Nigeria

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Presidency has confirmed that all the pupils and teachers abducted in Orire, Ogbomoso area of Oyo State have regained their freedom.

The announcement came on Friday through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that security agencies rescued the victims.

However, the Presidency did not provide details of the operation that led to their release.

“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga wrote in a post on X.

The abduction had raised concerns among residents and attracted national attention. Authorities are yet to release additional information on the rescue operation or the condition of the victims.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has retained Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election after submitting the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms.

The development formally confirms that Tinubu and Shettima will once again fly the APC’s presidential ticket in the next general election.

The president’s Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Masari, announced the development and submitted the nomination forms on behalf of Tinubu during a brief event held at the Continental Hotel in Abuja.

The event attracted several senior figures of the ruling party, including Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, who led APC governors to the occasion.

Members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), the party’s caucus in the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), as well as other party leaders and stakeholders, also attended the event.

Tinubu had initially nominated Masari as a placeholder running mate in June 2022 while the party concluded consultations on its vice-presidential candidate. He later selected Shettima as his substantive running mate ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The submission of the nomination forms officially marks the beginning of Tinubu’s campaign for a second term in office on the platform of the APC, with Shettima remaining his running mate.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a 48-year-old Chadian woman who was allegedly transporting illicit drugs, alcoholic drinks and other prohibited items to terrorist groups operating in the Lake Chad Islands.

The arrest took place on Thursday during a search operation along the Maiduguri–Monguno road in Borno State, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Goni.

Goni said soldiers stopped a suspicious vehicle heading towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area, where they apprehended the suspect.

“The suspect, identified as Mrs Rachael Samuel (48), a Chadian national from Kelo in Chari-Baguirmi Province, Republic of Chad, was arrested while conveying the prohibited items,” the statement said.

He added that preliminary investigations suggested the items were meant for locations within the Lake Chad Islands, an area where terrorist groups are known to operate.

Security operatives recovered seven compressed bundles of suspected Cannabis sativa weighing about 30 kilogrammes, two 10-litre containers of hydromercuric chloride, popularly called “Suck and Die”, one carton containing 48 bottles of dry gin and 61 bottles of herbal alcoholic beverages. The military said the seized items have an estimated street value running into millions of naira.

Other items recovered include a mobile phone, two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, personal belongings and cash.

The military said the suspect remains in custody, while the recovered exhibits have been secured ahead of their transfer to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Goni said the operation reflects the determination of Operation Hadin Kai to block supply routes that sustain terrorist activities. He explained that intelligence reports have consistently indicated that terrorist groups depend on illicit drugs and intoxicants to stimulate fighters, reduce fear and support violent attacks.

“By intercepting the consignment before it reached its destination, the troops have disrupted another critical aspect of the terrorists’ support network,” the statement added.

“The Theatre Command commends the vigilance and professionalism of the troops and assures the public that operations against terrorists and their collaborators will continue relentlessly.

“The public is encouraged to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies in support of ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North East.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has reiterated his support for the establishment of state police, saying the move is necessary to tackle the country’s worsening security challenges.

The governor spoke on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television. He argued that the creation of state police was long overdue and would strengthen efforts to address insecurity across Nigeria.

Alia said the Nigeria Police Force is overstretched because of the growing security demands. He also noted that military personnel may not always have sufficient knowledge of local terrains, which makes effective security operations more difficult.

“State policing should have begun long before now. If we have our state police with the power to command and direct, it will be more beneficial.

“So I think it is ideal. I know that the National Assembly has done some bit of that, and the State Assemblies are also playing their own role and making it a continuum of conversation.

“It’s even going to be more improved on what people are thinking, the fears people are having, or the reservations they’re having on the establishment of the state policing.

“I have been one of the first advocates of state policing way before the national conversation began.

“As it is said, who feels it knows it all. For us in Benue State, we felt it, we know what it is, we understand insecurity, we understand what it means for some help, either to be on the way or little help that came our way.

“So the establishment of state police is something ideal that could have been done like yesterday,” he said.

