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Former Defence Minister, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma, retd; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, President of Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, Rev Lucius Ugorji, and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, have expressed angst against the present high level insecurity in the country.
Similarly, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, and Kebbi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, expressed same sentiments, pleading with President Bola Tinubu to save Nigerians from frequent killings by bandits, herdsmen, and insurgents.
Their reactions came against the backdrop of militia’s attacks on communities in Plateau and Benue states, which have claimed no fewer than 200 lives in the last two weeks.
They expressed indignation that President Tinubu could afford to remain abroad when Nigerians were being slaughtered at home by militias, marrauding herdsmen and other criminals.
Defend yourselves against bandits, Danjuma tells Nigerians
In fact, Gen Danjuma reiterated his earlier call on Nigerians to rise and defend themselves, warning that relying solely on the government for protection was no longer realistic.
Speaking at a public event in Takum, Taraba State, weekend, Danjuma said his warning from five years ago remained relevant amid growing wave of insecurity across the country.
According to him, the recent spate of killings in Benue, Plateau, and other parts of Nigeria has once again validated his concerns.
“The warning I gave some years ago is still as valid today as it was then. Nigerians must rise and defend themselves.
“We cannot continue to sit and watch while bandits, terrorists, and criminal gangs massacre our people unchecked,” he said.
Danjuma, who hails from Takum, lamented what he described as the government’s inability to provide adequate security, stressing that the time had come for communities to take proactive steps in protecting their lives and properties.
“It is now very clear that the government alone cannot protect us. We must stand up and defend ourselves, our families, and our lands before these criminals overrun the entire country,” he added.
Tinubu gallivanting across Europe as Nigeria bleeds, he doesn’t care — Atiku
On his part former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, criticised President Tinubu for remaining in Europe as insecurity engulfs the country he leads.
In a statement issued yesterday, Abubakar claimed that Tinubu y does not care, citing cases of political leaders who cut short their trips to attend to urgent matters back home.
“The Tinubu administration has proven, time and again, to be utterly incapable, wholly incompetent, and completely devoid of any coherent ideas for tackling Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
“This is not just my position — it is a growing consensus among political opposition leaders, respected security experts, and even members within the ruling party who, though too timid to speak publicly, confess this uncomfortable truth behind closed doors.
“The blood of innocent Nigerians continues to be spilled with appalling regularity — most recently in the Logo and Gbagir communities of Ukum LGA in Benue State.
“Yet, the Tinubu presidency remains disturbingly indifferent, displaying neither urgency nor the basic decency of public empathy.
“Leadership demands presence. In 2016, President Barack Obama cut short an important diplomatic visit to return home after five police officers were killed in a lone gunman attack.
“In 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa abandoned a state visit to Egypt to return to South Africa amid an electricity crisis.
“Even U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, heavily criticised for fleeing to Mexico during a deadly winter storm in Texas, eventually returned and acknowledged his mistake.
“In our history, President Goodluck Jonathan returned from Equatorial Guinea in 2014 following a deadly bomb blast in Abuja.
“That is the expected minimum in moments of national trauma. Yet President Tinubu, incapable of solving Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, chooses instead to gallivant across Europe, governing Nigeria in absentia as if from a holiday perch.
“If he cannot act, the least he can do is show up. If he cannot lead with empathy, he should at least attempt to perform it. Nigeria is bleeding. Nigerians are dying. The president is nowhere to be found.
“An inept administration may not suddenly discover competence. But we will not stop calling it out. If Tinubu cannot deliver safety and dignity to Nigerians, the very least he can do is pretend to care.”
Abubakar said Tinubu must prove that he cared for all Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic, political or religious affiliation.
Nigeria bleeding, please bring us down from this cross, Kukah begs Tinubu
The Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, on his part, appealed to President Tinubu to save Nigerians from the cross of pain and hunger.
In his Easter message yesterday, the cleric called on the government to protect Nigerians from “marauders, murderers, savages and ravenous predators who threaten to overrun our nation.”
He said: “Mr. President, hunger, sickness and desolation stalk the land. We still believe removing the subsidies was the right decision.
“We note that the country now has a huge volume of resources in its domestic reserves. For over 10 years now, farming has become one of the most hazardous occupations in our country.’’ Kukah further criticised the government’s moves to assuage Nigerian’s plight by means of palliatives distribution, warning that such a move diminished the dignity of citizens.
He advised the government to “make food security a fundamental human right to all citizens” and called on the President to “please bring us down from this painful cross of hunger.”
