₦airaland Forum

President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to immediately rescue the 25 female students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in the Danko-Wasagu area of Kebbi State.

The gunmen attacked the school in the early hours of Monday, killing the Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, and injuring a security guard, Ali Shehu. He sustained gunshot wounds to his right hand.

Confirming the incident earlier, Kebbi police spokesperson, Nafi’u Kotarkoshi, said a manhunt was already underway for the attackers.

In a statement on Monday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said President Tinubu strongly condemned the attack and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding all Nigerians, especially schoolchildren.

The minister said: “President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that protecting every Nigerian, especially schoolchildren, remains a solemn responsibility of the State.

“The government condemns the reprehensible attack on innocent students and the killing of school officials who were carrying out their noble duty.”

He added that the President issued “clear directives” to security and intelligence agencies to locate and safely recover the abducted students, with a firm charge that the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

“The Federal Government will not relent until this objective is achieved,” he noted.

Idris further assured the public that internal security remains a top priority for the Tinubu administration, which is “recalibrating the nation’s military, policing, and intelligence capabilities” to prevent and swiftly respond to such attacks.

He said Nigeria is also deepening security cooperation through ECOWAS, the African Union, and the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, to strengthen border security and dismantle terrorist and criminal networks.

“We urge the public to remain calm and confident as security forces work around the clock to resolve this matter,” the minister added.

He said the incident was a painful reminder of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation and the growing vulnerability of schoolchildren in the region.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the latest wave of violence sweeping across the country, warning that Nigeria is sliding deeper into an unprecedented security collapse under the current administration.

Atiku, in a statement on Monday, said he was “devastated” by the attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where armed men killed the Vice-Principal and abducted several students in yet another assault on education in the North.

He said the incident was a painful reminder of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation and the growing vulnerability of schoolchildren in the region.

The former Vice President also condemned the killing of APC chieftain Umar Moriki and the mass abductions in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where bandits reportedly kidnapped dozens of residents, including women and children.

Atiku described the attacks as “barbaric” and symptomatic of a country losing control of its security environment.

“These acts of barbarity have no place in a civilised society,” he said, insisting that the scale and frequency of the attacks show the government’s inability to protect its citizens.

Atiku said the tragedy in Kebbi and Zamfara mirrors similar bloodshed in Plateau, Benue, and other states where rural communities continue to suffer killings, displacement, and destruction.

He specifically noted reports from Shanono LGA in Kano, where residents fled their homes in fear following fresh attacks, saying the situation underscores a national emergency that can no longer be ignored.

The former Vice President called on the President Bola Tinubu-led government to urgently review and strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, insisting that the current strategy has failed.

“Nigeria cannot continue on this path,” Atiku warned.

“The government must deploy adequate personnel to vulnerable communities and intensify intelligence-led operations. Our citizens deserve protection, dignity, and peace — nothing less.”

He said the wave of killings and abductions across the country has exposed the weakness of the current security framework and demanded decisive action from the authorities.

The former governor of Kano State , Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has warned that border communities in Kano are increasingly under attack from bandits coming from neighbouring Katsina State.

Kwankwaso made the remarks on Saturday during the 4th Convocation Ceremony of Skyline University, where he expressed concern over the rising insecurity in the state’s border areas.

Kwankwaso who is also the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) stated that Kano State had remained secure until recently, but local government areas along the Katsina border including Shanono, Bagwai, and Tsanyawa are now facing attacks from bandits originating from Katsina.

He alleged that the criminals routinely cross into Kano to commit crimes before retreating back to Katsina.

“These bandits come from local government areas in Katsina, enter Kano to commit crime, and then return to Katsina.”

According to him, this has to stop.

The former governor also criticised the situation in some local government areas outside Kano, which he said had reportedly become safe havens for bandits.

He called on the federal government to take urgent action to prevent further attacks.

Despite his concerns, Kwankwaso commended the Kano State Government and security personnel for their efforts.

“I thank the security personnel for their sacrifices so far, but the federal government must step in to ensure the safety of life and property.”

Ethiopia has been selected to host the 32nd United Nations Climate Change Conference COP32 in 2027, beating Nigeria in a closely contested bid.

