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Tension in Jos as States continue with massive evacuation of citizens
As some states rush to evacuate their citizens studying in Plateau State following the activities of bloodthirsty men who have been on the prowl, killing unsuspecting residents, indigenes and others who are stranded, the State remains under tension as attacks have continued.
Recall that Plateau State was recently plunged into unusual security crisis following the massacre of over 30 travelers who were attacked along Rukuba Road in Jos North Local Government Area of the State on August 13.
The victims, majority of whom were Fulanis, born and brought up in Ondo State, were attacked while travelling from Bauchi en-route Jos to Ikare in Ondo State.
The incident triggered other attacks in the State as some ‘unscrupulous’ citizens embarked on what may be termed as reprisal attacks.
The security crisis has forced some schools in the State including the popular University of Jos and the Federal College of Forestry to suspend academic activities and shut down pending when normalcy returns to the State.
The crisis grew worse on Wednesday following the report of about 35 persons who were slaughtered in Yelwa Zangam community, Jos North Local Government Area of the State by armed men suspected to be bandits.
The assailants were said to have disabled the bridge leading to the community, preventing any access by security agencies before launching the unfortunate assault.
Apparently rattled by the skirmishes around the university and the continued flares of tension and threats of reprisals, many states in the country have rushed in to evacuate their citizens to avoid being slaughtered by gunmen said to be on the prowl in the state.
It would be recalled that the UniJos Chapters of ASUU, and the Students’ Union Government, SUG, had recently raised the alarm over the continuous killings of students of the University by hoodlums suspected to be bandits.
At least, eight states including Benue, Enugu, Abia, Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Kwara and Gombe have successfully evacuated their students from Plateau over the continued reprisal attacks.
Some stakeholders who spoke with DAILY POST on the implications of the evacuation, said the move would have negative effects on the mental health of the affected students.
A psychologist, Dr Torwe Ngunan who spoke with our correspondent from Benue State, said, “the shock, the emotional stress that those students went through even before they were evacuated is enough to keep them depressed.
“Some of these students were eyewitness to the killings. They will have difficulties trying to reason properly at least for sometime due to the memory. Right now, they need to be engaged in some social activities so that they can put off some of the horrible memories”.
In the same vein, a lecture in the Faculty of Social Science, University of Abuja, Dr Olawole Michael, lamented the disruption of academic activities in the affected institutions.
“Definitely it will affect both the students and the school. To think that after all the setbacks in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, students are still forced to go home because of security crisis is not good for the ears.
“Be assured that most of the students that were evacuated will not return to the school. That will affect the institution also. No parent will allow his child to go to school in a place where he or she would not be safe,” he said.
Our finding reveals that despite the closing of the institutions, some students particularly from the Southern parts of the country are still stranded in Jos city as fear of attack continues to mount.
But the spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Ubah Gabriel Ogaba said on Friday, that security has been beefed up in all areas witnessing unrest.
According to him, prior to the evacuation of students from the State, security agencies were on ground to ensure that they were not affected by the mayhem unleashed by the assailants.
“I don’t think there are still students left in the hostels. Many states have evacuated their citizens, some may not publish it in the media but they have.
“Even before the evacuations, we had security everywhere in the state to ensure safety of residents.”
However, Plateau State House of Assembly on Friday gave Governor Simon Lalong two weeks ultimatum to take action on the prevailing security situation and restore peace in the State.
This was disclosed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and member representing Pankshin North, Hon. Dasun Peter, during a world press conference by the State Assembly, in Jos, the State Capital.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police .
The six persons led by Mr Chukwuebuka Ohaechesi, include Emma Okonkwo, Jude Uwa, Gentle Okoro, Uchenna Dike, and Emmanuel Nwankwo who are said to be at large.
The were said to have fled to neighboring states in the South East hence signaling the other four Police Commands in the geopolitical zone to assist in the manhunt for them
The Police accused them of executing protests against the detaintion of the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently serving jail terms in Sokoto Correction Center.
According to a statement issued by the Abia Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eguavon Omokaro, the individuals are suspected members of IPOB who have allegedly participated in protests at various times and locations within the state.
