₦airaland Forum

By Winifred Austin


A young man from Plateau State identified simply as Nengak, has been reportedly beaten to death by a mob in Lagos State after he was caught “sleeping” with the wife of his employer.

According to reports sent to DAILY POST by one Bitrus Idi who claims to be a close friend of the deceased, Nengak worked as a security man for a family in the highbrow Victoria Garden City in Lagos.

Idi said Nengak who was in his early 20s, was more like a general servant who did everything in the house including cooking, washing cars and taking the couple’s children to school.

Idi said from what he gathered, the man of the house was hardly at home as he was always travelling outside the country

“Being a handsome, strong and hardworking young guy, his master’s wife had a crush on him and began inviting him for other duties outside what he was employed to do,” Idi said.

Idi said the affair had been going on for months before the man of the house discovered through a CCTV camera he set up after getting rumours that his wife was sleeping with their houseboy.

“On the day Nengak was beaten to death, the man had pretended that he was traveling outside Lagos. Unknown to Nengak, the man had installed CCTV and had gotten enough evidence.

“So that day, he told the wife he was traveling but had invited area boys to hang around the house. As usual, the madam called Nengak to their master bedroom and it was in the process that the man and his gang bust in and caught them red handed.

“They beat Nengak to death and till now, the case is still to be filed as we have nobody to fight for him. Nengak’s corpse is still in the mortuary and the police have said we must pay for autopsy and other things,” Idi said.

Ruth Nwokwu by Ruth Nwokwu


Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram insurgency has dragged longer than the country’s 1967–1970 Civil War.

Obasanjo made the remark on Sunday during the Toyin Falola Interviews conversation, which was live-streamed on social media and featured other panelists including Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, and former Deputy Central Bank Governor, Kingsley Moghalu.

Speaking on Nigeria’s insecurity challenges, the former president stressed that ending insurgency requires a strategic mix of specialised training, modern equipment, reliable intelligence, and advanced technology.

Obasanjo said there was nothing wrong with Nigerian military personnel receiving training from countries that have successfully tackled insurgency, citing Colombia as an example.

“There are four important items and I hope that those who are in charge — military, executive and legislature — know what they are doing,” Obasanjo said.

According to him, conventional military training is not sufficient to deal with insurgents who operate as fleeting targets or blend with civilian populations, insisting that specialised training was necessary.

He also warned that the wrong approach to procurement and intelligence sharing could undermine the fight, stating that military equipment purchasing should not be left solely to the armed forces.

“The whole thing is an industry. It is an industry,” he said.

Drawing from his experience handling the Niger Delta militancy, Obasanjo said he would not rule out the possibility of collusion between security personnel and insurgents.

“Civil war lasted for 30 months. Although we thought it would last for six months. But this fight against insurgents and criminals has lasted for almost 15 years,” he stated.

Obasanjo also revealed that he visited Maiduguri in 2011 to understand the origin, grievances and leadership structure of Boko Haram.

He disclosed that the insurgents initially refused to negotiate with the Federal Government but later agreed to a 21-day ceasefire for dialogue, which reportedly failed after the government did not adequately reach out to their leaders.

By Daily Trust


Nigeria played a major role to restore democratic order in neighbouring Benin Republic, the presidency has confirmed.

A group of soldiers had appeared on Benin’s state television, announcing the dissolution of the government, on Sunday.

The mutineers seized the National TV after but failed to enter President Patrice Talon’s residence, which was under heavy military protection.

They declared the removal of President Talon, who has led the country since 2016, along with the suspension of all state institutions.
Identifying themselves as members of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), they said the committee had met and resolved that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic”.

The soldiers, who announced a suspension of the constitution and closure of all land borders and the country’s airspace, said Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal will be leading a military transition council.

The whereabouts of President Talon was unclear at the time of the announcement.
However, the government later announced that the coup had been foiled.

Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, announced that the country’s armed forces had regained control.

In a statement on Sunday night, Bayo Onanuga, Presidential spokesman, said President Bola Tinubu had commended Nigeria’s Armed Forces for protecting democracy in Benin Republic.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the gallantry of Nigeria’s military on Sunday for responding swiftly to the request by the Government of Benin Republic to save its 35-year-old democracy from coup plotters who struck at dawn today.”

“Acting on two separate requests from the Government of Benin, President Tinubu first ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the National TV and a military camp where they had regrouped.

“The Republic of Benin, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Note Verbal, requested immediate Nigerian air support “in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”

“In the second request, the authorities in Benin requested the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets within Beninoise airspace for surveillance and rapid intervention operations under Benin-led coordination.

“The Benin government also requested Nigerian ground forces, “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed Groups.”

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, said all the requests had been fulfilled, with Nigerian ground forces now in Benin.

“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he said.

By Tunde Oso (with agency reports)


Nigeria has withdrawn the fighter aircraft it deployed to the Benin Republic after authorities assessed that the security situation in the neighbouring country had stabilised following Sunday’s attempted military coup.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the aircraft, initially deployed from Lagos for surveillance and regional monitoring, were ordered to return to base in the afternoon after updated intelligence indicated that the situation was under control and posed “no immediate threat to Nigeria’s territorial security.”

The attempted coup targeted the democratic government of President Patrice Talon and was decisively thwarted on Sunday. Mutineers, dressed in military uniforms, launched an early morning operation to seize power, beginning with an assault on the presidential residence in Cotonou. The attack was repelled, and failing to capture the president, the rebels seized the state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin (ORTB), taking control of the national broadcast signal.

The crisis escalated rapidly, but loyalist forces, including the National Guard, responded swiftly, surrounding the television station and isolating the mutineers. By late Sunday, security forces had secured key government installations and regained full control of the capital.

“The situation is under control. The National Guard has everything surrounded,” a senior security official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation. Local media reports indicated that the mutineers remained barricaded inside the television station as of Sunday evening, with negotiations underway to secure their peaceful surrender.

President Patrice Talon, reportedly safe at an undisclosed location, has yet to make a public statement. There were no immediate reports of widespread violence or casualties, and Cotonou’s streets were described as tense but calm following the initial alarms.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed on his verified X page that the coup had failed. “Mutineers in military uniform who attempted to overthrow President Patrice Talon’s democratic government have failed. They seized the National TV after failing to enter the presidential residence,” he said.

Onanuga added that Colonel Pascal Tigri, the leader of the mutineers, is on the run, while several members of the group have been arrested.

Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, appeared on national television to confirm that the coup had been thwarted. “Early on Sunday, 7 December 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny aimed at destabilising the state and its institutions. The Beninese armed forces and their leadership remained committed to the republic. Their response allowed them to retain control and foil the attempt,” he said.

The government urged citizens to continue their activities as normal, reassuring the public that the situation was under firm control.

by Daniel Nnamani


Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo and national coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, says President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms are beginning to yield results despite the pains experienced by citizens.

Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) South-West stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, Uzodimma likened Nigeria to “a barren woman” before Tinubu assumed office.

He said the president introduced the “fertility drugs” required to restore economic productivity and set the country on a path of sustainable growth.

“Nigeria was like a barren woman looking for a child before President Bola Tinubu came,” Uzodimma said.

“He introduced the fertility drugs needed. Yes, they came with pains, but we are seeing results. We are not after excuses. We are interested in results.”

The governor spoke shortly after the two-day meeting of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) held in Lagos, where party leaders reviewed the state of the nation, ongoing reforms, and the rising wave of insecurity.

Uzodimma, who conveyed the collective position of the APC governors, expressed appreciation to Nigerians for what he described as their “resilience” amid economic hardship arising from the policy shifts introduced by the federal government.

“We thank you for your resilience in admitting the difficulties from the reforms. A more united and prosperous Nigeria is what we need,” he said.

Addressing the recent surge in kidnappings and terrorist attacks across parts of the country, the governor insisted that Nigeria would ultimately defeat insurgents and bandits.

He questioned the sources of funding for criminal groups, saying the fight against insecurity requires unity and political will.

“God made Tinubu possible. Of late we have seen the level of insecurity and banditry increase. Who are the people funding these criminalities? Progressive governors are united. Nigeria must win,” Uzodimma said.

Speaking on his role as national coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, the governor said the movement is designed to take the message of the administration’s policies to communities across the country.

He said the ambassadors will operate across four levels — zonal, state, local government and ward — aligning directly with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme.

Uzodimma said one of the key targets of the new structure is to ensure the establishment of at least 1,000 active businesses in every ward, leveraging the significant fiscal boost states are now receiving.

“FAAC has tripled to states,” he said, referencing the Federation Account Allocation Committee disbursements.

“With the Renewed Hope Ambassadors aligned with the Ward Development Programme, we will ensure that we have 1,000 active businesses in every ward in Nigeria,” the governor added.