Chair of the African Group of Negotiators Richard Muyingi who made the confirmation revealed that the decision followed a meeting where Ethiopia’s resubmitted expression of interest was endorsed.

The hosting of COP conferences rotates among global regions, with Africa due to take its turn in 2027.

Meanwhile, the host country for COP31 is yet to be decided, with Turkey and Australia currently under consideration.

Nigeria had earlier expressed interest in hosting COP32 in March, following a visit by Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

During the second Africa Climate Summit in Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced his nation’s readiness to host the event, emphasizing that Ethiopia possesses the capacity, facilities, location, and connectivity to stage the major climate summit.

So far, Africa has hosted several COPs in the past including Morocco in 2001 and 2016, Egypt in 2022 and South Africa in 2011 but none in West Africa.

The Senate has opened an investigation into the generation and management of stamp duty revenue amid growing calls for transparency and accountability in government finances.

The probe, spearheaded by the Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Senator Ahmed Wadada, has been described as a part of the National Assembly’s broader efforts to plug revenue leakages, improve fiscal oversight, and ensure that funds collected under various revenue heads are effectively deployed for public benefit.

The committee’s focus will be on revenues generated from stamp duties imposed on agreements between government entities, individuals, and corporate organisations — an area long believed to be fraught with opacity.

Wadada, while briefing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, said the investigation was driven by the need to ensure that the nation’s resources are used judiciously and in ways that impact ordinary Nigerians.

“We are determined to ensure that the resources generated through stamp duties are being used transparently and for the benefit of the people.

“The goal is to identify any areas where revenue is being lost and ensure that the funds are being channelled into providing public services and infrastructure”, the lawmaker stated.

As part of the ongoing exercise, the committee has issued formal requests to key institutions, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service, commercial banks, and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, directing them to furnish comprehensive details of all stamp duty collections and remittances.

The committee has fixed November 25 as the deadline for submission of the requested documents, which are expected to provide a clearer picture of how much has been collected over the years and how the funds have been managed.

Wadada noted that stamp duty, though a potentially lucrative source of non-oil revenue, has suffered from poor oversight and underreporting.

“The utilisation of stamp duty revenue has not been effectively monitored in the past, and we are determined to change that.

“This investigation will give us a clear picture of the revenue generated and help ensure that it is being properly accounted for,” he said.

The Senate’s move comes at a time when the Federal Government is under mounting pressure to widen its revenue base, close fiscal gaps, and rebuild public confidence in government spending.

The United Nations has raised concern over the rising levels of hunger in Nigeria, warning that millions of people in the country are at risk of severe food insecurity.

In a joint report released on Wednesday by two UN food agencies — the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) — the organisations warned that millions more people around the world could face famine as funding shortfalls worsen already dire conditions.

According to the Rome-based agencies, conflict and violence are driving acute food insecurity in most of the countries identified as being at risk.

The report listed Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen as the worst affected, “where populations face an imminent risk of catastrophic hunger.”

Nigeria was also among countries classified as a “very high concern,” alongside Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Somalia, and Syria. Others include Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and the situation of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

“We are on the brink of a completely preventable hunger catastrophe that threatens widespread starvation in multiple countries,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, warning that failure to act “will only drive further instability, migration, and conflict.”

The report noted that funding for humanitarian relief was falling “dangerously short,” stating that only $10.5 billion had been received out of the required $29 billion to assist those at risk.

WFP said that due to funding cuts, it had reduced assistance for refugees and displaced people and suspended school feeding programmes in some countries.

FAO also warned that efforts to protect agricultural livelihoods were under threat, “which are essential for stabilising food production and preventing recurring crises.”

The agency added that funding was urgently needed for seeds and livestock health services “before planting seasons begin or new shocks occur.”

Earlier, data released by the World Bank showed that over 129 million Nigerians are currently trapped in poverty.

The World Bank stated this in its newly released Nigeria Development Update report.

According to the global bank, increase in headline inflation has forced millions of Nigerians into hunger.

This development would mean that poor Nigerians jumped from 40.1 per cent in 2018 to 56 per cent in 2024.

