Oyo school kidnap: Bandits list four demands

Gunmen who abducted pupils and teachers from three communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have reportedly presented a list of demands as negotiations for the victims’ release continue.

The victims were taken during attacks on schools in the Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15. The incident sparked concern among residents and raised fresh fears over insecurity in parts of the state.

According to reports, the kidnappers are demanding the release of two men currently facing terrorism-related charges. They are also seeking a large ransom payment, two Hilux vehicles, and the implementation of a Sharia-related legal arrangement as part of the conditions for freeing the captives.

The two individuals the gunmen want released have been identified as Mahmud Usman and his deputy, Abubakar Abba. The men are also known by several aliases, including Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar, Isah Adam, Mahmud Al-Nigeri and Mallam Mamuda.

Security authorities have linked both suspects to Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan, commonly known as Ansaru, an extremist group that split from Boko Haram several years ago.

Ansaru has been associated with a number of violent incidents across Nigeria, including the attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre in 2022.

Records from security agencies indicate that the two suspects were arrested between May and July 2025. They are currently being prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Abuja over various terrorism-related allegations.

Mahmud Usman was separately convicted for illegal mining after reportedly admitting that proceeds from the activity were used to purchase weapons and support kidnapping operations. Despite that conviction, he remains in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) as other cases against him continue.

His deputy, Abubakar Abba, has denied the charges filed against him and is still standing trial.

In addition to demanding the release of the two suspects, the abductors are reportedly seeking about ₦1 billion in ransom. Reports indicate that the money is expected to be transferred to a bank account located in the Republic of Benin.

Authorities have not yet publicly commented on the demands, while efforts to secure the safe return of the kidnapped pupils and teachers continue. GWG.

Insecurity: OPM pastor shuts all free schools in northern Nigeria

Founder of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, has temporarily shut all OPM free schools in Northern Nigeria following fresh security concerns.

The clergyman announced the decision in a Facebook post, citing a WhatsApp message he received about an alleged kidnap threat in Nasarawa State.

According to the message shared by Apostle Chibuzor, kidnappers lodging in a hotel had abducted children in the state. The claim triggered panic, with Muslim parents reportedly arriving barefoot at schools to pick up their children.

Pupils were sent home and told to resume on Monday only if the situation was deemed safe.

Reacting to the report, Apostle Chibuzor said the safety of the children comes first, even if the closure is painful.

“So with pains in my heart, I HRM KING APOSTLE CHIBUZOR GIFT CHINYERE is shutting down temporarily all OPM free schools in the northern part of Nigeria until the security situation improves. I know it is painful, but the life of these children are more important,” he wrote.

OPM runs several tuition-free schools across Nigeria, many of them in northern states, catering to children from low-income families.

The clergyman did not state when the schools would reopen, noting that it depends on improvement in security. GWG.

Mountain of Fire Ministries suspends overnight vigils, ends services by 8pm over insecurity

Citing escalating security worries across Nigeria, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has banned overnight vigils and ordered that all church activities must wrap up by eight in the evening.

A circular dated June 5, 2026, carrying the instruction, was sent to Regional Overseers and branch pastors. The directive is effective immediately.

Under the new rule, every service, meeting, and programme at any level of the organisation must finish by 8 p.m. for the foreseeable future. The church has also indefinitely halted all overnight vigils and late-night prayer meetings. Should such gatherings be deemed essential, leaders must convert them into evening prayer sessions that still end at or before 8 p.m.

Temitope A. Olawale, Director of Administration for the MFM International Headquarters and Nigeria, signed the memorandum. He explained that the move is a precaution driven by the current security climate.

“The directives are purely precautionary and aimed at safeguarding the lives and well-being of our members in the face of the current security situation in the country,” the statement said. Dailyblast.

Police arraign man, 26, over alleged possession of stolen goat

The police on Friday arraigned a 26-year-old man, Adesuyi Kayode in an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged possession of stolen goat.

Kayode, whose address was not provided, is facing one-count charge of possession of stolen goat.

The prosecutor, Insp Elijah Adejare, told the court that Kayode committed the offence on May 24 at about 11 p.m. in Ikole-Ekiti.

