News
937 killed, 1,972 abducted by bandits in 2020 – Kaduna govt

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said on Wednesday 937 people were killed and 1,972 others abducted by bandits in the state last year.
Aruwan stated this when he presented the state’s Annual Security Report to Governor Nasir El Rufai at the Government House in Kaduna.
He said the victims of the kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities cut across all ethnic and religious groups in the state contrary to skewed narratives from some quarters.
The commissioner said: “Victims of criminal acts like banditry and kidnapping are to be found across ethnic, religious or political leanings and persuasions.”
“Of this number of deaths, Igabi LGA has the highest figure of 152 followed by Kajuru with 144. Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa and Chikun LGAs in Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounted for 468 out of 937 people that died in 2020. This represented over 50 percent of the fatalities recorded in the state.
“The Southern Senatorial District accounted for 286 deaths, which is about one-third of the total due in large part to sporadic clashes, alongside banditry which triggered attacks and counter-attacks, especially between June and November 2020.
“Out of 1,972 people kidnapped in the period under review, Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounted for 1,561. In Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa and Chikun 1,461 were abducted during the period.”
In his address after receiving the report, El-Rufai said the state has been using its limited tools to address the security challenges.
The governor paid tribute to the victims of insecurity and reiterated his administration’s resolve to protect the people and stop all criminalities in the state.
He said the government has invested in technology to help secure the state, adding that a Close-Circuit Television (CCTV) is being deployed in Kaduna metropolis while options for consistent operations of drones are being explored.
News
Governor Mbah’s Compassionate Gesture Brings Relief to Enugu Fire Victims
Families displaced by the recent fire outbreak in the Asata area of Enugu have received immediate relief from the Enugu State Government following the intervention of Governor Peter Mbah, who directed that palliative support be provided to ease their suffering.
Chairman of the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA), Chinasa Mbah, disclosed that the agency promptly delivered the relief materials in compliance with the governor’s directive.
“We have given them some palliative as directed by His Excellency. Our report has equally gone in, and we await further instructions,” Mbah said.
She explained that ESEMA has completed its assessment of the incident and submitted its recommendations to the state government, adding that additional assistance for the affected families will depend on the governor’s approval of the agency’s report.
The swift response underscores Governor Mbah’s commitment to standing with citizens in times of distress. The victims, whose homes and belongings were destroyed in the fire that gutted two flats in a two-storey building on Church Road, Asata, are expected to receive further support as the government considers ESEMA’s recommendations.
News
Questions Persist As Almajiri Commissions Attempts to Defend Projects Outside Its Mandate
The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) has defended the inclusion of projects outside its statutory mandate in the 2026 budget, insisting they are National Assembly constituency projects assigned to the commission for implementation.
However, the explanation has done little to quell public scrutiny, with critics questioning why a commission established to tackle the Almajiri system and out-of-school children—challenges largely concentrated in Northern Nigeria—is overseeing projects reportedly located in parts of the South-West.
The controversy has also been fuelled by concerns over the scale of the allocations, as the value of the disputed constituency projects is said to far exceed the funds earmarked for the commission’s core education programmes.
Responding to the criticism in a statement issued on Monday, the commission’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Nura Muhammad, said the projects were included in the 2026 Appropriation Act under the long-standing practice of assigning constituency projects to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for execution.
According to the commission, once such projects are approved in the federal budget and allocated to an agency, they become part of its implementation responsibilities.
“As part of a duly enacted federal budget, every project assigned to the commission forms part of its implementation responsibilities and will be executed in strict compliance with extant laws, financial regulations and due procurement processes,” the statement said.
NCAOOSCE maintained that the inclusion of the projects does not alter its statutory mandate, stressing that it remains focused on addressing the Almajiri system and reducing the number of out-of-school children across Nigeria.
The commission cited its achievements, including the profiling of more than 700,000 out-of-school children, the establishment of 119 learning centres, ward-to-ward advocacy campaigns, and the implementation of the National Policy on Almajiri Education, as evidence of its commitment to its core responsibilities.
