Category: Daily Trust

The investment significantly expands Rafa’s production capabilities while reinforcing its commitment to innovation, industrial excellence and long-term value creation across Nigeria and West Africa.

The company has signed contracts for the construction and installation of a state-of-the-art Continuous Saponification Plant integrated with a Continuous Vacuum Soap Cooling and Drying Plant, with a 10-tonnes-per-hour production capacity.

Speaking on the development in Lagos, the General Manager of Starium Detergents FZE, Mr. Muhammed Midan Rabiu, described the investment as another defining milestone in the company’s growth journey.

Rabiu stated that the company remains committed to supporting local value creation, strengthening industrial capacity and contributing to the development of globally competitive African manufacturing.

‘This investment represents another defining milestone in Rafa Corporation’s journey to build one of Africa’s leading home and personal care manufacturing enterprises. We are investing in world-class technology, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and the people who will shape our future because we believe Africa deserves consumer products manufactured to the very highest global standards.

‘These projects significantly strengthen our capacity to innovate, expand our product portfolio and respond to the evolving needs of consumers across Nigeria and West Africa. Beyond increasing production capacity, we are building an integrated manufacturing platform that will drive industrial development, create sustainable employment and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Africa’s consumer goods industry,’ he said.

The Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri has remanded a businessman, Muhammad Abdullahi, over alleged criminal breach of trust involving N186 million.

The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Abdullahi before Justice Maina Lawan on a six-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust.

The EFCC said the defendant allegedly received N186 million for safekeeping but diverted the funds for personal use instead of preserving them for the purpose for which they were entrusted to him.

One of the charges alleged that on February 14, 2024, Abdullahi dishonestly converted N30 million transferred into his bank account for his personal use.

The commission said the alleged offences contravened Sections 299 and 300 of the Borno State Penal Code Law and Other Matters Connected Therewith Law, 2023.

It alleged that the funds were entrusted to the defendant through electronic transfers, but he allegedly exercised control over them in a manner inconsistent with the trust placed in him.

Abdullahi pleaded not guilty to all six counts after they were read to him.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel, N.T. Iko urged the court to remand him in a correctional facility pending trial.

Justice Lawan subsequently adjourned the case until September 7, 2026, for further proceedings and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Maiduguri Maximum Correctional Centre.

As Nigeria continues to navigate evolving security, governance, and economic challenges, the National Summit on Security, Leadership and Economic Development 2026 is set to provide a timely platform for meaningful dialogue, strategic collaboration, and innovative solutions.

The summit will convene government officials, security professionals, policymakers, business executives, academics, development partners, civil society organisations, and emerging leaders to engage in robust discussions on strengthening national security, promoting purposeful leadership, and unlocking sustainable economic opportunities.

So, it is a well-thought, organised summit that we think is timely to bring stakeholders, policy makers, private, corporate, and the entire public under one roof to discuss these issues bedeviling our country. We intend to make a communique, which will be forwarded to both the Presidency and the National Assembly, just to be part of the solution.

We think as a women-led organisation, women have the think tank to bring solutions to the problems of the nation.

The theme of the programme is stronger security, bolder leadership, shared prosperity. What made you come up with this theme for the summit?

For stronger security, with so much happening with security issues in Nigeria, there is the need to call on stakeholders and the public to discuss the way forward for tighter security. That is why we are involving security personnel as well, to hear from them on what is happening security-wise. As I said, everything is around leadership. Leadership in every sector, from the legislative, executive, down to the masses as well.

As such, leadership is key to make our way into success and prosperous nations attain progress and development through security.

Beyond that, these three things are intertwined, you cannot have good security without good leadership. You cannot have a growing economy without good leadership and which is also impossible without a secure nation.

Which role do you think women play in these themes, especially on security and also the leadership aspect of it?

That is why we say mostly there is no seat for women when it comes to security; women are taken out and not given a seat on the table. But with our organisation, which is a women-led organisation, we are trying to see this security issue and leadership issue with a lens of how integration of women in the discussion can provide their own solutions.

