Category: Daily Trust

The Tax Ombud/Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr. John Nwabueze, has disclosed that the office received more than 20 genuine complaints within three months and successfully resolved eight of them within the statutory timeframe.

Nwabueze made the disclosure at a media parley in Lagos where he outlined the institution’s progress, ongoing reforms and plans to improve taxpayer access to redress.

According to him, all eight resolved cases were concluded within the statutory 14-day resolution period, with an additional seven days allowed where necessary.

He said the office has improved access to its services through the introduction of a digital complaints portal, case management system, toll-free call centre and SMS callback services.

‘These innovations have made it easier for individuals and businesses to file complaints and obtain timely resolutions,’ he said.

Nwabueze also disclosed that the office has strengthened the capacity of its accountants and legal experts to handle increasingly complex tax matters, including potential disputes arising from the taxation of digital assets.

He said the office is preparing to address such complaints should they arise, while plans are underway to establish offices across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to improve access to its services at the grassroots.

The Tax Ombud said the office has also intensified engagement with professional bodies, the media, revenue authorities and other stakeholders as part of efforts to address systemic challenges within the country’s tax administration.

He identified multiple taxation, particularly at the state and local government levels, as one of the persistent issues requiring urgent attention.

‘Multiple taxation is an endemic issue that we are determined to address by engaging all relevant stakeholders, including the Joint Revenue Board, state governments, and local government authorities. Through collaboration and policy engagement, we are working towards sustainable solutions,’ he said.

He also said the office is prepared to receive complaints from taxpayers on the activities of non-state actors, reiterating the commitment of the office to provide sufficient relief for taxpayers.

Nwabueze commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing an independent tax ombudsman institution, describing it as an important step towards strengthening voluntary tax compliance and building public confidence in Nigeria’s tax administration.

He reiterated that the core mandate of the Tax Ombud is to provide impartial mediation and promote fairness, accountability and justice between taxpayers and tax authorities.

The Tax Ombud further called for greater media and public engagement, saying inadequate awareness of the office remains one of its biggest challenges.

‘Public awareness remains our greatest challenge. We urge the media and all stakeholders to help disseminate information about our services so that every Nigerian taxpayer is aware of their rights and knows where to seek redress whenever necessary,’ he said.

The office plans to embark on a nationwide public sensitisation campaign to increase awareness of taxpayer rights and tackle recurring issues, including multiple taxation.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has partnered Mikano Motors to introduce an auto financing scheme aimed at making new vehicle ownership more affordable and accessible to Nigerians.

The initiative, themed ‘Drive Your Dream Today,’ enables eligible customers to acquire new vehicles by paying an initial 30 per cent deposit, while UBA finances the remaining 70 per cent.

Unveiled at the Mikano Motors showroom in Victoria Island, Lagos, the scheme allows customers to repay the financed amount over 36 months at an interest rate of 23 per cent.

The financing package is open to a wide range of customers, including salaried workers, entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals and other eligible Nigerians.

To access the facility, prospective customers are required to undergo a simple eligibility check by visiting any UBA branch or contacting the bank through its consumer lending email. Once approved, the customer can approach Mikano Motors for a proforma invoice for the preferred vehicle and proceed with the financing process.

Speaking at the launch, UBA’s Group Executive Director-designate, Personal and Business Banking, Chidi Okpala, said the partnership was designed to make vehicle ownership more attainable while promoting financial inclusion and a stronger credit culture.

‘Owning a car should not be out of reach for hardworking Nigerians, and this partnership makes it far more achievable,’ Okpala said.

He said the arrangement would remove a major barrier to vehicle ownership by reducing the amount customers need to provide upfront.

‘A customer puts down 30 per cent, we finance the rest, and they pay us back comfortably over a three-year period,’ he said.

According to him, the initiative demonstrates UBA’s customer-focused approach by providing financing solutions tailored to customers’ needs.

Also speaking, UBA’s Group Head, Consumer Lending, Frank Okoh, said the scheme was designed to simplify vehicle financing for both salaried and self-employed customers.

‘We have kept the entry simple and the terms clear, whether you earn a salary or run your own business,’ Okoh said.

He added that customers would be guided through the process from the initial eligibility assessment until they take delivery of their vehicles.

For Mikano Motors, the partnership is expected to expand access to its vehicles and ownership services.

