Ondo Community Foils Attempted Child Theft, Police Arrests Two Suspects

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March 25, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

An attempt to kidnap a three- year old boy in the Akoko area of Ondo State has been foiled by vigilant members of the community.

Indications emerged that the boy, Alex Ayobami, was sent on a message by her mother Mrs Olanireti when he was accosted by two suspected kidnappers.

The Ondo State Police Command in a statement on Wednesday, by its spokesman, Abayomi Jimoh, explained that the vigilance and prompt information by neighbours foiled the kidnap attempt.

“A suspected case of conspiracy and attempted child stealing was reported at Ogbagi Akoko on the 22nd of March, 2026. The incident was reported by one Mrs. Olanireti ‘F’, who resides at Ioso Street, Ogbagi Akoko.

“According to her report, she had sent her three-year-old son, Alex Ayobami ‘M’, to meet his grandmother who lives behind her shop.

“Shortly thereafter, an alarm was raised by a concerned member of the public, one Oni ‘F’, who noticed suspicious activity involving the child.

“Acting swiftly on the alarm, the complainant rushed to the scene where she discovered two suspects, identified as Adefarati Idowu ‘M’ and Adepoju Babatunde ‘M’ attempting to flee the area on an unregistered Bajaj motorcycle with her child.

“It was further gathered that the child’s grandmother, Mrs. Olawale ‘F’, courageously intervened by holding onto the motorcycle, while other vigilant residents quickly mobilized and blocked the suspects from escaping. Immediately, the police arrived and the child was successfully rescued unhurt.

“The suspects were apprehended at the scene through the collective efforts of the community members, and the case has since been transferred to Headquarters for discreet and thorough investigation.

“The Command is committed to uncovering the full circumstances surrounding this incident, including any possible wider criminal network, and ensuring that all those found culpable are brought to justice in accordance with the law.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, Adebowale Lawal, commends the bravery, vigilance, and prompt response of the members of the community, whose collective action prevented what could have resulted in a grievous crime.

“This incident underscores the importance of community policing and the critical role citizens play in supporting security agencies.”

Zenith Bank Appoints Kennedy Okwudili As Executive Director

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James Orji

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March 25, 2026

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Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Kennedy Onuwa Okwudili as an Executive Director of the bank effective May 1, 2026. The appointment, which is consistent with the bank’s tradition and succession strategy of grooming leaders from within, will further strengthen the bank’s Executive Management.

Mr. Okwudili graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Accounting in 1998 from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, with a Second Class Upper division. He obtained a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria in 2008 and a Masters of Science in Accounting from Veritas University, Abuja, Nigeria in 2021.

Mr. Okwudili has over twenty-five years of cognate banking experience spanning credit and marketing, treasury, compliance as well as operations and had at different times worked in various zones and departments of the bank.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), 2013, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), 2024 and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), 2016.

He has attended several Executive Education Programmes both within and outside the country, including: Senior Leadership Development Programme at the Lagos Business School, Corporate Directorship Programme at the Harvard Business School and Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford, SAID Business School.

He is currently the President of Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN) and a member of the Noble Order of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI).

Salami, Fmr. President Court Of Appeal, Faults Appointments Of Justices To Supreme Court, Says Some Not Qualified, Blames It For Judicial Incompetence

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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March 25, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A former President of the Court of Appeal has dismissed some Judges in the Judiciary, including some Justices of the Supreme Court of incompetence. He blamed such incompetence for why Peter Obi and the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, were allowed to contest for election to offices when, according to him, they were not qualified to contest.

Salami, who spoke when he was honored at his Ilorin residence by the Professor Wole Soyinka Investgative Journalism Centre, attributed the problem of incompetence within the Judiciary to what he described as a flawed appointment and promotion system. The system, he pointed out, allows merit to be sacrificed on the altar of zonal and state balance.

He expressed serious concern that in some cases, people who are not qualified to be in the system are appointed, even ahead of their seniors and better qualified Judges owing to the issue of federal character.

Salami: “People get to the Supreme court,

sometimes, not because they are good, but because there are vacancies from their Zones, and/or States .

“They even, in some cases, rise above their seniors who they met at Court of Appeal to go to the Supreme Court just because there are vacancies from the Regions or State they come from”.

He referenced his own personal case where some Judges he had recommended for promotion were eventually ahead of him, owing to lack of vacancies in his Zone .