The meeting brought together governors, party leaders and stakeholders from the south-west, with discussions centred on deepening party mobilisation, strengthening security collaboration and reinforcing public confidence in the administration’s policy direction.

Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) are not required for strictly personal bank accounts under Nigeria’s new tax reforms; they become mandatory only if the account is used for business transactions, the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms has clarified.

Chairman of the tax reforms committee, Taiwo Oyedele, who made this known, advised bank customers to conduct a self-assessment, noting that authorities will be able to detect such use via Bank Verification Number (BVN) patterns.

Speaking during a session with the management of LEADERSHIP Newspaper in Abuja at the weekend, Oyedele said that individuals using personal bank accounts for business transactions must now obtain a TIN, adding that tax authorities leveraging BVN data can detect evasion patterns such as multiple random inflows from customers and outflows to suppliers.

“You need a tax ID for your bank account if that bank account is used for business transactions. If you are not using your account for business, you don’t need to attach your tax ID. If you don’t get your tax ID, the authorities will know.”

According to him, this requirement is rooted in the 2020 Finance Act, effective from 13 January 2020, and gains teeth through new digital intelligence that allows authorities to identify business activity in unregistered personal accounts — including those of spouses or children used to hide income — ensuring compliant taxpayers are not disadvantaged.

Oyedele stressed self-compliance: “You need a tax ID for your bank account if that bank account is used for business… If you know that you are using it for business, get a tax ID. If you don’t get a tax ID, because we have your BVN, we can find out,” he warned, adding that flagged accounts trigger unfriendly tax enforcement.

“So, different random people will be paying into the account. You would also be paying different random people, maybe your suppliers. When the system detects that pattern, the authorities will know that this is a business account, and the tax man will come to you — and it will not be friendly at that point, because it means you yourself have not been honest.”

He noted that some banks already enforce this proactively.

The measure, he explained, will combat evasion where individuals funnel business revenue into personal accounts to dodge taxes, undermining progressivity that exempts low earners (up to N100,000 monthly from Pay As You Earn (PAYE) starting January 2026) while targeting higher incomes fairly.

“If we agree that poor people should not pay, let them not pay… Don’t allow rich people to hide, because the system will collapse,” he said.

Oyedele lamented the high level of misinformation surrounding the new tax regime, scheduled to take effect from 1 January 2026.

“If you go on the street now and ask any young person, they will tell you there’s a 30 per cent tax in the capital market, because that’s what they’ve been told,” he said.

He highlighted significant reforms targeting the capital market aimed at boosting participation and attracting investments. These reforms exempt portfolios and sales under N150 million — which covers about 99 per cent of investors — from capital gains tax, encouraging small and medium investors to stay engaged in the market without tax burdens.

He further explained that if an investor’s portfolio or share sales in a year do not exceed N150 million, they are exempt from capital gains tax, thus providing relief to the vast majority of retail investors.
Additionally, reinvestments made by foreign investors are also exempt, fostering a culture of long-term investment rather than short-term speculative trading.

Bonus shares received by shareholders no longer attract withholding tax, while stamp duties on share transfers have been removed, further reducing transaction costs and encouraging trading activity.

He said these investor-friendly reforms have yielded tangible results, with foreign portfolio inflows into the Nigerian capital market reaching N2.1 trillion as of October 2025.

Oyedele noted that foreign investors had previously exited the market around 2022 but have begun to return in significant numbers due to these positive changes, reflecting growing confidence.
Despite these gains, he observed that the average age of investors remains 45, implying that younger Nigerians — who are currently heavily invested in volatile cryptocurrencies and stablecoins totalling about $60 billion — are missing out.

Oyedele urged youths to shift from crypto to equities in the capital market, citing superior 50 per cent dollar returns and tax exemptions now available.

He called this capital market shift a crucial pathway for financial growth and wealth creation for younger Nigerians.

“Young people, leave crypto. This is where to make more money. It is tax-exempt and the returns are better. If you can even clean just $20 billion of that virtual currency into the capital market, it will change our story.”

Oyedele detailed how Nigeria inherited a dire economic situation in May 2023 upon President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration, teetering on collapse with foreign reserves below $4 billion, over $7 billion owed on FX forward contracts, international cards unable to process even $20 subscriptions, and airlines such as Emirates halting flights due to repatriation issues.

Oil theft , he stated, had decimated onshore and shallow-water production by 80 per cent, dropping output below 1 million barrels per day, while NNPC subsidies exhausted equity crude, royalties, petroleum profits, and future production as collateral, leaving just 00,000 barrels unencumbered and risking fuel shortages by late 2023.

He said government revenue was under 10 per cent of GDP, with 7 per cent consumed by debt servicing, forcing N22.7 trillion in money printing plus N7 trillion interest — totalling N30 trillion — which ignited the inflation crisis.

According to him, reforms including FX flotation, PMS subsidy removal, and tax overhauls reversed the trajectory, achieving over $7 billion trade surpluses, with the CBN becoming a net forex buyer for 10 months, restoring card limits up to $6,000, and oil production at 1.7 million barrels per day (including condensate) with theft reduced to 5 per cent.

He further stated that the new tax laws introduce progressivity, exempting earners up to N100,000 monthly from PAYE entirely, reducing it for the N100,000–N1.8 million brackets (covering 98 per cent of Nigerians), with marginal increases only for higher incomes — addressing the pre-reform skew where 96 per cent of personal income tax came from formal corporates.

Essentials such as food, health, education, transport and rent will become zero-rated, allowing full VAT refunds on production costs to combat cost-push inflation:

“From January, this bottle of water becomes zero-rated… any VAT that you have incurred yourself to produce the water will be refunded — 100 per cent refund.”

He said businesses will gain from a 25 per cent Company Income Tax (CIT) reduction, with input VAT credits now extended to services.

“As LEADERSHIP, you have vehicles… your camera… even when you buy airtime on your phone now, from January next year, you can claim it back, because you use your phone for your business.”

Oyedele advised: “From January, you need to keep a proper record, because nobody gives you VAT credit because you said, ‘give me ID’. You have to provide documentation… So your finance people should be very, very busy now.”

He listed additional relief to include cash-basis VAT/withholding tax remittance (bad debts exempt until paid), 30-day refunds after netting input against output (with 200 per cent penalties for false claims), no minimum tax unless profitable, and harmonised single-digit taxes and levies.

By : Guardian


Nigerian rapper and activist, Eedris Abdulkareem, has announced that his Facebook and Instagram pages have been taken down.

The activist said it happened shortly after he released his new track, open letter to Donald Trump.

He said on Sunday that he has been unable to log into both accounts since the song came out.

Checks also showed that the pages could no longer be opened.

The rapper, known for his strong views on politics and governance, did not state how long the suspension might last or whether Meta gave him any notice.

Open Letter to Donald Trump, released in November 2025 under Lakreem Entertainment, takes aim at corruption, insecurity and poor leadership in Nigeria.

Though framed as a message to the U.S. president, the song focuses on Nigeria’s leaders.

President Trump’s parable: The war of interest
Abdulkareem called out those in power for living well while citizens face hardship.

He also pointed to the rise in kidnappings, killings and other crimes that leave many people unsafe and worried.

By mentioning Trump, the rapper tried to draw global attention to Nigeria’s problems, hoping the world will look closer at what ordinary citizens are facing.

The song continues his long track record of using music to question those in authority, much like his earlier hit Jaga Jaga, which attacked corruption and poor governance.

In April 2025, the National Broadcasting Commission ordered radio and TV stations not to air his song Tell Your Papa, saying it contained content that went against broadcast rules.

Before that, in 2004, Jaga Jaga was banned during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the revocation of 1,095 properties across Abuja after owners failed to settle ground rent, land use conversion charges, or Certificate of Occupancy fees within a 14-day grace period that expired on Tuesday, 25 November 2025.

The action was disclosed in a statement issued at the weekend by the Department of Land Administration of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

According to the FCTA, 835 of the affected properties were listed for ground rent default, while 260 fell under land use contravention payment defaults. The publication also detailed file numbers, plot numbers, cadastral zones, districts, amounts owed, and revocation dates.

The statement said the enforcement commenced after “several notices in national dailies, online platforms and television stations” urging defaulters to clear outstanding liabilities. It added that failure to comply “contravenes the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act and also the terms and conditions of the grants of the respective Rights of Occupancy.”

The list includes properties linked to federal and state governments, government institutions, private companies, and notable public figures. Former Chief of Army Staff, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma; former First Lady, Patience Jonathan; former Senate President, David Mark; former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido; Senator Ali Ndume; former Osun State deputy governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu Gambari; Professor Bolaji Akinyemi; Tony Anenih; and former Minister of Petroleum, Alison Madueke, were among those named.

