News
Insecurity: Govs disagree on need for regional outfits
Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, and his colleagues in the South-South, yesterday, disagreed over the need to set up regional security structures to checkmate the rising wave of insecurity in the country.
While Oyetola urged other geo-political zones to emulate the South-West by setting up structures such as Amotekun to rid their regions of crime, insisting that the centralised policing system is not working, chairman of South-South Governors Forum and governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, said it is better to have a centralised police system that should be strengthened for effectiveness.
Similarly, Chairman of South-East Governors Forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Ugala Kenneth, said the issue will have to be discussed at a meeting of governors of the region.
The governors spoke on a day Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo tasked acting Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, to restore dignity to the force and rebuild broken bridges of trust with the public.
Why Amotekun became inevitable — Oyetola
Governor Oyetola, who threw the challenge at the 2nd Annual Colloquium of the Sultan Maccido Institute for Peace, Leadership and Development Studies, University of Abuja, also blamed worsening insecurity in the country on poverty and illiteracy.
He identified the sources of insecurity as “poverty which creates a gulf between the rich and the poor; inequitable allocation of resources which pits one region against the other; and injustice which makes offended parties resort to self-help and consequently take up arms against the state.”
The governor also identified “illiteracy which makes innocent citizens willing tools at the hands of unscrupulous elites and elements; youth unemployment which makes able-bodied and educated youths susceptible to crime, among others.”
He said the inability of the central police to tackle insecurity effectively led to the creation of Amotekun, the regional security network in the South-west.
“The nation’s conventional security agencies are overstretched and sorely under-funded. The Police once confirmed the sorry state of its manpower when it said the Force needs 155,000 additional hands to effectively police the nation.
“The nation’s security agencies as currently constituted are too centralised and too far from the grassroots to adequately provide the required security for the nation.
“Worse still, they are unfamiliar with the terrains where crimes take place. It is our belief that our people understand the topography of their communities more and can govern them better.
“The nation’s expansive forests have unfortunately become the hideouts of bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals. With the establishment of Amotekun, the forests of the South-West are now better policed.
‘Let other regions emulate S-West’
“The issues that make Amotekun inevitable in the South West are the same in other regions of the nation. Other regions may wish to emulate the South West to put structures in place to rid their regions of crime.
“Our recent experience where the attempts to confront armed banditry headlong in the North resulted in their incursion into the South-West and other regions that were erroneously perceived to be immune from the insecurity challenge is proof that each region has to be adequately policed for the region to know peace,” the governor said. He also called for collective and concerted efforts to deliver the security that “we desire as a nation as a people.”
His words: “Our recent experience in which insecurity has challenged education, peace, economy and other spheres of life has lent credence to Abraham Maslow’s emplacement of security as one of the foremost in the hierarchy of needs.
“This realisation underscores the need for our leaders and professionals, including traditional rulers, political leaders, academics, religious leaders and corporate leaders, to constantly collaborate to brainstorm on ensuring peace in the nation.
“Security breeds peace, economic and other developments, political stability and good governance. The converse of this is that insecurity is a destroyer of these desirable indices.
“As a people, we must realise that it is only in a safe and secure environment that optimal local commercial activities can take place; foreign investors can be attracted; goods and services can be provided; infrastructure can be built and maintained; public service can be delivered, and social and political activities can take place peacefully. “Therefore, the quest for a sustainable peaceful society must be prioritised as the collective responsibility of all citizens.
“Delivering security is not a task for the government alone. Corporate bodies and Non-Governmental Organisations need to partner with the government to achieve success. Business thrives in an atmosphere of peace. Business concerns must join the government to restore peace to the regions of the country.
“For proper security of lives and property of our people and the prompt containment of growing challenges, we must inevitably now engage our traditional institutions. Governors, particularly, cannot afford not to look in the direction of the traditional institution.
“This is because every conflict is local and as such, traditional institutions cannot be left out of the scheme. Traditional rulers know their people and also have better strategies for engaging them. Therefore, we must ride on this to be able to protect our nation from implosion.”
Governor Okowa reacts
Reacting to Governor Oyetola’s call yesterday, chairman of the South-South Governors Forum and governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who spoke through the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said: “Our leaders in the South-South are very much concerned about the spate of insecurity in the country and are determined to put heads together to forge a common front and possibly reduce the challenges of insecurity in the region.