The growth of the nation, economically, is a very major concern to women. Women can play a very good role with regards to this by bringing communication, stakeholders and solutions to the growth of the economy. We all know that women have a large stake in the informal economy and despite the discrimination, we have turned little to plenty through perseverance and acumen to manage the little capital. So, it is important for the government to know that involving women is part of the solution, especially on security.

If you look at banditry, some women are also part of it but they a different role, they might be in the forest, you don’t see them there, but there are cases where you see women are involved through logistic supplies and all that but the women are not in the hierarchy of the security apparatus to see how dissuade the collaborators.

So, women, as part of the problem, should also be part of the solutions because those whose sons are killed; whose husbands are killed, play a very major role on how banditry can be tackled.

With regards to leadership, we’re still saying strongly that women have the capacity, women have the mental acumen as well to rule and direct to bring organizational and systemic changes when given the opportunity. Thus, by bringing this conversation to the front burner as a women-led organization is our way of sending the message that women can.

Women dominate the informal sector but are mostly neglected on how tax and other policies can work for them, how does this summit also try to address that?

During the presentation, we’ve written to include several women who have done marvellously well, with regards to the economy, apart from the leadership aspect. We’ve seen how the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Suleiman, how she’s handling it differently, and how Hajia Hadiza Bala is doing so much with regards to policy that will enhance the economy of Nigeria. We’re seeing Honourable Minister of the Creative Economy, Hanatu Musawa, is doing an amazing job in bringing revenue through the creative sector. So, we’re seeing a lot of them, and the Foreign Affairs Minister as well.

Their performances show that when given a chance, they can do an exceptional job using their own perspective.

With this programme, we’re also bringing women that are doing capably well in the private sector. We have Fatima Askira, who just launched a bank, an online bank. So, this is to say that she’s bringing in so much to the economy, employing people, and also enhancing the economy.

We’re also bringing a woman-led businesswoman, Farida Kalla (FMK). This is to show that even on the grassroot market, hands-on, when women are doing business, it’s not just about men. She’s importing things from China, Turkey and the UK.

So, this is showing that hands-on, women are there, and they’re doing so much to the economy, and need to be recognised in these key roles, as you’ve said, taxes, economic building and money issues. So, women should be on the table.

For participants, what will be the gain for attending the event?

We are bridging the gap between the public and the government because we have government officials with regards to security coming to say, this is what we’re doing with security. The participants there can ask questions and lay their concerns as well as proffer solutions with advice that they think is fit.

Also, participants will have a space to also communicate their expectations of the government. The summit will serve as a bridge

Also, participation is free. This is aimed at giving access to many people but it is regulated through registration. This helps us know who is coming. Once you meet up with the registration requirement, you will receive your entry. So, it is being regulated.

When is it holding and is it limited to women alone?

No, it’s for everybody. It’s just a women-led organisation. This is like women taking charge and taking responsibility. Women saying we can and we are part of the solution and not the national problem. So that is why a women-led organisation is leading such discussion.

It is being held on Saturday, 15th of August, at the Nigerian Airforce Force Conference Centre by 9 a.m.

What would be your advice to women out there who feel they are not visible due to men occupying the space?

What I want to say is that we are still feeling invisible because there are still spaces that we have not been given on the table and are struggling. How many women are contesting in the forthcoming general elections? We are still struggling with the legislative rule of the 35% that women are pursuing. So, I am saying we are not stopping.

I am part of the women and we are not stopping. We will keep doing whatever it is in our capacity and push on our limits to see that women are involved as key stakeholders in every national conversation, nationally and internationally.

For the government, I will say, hear us, see us and involve us because we are part of the solution, key solution makers, not just the problem.

Meet the founder

Hajiya Maryam Baba is an entrepreneur, community development advocate, and member of the Anti-Poverty Sector in Greater Manchester. She is a Nigeria and UK-registered nurse with a professional background that combines healthcare, leadership, peacebuilding, and community development.

She holds an MSc in Leadership and Management from the University of Salford, Manchester, and certifications in conflict resolution and mediation. Over the years, she has participated in several national and international trainings, conferences, and leadership engagements focused on peace, conflict mediation, leadership, and community development.