Former governors whose properties appeared on the list include Abdullahi Ganduje, Adeniyi Adebayo, Donald Duke, Aliyu Wamakko, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Ayodele Fayose, and Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Others listed include Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh; Aminu Alhassan Dantata; Bashir Tofa; Audu Abubakar; Jimoh Ibrahim; Ado Abdullahi Bayero; Ghali Umar Na’abba; Olu Agunloye; Hakeem Baba-Ahmed; Iyabo Obasanjo; and Babatunde Idiagbon.

Institutions affected include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Navy, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the governments of Kaduna, Oyo and Borno States.

Corporate organisations listed include BUA International Limited, First Bank, Standard Trust Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Ecobank, Union Bank, United Bank for Africa, Zenith Bank, the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers.

The FCTA said the revocation process will continue in line with statutory powers under the Land Use Act

by Abdulsalam Abdullah


Tunde Bakare, founder of Citadel Global Community Church, has criticised the national assembly for “busying itself with politicking” while the US congress convened a hearing on the country’s worsening insecurity.

Speaking on Sunday during his state of the nation address in Lagos, Bakare said elected representatives have failed to take charge at a time citizens needed them most.

He spoke on the heels of the redesignation of Nigeria by US President Donald Trump as a ‘country of particular concern’ and the recent congressional hearing on November 20 about the rising insecurity in the country.

The cleric criticised the national assembly for lacking initiative and allowing foreign legislators to lead discussions on Nigeria’s insecurity challenges.

“It is a shame on our national assembly that it took the United States Congress, not the representatives elected by Nigerians, to convene a hearing on the lived experiences of citizens suffering under insecurity, while those in Abuja were busy with politicking, posturing for political relevance, and defecting from one political party to another in their desperate manoeuvres to secure their seats ahead of the 2027 elections.”

Bakare said comments made by Trump were “the most despicable language ever used by a world leader” in describing Nigeria as a “now-disgraced country”.

He said the government’s sudden “flurry of activity after Trump’s remarks” exposed its earlier lack of urgency.

The cleric accused political leaders of “burying their heads in the sand like ostriches, preoccupied with the politics of chaos and paying little attention to the work of governance”.

He said the ruling class had ignored the daily realities of ordinary Nigerians and paid “little attention to the real work of governance.”

The former presidential aspirant added that it was “a stain on the Nigerian government” that external pressure was needed before officials acted.

Bakare said Nigeria had suffered its “most humiliating international public image since the Abacha era”, blaming the situation on years of poor leadership and the refusal to confront deep national problems.

He lamented the surge in attacks and kidnappings, adding that “terrorists and bandits now dare the Nigerian state with impunity.”

Bakare also urged President Bola Tinubu to issue a public apology to communities ravaged by insecurity, saying preliminary steps were insufficient to rebuild trust.

He welcomed early interventions but warned that stronger, systemic measures are necessary to restore citizens’ confidence.

Bakare proposed a victims and survivors register, a national apology within three months, and interim compensation, arguing that accountability is essential to ending the violence..

By Daily Trust

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded withdrawal of the ambassadorial list sent to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying it is populated by people with “integrity deficit”.

The party also asked President Tinubu to renominate only Nigerians with “stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments”.

Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the party, said this in a statement on Saturday.

“This list contains the names of many people (disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials) who are widely perceived negatively by Nigerians and the global community, for their integrity deficit and notable anti-democratic activities. This development is not just a sad commentary on our country’s history of diplomatic representation; it is very reprehensible and scandalous.”

“While most Nigerians are seriously appalled by the inclusion of most of the nominees, they are not totally surprised, given the history and disposition of this administration.

“Furthermore, it is an incontestable fact that a nominee is a clear and direct reflection of the values and estimation of the nominator. By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that these are the best people he has to represent our country in the countries where they will be posted.

“That it took the President almost three years to produce this list speaks to the paucity of excellent people within his reach.”

The party expressed shock over the inclusion of the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on the list.

Ememobong alleged that the appointment could serve as a means to induce incumbent INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, to deliver flawed election.

“Specifically, we convey the disappointment of many right-thinking Nigerians on the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose administration of our electoral umpire was characterised by countless double-speaks, flip-flops, and undelivered promises, which ultimately resulted in the birth of this administration, which is struggling in all areas of governance.”

“To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system, which we suspect is designed as an incentive to the new INEC Chairman, to also deliver flawed elections in 2027, in expectation of future rewards. This is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.

“May we remind the President and all Nigerians that the respect a country gets from other countries cannot be separated from the integrity profile and public perception of both the President and the Ambassadors. So, appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles is not only a great disservice to Nigeria but a setup for a diplomatic all-time low.

“To this end, we demand that President Bola Tinubu withdraw the said list and renominate only those with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments.”

“This list contains the names of many people (disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials) who are widely perceived negatively by Nigerians and the global community, for their integrity deficit and notable anti-democratic activities.”

While describing the list as a sad commentary on the country’s history of diplomatic representation; PDP said” it is very reprehensible and scandalous.”

The opposition party said most Nigerians are “seriously appalled by the inclusion of most of the nominees, they are not totally surprised, given the history and disposition of this administration.

“Furthermore, it is an incontestable fact that a nominee is a clear and direct reflection of the values and estimation of the nominator. By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that these are the best people he has to represent our country in the countries where they will be posted.”

PDP also said, that it took the President almost three years to produce this list speaks to the “paucity of excellent people within his reach.

“Specifically, we convey the disappointment of many right-thinking Nigerians on the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose administration of our electoral umpire was characterised by countless double-speaks, flip-flops, and undelivered promises, which ultimately resulted in the birth of this administration, which is struggling in all areas of governance.

“To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system, which we suspect is designed as an incentive to the new INEC Chairman, to also deliver flawed elections in 2027, in expectation of future rewards. This is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.

“May we remind the President and all Nigerians that the respect a country gets from other countries cannot be separated from the integrity profile and public perception of both the President and the Ambassadors. So, appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles is not only a great disservice to Nigeria but a setup for a diplomatic all-time low.”

To this end, PDP is demanding that President Bola Tinubu “withdraw the said list and renominate only those with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments.”

Senator Ali Ndume has criticised what he described as the excessive use of security convoys by top government officials, including President Bola Tinubu, warning that the practice leaves ordinary citizens exposed and vulnerable.

Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Thursday, Ndume said many public office holders move with security details that are unnecessarily large, even when their positions do not warrant such heavy protection.

He recalled visiting the residence of a colleague and finding “more than 10 policemen” attached to him, despite the lawmaker being junior to him in the National Assembly.

Ndume further argued that the presidential convoy itself is excessively large, stressing that security efforts should be focused on protecting the overall environment rather than individual personalities.

He said: “I went to one of my colleagues’ house for dinner. And I saw more than 10 policemen. He is even my junior in the National Assembly. Some of them, if you see them coming, you will pull back thinking that maybe it’s the President or the Vice President that is coming.

“You can see even the president, the convoy that the president goes about with is too much. Secure the place and when the president goes, you withdraw. Secure Abuja and the president can even drive out, you know, himself.

“But when you secure personalities, and this is what is happening in Nigeria, then others, common people, as we call them, become vulnerable, and we don’t care. So if you secure Abuja, then you can drive at night. And let me tell you, this is what is happening in most countries”.

DAILY POST reports that the lawmaker’s comments come just days after President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers from VIP escort and guard duties.

In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the directive was aimed at redeploying police manpower to core law enforcement responsibilities.

Stephen Angbulu and Adeyinka Adedipe


President Bola Tinubu has called on herders to end open grazing, surrender all illegal weapons, and transition to ranching as part of a new national strategy to resolve the long-standing farmer–herder conflict.

In a statement on Wednesday, the President said the Federal Government is prioritising sustainable solutions to the violent confrontations between herders and farming communities, clashes that have fueled instability across several northern and central states.

The admonition comes amid a surge in school kidnappings in Niger, Kebbi, and other parts of the country in the past week, as well as ongoing farmer–herder violence in the North Central region that has left scores dead in recent months.

“Ranching is now the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony,” Tinubu said.

He urged all herder associations to seize the opportunity, end open grazing, and surrender illegal weapons.

The President also called on mosques and churches, especially in vulnerable areas, to coordinate with security agencies to ensure protection during prayers and gatherings.

Highlighting the creation of the Ministry of Livestock as a key part of the administration’s long-term plan, Tinubu urged herder associations to collaborate with the ministry, modernise livestock production, and embrace ranch-based operations.

He noted that farmer–herder clashes have consistently fuelled insecurity, from land disputes to deadly confrontations, particularly in the Middle Belt.

The new livestock policy, he said, aims to protect both farmers and herders while easing land-use tensions.