According to him, bandits, who were brought into the country as a strategy for upstaging the government of the day and to gain power, have become embedded in every sphere of the lives of Nigerians, killing people and destroying communities.
“Today we have watched as the cancer of insecurity and violence have metastasised. Now, this cancer threatens the very foundation of our common humanity,” Kukah asserted.
He maintained that the insecurity in Nigeria was reaching a breaking point as terrorists, bandits and kidnappers cut lives short and subject their victims to the most inhuman conditions.
“Taken together, they have placed our country outside the purveyor of human civilisation. Across the country, every day, innocent citizens are kidnapped and held under the most inhuman conditions. A dark pall of death hangs languidly from north to south.
“It is impossible to find a home, a family, or a community that has not been caught in the cusp of this savagery. Now, Mr. President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point.
“The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue. Mr. President, with a greater sense of urgency, hasten to bring us down from this cross of evil.
“Mr President, we all admit that you neither erected this cross nor did you affect our collective crucifixion.
“Notwithstanding, Nigerians have been dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain and mindless suffering for too long,’’ Kukah said.
We must rejig our security philosophy —Bakare
Also, Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, CGCC, Pastor Tunde Bakare, who spoke on the State of the Nation, yesterday, said Nigerians have lost faith in the capacity of the government to guarantee their security, warning that it was a dangerous trajectory.
Calling for the redesigning of the country’s security architecture, Bakare said: “In recent weeks, there have been gruesome reports of killings in several parts of the country, including Edo, Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, and Borno states.
‘’Because citizens have lost faith in the capacity of the government to guarantee their security, communities are forming poorly trained, poorly equipped and unprofessional militias, with some taking the law into their hands, heightening the risk of an inter-ethnic crisis. This is a dangerous trajectory.”
He called for the formation of zonal security councils, chaired by a governor from the respective zone.
“We must then reinstate national security federalism by activating constitutional procedures for multilevel policing, including local, state and zonal policing systems. ‘’Against this backdrop, we must redesign our security architecture by facilitating the formation of Zonal Security Councils, chaired by a governor from the respective zone, on a rotating basis.
‘’Such Zonal Security Councils, which will be formed by state and local policing systems within respective zones, must be managed by nonpartisan security experts, while the chairperson at each point in time will represent the zone at the National Security Council,’’ Bakare added.
Mindless killings in Nigeria troubling – CBCN President, Most Rev Ugorji
Also, President of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, Most Rev Lucius Ugorji lamented that the mindless slaughtering of innocent citizens in parts Nigeria was not only troubling but also sadly presents the nation as a country under siege.
In his Easter message in Owerri yesterday, Most Rev Ugorji, who is also the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, said: “We are celebrating Easter this year in an atmosphere that breathes pessimism and despair.
‘’The general insecurity of life and property is heightened by the rising wave of kidnapping for ransom, and the mindless slaughtering of innocent citizens by criminal gangs.
“We seem to be a nation under siege. No place seems safe: our homes, places of
business, our highways and even the sacred precincts of places of worship.
“Government’s lack of political will to address the rising criminality across the nation is pushing the populace to resort to self-help to defend their Iives and sources of livelihood.
“Economic hardship continues to sweep across the nation on account of the withdrawal of fuel subsidies, and the floating of the national currency.
“The appalling economic condition is worsened, as our national debt continues to surge due to external and internal borrowings to finance budgets and infrastructural projects. Thus, the future of the present and future generations is mortgaged.
“This state of affairs is driving many compatriots to a feeling of cynicism. Having had myriad of shattered dreams and aborted hopes, many Nigerians groan with anguished hearts as they behold a future that promises them little or nothing.”
According to him, the prevailing disillusionment that reigns among the citizenry, mirrors the frustration felt by the apostles and disciples at the excruciating passion and humiliating death of Christ.
“After the crucifixion of their Lord and Master, they returned home with shattered dreams and hopes-dispirited, dejected, downcast and miserable.
“In this gloomy and cheerless context, the joyful and heart-warming Easter message resounds: God has raised Jesus to life. He would not permit death to triumph forever nor allow his people to die and perish in their helplessness.
“He desires that Christ and, indeed, all should have life and have it to the full. Amid our feeling of despair and disillusionment, Easter has a message of hope, namely that the darkest part of the night is the beginning of dawn.
“This message of hope underscores that even though the forces of evil might seem, at times, to have an upper hand over the good, on the long run, the good always triumphs over evil.’’