“Of course, you know insecurity in the country is no longer news to anybody, and then the South-South is not spared in that insecurity which has become the bane of development across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
“But, we are also concerned that it would have been better for us to have a national security outfit and at the moment we do have them. We just pray that they are possibly equipped and empowered to be able to deal with the issues of insecurity so that we move away from tokenism of everybody having to be on their own.
“We will not shy away from addressing the challenges as it affects our people but we believe that the Federal Government needs to step up action to deal with these dare-devil criminals; that way everybody is safe.
‘BRACED Commission tasked on security outfit’
On whether the South South Governors are prepared to set up their own security outfit like Amotekun, he said: “The South-South governors have handed that over to the Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Delta, BRACED Commission which is a body that deals with issues of common interest in the region to work out the modalities so that we don’t just jump into setting up an outfit that is just in the name and not be able to do what it ought to do.
“But beyond that, you do know that when an outfit is set up, there are some constitutional inhibitions that will still make it impossible for some of these issues to be addressed the way we like it to. And it’s important that Nigerians begin to look at these issues rather than mounting pressure in the wrong quarters.
“For instance, you can’t have some of the heavy weapons other than small arms and light weapons. Some of those heavy weapons that are in the hands of those criminals, you cannot have them without the Federal Government giving you the license to so do. So, even if you set up your outfit, what are you going to be using to equip those outfits?
“When the ability to equip them to be able to confront these dare-devil criminals is largely still being determined by the approval to be given by the Federal Government, that tells you that where everybody should channel their energy, including the other geo-political zones, is how to make the Federal Government secure all of us and for individuals to move away from whatever will divide us.
“Let us look at what will unite us the more. Recall, I did say we will not shy away from the need to protect our people in the region. Much as we desire to do so, we are much more interested in the common good of our country where our common patrimony lies, the nation, Nigeria.”
Rebuild broken bridges of trust with the public, Osinbajo tasks Ag. IGP
Meanwhile, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday asked acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Baba Alkali, to restore dignity to the force and rebuild the broken bridges of trust with the public.
Speaking during the decoration of the acting IGP with his new rank at State House, Abuja, Osinbajo told the new Police boss he is assuming office at a turbulent time in the history of the country.
Urging him to implement community policing in order to curb growing insecurity in the land, Osinbajo said: “Let me once again, offer my congratulations to you as new Inspector-General of Police on your appointment. Your selection by Mr. President follows a rigorous process where all eligible Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and Assistant Inspectors-General of police were considered. The president then appointed you as the most senior qualified and eligible officer.
“IG, you are assuming office at a very turbulent time in the life of our people. There are multiple threats to law, order and public safety. The role of law enforcement and particularly that of the police force as primary agency charged with maintaining law and order has never been more important. The police is our institution of first resort, the first line of defence against crime and anarchy and the first sign of the strength of the state.
“The challenges before you are indeed onerous and will test your mettle, the organisation you are leading is one that is itself facing several challenges. Your officers work still in extremely difficult conditions. And some face the threat of physical harm by terrorists, hostile non-state actors while in the line of duty but they have lived up to expectations.
“There is no question at all that there is a lot that needs to be done. There is a lot of work that needs to be done. Under your leadership, the police must now rebuild in some ways also the broken bridges of trust to the public and regain the confidence of the citizenry.
“This is an ongoing challenge, an ongoing task the police force and all of the senior members of the police force must take on as a responsibility, that of the continual process of building trust to the Nigerian people. One of the ways you can do this is by implementing the community policing policy which had already taken off and re-conceptualising policing as a task carried out in partnership with local communities and by officers who are members of these localities.
“Under your leadership, the force must live up to all of the highest standards of professional conduct and compliance with the rule of law. It must significantly improve the welfare and working conditions of its officers.”
Osinbajo also tasked the new IGP to stamp out the excesses, abuses and culture of impunity from the police force.
What to expect from me, by Alkali
Speaking with journalists after his decoration, the new IGP promised to put into practice community policing to tackle the worsening security situation in the country.
Asked what Nigerians should hope for, he said: “Hope to see improvement on where my predecessor has left. I came in at a very challenging time, I know it, I recognize it and I will work on how to improve from where my predecessor has left.
“I have been a member of the management team and we have been trying to do our best but it is not enough, there is room for improvement.
“With all the inadequacies we have, we still require everybody to be part of policing in this country. And that is why the emphasis on community policing will continue and the emphasis of collaborating with all other sister agencies will continue and we hope to have a better situation very soon.”
On whether he was coming with any change in strategy, the Acting IGP said: “Definitely, we are going to rejig our operational strategies.”
