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Court adjourns suit seeking deregistration of ADC, AA, others indefinitely

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Court adjourns suit seeking deregistration of ADC, AA, others indefinitely

THE Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned indefinitely proceedings in the suit seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA) and others.

The presiding judge, Peter Lifu, had fixed Friday to deliver judgment in the suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against some political parties.

However, hearing in the case was stalled after the Accord Party secured a stay of proceedings from the Court of Appeal on May 29.

At the commencement of sitting, the court registrar informed all parties that judgment had been postponed and that a new date would be communicated in due course.

Reacting to the development, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, Raphael Igbokwe, expressed disappointment over the Appeal Court decision to grant a stay of proceedings.

Addressing newsmen, Igbokwe said the forum had challenged the appellate court decision by filing an appeal against the stay of proceedings at the Supreme Court.

“We are concerned that a matter which had reached the stage of judgment has now been stalled through a stay of proceedings.

“In practical terms, it amounts to an arrest of judgment. Nevertheless, we remain committed to pursuing all lawful avenues to ensure that the issues raised in this case are resolved in the interest of strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and advancing constitutional and electoral jurisprudence,” he said.

He maintained that the forum’s actions were aimed at deepening democratic governance and promoting the development of constitutional and electoral law in the country.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 and instituted by the forum, named the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st defendants.

The plaintiff also joined several political parties, including the ADC, AA, Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party, among others, as defendants.

The plaintiff argued that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance.

It contended that political parties were required to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections to remain relevant under the law.

It, therefore, urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had effectively countered the argument. (NAN)

DR Congo faults Spain over cancellation of Chile friendly

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DR Congo faults Spain over cancellation of Chile friendly

THE Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has criticised the cancellation of its scheduled friendly match against Chile in Spain over concerns linked to the Ebola outbreak in the African country.

The match was due to be played on June 9 in La Linea de la Concepcion, southern Spain, but local authorities called it off on public health grounds.

Mayor of La Linea de la Concepcion, Juan Franco, announced that he had signed a decree banning the match following a recommendation from local health officials.

According to Franco, a report from the town’s health service advised against staging the fixture because of potential health risks.

The DR Congo national team has, however, been training in Belgium ahead of its World Cup campaign.

Reports indicate that none of the 26 players is based in DR Congo or travelled directly from the country to the training camp, although some support staff and supporters may have done so.

Reacting to the development, DR Congo’s Minister of Communication, Patrick Muyaya, described the decision as unfair.

Speaking during a virtual press conference organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Muyaya said the cancellation had created difficulties for the national team’s preparations.

He noted that the players had been training in Belgium for about three weeks and argued that the decision could be interpreted as discriminatory.

The cancelled fixture was part of DR Congo’s preparations for forthcoming international competitions, including the World Cup.

(Xinhua/NAN)

Coroner orders LASUTH, DNA Centre to submit autopsy, test results in Pelumi Onifade’s death

Mustapha USMAN
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Coroner orders LASUTH, DNA Centre to submit autopsy, test results in Pelumi Onifade’s death

THE Coroner Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre to submit key forensic documents within 21 days in the ongoing investigation into the death of journalist Pelumi Onifade, who was killed during the #EndSARS protests in 2020.

According to a statement by Media Rights Agenda, the investigating magistrate, Temitope Oladele, gave the directive on Friday, June 5, at the resumed hearing of the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late journalist, who worked with Gboah TV.

The coroner ordered the Chief Medical Examiner of LASUTH to forward to the court the autopsy report of an unidentified body tagged 1385, believed to be that of the deceased journalist.

The statement noted that in a separate ruling, the court directed the Director of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre to submit the DNA test results linked to the same body. 

The samples, according to proceedings, were collected from the remains and from the parents of the deceased and forwarded to the centre for analysis.

“The inquest was convened on the orders of a Federal High Court in Lagos following a wrongful death suit brought against the Police and the Lagos State Government by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) demanding, among others, an investigation into the late journalist’s death and the prosecution of those responsible for his killing. 

“In his judgment, in the suit delivered on July 19, 2024, the judge, Ayokunle Olayinka Faji directed the Attorney-General to ensure an investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Onifade’s death and to conduct a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of death as well as identify and prosecute those responsible for his death,” the statement added.

