₦airaland Forum

Lagos Commercial Drivers Protest Against Takeover Of Transport Routes By Seyi Tinubu’s New Buses, Block VGC Road

Commercial drivers operating small buses popularly known as "korope" on Wednesday staged a protest along the Ajiwe axis en route to Victoria Garden City (VGC), Ajah, Lagos State, following allegations that they were being forced to abandon their existing vehicles and purchase newly acquired buses allegedly linked to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.

The protest, which brought traffic to a standstill, erupted after aggrieved drivers claimed they were instructed to stop operating their korope buses entirely and instead take up a new set of vehicles allegedly introduced by interests connected to the president’s son.

Speaking to SaharaReporters during the protest, affected drivers and operators described the development as unfair and oppressive, especially for those who had already acquired their buses through long-term payment plans and were close to completing, or had completely completed, payment.

According to several eyewitnesses, the drivers were not merely restricted from plying certain routes or relocating to other areas, but were allegedly prevented from working altogether.

“They didn’t stop us from moving from one place to another,” one eyewitness told SaharaReporters. “They stopped us from working entirely. They told us we should not use korope again.”

The affected operators said they were explicitly instructed to stop using their existing korope buses because another set of similar vehicles had been introduced into the area.

Although no official statement named the individual behind the newly introduced buses, multiple drivers alleged that the vehicles were brought in by Seyi Tinubu.

“They didn’t mention names openly,” one driver said. “But everybody here knows that the buses are allegedly from Seyi Tinubu. That’s what we were told.”

Following this development, the drivers said they were being forced to abandon the buses they had already acquired and instead collect the newly introduced korope vehicles under new purchase terms allegedly linked to Seyi Tinubu.

The drivers insisted that the directive was unreasonable, noting that many of them had invested heavily in their existing buses and had structured their livelihoods around them.

“This is not fair to us at all,” one operator said. “Some of us have almost finished paying for our buses. Some of us have fully paid. We are already making sales and operating independently.”

One operator, who spoke emotionally, said he had personally collected a bus under a hire-purchase agreement and had completely paid off the cost before the latest directive.

“I finished paying for my bus,” he said. “So why should anybody now come and tell me to leave my own vehicle and start buying another one?”

He questioned the logic behind the move, describing it as exploitative and unjust.

“Who does that?” he asked angrily. “There’s no way anyone would agree to that. You can’t tell someone who has finished paying for his bus to abandon it and start afresh.”

According to him, the frustration and sense of injustice triggered the protest and led to the decision to block the road.

As of Wednesday morning, movement along the Ajiwe–VGC corridor was severely disrupted.

An eyewitness who travelled through the area said the entire route was effectively under lockdown as protesters occupied the road, bringing both commercial and private activities to a standstill.

“I travelled from Ajiwe to VGC this morning,” the witness said. “The whole place was blocked. Nothing was moving. The protest completely shut down the route.”

At the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Lagos State authorities or from Seyi Tinubu regarding the allegations, as tensions remained high among the protesting drivers who vowed not to vacate the area until their concerns were addressed.

WATCH: Lagos Commercial Drivers Protest Against Takeover Of Transport Routes By Seyi Tinubu’s New Buses, Block VGC Road pic.twitter.com/gnDLrVeEZd

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) February 18, 2026

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that results of the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections will be transmitted in real time from polling units.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance on Tuesday after assessing the commission’s level of preparedness in Kuje, Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils ahead of the February 21, 2026 polls.

Amupitan said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has consistently been used to accredit voters and transmit results in real time since its introduction, stressing that the commission would not compromise standards.

“BVAS is capable of accrediting and also of uploading and transmitting the results. So definitely the results will be transmitted,” he said.

Expressing satisfaction with the level of preparedness across the councils, Amupitan disclosed that Kuje Area Council reported 99.9 per cent readiness, Gwagwalada 90.8 per cent, while Bwari indicated 100 per cent preparedness.

“The report they gave us, I’ve verified that they are correct. In Kuje, they said they are 99.9% ready. In Gwagwalada, they said they are 90.8% ready. And in Bwari, they said they are 100% ready. So it means that there should be no excuse for any form of malfeasance. The election, it is hoped, will go very well,” he stated.

He added that both sensitive and non-sensitive materials had been batched and inspected, including verification inside storage facilities to confirm readiness.

