Atiku Mourns, Says Murder Of Borno 65 Is Senseless, Urges Concerted Efforts

By

-

September 7, 2025

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday September 7, 2025, described as senseless and dastardly ,the gruesome attacks on Daral-Jamal community ,Bama/Banki Road close to the dreaded Sambisa Forest that left as many as 63 persons dead , including five soldiers.

The Source reports that the night-time attack carried out by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on the resettlement enclave on Friday September 5, also, resulted in many homes razed, with several people believed to have been displaced.

Eye witness accounts informed that the attack occurred at about 8.30.pm on Friday, with several armed insurgents shooting sporadically and razing homes and other structures.

No fewer than 20 houses and over 10 vehicles were burnt down during the attack

The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, on a visit to the beleaguered community on Saturday, September 6, sympathized with the survivors and relations of the victims.

In a statement on his official site Sunday, the former Vice President, while sympathizing with the relations of the victims, the Daral-Jamal community, and the entire people of Borno state, also called for end to the orgy of blood- letting in the country.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic killing of scores of people, including gallant soldiers, in the recent Boko Haram attack on Daral-Jamal Borno state.

“This senseless violence is a painful reminder of the heavy price our people continue to pay in the face of terror.

“My heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved families, the resilient people of Borno State and Governor Zulum whose swift compassion in visiting the affected community is commendable.

“May the Almighty Allah grant the departed Al-Jannah Firdaus and comfort their loved ones .

“As a Nation, we must confront this menace with unity and renewed resolve. The sacrifices of our soldiers and civilians must inspire stronger community security, deeper collaboration, and unwavering commitment to peaceh”, Atiku Abubakar wrote on his official site,

UN Outraged Over Borno Killings, Wants Perpetrators Identified

By

Ayodele Oni

-

September 7, 2025

0

By Ayodele Oni

The United Nations, (UN) has urged the Nigerian Government to go after the criminals who slaughtered 63 people in Borno State.

Making the call on Sunday, the UN condemned the killings by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

Five soldiers and 58 civilians were reportedly killed in a fresh attack on Daral-Jamal, a community along the Bama-Banki Road in the Sambisa Forest.

The insurgents also burnt down over 20 houses, vehicles, foodstuffs and other valuables belonging to the resettled Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

A report on Channel’s Television quoted the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Fall, in a statement, asking the Nigerian authorities to arrest the perpetrators of the attack.

He also commiserated with the families of the victims of the attack.

The statement read, “I am deeply appalled and saddened by Friday’s reported killing of dozens of civilians in Darajamal Village, Bama Local Government Area (LGA), in Borno State in north-east Nigeria. Civilians should never be a target!

“Preliminary reports indicate that more than 50 civilians were killed when suspected members of a non-state armed group (NSAG) attacked Darajamal on the evening of 5 September.

“An unknown number of people were also allegedly abducted, with others fleeing with injuries.

“At least 28 houses were also reportedly burned during the attack. The number of casualties is expected to change as more information becomes available.

“On behalf of the United Nations in Nigeria, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed and those affected, and to the Government and the people of Borno State and wish the injured a speedy recovery.

“I call on security authorities to apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous attack and swiftly bring them to justice. I also call for the immediate release of all those abducted.

“This recent killing of civilians is yet another grim reminder of the toll of rising violent attacks and insecurity in Borno State this year.

“Multiple attacks against civilians have been recorded, leading to the deaths of hundreds of civilians in Borno alone.

“The attacks, ranging from targeted attacks on communities to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, using Improvised Explosive Devices, suicide bombings and other tactics, have targeted civilians, including farmers, fishermen, travellers and traders.

“Deadly attacks against civilians have also been recorded in neighbouring Adamawa and Yobe states, with a rural health centre, grain stores and a market among targeted areas.

“I reiterate my call to parties to the conflict to protect civilians as well as their property and to adhere to international humanitarian and human rights law.

“The UN reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting people affected by conflict to complement Government efforts.”

Expelled Kano NNPP Lawmaker Says Action Unjustified, Weighing New Options

By

Ayodele Oni

-

September 7, 2025

0

By Ayodele Oni

In protest against his expulsion from the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Abdulmumin Jibrin, the lawmaker representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in Kano state at the House of Representatives, has said he is weighing new options.

The announcement was made hours after the decision to expel the lawmaker from the party was taken.

The NNPP faction loyal to former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso expelled Jibrin, citing alleged anti-party activities and non-payment of dues.

But, Jibrin described the decision as shocking and unjustified.

In an official statement, Jibrin explained that the interview he granted recently in both English and Hausa should not have attracted such a “heavy penalty,” noting that dissenting views were part of the party’s core principles.