This version attributes the concerns to critics and public scrutiny rather than stating them as established facts.
News
Police Inspector Dies in Alleged Police Convoy Accident in Enugu
A Police Inspector, Dr. Obodo Paul Ikechukwu, has reportedly died after he was involved in a fatal road accident allegedly involving a police convoy in Enugu State.
The deceased, who hailed from Nkpologu in Enugu State, was serving in the Operations Department of the Enugu State Police Headquarters at the time of the incident.
Details surrounding the circumstances of the accident remain unclear, but sources said the inspector was fatally injured after being struck by a vehicle in a police convoy.
Dr. Obodo, who was also a PhD holder, was described by colleagues and associates as a dedicated officer whose death has come as a shock to members of the police command and his community.
As of the time of filing this report, the Enugu State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident, while further details are being awaited.
News
Mbaka Offers Prayers, Endorses Mbah’s Leadership Ahead of Election (See Video)
The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, , has offered prayers for , praying for God’s favour, protection, and victory as the state approaches the coming elections.
Speaking during a church gathering, Mbaka declared that Governor Mbah would succeed, expressing confidence that God, whom he said had begun a great work through the governor, would bring it to completion.
“It shall be well with Peter Mbah; may the favour of God be with him. We back him with our prayers. The Adoration family throws our prayers around him, that he will succeed, in the name of Jesus. May God grant him the power of victory at the end of the whole election,” Mbaka said.
The cleric further expressed hope that Mbah’s leadership would bring joy to the Igbo people, the people of Enugu State, and the Church, adding that the Igbo economy could witness greater advancement under his administration.
According to Mbaka, the progress recorded so far gives hope that greater achievements lie ahead, stressing that God would perfect the work already begun.
His remarks come as political activities continue to gather momentum ahead of the forthcoming elections.
News
Governor Mbah Directs ESEMA to Support Families Displaced by Enugu Fire
ENUGU — Governor Peter Mbah has directed the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA) to provide immediate relief materials and other palliative support to two families displaced by the fire that razed a two-storey building at No. 22 Church Road, Asata, Enugu, on Saturday.
The governor’s directive followed reports by Everydaynewsngr that the inferno destroyed two flats and consumed household property, valuables, and important documents belonging to the affected families, leaving them homeless.
The General Manager of ESEMA is expected to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate the distribution of emergency relief items to ease the hardship faced by the victims while further interventions are considered.
Residents of the area welcomed the governor’s swift response, describing it as a demonstration of compassion and responsible leadership at a difficult time for the affected families.
One of the victims, an employee of a higher institution in Enugu State who is said to be approaching retirement, had lamented that the fire wiped out decades of savings and destroyed all his household belongings, including vital documents and certificates.
No lives were lost in the incident, while the cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the outbreak as affected families begin the difficult task of rebuilding their lives.
The state government urged residents to remain safety conscious and report fire emergencies promptly to relevant agencies to minimise damage and loss of property.
-
Crime5 days agoYahoo Boys Stole ₦7.2m From Serving Judge’s Account in Midnight Cyberattack – EFCC Chair
-
News2 days agoFamilies Homeless as Fire Razes Two-Storey Building in Enugu (Video)
-
Crime3 days agoEnugu Forest Guard Rescues Kidnap Victim, Arrests Native Doctor, Others in Intelligence-Led Operation
-
News3 days ago9 countries making relocation easier for Nigerians as US, UK tighten up
-
Crime5 days agoEFCC Witness Clears Ngige Of N80 Million Alleged Fraud
-
Politics3 days agoAPC faces backlash over revised National Assembly candidate list
-
Politics3 days agoAnambra APC Crisis Deepens as Anosike Group Warns Against Secretariat Takeover by Rival Faction
-
Politics3 days agoAnambra APC Crisis: 18 LG Chairmen, 22 Exco Members, 28 Aspirants Shun Osegbo Meeting, Reaffirm Loyalty to Anosike