For over eight years, she has led the Women in Leadership Initiative (WILI), a grassroots organisation focused on community engagement, women’s empowerment, youth development, peacebuilding, and inclusive leadership.

Under her leadership, WILI has undertaken initiatives supporting vulnerable children, promoting women’s economic empowerment, developing young leaders, advancing literacy, and strengthening communities. The organisation’s work is grounded in the belief that meaningful national development begins with empowered people and resilient communities.

As Chairperson and Founder of WILI, Hajiya Maryam continues to build partnerships and create platforms that bring together communities, institutions, government, development partners, and other stakeholders to address pressing social challenges.

Her work reflects a commitment to service, collaboration, peaceful coexistence, and creating sustainable opportunities for women, young people, and vulnerable communities.

Civil Society Organisations have come down hard on the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi for calling on his supporters to attack and kill members of the Accord Party who come to campaign ahead Saturday’s governorship elections holding in the state.

In a viral video where the Senator spoke in Yoruba while campaigning in Ilesha, Osun State, the Senator who spoke in Yoruba while addressing supporters, warned against the activities of members of the Accord Party in the area ahead of the August 15 governorship election urging his supporters to confront Accord Party members if they encounter them before the election.

‘If we hear of Accord Party in Ilesha, there will be trouble. We will all come out and vote. Please record me. We are here, and between now and the election, if we see anyone from the Accord Party, we will kill them,’ he said.

The Senator in a statement by his media office, later clarified that what he meant was ‘a call on supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election.’

He said, ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical. At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party. ‘

The Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has condemned the alleged threat by Senator warning that such comments could heighten tension, suppress voter turnout and undermine the legitimacy of the poll.

CISLAC Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described the senator’s comment as ‘condemnable,’ stressing that political leaders should be at the forefront of efforts to de-escalate violence rather than encourage it.

Rafsanjani, who spoke with Daily Trust while reacting to the senator’s threat, said electoral violence must not be taken lightly because of its damaging consequences for Nigeria’s democratic process.

‘First and foremost, we, CISLAC, condemn in totality electoral violence. Electoral violence is not something that should be taken lightly because it has incredible damage to our electoral process,’ he said.

According to him, Nigeria cannot achieve free, fair and credible elections if politicians and their supporters continue to deploy violence, intimidation and coercion in the electoral process.

He condemned the use of threats, physical force, intimidation, harassment and other forms of coercion to influence the electoral process, saying all actors involved in such activities must be held accountable.

‘The use of threats, physical force, either intimidation, disruption, harassment, or other form of coercion to influence electoral process in Nigeria is condemned by CISLAC,’ he said.

Rafsanjani also warned political supporters, armed groups, criminal gangs, security personnel and other actors allegedly involved in electoral violence that they must be held responsible for their actions.

‘We cannot, in the pretense of winning political power, engage in political thuggery,’ he said, adding that Nigeria must not tolerate the assassination of political activists, attacks on political rallies, destruction of campaign materials or attacks on INEC offices.

He further condemned hate speech and incitement to violence during election campaigns, stressing that political competition should not be reduced to violence and intimidation.

The CISLAC director warned that the senator’s alleged threat could have a direct impact on voter participation during Saturday’s election, particularly by creating fear among voters and political actors.

He added that the election could consequently be conducted ‘under intense fear,’ stressing that such an atmosphere was inconsistent with democratic elections. And the election will be done under intense fear. And that’s not how election should be,’ he said.

Speaking on the development, a member of the civil society organisations monitoring the 2026 Osun State governorship election called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute Senator Fadaunsi over the alleged inciting statement capable of heightening tension ahead of Saturday’s poll.

The group said the statement was particularly disturbing coming barely five days to the election.

It warned that inflammatory comments by political actors could undermine the peaceful conduct of the exercise in a state that had witnessed several incidents of electoral violence in recent months.

