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Ribadu To Gov. Fubara: “President Tinubu Is Happy With You”

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Nuhu Ribadu meet Fubara in Rivers State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

A couple of weeks after joining forces with the ruling party at the centre, the All Progressive Congress, APC , the National Security Adviser, NSA,  Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday, December 22, 2025, revealed that President Bola Tinubu is happy with the leadership style of  Rivers state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

 

Leading a Federal Government high-powered delegation on a trouble-shooting mission to the beleaguered Ogoni land, Ribadu, while on courtesy visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt, noted that the President specifically asked him to appreciate Governor Fubara over his pragmatic approach to governance.

 

According to the NSA, President Tinubu is very happy with the Governor’s leadership style, as well as his effective coordination of the peace initiatives in Ogoni land in preparation for the resumption of ful oil exploration activities.

 

The Source reports that the Federal Government delegation which includes the Director -General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Chukwuemeka Woke, Minister of Works Engr Dave Umahi ,his Environment counterpart, Balarabe Lawal, and others are in Rivers State to  hold high-level discussions with leaders of Ogoni land on ways to resolving perceived grievances of the people, including the vexatious and festering problem of Oil spillage.

 

Further speaking, Ribadu informed that the delegation is in the State primarily to consolidate ongoing peace efforts among all stakeholders in Ogoni land

 

According to him, a new chapter is in the offing, both in Ogoni land and the country at large, noting that the wind of transformation is now blowing across the otherwise neglected area.

 

This is as the NSA conveyed President Tinubu’s appreciation to the people of Ogoni land for their immeasurable patience understanding and support to his administration.

 

He assured that the present Federal Government is determined and committed to effect a paradigm shift in all issues bordering on the interests of the people of the oil-rich Ogoni land.

 

On his part, the Minister of Works, Umahi stated that as part of the efforts to carry the people along ,all sections of the East-West Road covering the Niger Delta region will be completed in less than no time.

 

In addition, he assured that other critical projects including the 15 kilometer Eleme axis of the East-West Road ,about five flyovers, which he estimated at over  N200 billion will be completed before the April 2026.

 

According to its itinerary, the Federal Government team ,which will also visit the sites of other critical national assets in Rivers state ,will specifically hold crucial round tables with the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, with a view to addressing environmental remediation, infrastructural development , security concerns and how to carry the people in future oil exploration activities.

Supremacy Battle: Alaafin Of Oyo Says Only Him Can Confer Yorubaland Chieftaincy Title

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Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo

By Akinwale Kasali

The Supremacy Batle between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adewusi Adeyeye, Ojaja 11, has taking another dimension. The Alaafin has categorically stated that he is the only traditional ruler with the authority to confer chieftaincy titles bearing the name “Yorubaland.”

The Monarch made the assertion at the Aganju Forecourt of the Oyo Palace during the installation of former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari, as Obaloyin of Yorubaland, and Seyi Tinubu as Okanlomo of Yorubaland.

The Monarch added that  Chieftaincy titles in Yoruba tradition is neither ornamental nor granted as a favour, but a serious responsibility rooted in history, authority and service.

According to him, the Oyo throne has historically functioned as a central coordinating authority for the Yoruba people, a role that was recognised during the colonial era and sustained in post-independence governance.

The Alaafin explained that titles carrying the name “Yorubaland” are collective in nature, representing the entire Yoruba nation rather than any single town or kingdom.

He, therefore, stated that any ‘Yorubaland’ title must be conferred by an authority whose jurisdiction historically spans the whole region.

The Alaafin noted that this position has been validated by colonial records, post-independence councils, scholarly works and judicial pronouncements, including decisions of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He further described the newly installed titles as positions of trust, Oba Owoade said they demand courage, loyalty and selfless service to the Yoruba people, adding that such honours are intended to strengthen unity and respect for tradition across Yorubaland.

He urged the new titleholders to discharge their duties with humility and ensure that their roles promote dignity, cohesion and the collective good of the Yoruba people.

