Category: News

The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency (KSPWA) has announced the successful transportation of 1,158 pilgrims from the state to Medina, Saudi Arabia, in preparation for the 2026 Hajj. This was disclosed in a statement by the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Mallam Ibrahim Makarfi, on Sunday in Kaduna.

According to Makarfi, the first flight took off on May 14 with 426 pilgrims, followed by a second flight on May 15 carrying 389 pilgrims, and a third on May 16 with 343 pilgrims. All flights landed safely in Medina. Pilgrims for the fourth flight were already at Hassan Usman Katsina International Airport awaiting departure on Sunday, while those for the fifth flight began reporting at the Transit Camp in Mando, Kaduna, from 10:00 a.m. on the same day.

The official carrier for this year’s Hajj operations is Flynas Airline. Makarfi expressed gratitude to the pilgrims and stakeholders for their cooperation and patience, reaffirming the agency’s dedication to ensuring a seamless and successful airlift for all pilgrims from the state.

The Federal Government, acting through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has ramped up surveillance and emergency response mechanisms in light of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a confirmed imported case in Uganda.

In a public health advisory signed by NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris, the agency stated that it is vigilantly tracking developments in the affected nations and coordinating preparedness efforts with the Port Health Services and other partners.

“Response activities are ongoing in the affected areas, and we are ensuring continued vigilance within Nigeria’s public health system,” Dr. Idris noted.

Outlining the activated preparedness measures, Idris highlighted that the NCDC has bolstered nationwide surveillance for Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases, while enhancing event-based monitoring and collaboration with state health authorities.

Other steps include improving laboratory and diagnostic readiness, strengthening infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings, and expanding community engagement and public risk communication.

The agency is closely monitoring global and regional developments to ensure a swift response if the situation escalates.

Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and often fatal viral infection transmitted through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials of infected persons or animals. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days.

In response to recent abduction incidents in Oyo State, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for an immediate overhaul of the Safe School Initiative. The order was made public through a communication from the state government on May 17, 2026.

The governor mandated the Ministry of Education and other relevant security bodies to implement enhanced measures to prevent any kidnapping spillover into Osun. He emphasized the need for intensified intelligence operations around educational institutions, particularly those in border zones and isolated areas.

Furthermore, Adeleke instructed the Amotekun security network to bolster its partnership with civil peace organizations that are actively supporting school security across the state. He stated, “We are determined to protect our students throughout our education system. Ongoing efforts are being made to improve school safety, especially in rural regions.”

The governor also reassured parents and school administrators about student safety and directed his security advisor to reinforce the safety blueprint.

Anger boiled over in Gwarzo Local Government Area on Sunday as young protesters set fire to a section of the council secretariat, venting their fury at persistent insecurity.

What began as a peaceful march quickly turned violent when demonstrators, fed up with repeated bandit raids, stormed the government building. Witnesses reported that thick smoke billowed from the blaze, prompting panic among residents and bystanders who fled the area.

One local stated that frustration had been simmering for weeks due to the authorities’ failure to curb attacks. “People are exhausted from living in dread. The assaults are too frequent, and there is no decisive action. That is why the youth resorted to this,” he explained.

Another resident urged calm, noting that destroying public assets would only compound the problem. “While we grasp the anger, violence is not the answer. What is needed is conversation and urgent security measures,” he added.

Security personnel were later dispatched to Gwarzo to reestablish order and avert further chaos, as officials launched an inquiry into the incident.

In a distressing development, a fresh video has emerged from the recent mass abduction at schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, showing a nursing mother making an emotional appeal for assistance. The woman, who works at First Baptist Church School in Ogbomosho, is seen holding her infant while urging the federal and state governments, as well as President Bola Tinubu, to intervene swiftly.

“My name is Temitope, and I am from Ibadan. I work at First Baptist Church in Ogbomosho. Yesterday, armed men invaded our school and kidnapped both staff and students. We are pleading for help. President Tinubu, please come to our aid. Governor Seyi Makinde, we need your intervention,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

This new footage follows an earlier video from Mrs. Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School in Esiele, who also begged for urgent action after seven teachers and 39 pupils were abducted last Friday. She directed her appeal to the federal government, Governor Makinde, and the Christian Association of Nigeria.

Security forces have confirmed that rescue missions are underway, with police and military personnel combing forest areas near the Old Oyo National Park in pursuit of the captors. Reports from the initial attack indicate that an assistant headmaster, Joel Adesiyan, was fatally shot, and several motorcycles were seized by the assailants as they escaped.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s reported talks with the World Bank to secure an additional $1.25 billion loan. In a statement released by his media aide, Olusola Sanni, Atiku described the move as alarming economic sabotage, underscoring the administration’s dangerous reliance on borrowing.

The announcement comes at a time when Nigeria’s national debt has already hit N159 trillion as of December 2025, sparking widespread concerns. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly obtained approval for the new loan, which has triggered backlash from citizens and opposition figures alike.