The company’s General Manager, Tarek Mostafa, said the collaboration aligned with its commitment to providing customers with a high-end ownership experience backed by reliable after-sales services.

‘Mikano Motors was established to give Nigerians a high-end ownership experience, from the showroom to years down the road,’ Mostafa said.

He noted that the company supports customers with genuine spare parts, maintenance and servicing across the country.

Established in 2018 under Mikano International, Mikano Motors builds on more than 35 years of its parent company’s presence in Nigeria and offers a diversified portfolio of vehicles supported by nationwide sales and after-sales services.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, has raided six suspected drug hotspots across Kano metropolis, arresting 15 suspects and recovering assorted illicit substances.

The operation targeted drug joints at Farm Centre, Kofar Nasarawa, Diga Nasarawa, Dakata (Zango), Filin Polo and Hausawa.

The Commander of the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command, CN DY Lawal, said the operation was based on intelligence identifying the locations as centres for drug trafficking and abuse, and exhibits recovered during the raids included quantities of cannabis saliva, pentazocine injections, pregabalin capsules and Exol-5 tablets.

He said the command would sustain pressure on drug dealers through intelligence-driven operations while strengthening preventive measures such as public enlightenment and community engagement to curb substance abuse.

‘We remain steadfast in our commitment to sustaining pressure on drug hotspots within Kano and beyond,’ Lawal said, warning those involved in the illicit drug trade to abandon the business or face the full weight of the law.

He said the command would continue to combine enforcement with non-kinetic strategies aimed at addressing the root causes of drug abuse.

The commander also appealed to residents to support the agency by providing credible information that would help identify and dismantle other drug trafficking networks across the state.

The NDLEA said all 15 suspects are in its custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Adamawa State Executive Council has approved a draft budget of N609.1 billion for the 2027 fiscal year, with a major focus on infrastructure development and human capital investment.

The proposal was approved at the council’s meeting on Friday, presided over by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

The draft budget earmarks 54.4 per cent of the total allocation for capital expenditure, while 45.6 per cent is designated for recurrent expenditure.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barrister Leader Leneke, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the council meeting, saying the approval marked the commencement of the formal process for preparing the 2027 Appropriation Bill.

He said the government would undertake sectoral planning and consultations with relevant stakeholders before presenting the final budget proposal to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

The council also approved several expenditures aimed at addressing immediate development needs across the state.

Under the education sector, N459.5 million was approved for the provision of biology instructional materials and 3D laboratory models to 84 secondary schools across Adamawa.

Similarly, the council approved N248.27 million for the electrification of Morawo and Zungalewa communities in Demsa Local Government Area, through their connection to the national electricity grid.

The government also approved the appointment of a consultant to conduct a technical assessment of the Rural Electrification Agency, with the objective of facilitating access to approximately $5 million in World Bank funding for rural electrification projects.

Meanwhile, the council approved a N16.59 billion virement, representing the reallocation of funds within the state’s 2026 budget to meet emerging priorities.

Commissioner for Budget, Emmanuel Piridimso, explained that the adjustment would enable the administration to finance priority projects in education, transportation and security without increasing the state’s overall debt profile.

The council also raised concern over the risk of seasonal flooding following official climate forecasts.

Commissioner for Environment, Bala Mohammed, urged residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer locations immediately.

He said the state government had stocked emergency relief camps and provided medical supplies to respond to possible flooding incidents.

‘We have stocked emergency relief camps and medical supplies. However, we urge residents to clear drainage channels and stop building on waterways to prevent avoidable disasters,’ Mohammed said.

He added that the state government was working with traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure compliance with safety advisories and strengthen sanitation efforts at the grassroots.

The government urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with relevant authorities as the state prepares for possible flooding during the rainy season.

The Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has said the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has reported a N535 billion profit after tax in June 2026 and has secured more than US$20 billion in gas sale and purchase agreements over the past year.

The surveillance firm stated that operations along the Eastern corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) and the Eastern Gas Network ran largely without interruption over the past months, with the Emohua zone recording no case of infraction or vandalism during the period under review.

The record was disclosed at the August 2026 Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Port Harcourt, convened by PINL, the integrated pipeline infrastructure company responsible for the Eastern corridor of the TNP.

The General Manager, Community and Stakeholder Relations at PINL, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, said isolated cases of sabotage, attempted vandalism and equipment failure occurred during the period, but that rapid response teams restored affected facilities while security agencies arrested suspects linked to some incidents.