CAN blast FG over incessant killings in Nigeria
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Kebbi State, in its reaction, asked service chiefs in the country to live up to the expectations of Nigerians by ensuring the security of their lives and property as constitutional rights.
State chairman of the association, Venerable Ayuba Kanta, who made the call in his Easter message in Birnin Kebbi yesterday, said if leaders escape justice on earth for failing to protect their people, the wrath of God, which is certain, awaited them.
He lamented that “unfortunate killings continue in the country, despite presence of security agencies, peace has eluded this country for no tangible reasons.”
IPAC tasks FG to secure Nigeria amid rising insecurity
In its reaction yesterday, the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, asked the federal government to take immediate action to address the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, stressing the urgent need for safety and good governance.
The council said citizens deserved a secure environment and quality leadership, in line with the constitutional mandate that placed the security and welfare of the people as a top priority.
In a statement issued to mark Easter celebration, Dr Yusuf Dantalle, National Chairman of IPAC, expressed grave concern over the persistent violence and killings carried out by non-state actors, particularly in Plateau and Benue states.
He said: “Easter is the essence of Christianity, the hope of the faithful, signifying the supernatural resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ after His crucifixion for the sins of mankind.
“IPAC enjoins Nigerians to use this joyous occasion, which symbolises the triumph of life over death, to rededicate their lives to God and embrace Christ’s virtues of love, compassion, tolerance, and sacrifice.
“Tragically, Nigerians no longer feel secure in their own country. The incessant killings by non-state actors must stop immediately.
“Enough of the bloodshed. Citizens expect the dividends of democracy, not carnage. Security agencies must rise to the challenge and decisively tackle terrorism, insurgency, banditry, militancy, and kidnapping for ransom.
“There can be no meaningful development without public safety and order. Restoring sanity to the polity requires political will and swift action. Together, we can build a better society, but we must act urgently to ensure peace, unity, and progress for our dear nation.”
Several governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are increasingly drifting from the party’s expected trajectory ahead of the 2027 presidential election, raising concerns of a repeat of the internal divisions that undermined the party’s chances in the 2023 polls.
While some governors are believed to be forging quiet alliances with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has openly declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Speaking during the flag-off of the Akwa Ibom–Cross River segment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, Governor Eno stated:
“Let me end by assuring our people-loving president, who will complete eight years because we are going to stand by him. He cannot start this work and abandon it. Somebody else may not finish it.”
Doubling down at a subsequent state function, Eno criticized those who, in his words, “speak from both sides of the mouth,” declaring:
“I’m supporting Baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. When the time comes, I’ll tell you why… For now, no need to lie to ourselves.”
He added that while his position may be politically strategic, it does not negate his PDP membership.
“I’m entitled to my opinion,” he said, adding that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured him of support for a second term in 2027.
Eno is not alone in his apparent political realignment. In Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori—successor to Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa—has also shown signs of gravitating towards the APC.
At a recent event tagged the “Uzere Declaration for Tinubu and Oborevwori,” Oborevwori’s Chief of Staff, Prince Johnson Erijo, called on the Isoko people to support both Tinubu and the governor, pledging 70,000 votes for them in 2027.
Oborevwori’s attendance at a separate event alongside First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, where traditional rulers in Delta pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election, has further fueled defection rumours.
Meanwhile, in Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke has not openly declared support for Tinubu. However, campaign billboards featuring Tinubu and Adeleke in Iwo Local Government Area have stirred political tension.
The APC accused the PDP of leveraging Tinubu’s image to boost Adeleke’s appeal, an allegation Adeleke’s camp denied but did not refute entirely.
Adeleke had earlier praised President Tinubu for “upholding the rule of law” following the 2025 local government elections in Osun, describing him as a “true democrat.”
Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), and suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara have also commended President Tinubu, particularly for his perceived non-interference in judicial proceedings.
Observers say the ongoing defiance within the PDP echoes the behavior of the G-5 governors in 2023, led by then-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
The group—which also included Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu)—openly opposed Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy and none faced disciplinary consequences.
In fact, APC won three of the five G-5 states in the 2023 presidential election. Today, Wike remains a key political figure and is currently serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
He has repeatedly expressed support for Tinubu and praised fellow PDP governors who back the president.
Wike, like others, insists that support for Tinubu does not equate to APC membership, citing “national interest.”
Many political pundits have asserted that the decision and activities of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral, Ibok-Ete Ibas, in recent times are provocative and deviating from his primary duty of restoring peace in the oil-rich state.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly for a period of six months.