Transmission, Debates Committee Report Thursday

The INEC chairman emphasised that credible elections depend on timely deployment of materials and adequate security arrangements. He directed that security personnel and poll officials report to Registration Area Centres (RACs) on Friday to ensure early deployment on election day.

“Set out early so that materials get to polling units on time and voting should start at 8.30am. If you start on time and manage the process well, you can conclude voting by 2.30pm, begin counting before darkness and upload results promptly,” he said.

Amupitan reiterated that all results must be uploaded through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), noting that recent modifications require results to be properly keyed in and cross-checked at collation centres to ensure accuracy.

He also addressed voter apathy, stating that INEC would work within the law to restore public confidence in the electoral system.

“We want to do everything possible to meet the aspirations of Nigerians. They have the right to make demands, and we will perform our responsibilities to redeem confidence that is a little bit deficient,” he said.

The Electoral Officers of the three area councils separately affirmed their readiness for the polls, reinforcing INEC’s assurance of a credible and transparent election in the FCT.

The House of Representatives has gone into another round of rowdy session over the Electoral Bill.

The move to amend provision of the Electoral Amendment Bill raised uproar among members.

This even after the executive session held to resolve issues.

Lawmakers had disagreed over a motion seeking to rescind the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment bill.

Trouble started after Francis Waive, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business, moved a motion for the House to reverse its decision on the bill which was passed on December 23, 2025.

The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, had put the motion to a voice vote. While the “nays” were louder than the “ayes”, he ruled that the ayes had it, a development which triggered protest.

Abbas subsequently called for an executive session.

Details later…

The Federal Government has refuted claims that the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 imposes a 25 per cent levy on building materials, construction funds, or bank balances.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday via X, in response to a viral video of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi, while addressing crowd during a gathering, warned of impending economic hardships if the All Progressives Congress retains power in the 2027 elections.

“The tax law is if I pay you 100 million Naira for your building materials, automatically 25 million will leave your account.


“If you are a landlord and building a house, you will charge 25% extra because you won’t bear it alone; you will transfer it to the person who buys or rents,” the former minister stated.

But Oyedele said both claims that the new tax laws would commence in 2027 and that it would introduce a 25 per cent tax on funds for building materials and other transactions were incorrect.

“We are aware of a recent video claiming that the new tax laws will commence in 2027 and alleging the imposition of a 25% tax on funds for building materials and other transactions.


“Both claims are incorrect. Contrary to the misinformation seeking to create fear, panic and disaffection, the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 has already commenced and does not impose a 25% tax on construction funds, bank balances, or business expenses.

“Instead, it contains provisions specifically designed to reduce the cost of housing, rent and real estate development,” he said.

Oyedele outlined key provisions of the Act aimed at lowering housing costs and encouraging real estate development.

According to him, land and buildings are exempt from Value Added Tax under Section 185(l), while contractors can recover input VAT on materials, assets, and overhead costs where VAT is applicable.

He added that a reduced Withholding Tax rate of 2 per cent now applies to construction contracts, while mortgage interest is tax-deductible for individuals developing owner-occupied residential houses under Section 30(2)(iv).

Property owners earning rental income, he said, can deduct related expenses such as repairs, insurance, and agency fees under Section 20 of the Act.

On reliefs for renters and tenants, Oyedele stated that individuals can claim rent relief of up to ₦500,000, representing 20 per cent of annual rent, under Section 30(2)(vi).

He further noted that rent is exempt from VAT and that lease agreements with an annual value below ₦10m, or 10 times the annual minimum wage, are exempt from stamp duty under Section 134.

The committee chairman also listed incentives for investors and developers.

“𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘹 𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘚.51(1)): Individuals pay no Capital Gains Tax (CGT) when disposing of a dwelling house or an interest in one.

“𝘙𝘌𝘐𝘛 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 (𝘚.162(𝘤)): Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are exempt from Companies Income Tax (CIT) when distributing at least 75% of their dividend or rental income within 12 months after the financial year-end.

“𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴: Manufacturing of building materials such as iron, steel, and domestic appliances qualifies for specific tax exemption under the economic development incentive scheme for up to 10 years.

“𝘙𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘛𝘢𝘹 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘦 (𝘚.56): Scope for the reduction of companies’ income tax rate for large businesses from 30% to 25%,” he said.

