The Emir of Potiskum, His Royal Highness Alhaji Umaru Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya, has urged Nigerian leaders to adopt a more inclusive approach to addressing insecurity, insisting that military operations alone cannot end the country’s security challenges.

The monarch also called on governments at all levels to tackle poverty, injustice and other socio-economic factors fuelling conflicts across the country.

Speaking on the state of the nation, the Emir described Nigeria’s diversity as one of its greatest assets.

“Nigeria is a complex and beautifully diverse country, blessed with over three hundred ethnic groups, each with its own customs and languages. Diversity should never be viewed as a weakness. It is our greatest strength. Every Nigerian deserves to feel a sense of belonging, which inherently inspires public cooperation for national development,” he said.

Concerning the current security challenges being experienced across the country, he maintained that the government must look beyond the use of force if lasting peace is to be achieved.

“Insecurity cannot be solved by force alone. Leaders must address the underlying socioeconomic causes of conflict with sincerity and justice,” the monarch said.

According to him, national leaders must see themselves as parents to every citizen regardless of ethnic, religious or political differences.

“A national leader must act like a good parent, listening to every child without discrimination, correcting mistakes with wisdom and ensuring everyone feels valued. When leaders put the welfare of the citizenry above personal interests, the nation will make meaningful progress,” he stated.

The Emir of Potiskum who also emphasised the importance of traditional institutions in promoting peace and preventing communal conflicts, stressed, “Because we live among the people, we understand their challenges firsthand. This uniquely positions us to advise the government, facilitate peaceful dialogue and resolve local issues before they escalate. Traditional rulers must champion community development, promote education, support economic activities and foster peace,” he insisted.

Ibn Wuriwa Bauya thus urged both political and traditional leaders to govern with a sense of justice, accountability, and sincerity, saying history would ultimately judge leaders by the positive impact they leave on their people rather than the offices they occupy.

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Two persons have been confirmed dead, while three others were rescued after a three-storey hostel building, known as Elite Five Star Lodge, collapsed in Amaokpala, near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The building, which had about 60 rooms, caved in on Sunday night, throwing residents and passers-by into panic as an unknown number of occupants, mostly students, were trapped beneath the rubble for hours before emergency responders arrived.

Eyewitnesses said the building collapsed while occupants were inside.

One resident, Ifeoma, who witnessed the incident, told PUNCH Metro that a loud noise preceded the collapse.

“We heard a very loud noise before the building collapsed. The noise attracted many residents and students, who rushed to the area to see what had happened.

“Within moments after the loud noise, people started shouting for help as the building came crashing down,” she said.

Videos and photographs circulating online showed a large crowd gathered at the scene as rescue workers, security personnel and volunteers searched through the debris for trapped victims.

PUNCH Metro gathered that a joint rescue team comprising the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the National Emergency Management Agency, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, the Anambra State Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies arrived at the scene in the early hours of Monday and immediately commenced rescue operations.

Using heavy-duty excavators and other specialised equipment, emergency workers carefully removed debris in a coordinated effort to locate survivors while ensuring the safety of the rescue personnel.

The atmosphere remained tense as anxious residents, students and sympathisers watched the operation, while security operatives cordoned off the area to prevent interference and allow emergency responders unrestricted access.

As of 6:55 p.m., rescue workers recovered the body of another male victim, bringing the total number of fatalities to two.

The acting Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Ndidi Omega, confirmed the recovery of the female victim’s body and said three injured persons had earlier been rescued and taken to hospital.

She said, “One female body was recovered, while three persons were rescued and taken to the hospital. The rescue operation will continue until every section of the debris has been thoroughly searched.”

The Head of Media and Publicity of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, also confirmed the development.

“Upon arrival at the scene, fire service personnel immediately commenced search and rescue operations in collaboration with other emergency responders.

“Regrettably, one female victim was recovered from the rubble. She was confirmed dead at the scene, and her body was evacuated and handed over to the appropriate authorities for deposition in a morgue.

“Search and rescue operations are still ongoing to determine whether any other persons remain trapped beneath the debris.

“The cause of the building collapse was yet to be determined and remains under investigation,” Chiketa said.