Chairman of the Ballot Eyes Working Group, Olasupo Abideen Opeyemi, a coalition of civil society organisations monitoring electoral integrity and operating in the situation room from Osogbo for the 2026 gubernatorial election, described the senator’s alleged comment as ‘reckless’ and unbecoming of a member of the national Assembly.

He said it was a ‘national embarrassment’ that Nigerian politicians were still making statements capable of encouraging violence during elections, despite years of advocacy for peaceful participation.

According to him, his organisation had been campaigning under the ‘Vote Not Fight’ initiative, with particular attention to preventing violence against women and other vulnerable groups during elections.

He said the organisation had, only a day before, held a stakeholder engagement in Osun State where electoral violence, especially violence against women, featured prominently in discussions.

Against that background, he said the alleged statement by Fadaunsi was particularly troubling given the proximity of the election and the tense political atmosphere in the state.

The civil society leader urged INEC and the Nigeria Police Force to demonstrate their commitment to peaceful elections by taking immediate action against anyone whose statements could threaten public safety.

The group warned that the statement could have serious consequences for the conduct of Saturday’s election, particularly against the backdrop of violence allegedly involving political parties.

In an earlier reaction, the campaign council of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate and take appropriate action over a viral video showing Senator Francis Fadahunsi making an inciting comment against members of the Accord Party.

Spokesperson for the Adeleke campaign council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, urged the police to intervene.

He said, ‘This is a serious threat to lives and the peaceful conduct of the August 15 election.

‘Mr Inspector-General of Police, this must be addressed immediately. Nobody has the right to kill an Accord member or any citizen. Nobody has the right to stop Osun people from voting. Enough is enough!’ Olajengbesi said.

Our correspondents report that Fadahunsi, who is now a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and currently represents Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before switching party.

Onoh said the direction of the Mbah administration was increasingly aligning with the broader policy vision of President Bola Tinubu, especially in the areas of strengthening security, expanding access to healthcare and repositioning Nigeria for production, investment and industrial growth.

According to him, the significance of Mbah’s administration lies not only in the scale of its projects but also in its focus on building systems capable of producing sustainable economic and social outcomes for the people.

‘From what I’ve seen in Enugu state under Governor Mbah administration, I will report to Mr. President about Governor’s alliance to his vision and I urge every citizen of Enugu State to vote for President Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah in the 2027 elections to continue the good works they have just started,’ Onoh said.

On Security, Onoh said that Governor Mbah has excelled exceedingly in the deployment of Technology, Intelligence and Public Safety.

He praised the Mbah administration for establishing a modern Security Command and Control Centre designed to support real-time surveillance, intelligence gathering and emergency response.

He also highlighted the deployment of 150 artificial intelligence-enabled patrol vehicles equipped with cameras to support security agencies and the state’s Distress Response Squad.

‘The vehicles, according to the state government, form part of a technology-driven security architecture aimed at improving surveillance, response time and crime prevention,’ Onoh said.

Onoh further commended the establishment of the Enugu State Security Trust Fund as a sustainable financing mechanism for security operations, noting that the fund had reportedly raised over ?3 billion, noting that the approach was consistent with President Tinubu’s broader emphasis on strengthening the operational capacity of Nigeria’s armed forces and security agencies through improved funding, equipment, intelligence and inter-agency coordination.

The former South-East spokesperson of the President also cited the Mbah administration’s campaign to end the illegal Monday sit-at-home order as a major security and economic intervention.

‘The restoration of Mondays as normal working and commercial days in Enugu state had helped to revive economic activities and restore confidence across the state. Violent crimes have declined by more than 80 per cent following the deployment of surveillance technology and intensified enforcement,’ Onoh stated.

On Healthcare, Onoh, the Chairman of Forum of Former Members of Enugu State House of Assembly, noted particularly the construction of 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state’s 260 wards and described the initiative as a strategic investment in grassroots healthcare.

He said that the centres are designed to provide modern medical equipment, staff accommodation, renewable-energy systems and water infrastructure.

‘The administration’s healthcare programme also includes the upgrading of 51 secondary healthcare facilities and the completion of the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital, which is now ready to provide specialised referral medical services that make medical tourism uninteresting for the entire country.