He noted the Act provides priority sector incentives for manufacturers of building materials such as iron, steel, and domestic appliances for up to 10 years, as well as scope for reducing Companies Income Tax for large businesses from 30 per cent to 25 per cent under Section 56.


Oyedele added that small companies would benefit from zero per cent Companies Income Tax, exemption from charging VAT, and no deduction of Withholding Tax from their invoices and payments.

He stressed that the Act does not tax money in bank accounts, transfers for buying building materials, or introduce any 25 per cent construction or business cost tax.

“The Act does not tax money in bank accounts or bank balances. It does not tax transfers for buying building materials. It does not introduce a 25% construction or business cost tax. It does not delay implementation until 2027,” he said.

Dismissing the viral claims as false, Oyedele concluded: “Fact Not Fear, evidence beats emotion. If anyone makes an alarming claim or tries to misinform you, ask them ‘Where is it in the law?’

“With the new tax laws, housing should become more affordable, and rent should go down, NOT up!”

El-Rufai Says Kano Ex-Governor Ganduje Responsible For Activist Dadiyata’s Abduction Since 2019

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that former Kano State governor and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was responsible for the abduction of an activist, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata since 2019.

El-Rufai made the statement during an interview on Arise News Prime Time on Friday, where he addressed questions regarding the activist’s disappearance and clarified that Kaduna State authorities were not involved.

Dadiyata was abducted on August 2, 2019, from his Kaduna residence by unidentified gunmen.

The case drew attention from civil society organisations and members of the public, and police investigations were conducted at the time.

His current whereabouts remain unknown.

El-Rufai said that Dadiyata’s criticism was directed at the Kano government. He said, “He (Dadiyata) is a critic of the Kano government, it was Ganduje that was his problem, go and check his timeline, I don’t even know him."

He explained that Kaduna State authorities only became aware of the activist after the family reported the abduction to the police.

“We only got a report of Dadiyata’s existence after his family reported to the police that he was abducted."

El-Rufai also referred to a police officer’s alleged confession regarding the abduction.

“Three days after Dadiyata’s abduction, a policeman posted from Kano to Ekiti confessed to someone that they were sent from Kano and abducted Dadiyata, and felt bad about it."

He reiterated that Kaduna State had no role in the incident. “That is the only thing I know, but it was not a problem for Kaduna State.”

Human rights organisations, including the Amnesty International, have previously called for investigations into the case. More than six years later, no official findings have been made public.

The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc has told the senate that only N60 million was released out of the N858 billion appropriated in the 2025 capital budget to bridge the electricity tariff shortfall.

Johnson Akinnawo, acting managing director of NBET, spoke on Thursday during the agency’s 2025 budget performance review and defence of its 2026 proposal before the senate committee on finance chaired by Sani Musa, Niger east senator.


Akinnawo said persistent underfunding and non-cost-reflective tariffs continue to weaken Nigeria’s electricity market.

He noted that while N858 billion was appropriated to address the tariff gap and outstanding obligations to generation companies (GenCos), the release fell far short of expectations.

“Only N60 million was released,” Akinnawo said, adding that the fund could not be utilised due to procurement process constraints.

“The gap between generation costs and allowed tariffs is substantial, and without government intervention, the market cannot remain stable,” he said.

Akinnawo warned that the non-release of the bulk of the funds has worsened NBET’s debt exposure to GenCos.

NBET was established to purchase electricity from GenCos and sell to distribution companies (DisCos), while guaranteeing payments to power generation firms.


Lawmakers observed that inadequate capitalisation has limited the agency’s ability to effectively discharge its stabilising role in the electricity value chain.

Musa expressed concern over the widening financial strain in the power sector and suggested that the committee might recommend a review of the tariff regime or explore alternative funding mechanisms.

In response, Akinnawo acknowledged that insufficient capitalisation remains a major challenge and said the management had engaged the budget office and the ministry of finance over the non-release of appropriated funds.

He said without adequate funding support, NBET’s capacity to stabilise the electricity market would remain constrained, with implications for power supply nationwide.

Musa advised NBET to submit a comprehensive proposal detailing its funding requirements and strategic plan to address structural challenges in the sector.

The committee is expected to review the submission as part of its consideration of the 2026 budget proposal.

Former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government may arrest him.

El-Rufai, a chieftain of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), also alleged that political pressure is forcing some politicians to defect to the ruling APC or remain within it.

He stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday.

