Author: Gabby

The Transmission Company of Nigeria has declared a 13-day power outage affecting large portions of Delta State, citing essential maintenance work at its 132/33 kilovolt substation. This disruption began on June 4, 2026, and is scheduled to continue until June 16, according to a statement released on Friday by TCN’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah.

The federal agency explained that the maintenance involves the installation of a bus coupler circuit breaker and the restoration of five isolators on the main busbar. As a result, the Benin Electricity Distribution company will be unable to supply electricity to several key areas, including Warri, Effurun, and Sapele.

In a detailed update, TCN noted that many 33kV feeders from the Effurun and Delta substations will be inactive during this period. These include feeders such as Effurun, Warri, Sapele, Osubi, PTI, PMSL, Refinery I, Refinery II, and Enerhen, as well as Isoko/Kwale, Otovwodo/Patani, Ughelli/Shell, Agbarho/Eku, Aladja, Imoniyame, and Beta Glass feeders. The prolonged blackout is expected to significantly disrupt businesses in Delta State that depend on the national grid for power.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially disclosed the prominent political figures who served as caucus heads across the South East geopolitical zone. These individuals played a pivotal role in the party’s stakeholder engagement and consensus-building efforts leading up to the recently concluded primaries.

In a Friday statement from the party’s National Secretary, Barrister Ikenna Alex-Morgan Enekweizu, the NDC noted that presidential candidate Peter Obi joined the party with an already established leadership framework. This framework includes respected elder statesmen and political leaders responsible for coordinating party activities in their respective states.

The designated caucus leaders for the region are as follows: Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, former NDDC Board Chairman, for Abia State; Dr. Sam Egwu, former Governor, Minister, and Senator, for Ebonyi State; Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Governor and ex-PDP National Chairman, for Enugu State; and Chief Achike Udenwa, former Governor and Minister, for Imo State. In Anambra State, the process is managed by Peter Obi’s team.

The NDC explained that these leaders were entrusted with conducting thorough stakeholder consultations, building consensus, and offering recommendations based on the unique political landscapes of their states. Grassroots leaders and other stakeholders also actively participated in these consultations.

“These leaders were charged with carrying out stakeholder consultations, building consensus, and presenting recommendations to the party grounded in their understanding of the specific political dynamics in their states,” the statement said. “Furthermore, each state boasts recognized stakeholders and grassroots leaders who take part in consultations and offer input on party matters.”

The party emphasized that aspirants who disagreed with stakeholder or caucus leader recommendations had the opportunity to contest through the party’s democratic processes, which were available during the primaries. It also refuted allegations of imposing candidates, stating that the National Secretariat simply received aspirants and directed them to engage with caucus leaders, stakeholders, and party members in their states.

The NDC urged caucus leaders, state chairmen, stakeholders, and other leaders to engage with aggrieved aspirants and members to ensure the party’s continued growth and stability.

Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, representing Oyo North, has shed light on why the Nigerian government cannot launch a military offensive against the bandits holding the abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State. According to him, any such attack would likely result in the deaths of all 47 pupils.

Gunmen recently kidnapped students from schools in Ogbomosho and Oriire Local Government Areas of Oyo State. Senator Buhari revealed that the criminals are using the children as human shields within their hideout.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday night, Buhari said: “When the Federal government delegation came, we visited all the families, including the one where a woman was brutally murdered. We consoled her. She pleaded with us, even asking if we could recover her husband’s corpse—we don’t know if they buried him or threw it away.”

He further explained: “The forest spans seven states: Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, and we share borders with Benin and Niger. In most cases, these people enter the forest, which is very thick, with no beginning or end. The sad aspect is that they keep moving, making tracking extremely difficult.

“This is not a conventional war. These are individuals crossing from other countries and moving constantly. Initially, they surrounded themselves with the children, and it was raining. If we decide to attack, they would kill all 47 children—they are using them as human shields.”

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has voiced deep concern over the escalating security challenges across the country, suggesting a direct link to the upcoming 2027 general elections. Speaking during the inauguration of a road project in Gombe State on Thursday, the minister questioned the recurring pattern of heightened insecurity preceding electoral cycles.

Umahi stressed that security matters should never be turned into political tools or exploited for personal gain. He pointed out that it is troubling how violence and criminal activities intensify whenever elections draw near. The minister warned that those who orchestrate or benefit from such unrest will face divine justice.

