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NAPTIP rescues 19 girls impregnated by one man in Abuja Estate
A Chilling revelation of 19 pregnant girls rescued from an estate in Abuja, impregnated by a single man, has intensified calls for a coordinated national assault on human trafficking.
The disturbing case, disclosed by the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajia Binta Adamu Bello, underscores the deepening crisis of trafficking in persons across Nigeria.
Speaking during a strategic meeting at the headquarters of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Abuja, the Commission’s Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa
described the situation as a national emergency that demands an all-out, whole-of-government and whole-of-society response.
This is a very dangerous and heartbreaking situation, Dabiri-Erewa said, reacting to the news of the 19 victims. She urged the government to declare a war against human trafficking, stressing that it is not just a NAPTIP problem but a national problem, requiring all relevant agencies to work together.
“It’s a very dangerous field. We must declare a war against human trafficking. And the idea about the multi-agency collaboration, NAPTIP, NIDCOM, Refugee Commisdion, Humanitarian , even Ministry of Youth need to join us in this fight,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa called for intensified efforts to name and shame traffickers publicly, in the same manner as drug barons, and urged stricter penalties as a deterrent to others.
The NiDCOM boss emphasized the importance of stronger inter-agency collaboration involving NiDCOM, NAPTIP, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Ministry of Youth Development.
“No agency can do this alone,” she stressed, and added that NAPTIP needs full support,better funding, flexible policies, and unflinching political will. We must unite to protect our young people from predators.
Dabiri-Erewa also acknowledged the support of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Wema Bank, civil society groups, neighbouring countries, and Nigerian Diaspora communities in the rescue and reintegration of trafficked persons.
In her remarks, Hajia Bello reiterated that human trafficking is a growing menace that cannot be tackled in isolation.
She commended NiDCOM for its consistent support, particularly during the recent rescue of 231 young Nigerians from Ghana, and expressed hope for deeper cooperation between both agencies.
“We need massive public awareness. Every household, every school, every community must be informed about the evil of trafficking,” she said.
Bello reaffirmed NAPTIP’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of vulnerable Nigerians, while pushing for broader societal vigilance and accountability.
The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge by both agencies to intensify advocacy, rescue operations, and policy reforms aimed at crushing trafficking networks and protecting Nigeria’s youth from exploitation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially taken a major step toward seeking a second term in office after the purchase of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the 2027 presidential election.
The development, which effectively signals the start of his re-election campaign within the ruling party, saw the nomination forms, valued at N100 million, obtained on Tuesday in Abuja by Hon. James Faleke, the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency and leader of the Tinubu Support Groups. Faleke acted on behalf of the president during the process.
The APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, formally presented the forms at a ceremony marking the official opening of the party’s nomination activities ahead of the next general election cycle.
The move is widely seen as the beginning of Tinubu’s structured push for another term, coming months ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission) has already released a detailed timetable for the polls. According to the commission, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The electoral body also announced that political parties will conduct their primaries and resolve related disputes between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Campaign activities are expected to commence later in the year, with presidential and National Assembly campaigns beginning on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state assembly campaigns will kick off on September 9, 2026.Politics
President Tinubu, a member of the All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress), is expected to face internal party processes before formally emerging as the party’s candidate, even as preparations for the 2027 general elections gradually gather momentum nationwide.
Key political figures involved in the nomination process include Hon. James Faleke (James Faleke), who facilitated the purchase of the forms on the president’s behalf, and APC’s National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu (Suleiman Argungu), who supervised the formal presentation in Abuja.
With the electoral timetable now in place, political activities are expected to intensify in the coming months as parties begin strategizing for what is shaping up to be a highly competitive 2027 election season.
No fewer than 29 people were killed in Adamawa State, Governor Umar Fintiri confirmed on Monday.
Residents said the attackers targeted young people who had assembled at a football pitch, marking yet another episode of violence in Nigeria.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening in Guyaku community, Gombi Local Government Area of the North-East state, near the Cameroon border—an area frequently affected by insurgent and criminal activities.
The attack comes at a time when Nigeria’s security challenges are drawing increasing attention both domestically and internationally, especially with general elections less than a year away.
Governor Fintiri, who visited the community on Monday, confirmed the death toll, according to a statement by his spokesperson on social media.
Residents corroborated the figures.
A local resident, Philip Agabus, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that villagers had gathered at the football pitch when insurgents stormed the area and began shooting indiscriminately.
Another resident, Joshua Usman, said the victims were mostly youths, including some women watching the match. He added that the attackers also burned places of worship, homes, and motorcycles.
The governor’s office, citing a community leader, Aggrey Ali, said the assailants operated for hours, killing residents and destroying property.
Footage aired on local television showed a burnt church and several charred motorcycles.
While Governor Fintiri blamed Boko Haram militants, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) later claimed responsibility, stating that it killed at least 25 Christians and set fire to a church and nearly 100 motorcycles, according to the SITE monitoring group.
Fintiri condemned the attack, vowing that it would not go unpunished and promising intensified security operations to restore peace.
Since 2009, insurgency led by Boko Haram and ISWAP has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions in Nigeria’s North-East, according to the United Nations. The conflict has also spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
Nigeria is now seeking technical and training support from the United States to strengthen its military operations against insurgents amid a resurgence of violence.
Another Attack On Lamurde
In a separate incident on Sunday, over 100 kilometres away in Lamurde area, another attack occurred, reportedly linked to farmland disputes in several villages.
Bulus Daniel, Chairman of the Lamurde Local Government Council, confirmed that lives and properties were lost.
15 Pupils, Proprietor’s Wife Rescued In Kogi
Meanwhile, in Kogi State, security forces rescued 15 pupils abducted alongside 23 children and the wife of a school proprietor during an attack on an unregistered orphanage and school.
The State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, confirmed the rescue and said efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims.
School abductions remain a persistent problem in Nigeria due to weak security and ransom demands by perpetrators.
Despite repeated government assurances, mass kidnappings continue to disrupt education, commerce, and travel, raising concerns among citizens about the effectiveness of security measures.
Air travelers continue to face delays, suspensions, and cancellations as airline operators grapple with the unavailability of Jet A1 fuel.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, passengers scheduled to board a United Nigeria Airlines flight (UN0572) from Abuja to Benin were left stranded following repeated rescheduling of their flight after waiting for over six hours.
The flight, originally scheduled for 12:20 p.m., was first moved to 4:20 p.m. However, just as passengers anticipated departure, an announcement was made shortly before 7:00 p.m. that the flight had been further rescheduled to 7:00 a.m. the next day.
The affected passengers remain stranded, with no provision made for overnight accommodation or transportation.
One of the passengers, who identified himself as Akporoba Monday Olomu, spoke to Channels Television, lamenting the treatment by the airline.
“I bought a ticket with United Nigeria Airways, Abuja to Benin, scheduled for 2:20, 14:20 hours today. I was here at 14:20 hours, the flight was shifted to 16:20 hours, which was 4:20 p.m., and then again, no information from the attendant or the manager until about this time, which is 1902 hours GMT.
“One of the managers just walked in carelessly, asking everybody to go and come back tomorrow morning at 7 o’clock. Then my question is, where do I go? How do I go? Where do I start from? I’m asking the manager to book a place for me, or arrange accommodation or space, take me there so you can bring me back tomorrow morning at 7 o’clock, the time you have given, and then they are turning this offer down,” the passenger lamented.
Just in: Tinubu Picks APC Nomination Forms For 2027 Re-Election Bid
Over 29 Feared K!lled in Adamawa Community Attack on Football Spectators- Gov Fintiri confirms
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