ADC Condemns The Attack On Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, where innocent worshippers were murdered during a church service, and others, including the pastor, abducted. This tragedy is another painful reminder of the pervasive insecurity that has taken root across the country.
Coming within hours of another attack in Kebbi State where school officials were killed and students abducted, this particularly brutal attack and abduction give the impression that this government has lost control and Nigerians now live at the mercy of gunmen who are now emboldened by government’s failure to act decisively.
The ADC is particularly concerned that the Christian genocide narrative, which we dismissed when it was first proposed, is gradually becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy due to the failure of the government to conduct an honest appraisal of the problem.
We were indeed dismayed by the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, in a recent interview claiming that only 177 Christians have been killed in the last five years. We find this statement unfortunate and offensive, and if it reflects the thinking within the Federal Government, such a statement would explain why this government has failed to address the problem and why they cannot be trusted to solve it.
We would like to reiterate, deaths cannot be reduced to numbers. It does not matter how many people have been killed or what religion or language they speak. As seen in the video of the Eruku church attack, one poor old woman cut down by bullets while she prays is enough. But this government does not know how to take responsibility or how to be accountable. Or else, how can an official of government engage in the wrong-headed and dangerous race-to-the-bottom argument over which religious group has recorded more casualties in the country?
Does 177 deaths make this situation more acceptable? Or does the argument that more Muslims have been killed make it less tragic?
In addition to the wanton killings, what is shaping up as another great tragedy is the Tinubu government’s defensive mindset and its growing tendency to minimise the scale of this crisis. But the truth is that under this Tinubu administration, Nigeria is fast turning into a killing field, and the President does not appear to recognise that his most important job is to protect life.
Nigeria is bleeding, communities are grieving, families are being destroyed, and the government continues to respond with excuses, denial, and dangerous rhetoric.
The ADC calls on the Federal Government to arrest this growing anarchy before it consumes us all. Nigerians deserve protection, not platitudes. Our houses of worship must be safe, our communities must be safe, our country must be safe.
Nigerian Police Retirees Protest At National Assembly, Demand Removal From Contributory Pension Scheme.
The retirees said they would continue their demonstrations until lawmakers take concrete steps to address their demands.
Nigerian police retirees on Wednesday stormed the National Assembly complex in Abuja, demanding their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme and urging federal lawmakers to address what they described as years of hardship under the arrangement.
The former officers arrived in large numbers at the main entrance of the complex, chanting, singing solidarity songs and displaying placards to draw attention to their plight.
Some of the protesters on Wednesday carried placards. One placard read “NASS: Save us and the future of our children. Exit us from CPs.”
WATCH: Nigerian Police Retirees Protest At National Assembly, Demand Removal From Contributory Pension Scheme pic.twitter.com/N7EzeOlkFB
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) November 19, 2025
Another person held a placard that read “We ask for total removal from the police contributory pension.”
They further declared, “Today our plan is to shoot down the national assembly as a whole to press down our demand to exempt from Contributory pension.”
The retirees said they would continue their demonstrations until lawmakers take concrete steps to address their demands.
Wednesday’s demonstration follows earlier protests held this year and led by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
On 21 July 2025, Sowore joined retired police officers in Abuja to demand better welfare, including improved pay and their exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme.
He also participated in another protest on 30 September 2025, where he criticised the scheme, calling it a “Ponzi scheme” and urging the government to address the concerns of former officers.
Postponement of Rehabilitation Works on Lekki–Ajah Corridor
The Lagos State Government wishes to inform the public that the planned rehabilitation works on the Lekki–Ajah corridor, earlier scheduled to commence on Saturday, 15th November 2025, have been postponed to a later date.
A new commencement date will be communicated in due course. *While preliminary activities will continue till end of the month, full rehabilitation works will not begin until the revised schedule is announced.*
The State Government appreciates the understanding and patience of all road users as it remains committed to improving road infrastructure and ensuring safer, more efficient transportation for all.
E-signed;
Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State.
Terrorists Kill Six Displaced Residents In Taraba Community As Christian Leader Raises Alarm
Rampaging terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, have killed six persons in Amadu community in the Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
SaharaReporters learnt that the victims were displaced individuals who had taken refuge in the community.
