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Pope Francis is dead

Bankole ABE
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Pope Francis is dead

POPE Francis, aged 88, is dead.

The Vatican announced his passing Monday morning while the global Christian community continued the 2025 Easter celebration.

The Vatican’s Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced his death in a statement: “Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.

“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God.”

The statement said the pope died on Easter Monday at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.

Pope Francis, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936.

He hailed from a humble background and was renowned for his simple lifestyle.

He had advanced degrees in chemistry, philosophy, and theology. Before joining the church, he briefly worked in the food industry. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969.

Pope Francis was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires before being elected as the 266th Pope in 2013 at age 76.

He was the first Pope outside Europe in 1300 years.

He advocated for social justice and tolerance on issues like women’s rights, abortion, and LGBTQ+ rights.

He was celebrated for his humility and efforts to reform the Vatican bureaucracy and corruption.

Pope Francis led the Catholic Church for 12 years after the historic resignation of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.

He spent a large part of 2025 in the hospital, treating an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs.

Pope Francis was hospitalised with a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia, which affects both lungs and can make breathing difficult.

He later recovered to the extent where he was able to appear in front of crowds in St Peter’s Square for Easter Sunday, where he met with US Vice President Vance.

Pope Francis became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was appointed to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in 2001.

His eventual election as pope was heralded later that year when he stepped in as the general rapporteur of the Synod of Bishops that year when Cardinal Edward Egan was called back to New York after the 9/11 attacks.

 

 

Power, politics, and polls: Inside Nigeria’s troubled local government elections

Bankole ABE
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Power, politics, and polls: Inside Nigeria’s troubled local government elections

LOCAL government areas are the closest to the grassroot in Nigeria. They allow communities to have a say in how they are governed, ensuring their needs are met through effective representation.

This, in return, can lead to inclusive governance, where citizens actively participate in decision-making processes, fostering robust governance at the local governments.

However, despite their importance in Nigeria, elections into offices at that level of governance are always marred by controversies. Elections always face significant hurdles, hindering free, fair, and transparent processes.

These challenges impede the effectiveness of smooth administration, which are crucial for grassroots political participation and socialisation at the local level.

The seemingly improper conduct of LG elections in Nigeria has sparked calls for constitutional reforms to strengthen local government autonomy and ensure free and fair elections.

Lawmaker frowns at the conduct of LG elections across Nigeria.

In December 2024, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, criticised the conduct of local government elections across Nigeria, describing it as “disgraceful” and a caricature of democratic regulations.

Abbas shared these concerns at the National Dialogue on Local Government and Constitution Amendment in Abuja.

 He emphasised the importance of local governments in providing essential services and giving citizens a voice and while pointing out the lack of competitiveness in local elections.

Abbas criticised the excessive control of local governments by state governments and political godfathers, arguing it undermines their autonomy.

He welcomed a recent Supreme Court judgment requiring council elections and direct funding, saying it was a step toward stronger local governance. The speaker also called for reviewing State Independent Electoral Commissions’ roles, citing accusations of bias toward ruling parties.

AGF wants INEC to conduct LG elections

In May 2024, Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, recommended transferring SIEC powers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), hoping it might be necessary to restore credibility to local government polls. 

Fagbemi proposed that State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) should be scrapped. 

Fagbemi spoke at a one-day discourse with the theme: ‘Nigeria’s Security Challenges and Good Governance at The Local Government Levels’ organised by the House of Representatives.

While criticising governors for exploiting weaknesses in the 1999 constitution and rendering local governments ineffective, AGF highlighted how governors manipulate SIECs to impose leaders on local governments through sham elections.

According to him, governors either conduct sham elections or appoint caretaker leaders, which deprives local communities of effective representation.

Supreme Court landmark ruling in favour of LG autonomy

The ICIR reports that the federal government had dragged the 36 state governors before the Supreme Court over the age-long debate of full autonomy for local governments.

In its ruling on Thursday, July 11, 2024, the apex court said it is unconstitutional for governors to hold council funds. The apex court thereby granted the nation’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) financial autonomy.

The judgement, read by Justice of the Supreme Court Emmanuel Agim, held that funds meant for LGAs be paid directly into their accounts.

The court also ruled that it was unconstitutional for the state governments to hold on to or manage such allocations and directed the 774 LGAs to commence managing their funds.

Calls for local government autonomy in Nigeria have increased in recent years, as interference by the state has been identified as a reason for its underperformance.

Recent controversial council polls in Nigeria

In the Southwest state of Osun, the recently concluded local government election raised dust.