He urged members of the public to stay away from the area to enable emergency officers to carry out their duties safely.

However, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, has appealed for calm, saying officers had secured the scene immediately after receiving the distress call.

“On receipt of the distress report, the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, immediately mobilised to the scene, secured the area to prevent further danger and coordinated rescue efforts,” Ikenga said.

He added that rescue operations were ongoing to determine whether more victims remained trapped, noting that the total number of casualties could not yet be confirmed.

“Some injured victims have been rescued from the debris and taken to a hospital in Oko, where they are receiving treatment.

“Residents are advised to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and stay away from the scene to allow emergency responders unrestricted access,” he added.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency has sealed off the premises of the collapsed building.

A NEMA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the action was necessary to facilitate uninterrupted rescue operations and enable investigators to determine the cause of the collapse.

“The building has been sealed with red tape and barricaded to restrict movement around the premises. Before now, some students and residents were loitering around the site, thereby distracting rescue workers,” the official said.

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The Senate has clarified that the controversial provision prescribing penalties for preaching, hawking and trading inside commercial vehicles is not a fresh attempt to outlaw religious activities or street evangelism, but a long-standing provision of the Federal Road Safety Commission Act that has been in force since 2007.

The clarification follows widespread public outrage over the passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes a N50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.

The proposed legislation, which forms part of a broader review of the FRSC Act aimed at strengthening road safety enforcement and reducing road crashes, sparked criticism from Christian bodies, opposition parties, civil society groups and members of the public, many of whom argued that the provision was insensitive amid rising unemployment and worsening economic hardship.

In a statement issued on Monday, Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, clarified that the contentious provision had been misrepresented, insisting that the amendment neither introduced a fresh offence nor sought to prohibit preaching in public places.

He said, “The Senate has duly noticed public concerns on the purported proscription of preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle under the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, No. 22, 2007.

“Pursuant to Section 10(4) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007 and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2012, preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle are offences. The offences have been part of the Act before the current amendment.

“Entrenched as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the Act, preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle are not new provisions in our legal system.

“The provisions have been part of the Act as far back as 2007. However, it is now listed as Item 49, Second Schedule of the Act.”

The Senate stressed that the legislation was strictly targeted at promoting road safety and protecting commuters from distractions that could endanger lives.

“The Bill, therefore, does not outlaw preaching on the streets as some interests have claimed in different fora. It is about the safety of commuters and other road users and not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space,” he added.

The Senate also dismissed reports linking the amendment to Bamidele, saying the legislation originated from the House of Representatives.

“The Bill is not an initiative of the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. Rather, it is a concurrence bill first amended by the House of Representatives.

“As required by the 1999 Constitution, the Bill requires the concurrence of the Senate before it can become effective.

“The amendment process is still ongoing. In the spirit of democracy, stakeholders can channel their concerns to the appropriate institutions before the completion of the process,” he stated.

The clarification comes days after the Senate passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to strengthen road safety enforcement through stiffer penalties for traffic-related offences.

Apart from prescribing a N50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles, the bill proposes a N50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment or both for motorists who refuse to cooperate with FRSC officials conducting roadside breath tests based on reasonable suspicion.

It also raises the penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs from N5,000 to N100,000, with offenders facing up to two years’ imprisonment or both.

Similarly, the proposed legislation increases the penalty for disobeying traffic lights, road signs, pavement markings and other traffic control devices to N100,000, while speed limit violations and reckless driving would also attract stiffer sanctions, including fines of N100,000 and, in some cases, custodial sentences.

The revised schedule of offences contains 52 traffic violations and their corresponding penalties, with lawmakers saying the amendments are intended to improve compliance with traffic regulations, strengthen the FRSC’s enforcement powers and enhance road safety nationwide.

Before Monday’s clarification, opposition parties had condemned the proposed penalties, arguing that criminalising hawking and preaching inside commercial vehicles was misplaced at a time many Nigerians were grappling with soaring inflation, unemployment and declining purchasing power.

In separate interviews with The PUNCH, party officials described the proposal as insensitive, urging the National Assembly to prioritise legislation that addresses the country’s economic challenges rather than imposing harsher penalties on struggling citizens.

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