Multiple sources familiar with the situation said the bandits struck on Monday night, identifying the deceased as Terfa Terhemen, Tyoyinga Ngunan, Sondongu Hangem, Aondoso Tsea, Aondona Mteroga and Onov Nyoko.
Those killed were said to be between twenty-seven and thirty-five years old, while the sixth victim was reported to be around sixty-five.
Another source, a Christian leader whose name is not disclosed for security reasons, told SaharaReporters that the militia responsible for the attack was of Fulani extraction.
"The Fulani militias are responsible for the killing. These killings happen every day. Right now, the residents are protesting," the cleric told SaharaReporters.
Earlier in November, the Taraba State Command of the Nigeria Police Force commenced an investigation into the alleged invasion of the Chanchanji community in Takum Local Government Area by armed herders.
As the killer-herders sparked fear and tension in the community, residents, including one Terkula Yooso and one Philip Abur, said on Tuesday that armed herders were seen moving into Chanchanji Ward from neighbouring Donga Local Government Area, allegedly planning coordinated attacks on nearby settlements.
Residents said intelligence gathered from within the area indicated that the attackers were plotting simultaneous assaults on Peva–Chanchanji and Kufai Ahmadu towns, both within the ward.
Yooso expressed deep concern over the situation, citing a history of previous attacks blamed on the same group.
“These militants have struck several surrounding villages, displacing thousands. Many residents are already taking refuge in Peva and Amadu. We cannot survive another round of violence,” Yooso said.
The alarm in Chanchanji followed a recent warning by the Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Parish, Takum, Rev. Fr. George Dogo, who expressed concern over renewed attacks on communities in the region.
The cleric had earlier noted what he described as a “widening security breach” across parts of the local government.
Residents lamented that the area had become increasingly unsafe due to repeated assaults and delayed government responses.
Earlier also, the Holy Family Catholic Parish, Takum, Taraba State, raised the alarm over renewed attacks by suspected herders on several communities in the Takum Local Government Area, leading to the destruction of farmlands and mass displacement of residents.
The Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. George Dogo, disclosed this in a statement released to journalists in Jalingo on Monday, describing the situation as “disturbing and devastating.”
He called for urgent government intervention to avert further bloodshed and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
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.
Bandits were said to have killed three persons and abducted at least 64 others on Saturday at Fegin Baza village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Daily Trust yesterday gathered that children and women were among the abductees taken to an unknown destination.
Four other people were said to have sustained gunshot wounds during the attack and were taken to Tsafe General Hospital.
Among those killed was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umaru Moriki, along the Gusau-tsafe Road, near Fegin village.
Moriki, who was said to be gunned down while travelling to Kaduna, was the Sarkin Fadan Moriki.
The incident happened a day after the Minister of State for Defence and former government of the state, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, visited the state and announced that the Defence Headquarters had deployed fresh troops.
The minister had also told the people of the state that he would be meeting the troops to give the marching order to deal decisively with criminals. “Zamfara will no longer bow to fear. We are taking every necessary step to secure every community,” he had told the crowd.
During his visit, Matawalle also questioned the utilization of federal allocations received so far within the last two years. “Zamfara has collected over one trillion naira. Show me what they have done with it,” he had said.
Zamfara State is one of the epicentres of banditry in the North West with recurrent attacks on villages, highways and farming communities.
Despite multiple military operations, peace initiatives and security deployments, large numbers of armed groups continue to operate across forested areas of the state.
The latest abductions in Tsafe add to a long list of killings, mass kidnappings and cattle rustling incidents that have forced thousands of residents to flee their homes.
In recent months, many communities in Zurmi, Shinkafi, Maradun, Tsafe and Bungudu Local Government Areas of the state had come under attacks which had left many villagers displaced, compelled to pay levies and ransoms to bandits.
Witnesses told our correspondents that the bandits, who struck at Fegin Baza on Saturday, were over 30 in number and rode on motorbikes.
The attackers were said to have opened fire on Moriki’s car and other vehicles.
Women and children of Faruruwa town, Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, recently attacked by bandits, welcoming the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, during a visit to the community yesterday.
Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, a survivor, Abdulrahman Ahmad Dole, said the bandits began shooting immediately after overtaking motorists. including the convoy of the state Commissioner of Police.