At Friday’s sitting, counsel to the family and MRA, Alimi Adamu, supported by Monday Arunsi and Somto Afulukwe, urged the court to compel LASUTH and the DNA Centre to release outstanding forensic reports.

Adamu argued that LASUTH had already confirmed in its report that an autopsy was conducted on the body tagged 1385 and that DNA samples had been collected and forwarded for analysis, while results were still being awaited.

After reviewing submissions, Oladele ruled that LASUTH must, within 21 days, submit the autopsy report relating to body tagged 1385. 

She also ordered the DNA and Forensic Centre to forward the corresponding DNA test results within the same timeframe.

The coroner referenced LASUTH’s March 24, 2026, report, which confirmed that autopsies were conducted on six bodies brought in on November 3, 2020, including the one in question, and that DNA samples had been processed for identification purposes.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to June 23, 2026, for continuation of proceedings.

Backstory

The ICIR reports that the coroner’s fresh directive is the latest development in Onifade’s case, which has stretched for over five years.

Onifade, was reportedly shot and arrested by security operatives on October 24, 2020, while covering the #EndSARS protests in Lagos. 

His body was later discovered at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary, sparking public outrage and calls for accountability over his death.

Since then, efforts to establish the exact circumstances of his killing have been mired in legal and bureaucratic setbacks.

In March 2026, LASUTH failed to comply with a court order directing it to produce a crucial report on an unidentified body tagged 1385, believed to be Onifade’s remains. 

The failure led to an adjournment and renewed frustration from MRA, which is supporting the family in the case.

The court had issued a “final opportunity” for LASUTH to submit its findings on the body, which was reportedly received from Ikorodu General Hospital on November 3, 2020, and later subjected to post-mortem examination. 

However, LASUTH neither produced the report nor sent a representative to the March 24, 2026 sitting.

At that hearing, MRA’s legal team urged the court to invoke contempt proceedings through a Form 48 notice, citing repeated disobedience of court orders. 

The request was, however, declined by the coroner, Temitope Oladele, a magistrate, who opted to grant the hospital another chance to comply.

How sachet, bottled water worsens Nigeria’s environmental burden

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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How sachet, bottled water worsens Nigeria’s environmental burden

ON a busy morning in Lugbe, a suburban district in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, residents queue at a roadside kiosk to buy sachet water, a presumed sanitised pre-filled drinking water packaged in transparent sachets. This is a common ritual among millions of Nigerians across the country who depend on these water pouches, popularly referred to as “pure water.” 

Whether at home, on the road or at public events, sachet water has become the most easily accessible, affordable and reliable source of drinking water for millions of Nigerians. For the affluent, bottled water is more than just convenience but represents status and sanitary assurance.

Both packaged waters have become Nigeria’s most common form of on-the-go drinking water in a country where an estimated 110 million people lack access to safe drinking water.

As the world marks World Environment Day 2026, with the theme “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” the focus is on clean water, pollution reduction, and sustainable consumption systems. Though millions of Nigerians still struggle to access safe drinking water, researchers say the bottled and sachet water sector, which emerged to address this gap, has now evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry and an environmental challenge, measured not only in litres consumed but also by tonnes of plastic waste discarded.

Nigeria’s booming bottled and packaged water industry

Nigeria consumes an estimated 13.7 million sachets of water daily, amounting to more than 2.5 billion litres annually, according to figures cited by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). 

The bottled water sector is expanding rapidly, as per capita bottled water consumption reached approximately 26.54 litres in 2025. Demand is expected to rise further, as Nigeria’s estimated 223 million population is projected to approach 400 million by 2050. 

Industry forecasts suggest the country’s bottled water market could reach $8.37 billion by 2029, yet beneath those impressive growth figures lies a more troubling story. Water Policy Analysts argue that Nigeria’s sachet water boom is not a market success story, but a public infrastructure failure converted into a private business opportunity. 

Across communities in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu, discarded sachets and plastic bottles have become defining features of the urban landscape. Environmental groups in Lagos and Abuja have repeatedly linked indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste to blocked drainage systems and worsening urban flooding during rainy seasons. 