The former governor, who has recently stepped up his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the APC under which he was governor for eight years, said although he has not yet been arrested, some of his close associates have been detained.

“Four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” El-Rufai said.

His comments come amid the arrest and ongoing trial of Nigeria’s former Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami, who remains in custody.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused Malami of offenses including abuse of office and money laundering.

Authorities later rearrested him, alleging involvement in terrorism financing.

Malami, regarded as a key figure in opposition to President Tinubu, has denied all allegations describing them as political witch-hunt after he defected from APC to ADC.

Today, I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Rep. Chris Smith.

The U.S. is a Christian nation. As such, we must stand with persecuted Christians around the world.

Our legislation will build upon the momentum of President Trump designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and the recent US-Nigeria security framework agreement.

The United States Mission in Nigeria has warned that visa overstays by Nigerian travelers could negatively affect opportunities for other Nigerians seeking to travel to the U.S.

In a statement shared on social media, the U.S. Mission said compliance with visa rules is crucial to protecting access for Nigerians who travel responsibly for education, business, and family visits.

Visa overstays by Nigerian travelers can affect opportunities for their fellow citizens. Strengthening compliance helps protect access for students, business travelers, and families who travel responsibly. If you are aware of visa fraud, please report it to AbujaFPU@state.gov or… pic.twitter.com/ovkQZczqDc

— U.S. Mission Nigeria (@USinNigeria) February 9, 2026

“Visa overstays by Nigerian travelers can affect opportunities for their fellow citizens. Strengthening compliance helps protect access for students, business travelers, and families who travel responsibly,” the mission said.

The embassy also urged the public to report suspected visa fraud, providing contact emails for its Fraud Prevention Units in Abuja and Lagos.

The warning comes amid ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to curb immigration violations and fraud, which can influence visa policies and approval rates for travelers from affected countries.

The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, has issued a strong warning against any attempt to weaken the electronic transmission of election results before the 2027 general elections.

The coalition said using electronic transmission helps fix problems by making sure the results sent from polling stations can’t be changed by politicians, corrupt officials, or other people with a lot to gain.

In a statement from its National Coordinator, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the group expressed worry over what it called the increasing actions by some political figures to weaken or stop the complete use of electronic result sharing.

According to CNG, Nigeria has faced many problems in its elections over the years, and these issues mostly come from the stage where results are collected and counted.

There are claims that during this process, the results are changed in a way that does not reflect what the voters actually wanted.

The Coalition said, “We make it clear, without any hesitation or diplomacy: sending election results electronically is not something that can be skipped, tested, or discussed. It’s essential for fair elections and the final protection against election theft.

“Nigeria has endured for too long a system where elections are manipulated, and this has taken away the people’s right to freely pick their leaders. For many years, the biggest problem in our elections hasn’t been the voting itself, but the way results are counted.

“Numbers seem to change for no clear reason, some winning votes vanish, and the choices people make get ignored in favour of the decisions made by powerful political groups. It is exactly this criminal space that electronic transmission tries to remove.

“Electronic transmission ensures that once election results are sent out from the polling stations, they can’t be changed by politicians who are desperate to win, officials who might be corrupt, or hidden groups that try to influence things behind the scenes during manual counting. It ensures the ballot stays safe, maintains people’s confidence, and helps keep the country stable.

“Any resistance to this change can only mean someone is against being transparent. We are very worried about the recent remarks, actions, and laws connected with the Senate President and some groups in the National Assembly that seem meant to weaken or stop the complete use of electronic result transmission.

“These actions are not just frustrating; they are risky, take us backward, and go against democracy. When democracies around the world are using technology to improve transparency, it’s disgraceful that some top officials in Nigeria are thinking about going back to old-fashioned, unfair practices.”


It added that having repeated unfair elections could make people lose trust, lead to more violence after elections, and cause serious problems with whether the government is really allowed to rule.

The group asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to stay strong and continue using the full electronic system for sending results without any changes, and they also asked the National Assembly not to pass any laws that could make the election process less open and transparent.

It added, “People who don’t like e-transmission are against it because the old cheating system benefits them. They worry about a system where every vote actually matters. They fear a system they cannot manipulate.

“They fear the people’s verdict. The Senate President and his team need to remember that they hold their positions because the people have given them permission, not because they believe they have a right to it.