He alleged that the defendant had in his possession one goat suspected to have been stolen.

Adejare said the offence contravened Section 345 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

He urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him study the case file and present his witnesses.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty and his Counsel, Mrs Blessing Falaye, urged the court to grant him bail, with a promise that he would not jump bail.

Consequently, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Awosika, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until June 25 for hearing. (NAN)

8 months pregnant housewife files divorce petition

AN eight-month pregnant housewife, Halima Yusuf, has filed a petition for confirmation of divorce in the Upper Area Court Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

Yusuf accused her husband, Isah, of beating her.

In the petition, she also accused her husband of neglecting his responsibilities.

“We got married under the Sharia Islamic law.

“Isah does not provide food, clothing or healthcare for me,” she said.

The petitioner told the court that she was eight months pregnant and had since been living with her parents in Mararaba.

She prayed the court for confirmation of the divorce and an order compelling Isah to take responsibility for her pregnancy.

The Judge, Mohammed Yakubu adjourned the case until June 11 for hearing. (NAN)

60 years after: Aguiyi-Ironsi family hails late Fajuyi’s sacrifice for Nigeria’s unity

THE family of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, has paid glowing tribute to the late Lt.-Col. Adekunle Fajuyi.

Aguiyi-Ironsi family, in a remembrance letter to Fajuyi family,a copy of which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)on Friday, described Fajuyi’s death as a supreme and heroic price for national unity.

The letter was signed by Amb. (Chief) Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, a former Minister of Defence and son of the late Head of State.

The family said July 29,2026 would be a solemn occasion to honour a soldier whose sacrifice continues to inspire generations of Nigerians.

“Lt.-Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi was a war hero who offered himself as a sacrificial lamb for the unity and integrity of the nation.

“His courage, loyalty and selflessness remain enduring virtues for all Nigerians.

“His sacrifice stands today as one of the most defining moments in our national history,” the family said.

The family recalled that Fajuyi was Military Governor of the Western Region when mutinous soldiers struck during the military counter-coup of July 1966.

According to them , he was abducted alongside Aguiyi-Ironsi in Ibadan.

The family said Fajuyi had an opportunity to save himself but chose instead to remain with his guest and superior officer.

“In a defining moment of conscience, he chose honour over personal safety.

“He refused to abandon his guest and superior officer in the face of grave danger.

“That decision reflected the highest ideals of loyalty, integrity and military brotherhood.” the family said.

They described Fajuyi as a national martyr whose legacy continues to promote unity, courage and selfless service.

The Aguiyi-Ironsi family also expressed sympathy with the late soldier’s family over the enduring pain of the loss.

The family prayed for continued strength, comfort and peace for the descendants of the late military governor.

“We remain deeply grateful for his life and sacrifice.

“We also appreciate Nigerians, institutions and well-meaning individuals who continue to honour his memory.

“Their support demonstrates that the sacrifice of a true patriot is never forgotten.”

The family called on government institutions and military authorities to sustain efforts to preserve Fajuyi’s memory.

They urged custodians of national history to ensure continued recognition and support for the Fajuyi family.

“He did not run. He did not hide. He chose to stand.

“In that sacrificial decision lay the essence of his greatness.

“His legacy challenges all Nigerians to uphold unity, courage, honour and selfless service,” the letter further read.

Fajuyi was killed on July 29, 1966, alongside Aguiyi-Ironsi, during the military counter-coup in Ibadan. (NAN)

Govt has gadgets to track anybody who criticises it but can’t track terrorists, Dalung attacks FG

Former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of lacking the political will to confront Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, saying the government is more focused on the 2027 politics than on protecting lives lost to terrorism and kidnappings.

Speaking on Friday’s Arise TV’s Morning Show, Dalung delivered a sharp critique of the government’s security response and overall leadership record, as reported by Vanguard on Saturday.

“Government seems not to have the political will to deal with it. They have all the gadgets to track anybody who criticises the government — they can pick him up in the next five minutes. But they don’t have equipment to track terrorists who display huge phones in the forest, behead teachers, abduct schoolchildren, torture them in the forest, produce videos and send,” he said.

