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 Politics › I Will Negotiate With Agitators If I Am In Government: Obi by Kuginzi(op): 7:27am On Jun 13 |
Yunusa Umar Peter Obi has said he would engage and negotiate with agitators if he were president, arguing that dialogue is necessary to address the root causes of insecurity. In a viral video clip, the NDC presidential candidate seen addressing people outside the country, criticised the arrest of individuals solely for making inflammatory comments on radio, saying such actions do not make sense in a democratic society. “As far as I’m concerned, there’s no reason, no reason whatsoever that you cannot (sic) arrest somebody because he was speaking on radio, calling people names. It doesn’t make sense. You know, everybody can tell you anything,” he said. “Even with agitators, if I’m in government today, I will discuss with them. I will engage, I will consult them,” Mr Obi said. Mr Obi noted that as a politician, he has been called different names by critics but does not consider that an offence. According to him, dialogue remains the best approach to resolving conflicts and addressing insecurity. Mr Obi stated that all agitators have reasons for their action, adding that engaging with them would pave the way to tackle the insecurity. “Because I believe that they have a reason for whatever they want to do. It’s only by engaging them that we’ll learn and see how we can solve it and everything”, he added. https://gazettengr.com/i-will-negotiate-with-agitators-if-i-am-in-government-obi/
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| Culture › We Can Fight Terrorists With ‘juju’ – Yoruba Monarchs Agree With Ooni Of Ife by Kuginzi(op): 6:50am On Jun 13 |
By Dayo Johnson, Regional Editor, South West On Friday, May 15 2026, scores of terrorists riding on motorcycles came in broad daylight when pupils of Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School as well as students of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo state were already in the classrooms. In an operation that didn’t last long but claimed the life of a teacher, the terrorists abducted 39 pupils and students including toddlers and seven of their teachers and herded them into the forest. While in captivity, the terrorists slaughtered one of the male teachers and one of the pupils was said to have died. The remaining abductees are still being held in the forest almost one month after without being rescued. This has caused great concern and anguish among the residents especially in the South West region in the country provoking protests and strikes by the teachers. Expressing concern over the spate of insecurity in the region, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, last Sunday at the grand finale of the 2026 Ifa festival, described the abduction as painful and unacceptable. He therefore tasked traditional rulers across Yorubaland to deploy their ancestral powers to fight the terrorists. He said, “We must bring together our traditional powers, spiritual heritage, and communal values to chase bandits, kidnappers, and all criminal elements out of Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole. Our ancestors stood for justice, peace, and communal harmony, and we must invoke those values at this critical time. We must rise collectively against the menace of banditry and kidnapping. Enough is enough. Our people deserve to live in peace and move freely without fear. Traditional rulers must take greater responsibility in safeguarding their communities while supporting the efforts of the government and security agencies”. However, some residents dismissed the claim of ancestral powers by the Ooni of Ife. They argued that such powers have no place in this modern day of AK 47 rifles and atomic bombs and wondered why such powers have not been deployed when terrorists have for several years been operating from the forests in Yorubaland. Rising to the challenge, Yoruba traditionalists and monarchs agreed with the Ooni of Ife insisting that they had their potent traditional powers to protect their land and that they were ready to do so. They said all they needed however was for the government to give them the necessary support. According to them, the resort to the use of traditional powers in this modern day of technology and Artificial Intelligence was because of their helplessness in the face of insecurity that has ravaged their land. They lamented that as armed herders were destroying their farmlands with impunity, their people were being abducted for huge ransom and in some cases killed by the terrorists while the government they look up to, to discharge its responsibilities of protecting them has demonstrated it’s incapable of doing so. They therefore have no choice than to go back to the old ways of protecting their communities as handed over to them by their forefathers. We can capture the terrorists with their AK-47—Oba Ilori-Faboro The Olojudo of Ido and former Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, said, “traditional spiritual means could be used to tackle insecurity and such powers remain effective when properly applied. Our native means are very potent and effective for people who know how to use it and where to do the original thing. “Spiritual powers still exist among some Yoruba people, and that is why those unscrupulous herders are afraid of Yoruba land. It is not all about guns. Our people have been capturing them even with their AK-47. Our forefathers deployed these powers to protect their communities from invaders but unfortunately we have allowed foreign religions to demonize our way of life. “People who still have these powers are using it and they are protected. It is something that we have to invest in and encourage the people who have the power to exercise it and use it to protect Yorubaland. “However, it is not everybody who has access to those spiritual powers for protection. Babalawo is not a business for everybody, it is for the initiated. Three Obas were attacked sometime ago by kidnappers, they were the Olumojo, Elesun and Alara. But Alara escaped. How did he escape? So, it is not everybody who has access to such means. Some people also decided to abandon such powers and embraced their new belief. So everybody will rely on what he has” It’s possible to protect our forest without firing a gun — Elebuibon A traditionalist, Ogundeji ¸lebuìbÍn in his response said “it is very possible and doable to protect the vast forest across the southwest without shooting a gun. The potent traditional means of doing so is still very active and available. However, who will go into the forest without government clearance, which is the reason we are advocating that governors in the southwest should convene a security summit to discuss alternative means of ensuring security of our forest. “There is the need for a holistic discussion with traditionalists and others who possess the ancestral means of protecting Yorubaland. It has been done before and it is possible again. We just need the government to show the will and give us the necessary support. The summit can be held under the auspices of traditional authorities who know everyone in their domain with the wherewithal to resolve the crisis in the country and particularly in Yorubaland. “There were times in the region that local guards would just go to their place of work in the evening, prepare some charms and return and no one dared to steal after the guards must have left such places. These things are still available but there must be a kind of collaboration and authority given to those who will embark on such adventures to start using them. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/06/insecurity-yes-we-can-fight-terrorists-with-juju-yoruba-monarchs-agree-with-ooni-of-ife/