‘This approach mirrors President Tinubu’s emphasis on strengthening primary healthcare and expanding access to essential health services at the grassroots.

The Tinubu’s health policy places significant emphasis on revitalising primary healthcare facilities, improving the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and ensuring wider access to functional healthcare infrastructure,’ he emphasized.

According to Onoh, the convergence between Enugu’s 260-ward healthcare strategy and the Federal Government’s objective of expanding functional primary healthcare facilities nationwide demonstrates the importance of investing in healthcare from the grassroots upward.

On industrial development, Onoh described Mbah’s efforts to revive dormant state-owned industries as one of the most significant components of the administration’s economic strategy of turning abandoned assets to productive enterprises.

He singled out the revival of Nigergas Company Limited in Emene, a facility that had remained dormant for more than three decades.

The revived plant has a production capacity of approximately 100 cubic metres of oxygen per hour and 45 cubic metres of acetylene per hour, supplying medical oxygen to hospitals and industrial gases to manufacturers, welders and agro-processors.

Onoh said that the plant has already created more than 100 direct jobs, with thousands of additional indirect employment opportunities expected across transportation, distribution, fabrication and other parts of the supply chain.

He further cited the ongoing efforts to revive Sunrise Flour Mills and United Palm Products Limited through private-sector partnerships, noting that the strategy demonstrates that government could turn abandoned public assets into productive enterprises capable of generating employment, supporting local production and strengthening value chains.

He further pointed to the administration’s land-bank and farm-estate initiatives across the state’s 260 wards, describing them as part of an emerging agro-industrial model designed to connect agriculture with processing and manufacturing.

‘The industrial direction of Enugu State is particularly consistent with President Tinubu’s economic philosophy of moving Nigeria from a predominantly consumption-driven economy to one based on production, value addition, manufacturing and exports.

‘The Federal Government places emphasis on productivity, competitiveness, local value addition, infrastructure, skills development, standards and regulatory stability. Therefore, the revival of industries such as Nigergas and the planned revitalisation of other moribund enterprises in Enugu reflect the same philosophy at the state level.

‘You cannot successfully industrialise Nigeria if the cost of producing in Nigeria is substantially higher than the cost of importing. Industrialisation must therefore go beyond announcing incentives; it requires deliberate investment in infrastructure, skills, production capacity and value chains.’

‘Governor Mbah’s approach clearly shows how state governments could complement the Federal Government’s economic reforms by creating an environment where industries can reopen, businesses can expand and young people can find employment and that is a Complementary vision elucidating the synergy between Enugu’s development agenda and the Federal Government’s policy direction which should be encouraged rather than politicised.

‘Security, healthcare and industrialization are not isolated sectors, but interconnected pillars of development. A secured environment encourages investment; a healthy population provides the human capital required for productivity; while functional industries create jobs, generate wealth and strengthen the tax base needed to finance public services.

‘I therefore urge other states in Nigeria to study the Enugu’s emerging model of combining security investment, grassroots healthcare delivery and industrial revival with private-sector participation. The ultimate test of governance should be measurable improvement in the lives of citizens, and the achievements recorded in Enugu state under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah demonstrate how state-level initiatives can complement the national vision being pursued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which the greatest beneficiaries are Nigerians.’

In a viral video, Senator Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a campaign in Ilesha, asked his supporters to confront Accord Party members if they encounter them before the election.

‘If we hear of Accord Party in Ilesha, there will be trouble. We will all come out and vote. Please record me. We are here, and between now and the election, if we see anyone from the Accord Party, we will kill them,’ he said.

The Senator in a statement by his media office later clarified that what he meant was ‘a call on supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election.’

In a statement on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, described the comments as ‘outrageous and reprehensible’ and capable of heightening political tension in the state.

Accord party called on the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest the senator and rein in his supporters to prevent violence ahead of the August 15 poll.

‘For a sitting senator to condescend so low to publicly threaten the lives of fellow compatriots days to the gubernatorial poll in the state is unjust and unacceptable,’ the statement said.