“With growth proving too slow to outpace inflation, poverty has risen sharply. Since 2018, the share of Nigerians living below the national poverty line16 is estimated to have risen sharply from 40.1 per cent to 56.0 per cent.”

“Combined with population growth, this means that some 129 million Nigerians are living in poverty. This stark increase partly reflects Nigeria’s beleaguered growth record. Real GDP per capita has not recovered to the level it was at prior to the oil price-induced recession in 2016.”

The apex bank also noted that being employed does not guarantee not being poor in the country.

“Being employed, however, is no guarantee of being able to escape poverty. Many jobs are not productive and therefore remunerative enough to afford a life beyond poverty.”

It added, “Jobs hold the key to sharing the proceeds of growth. Since Nigeria has a young and growing population, the jobs that can harness the country’s potential ‘demographic dividend’ are needed now.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic compounded this drop in economic activity. Moreover, growth is failing to outpace inflation: large increases in prices across almost all goods have diminished purchasing power.”

It was also stated that economic insecurity have deepened and broadened insecurity in the country.

“Multiple shocks in a context of high economic insecurity have deepened and broadened poverty, with over 115 million Nigerians estimated to have been poor in 2023. Since 2018/19, an additional nearly 35 million people have fallen into poverty, so that more than half of Nigerians (51.1 per cent of the population in 2023) are now estimated to live in poverty.”

The World Bank noted that there was an increase from 115 million in 2023 to 129 million in 2024, which means that 14 million Nigerians have become poorer this year.

“Several shocks have contributed to this major increase and changing profile of the poor: the COVID-19 recession, natural disasters such as flooding, growing insecurity, the high cost of the demonetisation policy in Q1 2023, high inflation, and low economic growth.”

“Previous domestic policy missteps compounded the effects of the shocks, particularly rising inflation, eroding the purchasing power, especially of urban households, pushing many into poverty. The government is ramping up the cash transfer programs to support economically insecure households to help weather the crisis,” the report read.

It further revealed that while poverty remained a rural phenomenon, urban poverty had grown significantly, with 31.3 per cent of urban dwellers now living in poverty, up from 18 per cent in 2018.

Nigerian Senate Orders NNPCL To Refund Unaccounted ₦210trillion To Federation Account

The Senate has ordered the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to refund ₦210 trillion in unaccounted funds to the Federation Account after rejecting the company’s explanations over the missing sum.

The directive followed the failure of NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts on Tuesday, despite being invited to clarify the company’s responses to 19 questions raised about its financial records.

The committee, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, has been investigating the firm’s financial operations from 2017 to 2023.

Its probe revealed ₦103 trillion listed as accrued expenses and ₦107 trillion as receivables in NNPCL’s audited financial statements — figures the Senate described as “contradictory and unjustifiable.”

Wadada, while addressing the committee, said NNPCL’s claims raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

“NNPC claimed ₦103 trillion as accrued expenses and ₦107 trillion as receivables -amounting to ₦210 trillion. On question eight, NNPC’s explanation on the ₦107 trillion receivables -equivalent to about $117 billion -contradicts available facts and evidence provided by NNPC itself. The committee is duty-bound to reject this,” Wadada stated.

He further questioned how the company could have paid ₦103 trillion in cash calls to Joint Venture (JV) partners in 2023 alone, despite generating only ₦24 trillion in crude revenue between 2017 and 2022.

“Cash Call arrangements were abolished in 2016 under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. How can NNPC claim to have paid ₦103trn in one year, when it only generated ₦24trn in revenue over five years? Where did NNPC get that money?” he queried.

Describing the company’s explanations as unsatisfactory, Wadada said the committee would not hesitate to summon former officials of NNPCL and the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) if the current management fails to provide credible answers.

He added, “If the present management of NNPCL is finding it difficult to provide acceptable answers, it is better they say so. The committee will not hesitate to subpoena former officials of NNPCL and NAPIMS.”

Armed bandits led by notorious warlord Bello Turji have reportedly killed five people and abducted nine others during an attack on Bargaja village in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The assailants, who invaded the community in the early hours of Saturday, also injured a member of the Community Guard Corps.