The governor also acknowledged ongoing legislative efforts on the issue. He said both the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly have continued discussions on the proposal. He expressed confidence that concerns and reservations surrounding state policing would be addressed as the process progresses.

By Uzair Adam

A soldier has been killed after suspected ISWAP terrorists launched a coordinated attack on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Logomani, Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.

The insurgents also set a police outpost and a primary healthcare centre ablaze during the attack on the community, according to local sources.

The Acting Military Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, said the terrorists attempted to overrun the military base but were repelled after a fierce gun battle.

He explained that although the attackers briefly breached part of the base’s defensive perimeter, troops quickly reorganised and launched a counter-offensive that forced the insurgents to retreat with heavy casualties.

“The troops rapidly regrouped, mounted a determined counter-offensive and decisively expelled the attackers, inflicting significant casualties and forcing the surviving terrorists to flee with varying degrees of gunshot wounds,” Goni said.

He, however, disclosed that one soldier was killed during the encounter, while two gun trucks and some combat equipment were damaged.

Despite the attack, Goni said Operation Hadin Kai has continued to sustain pressure on terrorist groups across the North-East through intelligence-led operations and search-and-rescue missions.

He revealed that on July 7, troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion, while conducting a search-and-rescue operation in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, rescued two abductees from a terrorist hideout.

According to him, troops also recovered N1.2 million suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities, alongside food supplies and other logistics believed to have supported terrorist operations.

The rescued victims, he added, have been evacuated to a secure location where they are receiving medical treatment and psychosocial support.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

At least seven people have lost their lives, while 53 others sustained injuries after a powerful windstorm swept through 13 local government areas of Jigawa State, causing widespread destruction to homes and public facilities.

The Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hannafi Fagam, disclosed the figures on Wednesday during a briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Dutse. He said the disaster affected 5,403 households across 120 communities.

According to Fagam, the affected local government areas are Dutse, Miga, Gwaram, Birnin Kudu, Ringim, Kiyawa, Babura, Kiri-Kasamma, Buji, Kaugama, Gumel, Gagarawa and Sule-Tankarkar. He added that four of the deaths occurred in Dutse Local Government Area, while Miga, Ringim and Sule-Tankarkar recorded one fatality each.

The windstorm also caused extensive damage to public infrastructure. More than 47 primary and secondary schools were destroyed. Three hospitals and two police stations also suffered damage. Many residential buildings and other public facilities were affected across the impacted communities.

Fagam said the Jigawa State Government has approved funds to provide emergency relief and support to victims. He noted that officials are still assessing the affected areas to determine the full extent of the destruction.

He described the incident as a natural disaster with serious humanitarian and socio-economic consequences. He said SEMA is working with relevant stakeholders to coordinate relief efforts for affected residents.

Fagam appealed to international development partners, humanitarian organisations, corporate institutions and well-meaning individuals to support the state’s response by providing relief materials and other forms of assistance to victims.

He also assured residents that the agency would continue its assessment of affected communities and ensure the timely distribution of relief materials to those impacted by the disaster.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Coordination Office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has trained extension officers and other stakeholders on Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI), Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and referral pathways.

The workshop, organised under the World Bank-supported livestock development programme, was aimed at strengthening the capacity of project personnel, field extension officers and other stakeholders to promote inclusive and safe livestock development across the state.

Speaking at the event, the Kano State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Salisu Inuwa, said the training was organised to equip extension officers with the knowledge required to address gender-related challenges among livestock farmers and pastoral communities.

Represented by the project’s Extension Officer, Gambo Isa Garko, Dr. Inuwa said the project considers gender equity and social inclusion critical to its success because it works directly with livestock farmers and Fulani pastoralists whose livelihoods are shaped by household and community dynamics.

He said the knowledge acquired during the training would be cascaded to farmers and pastoralists across the state to help reduce gender imbalance, encourage mutual respect and foster greater inclusion in livestock production.

“We are saying everybody is important. Let us include women in activities of men, include men in activities of women and respect each other’s opinions in the household,” he said.

Dr. Inuwa said about 96 participants attended the workshop, including 60 extension officers, who are expected to replicate the sensitisation in communities across Kano’s 44 local government areas.

