Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has appealed to the people of Umuoba-Anam and Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State to immediately cease hostilities and embrace peace.
Obi, in a statement on Monday, said he was “deeply pained” by reports of renewed hostilities between the two neighbouring communities, warning that violence would only bring destruction and deepen the hardship already facing the people.
He said, “Hostilities of the kind we are witnessing between the two communities achieve nothing but destruction,” stressing that at a time when Nigerians were already finding it increasingly difficult to survive, “adding the devastation of conflict is like adding fuel to the fire.”
The former governor appealed to both communities to lay down their arms and seek a peaceful resolution to their differences, noting that no grievance, however serious, was worth the loss of lives, destruction of homes and livelihoods, or the suffering inflicted on families.
Obi urged the people to choose dialogue over violence, reconciliation over revenge and peace over destruction, maintaining that there was always a better way to resolve disagreements.
He also called on community leaders and other stakeholders to demonstrate wisdom and leadership in bringing an end to the crisis.
Emergency workers are being moved in to a site where a helicopter crashed at Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Report revealed that several people on board the helicopter are feared dead.
The incident occurred on Monday, throwing residents of the coastal community into panic as emergency responders and other relevant authorities moved to ascertain what happened.
As of the time of filing this report, the identity of the helicopter, the number of people on board and the fate of possible survivors have yet to be officially confirmed.
Sources said efforts were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash and establish the extent of casualties.
The crash reportedly occurred in the Igbokoda area, although details about the flight, including its destination and origin, remain unclear.
Residents and other witnesses were said to have gathered around the scene as authorities commenced efforts to secure the area and assess the situation.
Emergency agencies are expected to release further information on the incident, including details of the aircraft and confirmed casualties
The Ondo State Police Command, in a post, confirmed the reported crash in the Igbokoda axis of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday, 5th October 2026.
Details surrounding the incident are still emerging, as efforts to establish the full circumstances continue.
The Command urged members of the public, particularly residents of Igbokoda and adjoining communities, to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information.
The public will be duly informed as soon as further credible information becomes available.
Governor of Bauchi State and National Leader of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Bala Mohammed, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the policies have increased the resources available to states and created opportunities for improved infrastructure and service delivery.
Mohammed spoke on Monday when the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, paid him a courtesy visit in Bauchi.
The governor, who is a key figure in the APM and an ally of the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, said state governments would acknowledge positive developments rather than criticise the Federal Government for the sake of it.
“We don’t always oppose and criticise for the sake of criticising. When we see good things, we say it. The President has done so well in so many aspects, especially in the area of finance, because the states are getting more,” Mohammed said.
His comments come against the backdrop of his active role in the APM, having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the party in May and subsequently emerged as its National Leader. He is also contesting the Bauchi South Senatorial seat on the APM platform.
Mohammed has been a prominent supporter of Makinde’s presidential bid under the APM, with the Bauchi governor previously endorsing the Oyo State governor’s candidacy and publicly praising his economic vision and leadership record.
Against this political backdrop, Mohammed’s positive assessment of some aspects of Tinubu’s economic policies is notable, particularly as the APM prepares to challenge the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election.
The Bauchi governor also commended the Tinubu administration’s interventions in the health sector, particularly the establishment of modern diagnostic centres and other healthcare infrastructure across the country.
He further praised the President’s interventions in the security sector, especially the establishment of military battalions in Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa, saying the Federal Government’s response had helped restore peace and enabled displaced residents to return to their communities.
“We are ready to collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that at least we improve the quality of life of our people,” he said.
Ahead of 2027 general elections, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul Aziz Yari Abubakar, has urged northerners not to use the region’s population to alter the informal power-rotation arrangement in the country.
Yari made the call while speaking to journalists at Kano Government House after a meeting with the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
He stated that the North had occupied the presidency for several years, before power shifted to the South, stressing the need for Nigerians to understand and respect the political arrangement.
He recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, governed the country from 2015 to 2023 before Tinubu emerged as president in 2023.
“From 2015 to 2023, this country was led by a northerner, and now from 2023 to 2026 it is led by a southerner.”
He, therefore, appealed to northerners not to seek to overturn the zoning arrangement because of the region’s population.