Local activist, Basharu Altine Guyawa had earlier raised alarm over the movement of Turji’s gang, warning that they were seen heading towards Isa LGA from the Shinkafi axis in neighbouring Zamfara State.

Guyawa alleged that despite his alert, security agencies and local authorities failed to take preventive action.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Isa Local Government Area, Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, denied claims of negligence, saying the council had mobilised security guards and alerted relevant agencies immediately after receiving the report.

He said security personnel were deployed to the area, but the bandits diverted through another route, leading to the attack.

Kamarawa disclosed that the security commander in charge of the area had been replaced following lapses in response and coordination.

The latest assault adds to a series of attacks by armed groups across parts of Sokoto State, particularly in the eastern axis, where rural communities remain under persistent threat despite ongoing security operations.

Tinubu Government Summons All Foreign Diplomats In Abuja Over Trump’s Military Threat

Amid widespread reactions to United States President Donald Trump’s declaration that he may deploy military action to Nigeria, the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has summoned all foreign diplomats in the country.

The summons was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following Trump’s remarks. It would be recalled that Trump had threatened to cut all aid to Nigeria and deploy U.S. troops if “genocide against Christians” continued unabated.

Last Friday, President Trump announced that, in response to claims of genocide against Christians in Nigeria, he had redesignated the country as a “Country of Particular Concern.”

He made the announcement on his Truth Social media platform, writing: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ — But that is the least of it,” he wrote.

Nigeria, however, denied any genocide against Christians.

President Tinubu reiterated that “Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.”

He noted that since assuming office in 2023, his administration has maintained active engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders while working to address security challenges affecting citizens regardless of religious affiliation.

“Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” he stated.

Tinubu dismissed what he described as a mischaracterisation of Nigeria’s religious landscape by external observers, saying such claims fail to reflect the country’s diversity and the government’s ongoing efforts to promote peaceful coexistence.

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” the President declared.

On Tuesday, China declared its unwavering support for the Nigerian government, saying it stands by Nigeria as it “leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions.”

This position was announced at a press conference by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning.

The Chinese minister was quoted by TheCable as saying: “As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force.”

Ning was responding to a question on U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of military action in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.

The European Union (EU) also restated its solidarity with Nigeria, declaring full respect for the country’s sovereignty and reaffirming its commitment to strengthen cooperation in peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue, and human rights protection.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, made the remarks during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos, while reacting to Trump’s comments threatening possible military action against Nigeria.

Mignot stressed that the EU’s position was guided by “long-standing partnership and shared values” with Nigeria, not external influence.

“Our position is one of solidarity with Nigeria. Solidarity with the victims of violence, with the authorities working to protect citizens, and with the Nigerian people who overwhelmingly desire peaceful coexistence beyond ethnic and religious divides.

“We respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional commitment to religious neutrality,” he said.

AS a renewed surge in insecurity threatens to engulf Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged strong countermeasures and an end to the carnage while addressing Islamic clerics and traditional rulers at a security summit in Kaduna on October 15.

This is no isolated plea. In November 2020, the Sultan had decried how bandits, brazenly brandishing AK-47s, routinely strolled into northern markets, shopped freely, and even collected change—while communities stockpiled ransoms in anticipation of attacks. The North is the worst place to live, he mused.

Five years later, his warnings echo unheeded as terrorists entrench deeper.

As of May 2025, at least 10,217 people were killed in the preceding two years in attacks by gunmen in Benue, Edo, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, according to Amnesty International.

Benue accounts for the highest toll of 6,896, followed by Plateau, where 2,630 people were killed.

While politicians defect en masse to the ruling party and scheme about the 2027 elections, Zamfara bleeds. Bandits reportedly control 725 villages across its 13 local government areas, dominating gold mines in a lucrative gold-for-arms trade that fuels their arsenal.

Gold from sites in Anka and Zurmi is stockpiled, smuggled to overseas brokers through Niger and Mali, and swapped for sophisticated weapons.

The past two weeks alone underscore the perils of such weaknesses. Boko Haram/ISWAP launched drone strikes on military bases in Borno and Yobe, prompting Nigerian forces to neutralise over 50 militants in fierce counter-strikes.

Yet, violence simmers: targeted farmer killings have doubled year-on-year, according to reports, exacerbating food insecurity.

