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Anyaoku, Others Raise Concern Over Rising Insecurity, Poverty Ahead Of 2027 Elections
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A group of elder statesmen and prominent Nigerians under the aegis of The Patriots has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s deepening insecurity, worsening poverty, and what it described as the steady erosion of national values and institutions, warning that the country urgently requires far-reaching structural reforms to avert further decline.
The group stated this in a communiqué issued after its meeting at the organisation’s secretariat in Lagos, where members reviewed the state of the nation and deliberated on preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The communiqué, signed by the Chairman of the group, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and Secretary-General, Veteran Olawale Okunniyi, painted a grim picture of the country’s security situation, condemning the persistent killings, kidnappings, and attacks on communities by bandits and other armed groups across different parts of Nigeria.
According to the group, violent attacks have continued unabated in the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions, while insecurity is increasingly spreading into parts of the South-West, raising fears over national stability.
The Patriots also expressed concern over the growing number of internally displaced persons across the country, noting that widespread insecurity had forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands, thereby worsening food security challenges nationwide.
The group urged the federal government to treat insecurity as a national emergency with grave implications for governance, economic survival, and public safety.
It consequently called for the establishment of a special advisory committee to support government efforts in addressing the various dimensions of the country’s security crisis.
While acknowledging recent economic reforms introduced by the federal government, the group maintained that poverty remained widespread and severe, particularly in rural communities.
Citing figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, the Patriots noted that approximately 63 per cent of Nigerians currently live in multidimensional poverty.
The group also renewed its demand for a new democratic constitution, insisting that the current governance structure under the 1999 Constitution was a product of military imposition and no longer reflects the collective aspirations of Nigerians.
It recalled that the position was strongly reaffirmed during its National Summit held in Abuja in July 2024, which attracted participants from youth groups, women’s organisations, and socio-cultural bodies from across the six geopolitical zones.
According to the communiqué, many of Nigeria’s recurring political and governance problems can only be resolved through a constitution produced democratically by the Nigerian people themselves.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Patriots criticised the absence of ideology among political parties, arguing that it had encouraged frequent defections by elected public officials.
The group said the trend had reinforced public perception that political parties merely exist as vehicles for acquiring power and public office rather than platforms driven by principles and programmes.
It therefore urged political parties and candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns instead of resorting to personal attacks, divisive rhetoric, and inflammatory political conduct.
The Patriots also lamented what it described as the collapse of public institutions and declining leadership values in the country, urging Nigerians to support only candidates and parties committed to restructuring Nigeria’s governance system.
The group further warned that the conduct of the 2027 elections at the federal, state, and local government levels would attract close scrutiny from the international community.
On the issue of electoral participation, the Patriots criticised the high cost of politics in Nigeria, arguing that the exorbitant fees for nomination and expression of interest forms had effectively shut ordinary citizens out of the political process.
According to the group, many qualified Nigerians, including professionals, academics, and teachers capable of contributing meaningfully to governance, lack the financial capacity to contest elections.
The Patriots maintained that the federal government had not done enough to tackle insecurity across the country.
The group also defended its call for a new constitution, arguing that a properly structured constitutional framework would clearly define the responsibilities and limits of public office holders and help curb corruption and misgovernance.
The Patriots also renewed their support for independent candidacy, insisting that broader electoral reforms are necessary to make Nigeria’s political process more inclusive.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed sadness over the passing of a former governor of the defunct Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba States), Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur.
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who passed away on Saturday—three days to his 91st birthday—was a successful businessman, elder statesman, and one of the foremost politicians in Nigeria from the North.
Speaker Abbas, in a condolence message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, described Bamanga Tukur’s demise as a huge loss to the business and political communities, noting that the deceased was an elder statesman whose marks will remain indelible in the country’s history.
The Speaker said apart from Bamanga Tukur’s exemplary foray in public administration, governance, industry, politics, and pan-African business leadership, he was also a devoted Muslim who propagated Islam and blessed humanity with his wealth.
He added that Tukur, as national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contributed immensely to the improvement of Nigerian democracy and standard political practices.
