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HoR minority caucus slams wave of violence across Nigeria, decries killings in Kasunwandaji
… insists on national security reset
…demands immediate rescue of those abducted
The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has slammed the brutal terrorist attack on Kasuwan Daji Market in the Demo Community of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, which resulted in the killing of no fewer than thirty civilians and the abduction of many others, including women and children.
The minority caucus in a statement signed by its leaders: Rep. O. K. Chinda Minority Leader Rt. Hon. Ali Isa J.CMinority Whip Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki Deputy Minority Leader Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi Deputy Minority Whip declared that:
“This atrocity stands as one among a grim succession of violent incidents that have engulfed the country since Christmas Eve, underscoring the depth and spread of Nigeria’s security crisis.
“Across the North Central and North West regions, communities have endured coordinated assaults by armed groups operating with alarming confidence and firepower.
The caucus explained that: “Reports detail the violent raid on Kasuwan Daji by gunmen who arrived on motorcycles, armed with sophisticated weapons, killing, maiming, looting, and abducting innocent citizens whose only crime lay in their daily pursuit of livelihood.
“These attacks occurred against the background of the earlier assault on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, where more than 250 students and staff were attacked and abducted, an incident that forced the prolonged closure of schools across Niger State and shattered public confidence in the safety of educational spaces.Beyond civilian targets, the violence has extended to the nation’s security forces.
“Since Christmas Eve, multiple attacks on military positions and patrols have been recorded, including yesterday’s tragic killing of eight Nigerian soldiers after their armoured personnel carriers ran into improvised explosive devices during operational deployments in Damask, Borno State.
“Such losses reflect a dangerous escalation in tactics by terrorist and bandit groups and highlight serious gaps in intelligence, protection, and battlefield preparedness.
“From villages razed and highways rendered unsafe, to farmers displaced and markets silenced by fear, the country faces a sustained assault on lives, livelihoods, and national cohesion.
“The Minority Caucus acknowledges the directives issued by the Federal Government to the armed forces and security agencies to apprehend those responsible for these crimes.
“Words of condemnation and after-the-fact responses, however, offer little comfort to grieving families or displaced communities. What the moment demands involves decisive, proactive, and intelligence-driven action, strengthened inter-agency coordination, improved protection for both civilians and security personnel, and a clear reassessment of the national security architecture to meet the evolving nature of these threats.
“As representatives entrusted with the defence of the public interest, the Minority Caucus expresses grave concern over the continued normalisation of mass violence across the federation.
“The Caucus calls for the immediate rescue and safe return of all abducted persons, especially children and women, and urges the security services to restore public confidence through visible, sustained, and effective action.
“The Caucus affirms its commitment to pursue legislative measures and robust oversight aimed at addressing the root causes of insecurity, strengthening accountability, and advancing practical solutions that place the protection of Nigerian lives at the centre of governance.
Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Dutse, Jigawa State.
They are demanding that INEC formally recognise the party’s national leadership led by David Mark.
The protest comes amid growing political tension in the state, as internal party disputes and defections intensify ahead of party primaries and the next general elections.
According to reports, the protesters marched to the INEC office in the state capital without incident and submitted a petition to the commission.
Speaking after the protest, the Jigawa ADC Youth Leader, Manniru Aminu, accused INEC of overstepping its authority and said the commission cannot determine legal disputes involving court rulings.
“INEC does not have the constitutional power to interpret court rulings. That responsibility lies with the judiciary,” he said.
The group also claimed that INEC is not acting neutrally in handling internal party issues, which they described as a threat to democratic fairness.
They insisted that the leadership of the ADC under David Mark remains the only legitimate and constitutionally recognised structure of the party.
The protesters demanded that INEC immediately restore the Mark-led leadership on its official records and website.
They also called for a public apology from the commission and urged that those responsible for the alleged bias be held accountable.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Fatima Zuntu as the director-general and chief executive officer of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).
In a statement on Monday, Chris Ugwuegbulam, head of information and public relations at the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, said the appointment takes effect from April 16.