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| Politics › Nigeria Killed More Than 13,000 ‘terrorists’ In Past Year, President Says by Kuginzi(op): 2:07pm On Jun 12 |
Nigeria’s military has “neutralised” more than 13,000 “terrorists” in the past year, the president says, as armed groups and criminal gangs continue to carry out mass attacks and kidnappings in the country. In a televised national address on Friday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the death toll from Nigeria’s fight against armed rebels is down 81 percent since he took power in 2023. Tinubu added that “124,000 fighters and dependants have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor,” a programme aimed at rehabilitating repentant armed group members who voluntarily lay down their arms. Tinubu’s speech was in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, which marks the end of several years of military rule and the restoration of democracy in 1999. However, despite the victorious tone of his speech, Africa’s second-biggest economy is in the throes of a spiralling insecurity crisis that has seen armed groups linked to ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda, as well as criminal gangs, abduct citizens for ransom money. Soft targets, including schools, churches and mosques, particularly in vulnerable rural communities with limited state security presence, have been particularly at risk. While armed groups initially limited their operations to the country’s north, they have begun spreading through thick forest corridors to attack targets in the country’s southwest. Officials say the groups are shifting base because of military pressure on their locations. Following unfounded allegations of a “Christian genocide” in the country by US President Donald Trump late last year, the United States military has since begun supporting Nigeria in conducting precision strikes on armed group locations. In February, 100 American soldiers were deployed to Nigeria. Scores of people have been abducted since January alone, including teachers and pupils as young as four years old. The latest incident in May saw 46 people kidnapped from a school in southwest Oyo state. On Monday, the Nigerian military said it rescued 360 people kidnapped by ISIL-linked Boko Haram and held in a remote mountain hideout in northern Borno State. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/12/nigeria-killed-more-than-13000-terrorists-in-past-year-president-says
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| Politics › Democracy Day Address: Terror Financiers Will Pay Dearly, Says Tinubu by Kuginzi(op): 7:27am On Jun 12 |
By Stephen Angbulu President Bola Tinubu has vowed that no mercy will be shown to terror purveyors who enable the killing and kidnapping of innocent Nigerians. He also issued an ultimatum to bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terrorism to surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state, disclosing that his administration had already neutralised over 13,000 terrorists in the past year alone. Tinubu gave the warning in his national address delivered on the occasion of the country’s 27th consecutive Democracy Day celebration, his fourth as President since 2023. According to him, although terror-related deaths had declined by 81 per cent since 2015, Friday’s Democracy Day celebration was subdued by the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states. He declared, “To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. “These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.” The Nigerian leader said his administration had moved beyond training with allies to precision operations on the ground. "We have moved from training with our allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targeting. “In Arege, Borno State, we degraded ISWAP’s command centre. Terror-related deaths are down by 81 per cent since 2015. “Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year,” he stated. Tinubu added that despite the neutralisation of terrorists, the door of rehabilitation remained open alongside the door of force. "Over 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor,” he said. The N5.41tn security allocation in the 2026 budget, Tinubu said, was a statement of national will to crush the current wave of terrorism, which has raged since 2009. Beyond the budget, he said his administration had approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits, which, he revealed, was designed to address the persistent gap between the number of security personnel and the security demands of over 230 million Nigerians. Tinubu acknowledged that even as the country celebrates 27 years of steady democracy, this year’s festive spirit of Democracy Day was weighed down by the continued hostage situation involving school children and teachers kidnapped in Oyo and Borno states, which has now entered its fourth week. "Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return. Democracy without security is a mirage. “That is why this administration declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits. "Our 2026 budget commits N5.41tn, our largest ever, to defence and security. Our administration is ever ready to do much more to secure our people,” he stated. He called for national unity in the face of the security challenge, rejecting ethnic or religious framing of criminality and urging Nigerians to do the same. “At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity. “We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history. “We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation,” he declared. On the intermittent power crisis of the past three years, the President explained the scale of the challenge he inherited and his response so far. He said by 2023, the sector was “characterised by chronic generation shortfalls, an unreliable gas supply, and transmission infrastructure so fragile that it could not evacuate available power. Distribution companies were burdened by massive losses and a metering deficit of over four million. "The result was a sector that generated less than the 13,500 megawatts installed capacity, a sector that transmitted less than it generated, distributed less than it transmitted, and collected revenue far below what it needed to sustain