To support this transition, Tinubu added that the Federal Government, in partnership with state governments, will provide frameworks for ranch establishment and implement measures to curb illegal arms circulation.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government announced on Wednesday that it had intensified security across the state following threats from a self-proclaimed bandit in the Edo Central Senatorial District.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, the government assured residents of adequate protection.

The governor convened a high-level security meeting in response to a viral video showing the alleged bandit threatening communities around Ekpoma and adjoining areas.

The Edo State Special Security Squad recently arrested two suspected kidnappers, Anthony Fedigha Ebimienwei and Luke Disemoh, in the Egbai Community, Ovia North-East LGA, following “high-level, intelligence-driven surveillance.”

The state government urged citizens to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative, warning against spreading misinformation or unverified content. Governor Okpebholo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of residents, commuters, and investors.

It was a day of lamentations in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers expressed deep sorrows over the rising insecurity across the country.

The House dedicated the plenary session to deliberate on the state of national security with a view to identifying the causes, effects and proffering solutions which would be conveyed via resolutions to the executive at the end of the exercise on Wednesday.

The special plenary, observed by officials from the United States Embassy, Speaker of the Parliament of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Lanien Blanchette, along with members of Parliament and cabinet ministers, featured presentations from security related committees and regional caucuses leaders in the House.

In his opening address, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, declared that the events of the past week revealed a deeply troubling escalation in violence across several states.

He said the various attacks are not only coordinated but designed to destabilise the country, aiming to create the impression that violent groups can act without restraint, albeit focusing on soft and vulnerable targets.

“Their purpose is to instill fear, weaken public confidence, and give the illusion of being everywhere at once. Nigeria must reject this tactic. We must resist fear and stand firm against those who rely on cruelty and spectacle to advance their evil ideologies.

“The last few weeks have been difficult for our country. Communities have suffered severe attacks, including killings and multiple abductions targeting civilians, security personnel and other vulnerable groups. These incidents occurred in rapid succession and affected different parts of the country, underscoring the scale and coordination of the threat we face.

“The attack in Kebbi State shocked the nation. The abduction of students in Niger State caused deep distress. The kidnapping of worshippers in Kwara State brought fear to many communities. Families are grieving. Citizens are anxious. These incidents remind us of the scale of the threat we face and the seriousness of the work before us,”he said.

The speaker enjoined Nigerians to remain undaunted by the recent activities of terrorists and bandits but remain united in tackling the security challenges.

Speaker Abbas stated that the decision of the House to suspend all other matters to focus on national security was neither symbolic nor procedural but “reflects the seriousness of the moment and our duty to speak for our constituents.”

The speaker, while alluding to the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by the United States (U.S), said the government of Nigeria does not and will never support or sponsor violence against its own citizens.

Abbas declared that Nigeria’s sovereignty remains non-negotiable, yet partnership, especially when extended in good faith, can allow both countries to face shared threats with greater clarity and purpose.

“We conveyed our resolutions to the United States Congress, the Department of State and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

“It is true that in some communities, Christians have been targeted, just as Muslim communities have suffered similar attacks in others. These acts have been carried out by violent groups pursuing their own agendas. They do not reflect the policy or practice of the Nigerian state.

“Terrorism, banditry, communal clashes and extremist violence have brought suffering to Nigerians of all faiths. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and every institution of government remains committed to protecting that right.”

Also speaking, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu acknowledged the security challenges affecting the country and said the solution to them requires structural legislative reform, not merely reactive military responses.

Kalu observed that the Nigerian police is constrained by centralised command, inadequate funding and lack of accountability, hence the need to move the force from exclusive to concurrent list.

He said despite strong anti-kidnapping laws like life imprisonment, death penalty for kidnapping, the practice continues because it is alleged that government entities negotiate with bandits and pay ransom.

Kalu called for legal prohibition of ransom negotiation and mandating criminal justice process over amnesty programmes.

He stressed the need for a legislation to provide criminal penalties for government officials who negotiate ransom or authorise unstructured amnesty deals.

In a presentation, the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere said the country faces multifaceted security threats across the country with displacement of families and communities while mortalities remain high, reaching up to 9,500 in 2024.

While noting that the global terrorism index places Nigeria as the sixth most impacted country globally by terrorism, he said the report showed that the country had over 24,000 violent incidents between December 2023 and November 2024.

The House leader said, the legislature has equally responded to the issue of insecurity, with countless motions and bills to restructure the police force, to amend the Nigeria Army Act, and so on and so forth.

The House Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda also noted that insecurity is ravaging the entire country but the government was not doing enough to arrest the situation.

Chinda said the House must immediately come up with a bill to establish the National Border Patrol Force to secure the nation’s borders to reduce the influx of criminal elements while using the opportunity of the ongoing constitutional amendment to establish community or state police.

In his remarks, leader of the northern regional caucus, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (APC, Kano) expressed deep worry over the issue of insecurity all over the country, calling for a legislative emergency by shutting down the House.

Doguwa also said the APC-led government of President Bola Tinubu was not doing enough on addressing security challenges.

“…I want to say that yes, the government is doing its best. The security agencies are doing their best. But I want to say with every sense of responsibility and without any fear of equivocation that their best is not good enough. It is not good enough because Nigeria today, Mr Speaker, it is horrific. Mr Speaker, our security situation is tragic. Mr Speaker, the security situation, especially in the north where I come from, is devastating.

“Mr Speaker, our situation in Nigeria today in the area of security is unspeakable. It is unspeakable because our people are left ravaged in serious tension, fear and desperation, all because we are lacking and reneging in our institutional and collective responsibility as a government,”he added.

Similarly, leader of the South South caucus, Hon.Victor Nwokolo, agreed that the security architecture of the country has failed in its entirety.

“What my brother Doguwa said is happening in the north, exactly is happening in the south. There is no part of southern Nigeria that you can said is safe. Outside Lagos, every other state troubled in the south,”he said.

Nwokolo proposed funding community vigilantes directly from local government allocations and involving the private sector in key road repairs to curb highway abductions.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) says it has received “disturbing reports” of delayed or withheld security responses on attacks in several predominantly Christian communities.

In a statement on Tuesday, the clerics condemned the security situation in the country and addressed the allegations of a Christian “genocide” — a label the federal government has repeatedly rejected.

The bishops said the label stemmed from a “prolonged” attack on members of the faith.

“It is a matter of grave concern that several predominantly Christian communities, particularly in the Northern and middle belt regions of the country, have come under repeated and brutal attacks, resulting in heavy casualties and the tragic loss of many Christian lives,” the statement reads.

“In some instances, there have been disturbing reports of delayed or withheld security responses, giving the impression of possible collusion or a lack of will to act.

“The near-total destruction and occupation of some communities, and the continued attacks on displaced persons even in camps, have deepened the people’s sense of abandonment and despair. Such prolonged unbearable conditions have given credence to allegations of ‘genocide’ in some quarters.

“Yet, mindful of the sacred dignity and inestimable worth of every human life, we are equally deeply concerned that Muslims and many other innocent citizens of diverse ethnic backgrounds have also been victims of this same cruelty that continues to desecrate our common humanity.”

The bishops urged the government to investigate the reports of delayed or withheld security responses in the affected communities to rebuild public trust.

They also asked the federal government to bring the perpetrators of the recent kidnaps across Kebbi, Kwara, Borno, and Niger to justice.

by Jerrywright Ukwu


Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, says non-kinetic approach was deployed in securing the release of the 38 worshippers.

The victims were abducted from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the Eruku community of Kwara on November 18.

On November 21, Adeola Ajayi, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), briefed the president on the security crisis enveloping the nation.

On November 23, Tinubu announced that all the abductees had been released.

“Thanks to the efforts of our security forces over the last few days, all the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State have been rescued,” the president announced in a statement.

“I am closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving continuous updates from the frontline.

“Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety — and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people.”

The presidency and the military have been mum on how the captives were set free or if any ransom was paid.

‘SECURITY AGENCIES HAVE A WAY OF TRACKING THESE PEOPLE’

Speaking on ‘Prime Time’, an Arise Television programme, on Monday, Onanuga said the release was thanks to the DSS and the military.

He added that the gunmen knew that if they did not cooperate, they were going to be “pummelled”.

“After the incident, the DSS and the military were involved in the rescue effort. They got in contact with the bandits to release the captives unharmed,” the president’s spokesperson said.

“On Sunday, they were able to get them out unharmed. They do have a way of tracking these people.

“The security agencies have a way of contacting these people. They (bandits) know the consequences of not acquiescing to government demands. They know they could be pummelled.”

Onanuga added that a kinetic approach would have been counter-productive because terrorists often use abductees as “human shields” which could result in “collateral damage”.

“Attacking their base could be risky because you can kill the civilians,” he added.