The party also called on the international community, including the European Union, United States and United Kingdom missions, as well as the African union and ECOWAS, to monitor developments in Osun and condemn activities capable of undermining the electoral process.

Accord further alleged that more than 60 of its members had been arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State to prevent them from participating in the election.

It urged authorities to release the detained members and stop any further arrests of its leaders and supporters.

‘Accord prepares for an election, not war. The political ambition of anybody is not worth the blood of fellow citizens,’ the party said.

It urged Osun residents to come out and vote freely, while calling for a peaceful, credible and inclusive election.

The party also appealed to voters to support its candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke, whom it described as a leader trusted to continue his work in the state.

The move was part of efforts to confront banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in vulnerable parts of the state.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq disclosed this on Tuesday while receiving the newly deployed soldiers during a military parade held in his honour at Omu Aran.

He stated that the deployment followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assurance to strengthen security in Kwara and protect residents from criminal elements.

According to the governor, the arrival of the troops demonstrated the seriousness attached to improving security across the state.

The development is also expected to significantly expand the military footprint in Kwara, with five new Army battalions approved for the state and the existing brigade scheduled to relocate to Bode Saadu.

AbdulRazaq further disclosed that preparations were underway for another battalion in Patigi, following the visit of a military team to identify and prepare a suitable location.

He said the emerging military structure would be reinforced by the establishment of the Nigerian Army’s 9 Division in the state.

The governor noted that the presence of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the division was an indication that arrangements for the new command were already taking shape.

He assured the troops of the state government’s cooperation, saying his administration would provide the necessary support to enable the new formations to settle down and commence operations effectively.

AbdulRazaq charged the soldiers to remain focused as they take on the responsibility of protecting communities.

On the welfare of the newly deployed personnel, AbdulRazaq disclosed that the state government had provided a welfare package to assist the troops in settling into their new location.

The Sultanate Council, Sokoto, has called on Muslim faithfulls to look out for the new moon of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448AH on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

The council made the call in a statement dated August 12, 2026, signed by Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto.

According to the statement, Thursday, August 13, which corresponds to 29th Safar 1448AH, has been designated as the day for Muslims to look for the new moon of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448AH.

The council urged Muslims who sight the moon to report it to the nearest District or Village Head for onward communication to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

Rabi’ul Awwal is a significant month in the Islamic calendar, particularly because 12th Rabi’ul Awwal is traditionally observed by many Muslims as the date of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The date is observed by many followers of various Sufi orders and other Muslims through Maulud gatherings, lectures, recitation of the holy Qur’an, praises and other religious activities to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The Sultanate Council prayed for Allah’s assistance to Muslims in the discharge of the religious duty of moon sighting and for the successful commencement of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448AH.

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested a clergyman and two security personnel over an alleged plot to kidnap the wives of two prominent bishops in Jos, the state capital.

Daily Trust gathered that the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence received by the police regarding an alleged criminal conspiracy and a foiled kidnapping attempt.

Sources at the Plateau State Police Command said the incident occurred at about 2:10pm on Aug. 7, 2026.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the police identified one of the suspects as Rev. Hassan Yunisim Mijah, 42, of Tudun Wada, Jos North Local Government Area.

The publication quoted the police as saying that Mijah allegedly conspired with Sgt. Ezra Sunday, a Nigerian Air Force personnel, and OS Usman Khalid, a Nigerian Navy personnel, both attached to Sector 1, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), Jos, to kidnap the wives of Bishop Ephraim Gongden and retired Bishop Benjamin Kwashi.

The two bishops are reportedly residents of Rantya area of Jos South Local Government Area.

The publication added that, upon receiving the intelligence, police operatives led by the Commander of the Vigilance and Criminal Response Unit (VCRU) immediately commenced an operation that resulted in the arrest of the three suspects.

‘On interrogation, suspects confessed to the crime,’ the police said.

The command added that Operation Enduring Peace had been formally informed of the arrest of the two personnel attached to the operation.

Police authorities said investigation was ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged conspiracy and identify and apprehend other members of the suspected criminal network.