He dismissed the Information Minister’s recent call for unity against terrorism, calling it a sign of deeper failure. “I think it’s a statement confirming that the federal government has completely and woefully failed. They don’t seem to have any idea of a solution to the ravaging insecurity that is across the country,” he said.

Dalung stated that the security architecture was fragmented, with agencies working in silos rather than as a coordinated force. He also warned that terrorists were now operating what he described as a “parallel forest economy,” sustaining themselves independently of the state.

Questioning foreign military involvement, he said: “We were told that the Americans are here with us. If the Americans are here with us, what have they been doing? We have not felt their impact,” urging the government to stop reassurances and instead empower communities to defend themselves.

On politics ahead of 2027, Dalung said Nigeria had returned to regional power blocs and warned of electoral uncertainty. “Nigeria has returned to the politics of the First Republic, where regions now have their political parties. Almost all the zones have presidential candidates. So ultimately, in 2027, we may be facing serious confusion as we advance towards the election,” he said.

He also described President Tinubu’s three-year performance as disappointing, accusing the administration of rhetoric without impact. “Three years into his tenure, it is just blame game and rhetoric of reforms — reforms that no single iota of the benefit has trickled down. Rather, Nigerians are getting impoverished daily. The economy is in doldrums. Insecurity remains rhetorical,” he said.

Responding on the programme, political scientist Obafemi George defended the administration, arguing it deserves time and pointing to economic indicators as evidence of progress. He cited a sovereign credit rating upgrade by Standard & Poor’s from B- to B as proof of stabilisation and linked rising insecurity to regional instability following the withdrawal of French forces from the Sahel.

“This current administration has confronted insecurity that is higher than the previous administration, spent more, and recorded more successes in combating insecurity,” he said, referencing rescue operations in Goza and Katsina.

On governance timelines, George argued that national development cannot be achieved quickly. “You know, when you employ someone, you give the person KPIs… and if you look at each of those, in my opinion, I could confidently say that the president ticked the boxes,” he said.

He added that structural reforms take time, citing global comparisons. “I ask people to give me one example of a country in a modern era that has transitioned from being a poor country to a prosperous country in 36 months,” he said, referencing China’s long-term reforms, Rwanda’s development trajectory under Paul Kagame, and Dubai’s multi-decade transformation. “One of the things that we are going through that is causing our current pain is because some sacrifices that were meant to have been done years ago weren’t done,” he added.

He also referenced former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s warning that Nigeria was “broke” and said earlier removal of the fuel subsidy would have prevented today’s economic strain, arguing that current reforms are aimed at long-term stability. Starnews.

Obi advocates holistic approach to insecurity, accuses Govt of being passive

By Okey Muogbo

Frontline Presidential Candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi has once again criticised the government’s passive and uncoordinated response to the nation’s severe insecurity problems.

In a recent post on his X account, titled “What Our Pervasive Insecurity Requires: A Holistic, Not Reactive Approach,” the former governor of Anambra State expressed his deep concern over the ongoing security crisis.

He pointed to President Bola Tinubu’s reported approval to recruit approximately 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State as a clear indication of inadequate leadership and a reactive strategy for addressing critical governance and security issues.

Obi drew a parallel between this approach and the abrupt removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the Naira, which he argued have inflicted significant and lasting harm on ordinary citizens and the national economy.

While acknowledging the importance of increasing security personnel nationwide, he stressed that such measures should be implemented through a more structured and carefully considered process.

The former Governor of Anambra State highlighted that insecurity is a widespread problem affecting nearly all 36 states, with Oyo, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Katsina, Anambra, Niger, Imo, and Sokoto experiencing particularly alarming situations.

He questioned whether approval for forest guard recruitment in Oyo would be extended uniformly to all states, totalling 37,000 guards across the 36 states and Abuja, or whether such decisions are arbitrary and dependent on the President’s disposition.

Furthermore, he raised concerns about the potential impact on existing security outfits, such as the Amotekun Corps in the South-West, which are actively working to secure the region.

