News
NAF apologises for Ikeja Electric invasion, pledges to sanction officers
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has described the invasion of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company’s head office at Alausa by its armed operatives as unfortunate, promising to investigate and bring those responsible for the rage to justice.
Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, AVM Adeniran Ademuwagun gave the assurance when he visited the DISCO’s premises after the incident to broker peace.
The briefing followed hours of meeting with top management of IKEDC and NAF delegation led by the AOC.
AVM Ademuwagun said: “What happened this morning was quite unfortunate, and certainly it will not happen again. As you heard from the chairman, electricity in the base environment is not a luxury, it is an essential commodity.”
Armed soldiers numbering over 60 on Thursday morning invaded the DISCOs’ headquarters, disrupting business activities, injuring more than 10 staffers and damaging properties.
Eyewitnesses recounted how the soldiers, angered by the disconnection of their light for more than 10 days stormed the business premises located not far from the Government House, allegedly pointing their cocked guns at civilians while ordering them to lay down with their faces to the ground.
They were alleged to have used planks and metal objects to assault some of the workers.
Over 200 workers present in the building received slaps, fist blows and other physical assaults from the soldiers.
The soldiers, who held the premises hostage for over two hours, were said to have also grounded vehicular movement in that part of the road as armed soldiers were stationed on the expressway to prevent access to and from that part of the expressway.
During the briefing, IKEDC Chairman Kola Adesina, confirmed there were skirmishes at the premises which left at least 10 staffers brutalized, offices vandalized and assets carted away.
Notwithstanding the incident, Adesina said as a leader, he has the responsibility to de-escalate the situation, adding that immediate steps were taken to engage with the leadership of the Air Force, and they responded.
“Not only did they respond, eventually they left the premises with some of our people as well as some vehicles, but those vehicles were returned.
“Then we had to pay visits to the Air Force base, and we were not only kept abreast with the sad situation at the base itself in terms of the criticality of the infrastructure, as well as the fact that there are morgues out there, and a large number of other critical infrastructure that didn’t have electricity.
“We were told all these. We were shown evidence of why it is important we have a facility that’s strategically, appropriately electrified.
“Unfortunately, on our own side of the business, we’re being owed a significant chunk of money, about $4 billion plus, for which we’ve not been able to receive revenue.
“We’ve been discussing this for some time now, about seven years that we’ve been at it, but somehow the money wasn’t coming through.
“Sadly, because of the fact that we have a system whereby, as a distribution company, the responsibility of collection lies primarily with us, and remission of that money into a common account, which is excess crude, of course, with that responsibility of it being upstream.
“The gas suppliers, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and other critical market participants. Of course, that has led to liabilities in our books that we’ve been carrying in our balance sheet, and it has made us quite a bankrupt organisation, so to speak.
“Somehow, we’ve been riding the wave, but it’s been very difficult and challenging, and if we cannot collect, how do we pay our staff? How do we incentivise them to be able to do what they are paid to do?
“So this unfortunate situation arose, and of course, we woke up to this sad event.
“This is a traumatic day in the life of our organisation, because as an organisation, one of the things we pride ourselves for is the safety of our people first, safety of our assets, and ensuring that we give electricity to our customers alike. But somehow, that has been impaired today,” said Adesina.
He revealed that the Federal Government has promised to ensure the money being owed the DISCO would be paid speedily, just as he acknowledged the enormous sacrifices military personnel make for the safety and security of all Nigerians.
The chairman estimated the losses incurred by the invasion to a billion naira, noting that operations were disrupted and they had to evacuate the building as the workers were not in good state of mind.
“But when we engaged with the Air Force, we met a leadership that was quite unusual in their ability to not only listen, but to equally assess the entire situation end-to-end, and the kind of conversation that has taken place today is quite far-reaching and ennobling.
“So the leadership not only accepted that certain things ought not to have happened, it decided to visit us to assess the state of affairs, and that’s why we have the entire leadership of the Air Force Base in Lagos here with us today.
“We’ve gone around the offices, and he has even had the privilege of addressing some of our staff that were injured in the course of the rage that we saw today.
“So one would want to say that we say thank you, at least, for the response of the leadership, and thank you for the emotional intelligence and empathy that has been shown today in terms of the conversations we’ve had.
“We’ve been discussing that for about five hours, and calls have come from Abuja and everybody concerned.”
. .as NDLEA officers graduate from US-DEA training academy
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to global cooperation in the fight against illicit drugs and transnational organised crime.
Marwa who stated this in his address at the graduation ceremony of NDLEA officers at the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia, USA on Friday, 13th February 2026, called for a reinforced global offensive against transnational organised crime, asserting that the evolving sophistication of criminal networks demands a corresponding surge in law enforcement collaboration.
The NDLEA boss described the ceremony as particularly significant, noting that the course was dedicated to SIU members who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. He paid glowing tribute to the fallen officers, describing them as heroes whose courage, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment to justice continue to inspire law enforcement personnel across nations.
Highlighting the course motto, “Different nations, shared duty, one fight,” Marwa said it aptly reflects the collective resolve of partner nations against transnational organised crime, stressing that criminal networks operate across borders and therefore demand a unified, coordinated, and intelligence-driven global response.
The intensive training programme brought together elite officers from Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, equipping them with advanced skills in diverse critical areas of their work.