The issue escalated when the AGF and Minister of Justice, Fagbemi, warned the state Governor, Ademola Adeleke, against proceeding with the Saturday, February 21, local government election in the state.

The AGF told Adeleke to direct the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to suspend the election. 

In a statement signed by the AGF on Thursday, February 20, he warned that conducting a new local government poll would be invalid and unconstitutional.

Fagbemi said the crisis in Osun State erupted when some disgruntled elements resisted the attempt by the officials to resume their positions.

However, despite the AGF’s warning, Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Friday, February 21, vowed that nothing would stop the process.

According to Adeleke, Osun voters were prepared to exercise their voting rights, even as he expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation by the electoral body.

Adeleke went on to conduct the election and inaugurated the newly elected chairpersons and councillors in the state capital on Sunday, February 23.

He charged the officials to prioritise good governance while cautioning against seizing council secretariats in the state by force.

Reacting, the director of media of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Kola Olabisi, alleged that the election results were manufactured.

Olabisi, during an interview with the PUNCH, said OSSIEC had made the state an object of ridicule.

The ICIR reported that seven people reportedly died during the period as APC supporters and those of the PDP clashed in the state on Monday, February 17. The crisis also led to the death of a former chairman of the Irewole Local Government Area, Aderemi Abbas, and others.

In Kano State, Northwest Nigeria, a Federal High Court sacked the chairman and members of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) a few days before the conduct of local government election.

The court, in its ruling, delivered by Simon Amobede, stated that the KANSIEC chairman, Sani Lawan Malumfashi, a professor, and other members were card-carrying members of the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the state.

The court gave the ruling on Tuesday, October 22, while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Aminu Aliyu Tiga of the APC against KANSIEC, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi, and 14 others.

After the court ruling, a few days before the local government election, the state government boasted that it would proceed with the exercise scheduled for Saturday, October 26.

The Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, in a statement, said he was ready to swear in those declared winners by the electoral body.

The ICIR reports that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), won all the 44 council areas of Kano State.

Elsewhere in Rivers State, tension intensified when the Nigerian Police Force said it would not provide security for local council elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5, in the state.

The State Police command announced its withdrawal from the exercise in a statement posted on its Facebook page and shared on its X handle on Friday, October 4. 

This followed a series of court rulings that raised concerns regarding the legality of the electoral process. 

The ICIR also reported how an explosion rocked the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt just hours before the election.   

The poll became a major issue of national concern, particularly as it deepened the feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The ICIR reports that on September 30, a Federal High Court in Abuja upheld a July 19 ruling that barred the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from participating in the local government election. 

However, on Wednesday, October 2, Fubara declared that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) would proceed with the poll.

He further called on security agents to ensure the exercise was free, fair and credible, as he restricted human and vehicular movements on election day from midnight on Friday to 5 pm on Saturday.

The decision, however, sparked protests from supporters of PDP and those of the APC, who had vowed to boycott the election due to the legal fireworks trailing it.

The ICIR reported that tensions reached a boiling point on October 3, as a large group of PDP members stormed the party’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, voicing their opposition to the planned conduct of the election by RSIEC. 

During the period, Governor Fubara led a delegation to the RSIEC office in the early hours of Friday, October 4, following claims that armed policemen from neighbouring Abia State attempted to infiltrate the facility to seize sensitive electoral materials.

It was reported that police officers led by a deputy commissioner of police (operations) at the Rivers State command had moved to RSIEC at about 1.00 am on Friday.

The ICIR reported that the African People’s Party (APP) won 22 out of the 23 chairmanship seats in the poll, with the Action Alliance (AA) claiming one.

But the Supreme Court, in a ruling on February 28, 2025, sacked all the local government chairpersons that were elected.

In its judgment, delivered by Jamilu Tukur, the Supreme Court declared the election conducted by RSIEC invalid.

The court declared that the election grossly violated the Electoral Act.

Lawyers react to controversial LG elections in Nigeria

Some lawyers who spoke to The ICIR said local government elections are usually controversial because of power tussles among various political interests in a state.

Monday Marvellous, a barrister, while commenting on the matter, stated that local elections are often marred by controversy because of power struggles, stressing that the absence of the rule of law always fuelled controversies.

“Most times it is a power to tussle political actors and interests and refusal to allow the rule of law to take its course,” Marvellous stated.

On what can be done to have a credible LG election, Marvellous said institutions need to become answerable to the constitution and Nigeria rather than to any politician or political interest.

