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The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), and other senior government officials to travel by road without armed security escorts if the administration’s claim of improved security reflects the reality across Nigeria.

The opposition party made the challenge on Saturday in Abuja while reacting to recent comments by Musa that the government had “defeated terrorists” and that kidnapping had increasingly become a social problem rather than a broader security threat.

The APM, through its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, accused the Federal Government of downplaying the country’s security challenges and being disconnected from the experiences of Nigerians facing killings, abductions, displacement and ransom demands.

“If the security situation has truly improved as the administration claims, the APM challenges the President, the Minister of Defence and other senior officials of the Tinubu Presidency to travel by road without armed security details as other Nigerians must do,” the party said.

Musa had, during a television interview earlier in the week, said the government had made significant progress in its campaign against terrorism, arguing that attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP and other terrorist groups were no longer as frequent.

“Frankly speaking, we have defeated terrorists because now, like I said, the attacks are not as rampant and it is now kidnapping,” the minister said.

He also described kidnapping as a separate form of criminality, citing instances in which family members allegedly abducted one another.

“Like I said, kidnapping is a social ill where you now see wives kidnapping husbands and husbands kidnapping children,” Musa said.

The minister maintained that the security situation had improved, saying the government’s strategy had forced criminal groups down the security spectrum from terrorism and insurgency towards abductions and kidnapping for ransom.

“I can tell you there is improved security. Maybe if you noticed, you don’t hear so much of Boko Haram attacks, ISWAP attacks and all these things here and there, maybe one-off,” he said.

According to Musa, the government’s military and security operations had disrupted the activities of terrorist groups.

“Now, I say, the trajectory is this: from criminality to kidnapping to terrorism, insurgency; once you are able to hit them, it goes back downwards.

“So, we are now back into the stage of abductions and kidnappings because that is the easiest way for them to try and raise money,” he added.

The APM, however, rejected the minister’s assessment, describing it as a “dangerous distortion of reality.”

Yusuf cited the Global Terrorism Index 2026, which he said ranked Nigeria fourth among the world’s most terrorism-affected countries, compared with sixth position in the previous edition.

He argued that the ranking, coupled with continuing reports of abductions and attacks, contradicted the government’s claim of significant improvement in national security.

“It is deeply disappointing that a minister of the Federal Republic could appear on national television to make such claims at a time when millions of innocent Nigerians are being killed, kidnapped, displaced and terrorised in various parts of the country,” Yusuf said.

The APM spokesman also accused the government of being insensitive to families affected by killings, rape, maiming, ransom-driven abductions and prolonged captivity.

He cited the reported abduction of hundreds of residents from communities in Niger State as an example of the continuing security challenges confronting Nigerians.

“Only last week, 600 Nigerians, mostly women, children and the elderly, were abducted from Dekera, Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida villages in Niger State and are still languishing in captivity,” Yusuf said.

The party also referenced figures attributed to SBM Intelligence, claiming t

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A 42-year-old pastor, Samson Ajayi, has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force in Akure, Ondo State, for allegedly sexually abusing his 17-year-old daughter for about four years.

Ajayi, a father of five, was reportedly arrested at a prayer mountain in Akure after his wife allegedly caught him in the act at their residence in Igoba, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

Police sources said the teenager’s mother raised the alarm and reported the incident at the Igoba Police Station after allegedly discovering what had been happening between her husband and daughter.

Preliminary investigations reportedly indicated that the alleged abuse had continued for approximately four years.

Following the report, detectives launched a search for the suspect and subsequently tracked him to a prayer mountain, where he was arrested without resistance.

During questioning, the pastor allegedly admitted to the offence but reportedly attributed his actions to what he described as a “generational curse.”

According to police sources, Ajayi claimed that his own father had allegedly sexually abused his sister, who is the suspect’s aunt. Investigators are expected to verify the claim as part of the ongoing inquiry.

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that the suspect remains in custody and will be prosecuted after the completion of investigations.

The case has sparked outrage in the Igoba community, with residents and community leaders calling for swift justice and stronger measures to protect children from abuse.

The Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare has also been notified and is reportedly providing support to the teenager.

A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, described the case as “very grievous” and assured that the suspect would face the law if found culpable.

The police urged members of the public with relevant information to assist investigators and encouraged victims of sexual abuse to report such cases to the police or appropriate government authorities.

Ajayi remains in detention pending the conclusion of investigations and his arraignment in court.

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The Lagos State Police Command has launched an investigation into a viral video showing a physical confrontation between police officers and a group of youths in the Surulere area of the state.

The video, which circulated widely on social media on Saturday, September 5, 2026, captured a tense altercation involving a police officer and a young man who were seen grabbing each other’s shirts and struggling during the confrontation.

The circumstances that led to the incident were unclear as of the time of filing this report.

However, the command said it had commenced an investigation to establish what transpired and determine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the development in a statement posted on the command’s official X account.

Adebisi said the command had taken note of the video and immediately ordered an investigation into the incident.

She urged the individuals featured in the footage to appear before the police to provide information that could assist the inquiry.

“The Command has seen the video currently in circulation and has immediately commenced an investigation into the incident,” Adebisi said.

She added that those involved had been directed to report to the office of the Police Public Relations Officer at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, by 11 a.m. on Monday.

The command said their appearance would help investigators obtain necessary clarification and establish the facts surrounding the confrontation.

Police authorities have yet to disclose whether any arrests have been made or whether disciplinary measures have been taken against any of the officers involved.