He said, “We are gathered here today for a purpose that goes beyond celebration. We are here to witness history and to place responsibility where tradition has long placed it. Chieftaincy, in our culture, is not an act of favour. It is not decoration. It is a duty, conferred only when history, authority, and responsibility align.

“From the earliest organisation of the Yoruba people, authority was never vague. Our forebears understood structure. This understanding gave Yorubaland stability long before modern governance arrived.

“The throne of Oyo emerged in that history as a coordinating authority, by responsibility. When colonial administration came, it did not invent this reality; it encountered it and recorded it. By 1914, Oyo Province had become the largest province in Southern Nigeria, covering 14,381 square miles. It was bounded in the north by Ilorin and Kontagora, in the east by Ondo and Ijebu, in the south by Ijebu and Abeokuta, and in the west by French Dahomey. This reflected recognised leadership over a wide and diverse space.

“This history explains why certain chieftaincy titles are different in nature. Titles that bear the name ‘Yorubaland’ are not local titles. They are collective titles. They speak not for one town or one kingdom, but for the Yoruba people as a whole. Such titles must therefore proceed from an authority whose reach, by history and by law, extends across Yorubaland.

“Today, I do not speak to provoke debate. I speak to state order. Among the Yoruba, authority has never been a matter of assumption or convenience. It has always been a matter of history, structure, and law. Thrones were not created equal in function, even though all are sacred in dignity.

“From the earliest organisation of Yorubaland, the Alaafin of Oyo occupied a central and coordinating authority—an authority that extended beyond the walls of Oyo and into the collective political life of the Yoruba people. This was not self-declared. It was recognised, enforced, and sustained across generations. Colonial records acknowledged it. Post-independence councils preserved it. Scholars documented it.

“And finally, the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed it. The law is clear. History is settled. Chieftaincy titles that bear the name Yorubaland—titles whose meaning, influence, and obligation are not confined to a single town or kingdom—fall under a singular, established authority. That authority is the throne of Oyo”.

It would be recalled that the Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ife had a face off following the Conferment of Okanlomo of Yorubaland to Industrialist and Businessman, Dotun Sanusi.

This however led to brickbats with both Monarch issuing statements, prompting the Alaafin to give a Seven Days Ultimatum for the Ooni to revoke the Chieftaincy Title.

Harmonized Tax Law Bill In Circulation Is Fake – Oyedele

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Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee.

By Ayodele Oni

Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that members of the executive arm of government that were involved in the process of the tax reform are yet to have access to the certified harmonised version of the bills.

Oyedele declared on Channels Television morning brief on Monday that the tax law documents currently in circulation are fake.

The nation’s tax boss specifically said that the documents widely circulated on social media and reported by some media organisations do not represent the authentic versions of the tax laws.

Oyedele, who stated these while dismissing claims that there exit some discrepancies between the tax reform bills passed by the National Assembly and the ones gazetted, insisted that there was no official basis yet for comparing what was passed by the National Assembly with what was gazetted, saying that the harmonised bills was certified by the Clerk of the National Assembly.

According to him; “Before anyone can say that there is a difference between what was gazetted and what was passed, we have what has not been gazetted. We don’t have what was passed.

“The official harmonised bills certified by the clerk, which the National Assembly sent to the President, we don’t have a copy to compare. Only the lawmakers can say authoritatively what was sent.

“It should be the harmonised version certified by the clerk. Even I cannot say that I have it. I only have what was presented to Mr President to sign.

“What was in circulation and widely reported by a lot of media organisations is actually fake,” Oyedele insisted.

While addressing concerns over how such confusion could arise, Oyedele described the situation as a systemic and procedural problem as against pointing accusing fingers at any individual or institution.

In the words of Oyedele; “It’s a process and system issue that has to be addressed, and I don’t think it is about finger-pointing or looking for who to blame.

“If you think about the process today, there are a lot of stages with manual hands-on that anything can go wrong”.

Oyedele therefore warned against assumptions that the presence of top government officials at the signing of the bills guaranteed full scrutiny of the documents.

