News

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing worsening insecurity, alleged injustice and the failure to pay their salaries and allowances.

The lawmakers announced their decision in a statement on Sunday, accusing the party and the state administration of failing to adequately address security challenges affecting residents across the state.

Those who resigned are Aliyu Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Ibrahim Bakura, representing Bakura; Faruk Dosara, representing Maradun I; and Bashir Masama, representing Bukkuyum North.

Others are Muktaru Kaura, representing Kaura North; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Bashar Bello, representing Bungudu West; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.

The lawmakers also cited what they described as a worsening welfare situation affecting them and their constituents.

Kagara said the lawmakers had gone 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements.

“This is our 32 months without salary, allowances and other entitlements as honourable members and the people of Zamfara; the ball is in their court,” he said.

He added, “Whether they enjoy what is happening or not, they are in the best position to take action, and they need not be told.”

Kagara also accused the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal of failing to adequately address insecurity, particularly in rural communities.

“What we are challenging Governor Lawal’s administration about is even worse now compared to previous times, so we have seen no reason to continue remaining in the APC,” he said.

“Our constituents in rural areas who voted us into power to address their security concerns were not being given any attention.”

However, the APC said it had not received official copies of the lawmakers’ resignation letters.

The party’s Publicity Secretary in Zamfara, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the APC had only seen the letters on social media and was awaiting official communication through the lawmakers’ respective political wards and local government executives.

“We are still waiting for their correspondence from their respective political wards after reaching their local government executives, which would later be forwarded to us,” Birnin-Magaji told Daily Trust.

The APC spokesperson added, “We all saw it on social media platforms, but whenever we receive the copies officially, we would communicate with you on our stand.”

According to Birnin-Magaji, the party was not aware of any grievances from the lawmakers before the resignation letters emerged.

The lawmakers were reportedly suspended by the APC before their resignation over allegations that they attempted to remove the Speaker of the state House of Assembly about a year ago.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has formally appointed 56-year-old Suleiman Kum as the new Head of its Nigeria National Office.

Kum, who previously served as Deputy Registrar in the Head of National Office’s department, was Senior Deputy Registrar in charge of Test Administration before the end of August.

He succeeds Dr Amos Dangut, whose three-year tenure as Head of the Nigeria National Office ended on October 1, 2026. Dangut has since taken up the position of Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of WAEC.

The appointment was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by Moyosola Adesina, Head of Public Affairs, WAEC Nigeria.

Adesina described Kum as “a seasoned test developer, administrator and executive”. He joined WAEC on July 17, 1998, as Assistant Registrar II.

Throughout his career, Kum has held several positions across the council, with responsibilities covering examination security, test administration, branch management and technological innovation.

WAEC said Kum pioneered “Variable Data Printing and enhanced code-security features in security printing, replacing council-wide attendance systems with facial-recognition biometric devices and leading the seamless delivery of Achievement Tests using the Computer-Based Examination mode.”

The council said his experience includes test development, examination administration, examination security and the management of branch and zonal offices.

“Throughout his career, he has driven administrative and technological innovations, including establishing the Gusau office as a Custodial Centre,” it stated.

Kum, who is from Plateau State, obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). He is also pursuing a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Planning at the institution.

His previous assignments include Assistant Registrar II/Head, Exams Security, Awka; Assistant Registrar I/Head, Exams Security, Yola; Assistant Registrar I/Head, Exams Security, Makurdi; Senior Assistant Registrar I/Branch Controller, Gusau; and Principal Assistant Registrar/Branch Controller, Kano.

He also served as Deputy Registrar/Head of the Security Printing Department; Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator, Port Harcourt; Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator, Ikeja; Director of Administration; and Senior Deputy Registrar/Test Administration.

The council said Kum’s work over the years had earned him several commendations and awards.

“Throughout his eventful career, Mr Kum has shown integrity, diligence, innovation and a strong commitment to service. His leadership across various portfolios has earned him numerous institutional commendations, accolades and awards within the Council and beyond,” it added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Kidnappers holding prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State have reportedly reduced their ransom demand from N50 million to N5 million per victim.

The revised demand brings the total ransom being sought for the 20 abducted graduates from N1 billion to N100 million, according to information from the victims’ families.