Obi asserted that the pervasive insecurity is a direct consequence of systemic failures, particularly in leadership attributing the deaths of over 10,000 innocent Nigerians since 2023 and Nigeria’s ranking among the world’s most terror-affected countries to this leadership deficit.

According to Obi, effectively tackling insecurity necessitates a comprehensive, or ‘ecosystem,’ approach.

He concluded by stating that leadership failures lead to a breakdown in national unity, industrial development, the effective utilisation of the nation’s vast resources in agriculture, minerals, tourism, water, sports, and even oil and gas for revenue generation, economic growth, and crucially, job creation for the burgeoning youth population.

Obi expressed optimism that a new, prosperous Nigeria is achievable with right and capable leadership.

Gov. Ododo ‎inaugurates violent crime response unit, commends Police anti-crime war in Kogi

‎The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo on Thursday in Lokoja inaugurated the Violent Crime Response Unit.

Ododo who was represented by his Deputy, Comrade Joel Oyibo handed over the newly constructed building for the unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Command.

He said “this milestone reflects our administration’s unwavering commitment to the security and safety of every citizen in Kogi State and Since assumption of office, security has remained the cornerstone of our governance agenda.”

Ododo emphasize that without peace and order, no meaningful development can take place.

“In recognition of the Unit’s growing responsibilities and strategic importance in combating violent crimes, our administration deemed it necessary to provide it with a befitting and fully equipped operational base.”

The construction of the facility which was fully funded by the Kogi State government has been designed to support efficient policing and operational effectiveness. “It comprises ten well-equipped offices, four standard detention cells, a conference room, a control room, and enjoys constant electricity and power supply to ensure uninterrupted operations.”

In demonstration of this administration’s commitment to strengthening security infrastructure, the Kogi State Government has also provided the Unit with four Toyota Hilux operational vehicles, one Bullet-Proof Buffalo Armoured Personnel Carrier, and three Toyota Sienna vehicles.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the security of our nation and his continuous support for the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.

The Governor pointed out that under his leadership, security remains a top priority, with deliberate efforts aimed at strengthening security institutions, improving operational capacity, and creating a safer environment for all Nigerians.

“We appreciate the President’s determination to equip and motivate our security personnel to effectively discharge their constitutional responsibilities. His administration’s commitment to peace, stability, and national security continues to inspire confidence and support across the country.”

Ododo also commended the state commissioner of police for the commitment of the Police force to reduce the crime wave in the state.

In his speech, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi Police command, CP Nazir Bello Kankara, said the Violent Crime Response Unit being commissioned was the brainchild of Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

‎He added that the practical demonstration by the team was a preview of what residents should expect as the unit begins operations against criminals and kidnappers.

‎The commissioner applauded the governor for paying utmost attention to protection of lives and properties in the state.

‎The Obaro of Kabba, Oba Dele Owoniyi, also commended the governor for supporting the Violent Crime Response Unit and applauded the Commissioner of Police for the initiative to combat crime in the state. Authority.

Bauchi: Farmers-herders clash claim 7 lives, 6 others injured, 50 houses razed

The Bauchi State Police Command has launched investigation into a reported clash between members of the communities in Lanzai and Dosho of Darazo LGA, of Bauchi State, in which lives and property were lost.

A statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, said a report received on 4th June 2026, indicated that suspected fulani men attacked farmers who were applying local fertilizer on their farm at the outskirts of Lanzai community, in the area.

It said that in a reprisal attack, youths from the community mobilized and stormed Dosho village, a fulani settlement, where they set fire on the area, with about 50 houses razed, several household goods destroyed in the process.

The incident led to the death of 7 persons, while 6 others suffered various degree of injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.

According to the statement, tactical operatives were immediately deployed to the affected areas to restore law and order, prevent further escalation and commence investigations.

The violent crime response unit, VCRU, has been deployed as reinforcement to maintain peace, while patrols have been intensified in Lanzai, Dosho and adjoining communities.

“The commissioner of police, Mr Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has directed a thorough investigation into both the immediate and remote causes of the incident. He assured that perpetrators of the initial attack and those responsible for the reprisal will be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“He further appealed to community leaders and residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands, reiterating the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, and ensuring justice for all parties involved,” the statement concluded. Authority.