Tinubu claimed that the decision was made to bring peace back to the state, which has been experiencing political unrest due to a dispute between the governor and the legislature.
However, Tinubu was being economical with the truth, as he failed to point out Fubara’s issue with his predecessor cum Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Despite the outrage over the declaration of a state of emergency, Tinubu swore in Ibas as the Rivers State Sole Administrator on Wednesday, March 19, at Aso Rock, alongside his Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and other aides.
Dismantling Fubara’s Structure
Since Ibas’ appointment, he has been systematically and diligently dismantling all the institutions of governance Fubara created in the state.
To consolidate power, the sole administrator appointed a serving Naval Officer, Commodore Aminu Shehu, as his Chief of Staff.
Ibas sacked all political appointees, suspended the heads of all MDAs in the state and approved the reconstitution of boards for various agencies, commissions, and parastatals.
Rather than allow the most senior officials to administer the councils in the interim, Iba also appointed sole administrators to take charge of the 23 local government areas and reconstituted the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) with Michael Odey as Chairman, which violates a Federal High Court order, which restrained him from appointing administrators for the LGAs.
Recall that in July 2024, when the Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo, suspended all the elected LG chairmen, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, declared it illegal and unconstitutional.
It is thought-provoking and needless for Ibas to sack democratic institutions in the state and create a parallel political structure.
Govt At A Standstill
It is absurd that Ibas asserted that the Supreme Court’s ruling and the lack of an appropriation law necessitated the cancellation of all pending procurements, directing that all affected MDAs refund the tender fees paid by contractors during the period in question.
Having been given all the money accruing to the state government, which was hitherto seized, Ibas is proposing a new budget, a proposition that has alarmed the House of Representatives.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, had last week reminded Ibas that, by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he must report to the National Assembly in running the affairs of the oil-rich state.
The Sole Administrator may be acting at the behest of President Tinubu, but at the expense of the citizens, who yearn for the dividends of democracy.
Amidst the current happenings, 11 governors elected under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have gone to court to challenge Ibas’ appointment.
Does Ibas Have An Agenda In Rivers?
Although Ibas’ responsibility was the restoration of peace, there has not been a serious breach of the peace as such since his appointment.
Niger Delta human rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, in an interview with Channels Television, accused Ibas of pouring petrol to the fire President Tinubu sent him to quench in the state.
She said Ibas’s actions in the state were contrary to what the president sent him to do.
Similarly, Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has asked Tinubu to remove Ibas for breaching the presidential order.
The senior advocate argued that the retired naval chief contravened the orders contained in the Official Gazette dated March 18, 2025, and titled, ‘State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025.
Sustainable Way Forward
In an interview with Naija News, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, stated that political elites should pursue peace between Fubara and Wike, rather than mere talks.
He said, “All that was needed to solve the contrived political crisis would have been for Tinubu to tell his minister to steer clear of Rivers State and allow Fubara to exercise the mandate given to him by the electorate since he has a full-time job in Abuja.
“Nevertheless, I believe Tinubu, who appointed Ibas is watching to see how he is carrying out his responsibilities. What is happening in Rivers state is a case of a fight between two brothers, Nyesom Wike and Sim Fubara. My counsel remains that all political stakeholders should work very hard to reconcile them. Political elites should be concerned about the reconciliation and not putting fire to already tense states by taking sides.
“There is nothing between Fubara and Wike that cannot be resolved. Those who are close to them should advise them to ignore the hurts and come together as brothers, they are both Rivers, and nobody should be more Rivers than the other man or loving of Rivers State than the other.
“I believe the solution to Rivers is embedding an accommodating brotherhood repair between both of them. Any other thing people are saying without gearing towards peace are mere talks. Tinubu has declared a state of emergency, and he is the only one who has the power to remove it.”
While Tinubu blamed Fubara for all the crisis, Wike, the real villain, is having a ball and boasting he wanted the Governor’s removal but the President saved him.
As the days pass, the responsibility lies with Tinubu to caution Ibas and provide him with a framework for exercising his powers and responsibilities in restoring peace in Rivers State.
A political clash between Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, intensified on Friday during Vice President Kashim Shettima’s visit to the state, resulting in a reported altercation between Deputy Governor Mohammed Auwal Jatau and Tuggar.
The incident occurred inside a coaster bus transporting dignitaries, including the Vice President, from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport to the Emir’s Palace for the turbaning ceremony of former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar as the Makama Babba I of the Bauchi Emirate.