“The National Assembly isn’t a place where politicians just protect themselves; it’s a part of the constitution designed to make democracy stronger and ensure that every vote is respected and safe. History won’t treat kindly anyone who, in any way, tries to reduce the openness of elections.

“Nigeria can’t handle another round of contested elections, violence after the polls, legal fights, and problems with trust in the government. We can’t keep risking our country’s stability just because some top political leaders don’t like being held responsible.

“Credible elections go beyond politics; they are important for the country’s safety, the economy’s strength, trust from businesses, and the unity of the people. When people stop trusting the voting process, they also start losing trust in the country as a whole.

“And when faith collapses, unrest follows. Electronic transmission is not just a technical change; it serves as a protection for peace and national unity.”

It called on civil society groups, youth organizations, and the media to increase their efforts in advocacy and monitoring, and he encouraged Nigerians from all regions and political backgrounds to make sure their elected leaders are doing their duty.

CNG said it would fight against any effort to undo the electoral reforms, saying that anything less than fair, clear, and tech-based elections would not be acceptable to the people of Nigeria.

“We need to speak as one: our votes are important, and they should be kept safe through technology. Democracy can’t just rely on trust; it needs real systems that can be checked and proven.

“Nigeria belongs to the people, not to those in power who act behind closed doors, not to those already in charge, and not to those who make secret deals. As we get closer to 2027, let this message be clear to everyone and in every voting place: we will not allow anyone to take this country back to an earlier time. We will not let anyone take away the future of our children by manipulating elections. We will work together as a democracy to protect every vote that Nigerians have cast.

“The time for electoral darkness has passed. The era of transparency must prevail. The Nigerian people will not accept anything less than honest, open, and modern elections in 2027,” it said.

Going to Kebbi after Kwara, Benue, Katsina killings shows Tinubu is clueless – Mahdi Shehu

Social media commentator, Mahdi Shehu has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his planned visit to Kebbi State for project commissioning.

He described the trip as insensitive given the recent spate of deadly attacks in other parts of the country.

Shehu revealed this in a post on his official X handle on Saturday night.

He expressed outrage that the president would travel to Kebbi while states such as Kwara, Katsina, and Benue have suffered violent attacks that claimed over 240 lives in just 48 hours.

According to him, the president’s action showed a lack of awareness and compassion.

“This man is both clueless and heartless. He could not visit Kwara, Katsina, and Benue where over 240 people were murdered and butchered within 48 hours, but has the effrontery to travel to Kebbi for politics,” Shehu wrote.

He argued that the president’s behaviour and body language would have been different if the attacks had occurred elsewhere, suggesting a regional bias in the president’s attention.

Shehu further linked the perceived insensitivity to broader criticisms of Nigerian leadership, referencing remarks made by Remi Tinubu about why leaders are often respected abroad but criticised at home.

“From the records, if you see Tinubu visiting any location other than the Southwest, he is there not for God and country but for politics and taking sides with one tribe or culture against another,” he said.

He concluded by defending public expressions of disdain towards the president, stating that they are a reaction to what he described as Tinubu’s insensitivity.

“That is why one cannot fault those who express open hate, disdain, and dislike for Tinubu because that is what he deserves,” Shehu wrote.

Bandits Abduct Chief Imam, Fulani Leader, Others In Fresh Attacks On Kaduna Communities

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have reportedly abducted the Chief Imam of the Janjala Central Mosque, Malam Bello Abdullahi, and the Fulani leader of the area, Alhaji Shehu Bello, alongside a woman, during coordinated attacks on several communities in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to reports, the armed attackers invaded multiple villages in the local government area, including Iddo, Gidan-Makeri, Kohoto and Janjala, where they abducted residents and rustled cattle, forcing many villagers to flee their homes in fear.

The latest abductions were disclosed on Saturday morning by a security source @DanKatsina50, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

A community leader, quoted on condition of anonymity for security reasons, reportedly confirmed that the most recent attack occurred on Tuesday night at about 9pm.


“The bandits came in large numbers, heavily armed with AK-47 rifles,” the source said. “They first went straight to the house of the Chief Imam and took him away. From there, they moved to the house of the Fulani leader. That was when people started running for their lives.”

The source added that the attackers also abducted a woman during the raid, while several cattle were rustled.

Following the invasion, residents of affected communities, particularly Kohoto, abandoned their villages en masse, fleeing to Kagarko town and neighbouring Sabon-Wuse for safety.