He also acknowledged the existence of some bad eggs within the Judiciary, noting that they are the ones who find themselves in the system without adequate background .

“There are a few bad eggs amongst the Judges. Strictly speaking, I will not say they are bad eggs. But the problem is that some of the Judges lack proper background.

“Imagine appointing a higher Registrar as a Judge . He/she has no experience. In the past, this would not have happened” the retired jury averred.

Ondo Women Groups Push For Bill On Reserved Seats

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Ayodele Oni

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March 25, 2026

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Ondo Women Groups Push For Bill On Reserved Seats

By Ayodele Oni

Women Groups in Ondo State, on Wednesday, rallied in support of the proposed reserved seats for Women Bill, urging lawmakers to approve 35 per cent affirmative action for the gender in elective and appointive positions.

The groups, mobilised by the Nigeria League of Women Voters (NILOWV), the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), gathered at the State Ministry of Women Affairs.

Other participants included members of the Forum of Muslim Women, female political aspirants, and women-led civil society organisations.

Speaking at the rally, leaders called for sustained advocacy to ensure the bill’s passage, stressing that the proposed legislation would address the persistent underrepresentation of women in governance.

The State Chairperson of FIDA, Mrs Bolanle Olafunmiloye, said the rally aimed to build momentum for the Special Seats Bill, a constitutional amendment designed to correct gender imbalance in legislative institutions.

She explained that the initiative does not seek to compete with men, but to promote inclusive governance.

According to her, the bill proposes additional seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly, creating more opportunities for female participation in decision-making.

Also speaking, the State President of NCWS, Bishop Oluseyi Odusola, urged women to unite and push for common goals.

She described women as capable and competent leaders and called for swift passage of the bill to improve their representation.

A female aspirant for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, Mrs Olamide Falana, said Nigerian women have faced longstanding barriers in politics despite their numerical strength.

She described the bill as a necessary step to reverse political marginalization.

“We appeal to the National Assembly to pass the Reserved Seats for Women Bill. Its passage will place Nigeria among nations that empower women to lead and excel,” she said.

The rally ended with the presentation of petitions to Ondo State lawmakers at the National Assembly, including the Senator representing Ondo Central, Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN), and the member representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency, Derin Adesida. Both lawmakers pledged support for the bill

Full List Of Newly Posted Commissioners Of Police As Approved By IGP Olatunji Disu

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The Source

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March 25, 2026

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CP Haruna Alaba Yahaya – Jigawa State Command.

CP Olugbenga Ayodeji Abimbola – Oyo State Command.

CP Olubode Ojajuni to Ogun State Command.

CP Michael Adegoroye Falade – Ekiti State Command

CP Yakubu Useni Dankaro – Adamawa State Command.

CP Muhammed Sanusi Ahmed – Federal Capital Territory Command.

CP Olatunji Olaiwola Fatai – Lagos State Command.

CP Morkwap S. Dongshal Taraba State Command.

CP Ahmed Mohammed Bello – Zamfara Command.

CP Umar Ali Fagge to Katsina Command.

CP Hayatu Shaffa Hassan- Sokoto State Command.

CP Akan Ezima Director of the NPF-NCCC, Abuja,

CP Abbas Sule, Special Protection Unit.

CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue – INTERPOL, Abuja.

CP Mnwadiogbu Cletus – Deputy Commandant of POLAC.

CP Sheik M. Danko – FCID Annex Lagos.

CP Danjuma I.Yahaya – FCID Annex, Kaduna.

CP Moses Ashu Otta – SWAT, Abuja.

CP Abdulrahim A. Shuaibu – Eastern Ports Authority.

CP Sarah Ehindero – Administration FCID, Abuja.

CP Edwin Ogbegbghagha – Provost, Force Headquarters.

CP Preye R. Egbe – INEC, Abuja.

CP Adebisi Bola Lateef – Master Printing, Lagos.

CP Bolou O. Etete – Community Policing (Research and Planning)

CP Ojugbele E. Adebola – General Investigation FCID Alagbon, Lagos.

CP Fidelis N. Ogarabe – INTERPOL Annex, Lagos.

CP Theodore C. Obasi – Deputy Commandant of the Police College, Ikeja

CP Eloho E. Okpoziakpo – Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi

CP Kayode Uthman Magaji – K9, Dei-Dei

CP Markus Ishaku Basiran – Courses POLAC.

