Category: Daily Trust

Police operatives in Bayelsa State have arrested eight suspected cultists inside a hotel facility along Mike Okokpo street in Yenagoa, the state capital, after they manhandled a 300 level student of the Niger Delta University over allegation of owing them.

Police public relations officer in Bayelsa State command, DSP Musa Mohammed, who disclosed this in a statement, said the suspects caused grievous bodily harm on the victim over allegation that he was owing them (N70,000).

He said upon receipt of the distress call, operatives attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) swung into action and arrested eight of the suspects.

He stated that six (6) others are students of Niger Delta University (NDU) Amassoma, adding that upon search, exhibits including suspected Indian Hemp, Swinol and charms were recovered.

He said suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.

He said, ‘On 14th July 2026 at about 2200 hours, following a distress call by public spirited individual, along Mike Okokpo street, Yenagoa, that a group of eight (8) young men suspected to be cultists lodged in the hotel, ganged up and beat one Prince Hansen ‘m’, a 300 level student of Niger Delta University (NDU) Amassoma within the hotel premises, causing grievous bodily harm on the allegation that the victim was owing (N70,000).

‘Upon receipt of the distress call, operatives attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) swung into action and arrested eight (8) of the suspects.

‘The Command reiterates its unwavering commitment to combating cultism and other violent crimes across the state. Members of the public are encouraged to continue to provide timely and credible information to the Police to enhance public safety and security.’ he said.

Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is ahead of other candidatesin the Presidential election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Results released as of 7:30pm on Saturday showed that Badejo-Okusanya polled 10,554 votes of the 22,863 ballots cast as of the time.

While Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe (SAN), trailed with 7,020 votes and Olumuyiwa Akinboro polled 5,289 votes.

Badejo-Okusanya has been leading since the exercise commenced on Saturday.

As of 11am, she had polled 4,139 votes, while Akangbe secured 3,359 votes and Akinboro trailed with 2,567 votes.

Badejo-Okusanya is seeking to succeed the incumbent NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN).

Meanwhile, Mr Afam Okeke, the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch (Unity Bar), has taken an early lead in the ongoing NBA General Secretary election being conducted electronically on Saturday.

As of 1. 25 p.m. the site showed Okeke polling 4,784 votes while Dr Rapulu Nduka had 3,452 votes.

The poll follows months of campaigns and legal disputes over the electoral process.

Earlier on Saturday, the ECNBA apologised for a delay in the commencement of voting before the election eventually got underway.

The 2026 NBA national e-voting had faced disruptions due to a cyberattack on the platform scheduled to begin by noon on July 18.

The portal was taken offline to repel the threat, causing a significant delay before voting finally commenced on a new secure domain.

The results are provisional, with the final outcome expected after the completion of voting, collation and verification by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA).

The winner is expected to succeed the incumbent Dr Mobolaji Ojibara as the NBA general secretary of Africa’s largest professional association of lawyers for the next two-year term. (NAN)

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has likened President Bola Tinubu to Singapore’s founding leader, Lee Kuan Yew, praising his economic reforms and expressing confidence that Nigerians would re-elect him in 2027.

Lee is globally recognized as the founding father of modern Singapore, spearheading its transformation from an impoverished British colonial outpost and resource-deficient port into a wealthy, highly industrialized global economic powerhouse.

Uzodimma spoke at a state dinner in Owerri marking the end of the three-day Renewed Hope Ambassadors/Presidential Communications Team National Media Tour of Federal and Imo State Government projects.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity, Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Mr Tunde Rahman, on Saturday.

‘In President Bola Tinubu, we have another Lee Kuan Yew,’ the governor declared, describing the President’s reforms as bold and transformative.

He said Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, fully prepared to confront Nigeria’s economic challenges through far-reaching reforms.

‘The old order is gone and there is now a new order. President Tinubu knew exactly what he came to do. He started implementing the reforms immediately because he understood the task before him.’

The governor compared Nigeria’s pre-reform economic situation to the biblical bondage of the Israelites in Egypt, saying difficult but necessary decisions were required to free the country from years of economic stagnation.