Ugwuegbulam said Zuntu will serve an initial term of four years, in line with section 5 of the National Biosafety Management Agency Act, 2015.
He said Zuntu is a public health professional and policy strategist with experience in implementing national programmes.
Ugwuegbulam said the president has tasked the new NBMA boss to deploy her expertise towards advancing the agency’s mandate.
Zuntu’s appointment comes amid ongoing scrutiny over leadership qualifications at the biosafety agency.
In December 2025, a non-governmental organisation filed a freedom of information (FOI) request seeking to verify the academic and professional credentials of Bello Bwari, the former NBMA director-general.
The group raised concerns that Bwari, a lawyer by training, may not have met the statutory requirements for the role, noting that section 5 of the NBMA Act stipulates that the agency’s head must possess at least a master’s degree in biological sciences or a related field.
The NGO’s request, submitted to the federal ministry of environment, asked the government to disclose documents relating to Bwari’s qualifications and the process leading to his appointment.
The organisation criticised the lack of transparency, warning that such issues could undermine public confidence in biosafety regulation and scientific governance in Nigeria.
The group said the outcome of the FOI request could set a precedent for accountability in regulatory agencies, particularly those overseeing public health, environmental protection, and biotechnology.
The Labour Party has released the list of chairmen and members of its electoral subcommittees ahead of its forthcoming nationwide congresses scheduled across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Interim National Chairman, Ken Asogwa, the party announced the constitution of the committees to oversee the conduct of ward, local government, and state congresses.
According to the party, the ward congresses are scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026, while local government congresses will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026. The state congresses are fixed for Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The subcommittees, which the party said are composed of “experienced and respected party members”, have been mandated to ensure smooth conduct of the exercises in their respective states.
The appointed chairmen are, “Hon. Iheanacho Obioma (Abia); Francis Kim (Adamawa); Ekong Philip Solomon (Akwa Ibom); Chief Tony Asuoha (Anambra); Malam Mustapha Adamu (Bauchi); Beredugo Ebimonyo (Bayelsa); Chief John A. A. Ochoga (Benue); Comrade Buratai (Borno); Urom P. Iyang (Cross River); Hon. Chuks Onitsha (Delta); Chief Mitchell Nwabueze (Ebonyi); Comrade Dr. Saliu Edogiawerie (Edo); Comrade Usman Mohammed (Niger); Owolabi Ezekiel (Ogun); Charles Afolabi (Ondo); Balogun Ibrahim (Osun); Babatunde Yusuf (Oyo); Fakorede Matthew (Ekiti); Dr. David Ogba (Enugu); Comrade Adoga S. Knaabayi (Gombe); Hon. Chinagorom Nwankpa (Imo); Comrade Mustapha Garba (Jigawa); Dr. Emmanuel Barau (Kaduna); Comrade Kabiru Said (Kano); Pastor Ishaku Izang (Plateau); Hon. Amaobi Ogah (Rivers); Professor Muhamuda Muhammad (Sokoto); Barrister Jesse Williams (Taraba); Mukhtar Hassan (Yobe); Haila Ayuba Baja (Zamfara); Comrade Ismail Bello (Katsina); Comrade Muh’d H. Birnin (Kebbi); Hon. Samuel Ajare (Kogi); Bodunde David Adebayo (Kwara); Chukwuemeka Ogbanna (Lagos); Comrade Dr. Muttaqa Yushau (Nasarawa); and Comrade Rose Uba-Anarah (Federal Capital Territory).”
In her message to the subcommittee members, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Nenadi Usman, urged them to discharge their duties with fairness, transparency, and integrity, stressing the importance of the party’s core values.
She said they must remain guided by the principles of “equal opportunity and social justice”, adding that the credibility of the party must be upheld throughout the congress process.
The party also reaffirmed that its National Convention will hold on Tuesday, 28th April 2026, in Umuahia, Abia State, expressing confidence that all arrangements are in place to ensure a smooth and hitch-free exercise.
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