According to reports, the confrontation began when Tuggar allegedly made disparaging remarks about Governor Bala’s administration. Eyewitnesses told Daily Trust that Jatau, visibly angered by the remarks, confronted the minister, with some alleging that Jatau slapped Tuggar. While the deputy governor later denied these claims, the altercation highlights the intense political rivalry between the two men.
The tension between Jatau and Tuggar is seen as part of a larger power struggle, with both men positioning themselves as key contenders for the 2027 Bauchi governorship election. Jatau, often seen as a loyal ally of Governor Bala, reportedly took action to defend the governor’s administration. Tuggar, on the other hand, has consistently criticized the PDP-led government in Bauchi and is seen as positioning himself to secure the APC governorship ticket with President Tinubu’s support.
The exchange, which occurred in the presence of several high-profile dignitaries, has raised concerns about the impact of such behavior on Bauchi’s political landscape. Political analysts, such as Comrade Sabo Muhammad, have criticized the altercation, warning that it could inflame tensions among supporters and destabilize the political environment.
“This kind of behavior sends the wrong message,” Muhammad told the aforementioned platform. “If political leaders encourage their followers to resort to violence, it could have dangerous consequences.”
The feud between Governor Bala and Tuggar dates back to earlier this year, when the minister publicly criticized the governor’s use of President Tinubu’s tax reforms for his perceived 2027 presidential ambitions. Tuggar’s comments have fueled suspicions that his criticisms were politically motivated, aimed at undermining the governor ahead of the next election.
This ongoing political rivalry is not the first to erupt within Bauchi’s elite political circles. In recent years, the state has witnessed high-profile feuds, including one between former Governor Abubakar and ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara, as well as a protracted conflict between Governor Bala and Senator Shehu Buba Umar.
The latest clash between Jatau and Tuggar is seen as an extension of these deeper divisions, particularly as both men eye the governorship race in 2027. Both Jatau and Tuggar hail from Bauchi North Senatorial District, which has yet to produce a governor since the return to democracy in 1999. Their rivalry, intensified by their shared regional base and contrasting party affiliations, adds a layer of complexity to the state’s political future.
Efforts to reach the Director-General of the Tuggar Foundation, Alhaji Uba Nana, for comment were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the deputy governor’s spokesperson, Muslim Lawal, denied the reports of the altercation, calling the allegations “baseless” and asserting that the incident had been blown out of proportion.
“As far as my principal and the Bauchi State Government are concerned, nothing like that happened,” Lawal said. He emphasized that the incident could not be verified, as it allegedly occurred inside a bus with several senior government officials, including the Vice President. He also stated that Jatau is “a peace-loving and respectable politician” who would never engage in such behavior.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reportedly arrested a man said to be in possession of a firearm in a church in Bokkos LGA, Plateau state, on Sunday.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the incident occurred at about 8:30 am when operatives of the NSCDC, acting on intelligence, apprehended the suspect during a routine security patrol around the church compound.
“The suspect was found in possession of a gun and could not provide any satisfactory explanation or legal documentation for it. The swift action of our operatives helped prevent what could have escalated into a serious security breach,” a source told Zagazola.
Photos said to be that of the suspect holding a firearm have been circulating online.
Afolabi Babawale, the NSCDC spokesperson, has not yet responded to TheCable’s request for confirmation of the incident.
The publication said authorities have not released the suspect’s identity as they continue their preliminary investigations.
On April 4, the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) reported that suspected bandits killed over 10 people in the area, with the death toll later rising to 52.
The attack came seven days after some gunmen attacked the Ruwi community, in Bokkos LGA of the state.
Speaking about rising attacks in Plateau, Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau, said bandits have taken over 64 communities in his state.
He added that the latest killings in Bokkos LGA are “sponsored and genocidal”.
[TheCable]
‘We’ll find you’ – US orders Nigerian, other international students with cancelled visas to leave
AFOLABI
Hundreds of international students are being forced to leave the United States after the Trump administration began aggressively revoking student visas.
“Do not attempt to remain in the United States. The federal government will find you,” read an email reportedly from the Department of Homeland Security, shared by immigration lawyer Nicole Micheroni.
With some students reportedly arrested without prior notice, many students say they were not given clear reasons.
Some of the students targeted never were protesters and or charged with a crime, said lawyer Dustin Baxter, who’s suing the government on behalf of more than 100 affected students.
