Benue South Protests Exclusion from U.S. Fact-Finding Mission

“We Are Victims of Both Terror and State Marginalisation” The Ochetoha K’Idoma, the apex socio-cultural organisation of Benue South Senatorial District (Zone C), has formally protested the exclusion of Idoma and Igede communities from the itinerary of the visiting United States Fact-Finding Mission led by Congressman Riley Moore. In a petition submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, the group described the omission as a deliberate act that reinforces what it called a “dangerous and misleading narrative” portraying Benue State’s security crisis as affecting only Tiv-speaking areas. “This exclusion is not an oversight; it is a systemic erasure of the suffering of our people,” the organisation stated. The Invisible War According to the petition, Benue South has endured sustained violent attacks for more than a decade. A 12-year timeline (2013–2024) attached to the letter documents repeated massacres across Agatu, Apa, Otukpo, and Obi Local Government Areas. The group cited the 2016 Agatu Massacre, where more than 500 people were reportedly killed, and the April 2023 Umogidi attack in Otukpo LGA, during which 52 victims were buried in mass graves. “Our land flows with blood,” the statement said. “Yet because our people absorb displaced families into private homes rather than formal IDP camps, the world assumes we are safe. We are not.” Demands to the U.S. Delegation The Ochetoha K’Idoma called on the U.S. Fact-Finding Mission to: In a statement signed by Dr. Echeofu Agada, Public Relations Officer of the organisation, the group warned that excluding Benue South undermines the credibility of any investigative mission. “You cannot claim to establish facts while ignoring half the victims,” the statement read.“The silence of Benue South is not peace; it is the silence of the graveyard.”

Senate Raises Alarm Over Insecurity, Probes Kebbi Troop Pullout

By Caroline Ameh | Abuja The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the worsening insecurity in parts of Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States, resolving to probe the alleged withdrawal of military personnel from a Kebbi school hours before a major abduction. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru, who described the escalating attacks on schools, worship centres, and rural communities as a national emergency requiring immediate federal action. Senators Decry Widening Attacks Lawmakers lamented the November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, where gunmen killed two worshippers and abducted 38 others, all later rescued in coordinated security operations. They noted that the attack led to the temporary closure of schools in five local government areas across Kwara, as well as parts of Niger and Kebbi States, affecting 47 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide. The Senate also condemned the growing pattern of school kidnappings, including recent abductions in Niger and Kebbi States, warning that educational and religious institutions had become increasingly vulnerable to banditry and terrorism. Controversy Over Troop Withdrawal Lawmakers were particularly alarmed by credible reports that military personnel were withdrawn from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, just hours before the abduction of 24 female students.They demanded a transparent investigation into the decision and those responsible. Contributing to the debate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) urged his colleagues to confront insecurity “head-on and without reference to the past.” He insisted that the Senate must uncover who authorised the withdrawal of troops from the school before the attack. Abaribe’s position was strongly supported by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Seriake Dickson, and other lawmakers, who called for urgent and coordinated security action. Intelligence Points to Internal Sabotage The motion also cited intelligence reports indicating that internal collaborators continue to aid criminal networks with logistics, information, and escape routes. Senators warned that terrorists were exploiting forest corridors such as the Kwara–Kogi axis, Kebbi–Zamfara stretch, and Niger’s Shiroro–Rafi–Munya belt to carry out attacks and evade arrest. They further raised concern over the deplorable state of the Idofian–Omu-Aran–Eruku–Egbe–Kabba highway, which they said provides bandits with ambush points, easy escape routes, and concealment within thick forests. Tinubu Commended for Swift Response Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele cautioned against rising public speculation over the release of kidnap victims, urging a review of the performance of Senate security committees.He reaffirmed that the Tinubu administration does not and will not support ransom payments to abductors. The Senate commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as his “swift and personal intervention,” including cancelling planned foreign trips to coordinate national security efforts. It also lauded security agencies for the rescue of 38 abductees in Kwara and 51 students in Niger State. Key Resolutions The Senate resolved to:

Brains, Not Bullets: How Nigeria Can Defeat Terrorism, Banditry and Extremism

Wale Alonge, Dadeland, Miami, US-based Nigerian writer and political commentator.