itself,” he added. Tinubu said in response, he signed the Electricity Act, granting states authority to generate, transmit and distribute power, authorised the Presidential Power Sector Task Force to raise a N4tn bond to settle verified legacy debts, and directed the Rural Electrification Agency, supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, to deploy off-grid and mini-grid power to underserved communities, universities, markets and hospitals. He explained, “To address the problems besetting the sector, I signed the Electricity Act, which grants states authority to generate, transmit, and distribute power. "The Presidential Power Sector Task Force is working hard to reduce the metering deficit. It has also been authorised to raise N4tn bond to settle verified legacy debts. “The Rural Electrification Agency, supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, has deployed off-grid and mini-grid power to underserved communities, universities, markets, and hospitals. “Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian. We intend to deliver it.” On the broader economy, Tinubu said federation revenues had risen, providing states and local governments with more resources, fiscal transparency had improved, and investor confidence had returned across agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining, transportation and the creative industries. He said non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent last year, over 1,000 small and medium enterprises had been certified for export, and the National Agricultural Development Fund was deploying 10,000 tractors over five years. However, he acknowledged that hardship persists. "Yet, many Nigerians still face economic hardship. We remain focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, improving living standards, rebuilding confidence in our economy, and creating conditions for sustainable prosperity. “We are moving from uncertainty to stability. The next phase is about accelerating growth and ensuring the benefits are felt in every home, every community, and every region. We believe that Democracy must be felt in the pocket,” he stated. https://punchng.com/democracy-day-address-terror-financiers-will-pay-dearly-says-tinubu/
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| Foreign Affairs › Trump Cancels Scheduled Bombings Against Iran by Kuginzi(op): 8:13pm On Jun 11 |
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he was calling off strikes on Iran and flagged the signing of a possible deal with Tehran after top-level talks. Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have… cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Trump said on his Truth Social network. “Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly,” he added. Iran Warns Of ‘Endless Quagmire’ Iran had warned Washington on Thursday that it risked wading into an “endless quagmire” of war and soaring energy prices, after Trump vowed to launch a new round of airstrikes and to seize an island oil terminal. Iran’s chief negotiator in talks with the Americans, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, issued his stark warning after the two sides exchanged overnight fire and Trump threatened that US forces would hit “VERY HARD TONIGHT”. "Wrong strategies and impulsive decisions will reset the entire board for the worse, explode energy infrastructure and markets and create an endless quagmire that you will be stuck in for years,” Ghalibaf said. The war, which began on February 28 with a wave of US-Israeli strikes on Iran, was paused under an April truce, but efforts to hammer out a permanent end to the fighting have since stalled. US forces have also, since the ceasefire, hit radar arrays and disabled Iranian ships, and Tehran has maintained a chokehold on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. “At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela,” Trump said, in a post on his own social media platform, referring to a Gulf island that hosts Iran’s biggest oil export terminal. General Ali Abdollahi, head of the Iranian military’s central headquarters, warned that “if the United States once again seeks to carry out attacks against heroic Iran, it would receive a harsher response than before, and the flames of war, in addition to creating insecurity in the region, will become more widespread and far-reaching”. The conflict has destabilised oil and gas prices, fuelling inflation and fears of recession in many economies. On Thursday, the World Bank lowered its global growth forecast to its lowest level since the coronavirus pandemic, predicting it would drop to 2.5 percent in 2026, from 2.9 percent last year. https://www.channelstv.com/2026/06/11/breaking-trump-cancels-scheduled-bombings-against-iran/amp/
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| Politics › 2027: Obi-kwankwaso Bid Faces Northern Resistance by Kuginzi(op): 5:06am On Jun 07 |
Ismaeel Uthman and Godwin Isenyo The presidential ambition of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, is facing serious resistance from some northern political stakeholders and sections of the electorate, findings by Sunday PUNCH have revealed. Some of the stakeholders, who spoke with our correspondents, disclosed that “majority of northerners” had yet to embrace his party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress. It was also gathered that some northern leaders had started warning their followers against the party, while portraying Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as anti-northern interests. In one of the political materials being circulated across some WhatsApp platforms in the region, Obi and Kwankwaso were projected as “haram” (forbidden). On Tuesday, there were reports that some angry youths in Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State burnt Obi and Kwankwaso’s campaign posters. Similarly, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly, Muhammad Tomas, who recently joined the NDC from the All Progressives Congress, returned to the APC. 