He acknowledged the short-term hardship caused by the reforms but said they were already yielding results through increased revenues available to states for infrastructure and human capital development.

‘Everything we are doing in Imo today is made possible because of the Renewed Hope Agenda. We are investing in infrastructure, healthcare, education and technology because the reforms have created the enabling environment for development.’

Uzodimma expressed confidence that Nigerians would reward Tinubu with a second term in 2027 as the benefits of the reforms become more evident.

Speaking on behalf of the visiting journalists, veteran journalist, Dr Soni Daniel, commended the governor for what he described as remarkable strides in infrastructure, healthcare, education and digital technology.

Daniel said the inspection tour provided firsthand evidence of prudent use of public resources and positioned Imo among Nigeria’s leading states in infrastructure and economic transformation.

Earlier, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, praised Uzodimma for the state’s infrastructure transformation and effective implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dare said projects inspected, including the Imo Digital City, the 2,000-bed Infectious Disease Centre, the Heart Transplant Centre, the University of Innovation, Science and Technology, the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre, reflected the benefits of strong Federal-State collaboration and increased FAAC allocations. (NAN)

This week marks one year former President, Muhammadu Buhari died. A ceremony was held in Abuja to honour him and many speeches were made to remember his life and time. This piece also pays tribute to the former leader.

Nigeria has known many leaders since independence, but few have worn their convictions as plainly and unapologetically as Muhammadu Buhari – soldier, statesman, military head of state, president.

To millions across the country, he was simply ‘Baba,’ not because he demanded the title or cultivated a cult of personality, but because he carried himself like an uncle to the entire country: stern, steady, quietly concerned and unwavering in his principles.

His passing marked the end of an era, but his life’s work continues to echo through the corridors of Nigerian history.

Buhari’s leadership style was distinctly familial in a way that transcended political office. He did not govern with flourish, grand theatrical gestures or the performative politics that had become the hallmark of Nigerian public life. Instead, he showed up like the elder uncle in every Nigerian home, the one who would sit at the head of the table during family meetings, listen more than he would speak and correct you with a single look before uttering a word. This was not a calculated political posture; it was simply who he was.

That avuncular nature revealed itself most powerfully in small, unscripted moments that television cameras often captured. In town hall meetings across the country, he would refer to citizens as ‘my children’ with genuine warmth that surprised those who only knew his public reserve.

In meetings with state governors, he would urge them to ‘go back to your people’ as if reminding wayward nephews of their duties. His concern was never abstract or theoretical; it was always grounded in tangible realities: food on the table, security on the roads and dignity in public service.

He believed, with the conviction of a man who had seen the worst of what Nigeria could endure, that leadership was fundamentally responsibility, not reward. This belief shaped every decision he made, every policy he pursued and every public pronouncement he offered. He spoke to the country the way an uncle speaks to his own family: directly, sometimes harshly, but always with the genuine intent to protect and guide. When he said ‘we have no money,’ it was not an admission of defeat but a fatherly warning that the family must tighten its belt. When he insisted on agricultural self-sufficiency, it was the voice of an elder who remembered when Nigeria fed itself and wanted to see that dignity restored.

If you watched Buhari during his years of public service you remembered the face first – the furrowed brow that seemed perpetually etched with the weight of national concerns, the measured gaze that could silence a room full of ministers with its quiet intensity and the economy of words that made every statement feel deliberate and consequential. He was a taciturn man living in an age that celebrated noise, and this contrast made him both enigmatic and unforgettable.

In an era when Nigerian politics increasingly rewarded volume over substance, where opponents filled airtime with empty promises and grandiose declarations, Buhari chose the path of silence. While others performed for the cameras, he let policy and posture do the talking. This was not because he lacked opinions or ideas, those who worked closely with him knew that his mind was razor-sharp and his grasp of policy details remarkable. Rather, his reserve reflected a deeper understanding of leadership that had been forged in the crucible of national crisis.