Speaker Abbas condoled Bamanga Tukur’s family, members of his community, business and political associates, as well as the government and the people of Adamawa (his home state) and Taraba States.
The Speaker prayed to Allah (SWT) to forgive Alhaji Bamanga Tukur his mistakes and grant him Jannatul Firdausi.
The traditional ruler reportedly died in hospital after a brief illness following his release from captivity.
A traditional ruler in Kwara State has died days after regaining his freedom from kidnappers who abducted him during an attack on his community.
The monarch, whose identity was not immediately disclosed in the report, was kidnapped on August 22 when armed men invaded Igbesi community in the state.
He was rescued five days later during a security operation in the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro axis, alongside two other kidnapping victims.
However, the monarch reportedly died in the early hours of Saturday at a hospital where he was receiving treatment following his release.
His death was announced on Saturday by the National President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, Bisi Fakayode, who expressed sadness over the development and prayed for the repose of the monarch’s soul.
Confirming the development, one of the deceased’s sons, Prince Olasunkanmi, told PUNCH Online that his father died after a brief illness.
“Yes, the news is true. He died after a brief illness following his release. We took him to the hospital, hoping he would survive, but he died there very early this morning,” he said.
How the monarch was rescued
The monarch was among three kidnapping victims rescued by security operatives during a coordinated operation around the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro axis of Kwara State.
The operation followed information received at about 10am at the Oro Police Station from a vigilante member, who reported that one of his colleagues had sustained a gunshot injury while in the bush around Elerin/Ijomu-Oro.
Acting on the information, the Divisional Police Officer of the Oro Police Station led a combined team of police operatives, military personnel and vigilantes to the area.
According to the Kwara State Police Command, the suspected kidnappers opened fire after sighting the advancing security team, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
One suspected kidnapper was killed during the encounter, while the remaining members of the gang fled into the surrounding terrain as security operatives pursued them.
The team subsequently located and rescued the three victims, who were evacuated for medical attention.
The monarch’s death comes days after the successful rescue operation, raising fresh concerns over the health consequences of prolonged captivity and the dangers faced by victims of kidnapping.
The child was rescued at a hotel in Abia State after police allegedly uncovered a plot to traffic her for financial gain.
The Abia State Police Command has arrested a father and three other suspects over an alleged attempt to sell and traffic his 16-month-old daughter for financial gain.
The suspects were arrested on September 7, 2026, by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Gender Unit, at a hotel in Obi, Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed the development on Friday while briefing journalists on the command’s achievements since he assumed office on August 10.
Afolabi said the suspects were transferred from the Central Police Station, Umuahia, in connection with alleged conspiracy and child trafficking.
According to the commissioner, preliminary investigations established that one of the suspects was the biological father of the child.
He added that further investigation indicated that the alleged attempt to traffic the girl was motivated by the suspects’ desire to make money.
The child was rescued and handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs for protection, while the four suspects remained in police custody as investigations continued.
Police rescue nine kidnapped victims
Afolabi also disclosed that the command had recorded more than 152 criminal cases and arrested over 220 suspects since his assumption of office.
He said several of the cases had been investigated and charged to court.
According to him, the command also rescued nine kidnapped victims, recovered 101 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, recovered six stolen vehicles, including tricycles and motorcycles, and dismantled two criminal networks during the period under review.
Abducted doctor rescued
The commissioner further disclosed the rescue of a medical doctor who was allegedly abducted by armed men on August 19.
Afolabi said the doctor was forced into his vehicle by the assailants, who subsequently fled towards Imo State.
He explained that vehicle-tracking technology and coordinated intelligence operations involving the Abia and Imo State police commands led to the recovery of the vehicle and the rescue of the victim in the early hours of August 20.
Several suspects allegedly linked to the incident, including individuals suspected of assisting with the movement or distribution of ransom money, have been arrested.
The police, however, said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the alleged criminal network.
In another major operation, Afolabi disclosed the arrest of a suspect allegedly linked to an armed robbery and kidnapping incident along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Aba.
The suspect was reportedly arrested after a female victim was robbed of her Toyota Highlander, mobile phones, handbag and other personal belongings.
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