reduce fuel prices.

He also called for a reassessment of the country’s economic policy, urging the government to develop solutions suited to Nigeria’s circumstances rather than simply follow external prescriptions.

“We need to go back to the drawing board and redesign a Nigerian solution, not just take orders,” Ahmad said.

By Emy Okpara

Across the length and breadth of Nigeria, there’s a foreboding that pervades. It is palpable and tense. Instigated by a new culture of intimidation that reminds one of the Gestapo. The average Nigerian citizen has been chiselled into silence in a way never before seen!. What’s even more worrisome is the fact that this has become the norm across the board. Since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, the average Nigerian citizen has never faced this level of intimidation from both the government and fellow citizens. 

Interestingly, this new wave of intimidation of citizens has continued to gain traction in recent times. Not only are citizens locked up for demanding accountability from the government; individual citizens have formed the habit of intimidating fellow citizens! The case of Mrs Love Dooshima, who was recently arrested and detained by the police on the orders of the CEO of Bon Bread, comes to mind. For reviewing a storybook for primary school children, a young mother of two was also arrested by the author. With state institutions now willing to be abused by the highest bidders, citizens live in constant fear and trepidation. 

In the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a visually impaired student who complained about the deplorable state of the hostel facilities attracted the ire of the school management. They swiftly swung into action, not to address his concerns but to eject him from the hostel facility! Sadly, all this happened while fellow students looked on, a testament to the fact that Nigerians are gradually losing their ability to fight back. In the past, such actions against a student would have been met with stiff resistance. 

On March 26, 2026, Winnie Miller was allegedly assaulted by the local government chairman of the Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State for posting the dilapidated state of a school in her community. Examples like this have become commonplace in Nigeria, and we cannot list them all. 

The times are perilous in Nigeria, and as a concerned citizen, it has become expedient to ask: for how long will this suppression of the people’s rights to freedom of speech continue? More often than not, government institutions like the police and the army have become willing tools in the hands of the oppressors. By all indications, these institutions now pledge loyalty to individual officeholders rather than serving the public interest. 

In April 2026, Nigerians witnessed two disturbing incidents: the first was the gruesome murder of Oghenemine Ogidi in broad daylight by men of the Nigerian police force in Delta State. Human rights activist Justice Mark Chidibiere (Justicecrack) was abducted for daring to amplify the voices of men of the Nigerian army who cried out for better welfare. It took the timely intervention of well-meaning Nigerians and civil society for the Nigerian military to release him after 48 hours! 

There is a well-calculated attempt to beat the average Nigerian into submission. Unfortunately, this new trend is being enabled by the judiciary’s tacit permission. It is now common practice to hear frivolous judgments without justice from the very institution meant to uphold justice! Our legal practitioners have sold their conscience for a morsel of porridge! Judges now scramble to run errands for politicians, all in exchange for choice houses.

Nigeria, a supposed democratic nation, now operates without the tenets of the rule of law. Hundreds of Nigerian citizens are languishing in Nigerian prisons owing to the filibustering antics of the judiciary. Justice is no longer the hope of the commoner but the exclusive preserve of the high and mighty. The constitution, which is supposed to be the grundnorm, no longer holds supremacy. 

It is indeed sad that we are gradually building a society where feedback is no longer tolerated. Why should diversity of opinion become a crime? How did we get here? More worrisome is the fact that while law-abiding citizens are constantly being harassed and intimidated, criminal elements are left to roam freely. 

A situation where institutions of the state funded by the taxpayers become an instrument of oppression against the citizens they are supposed to protect is a recipe for disaster. Nigeria is sitting on the precipice if this is allowed to continue. On no account should citizens be subjected to torture for seeing things differently. In a democracy, freedom of expression is a fundamental human right which every citizen must enjoy. The fact that most Nigerians are now made to live in fear violates that constitutional right.

Nigerians must understand what the goal of the political class is: silence opposing voices through fear and intimidation to establish their dynasties! It is not by accident that most of their wards are now contesting for political offices. Only our silence can enthrone their dominance, and after serving the fathers, we will serve their children! It is in our collective best interest to keep raising our voices against oppressive tendencies. We cannot afford to be silent at moments like this because we will have an eternity of silence when we pass on. 

On the other hand, those in positions of authority must realise that power is transient and that they hold these offices in trust for the people. This tradition of intimidation will not persist for long because the power of the people is far greater than the power of those in office. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, and it is still well within the rights of individual citizens to speak against unfavourable government policies without fear or favour. 

As citizens, we must remain resolute and steadfast; refuse to be silenced! We must use our voices and numbers to continue demanding accountability from those whom we have placed in positions of authority. Our strength lies in our numbers. No government can be more powerful than the people it is meant to serve. Therefore, we must continue to stand together as one in demanding a Nigeria that works for all.

