Author: Gabby

President Bola Tinubu has adjusted the timeline for his upcoming diplomatic journey, now set to commence on Sunday instead of the earlier announced Saturday. The change was disclosed on X by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

In a brief update shared on Saturday, Onanuga confirmed that the three-nation tour is rescheduled to begin a day later than originally planned. However, no official explanation was provided regarding the reason behind the postponement.

The president’s itinerary includes stops in France, Kenya, and Rwanda. After an initial visit to France, he will proceed to Nairobi, Kenya, where he is expected to participate in the Africa-France Summit, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto.

This development comes as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and engage in key continental discussions. The summit in Nairobi is anticipated to address critical issues affecting Africa and France’s partnership.

A tragic incident unfolded in Tenobo village, located in Kwara State’s Kaiama Local Government Area, where unidentified gunmen launched a deadly assault, resulting in the deaths of three security operatives. Two additional officers sustained injuries during the attack, which occurred in the early hours of May 1, around 1:10 a.m., as reported by security analyst Zagazola Makama via a social media post on Saturday night.

The assailants, suspected to be terrorists, stormed the community and engaged the security forces stationed there. In response to a distress call, troops from the 22 Brigade, along with forest guards, vigilantes, and other operatives, promptly arrived at the scene. However, preliminary reports confirmed that three security personnel lost their lives in the clash.

Two Mobile Police officers were also wounded, sustaining gunshot injuries. Following the attack, the perpetrators fled, taking with them two AK-47 rifles and a riot gun, according to Makama’s account. The injured individuals and the bodies of the deceased were transported to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital for medical attention and other necessary procedures.

Security agencies have initiated follow-up operations aimed at apprehending the attackers and recovering the stolen weapons. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the region, with authorities vowing to bring those responsible to justice.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on the people of the South East to preserve harmony and steer their young ones away from violent confrontation with the Nigerian state. He delivered this appeal during the burial ceremony of Sir Albert Ikechukwu Nnamani, former Administrative Secretary of the now-defunct Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission, held in Ikem, Enugu State.

According to a statement released to journalists in Abuja, Akpabio emphasized that progress can only flourish in a peaceful environment and urged the Igbo community to provide proper guidance to the younger generation. He stated, “For Ndigbo, I implore you to keep the peace and be mindful of today’s youth. They lack political understanding and awareness about development. Development is only possible where peace reigns.”

He further warned that attempts to seize power or achieve independence through armed resistance against the federal government are doomed to fail. “State power will always overpower you,” he cautioned. Akpabio assured that the National Assembly is committed to passing laws that ensure fairness for the South East, including the creation of an additional state to bring the region in line with other zones. “We are ready as a parliament to make the right laws, to dot the i’s and cross the t’s so that Ndigbo can have at least one more state. This is our promise and we stand by it,” he declared.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is determined to rectify historical injustices, citing appointments that reflect inclusivity for the Igbo people. However, he stressed that all demands should be pursued through negotiation. Akpabio expressed concern over the economic impact of the sit-at-home orders, particularly on markets like Onitsha. “The economy of Onitsha and Nigeria has been badly affected by the so-called sit-at-home. Ndigbo are known for enterprise. After the Biafra war, accounts were frozen; if you had two million pounds, you received only three. What can you do with three pounds?” He lamented that the South East and South South, where the war was fought, lacked reconstruction efforts, focusing only on reconciliation and rehabilitation.

In paying tribute to the late OMPADEC administrator, Akpabio highlighted his dignified service and the role he played in Niger Delta development. He remarked that in the past, broken pipelines symbolized broken promises, but such days are now behind us. Akpabio concluded with a prayer that justice would be done for Ndigbo in their lifetime.

A joint security mission in Kwara State has led to the successful release of a kidnapped civilian, though not without a cost. The operation, conducted by troops from the 244 Battalion in collaboration with local vigilantes and forest guards, took place in the dense Tunga Maje forest area of Kaiama Local Government.

