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Treating Bandits With Kid Gloves Is Dangerous, Catholic Bishop Warns Tinubu’s Govt

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The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins has called for more urgent official measures to curb the alarming rate of insecurity across the country.

He said the festering terrorists’ attacks in parts of the country and the mass killing of innocent Nigerians in recent times, have underlined the need for the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government and the Security Agencies to, as a matter of urgency, identify and deal decisively with the terrorists and their sponsors.

Archbishop Martins lamented the predawn attack on Monday, 17 November, 2025, at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 schoolgirls were violently taken from their dormitory, and a similar attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State on Friday, 21 November 2025, where some students were also abducted. These incidents, he said, are regrettably reminiscent of the abduction of the Chibok girls in April 2014, which still stirs the nation to the core.

In the same vein, he condemned the kidnapping of a Catholic priest, Father Bobbo Paschal, from St. Stephen Catholic Church in Kushe Gudgu, Kaduna State. During this raid, Gideon Markus, the brother of another local priest, was killed as he tried to intervene. These attacks, he noted, demonstrate the brazen audacity of those who seek to terrorize our nation.

“It is a matter of great concern that there has been a spike in the cases of terrorist attacks across the country in recent times, especially since the threat made by President Donald Trump. It seems there are some elements who are making deliberate efforts to throw this nation into chaos. For instance, how does one describe the manner in which the school girls were kidnapped, the brutal murder of a staff member, the school’s Vice Principal and Chief Security Officer, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, who was shot when assailants broke into his residence on the school premises? It is sad that these children, aged approximately 12 to 17, were seized under the cover of darkness by gunmen who scaled the school fence, exchanged gunfire with police, and ultimately took these innocent daughters away into the forests. We are heartened that one student has escaped and returned home, but we remain deeply troubled about the safety and well-being of the 24 who remain in captivity.”

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According to him, the recent killing of Muhammad Uba, a General in the army, by the terrorists and the gruesome attack of worshippers at a Church in Eruku, Kwara State, have further shown that “more needs to be done to secure the lives and properties of our citizens wherever they may be living”.

“If the terrorists can kill a whole serving army general in such a brazen manner, I wonder how secure the average citizens of this country are? It truly shows that there are reasons for everyone to be concerned about their security.”

The Archbishop warned that time was ticking fast and government at all levels along with the security agencies need to enforce their constitutional mandate of protecting the lives and properties of the citizens, as they needed to act fast to regain the confidence and trust of all citizens.

While acknowledging the assurances that the military have been on their readiness to secure all Nigerians, he wondered why they continue to appear powerless in the face of the incessant attacks.

He therefore tasked the Tinubu-led administration to, as a matter of constitutional duty, bring home all those who are in the hands of these brazen terrorists.

He equally urged the political class to unite and support the security agencies in their efforts to defeat the terrorists, warning that no stone should be left unturned to bring the culprits and their sponsors to justice.

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IGP Disu meets NAPTIP DG, pledges stronger action against human trafficking

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The Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has pledged stronger collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, in efforts to tackle human trafficking and organised crime.

The development was disclosed in a statement shared on April 22, 2026 on the official page of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the statement, the commitment was made when the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, paid a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on April 21.

Discussions during the meeting focused on improving cooperation between both agencies, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, joint operations and capacity building.

The NAPTIP boss sought increased technical support and operational collaboration to strengthen the agency’s ability to address human trafficking and related crimes.

In his response, Disu assured that the police would support NAPTIP through intelligence-led strategies and coordinated operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks.

“The Force will deploy its operational and intelligence capabilities to support NAPTIP’s mandate,” the statement said.

Disu noted that specialised units, including the Intelligence Response Team and the police cybercrime unit, would provide technical assistance, while training programmes would also be expanded for NAPTIP personnel.

The two agencies agreed to sustain regular engagements to monitor progress and strengthen efforts against trafficking and organised crime across the country.

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I’m proud of my achievements as Finance Minister – Wale Edun opens up after sack

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Former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has expressed satisfaction with his tenure, stating that he is proud of the progress by the Nigerian economy recorded while in office.

Edun spoke a day after President Bola Tinubu announced his removal and appointed Taiwo Oyedele as his successor.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Edun thanked the President for the opportunity to serve in multiple roles since the administration began in May 2023, including as head of the Presidential Transition Committee, Special Adviser on Monetary Policy, and later Finance Minister.

“It has been an honour to contribute to the implementation of the administration’s economic agenda at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey,” he said.

Reflecting on the state of the economy at the outset, Edun acknowledged that the government inherited significant challenges but noted that reforms undertaken during his tenure had begun to deliver results.

He cited improvements in economic growth from about 2 percent to over 4 percent and a decline in inflation from 35 percent to 15 percent, attributing the gains to efforts aimed at stabilising the macroeconomic environment and boosting investor confidence.

Edun said the progress recorded was a collective effort involving members of the Federal Executive Council, state governors, and stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

“I am proud of what we achieved alongside colleagues and the many dedicated professionals whose work continues to support the nation’s economic transformation,” he added.

While acknowledging that challenges remain, the former minister expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic trajectory, describing reform as a continuous process. He also extended goodwill to his successor and reaffirmed his commitment to national service.

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PHOTOS: Ogun govt shuts down Ijebu-Imushin market over dirty environment, indiscriminate dumping of refuse

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The Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has shut down the Ijebu- Imushin market in the Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state over indiscriminate waste disposal.

Special Adviser to the Governor on OGWAMA, Farook Akintunde, said the closure of the market became necessary after several warnings to the market leaders and traders on the need to operate in a clean environment and stop the indiscriminate dumping of waste in the market surroundings.

He lamented that despite the agency’s mechanical evacuation of their heaps of waste and provision of a Roll On Roll Off Bin, the marketers returned to dumping the waste.

He said, “To make their behaviour unacceptable, they refuse to patronise the PSP assigned to them for proper evacuation of their waste and prefer to dump their waste indiscriminately in the market.

“Despite this, OGWAMA decided to clean the market through mechanical evacuation of their heaps of waste and thereafter provided a Roll On Roll Off Bin for them to deposit their waste for easy evacuation, but they refused to make use of the bin and decided to still dump their waste indiscriminately in the market.

“The state government, through OGWAMA, will not fold its hand and watch a few traders put the health and well-being of a flourishing town into jeopardy by operating in such a filthy environment,” Akintunde added.

He called on the traders and their leaders to clean the whole market and inculcate the habit of using the bin instead of dumping them indiscriminately in the market surroundings, adding that it attracts flies and contaminates wares sold to the public, thereby spreading avoidable diseases.

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Akintunde insisted that until these are done, the market will remain shut in the overriding public interest.

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