That reserve was frequently misunderstood as aloofness or even arrogance by those who could not read the man beneath the stoic exterior. But those close to him understood it differently. The quietness was discipline cultivated over decades of military service. The stillness was the product of deep thought that did not need to be broadcast to have value. He was not a man of many speeches, but when he did speak with unforgettable declarations like: ‘I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody,’ the words stuck in the national consciousness, precisely because they were so few and so deliberately chosen.

His looks told a story that Nigeria understood instinctively: a man who had seen war, who had governed before, who had been imprisoned for his convictions, and who did not need to perform to prove authority. In a political landscape dominated by showmen and populists, Buhari represented a different kind of power, the quiet authority of a man who had earned his place through service rather than seeking it through spectacle.

The frugality

Perhaps his most defining trait in public life; and certainly, the one that will be most remembered by historians, was his frugality. This was not a political affectation adopted for electoral advantage but a deeply held personal value that governed every aspect of his public service.

From his days as military head of state in the 1980s to his second coming as a democratically elected president in 2015, Buhari lived with a simplicity that stood out starkly in a country where public office had become synonymous with opulence. One car, one house in Daura, no ostentatious display of wealth, no elaborate entourages that could have been justified by security concerns, his lifestyle was not just modest by the standard of Nigerian leaders; it was modest by the standard of ordinary citizens.

He cut down the presidential entourage, reduced foreign trips to essential engagements only, and publicly declared his assets with a transparency that was unprecedented. He told his ministers with characteristic bluntness: ‘There is no money,’ refusing to allow them to pretend otherwise. This was not popular, it never is, but it was consistent with everything he had ever stood for. In a country where power had historically meant excess, his frugality was a powerful statement. It is said that public office is trust, not privilege, the treasury is not for show and leadership requires sacrifice, not celebration.

That austerity shaped policy decisions too from the push for self-sufficiency in rice production that transformed Nigerian agriculture to the relentless focus on plugging financial leakages through the Treasury Single Account (TSA). His insistence that Nigeria must ‘produce what we eat and eat what we produce’ reflected a philosophy that extended far beyond economics; it was about national dignity and self-respect. Whether you agreed with every decision or not, you knew exactly where the man stood: less waste, more work, less consumption, more production, less dependency, more self-reliance.

The legacy

Muhammadu Buhari will be remembered in contradictions and in clarity, complexity and simplicity. He was tough on corruption, yet soft on family. He was slow to explain himself but quick to take responsibility. He believed in Nigeria’s immense potential and demanded the sacrifice necessary to realise that potential.

He did not give Nigerians a perfect government, no leader ever does. But he gave us something perhaps more valuable: an example of restraint in an era of indulgence. He reminded us that leadership could be quiet and still be effective. He demonstrated that service could be simple and still be significant. He taught us that an elder’s job is to guard the house even when no one is clapping, to protect the family even when the family does not appreciate the protection.

As we remember him today, we honour his memory best by embracing the values he embodied. We hold public trust as sacred. We speak only when necessary, ensuring that our words carry weight. We live within our means, recognising that true prosperity comes not from consumption but production. We remember that leadership is service, not privilege.

Rest well, General, President, Baba. May Nigeria honour your memory, not with monuments but the integrity you exemplified, not with statues but the simplicity you practised, not with grand ceremonies but the quiet dignity of a country that remembers how to care for itself.

Amen.

Organisers of Nigeria’s leading grassroots football competition, 1xCup, have announced a ?20 million prize package for the 2026 edition as they intensify efforts to discover and develop the country’s next generation of football stars after producing more than 30 players who have gone on to sign professional contracts in Nigeria, Africa and Europe.

The organisers unveiled plans for the fourth edition of the championship during a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, describing this year’s tournament as the biggest and most professionally organised since its inception in 2023.

The 2026 edition will feature 100 grassroots clubs from the five traditional football divisions of Lagos State-Agege, Lagos Island, Badagry, Ikorodu and Epe-competing not only for the championship title and the pride of their communities but also for a share of the ?20 million prize pool.

More importantly, organisers say the competition has become a launch pad for aspiring footballers, with accredited scouts from clubs across Nigeria, Africa and Europe expected to attend the knockout stages in search of emerging talents.