'NDC is unknown’ Speaking with one of our correspondents on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said the NDC had yet to gain significant visibility and acceptance among northern voters. He said the party remained “largely unknown” to ordinary voters across the region. Muhammad-Baba said while some prominent opposition figures continued to attract media attention, their political influence in the North was far from certain. He particularly cited Kwankwaso, whose support base, according to him, may no longer be as solid as it appeared during the 2023 presidential election. "There is even doubt about whether Kwankwaso can still hold on to Kano, where he recorded his most impressive performance in the last election. Apart from Kano, his influence in many parts of the North remains uncertain,” Muhammad-Baba stated. The ACF spokesman noted that many politicians associated with the party had moved across several political platforms over the years, creating confusion among voters. Muhammad-Baba further argued that many northerners had become disillusioned with politics built around ethnic, regional, and religious sentiments. "The average northerner is tired of being told that having a northern candidate or a Muslim-Muslim ticket is the solution to Nigeria’s problems. People are becoming more careful because previous expectations have not produced the desired results,” he said. According to him, political elites and voters are increasingly scrutinising the past statements and actions of opposition leaders and raising questions about their consistency and credibility. He said many were beginning to question political alliances and ideological shifts among politicians who previously criticised one another but had now become allies. Such developments, he said, were making voters more cautious in their political choices. "The average northern elite is asking: where do we go from here? There is confusion and uncertainty. It is not necessarily because people dislike the NDC. The party is simply not well known,” he said. The ACF spokesman said the growing frustration among citizens was not directed at one political party alone but reflected broader dissatisfaction with the political class. “In my opinion, the average northern voter is tired of all the political parties without exception. People are no longer impressed by slogans and promises. They want practical solutions to their problems,” Muhammad-Baba added. Obi’s alleged sympathy for IPOB Similarly, the President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Council, Zaid Ayuba, said the NDC was not being accepted in the North because of Obi, whom he said northerners did not trust. He dismissed Kwankwaso’s influence and ability to market him, noting that Obi’s “open support for the Indigenous People of Biafra” was an albatross. “Obi and Kwankwaso are known in the North, just like Tinubu and Atiku are known. But politics is different from victory. Obi and Kwankwaso are not accepted in the North in a way that would make one think they will win the 2027 election. In fact, they cannot come close to that. "A stigma has been trailing Obi’s candidature before his declaration in 2023. He can never be accepted in the North because of two factors. One is that he has openly shown that he is an IPOB sympathiser. Obi had, in several interviews, tried to condemn the Supreme Court judgment on the proscription of IPOB and its designation as a terrorist organisation. “There are people from other parts of this country who try to make northerners look as if they are terrorist sympathisers. But that is not true. No reasonable northerner or authority came out to sympathise with Boko Haram leaders like Muhammad Yusuf or Shekau,” he said. According to Ayuba, unless Obi gives a reasonable and convincing explanation of his stance on IPOB, the North will not accept his candidature. He, however, said his submissions were not based on religion or ethnic considerations. “It is about justice. Elections can never be won through ethnic or tribal affiliation. “The 2023 election was like a religious war, and northerners are beginning to fear that Obi has an agenda against the northern population. There is nothing Kwankwaso or anybody can do to make Obi acceptable in Northern Nigeria. This is a political reality,” he added. No NDC presence in North – Don A professor of Political Science in Sokoto, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity because he did not want to be associated with politics, said the NDC did not have a presence in Kaduna, Jigawa, Benue, Plateau, Katsina, Gombe, Niger, Taraba, Zamfara and other states in the region. According to him, the party remains largely unknown to ordinary voters across the region, unlike the dominant All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and African Democratic Congress. “I don’t think it is a question of acceptability. It is a question of visibility. The NDC is a completely new party as far as party politics in Nigeria is concerned. Go to other states outside Kano, and you will see that the NDC doesn’t have any presence,” he said. Meanwhile, the Northern Youth Assembly accused Kwankwaso of abandoning northern political interests by aligning with Obi. In a statement issued on Friday by the Secretary General of the group, Hafiz Garba, and obtained by Sunday PUNCH, the group described the alliance as a betrayal of the values historically associated with the Kwankwasiyya movement. According to the group, the Kwankwasiyya movement, which once represented something genuinely distinctive and important in the northern political landscape, has been reduced, in its leader’s twilight political years, to a transactional instrument in the service of an electoral calculation that has nothing to do with the values it once claimed to embody. “Kwankwaso’s ultimate betrayal is not the betrayal of a party, a platform or a political alliance. His ultimate betrayal is the betrayal of the idea that northern Nigeria could produce a political leader whose commitment to the region’s dignity, history and cultural identity was not merely performative but genuine. “Kwankwaso now stands as the leading political embarrassment and disappointment of the northern region and the ideology for which our forefathers built the region and died for. https://punchng.com/2027-obi-kwankwaso-bid-faces-northern-resistance/
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| Crime › Oyo Police Command Denies Reports Claiming Abducted Schoolpupil Died In Terroris by Kuginzi(op): 8:03am On Jun 06 |
he Oyo State Police Command has dismissed reports claiming that one of the schoolchildren abducted during a terrorist attack on three schools in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area of the state, died while in captivity.. The Command described the report as false, malicious and designed to spread panic among residents. In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said no security agency involved in the ongoing rescue operation had confirmed the alleged death of any of the abducted pupils. "The Oyo State Police Command has observed with grave concern the circulation of a malicious and entirely unfounded report alleging that one of the schoolchildren abducted during the recent incident at Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area, has died while in captivity," the statement read. "The Command categorically states that the report is false, misleading, mischievous, and without any factual basis whatsoever. At no time has the Oyo State Police Command, nor any other recognised security agency involved in the ongoing rescue efforts, confirmed such a development." According to the police, the publication was fabricated by individuals seeking to create fear, panic and public anxiety while undermining ongoing security operations. "The publication is a fabrication carefully crafted by individuals whose objective is to arouse unnecessary public sentiment, create panic, spread fear, and undermine ongoing security operations," Olayinka said. The police further accused the authors of the report of