The presidential aide also said the military will decide “the next line of action” on the kidnappers.

Kaduna-based Islamic, cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has disclosed that his priority in Nigeria’s worsening security crisis is addressing those perpetrating violence rather than focusing first on their victims.

According to the Islamic cleric, the only way to stop the ongoing cycle of killings is to confront the attackers directly and deprive them of the means to inflict further harm.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Gumi drew a medical analogy to explain his approach, he argued that in any emergency, the first step is to prevent further damage, not to begin treating those already hurt.

“When you have an emergency, you can only be concerned about stopping the bleeding, not even the fracture, maintaining the cardiovascular potency,” he said.

“I am so much concerned about those who are injuring people. Imagine a mad man in the market in the night who has stabbed so many people—my approach is to get that knife from the man, not the people who are injured.”

Gumi emphasised that his focus does not imply disregard for victims, but rather a strategic attempt to end the violence more effectively.

He said he is not positioned to provide direct support to victims, insisting that existing government agencies have the responsibility and capacity to do so.

“I am not an authority and I cannot take care of everybody. My concern is that blood should stop flowing,” he stated.

The cleric pushed back against criticism that his methods prioritise the welfare of armed groups over their victims, insisting that the state possesses adequate structures to respond to those affected.

“Some people say we have neglected the victims. We have not neglected the victims,” he said.

“The victims have an emergency agency that can take care of them, we have state governors, we have everything to take care of them.”

According to Gumi, the real challenge is how to rehabilitate those he describes as “outlaws” by applying psychological and social engagement strategies that would pull them away from violent lifestyles.

He argued that the perpetrators are known to communities and authorities, and that meaningful dialogue could redirect them.

“But these people that are outlaw, how do we use psychology and social interaction to deviate them from this evil they have fallen into? We know them for a very long time,” he said.

Gumi said his stance is informed by years of firsthand encounters with bandits, insisting that the government also recognises that his approach could work but is held back by political disagreements.

“I have seen this firsthand. This is what will work and government and people have understood that but I think for political reason, they cannot come together and implement it,” he said.

The cleric compared the banditry crisis to an untreated illness, insisting that authorities must examine its root causes before any lasting solution can emerge.

“If you want to cure a disease, you have to go back and see the psychologist — what caused the disease,” he added.

Sheikh Gumi has, for years, maintained that negotiation, rehabilitation and reintegration are more effective in addressing banditry than purely military actions.

He has repeatedly met directly with armed bandit leaders and urged the government to embrace structured dialogue.

He argues that many armed groups are products of neglect, poverty, and cycles of revenge, and that addressing these root causes is essential for achieving lasting peace.

We shall never forget and forgive Peter Obi for supporting a foreign invasion of Nigeria.

By : Azeez Kareem


President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has told opposition figure Peter Obi that the government will not forgive him for remarks interpreted as welcoming possible United States military action in Nigeria.

Onanuga made the comments in a quoted X post, referring to a video in which Obi is heard welcoming Trump’s invasion threat.

“If Donald Trump said he will invade Nigeria, I will welcome it with open arms because security is my priority.”

Onanuga accused the former Labour Party candidate of showing disregard for national sovereignty.

The footage resurfaced following a 1 November 2025 post by US president Donald Trump on Truth Social, in which he directed the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria over what he described as Christian genocide.

Trump cited attacks attributed to Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and armed herder groups, and said the United States will not allow the violence to continue.

However Nigeria had rejected Trump’s claims.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said attacks in Nigeria affect citizens of all faiths and are not condoned by the state.

Tinubu, speaking during a defence briefing in Abuja, pointed to the appointment of a Christian as chief of defence staff and said his administration was maintaining contact with religious leaders to reinforce inter-faith stability.

Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala said Nigeria would accept assistance from the United States only in a form that respects the country’s territorial integrity.

The recorded video was made on 23 November. Obi said security would be his number one priority if in office and interpreted the US position as an opportunity for cooperation against armed groups rather than an endorsement of foreign intervention.

The Guardian reported On 4 November, that Obi issued a statement urging Abuja and Washington to maintain constructive diplomatic engagement.

He criticised the government’s handling of insecurity, citing figures from international rights organisations estimating that more than 10,000 people have been killed since May 2023.

He said Nigeria was experiencing an unprecedented level of insecurity and called for cooperation among political actors.

Recently in Kwara, armed men killed multiple residents in an assault, while schools in parts of the north remain closed due to persistent banditry. Local education officials warn that millions of children remain out of school as a result.

Relations between Abuja and Washington have also been strained by the US designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious-freedom violations.

Tinubu’s administration last week sent a delegation to Washington for consultations aimed at easing tensions.

A newlywed groom identified as Dan Gaske Mai Masara, has been allegedly stabbed to death by his wife, less than a week after their wedding in Tashar Aibo, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The couple had tied the knot on Thursday, November 18, 2025 but the marital bliss was cut short on Sunday afternoon when the incident occurred.

Neighbours told reporters that the wife allegedly attacked the new groom with a knife while he was asleep, inflicting a fatal wound to his neck.

The motive behind the stabbing has not been disclosed as authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

by Muhammad Ali


Four vigilantes have been killed and four soldiers declared missing after terrorists attacked a military base in Mayenti, a town in the Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attack occurred a day after the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) posted a video of the execution of Samaila Uba, a Nigerian Army brigadier-general.

On Monday night, security sources told our reporter that ISWAP fighters rode on motorcycles into Mayenti in an attempt to overrun the facility.

The town, located near Dara Jamal—the scene of a massacre that claimed over 60 lives in September—is a hotspot of terrorist activities.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai repelled the insurgents, killing several terrorists. However, four civilian joint task force members were also confirmed dead after the battle.

While retreating, the ISWAP terrorists burned two trucks belonging to the Borno State Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Resettlement and killed four labourers.

The assault came hours after the Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, left Borno, and shortly after the release of the video of Mr Uba’s killing.

The general, who had escaped a terrorist ambush on Saturday, lost contact with his troops while awaiting a rescue mission. Unfortunately, the terrorists found and killed him.


Concerns over rising insecurity

The twin attacks have sparked new concerns over Nigeria’s capacity to confront the insurgency, particularly following American President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on the security situation in the country.

Citizens have voiced outrage over the brigadier-general’s death and are demanding decisive action to eliminate terrorists across the North-east and the country.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum had urged the federal government to procure more drones and adopt technology-driven surveillance to fight the insurgents.

He similarly challenged the military to run coordinated attacks on the insurgents when he received the new Chief of Air Staff last Monday.

He called for a coordinated military approach involving the Air Force, Navy, and Army that targets the Lake Chad area, especially Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains.

He similarly called on the federal government to increase funding for the military and the Multi-National Joint Task Force, and urged Nigerians to unite in ending the insurgency.

Governor Zulum spoke shortly after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the renewed insecurity, especially the killing of the Brigadier General, as a serious security threat.

He asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take the necessary steps or resign, stressing that Nigeria cannot continue on its current path.

The renewed attacks came weeks after the appointment of new service chiefs.

Military speaks on renewed commitment
During his visit to Borno, just a week after a similar visit by the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, Mr Aneke, assured the governor that the Nigerian Air Force remains committed to improving air-ground coordination, strengthening intelligence operations, and protecting civilians while combating terrorism.

He reaffirmed the force’s dedication to working with the state government and other security agencies to achieve lasting peace and stability in Borno State.

Sani Uba, the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, North-east Operation Hadin Kai, did not respond to calls or reply to a message sent to his mobile number.

by Ejike Ejike


Indications have emerged of how security operatives allegedly ignored credible intelligence by the Department of State Services (DSS), which could have prevented the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu local government area of Kebbi State.

This is even as Kebbi State governor, Mohammed Nasir Idris, on Monday night, fumed over what he described as failure to act on credible intelligence from the DSS.

Recall that suspected gunmen had in the wee hours of Monday attacked the school, reportedly shooting dead the vice principal and kidnapping 25 female students. Three of the students, however, managed to escape from their abductors.

Security sources, who spoke to LEADERSHIP on Tuesday, said that Governor Idris, who arrived at the school at about 6.45pm on Monday, accused unnamed security agencies of sabotaging security efforts made by his administration.

“This is clear sabotage. We got credible intelligence from the DSS (Department of State Services) that this school was likely to be attacked. DSS further advised that we convene an emergency Security Council meeting, which we did. And the decision was that we would provide round-the-clock protection for the students,” said the governor.

The governor said the he took the DSS report seriously, bearing in mind that the failure to dutifully use a similar intelligence led to the December 2020 kidnap of over 300 pupils of a school in Kankara, Katsina State.

