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Niger: Communities Publish Names of 547 Abducted Worshippers, counter Gov’s claim of 33
Communities in Borgu LGA of Niger State have released the names of 547 Worshipers abducted during attacks on Mosques in Dekara District, contradicting the governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s recent alleged comment that only 33 persons were abducted.
While receiving his predecessor, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, at the Government House to commiserate with the government and people of Niger state over the death of 37 artisanal miners in NSCDC Custody, Bago had described the reports of over 500 persons “as a social media hype”.
“33 were kidnapped at the mosque, and on their way, they kidnapped an additional 30 in a market, making a total of 63. So far, three of those kidnapped were killed and 14 recovered from them, so we should not be misled by people and the social media”, he had said.
The Borgu LGA Chairman, Mohammed Nasir Abdullahi, had also corroborated the governor by telling Daily Trust recently that “a little above 60” were kidnapped during the attack.
But the community kicked against the comments of the political leaders and released names of all the abductees.
In a document, Zubairu Umar, the Youth President of Dekara District, insisted that a total of 547 community members were taken into the Kainji Lake National Park Forest and their whereabouts and condition have remained unknown.
The attack occurred on August 21, 2026, when bandits raided four mosques in Dekara District during Friday Jumma’at prayers.
The abductions spanned multiple local areas, affecting many of families and religious leaders across the district.
A community breakdown signed by Umar detailed the scale of the abduction across five affected communities.
Gbenji: 341 persons
Giagbasso (Sabon Gida): 104 persons
Dekara: 88 persons (including the Chief Imam of Dekara, Adamu Attahiru, alongside local village heads)
Kpenya (Masaka): 9 persons
Gbebara: 5 persons
DEKARA
1. ABUBAKAR LAFIYA VILLAGE HEAD KA’ADA
2. MAMUDA LAFIYA MAGAJI OF DEKARA
3. ALH IDRIS HARUNA
4. UMAR SHERO
5. IDRIS SAMARI
6. IBRO SAMARI
7. MOHAMMED BIO KOZI
8. RAKIYA YAHAYA
9. WASILA YAHAYA
10. BALKISU GARBA
11. ALH ABUBAKAR ISAH
12. ALH SALIHU IDRIS
14. MOHAMMED IDRIS
15. MARYAM MOHAMMED
16. YUSUF
17. SALIHU MORA
18. HAJARA MOHAMMED
19. SHAMSIYA MOHAMMED
20. AYUBA MOHAMMED
21. IDRIS MOHAMMED
22. RUKAYYA MOHAMMED
23. HALIMATU MOHAMMED
24. NA’A DOHU IDRIS LAAKI
25. ALH HARUNA SHUGABA
26. ABU USMAN
27. SULEIMAN LAFIYA
28. GARBA GUMALE
29. MOHAMMED BUHARI GARBA