“Those who take innocent lives under any pretense must remember that God sees everything, and He will repay accordingly,” Umahi declared.

The former Ebonyi State governor accused certain politicians of deliberately destabilizing the country’s security situation to gain an advantage in the 2027 polls. He cautioned that such individuals would encounter divine opposition in their quest for power.

“If anyone is complicit in creating insecurity just to seize power, God will stand against that person,” he added.

Despite the grim assessment, Umahi expressed optimism that the current phase of instability will eventually pass. He reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu and urged Nigerians to remain steadfast.

“We stand with the President, we pray for him, and we work alongside him. This difficult period will not last forever. By God’s grace, we will emerge victorious in the coming elections,” he concluded.

Amid escalating insecurity across Nigeria, a coalition of religious organizations and state officials have gathered for separate prayer events, appealing for divine intervention. The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) led by Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, convened a special session during the Manna Water Service, focusing on the nation’s worsening security situation, particularly the surge in banditry and kidnappings. Olukoya delivered a sermon titled ‘Violent Spiritual Practices to Defeat Violent Problems,’ urging citizens to intensify prayers for peace, justice, and national stability, emphasizing that prayer is a crucial weapon against national challenges.

Simultaneously, the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT) publicly condemned the persistent insecurity, describing attacks on innocent citizens and communities as tragic and deeply troubling. The Islamic organization voiced concern over the loss of lives and destruction of livelihoods, calling for urgent action from all stakeholders. NASFAT announced that special prayers would be held across all its branches worldwide on Sunday to seek divine intervention for Nigeria’s security issues.

In a related development, Christian leaders from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), alongside political appointees and government officials in Oyo State, held an interdenominational prayer meeting at the Oyo State Government House Chapel. The gathering included religious leaders, government representatives, students, and worshippers from various denominations. Participants prayed for the safe release of abducted teachers and students, and called for divine intervention to address the country’s security challenges.

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration to present concrete evidence to back up assertions that security drones bought during the previous government have vanished.

The opposition party described as baseless the allegations that five drones acquired under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s tenure could not be located, insisting that official records must be produced to verify the claims.

The controversy erupted after the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, announced that the current administration had failed to trace five security drones reportedly paid for by the preceding government. Rasheed also indicated that the government was exploring the purchase of new drones to bolster security operations in the state.

In response, Osun APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi rejected the allegations and warned the public not to be deceived by what he termed false information. Olabisi stated that the Adeleke administration should concentrate on tackling current security issues instead of blaming its shortcomings on the previous government.

He asserted that former governor Oyetola never procured any drones during his four-year term and challenged the state government to provide documentary proof if such purchases were indeed made. Olabisi called on citizens to dismiss what he described as a blatant lie intended to mislead the public for political gain.

The APC spokesperson criticized the governor’s approach, arguing that after more than three years in office, it was unnecessary to keep referencing the previous administration. He expressed disappointment that the governor continued to rely on falsehoods and deceit, noting that it seemed impossible for a leopard to change its spots.

Olabisi also urged residents to hold the current administration accountable for maintaining security across the state, emphasizing that the government in power bears the responsibility for safeguarding lives and property.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has announced a 51 percent subsidy on fertilizer, cutting the price of a bag to N28,000 for local farmers. This initiative aims to boost agricultural production and secure food availability across the state.

Speaking at the launch of the 2026 Fertilizer and Agricultural Inputs Sales and Distribution Programme at the Benue Fertilizer Blending Plant in Makurdi on Thursday, the governor highlighted that the subsidy is intended to ease the burden of rising farming costs and encourage more residents to engage in agriculture.

Alia emphasized that the distribution effort is part of a broader agricultural strategy focusing on expanding farmland through land consolidation, improving access to quality inputs, and raising overall productivity. He stated that this is not just a one-time measure but a sustained policy aimed at enhancing food security, enlarging cultivated areas, and boosting rural economies.

The governor noted that the program will cover all 23 local government areas, with enhanced monitoring to ensure fairness and prevent misuse. He also revealed that the state has increased the quantity of fertilizer and other inputs this year to meet the growing demand from expanded farming activities.