Speaking at the event, General Manager of 1xCup, Adedapo Dimeji, said the tournament has grown remarkably over the past three years, evolving from a grassroots football initiative into one of Nigeria’s foremost talent development platforms.

According to him, the competition has featured more than 180 clubs and over 5,000 players, many of whom have gone on to pursue professional careers.

‘Since its inception in 2023, the 1xCup has grown into one of the country’s leading platforms for discovering and developing grassroots football talent. The tournament has featured more than 180 clubs and over 5,000 players, with several participants progressing to professional football opportunities both within Nigeria, Africa and Europe,’ Dimeji said.

He stressed that while trophies and prize money remain important, the competition’s primary objective is to create life-changing opportunities for young footballers.

‘The tournament is not only about winning trophies. It is about creating opportunities. Our vision is to provide talented young footballers with a professionally organised competition where they can showcase their abilities before scouts, clubs, football administrators and fans. We remain committed to creating a pathway from grassroots football to the professional game.’

More than 30 players now professionals

Dimeji described the tournament’s greatest achievement as the number of careers it has helped launch.

According to him, more than 30 players who featured in the first three editions have now signed their first professional contracts with clubs in Nigeria and overseas.

Among the competition’s most notable success stories are Raheem Ibrahim Ogede, who now plays for Inter Lagos, Adeoye Aderemi Jacob and Bada Moses, both of Ikorodu City, Lawani Clinton of Sporting Lagos FC, Martins Idowu, who secured a move to Serbian club FK USCE, Ahisu Peter, now with Bulgarian side Belasitsa, Okere Ebube, who joined North Macedonian club FK Tikves, Nwana Okechukwu, now playing for Egyptian side WE Sport Club, and Kayode Akinyemi, who moved to Beninese club Hodio CNSS.

Dimeji also recalled the recently concluded Unity Cup in London, noting that former 1xCup players represented Nigeria and were part of the squad that lifted the trophy.

‘These achievements reassure us that 1xCup is truly serving as a platform for discovering and developing football talent,’ he said.

He added that the organisers have now established a structured player-tracking system to monitor participants long after the tournament ends.

‘The whole tournament started like an experiment. We did not imagine it would grow to this level, but we have now become intentional about tracking the progress of players.’

Enhanced scouting programme

Determined to increase the number of players securing professional opportunities, organisers have introduced what they describe as the most comprehensive scouting programme in the tournament’s history.

According to Dimeji, every participating footballer will have an individual digital profile supported by performance statistics, technical assessments and personalised highlight videos from the opening match through to the final.

Accredited scouts from clubs in Nigeria, Africa and Europe will monitor the tournament, particularly during the knockout stages, using weeks of performance data rather than judging players on a single match.

Outstanding performers will also receive Player of the Week awards, while dedicated technical assessment teams will evaluate players throughout the competition.

‘Our objective is not simply to discover one or two outstanding players. We want to create opportunities for as many deserving young footballers as possible,’ Dimeji said.

100 clubs selected from nearly 800 applicants

Technical Director Waidi Akanni, a former Super Eagles defender, disclosed that interest in the competition continues to grow.

According to him, nearly 800 clubs applied to participate in this year’s tournament, but only 100 teams met the required standards after a rigorous screening and verification process.

‘Every team went through a rigorous screening and verification process to ensure fairness and professionalism before the final selections were made,’ Akanni said.

The successful clubs comprise 24 teams each from Agege and Lagos Island, 20 each from Badagry and Ikorodu, and 12 from Epe.

Akanni explained that Epe received fewer slots because the division has historically recorded lower registration numbers.

The tournament will run over 38 matchdays, beginning with qualifying fixtures before progressing to the group stage and knockout rounds.

Twenty-four teams will emerge from the qualifiers and be drawn into six groups of four, with the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the Round of 16.

Professional players ineligible

To preserve the competition’s grassroots identity, organisers confirmed that active professional footballers will not be eligible to compete.

Each participating club will register 25 players, all of whom will undergo comprehensive eligibility verification.