Marwa expressed confidence that the knowledge and skills acquired would significantly enhance the operational capacity of participating agencies to disrupt drug trafficking networks and dismantle organised criminal cartels across the region. He charged the graduating officers to apply the competencies gained with integrity, professionalism, courage, and a strong sense of responsibility upon returning to their respective countries.
He expressed the appreciation to the United States Department of Justice, the DEA leadership, and instructors for their steadfast partnership, mentorship, and continued investment in capacity building.
The NDLEA boss emphasised that the graduation ceremony marked not the end of training but the beginning of renewed responsibility for the officers to uphold the highest standards of service, protect vulnerable communities, and confront criminality wherever it threatens societal stability.
He expressed optimism that the partnership between NDLEA and the DEA would continue to grow stronger, yielding sustained successes in the shared fight against drug trafficking and organised crime.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing construction of Magistrate Court buildings in three different locations across the federal capital, confirming that contractors are expected to deliver the new facilities by the end of June 2026.
Speaking during an inspection tour of various court sites on Thursday, the Minister emphasized that the projects were critical “presidential interventions” aimed at ensuring the judiciary does not lack the necessary space to dispense justice effectively.
The Minister’s tour covered three high-priority sites, starting from Asokoro, where he noted the technical difficulties posed by the terrain.
“I’ve seen the level of work, even though the topography is very bad. It’s a problem, but we’ll overcome it,” Wike said.
After Asokoro, the Minister visited Jabi, where the foundation for a new Magistrates’ court complex was laid in late 2025.
The tour concluded in Garki, where the Minister praised the rapid advancement of construction.
“You can see how far this has gone. I’m very pleased with the quality of the job,” he remarked.
The ongoing works include the construction of 40 residential housing units for judges across the FCT High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Federal High Court.
Wike noted that these efforts, directed by President Bola Tinubu, are intended to provide “definitive accommodation” and more courtrooms to improve the welfare and efficiency of the third arm of government.
The Minister dismissed criticisms that such infrastructure projects could compromise judicial independence, arguing that the executive has a responsibility to support all sectors of government.
He added; “Judicial arm of government is very critical in ensuring prompt administration of justice. There’s no particular reason we must pay attention to one sector and leave other critical sectors unattended to.”
Wike further highlighted that the judicial interventions are part of a broader push for development in the FCT, which includes road projects, school renovations, and health sector improvements.
Current road projects in the FCT have reached advanced stages, with major networks connecting the Airport Expressway to Kuje and Gwagwalada also expected to be completed by June 2026.
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate withdrawal and redeployment of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) officers previously assigned to VIP escort duties.
”Further strengthening the security architecture, the Nigeria Police Force has executed a large-scale redeployment of officers previously assigned to VIP escort duties nationwide.”
The move, announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Friday, marks a strategic pivot from protecting private individuals to safeguarding the general public.
The decision to pull officers from VIP details comes on the heels of a devastating terrorist attack in Kwara State, where 75 villagers were killed.
For years, the use of police personnel for private VIP protection has been a point of contention in Nigeria.
This latest “large-scale redeployment”, according to the minister, seeks to rectify that imbalance by returning thousands of officers to their primary mission: community policing.
Minister Idris confirmed that these personnel have already been integrated into frontline security structures.
Key states seeing immediate personnel increases include: Kwara and Plateau, Benue and Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
The minister also added that ”Security has also been strengthened around places of worship, including increased visible presence around churches during Sunday services, in coordination with community and faith leaders.”
According to Idris, President Bola Tinubu, the country’s counter-terrorism strategy remains Nigerian-led and sovereignty-driven.
However, the government said it remains open to strategic cooperation, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support from partners such as the United States, where such collaboration aligns with Nigeria’s national interests.
He also said the administration remains resolute in its commitment to restoring peace and ensuring that all Nigerians can live and worship freely without fear.
Gruesome Attack
Gunmen had attacked the Woro community and the neighbouring Nuku area in Kwara North at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, killing at least 75 people.
The attackers also set shops ablaze, torched the residence of a traditional ruler, and forced many residents to flee into nearby bushes.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) condemned the killings in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states, describing them as “barbaric, senseless, and a direct assault on the collective conscience of the nation.”
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, also described the attack as a “pure massacre,” confirming that the victims had been buried.
In response to the violence, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kwara State to reinforce security operations.
Nigeria committed to global fight against illicit drugs, Marwa assures US, other partners
FCT Magistrate Court buildings to be delivered by June as Wike inspects project sites
Insecurity: FG redeploys police from VIP escorts to frontline security after Kwara massacre
-
News23 hours agoSecurity agents attempted to arrest El-Rufai at Abuja airport-Aide
-
News22 hours agoAtiku, Makinde Minna visit: Ask your aide to yank off his statement within 48hrs or “I will spill more beans”-Fayose warns Atiku
-
News15 hours agoShettima Arrives Ethiopia Ahead Of AU Summit
-
News7 hours agoReps Move to Bar NiMet, FHA, SON, Others from 2026 Budget Over Audit Failures
-
News15 hours agoElectricity supply gap: FG delivers 1 MW of clean energy to underserved Nigerians in Abuja
-
Economy10 hours agoSee Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 13th February 2026
-
News10 hours agoAnthony Joshua Gets Tattoos Of His Friends Killed In Auto Crash In Nigeria
-
News10 hours agoChinese Illegal Miners Settle Fulani Militias With Money– US
You must be logged in to post a comment Login