The development came as relatives of the victims raised concerns over their safety, alleging that the abductors had subjected some of the captives to physical assault.

One of the affected parents, Alhaja Alimot Akande, said the kidnappers had reduced the demand but that the families remained deeply concerned about the condition of their children.

“The kidnappers had reduced their demand from the earlier N50m per victim to N5m each,” she said.

“They are still demanding N5m. They have come down to N5m each.”

The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked the two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State on Thursday.

The victims included graduates whose names were released by their parents during a visit to the residence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in Bodija, Ibadan.

Among those identified were Makinde Mary Oluwapelumi, Akande Kehinde Morufat, Abdul Temiloluwa Sarah, Adeniran Mariam Olulola, Adefioye Ayomide Isaac, Adewale Paul Iyanuoluwa and Oyede Esther Funmilayo.

The parents also disputed earlier claims that 10 passengers had been rescued by security operatives, saying those who escaped the attackers did so by running into the bush.

Akande said she could not confirm how much had been raised by the families towards the ransom because she was not involved in the arrangements between the abductors and the other parents.

“I cannot say because I do not know how much they have told those people that they have,” she said.

Describing the ordeal, she said, “It has been horrible, scary and overwhelming.”

She added that the situation became more distressing after the families learnt that the captives were allegedly being beaten.

“Sir, we appeal to the government at all levels to please assist us in getting them rescued out of that place. They have started beating them since yesterday,” she said.

Asked whether the female victims were also being assaulted, Akande said:

“They are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them,” she said.

She further alleged that one of the victims had been allowed to speak with his father, with the kidnappers using the communication to assess the family’s ability to pay the ransom.

“The abductors would alert the victim whenever his father’s call came in and allow him to speak because they believed the father could provide the ransom. His father has been communicating with him. The kidnappers give him access to a telephone. Whenever his father calls, they show him that a call came in for you. He would just say, ‘Oh, that’s my father.’

“They know money will come out of father’s hands, so they would just pick it and allow him to talk. And they have been beating him. They have been beating all of them.”

The parent said families had been relying on assurances from the police while efforts continued to secure the victims’ release.

“The police are telling us to still be buying time. We are still looking for the money. Depending, they will see them rescued,” she said.

Calls For Government Action

The abduction has triggered calls from political parties and public figures for the immediate rescue of the prospective corps members, as well as renewed debate over the safety of the NYSC scheme.

The African Democratic Congress called for the suspension of the NYSC scheme for one year to allow the Federal Government to reorganise the programme and strengthen security measures.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the scheme remained important to national unity but argued that the current security situation required a temporary suspension and review.

“I think the NYSC is still relevant. But I think we need to respond to the current situation of insecurity in the country.

“If we were to advise the President, we think this is the time to suspend it for at least one year to give room for proper reorganisation, in such a way that it will protect the young people and also make the scheme worthwhile for them.

“Beyond that, it is a very important scheme for fostering national unity. The issues that the NYSC sought to address since it was created in 1973, at the end of the Civil War, are still there. So, we think it remains relevant.

“But we need to be responsible. We need to understand that it is also about the lives of other people, more than anything else. It is a different country today from what it was many years ago,” he said.

Abdullahi also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity and President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day address, expressing his own party’s position on the government’s response.

Other political parties, including the National Democratic Congress, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party and Young Progressives Party, also condemned the abduction and called for stronger action to secure the victims’ release.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, also called for the immediate and safe rescue of the abducted prospective corps members.

“The abduction of approximately 20 prospective NYSC members travelling to their orientation camp is yet another distressing indication of the worsening insecurity in our country. These young Nigerians were preparing to serve their nation, but they were unable to travel safely on our roads. Families are increasingly burdened by the fear that their loved ones could fall victim to kidnapping.

“Protecting lives and property is the government’s foremost responsibility. We cannot continue to regard insecurity as an ordinary occurrence or act only after people’s lives have been disrupted.

“I call for the immediate and safe rescue of all the abducted corps members and the arrest of those responsible. Nigeria must become a country where young people can travel, work, and serve their nation without fear,” he wrote.