30. SAMIRAT GARBA KASIMU
31. NAZIRU KASIMU
32. ABDULRAZAK MUSA TANIMU
33. MUSTAPHA TANIMU
34. FATIMA GAYYA YUSUF
35. FATIMA GIAGBASSO YUSUF
36. RASIMATU YUSUF
37. SAKIRA YUSUF
38. MUSA JIBRIL DENDE
39. ZAINABU SANI
40. BALKISU SANI
41. MUSLIM DAUDA
42. ANATU MAMUDA
43. SAFIYA MAMUDA
44. MUFIRA MAMUDA
45. SAFIYA LUKMAN
46. HAUWA HASSAN
48. USMAN BABA WOO
49. HAMSATU AL HASSAN
50. KABIRU AL HASSAN
51. HAUWA’U ALHASSAN
52. FATIMA AL HASSAN
53. MADINATU ALHASSAN
54. ADAMU ATTAHIRU CHIEF IMAM DEKARA
55. ISIBA ADAMU
56. ZAINABU ADAMU
57. HASIYATU ADAMU LIMAN
58. LATIFA ADAMU
59. KADIJAT ADAMU
60. HALIDATU ADAMU
61. TAKIYATU ADAMU
62. HAJARA SHEHU
63. JAMIU SHEHU
64. LAMURA SHEHU
65. SISU SHEHU
66. AHMADU ATTAHIRU
67. HALIMATU AHMADU
68. SAMATU AHMADU
69. SULIYATU NAZIRU
70. UMARU SULE IMANI
71. ALH ADAMU DENDE
72. ADAMA ADAMU
73. RUKAYYATU ADAMU
74. RUFIYATU ADAMU
75. JAMILA ADAMU
76. ZAINAB ADAMU
77. NUHU ADAMU
78. RAHINATU WEDA
79. HINDU WEDA
80. BARAKA IBRAHIM BUKAR
81. ABBAS SALEMAMATA
82. MUSA ATTAHIRU LIMAN
83. BALKISU IDRIS
84. ANNATU ATTAHIRU MORA
85. IDRIS BANI YAKUBU
86. GARBA SAMARI
87. MUSTAPHA MUHAMMAD
88. KABIRU IDRIS
ABDUCTED VILLAGERS FROM KPENYA (MASAKA) VILLAGE
1. BI’O DABO MAGAJI KPENYA
2. GENE TOWEKI
3. BASANI TOWEKI
4. ABDULKARIM KISAMA
5. ADAMU AHMED
6. DANJUMA AL HASSAN
7. LUBATU USMAN
8. MARYAM LUBABATU
9. RAMATU SANUSI
GIAGBASSO LIST (SABON GIDA)
1. ATTAHIRU ZAKARI SARKIN GARI
2. YAKUBU MAGAJIN GARI
3. MOHAMMED IMAM
4. SARKIN SAMARI
5. IDRIS BIO
6. KIGALI
7. LAURATU IDRIS
8. AMINA IDRIS
9. SALIMA IDRIS
10. ALH BATULU
11. ALH MOHAMMED
12. ALH ADAMU
13. ALH ILIYASU
14. HALIDU BALAZA
15. RAHANA ATTAHIRU
16. ATTAHIRU HUSSENAT
17. ATTAHIRU HASSAN AT
18. ATTAHIRU ZUBAIRU
19. ABDULRAHMAN KIDA
20. ABDULRAHAMAN UMUSIMU
21. SHUAIBU ALI YU
22. YUSUF AYUBA
23. YUSUF ISMAEL
24. YAKUBU ABDUL AZIZ
25. YAKUBU BASHIRU
26. YAKUBU MUSTAPHA
27. ADAMU SALAMAT
28. MALAM FARUK BARA’ATU
29. MALAM FARUK SALAMATU
30. HALIDU ATITA
31. AYUBA ASMA’U
32. YAKUBU BA’ABIU
33. ILIYASU KADIJ
34. ILIYASU KAMILA
35. ILIYASU ROFIYA
36. ILIYASU SALIFUDDIN
37. ILIYASU ABDUL SALAMI
38. ILIYASU MANSURA
39. ILIYASU TASLIMATU
40. SANI HABIBA
41. SANI SAIFAU
42. SANI NANA FIRDAUSI
43. SANI RILWANU
44. SANI KADIJ
45. SANI IBRAHIM
46. SIDDIKU SULEIMAN
47. MUSA SULEIMAN
48. KAMALUDIN SULEIMAN
49. ABUBAKAR HADIZA
50. ABUBAKAR SUFIYAN
51. ABUBAKAR LAMIDA
52. ABUBAKAR DUNIYA
53. ABUBAKAR NINI
54. ABUBAKAR AZIMU
55. ABABAKAR BAKE
56. ABUBAKAR MAS’UDA
57. MUSA MAIMUNA
58. MUSA HAUWA
59. MUSA RAHINAT
60. MUSA YAHAYA
61. MUSA KHAUSARA
62. ALHASSAN MORA
63. ALHASSAN HAJARA
64. ALHASSAN NASIRU