Jibrin accused the party of violating the principles of fair hearing and due process by expelling him without giving him the opportunity to defend himself.

“No invitation was extended to me to explain myself. Even under a military dictatorship, an accused is subjected to a court-martial.”

The lawmaker stressed that he would have preferred to remain in the NNPP despite differences. However, he said he accepted the party’s decision in good faith and would not challenge it in court.

“I would have loved to stay in the NNPP. But for the respect I have for the party and its members, I will go in peace. I beg the party to also allow me to go in peace,” Jibrin added.

On allegations of non-payment of dues, Jibrin insisted he never refused to fulfill his obligations.

According to him, he was ready to clear any outstanding payments if presented with an invoice.

“There is no need to go to court. I respectfully request the party to send me the invoice, and I will promptly pay,” he said.

Jibrin took a swipe at the party’s leadership style, accusing the NNPP of failing to value its members.

“The party does not believe anybody has political value and comes short in treating people with respect. No matter what you bring on board, you are a nobody.”

Despite his criticism, Jibrin thanked the NNPP for the support he enjoyed during his stay, and called on his supporters to join him in his “new journey” while maintaining peaceful ties with those who choose to remain in the party.

“I welcome all my supporters who wish to join me in my new journey… I will carefully weigh all the options before me as I decide on my next political home. So help me God.”

Jibrin’s exit comes just months after he hinted that he might leave the party, fueling speculation about a possible return to the APC.

NLC Says N70,000 Minimum Wage No Longer Sustainable, Pushes For Review

By

Ayodele Oni

-

September 7, 2025

0

By Ayodele Oni

As Nigerians continue to experience soaring cost of living, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and federal government workers have called for an urgent review of the national minimum wage.

According to the NLC, the current N70,000 ($91) benchmark is no longer sustainable amid rising inflation.

The demand comes after several Nigerian states unilaterally raised their workers’ minimum wages above the federal level in response to soaring living costs.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah said that “inflation has eroded the value of the N70,000 minimum wage, leaving many workers unable to meet basic needs.

“Workers are under immense pressure, and unless the government responds quickly, the crisis of survival will only worsen.”

President Bola Tinubu had signed the new National Minimum Wage Bill into law in July 2024, raising the wage from N30,000 to N70,000.

The law applies nationwide, covering federal and state government employees, local government workers, and the private sector.

However, several states have since increased wages beyond the federal minimum. Imo State raised its minimum wage to N104,000 in August, while Lagos and Rivers states approved N85,000 in October 2024, with Lagos promising N100,000 in 2025.

Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, and Akwa Ibom states set theirs at N80,000, Ogun and Delta at N77,000, Benue and Osun at N75,000, and Ondo at N73,000

“Banditry, Terrorism In North West Fuelled By Poverty, Neglect” – Gov Sani On Why He Pays Them

By

Suleiman Anyalewechi

-

September 7, 2025

0

Uba Sani - Governor of Kaduna State — Governor Uba Sani

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has insisted that firearms alone can not decisively resolve the teething security challenges in the country.

This is as he warned against the over politicization of insecurity in Kaduna State and other parts of the Northern region of Nigeria.

At the occasion of the formal launch of the book Where I Stand, written by late Sheikh Abubakar Gumi,

held by the Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah on Saturday, September 6, 2025, Governor Sani totally rejected claims suggesting that bandits and other criminal elements could be bombed out of existence.

The Governor was reacting to recent criticism and allegation by his predecessor in office, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kaduna State authorities have been paying monthly allowances to bandits and other criminal elements as a way of pacifying them.

But speaking on Saturday, Governor Sani noted that as the elected representatives of the people, it will amount to abdicating their responsibilities ,if they don’t explore all available lawful means to secure the people.

“I decided to embark on the non-kinetic approach to address insecurity in Kaduna State because it is me that God will hold responsible in the hereafter.

“We should not deceive our people by saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, is responsible .We should not expect them to go to Giwa, Birnin Gwari or Dansadau forest to solve the problem for us. We were elected by the people, and it is our duty to do everything possible to protect our people”, Governor Sani stated .

According to him, Kaduna State’s non-kinetic approach to addressing insecurity is anchored on community-participation and driving by Traditional and Religious leaders, as well as other major stakeholders.

Referencing Birnin Gwari where the involvement of the Emir, Religious leaders and other stakeholders have brought about relative peace, the Governor insisted that employing alternative measures outside the use of force could be the masterstroke needed to bring lasting peace.

He emphasized the imperative of a non-kinetic approach more so in the face of the insufficient number of security personnel needed to effectively monitor and protect vast amount of ungoverned areas across the country.