The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, also expressed concern after learning that some of its graduates were among those reportedly abducted.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Razaq Kalilu, called for coordinated action by security agencies to secure the victims’ release.

“The University stands firmly with the affected families at this deeply distressing moment.

“This is a painful and deeply troubling development for the University and, most importantly, for the families of our graduates and the other young Nigerians whose lives have been so cruelly disrupted. Our immediate and overriding concern is their safety and safe return to their families,” he said.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir 

A viral video showing Chinese passengers covering their noses around an African woman has triggered a heated debate online over racism, cultural differences and the use of perfume.

The woman, identified on X as Teebebe (@Acupoftii_), appeared to interpret the passengers’ reaction as racist. The video has since attracted widespread attention, with social media users offering competing explanations for the behaviour.

One of those responding was X user Zhao DaShuai, who argued that the incident may have had less to do with race and more to do with the strength of the woman’s perfume.

“It’s your perfume,” Zhao wrote.

He said many East Asians carry a variant of the ABCC11 gene linked to reduced production of certain compounds associated with underarm odour. According to Zhao, this may mean people in East Asia are less accustomed to strong fragrances.

The claim has prompted further debate, with some users questioning whether covering one’s nose should be interpreted as evidence of racial discrimination, while others argue that the gesture could have been a simple reaction to an unfamiliar smell.

Scientists have established a relationship between variations in the ABCC11 gene and differences in underarm odour, although the prevalence of the relevant variants varies considerably between populations.

The genetic explanation, however, does not establish why the passengers in the video covered their noses. Nor does the video, by itself, provide enough context to determine whether the behaviour was motivated by racism, discomfort with a strong fragrance, or another reason.

The incident has nevertheless revived an online conversation about race, personal fragrance and cultural differences in perceptions of smell, highlighting how an apparently ordinary gesture can carry very different meanings across cultural and racial contexts.

By Usman My. Shehu

“No Condition Is Permanent” is the title of a chapter in Martin Meredith’s The State of Africa. Meredith took the phrase from the words routinely painted on the bodies and flanks of vehicles across Africa. It is a familiar expression, much like seeing an African football fan wearing an oversized jersey bearing the name of a favourite footballer.

This is, in some ways, who we are and what we sometimes do: we turn even difficult circumstances into jokes, humour, slogans, or expressions of endurance. Sometimes, we laugh at dire situations not because they are funny, but because laughter is one of the ways we survive them.

Yet this piece is ultimately about hope, as the proverb suggests: no condition is permanent.

It is shocking to read and learn that, in Nigeria, it can be so difficult to find something to be optimistic about—something hopeful enough to cling to while trying to escape the cauldron of despair. At times, finding hope in my dear country feels like looking for a black cat in a dark room. But as long as we continue searching for that cat, there remains a possibility that we will eventually find it.

So we keep hope alive. Please do so, abeg.

Meredith’s book was written more than a decade ago, yet many of the problems he described remain painfully familiar, despite pockets of progress here and there. What we continue to hear are grand economic phrases and complicated macroeconomic arguments that can sometimes feel difficult to digest, especially on an empty stomach.

One paragraph in the book deserves particular mention:

«“…the economy was derelict; public services were chronically inefficient; schools and hospitals were decaying; higher education had virtually collapsed; roads were pitted with potholes; the telephone system hardly functioned. There were frequent power cuts; even shortages of domestic petroleum supplies…”»

Reading those words today is uncomfortable because, although Nigeria has undoubtedly changed in many respects, some of the underlying frustrations remain recognisable. We have made progress in certain areas, but progress has often been uneven, fragile, or insufficient to transform the everyday experience of ordinary people.

And then there are the tragedies that make the proverb “no condition is permanent” painfully difficult to apply.

How does “no condition is permanent” become a source of hope for the families of the young men who reportedly died a day after their detention in NSCDC custody? Reports alleged that a chemical substance was sprayed into the cell where they had been detained and that they subsequently suffocated.

Their families may continue to hope for answers, accountability, and justice. But for the deceased, there is no return to the life that was taken from them. Their condition is, tragically, permanent.

Still, their relatives must not be condemned to die a little every day with their grief. If justice is pursued thoroughly and transparently, perhaps the loss can at least become a catalyst for accountability and institutional reform. Their case, if the allegations are established through proper investigation, would be a salutary reminder of what happens when institutions fail in their most basic responsibility: protecting human life.