“If we say we want to uproot the zoning arrangement because of our numbers, then my call for northerners is to understand how it works.
“I am calling on northerners to note that by the time Bola Ahmed Tinubu finishes in 2031, it will definitely come back to the North. So, this is how the arrangement is.”
Yari pointed out that the political arrangement was important for national unity and should be respected by all parts of the country.
He also urged Nigerians to work together to protect the country, regardless of their political or regional differences.
The APC chieftain acknowledged that Tinubu’s administration was not perfect, but said the challenges facing Nigeria could not all be blamed on the current government.
A combined team of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and the Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun, has foiled planned attacks on communities in South West, by suspected members of Islamic State West Africa Province, (ISWAP), following killing of the group’s leader.
A senior leader of ISWAP, Abdussamad Ohida, was shot dead by security agents in Ondo State.
Ohida, also known as Anwar, was reportedly killed alongside several other members of the terrorist group during an intelligence-led operation at their hideout in Owo forest, Ondo State, at the weekend, according to security sources.
The sources said the operation was launched after intelligence indicated that Ohida was planning major terrorist attacks in parts of southern Nigeria.
Ohida was said to have served as deputy to the former ISWAP Central Nigeria leader, Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, who was arrested by the DSS in 2023.
Following Ikrimah’s arrest, Ohida allegedly assumed control of ISWAP activities across parts of the North-Central and southern regions, where he reportedly played a major role in planning, coordinating and executing terrorist operations.
According to the sources, intelligence obtained during the interrogation of Abu Uwais helped the DSS uncover Ohida’s alleged plans to attack civilians during the forthcoming Yuletide celebrations.
“The plan was to attack civilians during the festive period and ultimately disrupt the 2027 general elections. This intelligence was corroborated by intelligence partners from the United Kingdom, who supported the elimination operation,” one of the sources said.
The source further attributed several past attacks to Ohida, including the December 31, 2025, invasion of the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, Ondo State.
The attackers reportedly carted away eight AK-47 rifles before destroying the police station with explosives.
Ohida was also allegedly linked to the July 28, 2022, attack on the Suleja–Zuba Road military checkpoint in Niger State, where several soldiers, officers and civilians were reportedly killed.
Other attacks attributed to him included the July 11, 2022, assault on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja; the April 23, 2022, attack on the Ogaminana Police Station in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, which reportedly left five police officers dead; and the February 7, 2022, attack on the Okene Area Command police station.
“The terrorist planned and executed the December 24, 2020, attack on a naval checkpoint in Okene, Kogi State, which resulted in the death of two naval officers, not to mention the several attacks he launched across parts of the country,” the source added.
Another security source said Ohida’s death could disrupt ISWAP’s leadership structure, operational network and expansion efforts in the central and southern parts of the country.
“Ohida’s elimination, coming a few months after the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki, is a very big blow to ISWAP’s efforts to expand its operational presence in Nigeria and underscores the growing efficiency of our security services,” the source added.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, will host a two-part stakeholder webinar on 6 and 8 October 2026 to showcase the ongoing automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry, as part of efforts to modernise ship registration services and enhance the competitiveness of the Nigerian flag.
The webinar will provide shipowners, operators, maritime professionals, financial institutions, insurers and other stakeholders with insights into the new digital registration platform and its potential to significantly improve the speed, transparency and efficiency of ship registration and related services.
The automated system is designed to enable 24/7 access to registration services, streamline application and approval processes, and facilitate faster issuance of electronic certificates, reducing administrative delays associated with conventional paper-based procedures.
A key feature of the platform is its capacity to provide secure and real-time tracking of ship mortgages and related registry transactions, strengthening transparency and providing greater visibility for stakeholders, including financial institutions and other parties involved in vessel financing.
The automation initiative is also expected to make interaction with the Nigerian Ship Registry more seamless for local and international shipowners, while improving the Agency’s ability to deliver efficient, responsive and globally competitive flag-state services.
Speaking on the initiative, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, said the automation of the Ship Registry is part of the Agency’s broader commitment to transforming the Nigerian flag and creating an enabling environment for increased participation in the global shipping industry.
He said, “The automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry represents a significant step in our commitment to providing efficient, transparent and globally competitive services to shipowners and other maritime stakeholders. Our objective is to make the Nigerian flag more accessible, responsive and attractive through technology-driven processes that meet international standards.”