According to him, with an armed force not more than 250,000 in number ,and with the increasing level of Nigeria’s population, it will be difficult, if not a mirage to be talking about addressing insecurity through the use of force alone.

“If you go to Zamfara, Birnin Gwari, or the forests of Katsina, you can go for about 50 kilometers without meeting a single policeman, not to talk of a soldier.

“We have vast areas in this country without any security. In this case too,we discovered that poverty, unemployment, lack of schools, hospitals and commercial opportunities in the rural areas pushed people into criminal activities. So our non-kinetic approach is a way of accepting responsibilities as leaders rather tgan apportioning blames.

“Insecurity cannot be resolved solely through the use of firearms. Whoever makes such a claim is only playing politics. We must fear God, and stop deceiving the people, because that approach will not work”, Sani insisted.

He explained that unlike the case of Boko Haram and or ISWAP in the North East region whose activities are ideologically-driven, banditry and other forms of criminal activities ravaging the North West region are rooted and fueled by poverty, unemployment and neglect of Communities.

Abducted Chinese Nationals Rescued In Edo

By

Ayodele Oni

-

September 7, 2025

0

Ahmed Abubakar Audi and Kayode Egbetokun

By Ayodele Oni

Some Chinese expatriates abducted at the weekend in Edo State, have been rescued by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) in Okpella village of Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

NSCDC revealed that the foreigners were rescued after gun duel that lasted for about three hours.

A statement by its spokesman, Afolabi Babawale, read: “In a gun duel that lasted for three hours on 5th September 2025, a gang of armed kidnappers launched a grievous attack against the Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps attached to BUA. Cement Company, Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.”

During the operation, some personnel of the corps were killed while others sustained various degrees of injuries, while the Chinese were taken into the bush.

Babawale noted that the Operatives were deployed to provide adequate security and ensure the security coverage of the Chinese Expatriates working at the Company;

He said: “Quite unfortunately, the convoy of both NSCDC Operatives and the Chinese Expatriates were ambushed during a routine patrol leaving four personnel dead, four seriously injured, one of the expatriates missing and four expatriates rescued and saved.”

Babawale said: “The Corps wish to reiterate its commitment to Protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure and wholly condemn such attack.”

Speaking on the matter, the NSCDC Commandant General, Prof Ahmed Audi, directed the Edo State Commandant and other Management Officers to pay condolences to the families of the gallant Operatives who lost their lives in line of duty and further make arrangements for their burial with full honour.

The NSCDC Boss noted that the labour, commitment and patriotism displayed by the operatives will forever be remembered.

He also assured that those under intensive care would have their medical bills covered and adequate treatments given to make them recuperate speedily.

Audi appreciated the relevant security agencies that collaborated with the NSCDC to ensure that the forest where the kidnappers escaped are properly combed in order to rescue the abducted expatriates and the Perpetrators immediately apprehended and brought to book.

El Rufai’s visit to the South East: The Needless Noise

By

The Source

-

September 7, 2025

0

By Ike Abonyi.

When a bad vehicle conveys a good message, will you refuse both the message and the messenger? A wise person will pick the message and leave the messenger.

Late Maverick politician, Senator Arthur Nzeribe, knowing his negative reputation in the public space whenever he wanted to pass a strong message, dropped his release with a caveat: look at the message and not the messenger. And his message is always strong and strategic.

Since the voter registration started, the South East has been behind, and our politicians in the South East, former and serving Governors, Ohanaeze, etc, have all done nothing to improve the situation.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiri El Rufai, found a platform at the weekend in Owerri, Imo State and carried out a strong campaign in this regard for Ndigbo to come out and vote, a strong civic duty from a perceived enemy, but instead of picking up the message, we are busy fighting his coming. The reality is that political dynamics entail that even yesterday’s enemy might be today’s friend if we want to go far politically in national politics.

When Bola Ahmed Tinubu set out for his grab-and-run journey to Aso Rock, Nasir El-Rufai was not in his camp. In fact, El Rufai had said publicly that Tinubu is not the type he relates to. But Tinubu ignored all that because he needed El-Rufai to do certain fights nobody else could do.

He not only embraced El Rufai but gave him a star status in his team. Took him to Chatham House, London, and publicly and internationally declared him the star boy in his team. He helped him sway his colleague governors and made him the adjudant of his campaign in the North.

Today, Peter Obi and some patriotic Igbos are seeking to end the endless marginalisation of Ndigbo at the Presidential level. Obi is making an effort to dine with both the devil and saints, to reach out to all in the spirit of dynamic politics, but the noise from people, even Igbos, is deafening.

When Tinubu embraced El-Rufai in 2022, no Yoruba questioned him for going to somebody who had berated him publicly; they saw it as a political strategy.