“Not only would they revoke the person’s student visa – even if there was no conviction, if there was just an arrest, and sometimes there wasn’t even an arrest, there was just an encounter and maybe a ticket – they would revoke the student visa,” Baxter said as quoted by CNN.
Some foreign students say the first notice they received about their visa revocation was not from ICE but their school.
Meanwhile, many universities got no formal notice of their students’ visa revocations and found out only by seeing a student’s name in government records, school officials say.
After four students and two recent graduates of Stanford University in California had their student visas rescinded, the “University learned of the revocations during a routine check of the SEVIS database,” it said in a statement on April 4.
That marks a major change from the way that system historically has been used, an immigration attorney told CNN.
“Up until Trump took office, it was really up to the designated school officers to initiate that revocation in SEVIS,” said Jeff Joseph, president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. “What we’re seeing now is that ICE is doing it themselves.”
In one widely circulated case, Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk was handcuffed by agents days after her visa was revoked without notice.
She “shrieked in fear and confusion,” according to surveillance footage cited in court.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed visa cancellations under a clause that targets individuals whose presence poses “serious foreign policy consequences.”
The State Department has stated it has “broad authority” to revoke visas at any time and warned that monitoring continues even after issuance.
“We continuously check visa holders… and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don’t [follow the rules].”
A Nigerian based in the United States of America, Princess Adenubi Olagbegi-Apampa, whose father has 39 wives and 147 children, has said she feels proud to have come from such a large family.
She said this while speaking with newsmen at the dedication and commissioning of multi-million naira Princess Nubi Plaza Seliat Hall, Lagelu Estate, Ibadan.
According to her, if she has any chance to come over again, she will be glad to belong to the same family.
Contrary to the popular notion that that type of family will be chaotic, she explained that all the children easily blend in and relate very well with one another.
She urged Nigerians in the diaspora not to capitalize on insecurity and to stay away from their country.
Noting that prevalent social vices like insecurity and corruption are not peculiar to Nigeria alone, she emphasized that many Nigerians don’t know that the US as a country is also grappling with all these problems.
“You know how important my father was. He had 39 wives and 147 children. We blend and eat together. We do everything together. Even, where I live in New Jersey, I did one drawing, it was one of my brothers who did it for me and another who is an engineer supervised the construction for me.”
“So, if they ask me is it good for a man to have two or more wives, I can’t say no. If I have the chance to come over again, I will to still come from where I come from. From my mother’s side who comes from the popular Adetula. He had 25 wives, 71 children. So, if you ask me is it good to come from a multi-family, I will say yes.”
She passionately asked Nigerians living in the diaspora to reconsider coming back home to help rebuild the country.
She said, “I’ve been appealing to all Nigerians abroad. Staying abroad is not the best. There is no place like home. Nigerians should come back home and do something tangible.
She stressed that insecurity in Nigeria shouldn’t be an excuse for Nigerians not to return home, adding that insecurity is not only limited to Nigeria alone but an issue that cuts across the world.
“We have triple what is happening in Nigeria in the US. Do you even know we have more beggars in the United States than here? Anytime I’m going to my offices, I’ll see 20 or 30 on the streets; they’re begging for money.”
“So it’s not only here, it’s everywhere. So we just have to learn. The only thing I can tell you, even when we talk of the most corrupted nations, it’s in the US, but they don’t do it openly the way we’re doing it openly here in Nigeria.”
“I think what we should do is to just encourage one another to come back home and do something. We need to know that fingers are not equal, because that’s one thing I’ve seen in Nigeria.”
“We should all wait for our time, and I’ve been telling everybody that when God gives you money if you cannot share it with your neighbor if you cannot share it for community work, then it’s of no use.
“And I tell people, if I have to give you my track record, you can Google it, in the state of New Jersey, I’ve trained thousands of people. You can imagine, if I’m here, in my own father’s land, how many would I be able to train. If I’m in a foreign country, and God granted me what I was able to do, and now I’m here, I believe I will do better. So, that’s one thing Nigerians need to encourage themselves,” she noted.
As part of her contribution to the country’s development, she said there’s a pharmacy at the back of the hall where drugs will be distributed free to people without particular attention to any ethnic group.
For travelers, especially Nigerians who want to travel to some countries, not having to deal with the hassle of a visa can be a huge relief.
For Nigerian passport holders, the Caribbean region—renowned for its magnificent beaches, lively culture, and kind people—offers a number of visa-free travel options.