How other countries are tackling the problem

While Nigeria grapples with rising dependence on packaged water, several African countries are adopting more structured water and waste management reforms.

In Rwanda, strict plastic regulations combined with strong enforcement have significantly reduced visible plastic pollution in urban centres, supported by a centralised waste collection system. In Kenya, investments in water kiosks and community-based water supply systems have expanded access to affordable, safe water in informal settlements, reducing reliance on single-use sachets in some regions. 

Meanwhile, in Ghana, policy discussions are increasingly focused on Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks aimed at shifting waste management responsibility to producers.

Promise Salawu, a Nigerian-based environmental and climate change specialist, describes the country’s plastic pollution crisis as a structural failure of public utilities rather than a defect in consumer behaviour. He said the near-total collapse of municipal piped-water infrastructure across many states has transformed packaged water from a luxury into an absolute survival necessity.

“Most communities, businesses, and public spaces are entirely self-governing when it comes to water procurement,” he said, adding that “even where public tap water exists, pervasive issues with treatment consistency and pipe integrity mean it is often unsafe for domestic use, let alone drinking.”

He said while consumers are frequently blamed for littering, they are acting rationally within a failed system and clarified that without sachet and bottled water, millions would have no access to clean drinking water.

Salawu, who spoke with the ICIR from Plateau State, said an estimated 50 to 60 million water sachets are discarded daily in Nigeria. He said that while completely revitalising municipal water infrastructure is the ultimate, capital-intensive long-term goal, the immediate crisis requires an economic shift. 

“We must stop viewing empty water sachets as garbage and start treating them as a financial commodity through aggressive, subsidised recycling buy-back programs,” he added.

The specialist said an outright ban on plastic packaged water without an immediate, scalable clean water alternative poses severe public health risks, noting that Nigeria can look to other developing nations that have successfully deployed market incentives and circular economy models to manage plastic waste without threatening water security. 

“In Accra, academic and market feasibility studies have shown a high consumer willingness to participate in a Deposit-Refund System, specifically for sachet water plastic waste management. Private circular economy firms in Ghana, such as Coliba and Trashy Bags, have leveraged these models by establishing buy-back loops where informal scrap dealers collect, segregate, and sell clean sachet rubbers directly to domestic recyclers.”

Salawu said Kenya implemented one of the world’s strictest single-use plastic bag bans under Gazette Notice No. 2356, enforcing heavy fines and jail sentences for non-compliance. “A key driver of the policy’s survival was the strategic inclusion of exemptions for primary industrial packaging, medical waste, and critical food packaging, allowing essential supply chains to function while eliminating secondary carrier bags.”

He suggested that governments can reduce plastic pollution without increasing costs for low-income consumers by using the existing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework to require manufacturers and distributors of sachet water packaging to contribute to waste management and recycling efforts.
The specialist also urged Nigeria to adopt a decoupled approach by banning non-essential single-use plastics first, while exempting and heavily recycling water sachets during its long-term municipal water transition, saying managing plastic waste requires a shared-responsibility model linking the private sector, consumers, and government, though producers must bear the heavy economic weight.

World Environment Day: UN advocates protection of forest, land

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World Environment Day: UN advocates protection of forest, land

UNITED Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for protection of forests, land, and seas to  ensure the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.

Guterres made the call in his message to mark the 2026 World Environment Day, globally marked on June 5.

The global event is marked this year with the theme, “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience.”

He, therefore, urged countries to help communities adapt to the devastating impacts of drought and desertification, which according to him, “is already here.”

“And it means fulfilling climate finance promises to developing countries – to save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen economies. This is the moment to act – for our environment and for our future,’’ he said.

According to him, in this World Environment Day, warning signals are everywhere. Guterres said the past eleven years had been the eleven hottest on record.

“And the damage goes far beyond rising temperatures – from polluted air to degraded land, collapsing ecosystems, and vanishing biodiversity. Harming health, destroying homes and deepening hunger.

“The world is heading for a temporary overshoot above 1.5 degrees. Every fraction of a degree brings greater harm – especially to the most vulnerable,’’ he said.

The UN chief emphasised the need to keep the world temperature within the normal 1.5 degrees.