He expressed optimism that the extension officers would reach thousands of farmers directly and indirectly through community-based sensitisation sessions during the lifespan of the project.

The Gender and Gender-Based Violence Officer of Kano L-PRES, Hajiya Ummi Sarki Abubakar, said the workshop formed part of the project’s continuous sensitisation programme to ensure staff and field extension officers understand the World Bank’s safeguards on gender inclusion and the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

She said participants were also sensitised on referral pathways and the “Do No Harm” Code of Conduct to ensure cases of gender-based violence are handled professionally, without exposing survivors to stigma or discrimination.

“It is the responsibility of every member, directly or indirectly, to uphold these policies to ensure dignity, safety, protection and equal opportunities for all beneficiaries,” she said.

Delivering a presentation on Gender Equity and Social Inclusion, the Director of the Centre for Gender Studies and Livelihood Enhancement at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Dr. Zahra’u Bamali Nouruddeen, said sustainable development can only be achieved when women, youths and other vulnerable groups are given equal access to opportunities and resources.

She said many women remain excluded not because they lack the ability to contribute, but because they are often denied access to information and training that would empower them economically.

“If you don’t call me, if you don’t show me the way, if you don’t train me, how will I know I am important?” she asked.

Also delivering a presentation, Zainab Baba, Social Livelihood Officer and Gender Desk Officer of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in Jigawa State, highlighted the importance of referral pathways and codes of conduct in addressing gender-based violence.

She said project personnel must understand where survivors should be referred for appropriate services while ensuring that workplaces and project communities remain safe, inclusive and free from all forms of abuse.

One of the participants, Hajiya Bilkisu Ado Zango, Chief Executive Officer of Media Advocacy for Inclusion and Development, described the workshop as timely, saying it brought issues affecting persons with disabilities into discussions on gender, livestock development and gender-based violence.

She said the awareness created through the training would encourage more persons with disabilities to speak up against gender-based violence and participate actively in development programmes.

By Anas Abbas

A High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has ruled against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a defamation case filed by former Minister of Power, Dr Olu Agunloye, orderingr the anti-graft agency to pay N10 million in damages.

Justice Peter Kekemeke delivered the judgment on Wednesday, holding that a post on EFCC’s website and X account, which stated that Agunloye had ybeen arraigned over a $6 billion fraud, was false, malicious, and damaging to his reputation.

Agunloye had approached the court seeking N1 billion in the damages, a retraction, and a public apology, arguing that the publication painted him as corrupt and fraudulent without basis. His lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, filed the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024.

In reaching his decision, Justice Kekemeke examined the three legal requirements for defamation, a permanent published statement, that it identifies the claimant, and that it damages reputation in the eyes of reasonable people, and finds all three satisfied. He noted that EFCC’s own witness, ACP Umar Hussain Babangida, initially denied knowledge of the publication before admitting it originated from the commission’s media unit.

The judge pointed out that the criminal charges against Agunloye before the Apo Division of thee FCT High Court contained no allegation of fraud, meaning the “$6 billion fraud” claim had no basis in the actual court filings. Her described the wording as a sensational headline unsupported by evidence, adding that EFCC, as an investigative body rather than a news outlet, ought to have known better than to publish such a claim.

Justice Kekemeke ruled that malice had been established and entered judgment for Agunloye. The court ordered EFCC to retract the publication,issue a public apology on its website and in twoy national newspapers, and refrain permanently from further defamatory statements against the former minister, alongside the N10 million damages award.

Reacting after the judgment, EFCC’s counsel, Dr Wahab Shittu, SAN, said the commission would appeal, arguing the suit was premature since the criminal case against Agunloye had not yet concluded.

By Uzair Adam


The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has claimed that persistent intimidation and alleged harassment by the Federal Government have made him uncertain about surviving to contest the next presidential election.

Obi made the remarks during an interview on With Chude, hosted by media personality Chude Jideonwo, where he alleged that the government had consistently frustrated his activities and targeted opposition figures.

Speaking on his political future, the former Anambra State governor said the challenges confronting him had become so severe that he could not confidently say he would be alive by the 2027 election.

