Author: Gabby

In a recent military operation in Zamfara State, troops from the Nigerian Army’s Operation FANSAN YAMMA successfully eliminated three insurgents and confiscated a significant quantity of arms and ammunition. The operation, which took place in the Birnin Magaji Local Government Area, involved a fighting patrol that covered several villages including Birnin Tsaba, Tsanu, and Dumburum.

According to a report from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) released on Thursday in Abuja, the patrol engaged the insurgents at Dumburum village, where a fierce encounter led to the neutralization of three terrorists. Following the clash, the troops recovered a variety of weapons and ammunition, including one AK-47 rifle, one SK-21 A1 machine gun, a locally made handgun, six AK-47 magazines, and one FN rifle magazine.

The report further detailed that additional recovered items comprised 123 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 179 rounds of 12.7 x 108mm ammunition on links, and 269 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition. Notably, no casualties were reported among the troops during the operation.

In a brazen attack on Wednesday night, armed individuals seized eight students from the Faculty of Engineering at Nasarawa State University. The incident occurred at a private residence located off campus in Gudi, a community within Akwanga Local Government Area.

According to an anonymous source, the victims were taken from their lodging in Anguwar Ninzo, Gudi, on the outskirts of the town. The police spokesman, SP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed that six of the abducted students and a friend who was visiting at the time were among those taken. He noted that the identity of the eighth victim remains unverified.

The police received a distress call at around 9 p.m. on May 6, 2026, reporting that a gang of armed hoodlums had stormed the student lodge and kidnapped several individuals. The captors fled to an undisclosed location.

In response, the Commissioner of Police for Nasarawa State, CP Shetina Jauro Mohammed, immediately visited the scene to assess the situation. He assured the university community and local residents that the command is fully committed to rescuing the victims unharmed.

To bolster the search efforts, the commissioner has redeployed the area commander of Akwanga to coordinate field operations. A joint security task force—comprising personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), vigilante groups, and other tactical units—has been mobilized to track down the perpetrators and secure the safe release of all victims.

The Benue State House of Assembly has taken the decision to suspend Abraham Gberidyer, who serves as the auditor-general for local government, following allegations of financial wrongdoing amounting to approximately N4.6 billion. This action was announced on Thursday through a statement released by Michael Zape, the chief press secretary to Speaker Berger Emberga. The statement confirmed that the suspension was authorized during a plenary session.

According to the details, Governor Hyacinth Alia formally notified the lawmakers about the allegations via a letter that was transmitted by the head of service. In the correspondence, the governor indicated that Gberidyer is currently under investigation for corruption and cannot remain in office under the provisions of the constitution concerning the removal of corrupt public officers. The lawmakers unanimously supported the suspension, expressing that it would allow for a comprehensive probe into the claims.

During the same plenary session, the assembly passed a bill aimed at establishing an official state symbol and anthem for Benue, along with other related measures. The bill was passed following a report presented by the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Culture and Tourism, William Ortyom, who was represented by Anyor Mato. Additionally, lawmakers considered a bill to repeal the Benue State Sports Marketing and Lotteries Board Law of 2017 and replace it with the Benue State Lotteries, Public Online Lotteries, Gaming and Sports Marketing Board Law of 2024, which successfully passed its second reading.

Speaker Berger Emberga referred the proposed legislation to the House Committee on Youth, Sports and Creativity for further examination. Another bill focusing on adjusting the retirement age and enhancing remuneration for magistrates and legal officers passed its third reading. This bill seeks to extend the retirement age for these officials to prevent the state from losing experienced personnel in the justice sector. Furthermore, the Benue State Pension Harmonisation Bill also passed its second reading; it was sponsored by Douglas Akya of Makurdi South constituency and aims to increase pension benefits for retirees.

The Nigerian government has shed light on why President Bola Tinubu is keeping fuel subsidy abolished. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communications, stated during a Channels Television program that the decision stems from widespread fraud in the petroleum sector.

According to Bwala, the previous subsidy system primarily benefited dishonest individuals rather than ordinary citizens. He emphasized that non-Nigerians were among those exploiting the regime.

Bwala clarified that the administration is not opposed to subsidies in principle, pointing to existing subsidies on dialysis at 50% and support in agriculture. He described President Tinubu’s leadership as flexible, noting that if a genuine need for subsidy arises, the government could consider it.

The presidential aide also highlighted that state governors across Nigeria have welcomed the subsidy removal due to increased revenues for their states.

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has sharply criticized Nigeria’s National Assembly, accusing it of transforming lawmaking into a mechanism for personal gain.

Speaking during a live interview on Arise Television on Thursday, Amadi argued that this shift has deepened the nation’s crisis of exclusion, shutting out many citizens, including those eager to engage in the political process.

“What we are witnessing is the National Assembly converting legislation into an avenue for self-aggrandizement, whether for the executive branch or for themselves,” Amadi stated. “The result is a mounting crisis fueled by exclusion.”

He acknowledged that, technically, the Assembly is entitled to establish rules governing its internal hierarchy. “There is nothing inherently wrong with the National Assembly creating procedures to define its structure,” he noted. “The Senate, the House of Representatives, and other bodies operate under constitutional guidelines. In this case, the Senate is free to self-regulate, and its rules encompass various elements.”

However, Amadi expressed concern over a troubling trend in the current Assembly: the move toward laws that are narrow, targeting specific individuals or events. “Consider the Electoral Act,” he said. “When they crafted the clause prohibiting party defection within a certain period, it was clearly aimed at particular people. Interestingly, those like Adams Oshiomhole, who now complain, were silent when laws were being framed to target others.”

He called for a return to inclusive, broad-based legislation that serves the public interest rather than individual ambitions.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly are being pressed to endorse the African Union’s Malabo Protocol, a move that could significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to combat terrorism and transnational crime. The call came during a security and governance dialogue held Thursday in Abuja, where participants underscored the urgency of reinforcing legal instruments to address escalating insecurity across Nigeria and the African continent.

Constitutional lawyer Abdul Mahmud, addressing the gathering, emphasized that adopting the protocol would foster regional collaboration, improve intelligence sharing, and streamline the prosecution of terror-related cases. He noted that the Malabo Protocol establishes a robust legal framework enabling African nations to jointly tackle threats such as terrorism, cybercrime, corruption, and other cross-border offenses that undermine peace and stability.

Mahmud urged both President Tinubu and lawmakers to demonstrate political will by accelerating the ratification and implementation process. The protocol, adopted by the African Union in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in 2014, seeks to extend the jurisdiction of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights to cover international crimes including terrorism and corruption.

Stakeholders argue that delayed ratification leaves Nigeria vulnerable to sophisticated criminal networks that operate across borders. By joining the protocol, Nigeria would gain access to enhanced legal mechanisms for holding perpetrators accountable and deterring future threats.