“Our task is to make that overshoot as small, as short, and as safe as possible, and rapidly bring temperatures back down.

“That means slashing emissions and accelerating a just transition away from fossil fuels towards renewables as the only sustainable path to lower costs and to real energy security.

“Cutting methane, one of the fastest, is also one of the cheapest ways to limit near-term warming,” he said. (NAN)

Police arrest suspect behind fake Tinubu AI audio, says Presidency

Mustapha USMAN
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Police arrest suspect behind fake Tinubu AI audio, says Presidency

THE Presidency has announced the arrest of a suspect allegedly responsible for creating and circulating a fake audio clip falsely presented as the voice of President Bola Tinubu.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the development on Thursday, June 4, in a statement.

“The IGP crack team has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis who originated the fake voice that he passed on to his gullible targets as President Tinubu’s voice. Dennis was arrested in Benin,” Onanuga stated.

The arrest followed a controversy that erupted last week over a manipulated audio recording circulated on social media and falsely attributed to the president.

The suspect had allegedly created and circulated the audio clip, which featured an AI-generated voice resembling Tinubu’s and contained remarks on insecurity in the South-East, opposition parties, World Bank borrowing, and the 2027 general election.

The recording gained widespread attention after some social media users, including Onanuga, wrongly attributed it to a video posted by social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).

Reacting to the viral clip on May 28, Onanuga accused VDM of disseminating fake audio and called for his prosecution.

“This VDM needs to face the weight of the law for being the conveyor and disseminator of a fake audio of President Tinubu. This is a clear case of an egregious abuse of the social media platform,” Onanuga wrote on his verified X account.

However, findings by FactCheckHub later showed that the controversial audio was not part of VDM’s original video.

The fact-checking organisation found that the manipulated clip originated from an Instagram video posted by VDM on May 26 while reacting to comments made by content creator and philanthropist Mitchell “King Mitchy” Mukoro.

In the original footage, VDM had played an old campaign video of Tinubu speaking about electricity and governance ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

According to FactCheckHub, an unidentified individual subsequently extracted portions of the video and inserted a fabricated voice recording resembling the president’s voice before circulating the edited version online.

The manipulated clip retained the opening segment of VDM’s original video before switching to the fake audio, creating the false impression that the activist had shared or endorsed the recording.

VDM subsequently dismissed any connection to the audio and criticised the Presidency for accusing him without verifying its source.

His lawyers, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, also faulted the Presidency’s verification process and urged security agencies to investigate those responsible for creating and circulating the doctored recording.

In a similar development, Onanuga on Thursday announced the arrest of another social media user accused of making what he described as an alarming post about security in Abuja.

“The police have also arrested this Nigerian who made an alarming post about Abuja’s security, spreading fear among citizens. By arresting him, the police have sent the clear message that reckless users of the social media won’t go scot free,” the presidential aide stated.

Soldiers, others block Aso Villa as protesters demand Tinubu’s resignation over insecurity

Mustapha USMAN  and  Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Soldiers, others block Aso Villa as protesters demand Tinubu’s resignation over insecurity

SCORES of protesters on Thursday, June 4, converged on Abuja to demand the immediate rescue of abducted schoolchildren, teachers, and other Nigerians in Oyo State and across the country.

They also called on President Bola Tinubu to resign over worsening insecurity in the nation.

The protest, organised by the Take It Back Movement and led by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, commenced about 10am around the Federal High Court in Abuja amid a heavy deployment of security personnel.

Earlier in the day, security operatives mounted a strong presence around Eagle Square, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and adjoining roads. Armoured vehicles were stationed at strategic locations, while movement was partially restricted in parts of the city.

Protesters carrying placards bearing inscriptions such as “Protect Our Children,” “Education Not Abduction,” “Enough Is Enough,” and “Tinubu Must Go” accused the Federal Government of failing to protect citizens from escalating insecurity.

At the Federal High Court, demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans and called on the president to either secure the release of abducted pupils or step down from office.

Tensions briefly flared when police officers attempted to halt the procession. Protesters confronted the officers, arguing that the demonstration was also in defence of security personnel who had been killed due to the government’s inability to tackle insecurity.

While addressing the press, Sowore accused the government of prioritising the suppression of dissents instead of protecting citizens.