65. ALHASSAN AISHA
66. ALHASSAN AZIZU
67. ALHASSAN ASMA’U
68. ALHASSAN AMIDA
69. YUSUF ABDUL
70. YUSUF HALIDU
71. YUSUF AMINU
72. AHMED LUKMAN
73. HABIBU BUSSA
74. ABDUL KARIM RAHIMATU
75. ABDULKARIM YUSUF
76. ABDULKARIM SAKIRU
77. ABDULKARIM MUSA AT
78. MUSA WALISU
79. ABDULKARIM FILUA
80. ABDULKARIM MOHAMMED
81. HALIDU WALIYU
82. ALH SULEIMAN RAHIMATU
83. ALH SULEIMAN FAWAZU
84. ALH SULEIMAN YAHUZA
85. ALH SULEIMAN ALIYU
86. SALIHU SULEIMAN
87. BI’O BUKKALI IBRAHIM
88. ISSA BA’ATUR GOU
89. ISSA ALIMU
90. ISSA ANASI
91. GADONA BA’ATUR GOU
92. ALH ADAMU NAFI
93. ALH ADAMU RABI
94. ALH ADAMU ABDULRAHMAN
95. ALIMU RUKAYYAT
96. KIKALI YUSUF
97. WORU MARYAM
98. MOHAMMED LAMIDO
99. MOHAMMED HASSAN
100. ABUBAKAR SAMINU
101. AHMED MAHMUD
102. YUNUSA KUBURA
103. HALIDU HAMDIYYA
104. HALIDU ILADA
ABDUCTED PERSONS FROM GBENJI COMMUNITY
1. MUSSINAT ALIYU
2. KALIMAT ALIYU
3. MUKADAS ALIYU
4. ABASS ALIYU
5. JAFAR ALIYU
6. NAFIU ALIYU
7. RABIU ALIYU
8. REKIYA MOHAMMED
9. ADIKUT MOHAMMED
10. ANATU HARUNA
11. USSANAT ABASS
12. MUTIYAT ABASS
13. SAKINA UMAR
14. NAJIMU UMAR
15. MUTAZU UMAR
16. SA’ADAT UMAR
17. DANTAMI UMAR
18. BARI LA UMAR
19. BADIU UMAR
20. BIYAMIN UMAR
21. FARIDAT UMAR
22. IBRAHIM UMAR
23. HARUNA GIYA
24. YUSUF GIYA
25. KABIRU GIYA
26. SAFIU GIYA
27. AYUBA GIYA
28. HABIBATU GIYA
29. ANATU GIYA
30. SIKIR ALHASSAN
31. RUKAYAT ALHASSAN
32. RAMU ALHASSAN
33. SHEHU ALHASSAN
34. MORATU ALHASSAN
35. HAWAU MUSA
36. ABDULLAHI MUSA
37. MUSIRYAT MUSA
38. SALISU MUSA
39. SAKINAT MOHAMMED
40. NAZIRU MOHAMMED
41. SAFUNAYE MOHAMMED
42. MUSA MOHAMMED
43. JABIR MOHAMMED
44. BALATU MOHAMMED
45. ASAT ABUBAKAR
46. JAFAR ABUBAKAR
47. UMAR ABUBAKAR
48. SADIYA ZAKARI
49. RAFIYAT ZAKARI
50. BAYEI ZAKARI
51. IDRIS ZAKARI
52. AISHAT ZAKARI
53. BAKE ZAKARI
54. KIKAMI ZAKARI
55. ABDULLAHI ZAKARI
56. ZINAB ZAKARI
57. AISAT MOH’D
58. MASUDU MOH’D
59. FATI MOH’D
60. MAWKATU MOH’D
61. GARB MOH’D
62. BITU ABDULKAREEM
63. JIRBO ZAKAW
64. RAMATU ZAKAAR
65. HASIMU OKOKO
66. MUSIRMA OKOKO
67. BADILU OKOKO
68. BARAKA OKOKO
69. ANAMI SHEIBU
70. RISA, ADA SHEIBU
71. SAFURA SHEIBU
72. BABI SHEIBU
73. AMINU SHEIBU
74. ILIYASU YAWU
75. ALIMAT ILIYASU
76. RAMATU ILIYASU
77. RABIQAT ILIYASU
78. HASSAN IDRIS
79. SAUDAT HASSAN
80. ALHASSAN HASSAN
81. ANIFAT HUSSAINI
82. ABDULFATAI HUSSAINI
83. NIIMATU HUSSAINI
84. NURUDEEN HASSAN
85. RUFAIMATU HASSAN
86. MUJEBAT HUSSAINI
87. AMINAT ABUBAKAR
88. SADAM ABUBAKAR
89. SAMILA SADAM
90. ROFIA ABUBAKAR
91. AMIDU ABUBAKAR
92. RIDWANU ABUBAKAR
93. BADOU ABUBAKAR
94. JAMILA AWAL
95. MUILAT RUFAI
96. NASIRU ILIUASU
97. HAMZA ALHASSAN
98. SALIFU ALHASSAN
99. AMZIYATU ALHASSAN