When there is crisis and chaos in the jungle and the lion, the king of the forest, is under distress, even the snail, in its slow motion, proclaims itself the king of horned animals. So it is with Nigeria’s current crisis of insecurity. Every Dick, Tom, and Harry has suddenly become a security expert, diagnosing terrorism as though it were a mere ailment cured by sound bites. Those who have long sharpened their knives, waiting to take potshots at the president, are now out with their blades—poking half-baked truths, innuendos, and insinuations. Suddenly, President Tinubu has supposedly made a clandestine pact with terrorists to destabilize his own government! Haba. Some claim he is so obsessed with 2027 that he has chosen to appease the very insurgents who want to derail his ambition. Nothing could be further from the truth. Terrorism thrives on chaos. Its tactics, stealthy, asymmetric, opportunistic, are designed to shock and paralyze society. From bombings in schools and churches to mass kidnappings, terrorists choose soft targets because no government on earth can protect every space, every time. Even the mightiest military in the world, the United States, could not defeat Al-Qaeda or the Taliban after two decades of bleeding money, blood, and tears. The Old Wounds We Ignored Nigeria’s battle with religious extremism and violent sectarianism did not begin today. The Maitatsine sect, led by Muhammad Marwa until his death in 1980, waged an ideological war that left thousands dead—including soldiers and policemen. Yet, despite decades of conflict, we still treat terrorism and banditry as a purely military problem. We cannot bomb an idea out of existence. Until we confront the underlying causes, the social, economic, and moral rot that breeds extremism, we will remain trapped in a vicious cycle. Millions of young Nigerians, especially in the North, grow up unparented, uneducated, and unemployed, condemned to a Hobbesian existence of hopelessness. When life offers nothing to live for, dying for a “heavenly cause” becomes a seductive option. A government that abandons its most vulnerable citizens is waging a losing war against preachers of false paradise. The Carrot and the Stick Military power alone cannot deliver peace. Nigeria needs a multi-pronged strategy, combining the stick of firm justice with the carrot of opportunity, education, and reform. We must stop the endless production line of unparented street urchins and almajirai. Education and reorientation must replace indoctrination and idleness. We have ignored the warning signs for too long: a youth population bulge of millions of out-of-school children was a ticking time bomb. That bomb has now exploded. It now falls on President Tinubu to design both short- and long-term strategies to confront this monster. But he cannot do it alone. State governors, especially in the North, must take responsibility. Too many have abandoned their states, treating Abuja as home while insecurity festers under their watch. They must be forced back to confront the chaos they helped create. Citizens must also hold them accountable, not just the man in Aso Rock. The Role of Citizens Security is everyone’s business. These terrorists do not always live in forests, they often live among us. Some of our own community members serve as informants, kingpins, or collaborators in kidnapping rings. We must strengthen community–police cooperation and reward informants who provide actionable intelligence. The president’s new policy of prioritizing public safety over VIP protection is a welcome step. At the same time, sponsors of terrorism must face the harshest punishment. The law must be unambiguous: those who bankroll or enable terror must pay the ultimate price. Politicians who weaponize violence for electoral gain must be exposed and punished. The War of Information Equally dangerous is the spread of fake news. Each time we circulate unverified stories of attacks or kidnappings, we aid the terrorists’ cause. Panic is their oxygen. Spreading false alarms wastes precious security resources and deepens public fear. We must be disciplined. If you see something, say something, to the right authorities. President Tinubu is not omnipresent; he cannot see every threat. But collectively, we can build a web of vigilance strong enough to protect our communities. A Final Word And to those calling for foreign intervention, especially those invoking the name of Donald Trump, be warned: no country “saved” by U.S. invasion has emerged better. Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, all lie in ruins. Nigeria’s salvation will not come from outside. We must save ourselves. The war against terrorism is not just a fight of guns and bullets, it is a fight for the soul of the nation. Adewale Alonge, PhD, Founder & President, Africa Diaspora Partnership for Empowerment and Development. www.adped.org, writes in from Dadeland, Miami, Florida, USA.

CAN Condemns Attack on Catholic Schools in Niger

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, has condemned the gunmen attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. In a statement issued in Minna on Friday, the Chairman of CAN in Niger and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Rev. Bulus Yohanna, described the incident as “distressing and unacceptable.” According to Yohanna, the gunmen invaded the schools between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., shooting the security guard before abducting pupils, students, teachers, and a security personnel. “We are deeply disturbed by this attack and the abduction of innocent children and their teachers,” Yohanna said. “This level of violence against educational institutions is completely unacceptable.” He expressed concern for the safety of the abducted victims and the trauma endured by their families. Yohanna assured that CAN was working with security agencies, community leaders, and government authorities to support ongoing rescue operations. “We appeal to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives,” he added. “Christians and all Nigerians should continue to pray for the safe and quick return of those abducted.” The CAN chairman reaffirmed the association’s commitment to advocating for the protection of children and enhanced security in schools across the state. “May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect His people from all dangers,” Yohanna prayed.