Atiku warned that if finalized, this loan would be among the largest fresh debts taken on by the current government. He argued that it is troubling and unacceptable for an administration that pledged economic revival to instead become known for massive borrowing, while Nigerians see no tangible improvement in their living conditions.

“This borrowing spree is reckless, opaque, and becoming a dangerous habit. These loans impose a crushing burden on Nigerians. We were promised better infrastructure, power, and economic recovery, but ordinary people still face darkness, deadly roads, collapsing businesses due to high energy costs, and a national hunger crisis,” Atiku stated.

He called on the World Bank and other creditors to enforce stricter compliance with loan terms and conditions. Additionally, Atiku demanded that President Tinubu’s government provide a comprehensive breakdown of all loans taken since taking office, including their terms, disbursement status, and concrete outcomes for each project.

The criticism highlights growing frustration over Nigeria’s mounting debt and the lack of visible development, with many questioning the sustainability of the current borrowing strategy.

In a harrowing incident on Saturday, four members of the Nigerian military were injured after their patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device followed by a calculated ambush. The attack took place along the critical Damboa–Kumala–Maiduguri supply route in Borno State, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama, who shared details on his X account Sunday.

The assault unfolded around 11:45 a.m. on May 16, roughly nine kilometers from Kumala Junction in Konduga Local Government Area. Soldiers from the 25 Brigade, who were conducting a dominance patrol on the strategic highway, encountered a command-detonated IED believed to have been planted by suspected militants. Shortly after the blast, they came under enemy fire in a well-orchestrated ambush.

Despite the sudden attack, the troops fought valiantly and managed to push through, though four soldiers sustained injuries during the exchange. In response, reinforcements from the brigade headquarters, together with an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, were dispatched to the area to clear the route and bolster ongoing security operations. The EOD team later discovered and safely neutralized another suspected IED along the same stretch of road.

Security sources also revealed that the troops successfully escorted 89 civilian vehicles through the corridor as a protective measure. However, 165 other vehicles were turned back to Damboa due to the heightened threat posed by the attack. The incident underscores the persistent danger faced by Nigerian forces and civilians in the region.

The Nigerian Senate has strongly denounced the kidnapping of 87 students and teachers across Borno and Oyo states within a single day, labeling these acts a direct strike against the country’s future prospects.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, through his media office on Sunday, voiced deep concern over the events, pointing out that they undermine past efforts to safeguard educational institutions nationwide.

In Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, 45 pupils and educators were seized by suspected gunmen. Meanwhile, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Boko Haram terrorists reportedly abducted 42 individuals from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School.

Bamidele emphasized that these back-to-back incidents highlight an urgent need for enhanced security in schools, warning that ongoing attacks on learning centers jeopardize national growth and development.

He noted that the National Assembly is moving forward with constitutional amendments to create state police forces, a move he sees as essential for improving overall security. The proposal is nearly complete and will soon be sent to state Houses of Assembly for approval, he added.

As a stopgap, Bamidele urged federal and state authorities to bolster the Safe School Initiative, especially given the high number of out-of-school children in the country.

He called for cross-party support for security and constitutional reforms, insisting that the abductions should not be politicized. The Senate plans to pursue further legislative measures to address insecurity when it reconvenes.

Armed bandits launched an assault on several rural settlements west of Musawa town in Katsina State’s Musawa Local Government Area, causing residents to abandon their homes and rustling a significant number of livestock.

The incident was reported on Sunday by Bakatsine, a security analyst from the region, via X. He noted that women and children have been left homeless and stranded in Musawa town, lacking shelter, food, or any form of aid, while rains continue to fall and conditions worsen.

“The displaced families urgently need humanitarian help. Security agencies must step up their efforts and quickly intervene to safeguard communities in Musawa LGA and neighboring areas,” he posted on X.

Bakatsine also voiced optimism that peace and security will eventually return to the affected communities and to the nation at large.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election for Epe Federal Constituency has been hit by controversy after aspirant BIA Eruobodo formally challenged the results from Ward M1, citing alleged irregularities that marred the voting process.

According to reports emerging from the collation centre, Eruobodo raised serious objections and staged a protest over what he described as questionable actions that compromised the integrity of the exercise in that ward. The aspirant argued that the irregularities undermined the credibility of the entire primary process.

The protest created tension among supporters and party stakeholders gathered at the venue. Electoral officials were forced to review complaints and reports concerning the conduct of the exercise in Ward M1 amid heightened emotions.

Following thorough deliberations among party officials, the election process in the ward was eventually nullified, pending further directives from the party’s national leadership. Security personnel and party stakeholders intervened to restore calm, urging all aspirants and their supporters to remain peaceful while allowing due process to take its course.

The incident has become a major topic of discussion within the constituency, shaping perceptions of the primary election outcome across Epe.