According to him; “Just because the President, the Speaker, the Senate President, and others were present when the law was signed does not mean you can read 400 pages on the spot and confirm everything was fine.”

Oyedele therefore urged the public to exercise patience and await the outcome of ongoing investigations into what may have gone wrong in the harmonization and gazetting process of the new tax laws.

Ogoni Oil Exploration: NSA Ribadu Leads FG  Delegation To Rivers State

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Nuhu Ribadu in Rivers State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Ahead of its plan to re-start oil exploration and other related activities in the troubled Ogoni land, a high-powered Federal Government delegation arrived  Rivers state on Monday December 22, 2025, on a trouble-shooting mission.

The high-profile delegation which comprises the National Security Adviser NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Works, Engr Dave Umahi, and his Environment counterpart, Balarabe Lawal, earlier on the day paid a courtesy visit to Governor Siminalayi Fubara after being received at the Port Harcourt Airport by several top Ogoni land stakeholders, including members of the Ogoni Mothers Union.

The Source reports that the efforts by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to recommence oil exploration activities in Ogoni after over two decades of lull have been met with stiff resistance by an overwhelming majority of the people who are insisting on certain conditionalities being met first .

Among the conditions set by the people are the establishment of a framework  on the clean-up of the Ogoni land which has been seriously affected by  past oil spill arising from exploration activities by multi-national companies,and firm agreement on how to ensure the inclusion, protection and promotion of the interests of the people in all future exploration activities.

Popular agitations against, and even violent confrontations with multi-national oil companies over alleged neglect of both the people and the environment were mainly at the root of the winding down of oil exploration in the area over 20 years ago.

The recent establishment of the University of Environmental Technology Ogoni ,and other emergency measures taken by the Federal Government ,have so failed to persuade the people,who are rather insisting on being part and parcel of any future exploration activities in their area.

The  NSA-led Federal Government delegation which  includes the Director-General DG of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Chukwuemeka Woke is expected to proceed to Ogoni land after meeting with Governor Fubara.

They are primarily in the State to, among other things, inspect some important sites of critical Oil facilities, as well as hold extensive deliberations with major stakeholders of Ogoni land.

The team will specifically meet with the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, with a view to resolving some gray areas including how to address environmental remediation, infrastructural development, security concerns, and how to carry the people along in future oil exploration activities.

Part of the itinerary of the delegation also include an inspection tour of ongoing Federal Government projects in the state including the East-West Road .

They will equally visit the Yorla Oilfield spill site in Kpean community, the University of Environmental Technology, Ogoni ,the Gokana Oil Facility, and Hospital in K-Dere, as well as the Industrial Park site, and Taabaa General Hospital.

PRP Calls For Impeachment Of President Tinubu Over Tax Law

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Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

By Ayodele Oni

More voices have continued to speak against the alleged alteration of the Tax Law after its passage by the national assembly.

The opposition Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) described the action by the executive arm of government as a grave violation of the Constitution and the principle of separation of powers.

It has therefore called on the National Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Bola Tinubu if he is found to have been involved in the alleged post-passage alteration of the tax laws.

National Chairman of the PRP, Falalu Bello, in a statement on Monday, pointed out that any alteration of a bill outside the legislative process amounts to executive misconduct and undermines parliamentary sovereignty.

The PRP warned that if evidence links President Tinubu to the alleged manipulation, the National Assembly must act without hesitation.

“In light of these grave developments, the PRP calls for a comprehensive and transparent investigation of these alterations and additions to the already passed Act of Parliament to identify and punish all those responsible for this egregious misconduct.

“We insist that those found culpable, regardless of their position, must be held accountable and face appropriate punishment for their fraudulent conduct.

“If evidence emerges implicating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in these illegal manipulations, the PRP calls for his impeachment without delay. No individual, including the President, should be above the law,” he said.

The party also demanded an immediate suspension of the implementation of the disputed tax laws pending a comprehensive and transparent investigation into how the discrepancies arose.

It called for an independent probe to identify those responsible for the alleged alterations and ensure they are held accountable in line with the law.