CP Mohammed Babakura – Administration, Department of Operations

CP Silas Bamidele Aremu – Safer Highway

CP Magaji Ismaila – Community Safety and Crime Prevention

CP Rebecca Uchenna Okereke – Director of Music at the Force Headquarters.

The IGP charged the officers to bring their wealth of experience to bear in their new roles and uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, and service in the discharge of their duties.

Peter Obi, Gov Yusuf Unqualified For 2023 Presidential Polls – Salami, Fmr. President Court Of Appeal

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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March 25, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Retired President of the Court of Appeal, Honourable Justice Ayo Salami, has submitted that former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabiru Yusuf were not qualified to participate in the 2023 Presidential Elections. Salami said both men ought not to have been allowed to contest in the 2023 General Elections. He, however, did not blame both men for the error in contesting, but the Judiciary.

Salami said the Judiciary, especially, the Supreme Court failed woefully in its duties when it allowed Obi and Yusuf to run in 2023.

According to him, it is thanks to the incompetence among some Judges that Obi is today referred to as a former Presidential Candidate and Yusuf, Governor of Kano State.

Justice Salami spoke on Tuesday March 24, 2026 at the occasion of the presentation of an award to him by officials of the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism ,in Ilorin, Kwara State.

He emphasized that neither Obi nor Yusuf was constitutionally qualified to fly their parties’ flags at the 2023 polls because none of them met the requirements for party membership.

He pointed out that by the time Obi left the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, to pick the presidential ticket of the LP, his name was not in the register of the LP.

Abba-Kabir-Yusuf-Kano-Governor (1) — Governor Abba-Kabir-Yusuf

His words: “Peter Obi ought not to have been allowed to contest the 2023 presidential election.

“In this sense, by the time he lost the PDP primaries, LP had submitted its list of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

“And the Constitution says that there cannot be an independent candidate. So how did he become a candidate of the LP if his name was never in its register at the time?

“The same thing happened to the Governor of Kano state Abba Kabiru Yusuf who has now defected to the All Progressive Congress APC.

“His name was not in the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP’s register as at the time. But they issued him a membership card, and the register is supposed to be the mother of the card”, the retired Appeal Court President queried.

According to him, the general problem of incompetence within the Judiciary, however, ensured that the Supreme Court allowed the Kano state Governor to continue in office, even when the lower courts had questioned it.

Salami: “But the Supreme Court countenanced it even though the Tribunal and Appeal Court frowned at it. That is the problem of competence.”

For the records, however, Obi did not lose in the PDP Presidential Primary as claimed by Justice Salami. He resigned from the PDP before the Primary Elections.

CBN: Diaspora Remittances To Drop; Bank Get Orders To Pay In Naira

By

James Orji

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March 25, 2026

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Forex in Nigeria - Dollar and Naira Price CBD

Nigeria’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has directed all International Money Transfer Operators, IMTOs operating in the country to open and maintain Naira settlement accounts with authorised dealer banks.

The apex bank said on Monday, that the directive is part of efforts to improve transparency in the foreign exchange market and tighten control on Foreign currencies being sent to the country by Nigerians living abroad.

Apart from the forex from crude oil sales, foreign remittances is the second largest forex earnings for the federal government of Nigeria.

In 2024, forex remittances, according to data from the CBN totalled $2.3 billion while in 2025 Nigeria earned $2.07 billion, as total receipt from forex remittances from Nigerians in the diaspora.

But sources in the CBN said the apex bank has discovered that a large part of diaspora remittances had not been accounted for because they were routed through informal sources.

The development had forced the CBN to issue the latest directive to further tighten grip on most diaspora remittances, and ensure transparency, insiders in the bank said on Wednesday.

According to the directive contained in a circular dated March 24, 2026, signed by the Director, Department of Trade and Exchange Department, Dr Musa Nakorji, and addressed to IMTOs, authorised dealer banks and the general public, the CBN said the aim is to “strengthening transparency, traceability, and effective monitoring of all transactions,” in all diaspora remittances.

The apex bank said “all IMTOs are hereby directed to open naira settlement accounts and ensure that all transactions are routed strictly through their designated settlement accounts, maintained with Authorised Dealer Banks in Nigeria.”

The apex bank said in the circular that all transactions related to international money transfers, including disbursements to beneficiaries and other settlements, must be processed exclusively through the designated accounts.

