Category: Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the successful rescue of the schoolchildren and teachers abducted during a terrorist attack on schools in Oyo State, bringing an end to their 56-day captivity.

The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when suspected Ansaru terrorists raided three schools in Oriire Community, Oriire Local Government Area, near Ogbomoso in Oyo State.

Announcing the development on Friday, the President said all the abductees were rescued alive and unharmed during a coordinated military, police and intelligence-led operation without the payment of ransom or any concession to the terrorists.

“Tonight, our nation has reason to give thanks,” Tinubu said.

“The children and teachers abducted by Ansaru terrorists in Oyo State have been rescued by our security forces, alive and unharmed. No ransom was paid. No concession was made.”

Earlier, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed profound joy over the successful rescue and praised the security agencies for their professionalism and determination throughout the operation.

According to the statement, the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police worked round the clock for 56 days to secure the release of the victims without collateral damage.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of eight suspected abductors, while several others were neutralised during the rescue mission.

President Tinubu expressed regret over the trauma endured by the pupils, teachers, their families and the nation since the abduction.

“I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire, Ogbomoso, in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them,” he said.

The President described the rescue as a significant breakthrough in the fight against terrorism and commended the officers and personnel of the armed forces, intelligence agencies and the police for bringing the prolonged ordeal to a successful conclusion.

He also vowed that those responsible for the abduction and the killing of Mr Oyedokun during the attack would be brought to justice.

“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered,” Tinubu said.

The President commended the Oyo State Government for its cooperation throughout the rescue efforts and urged the state authorities to strengthen security around schools to prevent similar attacks.

In addition, Tinubu directed emergency management agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide immediate medical care, trauma counselling and other relief support for the rescued children and their teachers.

The successful operation ends more than seven weeks of uncertainty over the fate of the victims and is expected to bring relief to their families and communities, while reinforcing ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and kidnapping across the country.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Amnesty International Nigeria has expressed concern over alleged directives attributed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), regarding the forthcoming national elections of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), urging the Federal Government to respect the association’s independence.

In a statement on Friday, the human rights organisation said Nigerian authorities should refrain from any direct or indirect interference in the internal affairs of the NBA.

According to Amnesty International, the NBA alleged that the purported directives include the disbandment of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), postponement of the elections, termination of the current election service provider, establishment of a caretaker committee, introduction of National Identification Number (NIN) verification for voters, and amendments to the NBA Constitution to remove universal suffrage.

Amnesty International said the scheduled election of the association’s national officers should proceed as planned.

“The scheduled election of the NBA’s national officers must proceed as planned. Any attempt by the Federal Government to dictate, control or interfere with the governance and electoral processes of the association would constitute an unjustifiable attack on the independence of the legal profession, the rule of law and civic space in Nigeria,” the organisation said.

The group stressed that the Nigerian Bar Association is an independent professional body and not an agency or department of government.

It argued that the Federal Government has no legal authority to issue directives on how the association conducts its elections or manages its internal affairs, adding that any such action would be inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights law protecting freedom of association and the autonomy of professional organisations.

Amnesty International called on the authorities to withdraw any directives affecting the NBA’s electoral process, respect the association’s autonomy and ensure that its elections are conducted freely, fairly and without intimidation or political interference.

The organisation added that safeguarding the independence of the legal profession is essential to strengthening the rule of law, protecting civic space and preventing abuse of state power.

Neither the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation nor the Federal Government had publicly responded to the allegations at the time of filing this report.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the detention of public affairs analyst Dr Bashir Kurfi, describing his continued custody as arbitrary and an attack on freedom of expression.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the rights organisation alleged that Kurfi was being detained over comments he made during a television interview on the Katsina State Government’s handling of banditry.

According to Amnesty International, Kurfi honoured an invitation by the Katsina State Police Command on Tuesday to answer questions relating to a separate matter, but was subsequently informed that he would be detained over a petition connected to his interview on Trust Television.

The organisation claimed there were attempts to keep the analyst in detention through what it described as fabricated charges.

“Right now, a plot is ongoing to keep Dr Bashir Kurfi in detention indefinitely through abuse of power. The plan to trap him with fabricated charges through a sham trial is an attack on freedom of expression,” Amnesty International said.

The group alleged that the authorities were seeking to punish Kurfi for questioning the state government’s approach to tackling banditry rather than investigating the issues he had raised.

According to Amnesty International, the detention could have a chilling effect on public scrutiny of government policies and discourage citizens from speaking out on issues of public interest.

“No one should be punished for criticising government or probing official dealings. Dr Bashir Kurfi did not commit any crime, and his arrest shows clear abuse of power. It is perfectly within his right to raise questions or criticise any government policy,” the organisation said.

Amnesty International further alleged that despite the persistent threat posed by armed bandits in Katsina State, individuals who demand greater protection or speak publicly about insecurity have increasingly faced intimidation and arrest.

The organisation said it had documented cases since 2020 involving farmers, activists and civil society groups who were allegedly subjected to intimidation, arbitrary arrest or other forms of harassment after criticising the government’s response to bandit attacks.

Amnesty International called on the authorities to immediately release Kurfi unless there is credible evidence that he committed a recognisable criminal offence.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Katsina State Government nor the Katsina State Police Command had publicly responded to Amnesty International’s allegations.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Enugu State Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has called for the swift implementation of state police, arguing that Nigeria’s current centralised policing structure is inadequate to tackle the country’s growing security challenges.

Mbah made the call on Thursday at the ARISE News Town Hall on State Police in Abuja, where he aligned himself with former Edo State Governor and Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s support for the ongoing constitutional amendments to establish state police.

“I believe we are no longer debating the idea or theory of state policing. The need is already clear,” Mbah said.

According to the governor, security remains the primary responsibility of the government, but the existing policing model lacks the operational capacity required to respond effectively to emerging threats.

Drawing from Enugu State’s experience, Mbah said his administration inherited a state grappling with serious insecurity, with businesses, schools and nightlife severely affected.

“When we assumed office, Enugu was virtually under siege. Nightlife had disappeared, Mondays were deserted, schools were closed, and many children lost an academic year because they could not sit examinations,” he said.

Mbah said the state responded by investing heavily in technology-driven security infrastructure, including AI-enabled surveillance systems, static and mobile CCTV cameras, a distress response squad and a unified communication platform linking the police, the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies.

He said the investments had contributed to a reduction of more than 90 per cent in violent crime across the state.

“Security challenges are measured in minutes. States must have the capacity to respond immediately and stop crime before it escalates,” he said.

The governor advocated a state policing system built on national standards while allowing states sufficient operational flexibility.

He also supported the establishment of independent State Police Service Commissions with dedicated funding to strengthen accountability and operational independence.

Mbah dismissed concerns that governors could abuse state police, saying democratic institutions and legal safeguards should provide the necessary checks and balances.

“No one remains governor forever. Our objective is to build a safer and more secure Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, said the proposed constitutional amendment would only recognise state police, while the operational framework would be contained in a new Police Act.

He disclosed that the State Police Bill had reached the conference committee stage in the National Assembly.

Kalu urged governors to demonstrate the same commitment to local government autonomy, arguing that stronger local councils would improve governance, create jobs and help address insecurity at the grassroots.

Meanwhile, Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, who joined the town hall virtually, described state police as an essential component of true federalism.

He called for broader constitutional reforms, including greater devolution of powers, increased revenue allocation to states and comprehensive judicial reforms.

According to Soludo, sustainable state policing must be accompanied by stronger state institutions, including reforms to the judiciary and fiscal federalism, to ensure an effective and accountable security architecture.