The ongoing user-testing phase is focused on validating the platform’s functionality, security and user experience ahead of its official deployment.
NIMASA said the webinars will also provide an opportunity for stakeholders to understand the platform, experience its key features and provide feedback as the Agency moves towards full implementation.
The Benue State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed the death of more than 30 persons after a boat carrying mourners capsized at the Buruku crossing point.
The Agency confirmed the death toll in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to the statement, the wooden boat capsized on Saturday, while crossing the River Katsina-Ala with mourners returning from a burial.
The mourners, mostly from Mbayon in the Gboko council area, had crossed the river to attend the burial of a relative.
Buruku Local Government Chairman Raymond Zege revealed that the boat was carrying more than 70 passengers and over 30 motorcycles.
Zege said the boat’s engine developed a fault during the journey, causing panic before it capsized.
Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy Denis Iyaghigba said a strong water current swept the boat into an abandoned barge, causing it to overturn.
More than 60 passengers were rescued, according to local officials.
Search and rescue operations, involving local divers, are continuing to locate those still missing.
Iyaghigba suspended the Buruku branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers following the incident.
He also suspended the boat’s line operator and ordered the arrest and detention of the skipper.
An inter-ministerial committee has been constituted to investigate the causes of the accident.
Iyaghigba ordered strict compliance with mandatory life jacket use at all river crossing points in the state.
He gave the owner of the abandoned barge seven days to remove it or risk confiscation.
The Buruku crossing has recorded previous accidents, including a January 2026 capsizing in which six students were feared dead.
Spending four days in captivity, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State are still waiting for their rescue by security agents, just as their ransom demand has been reduced to N5 million per victim, from N50 million, amidst physical assault.
This is just as the Oyo State Government has disclosed that it is working closely with the Imo State Government and security agencies to secure the safe release of the victims.
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, stated that the state is sharing templates and experiences from previous kidnapping incidents to aid the ongoing bilateral discussions.
Oyelade emphasized that while delicate security measures cannot be fully disclosed, the primary focus remains on swift federal and state coordination to ensure the graduates’ safe return.
The development has heightened anxiety among families of the graduates, who were intercepted on October 1, 2026, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha while traveling from Ibadan to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The abductors had initially demanded N50 million for each of the victims, totaling N1 billion.
However, family members revealed that the captors slashed the demand as a payment deadline approached, even as they subjected the young graduates to severe beatings.
Alhaja Alimot Akande, whose 25-year-old sister Kehinde Akande is among the abducted graduates, described the situation as overwhelming and terrifying, noting that the captors had been beating the victims, including the female graduates, since Saturday.
Meanwhile, distressed parents have accused the transport operator, Eduak King Transport Company based in Samonda, Ibadan, of failing to assist them.
Mrs. Iyabo Akande, another parent, alleged that the company refused to release the passenger manifest or next-of-kin details when families visited the office to coordinate their efforts.
Parents expressed shock that the firm continued normal loading operations despite the tragedy, calling on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the transport company’s handling of the incident.
The incident has also drawn sharp condemnation from political figures. Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), described the abduction as a distressing indicator of worsening national insecurity.
Obi stressed that young Nigerians preparing to serve their country should not have to travel in fear, urging security agencies to immediately rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
Local leaders in the affected area have raised alarms over persistent security challenges along the highway.
Chief Charles Obialor, a community leader of the Azara-Obiator Autonomous Community, attributed the frequent attacks to vast stretches of undeveloped land and dense forests, such as the Alasieke Forest, which he suspects is being used as a hideout.
Obialor urged the government to clear the surrounding bushes and establish major development projects to increase security presence.
While official reports indicate that security forces previously rescued 10 victims and recovered the two intercepted buses, Obialor disputed these figures.
He claimed that 34 people were originally taken during the morning ambush, with only two escaping, suggesting that more victims may still be held captive than officially acknowledged.
Imo State Police Command has revealed that the bandits have planted mines around the victims which has impeded the rescue efforts.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has expressed concern over the use of group identities, weapons and political activities to cause unrest in Maiduguri, the state capital.