Engr. Akponime Omojevwhe, Head of Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, at the NNPC Limited Project Monitoring Office, confirmed the Emohua record and commended the zone.

He appealed to host communities to sustain the partnership, noting that dependable national infrastructure translates directly into national income.

The forum followed the signing by ECOWAS Heads of State of the Intergovernmental Agreement for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a proposed 6,900-kilometre line linking Nigeria to Morocco through 13 West African coastal countries.

Mezeh said investment on that scale depends on lines that stay in service, and that collaboration with host communities, traditional rulers and security agencies has been one of the most critical factors in the corridor’s stability.

His Majesty, Ohna Seargent Awuse, Paramount Ruler of Emohua Kingdom, said the company’s engagement model had changed the terms of operation in the sector.

PINL announced that its scholarship scheme for students from host communities will run annually for the duration of its Federal Government contract, alongside expanded youth and women empowerment, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition programmes.

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the practice of religious leaders visiting the Presidential Villa to discuss national issues, arguing that they would wield greater moral authority by speaking directly to their congregations instead.

Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Sowore reacted to the recent visit by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

The meeting came shortly after President Tinubu remarked that ‘all is fair in politics,’ a comment that generated public debate over the state of Nigeria’s political culture and governance.

While acknowledging the concerns raised by the bishops, Sowore said engaging the President behind closed doors diminishes the impact of the Church’s message and risks creating the impression of a political relationship between religious leaders and those in power.

‘I have a different view and my view is that I don’t think that bishops, archbishops and Muslim leaders should be going to the Villa,’ he said.

‘If they have issues with the President, let them step on the pulpit and speak to their congregation. That one carries more weight.’

According to him, public criticism delivered from churches and mosques would resonate more strongly with both political leaders and ordinary Nigerians than private meetings at the seat of government.

Sowore argued that visits to the Presidential Villa inevitably create perceptions of political accommodation, regardless of the issues discussed.

‘This going to the Villa and back is what Nigerians call ‘see finish’. To go to the Villa has its own connotations. It’s either you have asked to see the President or the President has asked to see you. It’s a transactional, two-way traffic,’ he said.

The presidential candidate suggested that religious leaders should preserve their independence by maintaining a visible distance from political officeholders, particularly when seeking to hold governments accountable.

Drawing from his personal experience, Sowore recounted an encounter involving President Tinubu and Catholic Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah during activities organised by the National Peace Committee ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

According to him, he was seated beside Tinubu when Kukah was introduced at the event.

‘I was sitting beside Tinubu during the Presidential Peace Committee and they introduced Rev. Fr. Hassan Kukah and Tinubu was just talking at my side, ‘This Kukah. He don come again.’ And he was just soliloquising and saying things I can’t say on TV,’ Sowore said.

He noted that Kukah now serves in an appointment under the Tinubu administration, arguing that such developments reinforce public perceptions that political and religious elites are closely connected.

‘Today, Kukah is an appointee of Tinubu. The bottom line is that they also know themselves. They are part of the general elite,’ he said.

Sowore maintained that faith leaders would have greater influence if they consistently challenged governments from their pulpits rather than through meetings with political leaders.

‘I would have preferred if the Catholic bishops use their pulpits to tell truth to power. It’s more effective,’ he said.

According to him, sermons delivered across churches and mosques could exert significant public pressure on elected officials, especially when they reflect the concerns of millions of worshippers.

‘If the President is hearing that the Catholic bishops in the South-East are telling people that the government is bad, it carries more weight,’ he argued.

To reinforce his point, Sowore cited an example involving the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

‘Just a five-minute protest by Adeboye under Buhari caused more problem than Adeboye going to visit them,’ he said.

Sowore noted that religious institutions remain among Nigeria’s most influential moral voices and should deploy that influence publicly to demand accountability, justice and better governance rather than relying on engagements behind the walls of the Presidential Villa.

The newly elected Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kaduna State Branch, Dr Aisha Mustapha, has called for unity and renewed commitment to members’ welfare.

Mustapha made the call during the formal handover ceremony at the new NMA Kaduna State Secretariat, where she assumed office alongside other members of the newly elected State Officers Committee (SOC).

She is the first woman to lead the association in the state.

She said the election was over and that the new administration was now focused on providing purposeful leadership and strengthening the association.