Unemployment and underemployment are almost as old as the rocks. Our leaders know these problems—perhaps better than they know the backs of their own hands.

Yet recruitment into public institutions continues to generate concerns about nepotism, ethnicity, regional balancing, and the inconsistent application of merit. The constitutional principle of federal character was designed, among other things, to promote a sense of inclusion and equitable representation, but its implementation remains contentious.

And then there is the familiar Nigerian reality: knowing someone can sometimes matter as much as—or even more than—what you know.

In both the public and private sectors, networks and connections can influence opportunities, though the problem is particularly frustrating when access to public employment is perceived to depend on patronage rather than transparent processes. In such an environment, a person can know all the books in the world and still find the door to employment firmly closed.

Insecurity has also become a recurring feature of our daily news. As I write this on September 29, 2026, Daily Trust carries the headline: “2 weeks after, abducted Zamfara imams yet to be released.”

That is only one report among many.

Nigerians have endured abductions, killings, displacement, and prolonged uncertainty, while armed groups continue to operate in parts of the country. Behind every statistic is a family waiting for a loved one to return, a community trying to rebuild, or a child whose understanding of normal life has been permanently altered.

The natural consequence of many of these problems is multidimensional poverty. For millions of Nigerians, the question is not an abstract debate about poverty rates or macroeconomic indicators. It is whether there is enough food on the table today. It is whether a farmer can reach the farm safely. It is whether a child can remain in school. It is whether a family can afford transport to another city, pay medical bills, or simply survive the month without borrowing.

Statistics from the World Bank, the IMF, the National Bureau of Statistics, and other institutions have their place. They help us understand the scale and direction of economic problems.

But statistics should not obscure lived experience.

A person who goes to bed hungry does not experience inflation as a percentage; they experience it as an empty plate. A parent who cannot afford school fees does not experience unemployment as a labour-market indicator; they experience it as a closed door for their child.

Our circumstances are sufficiently serious that the major sectors of national life deserve sustained, urgent attention. Education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, electricity, employment, and food security cannot be treated as peripheral matters. They are the foundation upon which a functioning society rests.

The government often tells Nigerians that reforms take time. That may be true: structural reforms rarely produce their full benefits overnight, and some necessary changes are inevitably painful before their effects become visible.

But there is another truth that cannot be ignored: a hungry person cannot eat promises of future prosperity.

Reforms must therefore be judged not only by their intentions but also by their implementation, their distributional effects, and the extent to which ordinary Nigerians can actually feel improvements in their lives. Patience becomes difficult to demand from people who are already struggling to survive.

Still, no condition is permanent.

That phrase should not become an excuse for complacency, nor should it be used to ask Nigerians to endure suffering indefinitely. It should instead be a reminder that circumstances can change—and that human beings have a responsibility to help change them.

Nigeria has endured worse moments and survived them. We have seen institutions improve, businesses emerge, communities organise, individuals overcome extraordinary circumstances, and citizens continue to create possibilities in places where the state has sometimes fallen short.

Hope, therefore, should not mean pretending that everything is fine.

Hope is the decision to believe that things can be better—and to participate in making them better.

Nigerians deserve better. We deserve better.

And perhaps the most important part of the proverb is not merely that no condition is permanent, but that the conditions we refuse to accept do not have to remain unchanged forever.

Usman M. Shehu writes from Kano and he can be reached via usmanmujtabashehu@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, a regional leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, has travelled to Israel as part of efforts to draw international attention to killings and insecurity affecting communities in Plateau and other parts of Nigeria.

Dachomo announced his arrival in Israel on Friday, October 2, through his Facebook account, describing the trip as his first international Christian advocacy tour.

The cleric said he plans to use the visit to raise concerns over attacks in Plateau and the wider Middle Belt while seeking an audience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He also said he intends to engage Christian leaders and prayer groups from different countries to mobilise greater international attention and prayers for Nigeria.

Dachomo has been vocal about attacks on communities in Plateau State and has described some of the violence as persecution and “genocide” against Christians.