According to a disclosure by security expert Zagazola Makama on X, the rescue effort was triggered by intelligence gathered on April 30 at approximately 10:20 a.m., indicating that a resident of Vera village had been taken captive.

The security team moved swiftly into the forest, tracking the kidnappers until they made contact. A short gunfight ensued, during which the abducted individual was freed unharmed. However, one vigilante member sustained a gunshot wound and was promptly rushed to receive medical care.

Items recovered at the scene included two motorcycles believed to have been used by the perpetrators. Security sources have confirmed that further operations are underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects and prevent similar incidents.

The Nigerian Navy has carried out a major operation against criminal elements operating along the Calabar–Oron waterway in Cross River State. This action was aimed at curbing the rising incidents of abductions and other unlawful activities in the region.

According to a statement released by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the Director of Information, the mission was executed by personnel from NNS Victory and Forward Operating Base, Ibaka. The operation focused on Dayspring Island following an increase in kidnapping cases and related offenses in the area.

Folorunsho revealed that the strike led to the demolition of a camp belonging to a notorious militant leader known as “Juju,” who had been evading capture for a long time. The operation was further reinforced by the creation of a forward security post at Idung 1 (Peacock Crossing), which provides troops with a strategic position to control the surrounding creeks and waterways.

The naval spokesperson added that troops working alongside soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade forced suspected militants to abandon their hideouts. Security forces also took control of key water routes, limiting the criminals’ ability to move freely.

“During the search of the area, we uncovered and destroyed a militant hideout linked to a wanted suspect called ‘Juju’ in the Idung area,” Folorunsho said.

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former presidential candidate, has clarified that he remains a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) despite ongoing legal disputes within the party. In a statement issued late Saturday, he acknowledged that leaving the ADC remains an option but stressed that no final decision has been reached.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, disclosed that he has engaged in consultative discussions with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). He emphasized that he has not declared any intention to run for president or endorsed any candidate for the 2027 elections.

The statement addressed the challenges facing the ADC, including a recent Supreme Court judgment that recognized the David Mark-led National Working Committee while remitting the case to the High Court. Additionally, a Federal High Court ruling delegitimized the party’s recent convention, and the Attorney General of the Federation has moved to deregister the ADC.

Kwankwaso drew parallels to his exit from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), citing legal problems as the catalyst. He reiterated his democratic credentials, recalling his second-place finish in the 2014 APC presidential primary behind Muhammadu Buhari, and his support for Atiku Abubakar after losing the 2019 PDP ticket. He affirmed his commitment to national interest over personal ambition.

He also explained his absence from recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings as due to unavoidable personal commitments, for which he apologized. Kwankwaso promised to formally announce any definitive political direction through official channels at the appropriate time.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to participating in the 2027 general elections, dismissing rumors that it might not field a presidential candidate. In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party emphasized that it remains focused on its mission to rescue Nigeria from what it describes as the failures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and to prevent the country from sliding into a one-party state.

Abdullahi described recent suggestions that the ADC would not present candidates in the upcoming elections as entirely baseless and mischievous. He stressed that the party is fully compliant with all legal requirements, including the Constitution and the Electoral Act, and is actively building the necessary structures to contest and win elections at all levels. The party called on Nigerians to disregard what it termed scaremongering tactics aimed at creating confusion and dampening the growing momentum around the ADC.

The ADC insisted that it will present not just any candidates, but credible, competent, and nationally acceptable individuals capable of leading the country out of its current crisis. The party’s statement read in part: ‘We remain a law-abiding political party, fully compliant with the Constitution and the Electoral Act. There is no legal impediment to our participation in the 2027 elections, and any suggestion to the contrary is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.’

The party reiterated its role as Nigeria’s primary opposition platform, with a clear focus on organizing, mobilizing, and preparing to win the 2027 general elections. It charged Nigerians to remain steadfast and not be swayed by unfounded assertions, noting that the ADC is determined to provide a viable alternative to the ruling party.