On issues of equipment and manpower, the IGP said he had the blessings of President Buhari, adding that he was optimistic that he would get more of what the police had requested through the Police Trust Fund very quickly.
On community policing, he said: “We will continue to practicalize it. My predecessor left at the theoretical stage, we have started practicalising it but we have not gone far and, therefore, all the methods of practicalising it have been put in place and we are going to continue with it, in collaboration with other stakeholders.”
Vanguard
The airline disclosed on Wednesday that the aircraft became unserviceable after a baggage conveyor belt vehicle operated by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) crashed into one of its engines shortly after it arrived from Kano.
According to Air Peace, the incident occurred on Tuesday night after Flight P47427 from Kano had landed safely and all passengers had disembarked.
The airline said the impact severely damaged the aircraft, leaving it unable to operate and disrupting its planned flight schedule.
“One of our Airbus A320 aircraft sustained significant damage on the ground today at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, Lagos, after a Nigerian Aviation Handling Company baggage conveyor belt vehicle crashed into the aircraft’s engine shortly after the completion of Flight P47427 from Kano and the safe disembarkation of passengers.
“The ground handling equipment belonging to and operated by NAHCO tore into the aircraft and, as such, rendered the aircraft totally unserviceable,” the airline stated.
Air Peace explained that the affected aircraft had been scheduled to operate several flights across its network over the coming days, making the incident a major operational setback.
As a result, the airline said some scheduled flights would be delayed, while others could be cancelled as it works to minimise the disruption through fleet adjustments.
“This unfortunate incident has significantly impacted our operations, as the aircraft was rostered to operate multiple flights within our network over the coming days. Consequently, several scheduled services will experience delays, while some may regrettably be cancelled as we work to mitigate the disruption through fleet adjustments,” the statement added.
The airline apologised to passengers whose travel plans may be affected, assuring them that its operations and customer service teams are making efforts to provide alternative travel arrangements wherever possible.
“We sincerely apologise to our esteemed passengers whose travel plans may be affected by this unforeseen ground handling incident. Our operational and customer service teams are actively working to minimise the inconvenience by providing available alternatives and ensuring that affected passengers receive the necessary assistance,” Air Peace said.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to safety, noting that it is working with the ground handling company and relevant aviation authorities to determine the cause of the incident and prevent a recurrence.
“At Air Peace, the safety of our passengers, crew and equipment remains our highest priority. We are working closely with the relevant ground handling company and aviation authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and prevent a recurrence.
“We appreciate the patience, understanding and continued support of our valued customers as we diligently manage the operational challenges arising from this incident.”
The latest occurrence comes months after another Air Peace aircraft was damaged by NAHCO ground handling equipment in December 2025, raising fresh concerns over ground handling safety at Nigerian airports.
Efforts to obtain NAHCO’s reaction were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. Calls and messages sent to the company’s spokesperson were not returned.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will recognise only the candidates submitted by the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress, confirming that the faction has already nominated candidates for 471 elective positions ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, that the commission granted the Mark-led faction access to its nomination portal, following the Supreme Court judgment affirming its leadership, adding that the rival faction had no legal basis to submit candidates.
He said, “Yes, we gave the Mark-led faction the code based on the recent Supreme Court judgment that affirmed his leadership of the party and the faction has since submitted most of its candidates for a total of 471 – presidential (2), senatorial (109) and House of Representatives (360) constituencies.
“The court, however, did not say we should accept any submissions by the rival faction which, in any case, had lost its appeal for recognition.”
The ADC, however, called for the investigation and prosecution of its factional leader, Nafiu Gombe, following INEC’s clarification that claims that Gombe uploaded the party’s candidates for the 2027 general election through the commission’s nomination portal were false.
The Tuesday statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, followed INEC’s clarification that it did not grant Bala access codes to its restricted nomination portal and that only the Mark-led National Executive Committee was recognised by the electoral body.
Reacting to INEC’s clarification, the ADC welcomed the commission’s position and accused Bala of attempting to mislead Nigerians.
The party said the issue had gone beyond political disagreements and now bordered on an alleged attempt to deceive the public.
The statement read, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes the prompt clarification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which unequivocally confirmed that the document circulated by Mr Nafiu Bala purporting to show that he had obtained the commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC for the 2027 general election was forged, and that the claim itself was entirely false.