He said the bandits blocked the Gusau-Funtua Road during the operation that lasted for 15 minutes.
Abdulrahaman also confirmed that the bandits kidnapped an unspecified number of people.
“They kidnapped all the people conveyed by a commercial Golf Volkswagen and others,” he said.
Narrating how the bandits carried out the attack, Abdulrahaman said: “The bandits might have targeted the Zamfara State Police Commissioner because we were attacked minutes after the CP’s convoy overtook our vehicle. Few minutes after the Commissioner of Police passed over the vehicle, we found ourselves in the middle of the bandits.
“We were in front of the Commissioner of Police’s convoy, just about a short distance from the bandits. Our vehicle was overtaken by the convoy and the next thing we heard were gunshots from different directions.
“I quickly opened the car’s door and ran into the bush. The bandits ran after me with their motorcycles shooting, but I jumped into the primary school and hid inside before soldiers came to my rescue.
‘We knew they were coming to attack us’
A resident of Fegin Baza, Malam Musa Yusuf, said the village had earlier received intelligence about a planned attack and mobilised vigilantes overnight.
He said the bandits eventually stormed the area around 10am, but failed to penetrate the village owing to the resistance by the vigilantes.
He said the bandits later turned to the highway where they carried out the mass abduction.
He said that two persons, who were earlier abducted were from the village, were later released after N500,000 was paid as ransom.
Yusuf said: “We were informed on Thursday about the bandits’ plan to attack our village. So, we mobilised our local vigilante members and spent Friday night patrolling the village. The bandits did not come until on Saturday around 10am, they came in large numbers and started shooting into the air. We were lucky, our people were all around.
“So, they did not gain access into the village. It was after they realised they could not overpower our people that they changed their plan and blocked the Gusau-Funtua Highway and operated for a few minutes. It was during that operation that they killed Hon. Moriki.”
Also speaking, Ambassador Husseini Moriki said he was one of those that spent last moments with the late Moriki.
“We spoke on phone and about 45 minutes after I received a call that bandits blocked and attacked commuters along the Tsafe and I knew Sarkin Fada was on his way there, I tried his phone number, no response, I then quickly drove towards there. On reaching Kwatarkwashi, it was confirmed to me that he was killed,” he said.
The Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle attended the funeral prayer of the late Sarkin Fada, held at the Federal Low-cost, Tudun Wada Juma’at Mosque, Gusau. The prayer was led by Imam Alkali Abdullahi Yakubu.
Condoling the family, Matawalle said Moriki’s death was a monumental loss to the state and the nation at large, considering his philanthropic activities that touched lives of many citizens, especially his neighbours and relatives.
Ambassador Moriki
Another attack near Gusau
Later on Saturday night, another bandit group were said to have invaded two locations on the outskirts of Gusau metropolis, abducting residents.
A resident of the area identified as Yusuf Zaza said the bandits entered from behind the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) station, kidnapped people and proceeded to the Bulunku area.
Another resident of the Bulunku area, Malan Husseini, said the bandits’ shootings scared the people of the area.
“They kidnapped one woman and her son apart from those they kidnapped behind NTA station,” Husseini said.
When contacted for a reaction to the recent attacks in Zamfara, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Maikaba, did not answer several calls to his mobile telephone line.
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.”
The Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Bishop David Oyedepo, has advised the youth in the country to take full responsibility for their lives to prevent failure in the future.
Oyedepo, who is also the President of Living Faith Church International, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Ota.
According to him, responsibility is the price of every great destiny, and nobody is a failure until he or she looks for whom to blame for it.
Oyedepo emphasised that anyone who would not take responsibility early in life would surely end up a liability later in life.
AnambraDecides2025: Vote counting begins at PU 002 Amawbia0:07 / 1:01
He enjoined the youth to embrace the virtue of responsibility, noting that they would not have anyone to blame for their failure in the future.
“If you fail or succeed in life, it is your choice.
“There is no star without a scar, and the scar of every star is sacrifice.
“When you leave your life to chance, you do not have a chance,” he said.
Oyedepo also urged the youth to imbibe integrity as a lifestyle, adding that nothing devalues the worth of a man like a lack of character.
According to him, it is obvious that the youth are the ones the world is waiting for, and they cannot afford to disappoint destiny and the great future that awaits them.