‘Elections are over; now is the time to work,’ Mustapha said, urging members to forgive one another, embrace each other and work collectively for the advancement of NMA Kaduna.

She said the strength of the association depended on unity and collective commitment rather than individual interests or divisions.

Mustapha also assured members that she would remain open to corrections, guidance and constructive criticism, but urged them to channel their concerns through appropriate avenues.

She cautioned against backbiting, slander and other actions capable of creating divisions within the association, saying constructive criticism should be used to improve leadership and strengthen the organisation.

The chairman said her administration would prioritise members’ welfare, effective communication, institutional development, professional advocacy and strategic engagement with relevant stakeholders.

The new SOC unveiled a 12-point agenda, including the commencement of internet banking, reactivation of the association’s social media platforms and expansion of media engagement across Kaduna State.

Other priorities include engagement with public and private health institutions, diversification of revenue sources, early budgeting and strategic planning, effective representation at the national level and stronger collaboration with government and other stakeholders.

The administration also plans to commercialise and increase the visibility of its Emergency Treatment Guidelines by obtaining an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), while improving the welfare of NMA administrative staff.

It further pledged to double the award for the best graduating medical student and upgrade the association’s secretariat with running water, security, landscaping, cooling systems and Wi-Fi services.

The handover marked the transition from the administration of the outgoing chairman, Dr Hassan Bala Salihu, who highlighted achievements and challenges recorded during his tenure.

Salihu urged the new leadership to consolidate the gains of his administration, address outstanding challenges and remain focused on the collective interests of members.

The event ended with Mustapha leading members of the new SOC on a visit to an NMA member hospitalised following an illness.

The new administration wished the member a speedy recovery and urged colleagues to continue supporting one another in the spirit of professional solidarity.

The Arewa Think Tank has described allegations against the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, over the Frontier Exploration Fund as a plot to discredit the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group’s Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said the allegations should be treated with caution, particularly following Adedeji’s denial of the reports, which he described as sponsored fake news.

An online report had alleged that $279 million was transferred from the Frontier Exploration Fund’s account to unnamed accounts and claimed that Adedeji and the NRS were aware of the alleged movement of funds.

The report also alleged that the development had put the NRS chairman under pressure, with some stakeholders purportedly calling for a forensic audit of the fund.

However, Adedeji dismissed the allegations as false, describing them as an attempt to tarnish his reputation and that of the NRS.

‘That report is not true in any way. It is pure fake news sponsored by some jobless persons whose pastime is to throw mud at high performers in the President Tinubu government,’ he was quoted as saying.

Reacting to the controversy, Yakubu said the allegations were part of what he described as sponsored allegations and sensational reports targeting officials involved in the Tinubu administration’s reforms.

‘We are concerned about the growing pattern of sponsored allegations and sensational reports targeted at officials who are playing critical roles in the ongoing reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. The latest allegations against the NRS Chairman are unfortunate and should not be allowed to distract the government from its reform agenda.’ he said.

Yakubu urged Nigerians to distinguish between legitimate scrutiny and politically motivated attempts to damage the reputation of public officials.

He said the Frontier Exploration Fund was established under Section 9 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, to finance petroleum exploration activities in frontier basins where commercially viable hydrocarbon reserves had not been fully established.

He listed the relevant basins as Bida, Benue Trough, Anambra, Chad, Sokoto and Dahomey.

According to him, the fund supports activities including geological mapping, seismic surveys, exploratory drilling, appraisal wells, basin studies and other exploration-related activities.

Yakubu said the technical nature of the fund made it important for stakeholders and members of the public to rely on verifiable information rather than unverified online reports.

‘We must be careful not to turn every allegation on social media into a conviction. If there are genuine questions about public funds, the appropriate institutions should investigate them. But deliberately publishing allegations without establishing the facts is not in the interest of Nigeria,’ he said.

He also urged media organisations and online publishers to verify allegations and give accused individuals and institutions an opportunity to respond before publication.

‘Freedom of expression and press freedom are fundamental, but they must go together with responsibility. Journalists and publishers should verify their information, especially when allegations concern integrity, public funds and the reputation of public officials,’ Yakubu said.

He further warned against what he described as attempts by fifth columnists to use social media to create confusion and undermine public confidence in government institutions.

Yakubu said government officials should not be shielded from scrutiny but insisted that such scrutiny must be factual, fair and evidence-based.

