News

APC Youth Disown Group Over Protest Against Matawale

Published

1 year ago

November 13, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

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***calls on DSS to investigate Akida’s links with Zamfara Gov

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The protest by some group against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawale in Abuja on Tuesday, has been described as a “futile effort by mischievous elements and enemies of the Federal Government”, to distract the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry in the north.

A statement Tuesday night by the President of Zamfara APC Youth Integrity Network (ZAYIN), Alhaji Idris Ibrahim, specifically alleged that Tuesday’s protest against Matawale at the headquarters of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Abuja, which was the second of such movement in one month, was one of the many antics of Governor Dauda Lawal to discredit the laudable effort of the Minister in nipping insurgencies to the bod.

It was reported Tuesday afternoon that a group, under the umbrella of APC Akida Forum (AAF), protested at the headquarters of the DSS, against the Minister, Matawale.

The AAF’s chairperson, Musa Mahmud, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, called on the DSS to investigate alleged Matawale’s linkage with bandits and terrorist groups.

But in a swift reaction Tuesday night, Alhaji Ibrahim said it was only those who didn’t know AAF and its evil antecedents in Kaduna State that would take it seriously.

ZAYIN further clarified that, the so called APC Akida Forum has no root in Zamfara state, rather Kaduna State, where Ramalan Tijani resides. “Ramalan Tijani is the person linked to a memo sometimes ago that detailed how the Zamfara State Governor was paying bandits and some media organisations to blackmail Matawalle”.

“APC Akida Forum is a group owned and operated by one Tijani Ramalan who is an ally of the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal.

“The AAF was used in 2023 to stop APC members from voting for President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the current Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani; but both plots failed.

“Governor Lawal has been using the group to forment troubles within the ranks of the APC in Zamfara and neighbouring states. What baffles us is how the Governor thinks the DSS, of all agencies would not do background checks on such a questionable group and would just jump at whatever it was that they came to sell to the public in Abuja.

“Anyone who was around the venue of convergence today in Abuja, would testify that, the buses used to ferry the hired protesters to the DSS headquarters are Zamfara State Government official vehicles in the Liaison office at Abuja and normally used to commute Zamfara State pilgrims.

“We at the Zamfara APC Youth Integrity Network (ZAYIN) are calling on the DSS, the Police and other security agencies to quickly investigate this group called APC Akida Forum – know their leaders, their office, their bank account, if any and their communications with the PDP government and Zamfara Governor, then Nigerians would know the real enemies of the country.

“Tuesday’s unfortunate outing in Abuja, was a futile effort by mischievous elements and enemies of the Federal Government and Zamfara people. It was one of the ploys to distract our leader, the Honourable Minister of State for Defence and discredit his good efforts at fighting banditry and terrorism. Their plans have failed. We shall come out to tell Nigerians more about what is happening in Zamfara state.

“This was a man who belaboured to campaign against Matawale, using banditry as sole selling point to the electorate. He promised heaven and earth to end insecurity in the state if given the chance. With second year down the line, the monsters he created to win election are now receiving good dosages of the Federal Government’s offensive, and he is trying to distract the Minister so that the insurgency will continue.

“Alot of persons have cried out in recent past, showing evidences of how the Governor was patronizing notorious bandit leaders and some accomplice media influencers, but nothing has been done by the security agencies.

“We in APC will not allow anything to undermine the good work of Mr. President and his team in Zamfara State. Anyone who stands against the fight against terrorism and banditry in Zamfara, is an enemy of the State, be it Governor or anybody.

“The year 2027 is around the corner and we shall leave no stone unturn, to make sure we support our leader, His Excellency Bello Matawale to return President Tinubu to power, insha Allah”, the statement concluded.

News

All 13 kidnapped Otukpo passengers, successfully rescued

Published

13 minutes ago

April 19, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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All 13 passengers abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have been successfully rescued.

The victims were reportedly freed in the early hours of Sunday, following what sources described as a coordinated effort.

Meanwhile, official confirmation and operational details are still being awaited at the time of filing this report.

The abduction had earlier raised concerns among residents and commuters along the busy Makurdi–Otukpo axis, a route that has witnessed sporadic security challenges in recent times.

Security agencies are yet to issue a formal statement on the circumstances surrounding both the abduction and the subsequent rescue.

It also remains unclear whether any arrests were made or if ransom was involved.

Local sources, however, expressed relief over the safe return of the victims, describing the development as a significant breakthrough amid ongoing security concerns in the area.

The spokesperson of the Benue state Police command, DSP Udeme Edet could not be reached to confirm the story as at the time of filing this report.

News

Board cautions candidates after arrest of suspects over doctored UTME scores

Published

20 minutes ago

April 19, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced the arrest of two candidates and a parent for allegedly falsifying the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results using Artificial Intelligence and other electronic tools.

The announcement was made on Friday as the board released the results of 632,788 candidates who sat for the examination on Thursday, April 16.
In a statement issued by JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the suspects were apprehended for tampering with official SMS result notifications to alter or fabricate scores with the intention of deceiving others, including parents and guardians.

“Currently, two candidates and one parent are in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement said.
Benjamin emphasized that such actions constitute serious criminal offences and warned that the board would ensure that all those involved are prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He further cautioned candidates against interfering with result messages sent through JAMB’s official SMS platforms, 55019 and 66019.

Candidates who took the examination on Thursday can check their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the phone number linked to their registration. Printing of official result slips is not yet available but will be enabled later.
The 2026 UTME commenced on April 16 and is scheduled to run until April 22 across examination centres nationwide. Results will continue to be released in batches as the exercise progresses.

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How NDLEA operatives uncovered cocaine, loud in food flasks, snacks, nabs fashion designer, others(Photos)

Published

1 hour ago

April 19, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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. Raids Edo, Cross River forests, destroys over 17,000kg skunk; recovers large consignments in Lagos, Delta, Kaduna operations

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in false bottom of food flasks heading to the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.

The cocaine consignment with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms was intercepted on Thursday 9th April 2026 by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport while two cargo agents involved in the export bid: Ama Obinna Ufeim, 33, and Ogabi Monday Akorede, 39, were swiftly arrested. Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola as the sender of the consignment and he was arrested in a follow-up operation.
In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday 8th April intercepted a consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms and concealed in snack food packs, which arrived from the United States of America aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
Two cargo clearing agents: Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3 Oba Ogunji road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday 13th April.

In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway by Gwargwaje Zaria on Monday 13th April intercepted a trailer conveying cement heading to Hadeja in Jigawa state. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 847 kilograms. The truck driver Umar Garba Haruna, 33, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

A 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested on Thursday 16th April when NDLEA officers supported by soldiers raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa LGA, Cross River state, where 15,000 kilograms of skunk on six hectares of farmland were destroyed and 119kg of same substance recovered.

Another cannabis farm was raided on Tuesday 14th April at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of same psychoactive substance, while three suspects: Nweke Smart, 27; Christopher Egbe, 62; and Monday Ayan, 45, were arrested, with the duo of Christopher and Monday caught with 38.5kg cannabis and its seeds. Two suspects: Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39, were nabbed with 87.838kg skunk and seeds at Powerline area of Okwo, Delta state on Friday 17th April.

In Lagos, two suspects: Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu were arrested on Wednesday 15th April at Mile 2, Lagos/Badagry expressway while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck to Ghana. Same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where a total of 95.8kg skunk was recovered.

With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Alfurgan Islamic School, Paiko, Niger state;
Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River; Heritage Model School, Ankpa, Kogi; Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina; Government Senior Secondary School, Rano, Kano, and De Ambassador Secondary School, Epe, Lagos state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, and Lagos Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.