“Our governments have no interest in protecting you (Nigerians). Instead, they engage in frivolities, including arresting and charging people for things they say on Facebook,” he said.

He added that the protest was intended to compel the government to secure the release of the abducted children.

“The struggle today is to force Tinubu to free those kids or resign,” Sowore told The ICIR.

He further argued that the demonstration was also in the interest of security personnel.

“This struggle also involves the right of these soldiers and policemen to also live with dignity in this country, and that is why also fight for them. But the fact that we fight for them doesn’t mean we cannot march against them if they misbehave,” he said, referring to soldiers and police officers blocking the protesters.

As the protesters attempted to move towards the Presidential Villa, security operatives blocked them at the Federal Secretariat. Soldiers were also stationed at strategic points to prevent the demonstrators from proceeding to Aso Villa.

The protesters accused the Federal Government of deploying state resources to silence dissents rather than focusing on rescuing abducted victims and addressing insecurity.

As of the time of filing this report, security personnel maintained their positions around key government facilities, while the demonstrators continued their protest under close surveillance.

Background

The protest comes amid growing public outrage over the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo and Borno states, and renewed concerns about insecurity in Nigerian schools.

The latest wave of anger followed the May 15, 2026, attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State — Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School — where armed men abducted dozens of pupils and teachers and killed a teacher during the operation.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, some dressed in military-style uniforms, before simultaneously invading the schools shortly after 9 a.m. They reportedly fired shots to disperse pupils and staff before rounding up victims and taking them away through nearby forest routes.

The Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde later confirmed that dozens of pupils and several teachers were abducted, while one teacher was killed. A viral video also showed another teacher beheaded by the kidnappers.

The attack sparked protests by parents, residents and civil society groups in Oyo State, particularly in Ibadan and Ogbomoso, where demonstrators demanded urgent government action to secure the release of the victims and improve security around schools.

It also prompted the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to direct teachers in Oyo State to withdraw their services. The union subsequently organised a nationwide solidarity protest across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on June 2.

Speaking during the protest in Abuja, the FCT Chairman of the NUT, Abdullahi Shafa, said the action was meant to express the union’s anger over the killing of a teacher and the abduction of pupils and staff.

He described the killing of the teacher as “touching, horrifying and devastating” and warned that such attacks were creating fear among teachers and threatening the country’s education system.

Umahi offers scholarship to Ebonyi UTME highest scorer

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Umahi offers scholarship to Ebonyi UTME highest scorer

MINISTER of Works, David Umahi, has offered a university scholarship to Victor Obasi, the Ebonyi State candidate with the highest score in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)

The offer is contained in a statement signed by Umahi’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, Francis Nwaze, and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki.
Umahi, according to the statement, made the offer after receiving news of the feat with Obasi being a pioneer student of the King David Gifted Academy, Abakaiki.
“This is a school Umahi inaugurated during his tenure as Ebonyi governor. The elated minister made the offer to glorify God for the child’s wonderful performance,” the statement read.

The minister, according to the statement, established the school with a vision of creating a one-stop destination for academic excellence.

“The school has since become a breeding ground for outstanding students and future leaders, attracting national recognition for impressive academic achievements.

“Obasi scored an impressive 356 mark thereby emerging the highest scorer from Ebonyi in the UTME. He thus placed himself among the nation’s brightest young minds,” the minister added.

The ICIR reported that Owoeye Jesudunsin, an Ekiti State indigene who sat for the examination in Ogun State, emerged as the overall top scorer in the 2026 UTME, scoring 372 marks.

The result was contained in a list of top-performing candidates announced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja in May.

The 16-year-old chose the University of Lagos (University of Lagos) to study Medicine and Surgery (MBBS).

She was among the 2,243,816 candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, representing a 10.5 per cent increase when compared with those who registered to write the examination in 2025.