Another lawyer, Moshood Ibrahim, said the reason why local government elections are always controversial in Nigeria is because they are still democratically immature.

“Also, our governors have too much power with the type of federalism we practice in Nigeria,” he added.

Ibrahim recommended that the local government election should be removed from State Electoral commissions that are being controlled by governors.

“We should have another electoral umpire that conducts local government elections across the federation. I’m aware there is a bill to that effect at the Senate, and I hope the bill will be passed into law,” he stated.

Rigging 2027 election will have serious consequences on Nigeria – Baba-Ahmed

Mustapha USMAN
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Rigging 2027 election will have serious consequences on Nigeria – Baba-Ahmed

FORMER Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has warned that any attempt to rig the 2027 general election would have devastating consequences on Nigeria.

Daily Nigerian reported on Sunday, April 20, that Baba-Ahmed said the future of Nigeria would be determined by credible elections and that the North would not remain silent in the face of manipulation or marginalisation. 

“If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria. The North is watching. Elders, masses, and interest groups will soon say, ‘enough is enough.’ The injustice and sidelining must stop,” he said.

According to him, no politician can win the presidency in 2027 without the backing of the North.

Baba-Ahmed, who reportedly resigned his position on April 4, expressed deep concern over the political direction of the country. He alleged alienation of northern Nigeria in national affairs. 

“In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support,” he said.

His exit from Tinubu’s reportedly followed a series of public disagreements, including a confrontation with Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, who had accused the Northern Elders Forum of undermining the government.

In his latest outburst – the first since he quit the Tinubu government – Baba-Ahmed said northerners had endured hardship for too long and must begin to demand better leadership.

“We want a government that understands our problems and can address them. After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now, we are in another government, and we are still crying. Is crying all we know how to do?” Baba-Ahmed said.

He added that “Before Buhari became president, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That was a time northerners had to unite. Today, no politician can just show up and expect northerners to fall in line. Who are you?” 

He also warned against politicians using religion and ethnicity to deceive voters, insisting that the North had learned hard lessons and is now focused on competence and character.

He said the North must make a conscious decision to shift away from identity politics and instead rally around leadership that delivers results.

“We are tired of being deceived into voting based on religion or ethnicity. That era is over. We just want a right leader. Let him fall from heaven, we just want someone who will solve our problems,” he added.

Baba-Ahmed’s warning came at a time of heightened political tension and economic hardship, as the Tinubu administration faces criticism over his economic policies, inflation, the cost-of-living crisis and persistent insecurity in Nigeria.

His warning was also on the heels of political manoeuvrings, as key power players are repositioning for 2027. 

The ICIR reports that former vice president and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, recently confirmed a new coalition to square up against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 poll.

There are indications that Tinubu may seek a second term, just as the former vice president could be throwing his hat into the ring for the seventh time since he began his bid for the presidency in 1992.

NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books

Bankole ABE
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NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of cocaine concealed in 20 sets of religious books heading to Saudi Arabia.

The agency, in a statement on Sunday, April 20, by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the consignment, consisting of 20 parcels with a total weight of 500 grammes, was buried in the pages of the religious books.

He said the drugs were uncovered at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, April 15, when NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) were searching through export cargos going to Saudi Arabia at the logistics firm.

It added that at another courier company, same day, NDLEA officers intercepted five parcels of loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 2.8 kilogrammes, hidden in a carton coming from the United States.

In Kano, a 22-year-old alleged supplier of illicit substances to bandits, Muhammad Mohammed, was arrested by the NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bichi-Kano road while heading to Katsina with 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection tied to his thigh and private part with sellotape.

He was intercepted on Sunday, April 13, while another suspect, Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, 43, was nabbed same day at Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa, Kano, with 68 blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 30kg.

In another development, the agency said not less than 557.2kg of skunk, 5.6kg of methamphetamine and 29.8 grammes of heroin were recovered from a house along Major General Isaiah Alllison Street, Opolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where four suspects were arrested when NDLEA operatives raided the premises on Wednesday, April 16.

The four suspects arrested during the raid include: Sarimiye Suwa Kurtis, 46; Roland Prosper, 34; Sarimiye Tare Paul, 45; and Fidelis Ugbesla, 46.

In Kebbi, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bagudo road on Friday, April 18, intercepted a vehicle loaded with bags of charcoal coming from Malabil, Benin Republic.

Is the Minister right about 150 million Nigerians having access to electricity? We Checked!

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Is the Minister right about 150 million Nigerians having access to electricity? We Checked!

THE Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has said that approximately 150 million Nigerians now have access to electricity.