100. JIBRIL SAMARI
101. AMINAT JIBRIL
102. RUKAIYAT KABIRU
103. SUDIKAT KABIRU
104. SODIK KABIRU
105. ZALIYA AMUDA
106. SARATU AMUDA
107. AINATU AMUDA
108. FAUZIYA AMUDA
109. MUIDEEM AMUDA
110. ABDUL-WALIU AMUDA
111. ABASS AMUDA
112. AMUTULLAH AMUDA
113. NAIMATU AMUDA
114. KAFILA AMUDA
115. RUFA’INATU AMUDA
116. NIIMATU AMUDA
117. BILYAMINU AMUDA
118. RAFIYATU AMUDA
119. ALHAJI LOMAN ALIYU
120. HAWAU ALIYU
121. HAWAU ALIYU
122. RABIU ALIYU
123. MOMIRATU ALIYU
124. SARIFATU ALIYU
125. BINTU ALIYU
126. RASIDI ALIYU
127. HASIYAT ALIYU
128. JAMILA ALIYU
129. NABIYA AWAL
130. RASHIDA SAMIU
131. KADISATU SAMIU
132. ADIJAT SULEIMAN
133. SAMILA SULEIMAN
133. NAIGE HAMIDU
134. SAMSIYATU HAMIDU
135. BANAA HAMIDU
136. ADISA HAMIDU
137. SOLIYA HAMIDU
138. KALIMAT IBRAHIM
139. MOHAMMED IBRAHIM
140. RABI IBRAHIM
141. SA’DAT IBRAHIM
142. MUZAMMIR ISRALI
143. FADIN IBRAHIM
144. RABIU IBRAHIM
145. SHARIFAT IBRAHIM
146. SHELIHAT IBRAHIM
147. ANANAT IBRAHIM
148. MARIYAM MUDASHIR
149. YASHIR MUDASHIR
150. AWALI ABDULAZIZU
151. ALHASSAN BAGIDI
152. AISHAT MOHAMMED ALAJI
153. AISHAT AKTU
154. ZUBAIRAT ALAJI
155. RUBATU ALAJI
156. USMAN ALAGI
157. NA’ANU ALAGI
158. BAGALU ALAGI
159. SAMILA ALAGI
160. UMMEYL HALIRU ALAGI
161. ZHUN AHMAD BAIKO
162. ZARATU AHMED
163. RASHIDAT AHMED
164. ATIFAT AHMED
165. AMIRAT AHMED
166. KALIMU JIBRO
167. ANATU ABDULLAHI
168. HASSANAT ABDULLAHI
169. SA’ADU ABDULLAHI
170. MULSANU GA’ADE
171. MOHAMMED GA’ADE
172. ISBATU ADAMU
173. HAMIDU ISSAH
174. MOHAMMED ISSAH
175. ANATU ISHAKU
176. ATTAHIRU ISHAKU
177. SHARIFAT ISHAKU
178. WASILAT ISHAKU
179. NA’AGONI ISHAKU
180. MOMIDU ISSAH
181. RAMATU SULE SANI
182. AWALI MAMA
183. ATIKU MAMA
184. UMABU ABUBAKAR
185. MAISARI AUDU
186. HALIRU AUDU
187. AWALI AUDU
188. ASIYAT SUNUSA
189. BIO GENE
190. ABDULRAK GENE
191. ZINATU GENE
192. ANIFAT GENE
193. HUZEIRU GENE
194. MUNAFU YUSUF
195. MUDASHIR YUSUF
196. RUMASAU YUSUF
197. RIDWAN USMAN
198. ZULKIFURU YUNUSA
199. RABIRAT YUNUSA
200. RAFIYAT YUNUSA
201. YUNUSA SULE
202. RAKIYAT YUNUSA
203. ZAINAB YUNUSA
204. HADISAT AT HALU
205. MARYAM ISHAKU
206. SAIDU ATTAHIRU
207. FURAILA SAIDU
208. HAMIDAT- SAIDU
209. SHERIFAT SAIDU
210. ISBATU SAIDU
211. DALAJA SAIDU
212. AKIMU SAIDU
213. MOHAMMED TSHAKU
214. SHOUWA TSHAKU
215. SULEIMAN ISHAKU
216. FARIDAT SALIHU
217. FATIMAT MALIKI
218. MARIALIYETU MALIKI
219. HAMDAT MALIKI
220. NAIYE MALIKI
221. MAIMUNAT MALIKI
222. HALIDU GOBA ZA
223. ZAINAB MUSA
224. SALATU SULEIMAN
225. SULE SANI
226. AMU SATU HALIDU
227. FATI UMARU
228. SUBIRU UMARU
229. AMUDANU UMARU
230. SUBIDA UMARU
231. SAMUSIYA UMARU
232. AMUDANU UMARU
233. LIDIWANU UMARU