The statement alleged that the protests were organised in connection with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demands for justice through the judicial process.
The Police Command further stated that these protests have allegedly resulted in breaches of peace and disruptions to law and order in Abia State. Consequently, the Police Intelligence Department reportedly concluded that the named individuals were among the principal organisers and coordinators of the demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that; ;
“It should be noted that on every 30th day of May, these men and their cohorts convene for the so-called remembrance of Biafra, holding clandestine meetings at various locations in the name of the emancipation of the Biafran Republic and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the police, the six individuals were invited on several occasions for questioning in relation to the allegations against them.
The statement indicated that the first invitation was issued on 18 December 2025, followed by a second invitation on 7 February 2026, and a third invitation on 3 March 2026.
The police alleged that the individuals failed to honour all three invitations.
The statement further asserted:
“These individuals were invited by the police on several occasions. Firstly, on 18 December 2025, they failed to honour the invitation. Again, they were invited on 7th February 2026 and failed to appear. Finally, they were invited on 3 March 2026, and they also failed to present themselves before the police.” It stated.
As a result, the Abia State Police Command announced that all six individuals had been formally declared wanted.
The police appealed to members of the public to provide any reliable information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution, stating that informants would be suitably rewarded.
The declaration of the six individuals as wanted persons is linked to allegations of their participation in pro-Biafra activities, demonstrations concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and their alleged association with IPOB, an organisation that has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and security operations by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan argued that Wike may not fully understand the pain and trauma experienced by parents of abducted children and affected teachers. He claimed that the minister’s children were educated abroad, away from the security challenges facing many Nigerian families.Nigerian entertainment news
The activist stated that insecurity, kidnapping, and attacks on schools remain serious national concerns and should not be dismissed or reduced to political issues. He stressed that the fears and frustrations of parents whose children face security threats deserve greater attention from public officials.
VeryDarkMan further warned that political power is temporary, urging leaders to remain accountable to the people and sensitive to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
DSS Detains Novelist Okey Ndibe at Lagos Airport, Awaits Clearance from Abuja
Renowned Nigerian novelist, journalist, and academic, Okey Ndibe, was reportedly detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday morning.
Ndibe disclosed his situation in a message sent while in custody, stating: “I’ve been with the SSS now for more than an hour. They’re waiting for clearance from some oga before they let me go.”
According to sources close to the writer, his detention follows a pattern that dates back to previous administrations, including that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, during which he was frequently stopped and questioned over his critical commentaries on Nigerian governance and public affairs.
However, associates noted that Ndibe has largely stepped away from active commentary in Nigerian media over the past two years, focusing instead on writing books and his academic responsibilities at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches.
A close friend of the author and former Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said similar incidents had occurred several times in the past. He explained that airport DSS officials typically contacted their superiors in Abuja before eventually releasing Ndibe.
“It is a pity that this agency doesn’t update its database to enable officers on duty at the airport to know that the agency no longer regards Prof. Ndibe as a security threat to the administration,” Adinuba said.
He added that on previous occasions, the DSS had apologized to the respected author after determining that his detention was unwarranted.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the DSS regarding the circumstances surrounding Ndibe’s latest detention. The development has raised renewed concerns about the treatment of government critics and the continued use of security watchlists affecting returning Nigerians.
Hegseth made the disclosure during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, where he said the directive was issued about a year ago after Trump became aware of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
He explained that the operation involved behind-the-scenes coordination and deployment of military assets, adding that intelligence gathered during the mission contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’s second-in-command, during a joint operation involving U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria, and he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians,’” Hegseth said.
According to him, the operation yielded significant results in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he stated.
Hegseth added that working on the Intel gathered, they have killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria.
The U.S. defence chief described the operation as part of the Trump administration’s broader commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities.
“So there are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the President empowers the Department to do on behalf of the American people that he deserves great credit for,” Hegseth stated.
ISIS second in command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a coordinated U.S.-Nigeria military operation in northeast Nigeria earlier this month.
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