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.
Gumi, who has consistently courted public outrage over his sympathy for terrorists, made the remarks during an interview on Trust TV on Friday which SaharaReporters monitored.
Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has again defended bandits terrorising northern Nigeria, claiming they are on “revenge missions” rather than waging unprovoked violence.
Gumi, who has consistently courted public outrage over his sympathy for terrorists, made the remarks during an interview on Trust TV on Friday which SaharaReporters monitored.
The Sheikh argued that the Fulani herdsmen and bandit groups “do not attack people without any cause.”
“The former governor of Bauchi State, (Isa) Yuguda, was able also to go with a government delegation into the bush and they met more than 5000 bandits. They are all complaining — those who have lost their parents, those who have lost their brothers, those from hostility too,” Gumi said.
While admitting that the killings carried out by bandits were “wrong and obnoxious,” the cleric maintained that the attackers were motivated by grievances and vengeance, not sheer brutality.
“Yes, I know they have killed, and it’s wrong to kill anybody innocent. This is absolutely an obnoxious thing to do. We don’t support that. But you see, if you know their psychology, they are on a revenge mission,” he said.
Gumi, who has long advocated amnesty and negotiation for bandits, further claimed that Fulani herdsmen had lived peacefully with other ethnic groups for centuries and are only reacting to injustices they suffered.
“Everybody knows the herdsmen, as well as the Fulani herdsmen. They don’t just attack people. We have been living with them for centuries. They don’t attack people without any cause,” he insisted.
He urged the Tinubu administration to unify and rehabilitate the armed groups instead of launching military offensives against them.
“What I think the government needs to do is to really bring them together in a unison and in a holistic form so that there is peace. They are ready for that, because if you call them for peace, they come,” he said.
The cleric also drew a controversial comparison between bandits and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), accusing the latter of rejecting dialogue and pursuing secession.
“It’s unlike the others like IPOB. The government has been trying to dialogue with them; they still refuse. They are still behind creating a separate state. They are secessionists. Besides being terrorists, they are secessionists. Well, these people (bandits) are not secessionists. They want peace,” Gumi said.
Nigerian senator, Smart Adeyemi (APC, Kogi West) broke down in tears as he contributed to the debate on the insecurity challenges faced by the country across all fronts.
Here's a transcript of his submission below:
“Insecurity is a serious problem in Nigeria. There comes a time where we cannot but speak the truth irrespective of sentiments. A lot has been said this morning, Mr. President, and I want to thank you for giving us time to speak expressly on this issue.
“Like my sister was saying, there comes a time when the talk will talk itself. There comes a time where the truth will become like a torchlight in the midst of silence so you are forced to talk.
“Mr. President, we need not run away from the fact that more than ever before in the history of our nation, this is the worst instability we are facing. In fact this is worse than the civil war.
“Mr. President, the solution is very simple. Today that there is a lot of misgivings and misinterpretations of what is happening. While people that some people in government are supporting this move. Some people believe some people are sponsoring those who are destabilizing our country.
“The answer is very simple. We cannot pretend that we are capable of confronting the situation in our hands.
A Nigerian social media user has criticised the Federal Government following reports that the administration is considering selling the Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna refineries to boost competition in the oil sector. The user, identified as @Elkrosmediahouse on X, expressed outrage over the huge sums reportedly spent on refurbishing the refineries, only for them to remain underperforming or shut down shortly after relaunch.
https://parallelfactsnews.com/netizen-slams-tinubu-plan-to-sell-refineries/ Photo Credit: peoples Gazette “Lol. 897 million USD was spent in Warri refinery relaunch, only for it to shut down weeks later. 1.5 billion USD was spent in revamping Port Harcourt refinery, yet still underperforms. My good brothers and sisters, your own government is a bigger thief of the natural resources,” the user wrote.
The reaction came after Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to Bola Tinubu on Energy, said the Federal Government was open to selling the three refineries to improve efficiency and attract private investment.
The statement has sparked mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning the government’s accountability in the billions spent on refinery rehabilitation projects that have yet to yield visible results.
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
Politics › Tinubu's Government Is Sitting Back, Not Doing Enough by treesun(op): 7:07pm On Nov 20, 2025