“The issue before us is no longer simply about the continuous false statements that have been issued by Nafiu Bala Gombe at the behest of his sponsors. It is about the clear and unmistakable attempt to mislead the Nigerian public.”
The ADC argued that falsely claiming access to INEC’s restricted nomination portal was a serious allegation that should attract the attention of security agencies.
The opposition party consequently urged the electoral commission to ensure that everyone connected with the alleged false claim is investigated and prosecuted.
“To publicly claim that one has gained access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform and exercised powers reserved for duly recognised party officials is a grave matter that deserves the immediate attention of law enforcement agencies.
“As a responsible party, the ADC therefore calls on INEC to take all the necessary steps to ensure that Mr Nafiu Bala and anyone else involved in originating or promoting this falsehood are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the party stated.
Atiku Abubakar’s Media Office accused INEC of granting Bala access to the commission’s nomination portal, an allegation the electoral body subsequently denied.
Responding to Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment on the ADC leadership dispute, Haruna said the commission would withhold its position until it obtained and studied the Certified True Copy of the judgment.
He said, “INEC cannot say anything until we see the judgment. We have to see the details of the judgment first. Hopefully, in the next two days, within 48 hours, the court should release the judgment. We will study it, and then the commission will take a position.”
The appellate court, in a split decision of two to one, delivered on Monday, affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which held that the dissolution of the party’s state executives by the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution and consequently restrained INEC from recognising the congresses conducted by the caretaker committees.
The appellate court, in its verdict, upheld the judgment of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, dismissing the appeal against the lower court, which the appellants had argued lacked merit.
Justice Abdulmalik had, in a judgment delivered on April 29, restrained INEC from giving recognition to the committee set up by the Mark-led leadership to conduct state congresses of the ADC.
The suit was filed by seven aggrieved state chairmen of the ADC, who had challenged their dissolution and the setting up of a state committee to conduct state congresses of the ADC, insisting that the action of the Mark-led leadership robbed them of the statutory powers to conduct congresses of the ADC.
In the judgment delivered on April 29, the trial court held that the Mark-led leadership was wrong to have dissolved the state’s leadership of the ADC and set up a caretaker committee for the conduct of the congresses.
According to the trial court, the ADC was wrong to have dissolved the state’s leadership when their tenure had not expired, and by so doing breached its own constitution.
Justice Abdulmalik held that the powers to conduct congresses belonged to the state executive, whose tenure was still running, adding that a mediation report showed that the tenure of the state executive was in 2023 extended by another four years.
Not satisfied with the judgment of the high court, the ADC, Mark, National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola and Abdullahi approached the appellate court to challenge the decision of the trial court.
They claimed, among others, that the trial court erred when it assumed jurisdiction over a matter that fell within the internal affairs of the ADC.
They also claimed that while the respondents in the suit lacked merit to institute the legal action, the fact that they did not exhaust the internal mechanism of the ADC for resolving party issues robbed the court of necessary jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
However, the appellate court in its majority decision held that it found no reason to deviate from the judgment of the trial court.
However, the latest appellate decision relates specifically to the parties’ state congresses and not the nomination of candidates for elective offices.
The ADC maintained that Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment did not affect the validity of its primaries or the emergence of its candidates.
In a statement issued by Abdullahi, the ADC said the judgment concerned only the conduct of ward, local government and state congresses and had no bearing on the direct primaries through which its candidates emerged.
The Eastern Bar Forum (EBF), the umbrella body of legal practitioners from Nigeria’s old Eastern Region, has commended the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma after inspecting major infrastructure projects across Imo State, describing the state’s transformation as “real, visible and verifiable.”
The endorsement followed an extensive tour of key government projects during the Forum’s 2026 Quarterly Meeting and Convention in Owerri, where members unanimously passed a vote of confidence in the governor’s leadership and development agenda.
The convention attracted senior advocates, judges, jurists and legal practitioners from Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
The inspection team, led by EBF Governor, Barr. D.O. Nosike, was received by the Imo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Paul Obinatu. Accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Development, the delegation visited several landmark projects executed by the Uzodimma administration.
Among the projects inspected were the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre, the Control Post Flyover, reconstructed roads within Owerri Municipality, the Orashi Power Distribution Company, the refurbished Concord Hotel and the Imo Digital City Hub.
Speaking after the tour, members of the Forum expressed satisfaction with the quality, scale and strategic importance of the projects, describing them as clear evidence of a government committed to transforming Imo into a hub for investment, commerce and innovation.
