News
Wike Assures Protesting Teachers of Rescue Efforts, Warns Against Politicising Insecurity
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday assured protesting teachers and civil society organisations in Abuja that security agencies are intensifying efforts to secure the release of abducted teachers and students, while cautioning against the politicisation of security challenges.
Addressing demonstrators who staged a protest in front at the Federal Capital Territory Adminstration (FCTA) Secretariat demanding the immediate rescue of victims of recent school kidnappings, Wike said the Federal Government remained committed to ensuring the safe return of those in captivity.
According to him, security agencies are actively working to rescue the victims and restore confidence in the country’s security architecture.
“We are all concerned about this security situation. The government is on its toes to ensure that those who are kidnapped are rescued,” he said.
The minister expressed confidence in the capacity of the nation’s security institutions to secure the release of the abducted teachers and students, stressing the need for prompt action.
“I have that confidence that the security system will do all they can to make sure the teachers and the students that are being kidnapped are rescued, and let it be prompt,” he added.
Wike, however, warned against turning security concerns into political issues, arguing that insecurity affects all parts of the country and should be approached as a collective national challenge.
He noted that incidents of teacher abductions had occurred in other states without attracting similar protests in the nation’s capital, urging citizens to adopt a more unified response to security threats.
“We are all concerned, but let us not politicise issues. That is what I will not support. We are all concerned about the security situation and how the teachers and students should be released,” he said.
The minister further disclosed that security agencies were operating within established protocols and had made significant progress in efforts to secure the victims’ freedom.
According to him, no responsible government would deliberately allow its citizens to remain vulnerable to criminal elements, adding that authorities were working under challenging circumstances to protect lives and property.
“There is no government that will deliberately say let citizens be kidnapped, but we know where we found ourselves and we know that everything possible is being done,” he stated.
Calling for national solidarity, Wike said insecurity should not be viewed through regional or political lenses, stressing that an attack on one community ultimately affects the entire country.
“What concerns you concerns everybody, and what concerns Abuja also concerns everybody. We are all looking at how people should rise up with the same dedication,” he said.
The protest followed growing public concern over recent school abductions in parts of the country, with teachers’ groups and civil society organisations calling on authorities to strengthen security around schools and ensure the safe return of victims.
By Prosper Olayiwola
A House of Assembly Candidate for Ikole Constituency 1 on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kayode Arewa Sanni, has called on his constituents, party members and supporters to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Arewa Sanni made the call in Ikole-Ekiti while addressing party faithful and supporters at a stakeholders’ meeting convened to strengthen grassroots mobilisation in the constituency.
He said the 2027 elections present a defining moment for the people of Ikole Constituency 1 to chart a new course of inclusive representation, people-oriented legislation and accelerated development.
The candidate noted that disunity among party members and supporters remains the greatest obstacle to victory, stressing that only a united front can dislodge entrenched interests and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
“I appeal to all our party leaders, members, supporters and well-wishers across Ikole Constituency 1 to put aside personal differences and work together as one family. Our strength lies in our unity,” he said.
Arewa Sanni said his candidacy was driven by a desire to give Ikole Constituency 1 a vibrant and responsive voice in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, with focus on youth empowerment, education, healthcare and rural infrastructure.
He assured constituents that if given the mandate, he would prioritise quality representation and ensure that government presence is felt in all communities within the constituency.
He also called on supporters of the ADC across Ekiti State to rally behind the party’s vision of good governance, transparency and accountability as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
The aspirant expressed confidence that with unity, commitment and collective effort, the ADC would emerge victorious in Ikole Constituency 1 and other constituencies across the state.
No fewer than six inmates have died within one week following a suspected cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Maximum Prison in Kano State.
Amnesty International raised the alarm in a post on its official Facebook page, calling on authorities to immediately declare an emergency at the correctional facility.
Amnesty said several other inmates were currently receiving treatment, warning that the death toll could be higher as the suspected disease continues to spread among prisoners.
It urged the authorities to immediately transfer critically ill inmates to hospitals for proper medical attention to prevent further deaths.
The organisation warned that failure to urgently intervene could amount to arbitrary deprivation of life, which it described as a serious human rights violation under international law.
Amnesty also expressed concern over the broader conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities, particularly the prolonged detention of inmates awaiting trial.
According to the organisation, detainees without financial means face greater difficulty having their rights protected, with some spending years in custody without being convicted of any crime.
It further said many inmates were being held in overcrowded and unhygienic cells without adequate food and healthcare.
Amnesty called for urgent reforms to improve conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities and ensure compliance with international best practices.
Popular media personality and self-acclaimed relationship expert, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has reportedly lost her second son while remanded in custody.
The development was confirmed in an online appeal by Amira Agiye, head of the Isaamira Love Foundation, who spoke on Okoro’s behalf to request public financial assistance.
She said, “It is sad to announce to you all that Blessing CEO just lost her second son. My name is Amira Agiye.
“I’m here to appeal on behalf of Blessing CEO, who is currently in custody. I understand that people might have different opinions about her and the circumstances surrounding her case.
“And like every one of us, she deserves compassion and an opportunity for redemption.
She needs N20 million to meet the bail requirements. She also needs N36 million to pay the people she owes who brought the case against her.
“Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive her for the sake of that boy who is still in the mortuary. With Blessing’s full consent and authorisation, I’m appealing to all Nigerians to help donate so we can help her out of this situation.”
Also speaking in a voice conversation played by Amira, Blessing, CEO, said, “My second son, Bryan, was full of life. While in custody, I lost Bryan.
I pray this turns out positive so I can leave this place, pick up the pieces of my life and pay my respects to him.”
Recall that the self-acclaimed relationship expert was remanded in Kirikiri Prison over an N69.15 million property fraud trial.
She was granted N20 million bail in July 2026, with two sureties in like sum, and each surety was required to provide three years’ proof of deposits valued at N20 million.
Following her inability to meet the bail conditions, Blessing CEO, remains in prison facility two months after she was granted bail.
House of Assembly Candidate, Sanni Urges Unity Among Ekiti ADC Members
Between Governor Soludo and Peter Obi: The Truth in Between
Six inmates die in one week amid suspected cholera outbreak in Kano prison
-
News17 hours agoHow AI Could Cause the catastrophic death of a Billion people — Billionaire Bill Gates Warns
-
Sports16 hours agoAFCON Qualifier: Nigeria Defeats Madagascar
-
News17 hours agoPolice Arrest Officer Who Said Igbo Man Can Never Be President
-
News17 hours agoPastor Adeboye Welcomes 105 Nigerians Repatriated From South Africa
-
News6 hours agoTinubu’s tough decisions are already yielding fruits, Yari will deliver on assignment -TSTA
-
News16 hours agoAnambra: Peter Obi left $155m in three banks — Otti