“Not even a candidate. I might not even be alive. I’m telling you. Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it. Deliberately so.

“Everything. So, there is even a possibility, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive,” Obi said.

He stressed that his remarks were not intended as a direct accusation against any individual but maintained that his experiences suggested deliberate efforts to obstruct his activities.

“It’s not an accusation. I know. I get frustration every day. Because you do things that you think would be normal—it is not normal anymore.

“They won’t come directly and say, ‘Oh, we’re doing this,’ but you can see their hand in virtually everything,” he added.

Responding to a question on whether he believed he was being personally targeted, Obi said the alleged intimidation extended beyond him to other opposition politicians.

“They are attacking everybody who is in opposition personally. I am being attacked personally. Everything.

“Even to provide me with necessary things that I should have been entitled to, not at all,” he said.

To support his claims, Obi recounted an incident at an airport where he alleged that officials locked his vehicle while leaving others untouched.

“I had a case recently at the airport, where people who work in the airport came and locked my car. And I said, ‘It’s me.’ The person in charge said he doesn’t care.

“But I said, ‘Look at the cars of other people.’ And you could see them talking to each other, as if, ‘Who is this one?’”

The former governor also alleged that some associates now avoid publicly interacting with him for fear of attracting attention from authorities.

“I see people I know at the airport; they will not greet me because they are scared of what might happen if they do,” he said.

He further claimed that some supporters had asked him not to attend family celebrations to avoid unwanted scrutiny.

“I have people send me invitations and say, ‘My son, my daughter is wedding, but please don’t come,’” Obi said.

The Federal Government has yet to respond to the allegations.

By Uzair Adam

The Senate has called on the Federal Government to discontinue the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members and other violent criminals, arguing that the policy has failed to curb insecurity across the country.

The resolution followed a motion on the rising cases of attacks, abductions and killings involving serving and retired military personnel, including the late former Director of Defence Information, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.

The motion, sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina), received unanimous support during Tuesday’s plenary.

Lawmakers condemned the continued rehabilitation of former Boko Haram fighters, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements under the Federal Government’s deradicalisation programme. Several senators linked the persistent security crisis, particularly in northern Nigeria, to the release of individuals described as repentant criminals back into society.

The Senate expressed concern over what it described as the deteriorating security situation, warning that the growing attacks on serving and retired military officers represent a dangerous dimension to the country’s security challenges.

It cited the killing of retired Major General Richard Duru in Owerri after a reported ransom payment of $50,000, the murder of retired Brigadier General O.M. Harlord Udokwere in Abuja, the 56-day captivity of former NYSC Director-General, retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, and the death of retired Major Aja while in captivity in Kogi State.

According to the lawmakers, the attacks pose a significant threat to national security because many of the victims previously held sensitive operational, intelligence and command positions.

The Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of Major General Rabe Abubakar and other Nigerians killed by terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

It also urged the Federal Government to ensure that perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.

The Red Chamber further called on security and intelligence agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, threat assessment and early warning mechanisms, while urging the government to accelerate the deployment of modern security technology to combat terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

The resolution comes despite the existence of Operation Safe Corridor, a Federal Government initiative launched in 2016 to deradicalise, rehabilitate and reintegrate former Boko Haram combatants who voluntarily surrendered.

While officials have credited the programme with encouraging thousands of insurgents to abandon violence, concerns have persisted over reports of some beneficiaries allegedly returning to criminal activities.

Reacting to the Senate’s position, security analyst and Associate Professor at the University of Namibia, Dr. Babayo Sule, described the resolution as unfortunate and potentially counterproductive.

He argued that the deradicalisation programme was introduced only after military operations failed to bring lasting peace, stressing that rehabilitation and reconciliation remain recognised components of counter-insurgency strategies worldwide.

Rather than scrapping the initiative, Sule urged lawmakers to investigate its shortcomings and strengthen its implementation. He also called for greater oversight of Operation Safe Corridor and similar reconciliation programmes in states affected by insurgency.

According to him, abandoning the programme without addressing the underlying challenges could further worsen insecurity, as the country currently lacks sufficient capacity to defeat insurgents solely through military means.