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Controversy Over Troop Withdrawal Lawmakers were particularly alarmed by credible reports that military personnel were withdrawn from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, just hours before the abduction of 24 female students.They demanded a transparent investigation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:

Flood preparedness: NEMA engages stakeholders on 2025 mitigation strategies

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has engaged stakeholders on preparedness and mitigation strategies against anticipated floods in Niger state. Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director-General of NEMA, said this at a stakeholders’ engagement on National disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) 2025 in Minna on Thursday. The theme of the engagement is: “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Preparedness and Response”. Umar, represented by Dr Ishaya Chonoko, Zonal Director in Charge of North West Zone of NEMA, said that the engagement was to strengthen resilience, enhance preparedness, and response to flood disasters across the country. She said NEMA had received insights into rainfall patterns and flood scenarios for 2025 from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). “NEMA will deploy teams to all states to engage with flood-prone communities, taking early warning messages to the grassroots. “This will be done with the support of state Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), and community volunteers,” she said. The director-general called on partners such as the traditional institutions, religious organisations, women and youth groups and the media, to support the initiative, saying disaster management was everyone’s business. According to her, all hands must be on deck to take the right early warning to safeguard communities at risk, protect critical infrastructure and support uninterrupted socio-economic activities in various communities. “There is a need to step up our games on what we can do differently from the past and come up with solutions and prepare for quick response.” she added. Also speaking, Dr Hussaini Ibrahim, Overseeing Director-General, Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said the meeting would proffer solutions to flooding, preparedness, and response from expected flooding to save lives and property and minimise flooding. Similarly, Alhaji Ahmed Yumu, Commissioner, Ministry for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, said the campaign would help reduce impacts of annually recurring floods in the state. Also in attendance were Mr Hussaini Isah, Head, NEMA, Minna Operations Office, Area Manager of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr Akapo Adeboye, traditional leaders and stakeholders from the police, army amongst others.

Niger State donates N1bn, grains to Mokwa flood victims

Niger Governor, Mohammed Bago, has announced a donation of one billion Naira to the victims of the recent flood disaster in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state. The governor announced the donation during an on the spot assessment of houses destroyed by the flood, where he subsequently addressed the people of the community. He said that the state government would provide ten trucks each of rice, beans, maize, millet and sorghum to the flood victims. While commiserating with the victims, he promised that all donations made would be judiciously distributed to them through a committee that would be headed by his deputy, Mr Yakubu Garba. Bago said that the government would also provide resettlement land and services to them. He directed the Ministry for Land and Survey to issue a certificate of occupancy (C of O) to the Federal Government to facilitate immediate construction of the resettlement homes for the victims. According to Bago, while the state government awaits the construction of the resettlement homes by the Federal Government, necessary arrangements will be made to move them from the IDP camp. He appreciated the Federal government, donor partners and other government agencies, as well as spirited individuals that had upported the victims. Earlier, the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Daji, sympathised with the people of Mokwa especially, the victims of the flood. Daji encouraged them to remain steadfast in the will of God at all times. Also, the Etsu Nupe, and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, and the former Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mohammed Ketso commended the governor for his kindness to the people. They also appreciated the support and solidarity from all those that had made donations.

CSOs allege powerful elites depleting Nigeria’s mineral resources 

Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), short of naming names, have strongly alleged that powerful elites were sponsoring illegal  mining to strip Nigeria of its mineral wealth. The stakeholders said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. They warned that the situation could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification policy, aimed at  enhancing the solid minerals sector to contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  It would be recalled that Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, had alleged that retired military officers were involved in illegal mining, using sophisticated machinery and procuring arms for the activity. He said that they use choppers to transport minerals out of the country, making billions of dollars in the process.  He added that the arms procured to secure illegal mining sites were also used for banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities. The Executive Director of Renevyln Development Initiative (RDI), Philip Dakpor, stated that powerful interests were behind illegal mining, depriving Nigeria of revenue from the sector, which required deliberate action to address the menace “There is no doubt that powerful interests are behind illegal mining across the country, so Comrade Adams Oshiomhole may be right in pointing fingers. However, his allegations lack the political will needed to address the issue. “This is because he said the perpetrators are known yet no names were mentioned, and no one has been arrested. If those behind the menace are known and can’t be named and arrested then it shows something even deeper. “ It is either collusion at certain quarters in government or total negligence, but I suspect it is collusion. Some people in government are benefiting maximally from illegal mining and so choose not to halt the practice, “ he said. An activist, Dr Abdullahi Jabi, alleged that traditional rulers were conniving with illegal miners, mostly expatriates, to cart away Nigeria’s mineral wealth. Jabi, the Chairman, North Central Zone, Campaign for Democracy, Human Rights Advocacy, Civil Society of Nigeria, said that locals in mining communities aid illegal miners in perpetrating the act. “These activities have been on over the years and government did not pay attention to it, until it got escalated with illegal expatriates coming to the country with machineries. “They are using residents and citizens within those communities, who show them the way, and then connive with traditional rulers to perpetrate these wounds against the states, “ he said. He described the situation as complex, resulting from factors such as the negligence of constitutional duties by political leaders and public office holders. “ It is a network that is critical to destroy. Its not as easy as you see it, because the high and the mighty are behind it. “This is because a poor man, who cannot feed, who has no energy, cannot go to exploration of minerals resources that is almost 200 or 500 miles into the mother earth.  “Who will give him the equipment? Who will provide him with security to do that, “ he said. The activist listed poor governance, weak leadership, and a deteriorating economic situation as factors further making the sector vulnerable to expatriates, whom he alleged were supported by some leaders. According  to him,  to address the situation, a holistic legal framework must be established to ensure that the solid minerals sector received the required attention.  He emphasised the need for adequate logistics to enable the government to implement strict measures for the benefit of the people, rather than a few individuals who were exploiting the nation’s resources. It will be recalled that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, during the Ministry’s budget defence in 2023, had also alleged that illegal miners were sponsoring banditry in the affected states. He said that efforts were ongoing to identify the perpetrators, adding that various strategies, including both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches were being deployed to address the situation.