These Caribbean nations welcome Nigerian visitors with open arms, requiring only a valid passport and a passion for adventure, whether you’re looking for a short-term getaway, a leisurely vacation, or cultural immersion.
This article will discuss 5 stunning Caribbean countries that Nigerians can go to without a visa, emphasizing their attractions and things to consider before traveling:
1. Barbados
Barbados is a vibrant Caribbean island known for its beautiful beaches, British colonial history, and warm hospitality. It boasts a mix of Afro-Caribbean culture and modern tourism.
2. Dominica
Dominica, known as the “Nature Island of the Caribbean,” is famous for its lush rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanic landscapes. It’s a paradise for eco-tourists and adventurers.
3. Haiti
Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic and has a rich blend of French, African, and Caribbean influences. It’s known for its art, culture, and historical significance
4. Montserrat
Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory, known for its volcanic history and untouched natural beauty. It has a small population and is ideal for quiet, scenic getaways.
5. St. Kitts and Nevis
This twin-island nation offers scenic beaches, luxury resorts, and a quiet atmosphere. It’s also popular for its citizenship-by-investment program.
A man identified as Akinyele tragically slumped and died on Saturday during his wife’s 60th birthday celebration at an event centre in the Egbeda area of Lagos State.
A viral video seen by our correspondent on Sunday captured the heartbreaking moment.
In the footage, Akinyele was speaking on stage when he suddenly collapsed.
Moments before the incident, he called his wife over and whispered a request for water.
When she didn’t respond immediately, he gestured again, signalling his need for water. Seconds later, he slumped.
He was said to have been quickly rushed to a nearby hospital after attempts to revive him at the venue failed.
He was reportedly pronounced dead upon arrival.
There is tension in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State as four children were reportedly abducted on Sunday allegedly by child traffickers.
PUNCH Metro gathered that two of the children, identified as Ebube and Miracle, are of the same parents.
The incident, it was gathered, occurred at the Umuokwe quarters of the community, with residents pointing accusing fingers at three women who had secured an emergency accommodation in the neighborhood.
Community sources alleged that the women lured the children from their homes on the pretence of buying biscuits for them from a shop in the area.
“It was when the children could not be seen around the compound that neighbours expressed concern.
“By the time the neighbours visited the ladies’ apartment, the room was empty as neither the occupants nor the children could be found,” sources stated.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, SP Bright Edafe on Sunday confirmed the incident, adding that landlady of the compound has been arrested and in detention.
He said, “The children were abducted three days after the women rented the apartment.
“It is true; the problem is that there is no link. They just came and said they wanted to rent an apartment and the landlady gave it to them with no details, no name, no phone number, no agreement and after three days they carried four children.
“The landlady has been arrested because her actions are suspicious.”
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Seven passengers travelling in a Toyota Sienna bus were abducted by gunmen on Saturday evening along the Obbo-Aiyegunle/Osi Road in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The victims were en route from Abuja to Offa when they were ambushed by the armed attackers between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Sources confirmed that the abductors, suspected to be kidnappers, spared three children who were travelling with their parents.
The eldest of the children later reported the incident to the management of Olumoh Express, the transport company the victims boarded in Offa.
The secretary of the company, Mr. Mukaila Ogunlade, confirmed the abduction, noting that the vehicle initially left the park with five passengers.
“The oldest of the children told us that two more people joined the bus along the way. Presently, we are looking for seven people,” he stated.
The Kwara State Police Command also confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.
“Armed hoodlums numbering about eight reportedly intercepted a Sienna bus with registration number FFA 50XD and forcefully abducted seven occupants, including the driver,” the statement read.
Police operatives, in collaboration with local vigilantes, responded swiftly and recovered the vehicle at the nearest police post.
During a search of the surrounding bush area, three children aged between two and twelve years were found and safely rescued.
“One of the children was able to provide the police with detailed information about her guardian. The children have since been reunited with their relatives,” the statement added.
The command said it has intensified efforts through discreet investigation, intelligence gathering, and continuous bush combing operations to locate the kidnappers and ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims.
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to public safety and urged anyone with useful information to contact the police through the established channels.
Nigerian chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has officially set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest chess marathon, achieving an impressive 64 hours of non-stop play.
Naija News reports that Onakoya, alongside his chess partner, Shawn Martinez from Puerto Rico, surpassed the previous record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds.
The previous record was held by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, who set it in June 2024.
The remarkable chess marathon began on April 17, 2025, and concluded on April 20, 2025, in the heart of New York’s Times Square. They were originally aiming for a 70-hour session.
Celebrating the achievement, Onakoya shared photos of the historic moment on social media. “We did the impossible and gave the world something new to believe in,” he wrote in the post. “Official record holders of the Longest Chess Marathon for 64 hours. We did it.”
The GWR certificate, which officially recognised their accomplishment, wrote, “The longest chess marathon was achieved by Tunde Onakoya (Nigeria) and Shawn Martinez (Puerto Rico) in Times Square, New York, USA, from 17 to 20 April 2025.”
This marks not Onakoya’s first attempt at the title; he had previously completed a 60-hour chess marathon in April 2024, surpassing the previous 56-hour record set by the same Norwegian players in 2018.
Says North Will Decide On 2027 Candidate
The immediate-past Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has declared that the North will soon determine its political direction ahead of the 2027 general elections, emphasizing that no presidential candidate can succeed without the region’s backing.
In a video interview that gained traction on social media Sunday, Baba-Ahmed appeared alongside Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, and delivered a strong message regarding the political awakening in Northern Nigeria.
“We want a government that understands our problems and can address them,” he said, citing the devastating toll of Boko Haram insurgency and other crises affecting the North across ethnic and religious lines.
Baba-Ahmed, a known advocate for northern interests and former spokesperson of the Arewa Elders Forum, criticized the current state of the country and urged northern voters to reject leaders who use division and deception as political tools.
“If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria,” he warned, pointing to growing dissatisfaction with marginalisation in the region.
Baba-Ahmed stated that he resigned from his position in the Presidency to “rejoin the struggle for northern emancipation,” adding that the North will publicly announce its political stance in the coming months.
“The injustice and sidelining must stop,” he declared. “The North is watching, and soon, our elders, our masses, and our interest groups will say ‘enough is enough.’”
He concluded with a clear warning to presidential hopefuls: “No candidate can win the presidency of Nigeria without the support of the North.”
‘Mr. President, Nigerians are bleeding, bring us down from this cross’ – Kukah’s passionate Easter message to Tinubu
AFOLABI
In a powerful and moving Easter message delivered on Holy Saturday, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, issued a passionate plea to President Bola Tinubu to rescue Nigerians from the deepening crises plaguing the country. Drawing on the Christian metaphor of the cross, Kukah painted a sobering picture of a nation bleeding under the weight of insecurity, poverty, and disillusionment.
Titled “Mr. President: Please Bring Us Down from This Cross,” the message likened the suffering of Nigerians to the crucifixion of Christ, asserting that while Tinubu did not create the crises, he now bears the moral responsibility to end them.
“Nigerians have been dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain and mindless suffering for too long,” Kukah said. “Now, Mr. President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue.”
He described the present state of the nation as one marked by a “culture of brutality and savagery,” with rampant kidnappings, insecurity, hunger, and hopelessness affecting nearly every community across the country.
Kukah did not spare the political class, referring to past admissions by officials who brought in violent actors as tools of political advantage, only to now find those forces spiraling out of control.
“This cancer threatens the very foundation of our common humanity,” Kukah warned. “Kidnapping is now a dog whistle for undermining the very structure and foundation of our country.”
Despite the gravity of his message, the Bishop offered a glimmer of hope, invoking Pope Francis’ declaration of 2025 as the Year of Hope. He called on Nigerians to remain anchored in faith, even in the face of despair, and urged the President to channel national resources and goodwill toward genuine security, food access, and human dignity.
He emphasized that while the removal of fuel subsidies may have been a necessary economic step, it cannot be followed by mere palliatives. Kukah called instead for long-term structural solutions to food insecurity and poverty.
“Mr. President, hunger, sickness and desolation stalk the land. Make food security a fundamental human right to all citizens.”
In a final challenge, the Bishop questioned whether the prolonged insecurity signaled a lack of military capacity or, more disturbingly, the profiteering of those who benefit from chaos.
“Are Nigerians lambs being sacrificed to an unknown god?” he asked.
Kukah’s Easter message, rich in scriptural references and moral urgency, concluded on a note of resilience, reminding Nigerians that the resurrection of Christ is a call to face adversity with courage and conviction.
“We are the light of the world, a city set on a hill… Let us collectively renew our commitment and hope for building a society after the mind of our creator.”
As the nation marks Easter, Kukah’s words stand as both a lament and a rallying cry—an appeal for decisive leadership and a collective return to the values of justice, dignity, and peace.