In Benue and Plateau, the carnage has ebbed temporarily, but entire communities lie unoccupied, their residents herded into IDP camps. Farming has ground to a halt in many parts of the agricultural belt.

Since the insurgency’s dawn in 2009, tens of thousands—soldiers and civilians alike—have perished; over 2.2 million are displaced in the North-East alone, millions more nationwide. This deters foreign investors.

Nigerian authorities must heed the Sultan and crush these terrorists decisively. The current security playbook is not yielding the desired results and needs an urgent review.

The country lacks enough boots on the ground and other critical resources. Too many police officers shadow VIPs and celebrities.

In a country of over 230 million people with a police force of just 371,800 personnel, about 150,000 officers are missing in action. They are assigned to VIPs’ gated mansions and sundry celebrities, including musicians and people of dodgy backgrounds, some carrying bags and holding umbrellas for their unofficial bosses, while the rest of the populace are left unprotected.

The result: one police officer to about 650 citizens, far short of the 1:450 ratio recommended by the United Nations. This must be urgently addressed with the creation of state police to extend policing resources, especially to deprived rural communities.

Insurgency—an asymmetric warfare—demands cutting-edge tech, razor-sharp intelligence and proactive response. The enemy must not outwit the federal troops.

The security agencies must wake up. President Bola Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, must step up—the buck stops at his desk. He has warned that no excuses will be tolerated from new Service Chiefs, but he must also prompt them to deliver.

The self-styled DSS has flagged an imminent ISWAP assault on Ondo and Kogi. This must be averted.

The 18 million out-of-school children crisis is a bottomless recruiting pool for bandits and jihadists. Nigeria should tackle the education crisis head-on.

The government has a sacred duty to protect citizens. A sovereign country boasting the largest number of black people on earth must not roll over before bandits and terrorists. It must reclaim the monopoly on coercion from non-state actors.

Nigeria must mend fences with its neighbours—Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso— for effective joint patrols and stanch the torrent of illegal arms via the porous Sahel borders.

It should deploy multi-layered policing, with state and community personnel in place

Heed the Sultan: Nigeria must not implode.

Punch Editorial Board

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of betraying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite what it described as his “generous consideration” for Christians in federal appointments.

This comes after former US President Donald Trump reportedly placed Nigeria back on the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged genocide against Christians.

In a statement by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC criticised some Christian leaders for allegedly petitioning the US government about religious killings in Nigeria.

“Despite vehement denial of Christian genocide by the Nigerian government, US President Donald Trump yesterday redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern,” Akintola said.

The group dismissed the US decision as “misplaced and distorted,” insisting that the situation in Nigeria had been misrepresented.

“This redesignation is blurred, misplaced and distorted. It is a complete misrepresentation of the true picture on the ground in Nigeria,” MURIC said.

According to the organisation, certain Christian leaders were responsible for Nigeria’s negative image abroad. Akintola accused CAN of amplifying claims that Christians were being targeted, rather than correcting the “false and misleading narrative.”

“It will be recalled that some Christian leaders had written frivolous petitions to the US Congress, claiming that Christians were the only ones being killed by terrorists in Nigeria. Instead of debunking this, CAN simply amplified it,” he stated.

MURIC expressed disappointment in CAN’s response, saying it expected the Christian body to act with greater responsibility given its national influence.

“We are nonplussed by the actions of these Christian leaders, especially CAN, which is expected to know better,” the group said.

Akintola further argued that President Tinubu had shown goodwill to Christians through key appointments and other benefits, noting that over 60 percent of appointments reportedly went to Christians.

“CAN’s action is a stab in the back, considering President Tinubu’s preference for Christians in appointments, favours and privileges over and above his Muslim brethren,” MURIC stated. “The president himself confirmed that 62% of all appointments went to Christians. The First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, was even more generous to them than Father Christmas.”

The group described the alleged petitions to the US as “the mother of all betrayals,” accusing those behind them of disloyalty to the President and the nation.

“President Tinubu does not deserve this,” MURIC said, adding that while the US may have its own political motives, some Nigerians were responsible for feeding misleading information to American authorities.