using emotional narratives and unverified claims to manipulate public opinion. "It is particularly disturbing that the authors of the report deliberately employed emotional narratives, speculative claims, and unverified accounts in a calculated attempt to manipulate public opinion and generate anxiety among residents," the statement added. The Command warned that the spread of unverified information could jeopardise rescue efforts and inflict additional trauma on the affected families. "The dissemination of false information at such a critical time has the potential to jeopardise ongoing efforts, cause unnecessary trauma to affected families, and mislead the general public," the police said. The police said security agencies remained committed to rescuing the abducted children and were carrying out operations with professionalism and confidentiality. The Command also cautioned bloggers, social media influencers, content creators and media organisations against publishing or amplifying unverified security-related information. "The indiscriminate sharing of false reports, particularly those capable of inciting fear or causing public disorder, is irresponsible and unacceptable," the statement noted. The police urged residents to disregard the report and rely only on information released through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government agencies. The Command reaffirmed its commitment to public safety and pledged to keep residents informed of verified developments regarding the abduction as investigations and rescue operations continue. https://saharareporters.com/2026/06/05/oyo-police-command-denies-reports-claiming-abducted-schoolpupil-died-terrorists
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| Politics › Nigerians Want Results From Tinubu Government, Not Condolences, Excuses – CEFSAN by Kuginzi(op): 6:15pm On Jun 05 |
he Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN) has knocked the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government for failing in its fundamental responsibility to protect children, accusing the authorities of effectively abandoning the abducted schoolchildren and teachers to the kidnappers and terrorist groups. The group launched the attack in a statement issued on Friday in reaction to the recent abduction of over 30 students and teachers from three schools in Oyo State and the disappearance of dozens of children in Borno State. In the statement signed by its Executive Director, Yusha'u Sani Yankuzo, CEFSAN condemned the government's continued inability to prevent attacks on schools despite years of promises, security operations and substantial budgetary allocations to the sector. According to CEFSAN, the latest incidents are part of a troubling pattern of violence that has repeatedly targeted schools across Nigeria, leaving children exposed to fear, trauma and uncertainty. The group noted that from the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State to attacks in Kankara, Tegina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto states, thousands of students have experienced the consequences of a security crisis that remains unresolved. What should have been isolated tragedies have become recurring headlines, exposing millions of school children to fear, trauma, displacement, and uncertainty,” the group said. CEFSAN noted that the fresh incidents in Oyo and Borno states demonstrate that insecurity has spread beyond regions traditionally associated with mass abductions, warning that no part of the country can now be considered immune. The recent abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State and the disappearance of dozens of children in Borno State are merely the latest reminders that no part of Nigeria is immune from this crisis,” the group said. "Whether in the North-East, North-West, North-Central, or increasingly in the South-West, the message from these criminal groups is the same: Nigerian children are unsafe, and the state's response has fallen far short of what the situation demands.” The group expressed concern that despite repeated assurances from government officials, children continue to be kidnapped from schools while families, teachers and communities are left devastated. CEFSAN said it was particularly disturbed by reports indicating that more than 600 pupils and teachers had been abducted in recent school attacks across the country despite billions of naira reportedly committed to school safety initiatives. “Nigerians deserve answers. Parents deserve answers. Most importantly, the abducted children deserve action,” the group stated. The group maintained that the continued wave of kidnappings raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the country's security architecture and the implementation of existing school protection measures. "The continued abduction of school children across multiple states despite enormous security expenditures and repeated government assurances raises serious questions about the effectiveness of existing security measures,” CEFSAN said. "A nation where children can be repeatedly kidnapped from classrooms cannot claim to have won the fight against insecurity. The protection of children is not optional; it is the most fundamental obligation of the government.” The group called for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all abducted children and teachers and urged security agencies to deploy all available resources to secure their rescue. It also demanded greater transparency in rescue efforts, regular public briefings, accountability for officials and institutions responsible for protecting schools, a comprehensive review of school security strategies and increased investment in intelligence gathering and community-based security initiatives. Describing the repeated abduction of students as one of the country's most serious human rights challenges, CEFSAN warned that every day victims remain in captivity represents a stain on the nation's conscience and a failure of the state's constitutional duty to safeguard lives and ensure access to education. The group said it stands in solidarity with affected children, their families, teachers and communities and urged civil society organisations, religious leaders, development partners and the media to intensify calls for urgent government action. “A nation that cannot protect its children is a nation in danger of losing its future. The time for condolences, excuses, and routine statements has passed. Nigerians expect results. The abducted children must be rescued now,” the group stressed. https://saharareporters.com/2026/06/05/nigerians-want-results-tinubu-government-not-condolences-excuses-human-rights-centre
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| Politics › Oyo School Abductions: Tinubu Deploys 1,000 Forest Guards, Tactical Rescue Team by Kuginzi(op): 9:29pm On May 31 |