“The panic was total. Once people heard that the Imam and the Fulani leader had been taken, everyone knew the situation had completely collapsed,” the community leader said.

“Many families slept in the bush that night before finding their way to Kagarko and Sabon-Wuse.”

The abductions reportedly came barely days after the bandits issued a seven-day ultimatum to the communities, demanding a ₦6 million ransom for the release of a woman and her four children who had been kidnapped earlier.

Community leaders said the deadline elapsed without any rescue operation or visible security intervention, after which the attackers returned with renewed violence.

“We made several distress calls to the police, the military and other security agencies, but there was no meaningful response,” one resident reportedly said. “Now they have taken our religious and community leaders. We are completely exposed.”

Residents described the situation in Kagarko LGA as dire, with villages deserted, farmlands abandoned and economic activities grounded as fear spreads across the area.

Kagarko Local Government Area, located along a strategic corridor linking southern Kaduna to Niger State, has witnessed repeated bandit attacks in recent years, including mass abductions, killings and cattle rustling, despite claims by authorities of improved security.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Kaduna State Police Command or the state government on the latest abductions.

The incident has once again raised serious questions about the effectiveness of security operations in rural Kaduna, particularly in Kagarko, where residents say bandits operate with little resistance.

“With our leaders abducted, our villages emptied and our cries ignored, we don’t know who will protect us,” a displaced resident said. “If nothing is done urgently, more lives will be lost.”

Residents are now calling on the federal and Kaduna State governments to deploy security forces to the area immediately, secure the release of the abducted victims and prevent further attacks on already traumatised communities.

South African authorities have disconnected electricity supply to the Nigerian High Commission over “unpaid utility services”.

Nasiphi Moya, mayor of Tshwane city, announced the development in an X post on Monday.

The decision formed part of the city’s ongoing #TshwaneYaTima campaign, an initiative aimed at cutting municipal services to consumers with significant outstanding debts.

“#TshwaneYaTima: We’ve disconnected electricity at the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They owe the city for utility services,” the tweet reads.

This is not the first time the Nigerian high commission in South Africa has been thrown into darkness over unpaid electricity bills.

In 2023, City Power, an electricity distribution company in South Africa, cut off power supply to the Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg over a debt of at least R600,000 (about $35,000).

Last September, the high commission was reportedly disconnected from public power supply over its inability to pay accumulated electricity bills.

We thank the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for honouring its debt to the city. The city will reconnect electricity . @CityTshwane

𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝, 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤

Credit: Olabode Olalekan pic.twitter.com/Wt2QiROecJ

— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) January 30, 2026

Kidnapped Nigerians Left To Die As Poverty Cuts Off Means To Pay Ransom, Says Shariah Council Leader


Nigerian Islamic scholar and President of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, stating that kidnappings and abductions for ransom have degenerated into a horrific stage where victims are abandoned to die in captivity when their families can no longer raise the demanded sums.

Speaking in an extensive interview with BBC Hausa, Bashir warned that widespread poverty has crippled traditional means of raising ransom, leaving many abducted Nigerians to languish helplessly in the hands of criminals.

“Kidnappings and abductions for ransom continue, and the situation has now reached a point where, when people are abducted and no ransom is forthcoming, because the avenues for raising money have dried up and poverty has become widespread, the victims are left to languish in captivity until they die in that condition,” he said.

“The situation is truly grim and distressing.”


Security Has Failed, Government Must Act

Bashir said the most critical issue confronting Nigerians today is security and the protection of lives, noting that strong complaints were raised over the deteriorating security situation across many states, particularly those with Muslim-majority populations.

According to him, the failure of the state to protect citizens has reached unacceptable levels, prompting urgent calls on the government to rise to its constitutional and moral responsibilities.

“The most critical issue that was confronted was the matter of security and the protection of the lives of the people,” he said.

“Strong complaints were raised about the deteriorating security situation, which affects many states in this country.”

He stressed that protecting lives, property and human dignity is not optional but a duty imposed by both God and the Nigerian Constitution, adding that such protection must be provided without discrimination on the basis of religion or ethnicity.

“A call was made on the government to rise up and discharge its responsibilities, responsibilities that God has placed upon it and which the Constitution has also imposed on it, to protect the property of the people, their lives, and their dignity, as required,” he said.