In a message announcing his arrival, the cleric said he was in Israel to pray for Nigeria, its leaders and citizens.

“Today, I am in Israel praying for Nigeria, our leaders, and our people. I believe in miracles, and I believe God can change what looks impossible,” he said.

In an accompanying video, Dachomo said he also prayed for Israel, its people and its leadership, including Netanyahu, his cabinet and the Israel Defence Forces.

He said his prayers also covered President Bola Tinubu, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and other African leaders.

The cleric stressed that his advocacy was not limited to Christian victims, saying Muslims and other Nigerians affected by insecurity also deserved attention.

“I am coming to stand for Nigeria and to pray for our nation: for Muslims being killed in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Katsina; for Christians; for my Biafran brothers,” he said.

Dachomo also spoke about attacks in his community, alleging that armed men invaded his village and killed three people within his jurisdiction.

He expressed hope that he would be able to meet Netanyahu personally and present what he described as the suffering of Christian communities in Nigeria.

“By God’s grace, if we meet one-on-one in Israel, I will share with him the agony of Christians in Nigeria,” he said.

The Israel trip follows Dachomo’s sustained advocacy over insecurity in Plateau State, particularly after attacks on communities in the state.

He had previously alleged that nine members of his extended family were killed during an attack in Riyom Local Government Area in July.

His latest initiative takes his advocacy beyond Nigeria, with the cleric seeking to engage international Christian groups and draw greater attention to security challenges affecting communities in Plateau and other parts of the country.

Nigeria has continued to face insecurity involving terrorism, banditry, communal violence, farmer-herder conflicts and criminal activities across different regions.

Claims about the identities and motives of perpetrators, as well as the religious dimensions of individual attacks, require independent verification.

Dachomo’s Israel visit is therefore aimed at expanding his campaign for international attention to the security situation in Plateau and other affected communities.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested a man identified as Zayyanu Halilu for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl inside a vehicle at Airport Bridge Taxi Park in Abuja.

The girl was reportedly found to be about three months pregnant after the alleged abuse, while the suspect remains in police custody.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to the police, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit were on routine patrol around the taxi park on October 2 when they noticed a navy blue Volkswagen with registration number KMC567LQ parked with its windows wound up.

The officers reportedly noticed that the vehicle was shaking and approached it to investigate. They then opened the vehicle and allegedly found Halilu sexually abusing the minor.

“However, the vehicle was shaking. The officers, suspecting foul play, approached the vehicle and opened it, only to see one Zayyanu Halilu raping a twelve (12) year old minor,” the statement said.

The suspect was immediately arrested, while the girl was rescued by the officers.

The police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had allegedly taken advantage of the victim on several previous occasions at the same location.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had, on several occasions, lured and sexually abused the underaged victim in the said vehicle parked at the same location, with threats to ‘deal with her’ if she reveals the abuse to anyone.”

A medical examination subsequently revealed that the victim was approximately three months pregnant.

“The victim is currently receiving medical care and assessment, while the suspect remains in Police custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the police said.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, urged parents and guardians to closely monitor the whereabouts and welfare of children under their care.

The command also advised residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities or persons to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government has begun technical and vocational skills training for 777 young Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory as part of a broader initiative targeting about 80,000 youths nationwide.

The programme is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education through the Innovation, Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills Project, with support from the World Bank.

Speaking at the flag-off of the third cohort in Abuja on Friday, the First Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the ACCI Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology Centre, Prof Adesoji Adesugba, said the initiative was designed to address the gap between Nigeria’s growing youth population and the skills required by employers.

Adesugba said, “Nigeria’s challenge is not a shortage of young people. It is a shortage of young people equipped with skills the market is willing to pay for. Our economy does not need more certificates. It needs more competencies.”

He said the programme was focused on practical learning to ensure participants could demonstrate their abilities beyond obtaining certificates.

“That is why this programme is deliberately practical. By the end of it, each trainee will hold not just a certificate, but a portfolio of real work,” he said.

Adesugba urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity, noting that the programme covers their training fees, equipment, facilities and instruction.

The Deputy Director-General of ACCI and Head of the BEST Centre, Dr Tinuke Temitope, said the 777 trainees in Abuja formed part of the approximately 80,000 youths undergoing training across the country under the IDEAS Project.