‘We are not saying that government officials should be above scrutiny. Far from it. What we are saying is that scrutiny must be factual, fair and evidence-based. Where there are allegations, let the appropriate authorities examine them. But nobody should be condemned based on a story whose claims have not been substantiated,’ he said.

The Arewa Think Tank urged the NRS leadership to remain focused on its mandate and continue supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen revenue mobilisation, transparency and economic development.

The group also urged members of the public to verify contentious claims through credible official channels rather than relying solely on social media reports.

…..hails JAMB Registrar for clearing 5,000 pending complaints in five days

The Arewa Think Tank has commended the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, for clearing more than 5,000 pending complaints from candidates and other clients of the board within five days.

Convener of the group, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said Aina’s relocation to the Board’s Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM) Unit to examine complaints demonstrated responsive leadership and commitment to public service.

‘We commend Prof. Segun Aina for demonstrating that leadership in a public institution is not merely about sitting in an office and issuing directives. His decision to personally engage with complaints and seek immediate solutions is a clear demonstration of leadership by example,’ Yakubu said.

The complaints covered biometric verification failures, payment and e-PIN difficulties, inappropriate examination venues, technical problems, lost phones and SIM cards, as well as issues involving the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

Other complaints involved changes to candidates’ names, dates of birth, states of origin and local government areas, while some concerned candidates who converted from Direct Entry to UTME and graduates whose names were missing from the National Matriculation List.

Yakubu said the clearance of the complaints showed that many bureaucratic challenges could be resolved when public institutions adopt a proactive approach.

‘These are not just technical complaints. Behind every complaint is a young Nigerian whose future may depend on gaining admission into a university, polytechnic or college of education. That is why the direct intervention of the Registrar is worthy of commendation,’ he said.

He urged other government agencies to adopt similar approaches to complaint management, saying citizens should not be made to move from one office to another endlessly before their genuine problems are resolved.

‘We congratulate the JAMB Registrar and his team on this achievement. Five thousand resolved complaints in five days is significant, but more importantly, it demonstrates what can happen when leadership listens, engages directly with citizens and acts decisively.

‘Our young people deserve a system that is fair, responsive and humane. We believe the current intervention is a step in the right direction, and we encourage the JAMB leadership to keep up the good work,’ he added.

Yakubu also urged JAMB to sustain the initiative and strengthen its complaint-resolution mechanism to prevent recurring challenges and improve public confidence in the Board.

Eighty-seven days after terrorists abducted pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, their families said the pain of their absence remains as raw as it was on the morning they were taken.

The abduction, which occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, at around 9:00 a.m., shattered the peace of the Mussa community. Armed insurgents raided the school, taking the pupils, including toddlers, into captivity and leaving behind a trail of trauma, empty classrooms, and devastated homes.

Speaking with Daily Trust, parents of the abducted children expressed profound despair, noting that they have received no official information regarding the whereabouts or condition of their loved ones.

Compounding their grief, the families claim that both state and federal authorities have remained largely silent on the situation, leaving them to navigate their nightmares in isolation.

‘Nearly three months now, the psychological toll of uncertainty we endure is still hunting us. We live in constant fear and uncertainty,’ a parent, Mr Sale Buba, said.

He said that since the children were abducted, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and demanded ransom from them.

‘Our wives cry every day, and barely sleep at night. We constantly think about their conditions under captivity,’ he said.

He said that each time the rain started falling, his wife and other affected women would be restless, demanding answers about their children.

‘My wife will cry like a baby, thinking about the condition of her little children under the heavy rainfall,’ he said.

Also speaking, a mother, Josphin Yohanna, described the situation as a calamity that had befallen the community.

‘Many families were left anxious, no government visit, no update, or visible efforts to rescue our children,’ he said.

She said when the government officials told them to exercise patience and promised to rescue their children, ‘We all thought by now our children would have returned home, but it’s become a forgotten issue. This is where we are today.

‘For how long should we continue waiting without any update?,’ she asked.

Ishaya Suya, the chairman of the parents of the abducted children, said living without their children is torture.

‘We do not know if our children are safe, if they are fed, or what condition they are in, especially in this rainy season. I wonder if they are sick, healthy,’ he said.

He called on the state government to be more concerned about the condition of their children.