234. TANIMU UMARU
235. BAYANU UMARU
236. ABU AHMED
237. YUSUF AHMED
238. ADISAT ABU
239. SADIYAT YUSUF
240. IDINU YUSUF
241. IDIYAT YUSUF
242. SADIKI ABU
243. NAZIRAT ABU
244. FAWUSAT MASAHUDU
245. FASADU MASAHUDU
246. NAFISAT AHMED
247. SAHIDAT ADAMU
248. MUSARAT FANAT
249. HABIRU ABU
250. MARUFAT SAHIDU
251. AWAL MOHAMMED
252. ATIKU MOHAMMED
253. ALIYU SULEIMAN
254. HALIMAT SULEIMAN
255. AMIDA SULEIMAN
256. INDATU SULEIMAN
257. AKIMA SULEIMAN
258. AMINA SULEIMAN
259. SODIKA SULEIMAN
260. BALKISU SULEIMAN
261. SULEIMAN SANI
262. RAMATU SULEIMAN
263. MOH’D SULEIMAN
264. FATIMA SULEIMAN
265. SAMIRAT SULEIMAN
266. HADIZAT SANI
267. AMARYA SETA SOMAILA
268. IBRAHIM SOMAILA
269. ALKIRALI SOMAILA
270. JAMEYILI SOMAILA
271. MOHAMMED SANI
272. RUKUMANU SANI
273. ALHAJI ALIYU GBEYA
274. MALIKI ALIYU GBEYA
275. LAHANA ALIYU GBEYA
276. ABDUL-KADIR ALIYU GBEYA
277. TAJUDEEN ALIYU GBEYA
278. FATIMA MAKARI
279. DANBAU ADAMU
280. MARUFI SAIDU
281. NAZIRU SAIDU
282. RASHIDAT SALIHU
283. MUJAHIDEEN SALIHU
284. MUJTADA SALIHU
285. MUHTATU SALIHU
286. RAHIMA SALIHU
287. MUJANATU JAFARY
288. ABU JAFARY
289. HALIDU JAFARY
290. SAFATU JAFARY
291. MARYAM AMINU
292. HUSSAINI ALHAJI BAZA
293. SUIBAT ALH. BAZA
294. ABDURAMAN ALH. BAZA
295. AMANYAN ALH. BAZA
296. KAMEN ALH. BAZA
297. SAFANA AMANIYE ALH-BAZA
298. HAFSAT IBRAHIM
299. MARIYA ABDUBAZIZ
300. ZAINAB ABDUL-KAREEM
301. MOHAMMED AWAL ABDUL-KAREEM
302. ALIYU ABDUL-KAREEM
303. UMMI HAIMA ZALAIYU
304. HADI ABUBAKAR LAAKI
305. HUSSAINI ALIYU
306. SAUDA MUSA
307. AKIMA MUSA
308. QOSIBAT MUSA
309. ZUWAINAT ABU LAAKI
310. NA-GALO ABU LAAKI
311. MAJIDA ABU LAAKI
312. KAFILAT ABU LAAKI
313. BAA AUDU MAI SAMARI BANI
314. ALIYU BA’AUDU BANI
315. LIMATU MASAUDU
316. SURAJO MASAUDU
317. MAIGIDA ISSAH
318. YAZIDU ISSAH
319. ABDUL-WAHAB ISSAH
320. MALILAT ISSAH
321. RASHIDAT ISSAH
322. ZARADEEN YAZIDU
323. NANA ABDUL-WAHAB
324. RABIU ALIYU GBEYA
325. UMARU FARUK ALIZU GBEYA
326. ZAINAB ALIYU GBEYA
327. ALIYU (A) ALIYU GBEYA
328. MOHAMMADU ALIYU GBEYA
329. SAUDAT ALIYU GBEYA
330. AKIMA ALIYU GBEYA
331. QOSIFAT ALIYU GBEYA
332. MUSILIU ALIYU GBEYA
333. MAMMADU (AK) ALIYU GBEYA
334. KATUMI BASHIRU ALIYU GBEYA
335. ADAMU YUSUF
336. ISSAH YUSUF
337. ABDULLAHI YUSUF
338. INDALU YUSUF
339. KIDAYA YUSUF
340. AISE YUSUF
341. JORA ISIYA YUSUF
ABDUCTED PERSONS FROM GBEBARA COMMUNITY
1. MUSA KALA MAKERI
2. KABIRU YAKUBU
3. ISHAQ ATTAHIRU
4. SHAFIU AHMED
5. MALLAM AHMADU
[Daily Trust]
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, have renewed calls for the release of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who has remained in custody since February.