Adelabu made this known on Thursday, April 17, during the 2025 Ministerial Sectoral Update Conference held in Abuja, where he spoke alongside the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi, and other key stakeholders.

“As it is today, Nigeria—a country with about 240 million people—has access for 150 million people already, while about 80 million lack access to adequate electricity in Nigeria.

“The real challenge lies in the stability and affordability of electricity. That’s how we measure reliability. We must ensure that those who have access enjoy consistent and affordable power,” he said.

The claim went viral online with many wondering over the accuracy of the claim due to challenge with access to electricity in Nigeria. This prompted The FactCheckHub to examine the claim.

CLAIM

150 million Nigerians have access to electricity.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is TRUE.

According to the Electricity 2025 report  by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Nigeria’s electricity access has grown significantly in recent years, reaching approximately 70 per cent of the population by the end of 2023. With the country’s population estimated at 230 million then, this implies that about 161 million Nigerians have access to electricity.

“An estimated 70 per cent of Nigerians had access to electricity in 2023, up from 50 per cent a decade ago…Electricity demand declined by around 6 per cent in 2024, but we forecast that it will increase on average by more than 5 per annually between 2025 and 2027,” the report stated.

The report highlights key dynamics that are reshaping the country’s power landscape, including persistent gas supply challenges and the rising contribution of renewables. It also outlines how new policies and infrastructure investments are influencing electricity generation, distribution, and access across the country.

Similarly, the Energy Progress Report, which tracks progress on the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), indicates that 61 per cent of Nigeria’s 218 million people had electricity access as of 2022, amounting to about 133 million people. Additionally, World Bank data for 2023 shows that 61 per cent of 227.9 million Nigerians around 139 million people had access to electricity.

These estimates show a consistent upward trend in electrification across the country, driven by policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, and increased deployment of off-grid renewable solutions such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, particularly in rural areas.

VERDICT

The claim by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, that 150 million Nigerians now have access to electricity is TRUE, based on corroborating data from the IEA’s Electricity 2025 report, the World Bank, and the Energy Progress Report. Though estimates vary slightly, they all support the minister’s claim as being within a plausible range.

This report is republished from the Factcheckhub.

Photo does not show Kwankwaso wearing Tinubu’s ‘trademark’ cap

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Photo does not show Kwankwaso wearing Tinubu’s ‘trademark’ cap

AN image showing the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, wearing a cap with an insignia associated with President Bola Tinubu, is circulating online.

The image is being shared alongside claims that Kwankwaso has defected from the NNPP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The viral claim emerged amid growing speculations over Kwankwaso’s political future following a leadership crisis within the NNPP.

Several users on X and Facebook shared the image suggesting Kwankwaso’s public alignment with President Tinubu.

An X user, @Onsogbu, posted the image with the caption:

“Kwankansiya now with Tinubu’s unbroken chain cap. Welcome Home sir! Life is simple.”

The post has garnered over 100 reposts and more than 700 likes as of April 16, 2025.

Similarly, a Facebook user, AMN, posted the picture with the caption:

“Kwankwaso Dumps NNPP to APC as he replaces Kwakwasiya Cap with Tinubu Cap.”

The image has been circulated widely across different platforms, such as here and here.

CLAIM

A photo shows Rabiu Kwankwaso recently wearing a cap bearing Tinubu’s ‘trademark’, indicating his defection to APC.

Photo: screenshot of the X post retrieved online inserted MISLEADING VERDICT

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING and false.

Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is also a former governor of Kano State is widely recognised for his signature red cap, a symbol of the Kwankwasiyya movement. The red cap has become a strong identity marker for his followers and is consistently worn by Kwankwaso at public events and political gatherings.

On the other hand, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is known for his trademark cap featuring the “broken chain” or “infinity” insignia. His supporters often adorn caps with this distinctive symbol as a show of loyalty.

Recently, there have been persistent rumours that Kwankwaso is considering defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) amid a leadership crisis within the NNPP. These speculations have fuelled the spread of misleading content online.

The FactCheckHub subjected keyframes from the viral image to a Google Reverse Image Search. Results show that the original version of the photo was first published on the official Facebook page of the NNPP on November 8, 2022.

Screenshot of NNPP’s post in 2022

The original picture was taken at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu State when Kwankwaso was received by party supporters.

In the authentic image, Kwankwaso was wearing the signature red cap of the Kwankwasiyya movement, not a cap bearing Tinubu’s insignia.