“This audacious act of executive dishonesty, characterized by the insertion, deletion, and modification of substantive provisions post-passage legislation, underscores a reckless disdain for the rule of law, separation of powers, and the constitutional order.

“It is an unforgivable breach of trust, a mockery of the Nigerian people, and an open assault on the integrity of our legislative process.”

Gunmen Attack Police Patrol Team In Ondo

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Police on Duty

By Ayodele Oni

Gunmen operating on a motorcycle have attacked a police checkpoint at Ipele Junction in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, leaving two police officers and a female civilian injured.

The incident occurred when operatives attached to the Safer Highway Patrol team were on routine duty at the checkpoint.

The State Police command explained that the attackers, numbering about three and riding on a motorcycle, suddenly arrived at the location and opened fire on the officers.

Two policemen were hit by gunshots during the assault, while a woman, identified simply as Taiwo, was hit by stray bullets.

Confirming the development in a statement, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jimoh Kazeem, stated that the officers were attacked in the course of performing their lawful responsibilities.

He explained that the patrol team responded swiftly, engaging the gunmen and forcing them to escape from the scene.

“All the injured victims were promptly taken to the hospital and are currently receiving medical care,” Kazeem stated.

The police spokesperson further disclosed that one of the suspects, identified as Nwabali, was apprehended at the scene, while the motorcycle used in the attack was also recovered.

According to him, the arrested suspect is currently in custody and has provided information that is proving useful in ongoing efforts to track down the fleeing accomplices.

Kazeem added that the suspect would be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Adebowale Lawal, condemned the attack, describing it as “tragic and condemnable.”

He commended the Safer Highway Patrol officers for their bravery and prompt response, noting that their actions helped avert loss of life.

CBN To Banks: Your ATMs Must Accept Foreign Cards

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The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has directed commercial banks in the country and other financial institutions, OFIs to configure their Automated Teller Machines, ATMs to accept international debit and credit cards. Such foreign cards, the apex bank said must have necessary certifications and conform with international best standards.

The Yemi Cardoso-led CBN issued the directive in a circular signed by Dr Rita Sike, Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department.

According to the apex bank, banks and non-bank acquirers must also ensure that they created a multi-factor authentication mechanism for foreign card transactions above   $200 per day, $500 per week and $1,000 per month, noting that banks must ensure compliance with approved cash withdrawal limits, regarding ATMs withdrawals.

Commercial banks and non-banking operators, the CBN siad, must also  communicate the applicable exchange rate, which shall be market-driven and based on the prevailing official rate, as well as other associated charges to users.

CBN noted that operators must ensure that card acceptance are equipped with contactless payment options for low-value transactions and that consumer complaints must be resolved within approved time limits.by

The apex bank said “banks and non-bank acquirers shall: implement multi-factor authentication for all withdrawals and online transactions exceeding $200 per day, $500 per week, and $1,000 per month (or its equivalent).”

“With respect to ATM cash withdrawal transactions, ensure compliance with approved cash withdrawal limits.

“Clearly communicate the applicable exchange rate, which shall be market-driven and based on the prevailing official rate, as well as other associated charges to users.

“Transactions should only be completed after the user has accepted the terms (with evidence obtained).

“Maintain sufficient liquidity position to settle transactions. Settle transactions for the merchant in local currency (naira).

“Implement transaction monitoring to detect unusual patterns in the use of foreign cards across all terminals.

“Strengthen know-your-customer and anti-money laundering controls for merchants handling foreign card payments.

“Require their merchants to ensure that all their copies of card-present transaction receipts are properly signed and to request for valid identity documents where a transaction appears suspicious.”

“Furthermore, acquirers shall implement and maintain robust, auditable chargeback management processes aligned with applicable card-scheme rules and CBN guidelines (including but not limited to timely case intake, evidence collation, refund execution, and post-incident analytics),” the statement said.

“Require, verify, and retain documentation (including terminal approval slip and signed merchant receipt, and item/service description) for card transactions for use in dispute resolution and chargebacks.