Anybody who sincerely loves Peter Obi and wants him in Aso Rock should not encourage him to make enemies but to court friends even from the devil’s group.

If we are unanimous that the criminal gang holding power in this country is enormous we should be strategic in our approach.

Anybody encouraging Peter Obi to use only the saints to do a battle in the devil’s den does not want his victory, more so that the saints, having secured heaven, are not anxious to do the fight.

This is just appealing to all those desirous of a new Nigeria that is POssible to bear in mind that the space is shared by both man and mamon and each needs to score the desired goal.

Whether you like it or not, Peter Obi needs El Rufai going forward, just as El Rufai needs him to achieve his own goal. If Ndigbo really wants to play in this big game and score they must not only come out and register to vote, but carve out time for national politics. ‘Sidon look’ hardly delivers food to the table. A word is enough for the wise. God help us.

Abonyi, a politically exposed journalist is based in Abuja

With Poor Performance, Super Eagles Keep World Cup Hopes Alive

By

Akinwale Kasali

-

September 7, 2025

0

By Akinwale Kasali

Tolu Arokodare’s 58th minute strike was all the Super Eagles of Nigeria needed to salvage a 1-0 victory over the Amavubis of Rwanda in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

The Super Eagles had gone into match with the sole aim of getting the needed three points to boost its chances of qualifying for the World Cup showpiece.

Coach Eric Chelle had made some changes in the starting line up of the team with Stanley Nwabali in goal, Benjamin Fredericks, Bruno Onyemaechi, Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey in the defense, while Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman and Frank Onyeka in the midfield with Victor Osimhen leading the attack.

Sadly, Osimhen sustained an injury leading to his substitution by Cyril Dessers.

The Super Eagles dominated the first half, but it never metamorphosed Into a goal.

At the start of the second half, Tolu Arokodare came in for Onyeka, who got the deserved goal for the team.

The game never produced any further goal as the Super Eagles continued to dictate the game proceedings till the referee ended the match with the Nigeria team securing a hard earned win.

With the victory, the Super Eagles have garnered 10 Points fron Seven Games and are presently occupying the Third position on the log.

The team will play the Bafana Bafana of South Africa next week Tuesday at the Bloemfontein Stadium in South Africa as the Three Time AFCON Champion will be gunning for victory to further put its World Cup hopes alive.

Omokri Lauds Peter Obi, Says He “Has Enriched And Deepened Our Democracy”

By

Adesina Soyooye

-

September 7, 2025

0

By Adesina Soyooye

Reno Omokri, a very bitter, constant critic of Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, has admitted that Obi has provided invaluable opposition to Nigeria. He also admitted that Obi has enriched and deepened Nigeria’s democracy.

Omokri was reacting to Obi’s post where he, Obi, announced the suspension of all his official and public engagements so as to pay attention to his health. Obi said he began to feel unwell while he was in Enugu on Friday during an engagement. He quickly went to a hospital where the doctor advised him to take a rest.

Obi: “Earlier in Enugu, I was not feeling well. I visited the hospital where the doctor gave me some medication and advised me to take a day or two days rest.

“In obedience to the doctor’s advice, I will not be able to meet up with all my scheduled engagements within and outside the country this weekend.”

Reacting to Obi’s post, Omokri prayed God to give the former two-term Governor of Anambra State good health to enable him continue the services he is rendering to the nation.

He wrote: “I read with sadness Peter Obi’s post about his ill- health. My thoughts are with him. While nobody is perfect, Mr Obi has nevertheless provided invaluable political opposition to Nigeria. He has enriched and deepened our democracy and his existence on our political landscape has some positive effect on the polity.

“It is for this and our shared humanity that I wish him a quick recovery.

“It is certainly reassuring to read that he has consulted a medical professional and has been well advised on a path of recovery. May God preserve Peter Obi’s life, and keep him in good health so that he can continue rendering service to our nation.”

18 Abuja Bound Passengers Abducted Along Benin-Auchi Road

By

Ayodele Oni

-

September 6, 2025

0

By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of not less than 18 Abuja-bound passengers along Benin-Auchi highway on Saturday.

Report stated that gunmen ambushed passengers travelling along the Benin-Auchi Highway in an Edo Line bus bound for Abuja.

According to the report, the attackers forced the victims into the surrounding bush before security operatives arrived at the scene.

A viral video from the incident showed a long queue of vehicles stranded on both sides of the expressway as tension mounted in the area.

As at the time of reporting, the kidnappers had not established contact to demand ransom.

Confirming the development on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Command, SP Moses Iyamu, revealed that sixteen of the abducted passengers have been rescued.