Obi’s media aide, Idris Zekeri, told Saturday PUNCH that the former Anambra State governor had consistently demanded that El-Rufai’s case be addressed through due process.
Zekeri said Obi had been vocal about the former governor’s continued detention, arguing that the courts should establish any allegations against him rather than allowing him to remain detained for an extended period.
He said, “Peter Obi has been one of the most vocal since the issue of El-Rufai’s ordeal started. He has made tweets on it, and we still strongly believe that if there is any case against him, it should be established instead of detaining him unlawfully for an extended period of time without actually dealing with the issue.
“In fact, Obi has had an extensive press conference on this. We strongly believe that no Nigerian should be suffering extended detention without a charge and without his rights being respected.”
El-Rufai has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission since February amid investigations and separate criminal proceedings.
The ICPC has maintained that his detention was authorised by court orders, while El-Rufai has challenged aspects of his continued detention and the proceedings against him.
On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja reserved ruling on El-Rufai’s no-case submission in the alleged unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The court fixed October 26 for the ruling.
Similarly, his N1bn fundamental rights suit against the ICPC, Inspector-General of Police and Attorney-General of the Federation was adjourned to October 27.
Meanwhile, Momodu, who is the Deputy Director-General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council Media and Communications Directorate, criticised the continued detention of the former governor during Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s Morning Brief.
He said El-Rufai’s contribution to the emergence of President Bola Tinubu’s administration should not be overlooked.
“We can all see what he experienced in the hands of a government he helped to midwife. Without former President Muhammad Buhari, Aisha Buhari and Nasir El-Rufai, I am not sure President Tinubu will be in office today.
“But if that is the way they have chosen to treat him because someone desperately wanted a second term and believe that with Nasir around, it might be difficult, God is the ultimate judge,” he stated.
Momodu also welcomed the ADC’s decision to appoint El-Rufai to a role in its political structure despite his continued detention.
He said, “What the ADC has done is to, at least, dignify the man with an appointment. Whether he is able to attend to it or not is immaterial. But I am very happy that the ADC found it very necessary to put him on that list.”
Reacting to allegations that El-Rufai pursued divisive politics, particularly during his tenure as Kaduna State governor, Momodu said the former governor had previously enjoyed the support of the same political establishment now critical of him.
“Barely four years ago, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was busy campaigning for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was he not in government then? Did they find him divisive at the time or is it now that he is not in circulation? They just want to give a dog a bad name to hang it.
“Although in our attitude as human beings, no soul is perfect. But El-Rufai remains one of the most formidable political figures from northern Nigeria, especially in the North-West. Every presidential candidate wants to win in the North-West because without it, there is no way you can win the election.
“The majority of the votes will come from that direction, and that is why Nasir has become a prisoner of conscience. I have no doubt in my mind that if he was still in the good book of the government, he would not go through this ordeal. But we leave everything in the hands of Allah,” he added.
The renewed calls came days after El-Rufai addressed the silence of some former associates, friends and family members over his continued detention.
In a statement titled ‘My Relationships and the Aftermath’ released on his X handle, the former governor said he bore no hatred or resentment towards those who had chosen not to stand by him.
El-Rufai said his support for people and causes over the years had been guided by his Islamic faith, Arewa upbringing, personal values and conscience rather than an expectation of reciprocity.
He said his current circumstances had prompted him to reflect on some of his relationships but stressed that the reflection should not be interpreted as condemnation.
The former governor also said he had no regrets about supporting people or causes when he believed doing so was right, adding that he would not allow the actions of others to change the principles that had guided him.
On perceived injustice, ingratitude or injury against him, El-Rufai said he would not seek revenge.
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said an Atiku Abubakar victory in the 2027 presidential election would effectively end the informal principle of rotational presidency in Nigeria.