The governor lamented that deployments were made to secure the school. The heavily-armed security men spent time taking photographs with the students, only to abandon them 30 minutes before the attack.

Meanwhile, the governor, who was accompanied by security chiefs in the state, announced the setting up of a special investigation panel to unravel how, despite the DSS intelligence, and efforts by the state government, the kidnappers still struck.

The DSS state director of Kebbi State will head the panel, which will also oversee the safe return of the kidnapped students.

One of the teachers who managed to escape had told journalists that given the several armed uniformed men who were deployed to the school on Sunday, and who spent considerable time interfacing with the students and teachers, teaching them emergency drills, he was shocked at the sad turn of events.

“The heavily-armed security men spent the entire night guarding the school. Sadly, for yet-to-be determined reasons, they reportedly left the school before dawn. About 30 minutes after they withdrew, the kidnappers struck, abducting the students,” the teacher had stated.

“I believe it was the accuracy and credibility of the intelligence supplied by the DSS on the school that made Governor Idris appoint their director to head the special committee he set up.

“The good news is that there is sufficient reason to believe that the girls were kidnapped, not killed. With ongoing efforts by the federal and state governments, we are hopeful that they will all be rescued,” he declared.

By : Lawrence Njoku


UNITED States (U.S.) lawmaker, Riley Moore, has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s denial of the targeted killing of Christians as “completely false”.

Moore said Tinubu’s denial was to “protect his interests,” adding that Nigeria’s political leaders were “complicit” in the killing of Christians.

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Moore noted Tinubu’s statement, claiming that the “characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality” as incorrect.

Meanwhile, the Congress will, on Thursday, debate the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

This was as International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule (Intersociety) raised fresh claims 99 Christians were, again, killed in Nigeria in 14 days.

“Unfortunately, that is completely false. There are states in Nigeria that have blasphemy laws. People are facing the death penalty for blasphemy against Islam,” the U.S. lawmaker said. “I know President Tinubu is in a difficult position, and trying to protect his interests there in the country. But they are complicit in this to some degree or another for a statement like this.”

Moore cited the case of an Adamawa Christian farmer, Sunday Jackson, who was sentenced to death for defending himself against a killer herdsman.

“There is serious persecution in Nigeria,” Moore said.

CONGRESS is set to convene a hearing on Thursday to examine allegations of widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria, following President Donald Trump’s recent decision to redesignate the country as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

The session will be led by Congressman Chris Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, and a vocal advocate for stronger U.S. action on reported religious violence in Nigeria.

Smith previously introduced a congressional resolution naming the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as responsible actors in several attacks. The resolution recommends visa bans and asset freezes against members of the groups.

It also called on White House to classify “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” operating in states such as Benue and Plateau under the Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) framework established by the International Religious Freedom Act.

Witnesses scheduled to testify include Jonathan Pratt, senior bureau official at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, and Jacob McGee, deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour.

A second panel is expected to feature Nina Shea, senior fellow and director at the Centre for Religious Freedom; Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese; and Oge Onubogu, director and senior fellow for the Africa Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

INTERSOCIETY alleged in a statement yesterday that 99 Christians were killed within the last 14 days.

It stated that the killing occurred between October 28 and November 11, adding that 114 others were kidnapped by the group that carried out the action, called Jihadist militants.

The report was signed by the Head, Intersociety, Emeka Umeagbalasi, and two human rights lawyers, Joy Igboeli and Ogochukwu Obi.

Senator Kawu Sumaila, who represents the Kano South Senatorial District in the Senate, has tied the knot with his new bride, Hindatu Adda’u Isah, an officer of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The marriage ceremony, which was held on Monday in Kano, quickly attracted public interest after images of the couple began circulating widely on social media, prompting an outpouring of goodwill from his constituents and supporters.

Senator Kawu Sumaila was represented at the ceremony by Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi, a.k.a. A.A. Rano and Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, the member representing Rano, Kibiya, and Bunkure Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives.

The wedding was conducted in accordance with Islamic rites, and more details were expected as celebrations continued.

by Jeremy

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has advised Nigerians who have paid ransom to kidnappers to drag the Federal Government to court and demand a refund, insisting that the state had failed in its constitutional duty to protect them.

Falana, who spoke at the opening of the Legal Year of the Faculty of Law, Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, argued that the persistent rise in kidnapping across the country amounted to a breach of the government’s obligation to safeguard lives as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

He faulted what he described as a “class-based response” to abductions, noting that authorities act swiftly when high-ranking individuals were kidnapped but left ordinary citizens at the mercy of criminals.

According to him, seeking a refund through the courts will not only enforce victims’ rights but also pressure the government to strengthen security measures.

Meanwhile, new data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024. The Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) 2024 estimated over 2.2 million kidnapping incidents during the period, with an average of N2.7 million paid per victim.

Security analysts warned that kidnapping has now become a thriving criminal enterprise, demanding urgent and coordinated government action.

By Rilwan Muhammad

Cameroonian opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary is currently under the watch of Nigerian security operatives in Yola, Adamawa State capital, according to a BBC report.

This is as Nigeria declined a request from Cameroonian authorities to hand him over to the country.

Although a reliable source had told Daily Trust on Wednesday, November 5, that he had since moved to Abuja, the newspaper was unable to confirm if he was still in Abuja as of Wednesday night.

The spokesman of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Sherrif Akinlabi, did not respond to an inquiry sent to his phone number concerning the whereabouts of the Cameroonian.

Tchiroma, who contested President Paul Biya’s victory in the October presidential election, claimed he secured 54.8% of the vote compared to Biya’s 53.7%.

The opposition leader was taken out of his Marouare residence in Garoua on the night of 28-29 October.

According to reports, a team of Cameroonian special security officers attempted to “abduct” the former presidential candidate on November 2, allegedly with support from some Nigerian security personnel.

Cameroonian security operatives reportedly warned their Nigerian counterparts that Tchiroma was “a dangerous criminal”.

Unsure how to keep him safe without the risk of raids that could cause an escalation, Tchiroma was escorted across the border into Nigeria hours later.

A 31 October post on his “Tchiroma 2025” Facebook account read, “I thank the loyalist army, which has shown its patriotism by escorting me to a safe location and is currently ensuring my protection.”

There had been several incidents, suggesting subtle attempts to take Tchiroma into custody. Midmorning on 29 October, gendarmes stormed Tchiroma’s quarters.

The vanguards outside his compound and private security personnel guarding other compounds in the neighbourhood confirmed there were gunshots around Tchiroma’s compound that morning.

The attack came a day after the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, in a press briefing in Yaoundé, warned that Tchiroma would be dealt with for inciting “post-election violence”.

Atanga Nji repeatedly insisted that Tchiroma breached the law by declaring himself winner of the presidential poll a day after voting ended, noting that only the Constitutional Council has the authority to declare a winner.

Tchiroma had called on his supporters to go to the streets the day the results were proclaimed.

According to Cameroun Actuel, about four to six armed soldiers were seen in different parts of Marouare, the neighbourhood where Tchiroma lives, though their mission was unclear.

Security operatives reportedly set up checkpoints about fifty metres from his residence, a move interpreted as an attempt to restrict his movement.

The paper noted that this was not the first time Tchiroma had been rescued from what appeared to be a risky situation. On election day, security officers stopped the vehicle conveying him, but his supporters intervened, suspecting that he might be harmed.

President Paul Biya had earlier warned that severe action would be taken against anyone involved in post-election unrest, noting that Cameroon stood to gain nothing from slipping into violence.

“Cameroon cannot afford a post-election crisis with potentially devastating consequences, as witnessed elsewhere.” Biya wrote on his X page on 13 November.

On November 14, Biya also wrote on his X handle, “It is my responsibility to ensure that order is maintained. I can assure you that order will prevail. Cameroon will keep forging ahead.”

His remarks were widely seen as a response to Tchiroma’s claim that he won the election.

The country’s Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Rene Claude Meka, extended post-election security patrols to 10 December, citing concerns over potential disturbances.

Paul Biya, the world’s oldest sitting President, has since been sworn in for his eighth term in office.

by Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice


Those security personnel who escorted Wike to that place of ignominy failed the most elementary rule of their training: in the face of a provoked atmosphere, your first duty is to tactically shield your principal and get him to safety. Instead, they stood there like zombies—frozen, waiting for the worst to happen.

Highly trained bodyguards would have cordoned off the area, placed their boss in the middle, and walked him away from the needless altercation that could easily have escalated into a deadly skirmish. It was a textbook case of failure in executive protection—a moment where professionalism should have prevailed, but emotion and confusion took charge.

Policing goes beyond blaring sirens, following VIPs, and wearing starched khaki while wielding AK rifles—it is about tact, wit, and intelligence. The essence of security detail is not in intimidation but in anticipation; not in reaction but in proactive control of an environment.

