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At 65, many Nigerians still live in fear, says ex-presidential candidate

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As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, the Social Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, warned that the nation cannot prosper while millions of its citizens remain trapped in poverty and fear.

The Federal Government had declared Wednesday, October 1, a public holiday to commemorate the country’s independence from Britain in 1960.

However, in a late announcement on Monday, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation disclosed that the traditional Independence Day parade would no longer be held.

In a statement issued in Abuja to commemorate the day, Adebayo said the country’s promise of greatness would remain unfulfilled unless urgent action were taken to confront insecurity, hunger, and corruption.

“No nation can prosper while its people live in fear. Peace is not optional; it is the precondition for progress, the anchor of prosperity, and the oxygen of national renewal,” he declared.

His comments came against the backdrop of the shocking death of 29-year-old Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who reportedly died on Monday following injuries sustained during a violent robbery at her Katampe residence in Abuja.

The incident, which colleagues say was compounded by her alleged denial of medical care, has reignited concerns over the state of security and healthcare in the country.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since independence in 1960, Adebayo recalled the vision and lofty dreams of the nation’s founding fathers, including the country’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa:

But 65 years on, Adebayo noted, the reality for many Nigerians stands in sharp contrast to the projected vision.

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He lamented that 63 per cent of citizens—some 133 million people—are classified by the National Bureau of Statistics as multidimensionally poor with one in three lives below the World Bank’s poverty line of $2.15 per day; and over 31 million are facing acute food insecurity.

“These are not abstract figures; they are broken lives, and they demand a national response as urgent as war,” he said.

On insecurity, Adebayo warned that banditry, insurgency, and communal violence had displaced more than 2.3 million Nigerians by the end of 2024, according to United Nations data.

The SDP candidate argued that without a coherent security strategy that unifies the military, police, and intelligence agencies while deploying modern surveillance tools such as drones and satellites, the country’s development would remain stunted.

Yet, despite the bleak outlook, Adebayo insisted that hope was not lost. According to him, the urgent task before any government was to place peace and accountability at the centre of its agenda.

“The urgent task before us now is to build a Nigeria where no Nigerian is left behind, and where no community is consigned to despair. If we meet this test, we will awaken the Nigeria of our dreams. This is the true promise of independence,” he said.

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PHOTOS: Police demote officer for unauthorised VIP escort duty

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The Nigeria Police Force has demoted a corporal to the rank of constable for engaging in unauthorised VIP escort duties, in violation of directives issued by the Inspector-General of Police and President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the force disclosed that CPL Suleiman Musa (F/No: 517077), attached to 45 PMF, was found escorting a VIP without the required clearance. His action was deemed a breach of the strict enforcement measures put in place to end the indiscriminate deployment of police personnel for such assignments.

According to the statement, the disciplinary action serves as a warning to other officers and reinforces the need for full compliance with operational guidelines.

The force also noted that the incident raises questions about how the unauthorised assignment came about and whether the officer acted alone.

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PHOTOS: Father, son, three others d!e in Kano well collapse and fire incident

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Tragedy struck across three local government areas of Kano State as five people, including a 10-year-old girl, lost their lives in separate incidents involving a well collapse, a fall into a well, and a house fire.

The spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, confirmed the incidents in a statement issued on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

The first incident occurred in Badume Kanawa Village, Bichi Local Government Area, where three people d!ed while attempting to re-dig a well.

According to Abdullahi, the rope supporting one of the victims, identified as Sa’idu Gada, 65, snapped while he was working inside the well.

In a desperate attempt to save him, his son, Sani Isyaku, 20, entered the well but also became trapped. A third man, Yakubu Abdullahi, 60, followed with the hope of rescuing both, but he too was unable to make it out.

Fire Service personnel rescued the trio in an unconscious state, but they were later confirmed d3ad.

Their remains were handed over to DSP Kabiru Iliyasu of the Badume Police Division.

In another incident in Danbatta Local Government Area, a 10-year-old boy, Hassan Iliyasu Haruna, fell into a well and d!ed before help could reach him.

The third tragedy occurred in Badawa Layin Day in Nassarawa Local Government Area, where a 10-year-old girl d!ed in a house fire on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Fire Service officials said the blaze engulfed a section of a residential building, destroying two bedrooms. The girl was rescued unconscious but was later confirmed d3ad.

Speaking on the incidents, the Director of the Fire Service, Sani Anas, urged residents to avoid entering wells during emergencies, warning that such actions often result in additional casualties rather than successful rescues.

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He advised the public to immediately call emergency responders when accidents occur, stressing that trained personnel are better equipped to handle such situations safely.

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PHOTOS: Troops rescue 14 kidnapped victims in Benue forest

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Nigerian Army troops of Joint Task Force Sector One, Operation Udo Ka (OPUK), in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Watch, have rescued 14 kidnapped victims during a coordinated operation at Orokam Forest, a border area linking Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The operation was conducted on Friday at about 1:30 p.m., following credible intelligence from locals indicating the presence of a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in the forest.

Troops deployed in Udenu LGA swiftly mobilised to the location alongside vigilante personnel of the Neighbourhood Watch.

While approaching the hideout, the criminals opened fire on the troops. The joint team responded with a high volume of fire, forcing the kidnappers to flee in disarray and abandon the kidnapped victims.

14 abducted persons, who were returning from a burial ceremony over the weekend before being kidnapped, were rescued unhurt.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted from two separate communities Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA, Enugu State, and Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA, Benue State.

The victims were subsequently handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Udenu Division, for onward reunification with their families.

The troops expended 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the engagement and returned to base at about 7:21 p.m. without any incident.

Troops had intensified monitoring of the general area to deny criminal elements freedom of action.

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