Meet Nigeria’s 25th Chief of Naval Staff – Rear Adm. Idi Abbas

The appointment of Rear Adm. Idi Abbas as the 25th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) brings a wealth of experience, discipline, and professionalism to the leadership of the Nigerian Navy. A seasoned Above Water Warfare specialist, Rear Adm. Abbas has spent more than three decades in service to the nation, distinguished by dedication to duty and a passion for maritime security. Born on Sept. 20, 1969, Abbas hails from Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. He began his educational journey at Gwagwarwa Primary School, Kano, and later attended the Air Force Military School, Jos, from 1981 to 1986. In 1987, he gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of the 40 Regular Course and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 10 September 1993 with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. A well-trained officer, Abbas has attended several military courses at home and abroad. These include the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course and Officers’ Long Course in Above Water Warfare at NNS QUORRA, as well as the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. He also attended the United Nations Military Observer Course in Tanzania in 2009 and is a graduate of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, Course 23. Over the years, the new Naval Chief has held several command and staff appointments. He has served onboard various Nigerian Navy ships, including NNS ARADU, NNS DAMISA, and NNS AYAM, as a Watch-Keeping Officer. He was also Naval Assistant to the Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and later served as Commanding Officer, Burma Battalion, NDA. His other notable appointments include Base Administrative Officer, NNS PATHFINDER; Maritime Guard Commander, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Commander, Task Group Operation TSARE TEKU; and Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command. He also served as Chief of Naval Safety and Standards, Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations at Defence Headquarters, and Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Heritage Centre before his elevation to the position of Chief of Naval Staff. Rear Adm. Abbas has risen steadily through the ranks from Midshipman in 1996 to Rear Admiral on Sept. 10 2020. His career has been decorated with several honours, including the Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), Grand Service Star (GSS), and the Defence General Staff Medal (DGSM). He is a Fellow of the Defence College (fdc) and a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS). A calm, focused, and result-oriented officer, Abbas is widely respected for his professionalism and strategic leadership. Outside the uniform, he enjoys playing hockey and driving. He is married to Mrs Aisha Abbas, and they are blessed with two sons. The new naval chief is expected to bring renewed drive and operational focus to the Nigerian Navy as it continues its mandate of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and contributing to national security. 

Anambra Guber: CP assures fair treatment for all

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Ikioye Orutugu, has assured the public of professional conduct and neutrality among its personnel during the Nov. 8 governorship election in the state. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, gave the assurance in a statement on Monday in Awka. Ikenga quoted Orutugu as also calling for strict adherence to the rule of law among the officers and men, during the election. “As part of the ongoing security preparations for the forthcoming Anambra gubernatorial election, the CP, Anambra Command, Ikioye Orutugu has embarked on an operational tour and evaluation across the Police Area Command to assess the readiness of the officers and men for the crucial assignment. “The exercise which commenced with a visit to the Onitsha Area Command, saw the CP leading the high-visibility patrols through major routes and strategic locations within the area. “He also addressed officers and men  emphasizing the need for professionalism, neutrality, and strict adherence to the rule of law during election duties,” Ikenga said. The police spokesman also quoted the CP as calling on the officers and men to remain disciplined and committed to upholding the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force. The  Command reiterated its commitment to provide a safe and secure environment before, during and after the election. Orutugu noted the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, to free, fair, and credible elections nationwide. Ikenga said that during the patrol, the CP inspected operational formations, police posts, and checkpoints in the area to ensure that the deployed officers and men were alert and properly equipped. The CP commended the cooperation of sister security agencies as well as other security stakeholders in the area for their synergy and support to the police. Orutugu further urged residents of the state to remain law-abiding and to report all suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

AU, Nigeria sign MoU on counterterrorism cooperation

The African Union (AU) Commission and Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost collaboration against terrorism and violent extremism across Africa. This is contained in a statement by Mr Paschal Chem-Langhee, Communication Coordinator, PAPS, African Union Commission and made available to newsmen in Abuja. The MoU was endorsed by Amb. Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Maj.-Gen. Adamu Garba Laka, National Coordinator of the NCTC. In his remarks, Adeoye commended Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa and the Sahel. He noted that the country’s advanced facilities and expertise at the NCTC had “greatly contributed to regional and continental security. “The AU is proud to formalise this partnership with Nigeria, a key anchor state in the fight against terrorism. “The NCTC’s leadership and state-of-the-art technology have set a benchmark for counterterrorism efforts in Africa,” he said. On his part, Laka said the MoU reflected Nigeria’s commitment to advancing the Abuja Process Declaration of April 2024 and deepening regional collaboration. According to him, by working with the African Union, we intend to strengthen regional capacities, harmonise strategies and demonstrate Nigeria’s resolve in ensuring peace and security across the continent,” he said. The MoU will be jointly implemented by the AU Counterterrorism Centre (AUCTC) and Nigeria’s NCTC. “Areas of cooperation include real-time intelligence sharing, secondment of experts, joint research, support for victims of terrorism, and programmes on deradicalisation and reintegration. “It will also reinforce AU-backed initiatives such as the Nouakchott Process, the Accra Initiative, the UFL-Sahel Joint Force, and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF). “A Joint Working Group will monitor implementation,” it added.