I remember sometime around 2010, when I served as an aide to the late Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin. An incident occurred that deepened my respect for the dexterity of the DSS. The minister’s vehicle had knocked down an okada rider somewhere around Lere in Kaduna State, and in an instant, passersby rushed out in fury, tempers flaring.

Shola Aguda, the Chief Detail to the minister, did the unthinkable. He used the driver as a decoy, making the minister take the driver’s seat. In that heated confusion, the minister slipped out through the driver’s door and melted into the angry crowd. In one swift, decisive moment, the DSS officer had saved his boss’s life—without firing a shot.

When we eventually regrouped at the office, we asked how he managed it. His response was simple yet profound: “My first responsibility is to protect my principal from harm or embarrassment.”

That’s precisely what Wike’s security detail failed to do. They stood morose, watching their boss walk into self-inflicted humiliation. As aides to politically exposed persons (PEPs), there is a limit to how your principal should conduct himself in public—and it’s your duty to ensure he stays within that limit.

This failure is not uniquely Nigerian. Around the world, there have been moments when security details either rose to the occasion or failed spectacularly, changing the course of events.

In 2018, for instance, when U.S. President Donald Trump was suddenly rushed off stage at a Nevada rally after a perceived threat emerged from the crowd, the Secret Service reacted in less than three seconds. They formed a human shield around him, scanning for danger, and only after ensuring his safety did they allow him to return to the podium. That’s elite protection—the kind that values discretion and swift decision-making over bravado.

Contrast that with the 1981 assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The failure wasn’t total, but it exposed how even the most professional units can be caught off guard. The Secret Service agent Jerry Parr, however, redeemed the team’s reputation by pushing Reagan into the car, realizing only later that the President had been hit. His instinct, not hesitation, saved the man’s life.

In Japan, the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also revealed the critical cost of hesitation. The security detail’s delayed response—turning too late to shield him from the homemade gun—became a subject of national outrage. In a society where order and precision are cultural norms, the lapse was unforgivable. It showed that one second of indecision in executive protection could alter history.

Nigeria has seen its own share of tragic miscalculations. The assassination of former Attorney General Bola Ige in 2001 was partly blamed on a breakdown in personal security coordination. The late minister had dismissed his police guards on the evening of his murder—a decision no competent aide should have permitted. Protection is not just about muscle; it’s about foresight and firmness, especially when the principal’s temperament or pride gets in the way.

The role of a security aide goes beyond carrying weapons or walking beside the boss. It demands a mastery of human behavior—reading the room, anticipating trouble, and knowing when to lead your principal away from chaos. A trained protection officer must understand that saving face sometimes means saving life.

Unfortunately, many of today’s aides are “Yes, sir” types—those who never see, let alone correct, their boss’s missteps. They are glorified escorts, not security professionals. Just like the policeman seen on video exchanging words with a naval officer, they fail to grasp the golden rule: you don’t escalate a situation when a politically exposed person is involved—you de-escalate it and ferry your boss first to safety.

In Britain, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s security detail demonstrated this subtle art during an unexpected protest in Manchester earlier this year. As protesters surged toward the Prime Minister’s convoy, one aide swiftly interposed himself, physically turning Sunak away while another opened a secure route through a nearby building. It was done so seamlessly that most onlookers didn’t even notice until after the fact. That’s what it means to protect not just a person, but an institution.

Nigeria’s police and paramilitary details urgently need training in emotional intelligence and situational control. They must learn that brute force or rigid obedience cannot replace discernment. Protecting a VIP is as much about managing the principal’s ego as it is about managing external threats.

If Wike’s aides had understood this, they would have restrained him before the situation deteriorated, keeping him from the cameras, the chaos, and the court of public opinion. Instead, they allowed a momentary lapse of judgment to become a viral national embarrassment.

Security, after all, is not only about guarding life—it’s about guarding reputation.

Frankly musing.

By Hadiza Musa


The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government over its decision to withdraw the proposed 15 percent import duty on petrol and diesel, saying the reversal shows that the Tinubu administration is not thinking through its policies before announcing them.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Friday, the party said the latest U-turn proves once again that the government is confused, unsure, and merely experimenting with governance.

Abdullahi recalled that the party had, on October 31, warned that the planned tariff would worsen hardship for Nigerians already struggling with rising living costs, subsidy removal and a weakened currency.

“While we welcome the decision of the government to reverse itself on the wrong-headed policy, we are concerned that this reversal is about the seventh occasion in two years where this government would announce a policy or decision and immediately reverse itself.

“As we noted in our statement reacting to the planned tariff, the new levy is likely to push the pump price of petrol beyond N1,000 per litre. If this happens, life would become even more unbearable for families, commuters, transporters, farmers, and small businesses already struggling under the weight of fuel subsidy removal without social protection and currency devaluation without safeguards.”

The party said it had also questioned why the government was considering a tax on imported fuel when local production capacity had not been secured.

The ADC also noted that the same concerns it raised were later cited by the Federal Government as the basis for the reversal, raising doubts about whether proper analysis or careful planning takes place within the administration.

According to the ADC, the repeated policy flip-flops show that the Tinubu government operates on trial and error, experimenting with decisions rather than following a clear, thought-through direction.

The party added that the situation was made worse by the conflicting messages coming from various government agencies, which offered different explanations for the policy reversal.

It said one agency claimed the tariff had only been put on hold, while another insisted it had been completely abandoned, reflecting a lack of coordination and clarity within the administration.

“This inconsistency portrays a government that is uncertain and working at cross purposes, to the detriment of citizens who deserve more coherent leadership.

“The party urged the Tinubu administration to understand that governing requires responsibility and careful judgment, and reaffirmed its commitment to defending Nigerians against policies that may harm their welfare,” he said.

by Igho Oyoyo


The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has broken its silence on the viral video showing a tense standoff between FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, and armed naval officers, expressing deep regret over the incident while firmly maintaining that the disputed property in Gaduwa District of FCT constituted illegal development.

Senior FCTA officials, addressing journalists after Thursday’s FCT Executive Committee meeting, provided a detailed chronology of events, clarifying that the claimants linked to former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd) possessed no legal title to the land.

The director of the Department of Development Control, Tpl Mukhtar Galadima, opened with a formal apology to the FCT Minister for Tuesday’s confrontation.

“It is with a sense of commitment, emotion and regret that we address this press conference on the incident that happened on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the Gaduwa District,” Galadima stated.

He recounted that on October 17, staff on routine monitoring noticed an ongoing development within the corridor of the Southern Parkway and when enquiring about the necessary approval status and documents, they were met by stiff resistance and threat to shoot by men of the Nigerian Navy.

After diplomatic intervention, the officers presented what Galadima dismissed as inadequate documentation.

“What was eventually provided was merely a letter of intent issued in 2007 by the Department of Parks and Recreation, not a formal approval,” he explained.

In a direct exchange with the site officer, Galadima recalled stating: “I said, as a lawyer, there is a clear difference between submission and approval, and you know it is illegal to commence development in the Federal Capital Territory without approval. He said he is aware, but the solution is under process. I said, then this development is illegal.”

Galadima justified his decision to invite the Minister, citing safety concerns. “We noticed the impending danger because armed men were strategically positioned, ready to shoot. And seeing this, I sent a distress call to the Honourable Minister.

“I want to sincerely apologise to the Honourable Minister for dragging him into this situation. I apologise to the Honourable Minister, indeed to all Nigerians for what happened.”

Meanwhile, the director of Lands Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, provided decisive legal context, stating: “The claimants have relied on a letter of intent issued by the Department of Parks and Recreation in 2007, 18 years ago.

“Letter of intent, not statutory right of occupancy. I wish to make it clear that in the FCT, the only thing that gives you title to land is statutory right of occupancy. Letter of intent is not a title.”

Nwankwoeze emphasised that the claimants failed to meet basic conditions, noting they “did not develop and complete development on the site within one year as required.

“Beyond not having title, in Abuja you cannot build anything without approval of the plans you submitted to ascertain that what you propose to develop is in line with the dictates of the master plan.”

While expressing regret for the public confrontation, both officials maintained that their enforcement action was necessary to uphold the FCT Act of 1976 and the Urban and Regional Planning Law of 1992, safeguarding Abuja’s master plan integrity.

by Jeremy


Paystack co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, has deactivated his X (formerly Twitter) account following renewed backlash over a series of old tweets from 2010 to 2017 that resurfaced on Thursday.

The controversy erupted after Nigerians dug up old posts by Ezra following allegations from his ex-partner, Max Obae, known as Maki. She accused Olubi of misogyny, abuse, and sexual exploitation, ending their relationship via an email with its subject titled ‘Severance’.

Maki also revealed that Ezra allegedly operated a burner account under the name ‘Akeem’, which began deleting tweets on Wednesday.

