The Northern Elders for Peace and Development has backed president Buhari advice against paying ransom to bandit say, it is the major factor that is luring criminals into the illegal venture. The elders have called on northern governors to henceforth desist from paying ransom or negotiating with criminals. The statement was made known by the forum’s National Coordinator, Engr. Zanna Goni, statingthat they kicked against negotiating with terrorist.

Following the recent spike in abductions, the Kaduna State Government has ordered the closure of all public and private schools in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state. This was contained in a memo dated March 16, signed by Abigail Adze, Commissioner for Schools’ Quality Assurance Authority, and addressed to all principals of public and private schools. It instructed that the schools should close due to the prevailing security situation in the area. Adze said the decision was taken in view of the security challenges in Kajuru LGA of the state. “The director-general, Kaduna state schools quality assurance authority has directed me to inform all Principals and Proprietors of both public and private schools in Kajuru local government area to close down all Schools with immediate effect. (as of today 16th March 2021),” the memo read.

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) says the law permits the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to remain in office until 2023 or 2024. This follows in the counter affidavit to the suit filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja by one lawyer, Maxwell Opara challenging the extension of the IGP Mohammed Adamu in office after he had reached the mandatory retirement of 60years, while Buhari extended his service.

The Nigerian Army on Monday said troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, have eliminated scores of the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Borno state. According to a statement released on Monday by Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, troops of Sector 3 Operation Lafiya Dole on Saturday, 13 March 2021, were on a clearance patrol along the fringes of Lake Chad when the incident occurred. They cleared Daban Massara and Ali Sherifti villages among other settlements before they harbored for replenishment and retrofitting. The statement further said as they commenced the second phase of their operations and advancing along the kukawa – Monguno road, about 14 kilometers to their base, they sighted Boko Haram/ISWAP gun trucks and swiftly commenced pursuit with heavy fire and deft manouver.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) has to blow alarm that all the monies allocated for the purchase of weapons under the present administration have vanished into thin air.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the abduction of only female students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando, Kaduna on Thursday. Atiku in a series of tweets on his verified Twitter handle urged the authorities to spare no resources in securing the release of the schoolgirls. He wrote: “A situation where only girl students, an already vulnerable group that is playing catch-up in the North, is specifically targeted for abduction raises serious concerns.