When contacted, the spokespersons of the state police command and Operation Enduring Peace, SP Alabo Alfred and Captain Polycarp Oteh, respectively, did not respond to inquiries from our correspondent as of press time.

The President of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, has attributed improvements in the ratings of Nigerian universities to the emergence of pluralism in academic unionism, which he said has helped reduce disruptions to academic calendars.

Sunmonu spoke on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television on Sunday, while reflecting on the impact of prolonged industrial actions on Nigeria’s university system and the role played by the emergence of CONUA.

According to him, the dominance of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in university unionism contributed to a situation where academics increasingly relied on the leadership of a single union to determine their positions on critical issues affecting the sector.

He argued that the emergence of CONUA provided an alternative platform for university academics and challenged what he described as the authoritarian tendencies that had characterised academic unionism.

‘The way our sister union [ASUU] behaved … in fact they’ve turned themselves into a government. And, sadly, academics have also outsourced our thinking to these people in the leadership of the other union,’ Sunmonu said.

He explained that the concerns surrounding ASUU’s approach to unionism were among the factors that contributed to the establishment of CONUA, stressing that the new union was founded on the principle of allowing academics to exercise independent judgment.

‘That is part of what brought about the birth of CONUA. Not only that, that is what CONUA represents,’ he said.

Sunmonu maintained that the absence of alternative voices within academic unionism could limit progress in the university system, particularly when members are expected to follow decisions taken by a central leadership without sufficient room for independent positions.

‘Where everybody sleeps and face the same directions or in situations where you outsource your thinking to so-called powers somewhere, you have no progress that can be achieved,’ he said.

He further criticised what he described as the ‘arrogance’ and ‘dictatorship’ that had emerged within the leadership of the other union, arguing that this contributed to repeated disruptions of academic activities.

‘We can say that has been the lot of our universities since the other union degenerated in this toga of arrogance, dictatorship and what have you,’ Sunmonu said.

The CONUA president said the introduction of pluralism into academic unionism had coincided with improvements in the performance and ratings of Nigerian universities.

‘Since we have pluralism in academic unionism, the ratings in the universities have gone up. It’s due to nothing other than uninterrupted calendar,’ he said.

According to him, the continuity of academic programmes is critical to improving the quality and reputation of Nigerian universities because students and lecturers are able to operate within predictable academic schedules.

He argued that frequent strikes undermine universities by interrupting teaching, research and examinations, while also extending the period students spend pursuing their degrees.

Sunmonu said it was contradictory for any organisation to claim to be defending the interests of the university system while simultaneously taking actions that disrupt its operations.

‘You can’t claim to fight for a system on the one hand and by the other token, you destroy the system,’ he said.

His comments come amid longstanding debates over the best approach to resolving disputes between university-based unions and the Federal Government.

ASUU has historically relied on industrial action as a major bargaining tool in disputes over funding, staff welfare, university autonomy and the implementation of agreements reached with successive governments.

CONUA, which emerged as a separate academic union, has consistently advocated alternative approaches to addressing challenges in the university system while opposing prolonged disruptions to academic activities.

Sunmonu’s position suggests that competition and plurality among academic unions could provide university workers with different platforms for representation while reducing the possibility of nationwide academic disruptions when disputes arise.

He also linked the stability of academic calendars to the broader perception and competitiveness of Nigerian universities, arguing that uninterrupted academic sessions allow institutions to improve their standing and give students greater certainty over their education.

For Nigerian universities, the issue goes beyond union rivalry, as repeated interruptions have broader consequences for students, parents, lecturers and the country’s education system. Delayed academic calendars can affect graduation timelines, admissions cycles, research programmes and the ability of Nigerian institutions to compete internationally.

Sunmonu’s argument, therefore, is that protecting the university system should include protecting the continuity of academic activities, even when university workers have legitimate grievances that require government attention.

The CONUA president maintained that academic unionism should serve as a mechanism for improving universities rather than becoming a source of repeated disruption, stressing that different perspectives within the sector could ultimately produce better outcomes for Nigerian higher education.