Sani stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, while reiterating his position that the South should be allowed to complete an eight-year presidential tenure before power returns to the North.
The former lawmaker said the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate had the constitutional right to contest the election but argued that political considerations around power rotation should guide the 2027 contest.
“I never said Atiku should not run. Constitutionally, he has the right to run for any election. But what I said was that the southern part of Nigeria should be allowed to have its eight-year tenure in office, just like the way the North has from 2015 to 2023,” Sani said.
He said southern candidates should be allowed to compete for the presidency in 2027, arguing that power should remain in the South until 2031.
“All the parties; like the ADC now, they’re supposed to field Amaechi. That is what’s supposed to be. The NDC should field Peter Obi, and the APM should field Makinde. Let the South struggle it out and see who wins, and for four years. When the tenure is done by 2031, the North shall have its unchallengeable opportunity to produce leadership of the country,” he said.
Sani acknowledged that rotational presidency was not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution but said political actors should consider the principle in the interest of fairness, equity and national unity.
“It’s very important because we should look at our history where we come from. Some things are not written in our constitution, but in the interest of justice, fairness, equity, and peace, we need to consider all these things here,” he said.
He argued that political power should not be dominated by one section of the country because of population or electoral strength.
Sani cited former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure between 2015 and 2023, saying the South did not mount a serious challenge to his presidency during the period.
“Buhari had his eight years in office; there is no serious challenge from the southern part of Nigeria to his government. And despite all that President Tinubu has faced from 2015 to 2023, he never thought of raising any challenge to Buhari’s presidency.
“So, I think it’s going to be fair to this country and to our political system that when the South has its eight years, the North should have its eight years,” he said.
Sani stressed that his position did not prevent Atiku from contesting the 2027 election.
“About Atiku, the Constitution has not stopped him from contesting the election. He can contest the election, that is my position, and I’m not backing down on it,” he said.
Asked about the implication of an Atiku victory, Sani said it would signal the end of the informal arrangement of rotating the presidency between the North and South.
“If Atiku wins, it means that is the end of rotational presidency in Nigeria. And there is going to be hard and bitter feelings from the Southwestern part of Nigeria or the Southern part of Nigeria.
“I don’t think anyone would like to preside over a country full of hate, animosity, and conflict,” he said.
He added that the political system was already dealing with several crises and argued that a northern president succeeding President Bola Tinubu in 2027 could face opposition in the South.
“Right now, the political system is managing a lot of crises. And I don’t think a Northerner taking over power here will come in with ease and convenience to the people in the Southern part of Nigeria,” Sani said.
The National Association of Nigerian Students, North-Central Axis, has engaged the management of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, over complaints by students concerning delays in the repayment of NELFUND refunds and alleged deductions from beneficiaries’ payments.
The students reportedly complained that they had yet to receive their refunds despite the passage of time, while some beneficiaries allegedly had between N12,000 and N22,500 deducted from their payments.
The Zonal Coordinator of NANS Zone C, Abiola Babatunde, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the intervention followed a petition by affected students.
Babatunde said the students had also raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the refund process, stressing that the development could not be allowed to persist.
“Students deserve full transparency and prompt payment of funds meant for them,” he said.
The NANS coordinator said the association had consequently engaged the university management to seek clarification and ensure that affected students received their money.
During the engagement, the university Registrar, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, assured the students’ body that the institution had commenced the disbursement of NELFUND refunds to beneficiaries.
The Registrar also assured the NANS delegation that the management was working to ensure that all eligible students received their refunds without further delay.
According to Babatunde, the university management also agreed to address the concerns raised over the alleged deductions from some beneficiaries’ payments.
He said NANS Zone C would continue to monitor the process until all eligible students received their refunds.
“We welcome the commitment of the FULAFIA management and will continue to monitor the repayment process until every eligible beneficiary receives their rightful refund,” Babatunde said.
He added, “Funds provided through NELFUND belong to students and must be disbursed transparently, promptly and without unjustifiable deductions or administrative bottlenecks.”
Babatunde said the association would continue to engage tertiary institutions across the North-Central region to ensure accountability in the implementation of the NELFUND scheme.
“The welfare and financial rights of Nigerian students remain non-negotiable,” he said, adding that NANS would continue to engage institutions to ensure that students received the funds meant for them.
The association urged the university management to ensure that the refund process was concluded promptly and that any deductions found to be unjustified were addressed.
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