However, clubs will be permitted to include up to five players aged between 16 and 18, a move organisers say is aimed at accelerating youth development.

Women’s competition and expansion plans

The organisers also revealed that discussions are ongoing to introduce a women’s version of 1xCup in future editions.

Head of Operations, Biodun Babalola, said consultations had already begun with stakeholders in grassroots women’s football.

‘Women’s football is definitely part of our long-term vision. We want to build it properly and ensure it meets the same high standards that 1xCup has established.’

Beyond Lagos, Dimeji disclosed that the organisers are working towards expanding the competition nationwide before eventually taking the model across Africa.

He said discussions are already underway with stakeholders in two South-East states and one Middle Belt state, while similar grassroots competitions have already begun emerging in other African countries.

‘Our vision is to take 1xCup across Nigeria and eventually across Africa, where champions from different countries can compete against one another. We believe we will achieve that goal step by step.’

The 2026 1xCup tournament kicks off on July 23, with organisers confident that another generation of footballers will emerge from community pitches to sign professional contracts, further cementing the competition’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading talent factories.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of DecisionSpaak Group, Mr. Philip Ade-Akanbi, has called on Nigerian linguists to collaborate with local artificial intelligence companies to co-develop AI models trained on indigenous languages.

He made the call at the Nigerian Languages Data and Sci-Tech Conference recently held at the University of Lagos that convened students, linguists, technologists, and academics to discuss data infrastructure, research, policy and advances in data, science, and technology in Nigerian languages needed to scale AI solutions for Nigeria’s over 500 indigenous languages.

Speaking on the theme, ‘From Low-resource to Emerging Resource: Advances in Data and AI for Nigerian Languages,’ Mr. Ade-Akanbi said such collaboration is critical for Nigeria to achieve true Sovereign AI built on local data, values, and languages that serve Nigerians first.

‘Recent advancements in AI for Nigerian languages are now moving from technical research into practical tools that foster social inclusion, improve healthcare delivery, and make governance more accessible,’ he said.

‘By breaking the language barrier, these technologies ensure that millions of Nigerians who communicate primarily in indigenous tongues are no longer excluded from the digital economy.’

The DecisionSpaak Group CEO emphasized that language is the bedrock of AI.

‘There are no Large Language Models that power tools like AI chatbots without languages, neither are there concepts like Natural Language Processing without languages,’ he stated.

‘There is no sovereignty if the AI can’t speak indigenous languages well’. In his remarks, he noted his group’s work in advancing digital inclusion, data sovereignty, and the application of AI for social and economic development across the continent, tailored to African contexts.

While encouraging adequate compensation by AI companies, he urged language scholars, authors, and researchers to partner with Nigerian AI companies to co-create systems that reflect the country’s linguistic diversity. ‘We must ensure that Nigerian languages are not left behind in the new wave of technological advancement that AI offers,’ Mr. Ade-Akanbi added.

It’s no longer news that some public institutions in Nigeria don’t work for the common man. Rather, they work for the elites. This is evident in nearly every public sector. As a nation, Nigeria has failed its citizens. From one corruption scandal to the next, from embezzlement to outright neglect, citizens have lost hope in these institutions.

For time immemorial, media reports have been based on failure, which makes the audience often tired of the narratives. As crucial as that is, uncovering institutional failures in a problematic manner isn’t enough. Media practitioners must embrace innovative content strategies that move beyond just bad news reporting.

In the 21st century, media practitioners must prioritise solutions reporting style over the usual rewriting of press releases. Corruption is a lived reality for all Nigerians. However, people need to know what’s working. What can be done to make the system work again: what has been tried, how social issues are being solved, what lessons can be replicated, and what are the limitations? This impacts the real lives of people. The public will only trust the media when they see it as a tool for change, not merely an arm of the state apparatus.

That’s where solutions-oriented journalism comes in.

Current realities in Nigeria make this transition urgent. Banditry, a dwindling economy, climate change, poverty, and unemployment demand more sophisticated reporting that moves beyond merely highlighting problems. Coverage of these crises should include responses, gaps, and insights, giving audiences direction, not just anger.