Key components of the administration’s agricultural agenda include building and rehabilitating rural roads, expanding irrigation for year-round farming, promoting agro-processing and value chains, and offering training for farmers, youth, and women in agribusiness. Alia urged farmers to utilize the subsidized inputs to enhance food production and warned officials to maintain transparency and accountability, with strict penalties for any diversion or malpractice.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security Benjamin Ashaver assured that substandard fertilizer distribution is now a thing of the past, with comprehensive monitoring to guarantee quality. He warned that those who bypass approved procedures or engage in unethical conduct will face sanctions. The program is expected to benefit thousands of farmers as the 2026 farming season approaches.

A man who survived a kidnapping in Benue State has disclosed that armed herdsmen have transformed a forest in Otukpo Local Government Area into a criminal stronghold they call ‘Little Sambisa,’ where hostages are kept while ransoms are negotiated.

The survivor, Akubobi Fabian, made this known after he was set free following six days in captivity. He had been seized along the Ojano Road corridor near Ochobo Bridge.

Fabian recounted that he was heading home after purchasing supplies when assailants ambushed his vehicle around 9 p.m. They shot at the car, blew out a tire, and forced everyone into the bush.

“At first, we believed they were just robbers after our money, but they led us deep into the forest,” he said.

The captives walked throughout the night until they reached the kidnappers’ camp, where conditions were harsh during the entire six-day ordeal. Fabian stated that the abductors demanded N10 million for his release, while some other victims were told to pay up to N20 million.

“They asked for N10 million from me. Others were charged N20 million. My brother managed to gather N1 million, and after six days, they let me go,” he explained.

The kidnappers repeatedly referred to their camp as “Sambisa Forest,” a name famously linked to the Boko Haram hideout in northeastern Nigeria. Fabian added that the camp is located behind the Idoma Doctors Association building in Otukpo, and the abductors openly identified themselves as Fulani herdsmen.

Citizen journalist Meddy Olotu, who interviewed Fabian after his freedom, corroborated the story. Olotu noted that the same location has been used multiple times as a collection point for ransom payments related to kidnappings on the Ojano Road axis and surrounding areas.

“Several previous cases, involving students and travelers, had ransoms delivered at that very spot behind the Idoma Doctors Association building,” Olotu said.

He expressed concern that criminal activities persist in the area, with kidnappers conducting negotiations and collecting payments without any interference. Olotu also recalled an incident where a man was shot in Ojano, later died in hospital, and his body was placed in a morgue.

Fabian confirmed that one person lost their life during the attack that led to his abduction, as the gunmen opened fire near a checkpoint before forcing the group into the forest. He and other survivors reported the incident to the police upon their release.

The revelations have intensified worries about security in Benue South, especially along the Otukpo-Ojano route, where residents have frequently voiced concerns about rising kidnapping and violent attacks. As of now, security authorities have not formally responded to the allegations regarding the existence of the hideout.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has officially distanced itself from the Take It Back Movement, a group led by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore. NANS accuses the movement of disguising political ambitions under the cloak of activism.

In a statement released from Abuja, NANS President Akinteye Babatunde Afeez declared that the student body will not participate in any protests organized by the movement. He stressed that NANS’ advocacy methods are fundamentally different from those of the group.

Afeez raised concerns that the Take It Back Movement has muddied the waters between activism, journalism, and partisan politics, casting doubt on its genuine objectives. He asserted that the movement’s actions appear to serve political interests rather than advocating for pressing national issues.

The NANS president also refuted reports questioning his student status, labeling them as false and irresponsible. He affirmed that he is a legitimate student at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology and criticized the publishing media house for failing to verify facts before going to print.

Afeez urged media organizations to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. He further claimed that the Take It Back Movement is increasingly viewed as a political entity rather than an independent advocacy group.

Without providing evidence, he alleged that some individuals have linked the movement to groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Regarding the recent abductions of students and teachers, Afeez stated that NANS will not collaborate with Sowore or his movement in any related protests.

However, he commended organized labor and education stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), for their advocacy on behalf of kidnap victims. Afeez reaffirmed NANS’ commitment to demanding the safe return of abducted students and holding authorities accountable for protecting educational institutions.

He emphasized that the association will continue to champion student interests through peaceful and lawful means, maintaining a dedication to national peace and stability and opposing any actions that could incite violence or public disorder.