This indicates that the viral picture was digitally manipulated to create the false impression that Kwankwaso was wearing a Tinubu-branded cap.

As of the time of filing this fact check, there is no credible media report or official statement from Kwankwaso or his team suggesting that he has detected to APC.

THE VERDICT

The claim that Rabiu Kwankwaso wore a cap bearing President Bola Tinubu’s insignia and defected to APC is MISLEADING and false; the image was digitally altered.

This report is republished from the Factheckhub.

Tunde Onakoya sets new GWR with 64-hour chess marathon in New York

Mustapha USMAN
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Tunde Onakoya sets new GWR with 64-hour chess marathon in New York

NIGERIAN chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has officially set a new Guinness World Record after completing a 64-hour chess marathon at Times Square in New York City.

The confirmation, announced via his Chess in Slums Africa’s X handle on Sunday, April 20, came after Onakoya’s marathon chess session, which began at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday, April 17, and concluded around 11 am on Sunday, April 20.

The feat, achieved alongside US chess master Shawn Martinez, surpasses the previous world record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds set by the Norwegian pair Odin Blikra Vea and Askild Bryn in June 2024.

In a now-viral video and picture, a GWR official presents the award for the Nigerian chess master’s new 64-hour record.

This is Onakoya’s second major attempt at the record. In April 2024, he completed a 60-hour session, overtaking the previous 56-hour record set in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018.

However, his success was short-lived, as the Norwegian pair beat his record barely two months later. 

Addressing the public before the marathon, Onakoya explained that his goal was beyond setting a world record.

“There is a new world record for 61 hours set by two Norwegian players. On the 17th of April, we will attempt to break that record and set a new one for 70 hours.

“My dream is to inspire the world and raise support to build the biggest free school for homeless children in Nigeria,” he wrote.

Through his Chess in Slums Africa initiative, Onakoya has used the game as a tool to empower vulnerable children living in impoverished communities. 

Over the years, he has organised chess training sessions in some of Nigeria’s most underprivileged areas, including the slums of Makoko, where children with little or no access to formal education are taught how to play chess alongside literacy and numeracy skills. 

Some of the children mentored through the initiative have gone on to win local and international chess tournaments, receive scholarships, and earn media attention for their remarkable turnarounds.

Kidnapper of Rivers 12-year-old girl not in our custody – Correctional Service

Bankole ABE
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Kidnapper of Rivers 12-year-old girl not in our custody – Correctional Service

THE Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) has denied that the kidnapper of a 12-year-old girl in Rivers State known as Chiboy has been traced to Enugu Prison.

The Correctional Service in a statement on Sunday, April 20, by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Umar Abubakar, a deputy controller of corrections, said the attention of the NCS was drawn to an online publication alleging its complicity in the kidnap of a 12-year-old girl in Rivers State.

The NCS statement followed a report that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had tracked a prime suspect, known as Chiboy, to the Enugu Correctional facility, in connection with the August 7, 2024, kidnapping of 12-year-old child Favour Oluwaseyi in Obio/Akpor Local Government area of Rivers State.

The suspect was allegedly linked to the crime through a phone number used to call the victim’s mother and an account number used to receive a ransom of N100,000.

The Service described the publication as false, malicious and a figment of the writer’s imagination, aimed at misleading the public.

According to the NCS, available records show that the Enugu State Command has no inmate in any of its facilities bearing ‘Chiboy.’

“Nigerian Correctional Service categorically states that it is not aware of any kidnap in Rivers State or any other Command as alleged both in the press statement and the viral video nor was there any time an investigative agency tracked any kidnapper to any facility in Enugu or Delta State Commands.

“Therefore, the Service is not in the position to confirm payment of ransom or whatsoever transaction as alleged in the fictitious report and video,” the Service stated.

The NCS added that it had no role in the said kidnap story, and as a security organisation, it was not operating in isolation; but with sister agencies to ensure adequate security.

The Service said it would never turn down requests for investigation activities from sister agencies.

Benue killings: Gov. Alia confirms 56 deaths 2 days after police put toll at 17

Mustapha USMAN
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Benue killings: Gov. Alia confirms 56 deaths 2 days after police put toll at 17

THE death toll from attacks on communities in Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State has surged to 56, two days after the police reported 17 fatalities.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, during a visit to the affected areas on Saturday, April 19, said 27 people were killed in Logo and 28 in Ukum, bringing the total to 55. 

He noted that some families had already buried their dead with the assistance of security operatives, which might be responsible for the discrepancy in earlier figure from the police.