He said authorities would take action against individuals displaying signs associated with violence or claiming membership of groups considered problematic.
“But you put it in writing on the singlet. You wear a T-shirt showing a sign of arms and knives. You wear the singlet and move around claiming to belong to a particular group.”
The governor warned that failure to confront such activities could have serious consequences for Maiduguri.
“I swear, if we stand by and watch these things happen without taking actions. I swear, this town will not remain habitable if this continues. I am telling you.”
The governor spoke in an interview while addressing recent disturbances in the state, stressing that his administration would not allow activities capable of threatening the safety of residents to continue unchecked.
Zulum maintained that political considerations should not stop authorities from dealing with individuals suspected of involvement in violence or unrest.
He warned that anyone found engaging in activities capable of disrupting peace and security in the state will be arrested and detained.
Zulum issued the warning amid demonstrations by youths wearing T-shirts inscribed “ Tinubu Must Go.”
According to Zulum, some parts of the city has become difficult to access at night due to the activities of groups he described as problematic.
“You cannot enter some area around 11 o’clock. Those people, we will deal with all of them within ten minutes. But because there is no unity and cooperation.”
He also raised concerns about the effect of violence on residents, particularly women, saying people were being affected by the situation.
“We will see what happens in this town. We have seen people being destroyed, and we are witnessing these things, including women being affected, right before our eyes.
“People will be killed. But today, because of politics, someone will say, ‘Leave our boys alone,’ even when our own people are responsible for what is happening.”
He added that his administration would move against those responsible for incidents recorded in the state over the past five days.
“We will deal with those responsible for what has been happening here over the past five days.”
The governor further disclosed that some of the measures being considered would not necessarily be announced publicly beforehand.
Professor Babagana Zulum, Borno State governor
“That is why we will rise up and take action. There are measures we will take without necessarily announcing them to anyone. Anyone we catch will be arrested and detained.
“We will not tolerate anyone who wants to undermine peace in Borno. This is not about me personally. We will not allow anyone to instigate another conflict, attack others, or cause unrest.”
He also questioned what previous protests had achieved and urged those seeking political change or public office to pursue their interests through democratic processes.
“What was achieved through all these acts of protest that were done years ago?
“What has violence achieved? If you want to contest an election, go ahead. If you want to engage in politics, do politics, but.”
The warning comes days after five men were arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri in connection with T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.”
The suspects — Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed — were charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their bail application is expected to be ruled on October 6, while the substantive case has been adjourned to October 26.
The Nigerian Senate has forclosed any plan toalter the Electoral Act 2026, new amendment, it said, will be after the 2027 general election.
According tothe Upper Chamber of the Nigerian legislature, the Assemby has completed all the reforms fofthe next general election in the country, and would not embark on any amendment of the nation’s law in the preparation for the election net year.
Senate’s spoksperson Yemi Adaramodu made the assertion while speaking toThe Punch Newspaper amid agitation among not a few Nigerians that some alteration is necessary to make the 2027 free,fairand credible.
The agitation is not unconnected with the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the statutory and constitutional backing to regulate electoral processes and enforce guidelines such as party membership register submission.
The apex court ruling, which has sparked agitation among politicalparties in the country, the court said was to ensure that political parties conduct transparent primary elections among their mebers contesting election.
In spite of the restiveness among some political parties, Adaramodu said the Senate will not embark on any amendement until after the 2027 election, saying thw lawmakers have done what is necessary in the Electoral Act 2026 to makethe election credible.
He,however,urged Nigerians who have petitions over the issue tosubmit tothe National Assebly, which will later look into it.
Adaramodu: “We have already done the electoral reform and passed that one. It is meant for the 2027 elections. It is only after it that we can consider it for a review if there is any necessity or calls for amendments and rejigging. That’s when it can come up.
“Anybody who has any petition against it should submit to the Senate. But for us at the Senate and National Assembly, we have passed the Electoral Act into law. It has been assented to, and it is now in use.
“As you know, it is through the Electoral Act that parties produced the candidates who will contest in January and February. So, are you now going to shift the goalposts in the middle of the game? Are you going to play a football match in reverse? Do you tell them to walk backwards instead of running forward?
“How do you halt an Electoral Act that is already in use for a new one? We are not going to do that,” he said.