Anambra introduces free hypertension screening in public health facilities

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Anambra introduces free hypertension screening in public health facilities
 THE Anambra State Government has commenced free hypertension screening services in all public health facilities across the state as part of efforts to strengthen preventive healthcare and promote early detection of non-communicable diseases.
The State Hospital Administrator, Dr Frank Ifeanaeme, disclosed this on Thursday while announcing a directive by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, mandating all government-owned hospitals and health centres to provide free blood pressure screening services.
According to Obidike, the initiative is aimed at improving public health outcomes through early detection and effective management of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases.
He said the programme would be available in all Primary Healthcare Centres,  Comprehensive Health Centres and General Hospitals across the state.
According to him, the initiative is to ensure residents have easy access to regular blood pressure checks and appropriate medical advice.
The commissioner described hypertension as a major public health challenge.
He noted that the condition is often referred to as a “silent killer” because it could develop without noticeable symptoms while increasing the risk of serious health complications.
He slso listed some of the complications associated with uncontrolled hypertension to include stroke, kidney failure, visual impairment, heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions.
Obidike said the initiative aligned with the healthcare agenda of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, which prioritised equitable access to quality healthcare services and the reduction of preventable illnesses among residents.
He said medical officers, Primary Healthcare Coordinators and heads of public health facilities had been directed to ensure full compliance with the ministry’s directive to guarantee the success of the programme.
The commissioner urged residents to take advantage of the free screening services by visiting the nearest public health facility to ascertain their blood pressure status.
He emphasised that early detection remained one of the most effective ways of preventing and managing hypertension-related complications.

Ten retired officers caught in Nigeria’s worsening insecurity

Mustapha USMAN  and  James EMMANUEL
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Ten retired officers caught in Nigeria’s worsening insecurity

THE abduction of former Director of Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar, a retired Major General, and his wife while travelling along Matazu Local Government Area, Katsina State, on May 30, has again drawn attention to the troubling trend of how retired military officers are increasingly becoming victims of the insecurity they once failed to contain. 

Abubakar’s abduction adds to the list of cases involving senior retired military officers who have either been abducted or killed by terrorists, bandits and other armed criminals across the country.

The ICIR reports that Nigeria’s insecurity crisis has continued to evolve over two decades. The crisis, which is mainly driven by the Boko Haram insurgency and armed banditry, has seen over 40,000 people killed since at least 2018.

Boko Haram, which emerged in the early 2000s, escalated into a violent insurgency around 2009, carrying out attacks on civilians, security forces, and public infrastructure across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. A splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has also remained active in the Lake Chad basin, repeatedly launching attacks on military formations and bases and government infrastructure.

In parallel, armed banditry has expanded across the northwest and parts of north-central Nigeria. Initially rooted in cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities, bandit groups have evolved into organised armed networks involved in mass kidnappings, village raids, highway ambushes and extortion through ransom payments. The expansion of these groups has significantly deepened insecurity in many Nigerian communities and along major transport routes.

Also posing decades of security challenges to the Nigerian state are the activities of ethnic militia groups in the Middle Belt, a melting flashpoint of communal and ethno-religious strife. These militia groups exploit local grievances to fuel mayhem, deepening long-standing ethno-religious conflicts.

A review of media reports shows that, over the past eight years, at least 10 retired senior military officers, including a former Chief of Defence Staff, major generals, brigadier generals, colonels and an air vice marshal, have either been abducted or killed in violent attacks linked to these broader insecurity dynamics. 

The incidents have occurred across several states, including Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau, Zamfara, Kogi and Imo, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

For many Nigerians, the development highlights not only the expansion of insecurity despite years of military operations but also the bitter irony that senior military officers, once tasked with addressing the menace, are now themselves its victims.  

Major General Idris Alkali

In September 2018, Idris Alkali, a retired Major General, was attacked while travelling through Plateau State. Alkali, a former Chief of Administration in the Army Headquarters, vanished around Dura-Du community in Jos South Local Government Area.

His disappearance triggered a massive military search operation.

Weeks later, soldiers recovered his remains from a well in Guchwet village of Shen district, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Investigations by the military alleged that he was attacked and killed by a mob while passing through the community. The irate youths had barricaded some roads during a protest when the General, who was travelling along the Jos road in his Toyota Corolla car, was attacked and killed by the youths.

Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh

On December 19, 2018, Alex Badeh, a retired Air Chief Marshal who served as Chief of Defence Staff between 2014 and 2015, was travelling from his farm in Nasarawa State when gunmen attacked his vehicle along the Abuja-Keffi Road. Badeh was shot dead, while his driver survived.