As the state and the rest of Nigeria mourn the tragic death of 50 people this Saturday, Niger State Gov. Umaru Bago has banned heavy-duty trucks from plying one way through Dikko bridge. This directive follows a tanker explosion Saturday, killing more than 50 people and wounding numerous others. The governor gave the directive during a visit to the scene of the explosion at Dikko junction in Suleja local government area of the state. He described the incident as pathetic while expressing sadness over the loss of lives. He, however, expressed relief that it did not extend to adjoining communities in the area. Bago decried the recklessness of some drivers just as he directed that vehicles coming from the Maje axis should not pass through Dikko Bridge. “We will never forget.” Town grieves after deadly Nigeria fuel tanker explosion Gov Bago says Niger to construct $2mn poultry farm in Bosso Fire guts Cross River State High Court He said that the vehicles should, instead, follow the route under the bridge and take a U-turn. The governor called on the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to establish a detachment in the area to enforce the directive. He also urged transport unions to cooperate with the FRSC. Bago attributed the frequent accidents in the area to the delay in completing the Minna-Suleja road project and called on the federal government to expedite action on the project. He commended the state Emergency Management Agency, Fire Service, FRSC and the National Union of Road Transport Workers for their roles in evacuating victims of the explosion. He noted that doctors from Minna hospitals would be redeployed to assist in treating the injured victims currently receiving treatment at Suleja General Hospital. The News Agency reports that more than 50 people lost their lives in the Saturday morning incident caused by scooping of fuel from the articulated vehicle.

Gov Bago says Niger to construct $2m poultry farm in Bosso

Gov. Mohammed Umaru-Bago of Niger says that a 2 million dollars poultry farm will be constructed in Bosso Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. Umaru-Bago said this on Friday in Maikunkele, the headquarters of the LGA  during an engagement with the stakeholders in continuation of his state wide projects monitoring tour. Governor Bago, who did not state the size and capacity of the farm, said the construction of the poultry was in line with the livestock development initiative of the Federal Government, with Niger as a pilot state. The governor, who enumerated the numerous road projects ongoing in the area, enjoined the people to continue to support his administration to ensure its success. PLEASE READ: Kano Emirate tussle; the rumpus is far from over He  urged those whose properties were affected in road constructions to show understanding and move away from the properties to speed up the projects. He assured them that the would be fully compensated. Umaru-Bago, who observed the increasing population in Bosso LGA, said a General Hospital will be built  there to decongest the one in Minna and promised to fix  electricity challenges in Kodo. He applauded the senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Sen. Mohammed Musa, for his good work for the people of his constituency. He said a mini stadium and a skills acquisition centre would be constructed by the senator in the LGA and that 20 people from the area would benefit from his scholarship in Singapore. He also appreciated the member representing Bosso/Paikoro Federal Constituency, Baraje Kure, for his support to the developmental strides of his administration. READ ALSO: President Tinubu mourns soldiers killed in Borno The Deputy Governor, Mr Yakubu Garba, called for the continuous support from the people of Bosso LGA and assured them of the commitment of the Bago-led administration in meeting their aspirations. Musa commended the governor, emphasising that his administration had  prioritised the welfare of the people of the area. He said this was especially in its agricultural policy as it had been designated a Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone. He said this would create direct and indirect jobs with positive implications for the wellbeing of the people of the area. Similarly, Kure said he would support the government’s efforts with N1 billion, provide fertiliser and other farm inputs to farmers.