It said IMTOs may designate existing accounts or open new ones and are allowed to operate multiple settlement accounts across different ADBs.

The CBN stressed that such accounts must be credited with remittance flows and proceeds of foreign exchange conversions by licensed IMTOs (or their agents) with authorised market participants in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

Accordingly, the CBN directed IMTOs to notify its trade and exchange department of all designated settlement accounts and provide updates when necessary.

The bank said the ADBs may process foreign currency transfers from IMTO settlement accounts to other authorised dealers and approved participants, including bureau de change (BDC) operators, to enhance market efficiency.

For effective pricing, the CBN directed the IMTOs to benchmark their rates against real-time market prices on Bloomberg’s BMatch platform.

“IMTOs shall observe real-time market prices from the Bloomberg BMatch and utilise this as guidance for pricing transactions with their customers and authorised dealers,” the apex bank said.

“This directive takes effect from May 1, 2026,” according to the CBN.

Meanwhile, experts in the sector insist that the directive may further reduce diaspora remittances into the country, as well as slashed forex earnings for the federal government.

“Forgive Me Nigerians, I’m Ashamed I was APC Member” – Rivers State’s Eze Dumps APC

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Adesina Soyooye

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March 24, 2026

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By Adesina Soyooye

Chukwuemeka Eze, a loyalists of former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Eze dumped the in a rather dramatic manner. He cursed the Party. He called it evil. He expressed shame that he was ever a member of the Party. He lamented the suffering, he said, the Party has heaped on Nigerians. And, finally, Eze begged Nigerians for forgiveness.

Eze said his decision to leave the Party was well thought out and after consultations with his associates and family.

He cited one of the reasons for which he left dumped the APC, stems from “the brazen ineptitude of the current APC administration, led by President Bola Tinubu which has undoubtedly tipped a precarious balance on the economy and overall livelihood of Nigerians, coupled with the menace of terrorism and general insecurity across parts of the country.”

What pains him most is that APC is a party he once canvassed for, and sacrificed his energy and resources to promote.

Eze, in a statement he issued, more than hinted that he would join the African Democratic Congress, ADC where he said he hopes to

collaborate with other patriots and people of good conscience to propagate ADC’s ideologies to the Nigerian public.

Eze: “We (APC) promised Nigerians that we would improve the value of our local currency against the dollar, but the Naira has maintained a free-fall trajectory and abysmal performance in the international money market; we promised to eradicate insecurity in Nigeria, but instead, the party and government in power have turned the country into a graveyard where no Nigerian is sure of life.

“The party promised sufficient food for all Nigerians, but instead the government is building Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to house farmers as bandits raze homes and villages in the North East and North Central zones, which are the nation’s food basket; we promised quality education for our children, but today education is flat on its back, beaten into a prostrate position, making those who knew the previous standard shake their heads in sorrow and dismay.

“We promised to make our democracy one of the most outstanding in the world, but instead, we have turned our democracy into a huge joke and a laughingstock, as the country under Tinubu is being forced into a one-party system.

“We promised to eradicate corruption, but instead corruption and embezzlement of public funds have become a way of life under the current regime.

“Our dear President Tinubu promised Nigerians uninterrupted power supply, and if he failed, nobody should vote for him or the party, but he has given Nigerians darkness while scheming for reelection.

“To mess up our dear party, we mistakenly brought in Tinubu, whose claim of being a democrat has crushed every dint of democracy that remained in our polity.

“To embarrass us as a party, Tinubu brought in (Godswill) Akpabio and Nyesom Wike, who were sworn enemies of the APC from the beginning, to prove to Nigerians what undemocratic minds can achieve through dishonest craftiness.”

Eze said he was a sad because of what he said the APC and President Tinubu have done to Nigeria. He proceeded to tender an apology to all Nigerians for the shame and terrible image he insists the government has made of the country on the global stage.

Eze: “The best I can show of my seriousness in my decision is to disengage myself from such an evil setup that does not mean well for Nigeria and Nigerians, and join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to collaborate with others to turn the fortunes of this country and restore true and genuine democracy to us all.

“Today, no Nigerian can claim to be safe anymore, as the country has been turned into a field of bloodshed. If we count daily the number of Nigerians killed, they would be in the hundreds.

“Suicide bombings are now back in our midst. Our soldiers are no longer safe, as Boko Haram and their groups now overrun our barracks.