He was appointed Chief of Air Staff by former President Goodluck Jonathan in October 2012, and later became Chief of Defence Staff in April 2014.

At the time of his death, he was standing trial before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of diverting billions of naira meant for the procurement of weapons, a charge he consistently denied.

Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Maisaka

On November 9, 2021, Muhammad Maisaka, a retired Air Vice Marshal, and his grandson were killed when gunmen invaded his residence in Kaduna State.

According to reports, gunmen stormed Maisaka’s residence in the early hours of Tuesday, November 8, 2021. They shot him dead and injured his driver. The retired officer had been recovering from a medical condition that had left him paralysed for more than three years.

Colonel Rabi’u Garba Yandoto

Similarly, in January 2023, Rabi’u Garba Yandoto, a retired Colonel and two of his children were abducted by suspected terrorists along the Gusau-Tsafe road in Zamfara State.

The attack occurred in a region where armed groups had established extensive kidnapping networks and routinely targeted farmers, traditional rulers, civil servants and residents.

Yandoto was released after 10 days in captivity, amid reports that N10 million was paid to secure his freedom.

Briefing journalists in Gusau, Yandoto described his abduction as a “blessing,” saying it gave him direct contact with some bandit leaders declared wanted by the military, including individuals listed by the Chief of Defence Staff.

Major General Richard Duru

Richard C. Duru, another retired Major General, was abducted in Owerri, Imo State, in September 2023 after he was kidnapped along Bishops Court, Area 7, Orji/Uratta axis while driving in his black Mercedes-Benz.

He was later killed by his abductors despite a $50,000 ransom reportedly paid for his release.

According to police authorities in Imo State, the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit following intelligence-led operations and a tip-off. 

Brigadier General Uwem Udokwere

Perhaps one of the most alarming incidents occurred on June 23, 2024, when Uwem Harold Udokwere, a retired Brigadier General, was killed during an attack in his home, at Sunshine Estate, in Abuja. 

Gunmen reportedly invaded the estate, stabbed the retired general to death while he was trying to protect his family.

The incident generated widespread concern because it occurred in Nigeria’s capital city, where residents often assume there are higher levels of security compared with other parts of the country.

Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga

The abduction of Maharazu Tsiga, a retired Brigadier General, in February 2025 also attracted national attention.

Tsiga, a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, was kidnapped on February 5, 2025, in his hometown in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, alongside nine other residents. 

Although his family reportedly paid ransom to secure his release, the kidnappers initially continued to hold him for several weeks, with conflicting reports over the total amount demanded and paid.

He was eventually released in April 2025 after weeks in captivity.

Major Joe Ajayi

One of the most tragic cases involved Joe Ajayi, a retired Major.

Ajayi, aged 76, was abducted from his residence in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State on May 21, 2025.

His kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N50 million and later reduced their demand to N10 million. Despite the payment, Ajayi did not live. His abductors later directed the family to where his remains could be found.

His body was recovered and deposited at the Kabba Specialist Hospital mortuary.

Colonel Joseph Ajanaku

In January 2026, Joseph Ajanaku, a retired Colonel, was abducted in Plateau State. He was kidnapped in the early hours of the day at about 12:45 a.m. from his residence opposite the Salvation Army Church along Rukuba Road.

The abductors later contacted his wife and demanded a ransom of N200 million, while also threatening to kill him if military operations continued.

However, troops later switched to covert operations and rescued the retired officer at about 5:30 p.m. the same day at the outskirts of the Rafiki axis in Bassa LGA.

Rabe Abubakar: Former Defence Spokesman Kidnapped

The most recent case involved Rabe Abubakar, a retired Major General and former Director of Defence Information and one-time spokesman of the Armed Forces.

Abubakar and his wife were abducted while travelling towards Katsina on Saturday, May 30, 2026. Gunmen reportedly intercepted their vehicle in Matazu Local Government Area of the state and took them away.

According to the Katsina State Police Command, the attackers opened fire during the ambush, forcing the driver to escape with a gunshot injury.

The incident is particularly significant because Abubakar spent time serving as one of the public faces of Nigeria’s military during critical security operations. At the time of this report, he is still in captivity. 

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