“The records shall be retained for a minimum of 12 months and be readily retrievable within 24 hours of request by the Acquirer or Scheme.

“Provide quarterly training to their merchants and agent networks on dispute handling and chargeback processes,” the apex bank noted in the circular.

Meanwhile, sources in the CBN informed the magazine on Monday that the directive is expected to take effect next year, as the banks are expected to put critical infrastructure in place to support the new regime.

Tinubu Made Buhari President, North Will Support Him in 2027- Yari

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Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu

Senator Abdul’aziz Yari has described the role played  by Bola Tinubu to the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 Presidential election as very critical, without which the late president would not have been victorious in the election.

Buhari contested against former Vice President Atiku Abubkar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP and won. The late president had previously contested, the election, four times and lost.

In 2011, after losing the presidential election against Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari had cried openly vowing never to run for election again.

But the tide turned positively  for him in 2015 after the former  Military dictator teamed up with Tinubu to form the All Progressives Congress, APC. He also went ahead to win a re-election in 2019, even though some political analysts said at the time that the alliance had suffered a hit.

Speaking on Sunday during his installation as Obaloyin of Yorubaland by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, the former Governor of Zamfara state said President Tinubu played a pivotal role in Buhari’s emergence as Nigeria’s leader in 2015.

According to yari, Tinubu had deployed his political machinery, war chest and influence, thereby delivering victory for Buhari, saying the dream of Buhari to become Nigeria’s persident would have been shattered without the former Lagos state governor solidly behind him.  .

He stressed that the North had returned the favour to Tinubu in 2023, saying the same gesture would be repeated in 2027, to ensure that Tinubu returned to office, expressing satisfaction with the administration since it came to office in 2023.

“President Tinubu fulfilled his promise to former President Buhari. He campaigned vigorously in 2019, and by God’s infinite mercy, Buhari won,” Yari stated.

“Some of us know that without President Tinubu’s plans, financial support and political strategy, the North’s dream of ruling through Buhari might not have been realised.

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“The dream of President Buhari to become president in 2015 was fully architected, designed and financed by Tinubu’

“Therefore, we in Northern Nigeria have no option but to follow and fully support him the first time and the second time, by the grace of God.”

Apart from Senator Yari, the Alaafin also installed Seyi Tinubu, the son of the president as Okanlomo of Yorubaland at the ceremony which took place in the Oyo Palace of the monarch.

Dangote To  Kaduna Businessman: Retract, Apologise Publicly Or Pay N100b

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Aliko Dangote and Kailani Mohammed
Aliko Dangote and Kailani Mohammed

By Adesina Soyooye

For allegedly defaming him, the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has threatened to slam a N100 billion law suit on a Kaduna based businessman Kailani Mohammed. As a prelude to that, Mohammed has been given a 7-day ultimatum to retract the libelous publication made against Dangote or face the lawsuit.

In a letter to the Mohammed, Dangote demanded an immediate public explanation, retraction and unreserved apology  for accusing him of engaging in an unclean business in  the 1980s in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Dangote’s letter, dated December 20, was served on the Kaduna based businessman by Dr Ogwu James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria of Onoja law firm in Abuja, who is Dangote’s lawyer.

In the letter, Dangote said that the Kaduna businessman has defamed him, lowered his reputation and tarnished his business engagements by  accusating him of engaging  in unclean business in Port Harcourt, and queried his source of wealth.

The remarks which angered Dangote were made by  Engr. Kailani Mohamed during an interview  on Wednesday December 17th, 2025 on TrustTV news when he  reacted to Dangote’s petition against Dr Farouk Ahmed which he submitted to the independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission ICPC.

The letter titled “Demand for public explanation, retraction and unreserved public apology on your libelous publication against Alhaji  Aliko Dangote, GCON” and signed by Dr. Ogwu James Onoja SAN, reads:1 “We are solicitors to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and we write pursuant to his express instructions regarding grievously libelous statements broadcast by TrustTV news and uttered by you during an interview aired on Wednesday, 17th December, 2025 in reaction to the petition submitted by our client to Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

“Our client is a widely reputable international businessman. He is the richest black man on earth and he has the largest business conglomerate in Africa.