“Who, in their right senses, should still proudly claim to be a member of such an undemocratic setup called APC?”

Sheikh Umar To Aggrieved El-Rufai’s Supporters: Obtain Your PVCs, And Choose Better Leadership When The Time Comes

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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March 24, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar has sued for calm among Kaduna residents, particularly supporters of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the detained former Governor of the State.

This is as he informed that he himself was not detained, but was only invited for questioning by the Department of State Service, DSS, after the visit of Peter Obi.

The Source reports that ,Obi the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party LP in the 2023 general elections had on Tuesday raised the alarm over the alleged arrest of Sheikh Umar on Sunday, after playing host to him.

” I have just been made aware early this morning that revered religious leader Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar has been arrested by the authorities shortly after hosting me in Kaduna on Sunday.

“This development underscores the deeply troubling state of our nation and our democracy, where freedom of speech and movement is increasingly threatened ,and where citizens and perceived political opponents face harassment and unnecessary persecutions . This cannot be allowed to continue”, Obi stated on his official site.

But in a video message online, Tuesday afternoon, Sheikh Umar stated that he is free ,safe and well after interfacing with the DSS.

According to him, he was neither detained, nor maltreated, noting that his engagement with the service was to clarify some issues.

” I come today to correct a false report being circulated in some quarters to the effect that I am in custody.

“I was not detained by the DSS. I was invited for questioning. I cooperated fully and I was released. I am free, safe and well”, Sheikh Umar stated.

He, however, urged his supporters and followers to keep the peace, remain calm and law abiding.

The prominent Islamic scholar, similarly, passionately appealed to the aggrieved supporters and followers of the detained former Governor of Kaduna state , El-Rufai, not to take the laws into their hands.

Rather, he urged all those who are not happy with the current state of affairs in the country to register and obtain their permanent voters cards, PVCs ,and use same at the appropriate time.

“I want to appeal to our supporters and all citizens of Kaduna State to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding.

“No one should take the laws into their hands. No one should disrupt the peace and stability of the state under any guise.

“On the issue of our leader – Malam Nasir El-Rufai, let us be patient, and allow due process to take its course.

“Let us continue to pray and let us keep the peace. To everyone dissatisfied with the system, your answer is very simple – register, vote and choose better leadership when the time comes”, Sheikh Umar admonished.

Sheikh Umar’s appeal comes just as a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on Tuesday adjourned till March 31, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application filed by El-Rufai in his ongoing prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds and abuse of office.

The Source reports that the anti-graft Commission, after detaining the former Kaduna state former Governor for over 30 days without trial, finally arraigned him on Tuesday, amidst protest by El-Rufai’s supporters.

Insecurity: Tinubu Having Sleepless Nights

By

James Orji

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March 24, 2026

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been having sleepless nights over the state of insecurity in the country, according to one of his aides, Abdullahi Yakassai.

Yakassai, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement made the remark on Tuesday on Channels Television programme Morning Brief, saying the president has been losing sleep over the problem.

According to him, the president has been up and doing, calling security chiefs to meeting, on how to arrest the problem to no avail, adding that some unscrupulous persons in the country are the ones instigating the problem to discredit the current administration.

He explained that terrorists, bandits and kidnappers are becoming bolder every day, saying they are deploying gorilla tactics which made it impossible for them to be curtailed.

“The security situation in some parts of the country has really been subdued, but there are new tactics emerging, like the one we see in Kwara State—very unfortunate,” Yakassai said.

Adding that “Even the president is having sleepless nights because every week you see him holding a Security Council meeting in the Presidential Villa to address this insecurity.

“It’s very hard to tackle. We have come from a long-standing crisis, and it has been ongoing. You can’t just blame this government for it.

“You wouldn’t know where they come from. I’m telling you, there is a hand in this kind of insecurity issue. We cannot just say it is a coordinated insecurity situation.

“Some elements are against this government and are instigating insecurity to give the new administration a bad name,” he said.

His remarks however comes on the heels of the upsurge of terrorists and bandits attacks in some parts of the country, particularly the northern part.

Recently, suspected Boko Haram terrorists set off bombs in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state killing over 20 persons, leaving over 100 others severally wounded.

Also, suspected terrorists had last Sunday, attacked the ECWA Church in Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting 13 worshippers during the weekly service.

Police said some of the abductees have now been rescued.