I have witnessed this first-hand at my organisation, where innovative storytelling is changing the narrative around development issues. Based in a region plagued by multiple challenges, the outlet reports both what isn’t working and what can be done to address it, often prompting institutions to act. This approach has earned our title several awards at both the national and international scenes.

Content formats must evolve beyond long-form articles meant for the elites. Short TikTok explainers, satire, AI simulations, and even social commentary make the audience more engaged, particularly Gen Zs. When media practitioners make their content local, break down complex issues, and make governance easier to comprehend, audiences are more likely to rebuild trust because they see their lives and realities accurately captured. Rebuilding trust requires media practitioners to be transparent about their work. It’s crucial to note that no matter how the media wants to fix Nigeria, it can’t do it alone. This is a collaborative work that demands all hands on deck. But the media can mend the bridge between citizens and institutions. That happens through strategic content that not only exposes problems but also shows how to address them. Media practitioners should document not just where systems fail, but also where change is possible.

Trust is not a headline. It is an inheritance. You cannot inherit it by screaming into the void of failure. You inherit it by showing a man that his anger can be translated into action, and his action into repair. A society without trust is a house without a roof. But journalism, at its highest, is not the rain that exposes the leak. It’s the hand that points to the hammer, the nail, and the place where the roof can be mended. To rebuild trust is to remind people that they are not spectators in their own story. They are co-authors. And the pen, once returned to their hands, writes hope into the margin of despair. The role of media isn’t just to cover reality, but to show how it can be better. In a time when public trust in state institutions has eroded, the best approach isn’t only to hold power to account but also to highlight where solutions exist. This affirms that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Therefore, the innovation isn’t to soften criticism, but to expand it by exposing the problem, highlighting the way out, and showing the audience how to take part in fixing their challenges. This kind of responsible journalism treats trust as a product, not as a by-product of truth.

Nigeria stands today at one of the most defining moments in its history. A nation richly blessed with abundant natural resources, youthful energy, and remarkable cultural diversity continues to grapple with a challenge that has persisted for decades: the manipulation of religious differences for political, economic, and social gains.

Across the country’s towns and villages, Muslims and Christians wake up every morning with remarkably similar aspirations. They desire peace, security, quality education for their children, accessible healthcare, employment opportunities, and a government that serves the people with integrity. Yet, despite these shared dreams, religious identity is often exploited to divide communities and distract citizens from the real issues that determine national progress.

The greatest threat to Nigeria isn’t Islam or Christianity. It’s the deliberate exploitation of religious and ethnic identities by those who benefit from division. As long as Nigerians remain fragmented along religious lines, genuine national development will remain elusive.

Both Islam and Christianity teach peace, compassion, justice, honesty, forgiveness, and service to humanity. These aren’t conflicting values but common moral foundations upon which a united nation can be built. The Qur’an and the Bible both encourage believers to uphold justice, show kindness, and respect the dignity of others. Violence, hatred, and intolerance have no legitimate place in the authentic teachings of either faith.

History demonstrates that Nigeria has countless examples of peaceful coexistence. Across the country, Muslims and Christians have lived together for generations, sharing neighbourhoods, marketplaces, schools, workplaces, and even extended family ties through interfaith marriages. Farmers cultivate their lands side by side, traders build businesses together, security personnel protect the nation together, and healthcare workers save lives regardless of religious identity.

These daily acts of cooperation rarely make newspaper headlines, yet they represent the true character of Nigeria far more than isolated incidents of religious conflict.

Unfortunately, during election periods, religious sentiments are frequently inflamed. Instead of engaging citizens on issues such as insecurity, unemployment, inflation, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic reforms, some political actors appeal to religious loyalties to mobilise support. Such tactics divert public attention from governance and accountability.

When citizens vote primarily on religious identity rather than competence and integrity, democracy suffers. Public office should be entrusted to individuals based on their character, experience, vision, and commitment to public service, not merely on whether they attend a mosque or a church.

Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and equal citizenship. Every Nigerian, irrespective of faith, deserves equal protection under the law and equal opportunities to contribute to national development. Respecting religious freedom doesn’t require abandoning one’s beliefs; it requires recognising that fellow citizens are entitled to their sincerely held beliefs.

Religious leaders carry a profound responsibility in shaping public attitudes. Imams, pastors, and other faith leaders wield significant moral influence and can play a decisive role in promoting tolerance, dialogue, and reconciliation. Sermons and public teachings should inspire believers to reject violence, avoid inflammatory rhetoric, and embrace peaceful coexistence.

So does the media; it bears an enormous responsibility. Responsible journalism should inform rather than inflame. News organisations must report religiously sensitive issues with accuracy, context, and restraint while avoiding sensationalism that could deepen tensions. Balanced reporting can help foster understanding rather than suspicion.

Parents and educators likewise shape the next generation’s attitudes. Children who are taught from an early age to respect different faiths are more likely to become adults who value diversity as a strength rather than a threat. Schools should encourage civic education, ethical values, and opportunities for interfaith interaction that build trust and mutual respect.

Youth organisations, civil society groups, traditional rulers, and community associations should continue creating platforms where people of different religious backgrounds can collaborate on community development projects. Shared service often builds stronger relationships than dialogue alone.

The government must also fulfil its obligations impartially. Justice delayed or selectively applied fuels resentment and undermines confidence in public institutions. Acts of violence committed in the name of religion must be investigated thoroughly, prosecuted fairly, and condemned unequivocally, regardless of the perpetrators’ identities. Equal application of the law is essential to preserving public trust.

Economic hardship further underscores the need for unity. Inflation, unemployment, insecurity, and inadequate infrastructure affect Muslims and Christians alike. Hunger recognises no religion. Poverty asks no denomination. Illiteracy does not distinguish between mosque and church. The challenges confronting Nigeria require collective solutions rather than sectarian divisions.

Nigeria’s diversity should be viewed not as a liability but as one of its greatest strategic advantages. Nations around the world have demonstrated that people of different faiths and backgrounds can live peacefully under inclusive institutions founded on justice, equality, and respect for human dignity. Nigeria has the human capital, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural richness to do the same.

Political leaders must demonstrate statesmanship by avoiding divisive rhetoric. Responsible leadership demands language that unites rather than polarises. Leaders should seek common ground, encourage national cohesion, and remind citizens that the country’s destiny is shared.

The security agencies equally have a role to play in protecting all communities without discrimination. Citizens are more likely to trust public institutions when they perceive them as fair, professional, and accountable.

At the grassroots level, interfaith dialogue should move beyond conferences into practical cooperation. Joint health campaigns, educational initiatives, environmental projects, humanitarian programmes, and community security partnerships can strengthen relationships while addressing local needs.

Every Nigerian also bears personal responsibility. It begins with rejecting rumours, refusing to spread inflammatory messages on social media, verifying information before sharing it, and treating neighbours with dignity regardless of their faith. Small acts of respect often prevent larger conflicts.

National unity doesn’t require uniformity of belief. Muslims and Christians will continue to practise Islam faithfully. Diversity of faith is entirely compatible with loyalty to one nation. Indeed, genuine unity is strengthened, not weakened, when citizens are free to practise their religion while respecting the rights of others.

Nigeria’s future depends less on what separates its citizens than on what unites them. Every child deserves quality education. Every family deserves security. Every entrepreneur deserves an enabling business environment. Every community deserves infrastructure and opportunities. These aspirations transcend religious identity.

The country’s founding ideals call for a federation where diversity becomes a source of resilience rather than conflict. Achieving that vision requires courage from political leaders, responsibility from religious institutions, professionalism from the media, impartiality from government institutions, and commitment from ordinary citizens.

The next generation deserves to inherit a Nigeria where religious identity is never a barrier to friendship, opportunity, or public service. They deserve a nation where elections are won through ideas rather than division, where public policy is driven by evidence rather than prejudice, and where citizenship matters more than sectarian affiliation.

The choice before Nigeria is clear. One path leads to continued mistrust, periodic conflict, and missed opportunities. The other leads to cooperation, stability, economic growth, and sustainable development. History will judge today’s generation by the path it chooses.

Muslims and Christians need not surrender their beliefs to build a united Nigeria. They need only recognise a simple but powerful truth: before they differ in faith, they share a common humanity and a common citizenship. The future of the Federal Republic depends not on the triumph of one religion over another, but on the triumph of justice over injustice, unity over division, and hope over fear.

If Nigeria is to realise its immense potential, Muslims and Christians must stand together, not because they believe the same, but because they believe in the same nation’s future. That is the patriotism this moment demands, and that is the legacy worthy of leaving to generations yet unborn.

A 45-year-old suspected cult member has confessed that he and members of his gang opened fire on policemen during a failed reprisal attack in Oshodi, Lagos, claiming they mistook the officers for rival gang members.

The suspect, Tosin Agbeyangi, who sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during the exchange of gunfire, is currently in police custody following the June 15, 2026 incident on Mabolaje Street in the Mafoluku area of Oshodi.

Police investigators said the attack was part of an attempted retaliation over the alleged killing of a member of the suspect’s group, identified simply as Samuel, a few days earlier.

A source attached to the Commissioner of Police Special Squad 1 disclosed that Agbeyangi led a group of armed men to the vicinity of the residence of a leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), popularly known as Koko Zaria, where they believed members of a rival cult group were gathered.

Unknown to the attackers, policemen on routine patrol had stopped in the area after noticing suspicious activity.

According to the source, the gang fired towards the location where the officers were positioned, prompting the policemen to return fire.

‘The suspects scattered in different directions after the police responded. The Divisional Police Officer mobilised reinforcement teams, and officers followed a trail of blood to a nearby canal where the injured suspect was found hiding,’ the source said.

Police recovered a locally made pistol loaded with one live cartridge and a Browning pistol magazine containing five rounds of live ammunition from the suspect.

During interrogation, Agbeyangi admitted that the group had embarked on a reprisal mission but insisted they did not know they were firing at policemen.

‘We were coming from a birthday party when we decided to confront our rivals who usually stayed around Koko Zaria’s house. We wanted to retaliate because they had killed one of our members. We didn’t know policemen were there. It was one of the boys, Temidayo, who fired the gun. I was later hit by bullets fired by the police,’ he reportedly said.

The suspect, a caterer by profession, denied that the gang intended to assassinate the NURTW leader, maintaining that their target was a rival cult group allegedly operating in the area.

He also denied acting on the instructions of any transport union leader, claiming the violence stemmed from a long-running rivalry between two youth factions known locally as the ‘Oluomo Nation’ and the ‘Koko Zaria Nation.’

Agbeyangi further alleged that although members of the rival factions support different camps within the transport union, they are not registered members of the NURTW.

Police have launched a manhunt for other members of the gang who escaped during the shootout.

Confirming the arrest, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi said investigations were ongoing and warned criminal gangs to refrain from violent activities or face the full weight of the law.

She reiterated that the command is committed to tackling cult-related violence and ensuring the safety of residents across the state.

Three siblings travelling from Abuja to Benue State with the corpse of their late mother were reportedly abducted by suspected gunmen in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.

The victims were said to have been intercepted around rural communities along the Ogobia-Otukpo Road, between Omutele and Ankpechi villages in Oglewu District, where armed invaders reportedly attacked a few days earlier.

The siblings were conveying the remains of their mother, who died in Abuja, to Iklenyi community in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State for burial when they were abducted in the early hours of Saturday.

Residents who spoke with our correspondent by telephone said they heard gunshots between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., forcing them to flee to safety.

According to some witnesses, the family’s vehicle developed a mechanical fault during the journey, leaving the occupants stranded on the road until about 2:00 a.m.

They said the siblings encountered the armed men while attempting to resume their journey after the vehicle broke down.

The Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Gabriel Adole, confirmed the incident to our correspondent by telephone, saying he was on his way to the scene to ascertain what had happened.

‘Yes, I’m going to the scene now to ascertain what really happened,’ Adole said.

Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to telephone calls or a text message sent to her at the time of filing this report.