According to the Forum, the inspection disproved claims that the administration’s achievements existed only in media reports, noting that the infrastructure they observed reflected deliberate planning, effective execution and prudent governance.
The legal body praised Governor Uzodimma for consistently pursuing developmental projects capable of driving economic growth and improving residents’ quality of life.
It identified the Orashi Power Distribution Company as a major investment with the potential to enhance electricity supply and support industrial growth across the state.
The Forum also highlighted the Imo Digital City Hub as one of the administration’s flagship legacy projects, commending its efforts to equip young people with skills in software development, robotics, website design, computer engineering, digital entrepreneurship and other technology-related fields.
The delegation further applauded the administration for the construction and rehabilitation of major road networks, including the Owerri-Orlu Expressway, Owerri-Onitsha Road, Owerri-Okigwe Road, Owerri-Mbaise Road, Owerri-Port Harcourt Road, as well as several internal roads across the state.
Members observed that by investing in both physical infrastructure and human capital development, the Uzodimma administration was laying a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth.
Consequently, the Forum unanimously adopted a vote of confidence in Governor Uzodimma, applauding his leadership, developmental vision and commitment to rebuilding Imo State.
The Eastern Bar Forum explained that its periodic inspection of government projects is part of its institutional responsibility to independently assess governance and development efforts across the states of the old Eastern Region.
The convention concluded in Owerri on Sunday with discussions on legal practice, constitutional issues, justice sector reforms and national development, with delegates maintaining that their findings in Imo underscored the value of transparent governance backed by measurable results.
Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, on Monday pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, false declaration and money laundering before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Nnaji was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik over allegations that he submitted forged academic credentials, including a University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate during his ministerial screening in 2023.
The anti-graft agency also accused the former minister of fraudulently receiving about ₦29.5 million in salaries and emoluments, alongside money laundering-related offences.
After taking his plea, Nnaji’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ogwu Onoja, applied for bail. The prosecution did not oppose the application, leaving the decision to the court.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently granted Nnaji bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety in like sum.
The court ruled that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 with a verifiable residence of at least four years. The surety is also required to provide evidence of employment, including an appointment letter and salary slips for the last three months, subject to verification by the relevant authority.
The judge further directed Nnaji to surrender his international passport and all other travel documents pending the determination of the case.
The matter was adjourned until September 21, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Nnaji’s prosecution follows his arrest by the ICPC on July 1 after the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court. The commission alleged that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations during its investigation into the alleged forgery of his academic credentials.
The former minister resigned from office in October 2025 after the allegations became public. However, he has consistently maintained his innocence, insisting that his resignation was not an admission of guilt but a step taken to allow due process to take its course.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has announced legal action against individuals circulating what he described as false and defamatory reports surrounding the death of a nurse allegedly linked to his residence.
Speaking on Sunday while inspecting the Ebonyi section of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Super Highway, Umahi said he had instructed his legal team to prosecute those responsible for spreading the claims.
Social media reports had alleged secrecy surrounding the death of nurse Mary Habila inside the minister’s compound in Ebonyi State.
Rejecting the allegations, Umahi explained that the deceased’s family became alarmed after she failed to respond to calls, forced open her room, and immediately sought medical assistance.
“The family broke the girl’s door, called doctors from DUFUTH, who took her to the hospital and did everything possible to revive her, but she could not be saved,” he said.
According to the minister, the incident was promptly reported to the police, making allegations of a cover-up baseless.
“The family reported the matter to the police, so where is the secrecy?” he asked.
Umahi disclosed that the deceased’s parents, who are currently in Ebonyi State, would address journalists and also institute legal action against those spreading what he described as false information.
He added that he had directed that an autopsy be conducted, subject to the approval of the deceased’s parents.
Condemning what he described as the exploitation of a tragic death for online content, Umahi warned against spreading unverified information.
“You don’t create content with someone’s death,” he said.
The minister described the late Mary Habila as a dedicated nurse at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, noting that she had attended to him professionally for about three years.
Umahi also dismissed reports linking him to an alleged kidnap suspect said to have been recruited into the Ebonyi security outfit, Ebubeagu.
“Can those making these allegations produce a photograph showing me with the person?” he asked.
He maintained that he neither knew the suspect nor could reasonably be expected to know everyone recruited into the security outfit during his tenure as governor of Ebonyi State.
Reaffirming his opposition to kidnapping, Umahi said the crime deserves severe punishment and insisted the allegations against him were politically motivated. He vowed to continue defending his reputation through legal means.
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