By Stephen Angbulu President Bola Tinubu on Sunday approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State. He also directed a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to free abducted pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area. According to a statement signed and released on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, a high-powered Federal Government delegation conveyed the presidential directives to community leaders and lawmakers during a visit to Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire LGA on Sunday, May 31, 2026. The delegation also informed leaders that their request for the establishment of a military base in the area had been transmitted to the President for consideration and approval. The development comes 16 days after gunmen struck communities in the area and took dozens of schoolchildren and their teachers captive. The delegation was led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and included the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, Onanuga said. Addressing residents in both English and Yoruba, Gbajabiamila said the President’s decision to dispatch the nation’s top security leadership to the affected communities reflected his determination to deploy every available resource to secure the victims’ release. "Mr President is deeply troubled by this incident. Whatever it takes, our children and teachers will be brought back home safely. “He has issued all necessary directives and is providing every support required by our security agencies to achieve that objective,” Gbajabiamila said. He also addressed appeals from parents and community members urging caution in the rescue operation. The Chief of Staff explained, “Mr President also saw the appeals from some parents and community members urging caution in the rescue efforts. “Let me assure you that the operation will be intelligence-led and carefully coordinated, deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to secure the safe return of the victims. “Your pain and anxiety are understood. By the grace of God, your children will return safely to your arms.” The delegation also called on the Soun of Ogbomosoland, HRM Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, at his palace to commiserate with the traditional ruler and his people. They also visited the widow of the slain teacher, Mrs Mary Oyedokun, and her two children, where Gbajabiamila delivered the President’s personal condolences to the family and promised that they would not be left to suffer. The 1,000 forest guards approved by the President will be recruited in collaboration with the Oyo State Government, Onanuga said. The abductions occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools — Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School — in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA, taking pupils and teachers captive. During the attack, a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded. A motorcyclist was also killed, and a security operative died after running into improvised explosive devices planted by the abductors during early rescue attempts. The Oriire LGA communities sit on the fringes of a forested belt that the abductors have exploited for cover since the attack. https://punchng.com/oyo-school-abductions-tinubu-deploys-1000-forest-guards-tactical-rescue-team/
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| Politics › Nigeria Too Great To Be Intimidated By Insurgents — First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu by Kuginzi(op): 9:20pm On May 31 |
She stated this on Saturday during a meeting with members of the Ekiti State Traditional Rulers’ Council at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti.https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/31/nigeria-too-great-to-be-intimidated-by-insurgents-first-lady-oluremi-tinubu/#google_vignette 6 Likes
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| Politics › I’m Happy States No Longer Struggle To Pay Salaries – Tinubu by Kuginzi(op): 7:25am On May 30 |
By Matthew Atungwu President Bola Tinubu has expressed happiness that no state in Nigeria is struggling to pay workers’ salaries as it was before his inauguration on May 29, 2024.https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/30/im-happy-states-no-longer-struggle-to-pay-salaries-tinubu/ 6 Likes 1 Share
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| Politics › 2027: Wike PDP Faction Disowns Jonathan As Presidential Candidate by Kuginzi(op): 6:11pm On May 29 |
By Matthew Atungwu The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has denied plans to make former president Goodluck Jonathan its presidential candidate in the next year’s general elections. The faction described the claims as false, misleading and unauthorised. National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Jungudo Mohammed, made this known in a statement on Friday. Mohammed urged security agencies to investigate the source of the reports and prosecute those behind what the party described as an attempt to create political tension and disrepute within the polity. Recall that on Thursday, the Interim National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki announced plans for a convention in Abuja on Saturday to formally endorse the former President as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election. DAILY POST reports that Senator Sandy Onor was last week screened, cleared and officially presented as the Wike PDP faction’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election. Reacting, the PDP faction urged Jonathan to publicly distance himself from the move to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process and his reputation. “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to misleading information and unfounded reports circulating in certain quarters regarding an alleged planned convention aimed at affirming former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR as the presidential candidate of the PDP. The party wishes to categorically state that no such convention, meeting, or process has been scheduled, approved, or endorsed by the leadership or any recognised organ of the Peoples Democratic Party. “We therefore urge all party faithful, supporters, stakeholders, and members of the general public to disregard such false information, as it is misleading, unauthorised, and intended to create confusion within the polity. “It is important for the avoidance of doubt to state that the Peoples Democratic Party has successfully concluded all its primary elections, including those for governorship, State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, and the presidential primaries in accordance with INEC guidelines, the provisions of the Electoral Act, and the Constitution of the party,” the statement said. https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/29/2027-wike-pdp-faction-disowns-jonathan-as-presidential-candidate/
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| Islam › Re: Eid Mubarak Once Again! by Kuginzi: 11:31am On May 29 |
Lukgaf:Ameen ya Allah. Taqabbalallahu minna wa minka 1 Like |
| Politics › Nigerians Now Pay Ransom Like House Rent, School Fees – Atiku by Kuginzi(op): 7:56am On May 29 |