Maki alleged that Ezra pretended to be a gay to lure feminists into his circle and slowly break the feminism out of them, through depressing humiliation rituals, using them as sex objects and keeping them in check with money.

On Thursday, social media users dug up some of Ezra Olubi’s old tweets, including one from 2010, where he wrote, “On a lighter note, I hear sex with a minor cures HIV. So my +ve followers, help yourselves. Ur neighbour’s daughter isn’t looking bad today.”

Another tweet from 2012 read, “I judge my female friends by the sound their pee makes. Thanks to the audio recorder in my bathroom.”

Many other tweets deemed highly offensive circulated online but are too explicit to reproduce.

The reappearance of the old posts triggered a wave of online backlash, trending under Ezra’s name late Thursday, with users describing the tweets as “insensitive” and “offensive.”

Prior to deactivating his account, Ezra had already been trending in Nigeria after an online dispute involving his ex-girlfriend, Maki. The confrontation, which unfolded on X, was dubbed the “Ezra network of love” by social media observers, drawing widespread attention to his personal life.

Adding to the public scrutiny, Ezra celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, a day that coincided with renewed discussion about his past and present controversies.

Ezra, the co-founder of Paystack, is known for his flamboyant style and advocacy for personal expression. In 2022, late former President Muhammadu Buhari awarded him the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) national honour in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s fintech industry. He received the honour alongside his co-founder, Shola Akinlade, for their pioneering work in fintech.

As of Thursday evening, searches for his X handle returned “This account no longer exists,” confirming that the Paystack executive had indeed deactivated his profile amid the emerging controversy.

by Hafsat Bello Bahara


Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has assured that Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima, the naval officer who engaged in a heated exchange with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, will not face any disciplinary action.

Matawalle gave the assurance while speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa following public speculations about possible sanctions against the officer after a video of his confrontation with Wike went viral on social media.

In the video, recorded during Wike’s visit to a disputed plot of land in Gaduwa District, Abuja, the FCT minister was seen in a tense verbal exchange with the young naval officer, who stood his ground respectfully during the encounter.

LEADERSHIP reports the FCT minister was at Plot 1946 on Monday where he accused soldiers of preventing officials from the FCT Department of Development Control from enforcing a stop-work order.

The land is allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd). However, the soldiers stationed at the site blocked the minister’s entry prompting the confrontation. Wike later claimed that the developers lacked valid documents or legal approval for the construction on the site.

Reacting to the incident, Matawalle said the matter should have been handled through proper channels rather than through a public altercation.

“The minister should not have confronted him. Lieutenant Yerima was acting on orders. If Wike had any concerns, he should have spoken to his superiors or to me directly since I oversee naval affairs,” Matawalle said.

He commended Yerima’s composure during the confrontation, describing his conduct as disciplined and professional.

“You can clearly see that he was respectful while standing his ground. As far as we are concerned, he did not break any law or military regulation,” the minister added.

Matawalle also disclosed that the Chief of Naval Staff has commenced an investigation into the disputed land, while clarifying that no formal complaint has yet been received from the FCT Minister.

“This whole situation was avoidable. Before the minister went there, he had already spoken with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that the matter would be looked into,” Matawalle said.

by Ayomikunle Daramola


Lere Olayinka, special adviser to Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has accused Awwal Gambo, former chief of naval staff, of being scammed in a land dispute in Abuja and resorting to military force to assert his claim.

On Tuesday, Wike was involved in a confrontation with naval officers over a disputed parcel of land belonging to Gambo.

In a video circulating on social media, the minister was stopped by a military personnel from accessing the site, leading to a heated exchange between his security detail and the naval officers.

Speaking about the matter on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday, Olayinka said Gambo does not possess a title document proving ownership of the disputed land.

He challenged Gambo to confirm whether he submitted building plans for the land to the FCT development control office and whether those plans were approved.

“Vice Admiral Gambo does not have a title document showing that he owns the land; he does not own the land,” Olayinka said.

“Nigerians should ask him if he took his building plan to the Development Control Office and if it was approved.”

Olayinka recounted how the land was allocated in 2007 to one Santos Estate Limited for park and recreation purposes.

He said the company did not develop the land because it was designated as a parkway and walkway.

Olayinka said in 2022, Santos Estate Limited requested the FCT to convert the land’s use to commercial use, adding that the then minister of FCT refused to approve the conversion.

He said following refusal, the company allegedly began partitioning and selling the land, including to the former naval chief.

“That particular company was allocated in 2007 to Santos Estate limited for park and recreation. The company did not do anything on the land because that place is a parkway, a walkway,” he said.

“In 2022, the company wrote to the FCTA to convert the purpose to commercial. Probably in anticipation of the minister’s approval for conversion. The man started to partition the land and sold it to people, including the formal chief of naval staff.

“I want to say the former chief of naval staff was scammed and he has realized he was scammed. Instead of him coming out to seek help, he now resorted to using military might.

“In 2022, the minister of FCT declined the request for conversion but the man had already sold the land by then. Wike wasn’t the minister then.

“The minister is not against anybody. He is enforcing the law, which states that you cannot build on that land without approval. If you build without approval, the law mandates demolition. The minister is simply doing his job and is not targeting anyone.”

Olayinka said soldiers deployed to the land by Gambo are there to protect what he described as “illegality”.

Social critic and activist, Mahdi Shehu, has questioned what he called President Bola Tinubu’s sudden efforts to secure the release of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu from a UK prison, describing the move as politically motivated and tied to preparations for the 2027 general election.

In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, Shehu claimed that the President’s decision to establish a high-powered committee to engage the United Kingdom government over Ekweremadu’s imprisonment was not driven by humanitarian concern but by strategic political calculations.

“President Tinubu suddenly woke up from his diplomatic slumber and remembered Ekweremadu, who has been in prison since his conviction in 2023 for organ trafficking,” Shehu wrote.

He highlighted that the intervention came at a time when Nigeria currently lacks a substantive High Commissioner to the UK, a role that could have handled the matter more effectively through regular diplomatic channels.

“The UK justice system is nearly watertight. The opportunity to resolve the Ekweremadu issue was lost long ago,” Shehu noted, adding that the only realistic option left for Nigeria would be to explore a prisoner transfer agreement, if such a treaty exists and has been executed between both countries.

Shehu further argued that Tinubu’s move was less about compassion and more about political optics ahead of the next general election.

“My take is that Tinubu is using the Jamboree trip to signal care and concern because the election is approaching, and Ekweremadu is the only visible Ndi-Igbo not yet ‘on the train’ from Bombay to Goa. With him on board, Ndi-Igbo will be finally captured,” he wrote.

He also contended that other Nigerians convicted or detained abroad would not receive similar attention, as their release would hold little political value for the President. “Such is the visible miscalculation,” Mahdi Shehu added.

by Jemilat Nasiru


Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has condemned the alleged unlawful seizure of a disputed plot of land in Abuja by military officers reportedly acting on the orders of a former chief of naval staff.

Earlier on Tuesday, videos surfaced online showing Wike in a heated argument with a military official at a site.

In a statement after the incident, Wike said he visited the location following reports that soldiers had driven away officials of the FCT administration department of development control.

“You are aware that the land departments and the development control have the mandate to monitor illegal development and land grabbing,” Wike said.

“When this was brought to my attention, I instructed them to ensure that nothing takes place there, as there were no legal documents—no regional approval, no valid acquisition.”

The minister explained that while FCTA officials were at the site to enforce his directive, they were allegedly forced out by armed soldiers.

“I was informed that the soldiers of the military had to chase them away, and I thought they were acting illegally,” Wike said.

“Today, while I was in the office, I was called again that the military had taken over the place. I had to come myself to see things. It’s really unfortunate,” he said.

Wike said the government would not tolerate acts of intimidation against its staff, adding that due processes must be followed irrespective of social status.

“I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position cannot approach my office to say, ‘Look, this is what is going on.’ But simply because he’s a military man, he thinks he can use that to intimidate Nigerians. I am not one of those that will succumb to blackmail or intimidation,” he said.

The minister further said the individuals occupying the land could not present any valid papers when asked to do so.

“The director of development control said, ‘Bring the documents.’ They don’t have them. ‘Bring approval for building.’ They don’t have it,” he said.

“How can we continue to allow lawlessness to prevail? What about those who don’t have the military behind them? What about ordinary Nigerians?

“I have spoken to the chief of defence staff and the chief of naval staff. They assured me that the matter will be resolved. We’re not here to have a shootout with anybody or cause chaos.

“But I will not allow this to happen. The same way we enforce our laws in other areas is the same way it will be done here.

“Nobody, whether a former chief of naval staff or anyone else, will be allowed to carry out illegal development on government land.”