“This protection of Nigerians must be carried out without discrimination on the basis of religion or ethnicity.”


‘Christian Genocide Claims Are False, Muslims Are the Worst Hit’

Bashir also addressed international claims alleging genocide against Nigerian Christians, firmly rejecting them as false and misleading.

He said evidence gathered and shared globally shows that Muslims have suffered the most casualties in Nigeria’s insecurity crisis, contradicting narratives that portray only one religious group as victims.

“This opportunity was also used to further emphasise that the claim being made that genocide is being carried out against a particular segment of Nigerians is not true,” he said.

“Facts were established, facts that this body has gathered and disseminated globally, showing that those who have suffered the most, those who have borne the greatest pain of this insecurity, and those who have been killed the most in these mass killings are none other than the Muslims of this country.”

While acknowledging that the Federal Government has officially rejected genocide claims against Christians, Bashir said this position must be consistently reinforced and backed by concrete action to end the violence.

The scholar cautioned against relying solely on military force to tackle insecurity, calling instead for a combination of approaches, including reconciliation with armed groups willing to repent.

However, he warned that reconciliation must not undermine justice.

“The issue should not be addressed solely through the use of military force but also through other approaches, including reconciliation with those who are willing to lay down their arms and repent,” he said.

He stressed that any reconciliation process must be clearly structured and anchored on justice, ensuring fairness to victims and accountability for wrongdoing.

Bashir urged Islamic scholars to intensify prayers and guide society toward repentance, citing Qur’anic teachings that calamities are often the result of human actions.

“Allah has informed us in the Qur’an that no calamity befalls people except as a result of what they themselves have done,” he said.

“Therefore, we must repent and return to Allah, and intensify our prayers.”

He added that divine forgiveness and relief are promised if people sincerely turn back to God.


Tax Law Amendments ‘Betrayed the Poor’

Beyond security, Bashir raised serious concerns about Nigeria’s economic direction, particularly proposed amendments to tax laws.

He said religious leaders were deeply disappointed by changes introduced after public consultations, which were supposed to protect the poor from excessive tax burdens.

“We expressed deep concern and regret over what has happened,” he said.

“The legislature had consulted widely with a view to making amendments in such a way that the poor would not be unduly burdened.”

Instead, he said, the final amendments contradicted what was agreed during public hearings.

“Who made these changes and usurped the powers that the Constitution clearly vests in the hands of legislators?” he asked.

“It is not the responsibility of the executive arm of government. This constitutes a clear violation of the Constitution.”

Bashir said the manner in which the issue was brushed aside suggested that constitutional violations were being normalised.

He called for proper post-public hearings by the National Assembly and demanded that what was agreed during public consultations should prevail as the law of the land.

He also condemned persistent problems in Nigeria’s budgeting process, including budget padding and the prioritization of expenditures that do not improve the lives of ordinary people.

“Projects and allocations that would alleviate poverty, improve education, and enhance healthcare are not being prioritised,” he said.

Bashir noted that the 2024 and 2025 budgets have not been fully implemented, yet new budgets are being proposed and funds released without tangible results.

“It is as though the government is completely unaware of the harsh conditions in which ordinary people are living,” he said.

He urged Islamic scholars to use tafsir sessions and public platforms to consistently challenge policymakers to adopt economic policies that reflect empathy for the poor.

At the same time, he called on the Muslim community to take voter registration and Permanent Voter Card collection seriously.

“When it comes time to vote, they should vote for those they believe will uphold trust and act with integrity,” he said. “Not sectarianism, not party affiliation, but trust.”

He emphasized that leadership in Islam is a sacred trust (amanah).

Call for Removal of Electoral Commission Chairman

In one of his strongest interventions, Bashir called for the removal of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, accusing him of partisanship over genocide claims.

According to him, the official publicly affirmed genocide allegations, contradicting the Federal Government’s official position.

“As a senior government official, this puts him at odds with the government’s stance,” he said. “This amounts to a form of betrayal of the state.”

Bashir warned that elections conducted under such leadership would lack public confidence.

“What he ought to do is resign. If he does not resign, then the government should remove him,” he said.

He expressed concern that the chairman has neither retracted nor clarified his statements, insisting that Nigeria needs an electoral umpire who is neutral, fair and impartial.

“The country needs someone who is non-partisan, free from bias or vested interests,” Bashir said. “This is the position we continue to maintain up till now.”