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over rising insecurity and the worsening economic situation in the country, saying Nigerians now treat ransom payments like regular household expenses.https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/29/nigerians-now-pay-ransom-like-house-rent-school-fees-atiku/ 14 Likes 1 Share
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| Business › Re: Dangote Refinery Cuts Diesel Price By N200/litre As Importers Receive New Cargos by Kuginzi: 8:23am On May 28 |
Why is it that it is after Importers Receive New Cargos? If that's the case, I wish FG grant import licences to marketers for the importation of petroleum products, Fuel price will reduce automatically 96 Likes 1 Share |
| Islam › Re: The Calculus Of Eid by Kuginzi: 9:11pm On May 27 |
TenQ:I feel your pain Get well soon
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| Islam › Re: The Calculus Of Eid by Kuginzi: 8:42pm On May 27 |
DarkkManB:I feel your pain. You need heavy deliverance |
| Islam › Re: The Calculus Of Eid by Kuginzi: 8:39pm On May 27 |
B TenQ:I feel your pain. Get well soon |
| Islam › Re: The Calculus Of Eid by Kuginzi: 5:01pm On May 27 |
TenQ:And how is that your Business? |
| Islam › Re: The Calculus Of Eid by Kuginzi: 3:02pm On May 27 |
TenQ:Keep your truth, advice or comment to yourself. We don't need it here. Mind your religion while we mind ours. It is not by force |
| Islam › Re: The Calculus Of Eid by Kuginzi: 12:38pm On May 27 |
TenQ:You're characterized by an irrational refusal to consider contrary perspectives. What's your problem with Islam? You're not invited here. PLS MIND YOUR BUSINESS |
| Islam › Re: Eid-l-adha Mubarak To All Muslims On Nairaland by Kuginzi: 12:23pm On May 27 |
Taqabbalallahu minna wa minka" (May Allah accept [good deeds] from us and from you) "Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Eid al-Adha! May Allah accept your Sacrifices, Prayers, and Devotion during these sacred days." Ameen 4 Likes |
| Islam › Re: The Calculus Of Eid by Kuginzi: 12:20pm On May 27 |
Taqabbalallahu minna wa minka" (May Allah accept [good deeds] from us and from you) "Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Eid al-Adha! May Allah accept your Sacrifices, Prayers, and Devotion during these sacred days." Ameen 2 Likes |
| Islam › Re: It's Eid Day! by Kuginzi: 7:29am On May 27 |
Taqabbalallahu minna wa minka" (May Allah accept [good deeds] from us and from you) "Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Eid al-Adha! May Allah accept your Sacrifices, Prayers, and Devotion during these sacred days." Ameen 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Politics › Walk Through The Dark Tunnel Is Over - Tinubu’s Eid Message To Nigerians by Kuginzi(op): 6:41pm On May 26 |
President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the country is emerging from difficult economic times.https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/26/walk-through-the-dark-tunnel-is-over-tinubus-eid-message-to-nigerians/
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| Crime › EFCC Arraigns Fake Presidential Aide Over ₦25 Million Fraud by Kuginzi(op): 6:28pm On May 26 |
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has arraigned one Igoin Peter, who allegedly posed as a Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over an alleged N25m fraud.https://punchng.com/efcc-arraigns-fake-presidential-aide-over-n25m-fraud/ 2 Likes
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| Politics › Eid-el-kabir: FG Declares Wednesday, Thursday Public Holidays by Kuginzi(op): 6:17pm On May 25 |
By Solomon Odeniyi The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28, 2026, as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced this in a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Magdalene Ajani. According to the statement, the declaration reflects the Federal Government’s respect for the faith and spiritual heritage of millions of Nigerian Muslims observing the festival alongside the global Islamic community. Tunji-Ojo congratulated Muslim faithful in Nigeria and the diaspora on the occasion, describing Eid-ul-Adha as a festival of deep spiritual significance rooted in sacrifice, obedience to God and compassion for humanity. The minister urged Nigerians to use the holiday period for prayers and reflection for the peace, security and prosperity of the country. "The Federal Government urges all Nigerians to use this period for prayer and sober reflection, asking for divine guidance upon the country as it continues its pursuit of peace, security, and prosperity for every citizen,” the statement read. He also called on citizens to embrace the spirit of brotherhood, unity and peaceful coexistence during the celebration. The Federal Government wished Muslims across the country a peaceful, blessed and joyous Eid-ul-Adha celebration. https://punchng.com/breaking-eid-el-kabir-fg-declares-wednesday-thursday-public-holidays/
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| Politics › Atiku To ADC: Nigeria Needs A President Who Can Govern, Not Just Trend Online by Kuginzi(op): 2:54pm On May 24 |
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday threw down a gauntlet before delegates of the African Democratic Congress ADC, urging the party to prioritize competence and national reach over sentiments and social media popularity as it prepares to pick a presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/05/atiku-to-adc-nigeria-needs-a-president-who-can-govern-not-just-trend-online/amp/ 9 Likes
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| Politics › Tinubu: APC Primaries Have Demonstrated Internal Democracy by Kuginzi(op): 7:19am On May 24 |
By Baba Martins President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday described the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries nationwide as a strong demonstration of internal democracy. President Tinubu stated this after he participated in the APC presidential primary at his Ikoyi-Obalende Ward L2 in Lagos, noting that the exercise had further deepened the democratic process. The President, who arrived at the venue alongside his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was received by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos APC Chairman, Pastor Conerlius Ojelabi; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; and former Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, among other party leaders. The President commended party members for their orderly conduct, enthusiasm, and commitment to democratic values. "This is a demonstration of internal democracy, and it has been going on very well according to plan. This is grassroots politics where every member of the party has the right to participate. “It shows that we have internal democracy and it’s peaceful and well organised.” he said. On the conduct of the primaries across the states, President Tinubu said, “I am very satisfied that Governors have done well in their various