Emy Okpara wrote via emyokparaoo1@gmail.com.

By Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi

Full disclosure: I had the song “Strong Ting” by Banky W on auto-repeat in my music playlist while in the world. Be that as it may, that’s by the way!

“…But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

Nigerian singer and filmmaker Bankole Wellington, better known as Banky W, relived this aspect of 1 Samuel 30:6 after losing his bid for the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives during the 2023 general election. Finding courage in the Lord like David did when distraught and threatened, Banky found clarity amidst the maze and melancholy.

We will get to this momentarily, but not before ridding the elephant in the room. That would be the streets and cynics taunting: “Who send am go run for election?” or something like, “Couldn’t he have seen that the odds were stacked against him?” If his instincts couldn’t, how about his spiritual discernment as a man of God? The comment section also has others asking why he’s giving up so easily by not trying “his luck again” or worming his way into the good graces of the prevailing political establishment.

Politicians, particularly of the Nigerian stock, are Pollyannaish in nature. In fact, it seems a major qualification to be a politician in Nigeria is an overbloated sense of one’s worth or extreme optimism. They hardly give up on their ambitions. Banky W not being on the ballot in this round of elections affirms his epiphany or Road to Damascus experience.

In a post on his Instagram page this Thursday, @bankywellington wrote, “In 2023 I lost an election. And while the experience inspired me in many ways, it also broke my heart into a million little pieces. When the dust settled, I took those pieces back to God. And I surrendered.” We commend him for turning to God like David did when he seemingly lost it all. How great is the Lord to have successfully mended a heart shattered into a million fragments! This is why, upon life’s billows, people should run to, not away from Him. Perhaps those jostling for political positions in Nigeria’s 2027 election will, by Banky’s testimony, learn how to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat when the chips are down.

It is in the character of many to pick a quarrel with God when things don’t work out as planned. Such persons should heed the admonition of the tried and triumphant Job by acquainting themselves with God, and be at peace: so that good can come unto them (Job 22:21). If only the aggrieved had a sense of the big picture, they would see that the good Lord has not called the seed of Jacob to seek Him in vain. Even when you have acted in spite, or volitionally, the loving Father’s penchant for turning a mess into a message makes Him to bestow on you “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3).

Banky W is definitely better off currently than he would have been holding a political office. That’s probably why he is out of the 2027 polls. This isn’t about him working as a teacher and leader at Union College in the United States, but about what his koinonia with the Holy Spirit can bring. We congratulate the music label boss, who significantly propelled the career of Grammy-grabbing Wizkid as the EME honcho, for being able to expressly hear from the Lord and align with the Almighty’s will for his life. Hear him again: “One year later, I’m reminded that sometimes what feels like the end of your story is really just God turning the page. The election didn’t go the way I hoped. But God’s plans for my life are bigger than the plans I had for myself.”

We can now see that all things work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. If not for his loss at the polls, Banky wouldn’t have come to a better and beneficial understanding of God. This brings us back to whether he didn’t get Heaven’s green light before initially throwing his hat in the ring. That could also have been God’s means of helping the prodigiously talented celebrity actualise destiny. Notice that while acknowledging God’s expansion of his assignments, he didn’t list politics. As it were, not even the “P” in his P.Banks moniker was cited as representing “politician.” “I used to joke that the ‘P’ in P.Banks stood for Professor, not Pastor. I guess God heard and said, ‘Why not both?’” he wrote. It pays greatly to know and follow the divine will for one’s life.

The consciousness of God in your corner would never allow you to turn the curveball life throws at you into an own goal. But this requires subjecting your will to His on every matter. That word “surrendered,” as used by the former secular singer, is basically what is needed. So many people have missed it in life and destiny because they couldn’t yield. We advisedly used “couldn’t” since some people are eager to be led but don’t know how. Come to think of it, how can someone not desire being led by the Lord? The fact that politicians are no longer making a singsong of “follow who know road” in this electioneering season doesn’t mean that the street wisdom is no longer valid. How much more the privilege of having to follow the Road (no pun intended – John 14:6).

King David absolutely knew what he was talking about when he declared in Psalm 23, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The ensuing verses list other amazing benefits. God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Graciously, He is not hard to find. Verses in the Old and New Testaments affirm this much. Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Matthew 7:7: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” In reality, He is the one actually doing the seeking. This is why He said in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Nonetheless, without bothering ourselves with the semantic symmetry between seeking and following God, the Good News is that both spiritual endeavours are enabled by the same manual – the Bible. You seek and know God by studying and meditating on His Word. For sure, there are Sons who can hear God directly and clearly; they all started from somewhere – a hunger for the Word of God. You’ve got to begin from the known to the unknown. In the main, be sure not to dissent as you discern!

VIS Ugochukwu is a sage, storyteller, and branding specialist who welcomes feedback at nmiringwu@gmail.com.