She said the FCT beneficiaries were selected from seven accredited Training Service Providers and were undergoing training in areas such as digital and creative media, beauty and cosmetology, construction and building trades, agriculture and agribusiness.

Temitope disclosed that the BEST Centre was training 200 beneficiaries in digital media production after receiving more than 800 applications for the available slots.

She said the applicants were assessed based on their previous experience, qualifications and capacity, after which those who met the initial requirements participated in oral interviews.

According to her, the competency-based model was intended to equip participants with practical skills that could translate into employment and self-employment.

“All these 80,000 trainees, the model is that they can do something with their hands. They are not just carrying certificates up and down. They can actually use their hands to do these things,” she said.

Temitope added that ACCI would continue to support beneficiaries after the training through its platforms, including opportunities to join the chamber and develop their businesses.

The seven accredited Training Service Providers participating in the FCT cohort are the ACCI Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology Centre, Onidiri Home of Beauty, Gemological Institute of Nigeria, iLearn Learning Spaces, Germnig Consultants Limited, Dari Investments Limited, and Binley and Bramble in partnership with School Hunters.

The organisers said the initiative was designed to increase access to quality technical and vocational education and training across the country.

Under the current cohort, beneficiaries are receiving competency-based training aligned with National Skills Qualification standards. They are also expected to undergo industry internships and receive support towards employment after completing their training.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has granted clemency to 27 inmates serving various sentences in correctional facilities across the state as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.

The latest intervention brings the number of inmates who have benefited from clemency initiatives under Sani’s administration to more than 500 since he assumed office in 2023.

The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the statement, the intervention involved the release of eligible inmates as well as the payment of fines and compensation for victims. The Kaduna State Government has committed more than N300m to fines and compensation since 2023.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, James Kanyip, said the latest exercise was part of the governor’s practice of extending clemency to deserving inmates during major national occasions.

Kanyip said similar exercises had been carried out during New Year, Democracy Day and previous Independence Day celebrations.

He explained that the prerogative of mercy was exercised through established legal processes, with consideration given to accountability, rehabilitation and the responsibilities attached to freedom.

“The beneficiaries are expected to return to society with a renewed sense of responsibility and appreciation of their obligations to others,” Kanyip said.

He said the government’s intervention also addressed financial barriers that could prevent eligible inmates from regaining their freedom.

According to him, the payment of fines and compensation added a restorative justice component to the clemency exercise by recognising the interests of victims while supporting the reintegration of deserving inmates.

“Public safety, human dignity, rehabilitation, and the possibility of redemption should form part of the administration of justice,” he added.

The state government said the clemency initiative would also give beneficiaries an opportunity to reconnect with their families and communities and rebuild their lives.

It reaffirmed its commitment to rehabilitation, reconciliation and the reintegration of deserving inmates while maintaining a justice system that protects society and recognises the interests of victims.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned Nigerians against a fraudulent website falsely claiming that nationwide online voter registration is currently ongoing.

INEC identified the website as pvc-inecnigeria-org.blogspot.com, which reportedly advertises a supposed registration window from September 28 to October 27, 2026.

In an advisory issued on Saturday, the commission urged Nigerians not to visit the platform, click its links or submit personal information through it.

“Members of the public are strongly advised not to click on the link or submit any personal information on the website, as doing so may expose them to the risk of having their sensitive personal data harvested or misused,” the advisory read.

INEC clarified that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise had ended, and that claims of a new online registration exercise through the fraudulent website were false. The commission’s official voter registration portal also currently states that the CVR exercise has ended.

“The commission further wishes to clarify that the voter registration exercise closed on July 26, 2026. Any information suggesting that a new nationwide online voter registration exercise is currently ongoing through the above-mentioned website is false,” it stated.

The fake platform reportedly advertises what it describes as the “Final Phase of Nationwide Online Voter Card Registration” and offers services including updating voter details, transferring polling units and replacing lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards.

It also falsely claims that voter registration and PVC delivery are free.

INEC urged Nigerians to verify electoral information through its official communication channels and avoid submitting personal details to unauthorised websites.

The commission’s official website provides access to voter services and other election-related information.