Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has welcomed reports of the rescue of 360 people abducted by terrorists in Ngoshe, Borno State, while urging authorities to intensify efforts to free other victims still in captivity across the country.
Four years after the deadly attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, a Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group to death by hanging for their roles in the incident that claimed more than 40 lives and left over 100 worshippers injured.
Teachers across Nigeria on Tuesday staged coordinated protests to demand stronger protection for schools and the immediate release of abducted students and educators, following a recent wave of attacks on learning institutions. The demonstrations, organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), took place in several states, including Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Sokoto, Anambra, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory.
Media professionals have advised emerging journalists to avoid publishing unverified reports, warning that the spread of fake news could expose practitioners and media organisations to legal consequences. The caution was given on Monday in Abuja during activities marking the centenary celebration of the Daily Times newspaper.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State and directed a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area. The directive was conveyed by a high-level Federal Government delegation that visited the affected Esiele and Yawota communities on Sunday. The delegation also informed residents that their request for a military base in the area had been forwarded to the President for consideration.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested five suspected arms traffickers, including two nationals of the neighbouring Niger Republic, over their involvement in supplying weapons to a Boko Haram faction linked to a series of high-profile school abductions in Nigeria. An insider source disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during intelligence-driven operations that uncovered a cache of arms and ammunition believed to be destined for insurgent commanders operating in the northwest and north-central regions.