“Since these attacks started, we have recovered corpses. As of Friday, we received some and the death toll rose to 27 in Logo. In Ukum, security operatives have recovered over 28 corpses,” he said.

Also,  in a statement on his X handle on Sunday, April 20, the governor said the toll had risen to 56 from “senseless and barbaric attacks.”

The new figure contradicts the earlier report by the Benue State Police Command, which on Friday, April 18, confirmed 17 deaths from the attacks on the two LGAs. 

The police had said that five people were killed in Gbagir community in Ukum and 12 in Logo during a simultaneous onslaught by suspected militias.

Police spokesperson in the state, Sewuese Anene, said the attack followed intelligence of an impending raid, prompting the Commissioner of Police to deploy tactical teams to the Sankera axis. 

Despite the intervention, several people were killed before security arrived.

While conducting an assessment of the communities on Saturday, Governor Alia described the situation as “a real war,” stating that no one could afford to sleep with both eyes closed.

He said, “There is no room for anyone to sleep with their two eyes closed. This is real war. We know our enemies. This is the only state that we have. I mourn with you at this very pathetic and sad moment in your lives.”

Alia appealed to the Federal Government for urgent support to halt the violence and prevent further displacement of residents, many of whom are now taking refuge in camps in Zaki-Biam and Ugba.

He also urged residents not to take the law into their hands, stressing the need for calm and lawful conduct even in the face of repeated attacks. 

“I have called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and take decisive action to put an end to these attacks. Our people deserve to live in peace, farm in peace, and raise their families without fear.

“I met with local leaders, community members, and victims. I heard your pain. I saw your strength. And I assure you, you are not alone. We will not abandon you. We are already reinforcing security in the Sankera axis and other parts of Benue, and emergency relief is being extended to affected areas.

“I strongly urge our people to remain calm and not take laws into their own hands. The path to peace is hard, but it is the only way forward,” the statement added.

The ICIR reported how gunmen attacked Gbagir community, Ukum LGA of the state. The assault occurred on Thursday in the Sankera axis of the LGA and simultaneously in neighbouring Logo LGA.

The renewed attacks in Sankera came barely 48 hours after suspected herders launched brutal attacks on three communities—Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju—in Otukpo LGA, southern Benue.

The onslaught also followed the killing of 11 persons at Otobi community in the same local government area the previous night.

According to Channels Television, the Otukpo LGA Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attacks, noting that the invaders struck while police officers were still at the palace of the Ochidoma, addressing the previous day’s massacre.

Easter: Fubara urges reconciliation, support for Tinubu’s administration

Mustapha USMAN
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Easter: Fubara urges reconciliation, support for Tinubu’s administration

The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has called on residents of the state to continue to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

In his Easter message, titled ‘Renewed By The Resurrection: Advancing Peace, Unity and Good Governance’, on Saturday, April 19, Fubara called for peace and unity in the state.

“As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, this Easter, I bring you warm greetings and heartfelt felicitations.

“Easter is a sacred season of reconciliation and unity. It is a time when the peace of Christ dwells richly in our hearts, restoring relationships, comforting the afflicted, feeding the hungry, and healing the brokenhearted.

“It is a time to reaffirm our shared belief that peace shall overcome war, and that even shattered dreams can find new life in the light of the resurrection,” he said.

The embattled governor also reiterated his commitment towards good governance.

“This season renews our confidence that nothing — neither hardship, nor adversity, nor even death — can separate us from the love of God in Christ. In Him, we remain victorious.

“I reiterate my unwavering commitment to delivering good governance to the resilient and dignified people of Rivers State,” he stated.

Fubara further called on Rivers people “to continue to support and align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of our dear President, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, while looking forward to a better tomorrow.

“Let us not lose sight of our collective strength. The transformation we all desire is achievable when we act together as one people under God, committed to peace, unity, and progress,” he added. 

Tinubu had on Tuesday, March 18, suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly while declaring a state of emergency in the state.

He blamed the governor and his predecessor – the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike – for allowing the political crisis in the state, which led to the emergency rule, to escalate.

He particularly criticised Fubara for failing to take action after an oil facility was blown up in the state a day before the declaration.

The president appointed Ibok Ekwe Ibas, a retired rear admiral, as the state administrator.

“I have watched with concern the development with hope that the parties involved will allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burns out without any solution to the crisis.

.“With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive,” said the president.

He explained that as a result of the crisis, the people of the state had been unable to access the dividends of democracy.

He also accused Fubara of demolishing the state House of Assembly Complex as far back as December 2023 without rebuilding it since then.

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