“Our client, through dint of hard work, integrity, diligent and perseverance over the years earned for himself the reputation and honour he is reckoned with all over the world.

“Our client’s attention has been drawn to statements made by you during the televised broadcast on TrustTV on the aforementioned date in reaction to our client’s petition submitted to Independent Corrupt Practices and the other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and possibly prosecute Engr. Farouk Ahmad if found wanting, wherein you made false, reckless, malicious, scandalous and libelous publications concerning our client as a man that has monopolistic tendencies, corruptly enriched himself in business and engaged in economics cerbutach.

“Your statement also portrayed our client as a very cruel businessman whose stock in trade is vendetta and campaign of calumny to bring down others and exert monopolistic powers.

Among others you stated as follows: “Can Dangote tell us the source of his money in the 80s when he was in Port Harcourt. Who is clean? Every time you want to monopolize, you bring allegations against people. Let him come and prove it. In the 80s we are aware of what happened in Port Harcourt and how he got his money. Nobody came out and said all these things.

“These statements are false, scandalous and gravely deliberately impute unlawful or morally questionable conduct to our client and are calculated to expose him to public hatred, ridicule, suspicion and odium.

“By your reckless and unguarded defamatory statement and assertions, our client’s reputation has been greatly lowered in the sight of reasonable members of the International Community, including his business partners, associates and various governments of nations of the world where our client carries on business.

“Take Note that our client categorically states that at no time in his life has he carried out any business, commercial activity or wealth generating enterprise in Port Harcourt, whether in the 1980s or at any other period whatsoever as you alleged.

“Your assertion are therefore entirely fictitious, unfounded, malicious and without doubt, render you susceptible to both civil and criminal defematory action.

“In view of the gravity and depth of the allegations made by you against our client, you are hereby demanded to do the following within 7 days upon receipt of this letter:

“That you publicly explain on the same TrustTV platform and to the same audience, when, where and in what capacity our client was allegedly involved in any unclean activity or any activity whatsoever in Port Harcourt as claimed by you.

“That in the absence of verifiable facts capable of substantiating your assertions, you immediately and unequivocally retract the said statement in their entirety.

“That you issue a full, clear and unreserved public apology to our client which must be broadcast with equal prominence as your original publication.

“To pay our client the N100Bn only in damages for loss of reputation, character defamation and public redicule our client has been subjected to since the said statements were published.

“That you give a written undertaking to desist from making or publishing any further false or defamatory statements concerning our client.

“Be advised that allegations of this nature made without proof on a national media platform are indefensible in law and amount to a gross abuse of the right to freedom of expression which will culminate in both civil and criminal liability.

“Take further notice that should you fail to comply with the conditions stated above and within the time frame, our client shall, without further recourse to you, institute a legal action at a competent court of law against you and claim aggravated damages.

“This is without prejudice to our client’s right to make a formal report against you to the law enforcement agencies for your investigation and and prosecution for criminal defamation.”

There has been no reaction from Mohammed, so far.

All Abducted Niger State School Children Released

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The Released Niger State School Children
The Released Abducted Niger State School Children

By Adesina Soyooye

Good news came the way of  families of abducted pupils, students and teachers of St Mary’s Catholic Private School, Papari, Agwara Local Government Area with their release by terrorists.

315 of them, made up of 303 students and pupils and 12 teachers were abducted by the terrorists in the early hours of November 21 from their school in what went down as one of Nigeria’s worst mass kidnappings.

50 of them managed to escape same day of the abduction. On December 8, 100 of them were released in what Security Agencies described as a rescue exercise.

Since then, efforts intensified to get the remaining students and pupils released. Until Sunday, December 21.

The release has been confirmed by officials from the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu who coordinated the  efforts to get all the abducted released.

Recall that the Governor of Niger State, Umar Bago had said, initially, that the Catholic Church lied over the abduction; that the children and teachers ran into the Bush on hearing gun shots from the terrorists who then went away thereafter.