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Bombs, bullets know no religion — VP Shettima

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Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s security challenges require a united response, noting that violent attacks do not distinguish between religion, ethnicity or social status.

Shettima maintained that when a weapon is used by those threatening the nation’s peace, it does not differentiate between individuals and farmers and other civilians.

He explained that the present administration met significant security problems on assumption of office, which has forced it to adopt a coordinated approach focused not only on addressing current threats but also on ensuring long-term peace and stability.

Shettima, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, stated this at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting on regional development organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, in Abuja on Thursday.

He said, “Every person or organisation in the business of governance must play a role in this grand mission of national restoration.

“A bullet or a bomb knows neither ethnicity nor religion. When it is fired by the enemies of our collective peace, it does not discriminate. It kills the farmer and the trader alike, and it destroys the very fabric of our multifaceted, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic society in a devastating and retrogressive manner.

“Our challenge, therefore, is not only to fight the forces behind these conflicts, but also to dismantle the sentiments that are weaponised to divide us and weaken our resolve to fight back as one nation.

“Beyond ideas and agendas, we must pay close attention to the power of messaging. Our messaging must be rooted in empathy and understanding.”

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He emphasised that those involved in governance, whether institutions or individuals, must contribute to restoring national peace.

He noted that attacks by criminals harm everyone in society and further deepen divisions along ethnic and religious lines.

He urged leaders to counter narratives that fuel division and to ensure communication that is thoughtful, empathetic and unifying.

The Vice President also highlighted the need to strengthen public institutions and address existing gaps, stressing that national development can only be achieved when every part of the country progresses simultaneously.

He said, “We cannot claim to have progress as a nation unless each part of the federation moves forward at the same pace. What we need, therefore, are functional institutions that guarantee the presence and service of government even in the remotest parts of the country.”

He said government presence should be visible in all communities, including hard-to-reach areas.

Shettima described the creation of regional development commissions across the six geopolitical zones as part of the administration’s strategy to take development closer to the people.

He noted that the commissions are expected to serve dual purposes—accelerating development and enabling shared learning among regions.

He explained that although the government has previously worked with the private sector and international partners on development strategies, many of those efforts did not fully address region-specific realities.

He urged the commissions to adopt solutions that reflect the unique needs and priorities of their respective regions.

The vice president called for cooperation among the commissions, stressing that collaboration and a shared sense of purpose are essential to addressing long-standing developmental and security challenges.

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His remarks follow ongoing debates over claims that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted.

The controversy intensified after the United States recently listed Nigeria as a country of particular concern.

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Doris Ogala Reportedly Arrested After Calling Out Pastor Chris Okafor

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Nollywood actress, Doris Ogala, has been reportedly arrested following a heated online dispute linked to her recent allegations against a Lagos-based pastor, Chris Okafor.

It was reports that the arrest occurred on Saturday, December 20, 2025, during a live video session in which Ogala was speaking with an online personality.

While the livestream was ongoing, she confirmed that police officers were present inside her home.

She was also heard scolding a woman identified as Charity for allowing people into the house despite earlier warnings.

The interviewer advised her to keep her phone active and asked whether the officers had a warrant.

Shortly after the incident, comedian and former Big Brother Naija housemate Dee One announced on Instagram that Ogala had been arrested.

He stated that he had earlier cautioned the actress and added that she would now have to answer questions in court over the matter.

The situation followed a social media post by Ogala, in which she shared an image allegedly showing the cleric in a private setting.

In the post, she accused him of deceit and claimed she had video evidence to back her claims.

The controversy gained more attention after the pastor recently married a woman identified as Pearl earlier in the week.

The wedding reportedly went ahead despite Ogala’s online accusations, which included claims of betrayal, emotional manipulation and a broken promise of marriage after what she described as a long-term relationship.

Over the past few days, Ogala had shared emotional videos online in which she accused the cleric of damaging her life.

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She claimed the relationship began around 2017 and alleged that she ended her previous marriage at his request, only to be left distressed after the relationship suddenly ended.

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Bandits Do Not Represent Any Religion, They Are Common Criminals – Tambuwal

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Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has stated that terrorists in the country do not represent any religious group.

Addressing newsmen on Saturday in Sokoto, he stated that bandits are common criminals who merely seek available targets to attack.

He warned political leaders and the international community against politicising the country’s worsening insecurity.

Tambuwal described the recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by United States President Donald Trump as quite unfortunate.

He insisted that the designation does not reflect the true nature and complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges.

“I would like to believe that President Trump and the American government did not fully grasp or appreciate the Nigerian situation. What we are facing is not a religious crisis but a security crisis affecting Nigerians of all faiths and backgrounds.

“These marauders do not represent any religion. How else can one explain what they are doing in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and other states? They are common criminals, attacking every soul they come across.

“You can’t even go to the mosque or the church safely. So this is not about a particular section of the country or a particular religion. It is about Nigeria,” he said.

The former governor aligned himself with the Vatican’s position on Nigeria, noting that the Pope had rightly acknowledged that Nigerians, Christians and Muslims alike, are victims of widespread insecurity.

He emphasised that insecurity has become a national issue that transcends politics, ethnicity, and religion, insisting that collective action is urgently needed.

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He called on the United States and other global partners to reconsider their stance and instead support the administration of President Bola Tinubu in addressing the crisis.

“It’s not about Bola Tinubu as a person. It’s not about APC or party politics. It’s about our country. Any country, America, France, the UK, Canada, that can support Nigeria to overcome insecurity should please do so,” the former governor added.

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Alleged Alterations: No Amount Of Opposition Pushback Will Stop Implementation Of Tax Law – Presidency

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The presidency said no amount of opposition pushback would stop the implementation of the laws in January, while dismissing claims that it secretly altered some provisions of the newly enacted tax reform laws.

It was reports that the tax reform laws, which faced stiff opposition from federal lawmakers from the northern part of the country before their passage, are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

President Bola Tinubu signed the four tax reform bills into law, marking what the government has described as the most significant overhaul of the country’s tax system in decades.

According to the Federal Government, the reforms are designed to simplify tax compliance, expand the tax base, eliminate overlapping taxes, and modernise revenue collection across federal, state, and local governments.

However, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and several civil society organisations have called for the suspension of the implementation of the laws.

The call follows alleged discrepancies between the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions gazetted and released to the public, raised by a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki.

Dasuki, who made the allegations during plenary, insisted that the content of the gazetted tax laws did not reflect what members debated, voted on, and passed, warning that, if not addressed, the alleged alterations could render the new tax laws legally vulnerable because they lacked legislative approval.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker further urged the speaker to ensure that all relevant documents, including the harmonised versions, votes, and proceedings of both chambers, were brought before the Committee of the Whole for scrutiny by all members.

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In response to the opposition outrage, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, in an interview with Punch, insisted that there was no evidence that the laws had been altered.

While describing the criticisms as opposition noise, aimed at creating controversy around government policy, Ajayi argued that allegations that the tax documents were altered had not been established by any constituted authority.

According to him, the tax laws were enacted through due process and would take full effect from January 1, 2026, with relevant government agencies already mobilised to ensure smooth implementation.

He stressed that the implementation committee had been working for the past six months and would not be distracted by what he described as attempts to undermine the policy.

He said, “Opposition elements can say whatever they want, even when it is very obvious to every rational person that all they seek to do every time is to pollute the waters and create a toxic environment around policy issues.”

Ajayi noted that the House of Representatives had already established a committee to examine the allegations, led by the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Faleke.

According to him, the appropriate course of action is to allow the committee to carry out its assignment and present its findings.

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