states, from the ward congresses to Local Government congresses, to the delegate accreditation, validation, membership registration and the certification of the electoral process. It has been done very well, and with this, you could rate democracy at a high level.” He reiterated that APC remains committed to transparent and inclusive democratic processes that give party members at the grassroots the opportunity to freely choose their leaders and representatives, emphasising that their involvement remains the foundation for sustainable democratic development. President Tinubu also praised electoral officials, party leaders, and security agencies for ensuring the exercise was conducted peacefully and credibly, and urged Nigerians to continue supporting democratic institutions and national unity. The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to democratic ideals, good governance, and policies to improve the welfare of Nigerians while strengthening political stability nationwide. https://dailytrust.com/tinubu-apc-primaries-have-demonstrated-internal-democracy/
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| Politics › ADC With Peter Obi As Candidate Fastest Way To Lose, Atiku No March For Tinubu by Kuginzi(op): 7:46am On Jan 25 |
By Seun Opejobi Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture and Tourism, has said the fastest way for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to lose the 2027 presidential election is by fielding Peter Obi as its candidate. Musawa disclosed this while noting that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is no march for President Bola Tinubu in 2027. She made this known while featuring on the latest edition of Mic One podcast with Seun Okinbaloye. He said: “I don’t think Atiku is a march for Tinubu but he is a formidable opponent. Atiku as much as I admire him as a patriot, I don’t think he is a march for Tinubu. “If Peter Obi is on the ticket as the presidential candidate, that is the fastest way the opposition is going to lose this (2027) election, I promise you.” The Minister also noted that if ADC fields Atiku as its flag bearer, the party doesn’t recognizes that the South should remain in power. “And if it’s Atiku on that ticket, it means the ADC doesn’t recognize that the South should maintain power,” she added. https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/25/adc-with-peter-obi-as-candidate-fastest-way-to-lose-atiku-no-march-for-tinubu-musawa/ 2 Likes 2 Shares
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| Politics › 2027: ADC Cracks As ‘Obidients’ Demand Presidential Ticket by Kuginzi(op): 5:50am On Jan 25 |
Cracks are appearing in the African Democratic Congress over the presidential ambition of former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi. Findings by Sunday PUNCH showed that the problem stemmed from the insistence of Obi’s followers, aka Obidients, that he must be considered for the presidential ticket or they walk away. Our correspondents gathered that some ADC leaders, especially northerners displeased with what they described as the overbearing attitude of Obi’s promoters, had begun to withdraw from him. Obi, who is one of the leaders of the opposition coalition that transformed into ADC, joined the party on December 31, 2025, in Enugu. Before his defection, Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, had promised to serve a single term if elected president. He also entered into alliance discussions with the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is being invited to the ADC to run on a joint ticket. His followers, especially members of the Obidient Movement who joined the ADC from the Labour Party, have been insisting that he must be considered for the presidential ticket, arguing that the South deserves to rule the country for eight years before power returns to the North. One of the staunch loyalists and drivers of Obi’s presidential ambition, Aisha Yesufu, vowed to work against the ADC if he runs as a vice-presidential candidate. Yesufu, in a viral video a few days after Obi’s defection, said, “Let me go back to the Mr Peter Obi conversation where people are like, ‘you should run as vice president.’ Me, and I’m giving you people my word now… if Peter Obi is running with anyone as the vice president, as the running mate to that person, I will work against that ticket. “In my little capacity, I will work against that ticket. Even if I don’t support any other person, I will work against that ticket.” Similarly, a professor of political economy, Pat Utomi, said he would withdraw his support for Obi if the former Anambra governor accepted a vice-presidential candidacy. Utomi, who spoke on January 1 during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, said, “I can tell you that Peter Obi will contest for the presidency. The day he becomes somebody’s vice president, I walk away from his corner.” Sunday PUNCH gathered that Obi’s loyalists’ stance had started creating hostility between the camp of the former governor and that of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Atiku cautioned his followers and those of Obi against verbal attacks, saying they undermined opposition unity. Beyond the verbal attacks, our correspondents learnt that many ADC leaders were apprehensive about what was playing out between Atiku and Obi’s camps. Speaking with Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, a leader of the ADC in Abuja said some of the party’s stakeholders had developed cold feet. The source said, “If you ask me about division, I will tell you there is none. But are we worried about what is playing out between Atiku and Obi’s supporters? Yes. Some of us know that the way they are driving their interests may jeopardise the party’s chances in 2027. While some leaders are drawing parallel lines along the two camps, some of us are threading the path of caution.” The cracks Confirming the party’s concern over the development, a former national chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwozu, said party leaders were worried about the turn of events. He said those causing division in the party were a small fraction of Obi’s supporters. Nwozu maintained that the former governor was committed to the unity of the party. He said, “All the leaders, all critical stakeholders in the party have advised their supporters to unite and build the party first. I was with Peter Obi yesterday (Friday), and he showed me the minutes of some of the Obidient meetings that he participated in, and he was very emphatic that this is about the country, not an individual. “More than 60 per cent of some of the things you see being posted and said in the name of the Obidients, you will be surprised to see that the people behind them are not even members of the ADC. They are groups of people put together to continue to discredit ADC to ensure that the chance of opposition parties in Nigeria is dead. https://punchng.com/2027-adc-cracks-as-obidients-demand-presidential-ticket/ 1 Like
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