Author: Olóyè Gbenga

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised strong objections to the reported transfer of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to a prison facility in Sokoto State, warning that the move puts his life at risk and could hinder his right to appeal his conviction. In a statement issued on Sunday, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, described both the sentencing and the transfer as “malicious” and part of what he alleged to be a long-standing campaign to suppress Kanu and the broader Biafran self-determination movement. Powerful argued that relocating the pro-Biafra agitator to the far north-west, an area grappling with persistent security…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has clarified the absence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, at the unveiling of its new secretariat in Abuja on 17 November. The party dismissed rumours suggesting that Obi deliberately stayed away because the building once served as Atiku’s presidential campaign office. The event was attended by key figures of the party, including its National Chairman, David Mark; National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai. However, the absence of both Atiku and Obi had triggered speculation of tensions within the coalition. Speaking at the…

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has expressed deep sorrow over the gas explosion that claimed three lives and left dozens injured in the Ona Ara area of Ibadan, Oyo State, last Friday. Describing the incident as both “needless and preventable”, the minister lamented the growing trend of illegal gas operations across Nigerian communities. In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, Ekpo conveyed condolences to the Oyo State Government, the families of the deceased, and the many residents currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the blast. Preliminary investigations revealed that the…

The Kebbi State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all state-owned tertiary institutions, except for the College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, Birnin Kebbi, citing heightened insecurity across the state. The directive was issued on Saturday by the state Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Issa Tunga, during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi. Tunga explained that the decision became necessary following recent cases of insecurity that have affected several parts of Kebbi in the past weeks. “The affected tertiary institutions are the State Polytechnic, Dakingari; Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero; College of Health Sciences and Technology,…

The Yobe State Government has announced the immediate closure of all boarding secondary schools across the state in a move aimed at safeguarding students amid escalating security concerns in northern Nigeria. Governor Mai Mala Buni issued the directive on Saturday following a high-level security meeting with heads of security agencies. The meeting, held in Damaturu, reviewed recent attacks on schools in other states, including mass abductions that have intensified public anxiety over the safety of students. The development was confirmed in a statement released on Saturday by Mohammed Mamman, Director General of Press and Media Affairs to the Governor. According…

Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, on Friday issued a strong call to the Nigerian Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action against the perpetrators of rising attacks on Christian communities across the country. In a statement posted on X, Meloni condemned the latest wave of violence as “heinous and unacceptable,” urging Nigerian authorities to reinforce security measures and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. “We strongly condemn the renewed violence that took place today against Christian communities in Nigeria,” she wrote. “Religious freedom is an inviolable right: we ask the Nigerian government to strengthen the protection of…

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, has emphasised the need for deeper, more strategic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, arguing that strengthened bilateral engagement is essential to addressing Nigeria’s evolving security landscape. Speaking in Abuja on Saturday, Benson—who represents the Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State—reflected on a series of recent high-level engagements with senior US officials. He said the discussions reaffirmed a central point: both nations stand to benefit from a more closely coordinated partnership, particularly as Nigeria continues to confront threats ranging from terrorism and banditry to maritime insecurity. According…

A Nigerian public affairs commentator, Olóyè Gbenga Olaleye, has raised concerns over what he described as the Federal Government’s inconsistent approach to tackling terrorism and insecurity across different regions of the country. His remarks followed the recent judgment sentencing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment on terrorism-related charges. In a public statement issued on Friday, via his official X account (formerly twitter), Gbenga said the verdict prompted him to reflect on Nigeria’s broader security operations and the need for a more uniform response to violent groups nationwide. While acknowledging the authority of…

The Ogun State Police Command has assured residents of Ajebo community in Obafemi–Owode Local Government Area that there is no imminent security threat, despite a viral video circulating on social media alleging that herders were planning an attack on the area. In a statement issued on Friday, the Command said its investigation had found no evidence to support the claims, stressing that the public should remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified rumours that could cause panic. The Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, ordered the immediate deployment of the Command’s tactical teams, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police…

Human-rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been secretly moved from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to a correctional facility in Sokoto State. New Daily Prime reported that Kanu, who has been held by the DSS since 2021, was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of several terrorism-related charges by a Federal High Court. Reacting to the development, Sowore said in a statement on his Facebook page that the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu…