A man, Godwin Anuka, who was kidnapped by suspected Fulani herders alongside his wife and two children in the Ubulu-Uku area of Delta State, has been killed in the presence of his wife and children.

The Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society and Youth Mobilisation to the Delta State Governor, Harrison Gwamnishu, disclosed this in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

Gwamnishu noted that the kidnappers had abducted two persons on March 23 and taken them into the bush while demanding ransom.

He noted that while the kidnappers were hiding in the bush with the two abducted victims, they saw Anuka alongside his wife and two underage children working on their farm.

The SSA noted that the kidnappers proceeded to abduct Anuka and his family and began demanding ransom.

Gwamnishu said, “Mr Godwin Anuka, his wife, and two underage children were kidnapped on March 29, 2025, at their farm in Ubulu-Uku, Delta State. It’s the same five sets of Fulani armed kidnappers that carried out these heinous crimes.

“They kidnapped Chibueze from Ogwashi-Uku, trekked to Ubulu-Uku, and kidnapped Mr Afam. They trekked, crossed the Isah Ogwashi/Ubulu-Uku road to Power Line, and headed to a farm road towards Ani-Uje Ubulu-Uku, where they camped for days and started calling for ransom.

“It was where they camped that they saw Mr Godwin and his family and kidnapped all of them.”

He disclosed that the chairman of the local government mobilised military men to carry out a rescue operation, but after a ransom was paid, the kidnappers released some of the abducted persons, while it was revealed that Anuka was shot dead in the presence of his wife and children.

He wrote, “The Ubulu-Uku Central Vigilante team and the Nigerian Army mobilised by the Aniocha South LGA Chairman, Hon. Pastor Jude Chukwunwike, and the Ubulu-Uku Palace made an effort to rescue them.

“Yesterday, after a huge ransom was paid, the kidnappers released Chibueze, Mr Afam, late Godwin’s wife, and two children, and we were told that Mr Godwin was shot and killed right inside the farm in the presence of his wife and children.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, proved abortive as he had yet to respond to calls and messages at the time of filing this report.

PUNCH Metro reported on March 28 that Gwamnishu decried the rise in kidnappings in some parts of the state allegedly perpetrated by some Fulani herders.

Gwamnishu disclosed this while referencing the death of a female land agent, Esther Osaze, whose body was found dead a few days after she was abducted.

While expressing sadness over Esther’s death, the SSA noted that some of the victims were still in the kidnappers’ den because their families could not pay the requested ransom.

President Bola Tinubu’s decision to sack Mele Kyari and other board members of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stems from mounting concern over performance and a failure to meet key production targets, Presidency officials have disclosed.

In an abrupt move on Wednesday, Tinubu removed Kyari, who had been at the helm of the national oil company since 2019, as part of a broader overhaul, which the Presidency said was aimed at boosting Nigeria’s crude and gas output.

“President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Pius Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement in the early hours of Wednesday.

Consequently, he appointed Bashir Ojulari as the new Group CEO, effective from April 2, 2025.

“The new 11-man board has Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Musa Ahmadu-Kida as non-executive chairman,” the statement read.

Multiple Presidency officials familiar with the developments said the shake-up was a performance-based reshuffle, arguing that those previously in charge “were going in circles” and some of them had “become part of the problem, rather than the solution.”

One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter officially, told our correspondent, “The President did this because of their performance because we needed to do things differently. The former people were taking us in circles, and then some of them became part of the problem.

“There needs to be a new direction. You need new people to bring new energy into the system.

“Look at them. Every one of them is capable. They are core industry professionals, real industry experts who know the industry inside and out. They are not politicians. This is the first time we have an entire cast of technocrats.”

Another official familiar with the development said the President believed that new blood was essential to jump-start production growth.

The official explained, “It is not about (Kyari’s) age. The NNPCL is a limited liability company and is not governed by civil service rules. So, it’s not about his age. There is always a need to get new brains that can deliver in new directions. The President has his mandate, which is clearly stated in the statement. He gave them his performance metrics, such as the amount of crude we produce. He asked them to review all blocks because we want to know which ones are producing and which are not.

“We have to optimise those that are not producing. He wants them to review all our assets within a certain period and give us good production. By 2030, they must be producing 3,000,000 barrels per day, and between now and 2027, we must stabilise at 2,000,000 per day.  Then, gas, we must produce 10 billion cubic meters between now and 2030. These are performance metrics, and that is how it should be done.

“But the former system was not giving us that. They have been around the same spot for years. Our OPEC quota has not improved much since 1973. We have not been able to meet them. That is why reforms are important.”

Also appointed to the new 11-man board is Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November.

Six board members and non-executive directors represent the country’s geopolitical zones. They are: Bello Rabiu (North West); Yusuf Usman (North East); a former managing director of the NLNG, Babs Omotowa (North Central); Austin Avuru (South-South); David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East).

Onanuga said Mrs Lydia Jafiya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed represents the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

“All the appointments are effective today, April 2,” he announced.

Tinubu handed out an immediate action plan to the new board, asking them to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPCL-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.

While the NNPCL reported $17bn in new investments within the sector last year, Onanuga said the administration now envisions increasing the investment to $30bn by 2027 and $60bn by 2030.

“Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels by 2027 and reach 500,000 by 2030.

The new board chairman, Musa Ahmadu-Kida, is from Borno State. He started his career in the oil industry at Elf Petroleum Nigeria and later joined Total Exploration and Production as a trainee engineer in 1985.

Musa became Total Nigeria’s Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services in 2015. Last year, he became an Independent Non-Executive Director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group.

Ojulari, the new NNPC Limited Group CEO, hails from Kwara State. Until his new appointment, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His Renaissance recently led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in the landmark acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, worth $2.4bn.

Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns.

Nigeria, once Africa’s leading oil producer, has struggled for years to fulfil its production quota stipulated by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. While OPEC figures have often placed the country’s desired output above two million barrels per day, the NNPCL has repeatedly fallen short – citing pipeline vandalism, underinvestment, and ageing infrastructure.

Pundits say that under Kyari, some reforms were introduced, but overall production remained below target.

Refineries revamp

Operators and experts in the oil and gas sector have set an agenda for the new Group Chief Executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Ojulari who replaces the the company’s former GCEO, Kyari.

While congratulating Ojulari and the other board members newly appointed by Tinubu, stakeholders enjoined them to ensure all the refineries under the watch of the NNPCL are revamped.

The new NNPC leaders were charged to rebrand the NNPC, renew the naira-for-crude deal, divest some of the company’s assets, restore investors’ confidence, and be apolitical.

In an interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, described the sweeping reconstitution as a welcome development.

He said IPMAN received the news with warmest regards, saying Tinubu is reforming the oil and gas sector.

Ukadike told the new NNPCL team to ensure that the refineries resume operations at full capacity to give enough and affordable fuel to Nigerians.

He urged Ojulari and his team to ensure the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries are maximised to create more jobs for the masses.

“We received the news with the warmest regards. Mr President is renewing and reforming the oil and gas industry. And whatever that will drive both the implementation of policies and the Petroleum Industry Act is in order.

“What is imminent is change. So, we the independent marketers association welcome this.

“We congratulate the new man and charge him to ensure that all these government-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna are producing enough fuel for the economy. This will also create jobs for the people amd and make petroleum products available,” he said.

Ukadike appealed to Ojulari and the board to settle the rift between the NNPCL and the Dangote refinery as far as the naira-for-crude deal is concerned.

He urged them to renew the deal and put an end to the crisis so as to enable smooth fuel distribution across the nation.

“We also want the new GCEO to use this good office to revisit the naira-for-crude deal; look into the saga and put an end to it so that it will better the distribution process and strengthen our economy,” Ukadike stated.

Similarly, the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists lauded Tinubu for the new NNPCL board appointments noting that it was a bold step towards repositioning the oil and gas industry for greater efficiency, transparency, and profitability.

In a statement signed by NAPE President, Johnbosco Uche, the association said the new board has a mandate to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, and increase commercial viability, saying this aligns with NAPE’s goals and aspirations for the industry.

The explorationists expressed confidence that the new team would bring the necessary expertise and experience to drive the oil and gas sector forward.

According to Uche, NAPE is delighted to observe that the newly appointed board comprises seasoned professionals, including Austin Avuru, a former President of NAPE who has held esteemed top management positions within the oil and gas industry.

“We look forward to collaborating with them to achieve the desired growth and development in the oil and gas sector,” the statement added.

The Crude Oil Refinery-owners Association of Nigeria requested that the newly appointed board take bold steps towards ensuring Nigeria achieved self-sufficiency in domestic refining and energy security.

CORAN’s Publicity Secretary, Eche Idoko, said, “CORAN congratulates the new board of the NNPCL and the new GCEO on their appointment. They are coming in at a time when the market globally is repositioning, and the Nigerian market, particularly in the midstream and downstream sectors, is receiving increasing attention.”

“We hope that the new NNPCL board will be bullish in the quest to make Nigeria self-sufficient in domestic refining and energy security. We want to see a more visible NNPCL that coordinates and works closely with local investors, especially in the emerging midstream segment. We look forward to them building on the legacy of the last administration and ensuring that Nigeria becomes a refining hub.”

Similarly, the National President of the Petroleum Retailers Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, asked the board to ensure a daily production of 700,000 barrels per day in refining strictly for domestic use to achieve energy independence.

“Our message is simple: wherever Mele Kyari’s administration stopped, the new board should take it to the next level. They must ensure that the oil and gas sector grows, driving the economic value that it should in Nigeria,” Gillis-Harry said.

“We want to see discussions around how we can increase local refining capacity. This could start with a boost of 700,000 barrels per day dedicated strictly to domestic refining. This would require new work on how communities can cooperate with the NNPCL and the government for a win-win situation.”

Hope rising

Meanwhile, an expert in the oil and gas industry, Professor Emeritus Wumi Iledare, has expressed high hopes that the new NNPC leadership will not fail as their failure is a bad signal for the country.

In an interview with our correspondent, Iledare said this was the first time the NNPC had a board that was apolitical, expressing optimism in the capacity of the people he called “core professionals.”

“Finally, NNPCL has a board that is majorly apolitical by nature with the appointments of timber and caliber professionals. It is the dawn of a new era for NNPCL to rekindle, restructure, and rebound itself along the intent of PIA 2021,” he said

Iledare listed what he expects the new board to focus on immediately: “First is (settling) the dilemma naira-for-crude deal with local refineries; second is selling NNPCL shares to the public with a limit to what individual can buy and restrict corporate buyers; third, divest some joint venture shares in divested international oil companies’ shares; fourth, rekindle, restructure, and rebound NNPC Limited along the intent of the PIA.”

He urged Ojulari to “promote the economy of scale mentality and correct the apparent diseconomies of scale bounding the potential of NNPCL.

He added, “Bayo Oujulari, Austin Avuru, Yusuf Usman, Rabiu Bello, David Ige, Babs Omotowa are professionals I know personally. I pray that Nigeria does not get them. It is like having six GCEOs.”

Speaking on the sack of Kyari, the don posited that “he was thrown into the fire the way he was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari without following the process of the PIA.”

He spoke further that it is difficult for a leopard to change its skin without a surgical operation.

“Going from GMD to GCEO was difficult for him and working with an incompetent board imposed on him was difficult. So, I admired his attitude to risk. He was a risk seeker but politically constrained and very too transactionally minded. He should have resigned the way his CFO retired. Best wishes to him.

“His exit, notwithstanding, the change is the dawn of a new era for NNPCL. For the first time ever, the NNPCL has an apolitical Board with a good understanding of what it takes to have a commercial mentality,” Iledare maintained.

Farewell for Kyari

Following the new appointments, the management and staff of NNPC on Wednesday welcomed Ojulari and the Board of Directors.

A statement by the company’s spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, said, “We extend our profound appreciation to the outgoing CCEO, Mr Mele Kyari, and the former Board Members for their selfless and dedicated service to the Company and to the nation.

“Mr Kyari’s leadership and tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on NNPC Ltd., and we are sincerely grateful for his outstanding contributions.

“We wish him and all departing Board Members continued success and fulfilment in their future endeavours.”

The PUNCH reports that Kyari’s removal came at a time when the NNPC refused to sell crude to the Dangote refinery in naira as ordered by the President last year.

The seeming collapse of the deal led to the suspension of fuel naira sales to local marketers in naira.

This has since led to a hike in petrol prices from N860 per litre to N930 or more, depending on the location.

Tompolo lauds Tinubu

Chairman, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, has lauded President Tinubu for his “careful selection of seasoned professionals” as the new Management Board of the NNPCL.

He also congratulated the newly appointed 11-member board and management of the NNPCL.

In a personally signed statement made available to journalists in Warri on Wednesday, Tompolo, the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation, noted that Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited recognised the new appointments “as a pivotal moment in the journey of the NNPCL and the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”

The statement read, “Indeed, this decision by Mr. President underscores his administration’s dedication to ensuring that only competent hands are entrusted with optimising the vast benefits of our nation’s oil and gas sector.

“The challenges and opportunities before this new management and board are immense, but we are confident in their ability to drive the ongoing restructuring of the NNPCL to greater heights.

“Under their stewardship, we believe that the President’s mandate to ramp up local refining capacity and increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2mbpd in record time will be realised and surpassed.

“As our company has always done, TSSNL remains steadfast in its commitment to partnering with the NNPCL to secure and enhance Nigeria’s oil production capabilities. Our expertise in oil asset protection and our deep-rooted presence in the Niger Delta position us as a reliable ally in ensuring that the nation’s resources are safeguarded and utilised efficiently for the collective benefit of all stakeholders.”

The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, has dismissed accusations that the telecom operator steals customer data, a persistent complaint he says he’s faced in every market during his career, MyJoyOnline, Ghanaian online news portal, reported on Wednesday.

His comments come as a wave of similar concerns sweeps through Nigeria, where subscribers are also pointing fingers at the country’s largest telco, with over 80 million users, and other operators for what they claim is the unfair depletion of their data.

The PUNCH reported on Tuesday that customers have flooded the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission with emails and messages, demanding a probe into unexplained data consumption.

The operators who spoke on the matter denied any system to siphon data, blaming increased usage on shifts from 3G and 4G to 5G networks and heavier video streaming.

At MTN House in Accra, Blewett addressed the widespread belief that data vanishes due to deliberate tampering.

“I’ve heard ‘You’re stealing my data’ in every country I’ve worked—not just at MTN,” he said, reflecting on his long industry tenure, adding, “I swear to God as my witness: we have no reason to steal your data.”

Blewett argued that there’s no financial incentive for such actions, noting his bonus depends on declared revenue.

“If I steal data, I can’t report it—I’d lose my bonus,” he said, seeking to dispel notions of profit-driven manipulation by MTN or its peers.

He attributed rapid data depletion to enhanced networks, not foul play.

“A better network speeds up data use,” he explained.

“YouTube switches to higher resolution on stronger signals—it’s like Pac-Man eating your data. We don’t control that,” he added.

To build trust, Blewett highlighted MTN’s oversight mechanisms. “We’re independently audited—billing errors would fail our financials,” he said, adding that an internal revenue assurance team constantly checks for discrepancies to ensure compliance and accuracy.

“We don’t want revenue leaks or incorrect billing,” he stressed, underscoring MTN’s commitment to transparency amid customer frustration over vanishing data.

Lawmaker representing Lavun/Mokwa/Edati Constituency at the House of Representative, Hon. Joshua Audu Gana, has berated his constituents after some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, including the local government Chairman, Suleiman Kupanti, expressed dissatisfaction with his stewardship.

Naija News reports that Gana, while addressing PDP stakeholders on Tuesday in the Mokwa local government area, said he cannot answer all the prayers and expectations of the people because he is not God.

Gana said the constituents lack understanding of the different tiers of government, stressing that some of their expectations do not fall under his jurisdiction, and he will direct them to the right channel.

According to the lawmaker, he may not have received funds for constituency projects because he is in the opposition and cannot steal to please them.

The angry legislator said: “I thank God that I am not God. I cannot answer all your prayers. It is only God who will answer all your prayers because the complaints of the people are prayers to God. When you want to score anyone, you will need to understand public office. The money in public office is not my father’s money; it is not my personal money; it is government money.

“They know me, I be old soldier, I no dey fear anything for this life. I am not afraid of anything except God. If you want to score me, go and check the national budget, check the items that fall under Lavun/Mokwa/Edati Federal Constituency and the allocation. Go and check if the projects were 100 per cent funded, then you can come and ask me about it and that is when you can score me.

“But now, when no money has been provided by the federal government, you want me to go and steal? My father is not a thief, none of my family is a thief, and you people will not make me a thief. Whether you try from heaven to earth, I cannot go and steal for what is not provided.

“The party in rulership today is APC and I am in the opposition. When you make a comparison of now to what has happened before, it is different. When you compare one legislator in an APC-ruled government to when PDP was in power, then you are a bad examiner.”

A pregnant woman, Kemi Akinbobola, has tragically passed away after allegedly being denied medical treatment at a private hospital due to her inability to pay a ₦500,000 deposit.

The incident, initially shared on Instagram by her husband, Akinbobola Folajimi, gained widespread attention on social media.

In a heartbreaking video, Kemi, visibly weak, was seen inside a car while her husband pleaded with her to stay conscious.

“My goodness, Kemi, look at me. Stay strong, look at me. Think about your kids, please.

You need to be very strong for me,” Folajimi desperately urged.

According to him, the private hospital refused to provide emergency care without the deposit.

Despite his pleas for immediate attention while he sourced the money, the hospital allegedly turned them away.

“Private hospitals in Nigeria. The doctor told me to deposit 500k, and I begged him to start doing whatever was needed to save my wife, but they drove us out like they didn’t care,” Folajimi recounted.

He added that they were referred to a general hospital in Epe, but Kemi didn’t survive the journey.

“Even the doctor knows that Epe from Lakwe is way too far for such a condition. Before we rushed her to Epe, she was gone,” he lamented.

The video has sparked outrage online, with many expressing anger over the state of healthcare in Nigeria and the alleged negligence of private hospitals.

Efforts by DAILY POST to reach the police public relations officer Benjamin Hundeyin of the Lagos command were unsuccessful

Controversial Nigerian musicians, Speed Darlington and Portable are set to face off in celebrity boxing match.

The match will be held on April 18 2025, at Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos state.

DAILY POST recalls that the fight between the duo started in March after Darlington offered Portable N500,000 to perform at his forthcoming show.

Portable, who described the amount as ridiculous, tagged Darlington “poor”. Noting that he charges N20 million for performance.

“You are inviting me for a show, and you don’t have money. You use my name to promote your show. I charge N20 million, ask around. I don’t know that you are poor. I don’t want to be friends with poor people”.

In his response, Darlington expressed regret for inviting Portable. He said “I regret it because why the insults?”

Portable replied by challenging Darlington to a fight, boasting that he would defeat him just as he did to popular actor, Charles Okocha.

The match has finally been arranged following netizens demand, with the organiser.

Announcing the fight on Instagram the organizer, Mygamerush wrote; “You asked and now it is here. Two street kings’ battle for ultimate street supremacy.

DAILY POST reports that Portable in December 2023 defeated actor Okocha in celebrity boxing match

The management and staff of NNPC Limited have welcomed the newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bayo Ojulari, and the Board of Directors.

The PUNCH reports that President Bola Tinubu appointed Ojulari to replace Mele Kyari in the early hours of Wednesday while also restructuring the NNPCL board.

A statement by the company’s spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, on Wednesday, said the management and staff of the NNPCL thanked Kyari and the former board members for their services to the company.

“We extend our profound appreciation to the outgoing GCEO, Mr Mele Kyari, and the former Board Members for their selfless and dedicated service to the company and to the nation.

“Mr Kyari’s leadership and tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on NNPC Ltd., and we are sincerely grateful for his outstanding contributions.

“We wish him and all departing Board Members continued success and fulfilment in their future endeavours,” the statement read.

Ojulari’s appointment takes immediate effect.

Thirty-five states voted N214 billion for local security outfits, defence initiatives, and the purchase of arms and equipment in their 2025 budget, The PUNCH reports.

Despite the substantial funding allocated to eliminate insecurity, no fewer than 367 individuals have been killed during Yuletide and Sallah celebrations between 2019 and 2025.

The states’ budgets are contained in Open States, a BudgIT-backed website that serves as a repository of government budget data.

The massive vote, intended to bolster security nationwide, raises critical concerns about the efficacy of these measures, as citizens remain increasingly vulnerable to the tide of violence.

Although the responsibility for ensuring the safety of lives and property lies with the Federal Government, the increasing wave of kidnapping, robbery, and other forms of violence has compelled many state governors to set up their own internal security strategies to combat the menace.

However, these efforts have not yielded the desired results as criminals continue to operate with impunity, terrorising the citizens.

Last month, a total of 30 people were reportedly killed in a wave of attacks across Ondo, Benue, and Nasarawa, with the affected communities calling for urgent government intervention.

Nine surveyors were reportedly kidnapped in Ondo, while two residents were abducted, and four others suffered gun and machete wounds in Edo.

In Ondo, enraged women took to the streets of Akure recently, following the abduction of nine surveyors and the killings of villagers in the Akure North Local Government Area.

Armed assailants reportedly stormed the communities of Aba Alajido, Aba Sunday, Aba Pastor, and Ademekun, leaving a trail of destruction and bloodshed.

Authorities recovered at least 14 bodies, while search efforts continued, with a report that 20 villagers were killed.

In Benue, violent protests erupted in Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government, after three members of the state’s Civil Protection Guards were ambushed and killed by suspected herders.

In Nasarawa State, a communal clash in the Farin Dutse community escalated into a full-blown crisis, leaving at least seven people dead, including a pregnant woman.

The conflict, which began as a dispute between local farmers and herders, quickly spiralled out of control, with houses, shops, and vehicles set ablaze.

The police have, however, arrested two suspects in connection with the violence, while patrols have been stepped up to contain the violence.

Last week, 16 men believed to be travelling hunters were brutally murdered in Uromi, Edo State.

The incident sparked a national outrage and fears of reprisals.

No fewer than 14 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings.

Checks revealed that in the first three months of 2025, at least 2,819 incidents of abduction were recorded, with 3,190 fatalities and 1,123 persons injured.

The incidents were recorded in 428 out of 774 local government areas.

A breakdown of the budgets showed that all the states approved the purchase of arms and security equipment.

Abia State allocated N554.58m for the purchase of security equipment and arms, signalling a commitment to enhancing its security apparatus.

Also, Adamawa State earmarked a significantly larger sum of N3.82bn for a similar purpose, marking a considerable allocation in the region.

Akwa-Ibom followed suit, setting aside N10.1bn for arms and ammunition procurement, Edo state allocated N849m while Anambra voted N2.73bn for its security needs.

Other states also made notable provisions for security, including Bauchi with N889.71m, while Bayelsa set aside N10.187bn.

Benue’s security budget stood at N1.46bn, while Ekiti and Cross River allocated N30m and N10m, respectively.

Borno’s budget for security was N1.92bn, and Delta allocated N2.84bn. Enugu saw one of the highest allocations in the Southeast, with N11.41bn dedicated to security.

Further north, Gombe’s security expenditure was pegged at N725.05m, primarily for the purchase of security equipment and funding the operations of its state defence ministry.

Imo, Governor Hope Uzodinma allocated N820.42m for its Homeland Security and Vigilance Ministry.

Jigawa and Kaduna made modest allocations of N40m and N40.74m, respectively.

Kano, Katsina, and Kebbi states also prioritized security, with Kano allocating N1.42bn, Katsina a substantial N5.28bn, and Kebbi the highest allocation among northern states with N21.81bn.

Kogi’s allocation was N11.06bn, while Kwara set aside N37m for its security operations.

In the southwest, Ogun State made a substantial provision of N4.81bn for security.

Amotekun, the regional security outfit, received a significant portion of N1.79bn, with Safe-Corps also getting N459.62m.

On the other hand, Ondo State budgeted N7.07bn, with N7.06bn going to Amotekun’s operations.

Osun and Oyo states allocated N1.525bn and N4.88bn, respectively, for security.

Plateau’s security budget was pegged at N7.36bn, while Rivers State made the largest allocation for security in 2025, with an impressive N39.82bn set aside for security equipment.

Sokoto’s security budget stood at N10.57bn, Taraba set aside N4.15bn, Yobe allocated N50m and Zamfara, N32.29bn.

President Bola Tinubu, at a security conference, said a well-governed state is better equipped to address internal challenges and should not depend on federal agencies for safety.

He averred that the sorry state of the local government system has contributed to the developmental setbacks and the country’s inability to tackle the prevailing security threats.

“Sadly, the state of our local government system in Nigeria is a cause of concern, as its degradation and incapacitation have continued significantly and have contributed significantly to our developmental setback and our inability to effectively address the prevailing national security threat.

“We find ourselves trapped in a paradoxical situation where the very areas most affected by security classes are rendered powerless and unable to mount any meaningful resistance or defence.

“Local governments are the frontline defenders against insecurity, as they are closest to the people and possess intimate knowledge of their community’s needs and challenges. This is why some are advocating for community policing as a panacea to end security challenges,” he noted.

Meanwhile, attacks on both Christian and Muslim communities have left over 367 individuals dead between 2019 and 2025 during festive periods.

The incidents occurred in Edo, Rivers, Plateau and Benue, among others.

The figures were sourced from the Nigeria Security Tracker, a project of the Council on Foreign Relations and media reports within the period under review.

However, the number was not definitive as many of the incidents are under-reported.

 The greatest carnage so far occurred in December 2023 when over 150 people were killed in coordinated Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau State.

In December 2024, 47 lives were lost on Christmas Day in Benue. Militants ambushed Christians returning from Christmas morning services, killing 11 people in the Kwande LGA of the state.

A few days earlier, on December 22, 2024, armed men stormed the Gidan Ado community in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, leaving 15 people dead.

The trend of targeting Christian worshippers continued into the New Year when gunmen in Rivers State murdered at least 14 churchgoers as they returned from midnight services in January 2025.

Also, in the same month, suspected militants killed three Christians in a late-night attack on the village of Sha in Bokkos, Plateau State.

In December 2020, the Boko Haram terrorist group launched a brutal Christmas Eve attack on Chibok village in Borno State, killing 11 people and kidnapping seven others, leaving the community in shock and despair.

That same year, a Christmas music carnival in Benue turned violent when police allegedly opened fire on fun-seekers, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.

The Muslim faithful have also suffered deadly assaults, though attacks during the festive periods are uncommon.

In August 2019, the Sallah festivities were overshadowed by tragedy as 75 Shiite members lost their lives during their Ashura processions in Sokoto, Kaduna, Gombe, and Katsina State.

 On August 15, 2021, 23 people returning from a Muslim festival were killed in Jos, Plateau State.

More recently, on March 27, 2025, a mob in Uromi, Edo State, killed 16 hunters travelling to Kano for the Eid celebrations.

The President of the Ijaw Nation Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as a careless speaker who could say anything under the influence of alcohol.

Prof Okaba said this in response to Wike’s claim that the Ijaws are a minority ethnic group in Nigeria.

Wike recently made a controversial comment while addressing journalists about the political crisis involving him and Siminalayi Fubara, an Ijaw man who succeeded him as governor of Rivers State.

Speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the Professor of Sociology dismissed Wike’s remark as a careless comment.

Prof Okaba explained that the Ijaws are among the four largest ethnic groups in Nigeria and that their territories extend beyond the country’s land areas.

He said, “The person you’re talking about (Wike) could say anything under the influence of alcohol and later debunk it; he is a very careless speaker. These are basic demographics that are well-known. Ijaws are not the fourth largest; they are one of the four largest. 

“Most times, we look at the land mass, the land mass in terms of space cannot exist outside a water space. So the boundaries of the Ijawland or may be Nigeria beyond land; it goes into the rivers. So from wherever that is a boundary of Nigeria, all that River spots belong to the Ijawland.”

Prof Okaba explained further that the Ijaws are the most populous ethnic group in the Niger Delta region, spreading across six states. 

“We are not minorities, in fact, we are the most populous and most indigenous ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta, that’s a fact that is well known. Ijaws are in six states,” he maintained.

Apart from Bayelsa State, he stated that the Ijaws are indigenous to many communities in Abia, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Rivers State, adding that Wike’s comment was a deliberate distortion of fact.

“They are in Abia. 26 communities in Abia State are indigenous Ijaw people. So we felt that was a deliberate distortion. In Delta State, we have more than four local government areas; even in Rivers State, we have 10 and a half local government areas, and Ikwerre has three. Forget about those who distorted political census figures; when the time comes for real counting, we shall know them. Ijaws are in Ondo State; they are in Edo State, he submitted.

The academic, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu not to allow one individual to destroy his efforts to ensure democracy in Nigeria, stating that Wike is nothing outside government.

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) party challenging the outcome of the state’s September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, ruled against the petition filed against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The Action Alliance (AA) and one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje had filed a petition before the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

Omoaje had, in the petition, asked the Tribunal to declare the declaration of Okpebholo and APC as winners of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as illegal, unlawful, unconditional, and null and void due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

He also alleged corruption and that Okpebholo and APC did not win the majority of lawful votes in the election.

Omoaje further alleged that AA was not allowed to nominate a lawful governorship candidate for the election, having not signed the nomination form as the National Chairman of the party.

However, the APC countered the allegations, stating that the petitioners, who claimed there was over-voting, had failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove their case.

The APC argued that in order to prove over-voting, the petitioner needed to call polling unit agents, eyewitnesses who could testify to the alleged irregularities.

The APC’s legal team contended that the AA had failed to meet this requirement, urging the tribunal to dismiss the case as it lacked merit, jurisdiction, and competence.

In response, the tribunal agreed with the APC’s defense and struck out the petition, citing the petitioners’ failure to present sufficient proof of their claims.

Additionally, in one of its rulings, the tribunal noted that only the candidate who contested the election is legally entitled to challenge the outcome. Since the AA’s candidate did not contest the election, the tribunal held that the AA, as a party, lacked the standing to challenge the result.

The Tribunal also held that Omoaje’s grievance against the election was that he was not recognized as the National Chairman of the Action Alliance for the purpose of nominating candidates for the poll. However, it was held that his claims had no basis in the Electoral Act of 2022.