‘These children were abducted on the same day as the Ogbomosho children in Oyo. Their governor didn’t rest. Today, their children are not only released, but the perpetrators were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

‘Unfortunately, we are here begging to know the fates of our children, but nobody is saying anything,’ he said.

The councillor representing Mussa ward, Peter Haruna Waba, confirmed that the children are still in captivity and no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

‘We were confused about the situation. Nobody believes that these children will remain in captivity until this time. This is a calamity,’ he said.

He urged parents to remain calm as the state government is doing its best to secure the release of the children.

‘The Commissioner for Education was in our community on behalf of the governor, and he gave us hope that they would do everything to ensure that our children return safely.

‘We know the government is trying to rescue these children, but more efforts should be made to expedite their freedom,’ he said.

CSOs condemn govt’s silence

The Borno State Network of Civil Society Organisations condemned the prolonged silence of the state and federal government regarding the mass abduction of the schoolchildren.

The coalition’s chairman, Abubakar Suleiman, described the government’s lack of communication as both unfortunate and unacceptable.

He declared that authorities owe grieving families of Mussa and Lassa communities an immediate and transparent explanation.

He expressed deep concern that months after the tragic incident, the pupils still remain in the custody of their captors with no clear path to their rescue.

‘It is quite unfortunate that we are still discussing the children abducted back in May. It is completely unacceptable for parents and guardians to be kept entirely in the dark, left with zero information regarding the health, safety, and overall condition of their children,’ he said.

Suleiman heavily criticised the federal and security authorities for failing to provide reassuring or convincing answers to the affected families, noting that the psychological trauma inflicted on the parents is compounded by official apathy.

The CSOs called on the government to ramp up rescue operations to secure the immediate and safe return of the children without further delay.

Suleiman urged government officials to proactively reach out to the parents and guardians to express heartfelt sympathy and provide concrete reassurances that their loved ones will be brought home unharmed.

In a direct appeal to the abductors, the civil society leader called on the terrorists to search their consciences, consider the vulnerable state of the captives, and release them unconditionally to their families.

‘These children already come from underprivileged backgrounds and have been systematically excluded from many of life’s basic opportunities.

‘For them to now be subjected to this excruciating and terrifying ordeal is beyond unfortunate; it is a tragedy that demands urgent redemption,’ he said.

Why we are yet to rescue Mussa school children – security source

A security officer involved in the rescue operation of the abducted schoolchildren has explained why the victims have not been rescued.

The officer said a previous rescue mission, in which he participated, involved a combined team of military personnel, hunters and vigilantes who ventured deep into the forest days after the abduction.

He said the team came across an apparently abandoned mosque deep in the forest, where they found more than 30 mobile phones charging with a generator.

‘We did not know it was a bait left by the captors. Unwittingly walking into the trap, we confiscated the devices, only to be ruthlessly ambushed on our way out,’ he said.

According to him, the insurgents almost overpowered the team, seizing two military trucks and seven motorcycles and forcing the surviving members to make a narrow escape.

He said the encounter explained why subsequent rescue operations in the area were abruptly halted.

‘The militants possess superior knowledge of the terrain, are heavily armed and use psychological traps that turn search missions into lethal ambushes.

‘This has left the security forces severely outmatched in the dense forest,’ he said.

Borno govt keeps mum, says it’s a security matter

When contacted, the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science and Innovation, Engr. Abba Lawan Wakilbe declined to comment on the situation.

He said inquiries should be directed to the military.

‘I can’t tell you beyond what you know. It’s a security matter, so contact the security agencies, please,’ he said.

FG should show more commitment – Security expert

A security expert, Major General Umar I. Mohammed, urged the Federal Government to demonstrate the same commitment in rescuing the abducted Mussa schoolchildren and teachers as it did in the case of the Orire pupils in Oyo State.

Mohammed said the government had a primary responsibility to protect the lives and welfare of all Nigerians, regardless of where they lived.

‘I will advise the government that all Nigerians should be treated the same. The same level of commitment, zeal and interest should be shown whenever there is a crisis anywhere in the country,’ he said.

He acknowledged the government’s efforts but urged it to deploy its full capacity to rescue citizens facing security challenges.

Mohammed also urged people in the North to speak out against issues affecting their communities.

‘They should be active and condemn when things are done wrongly. We should act in unison to bring an end to some of these menaces,’ he said.

The Mussa children were abducted alongside their teachers and the Orire pupils, who were rescued two weeks ago.

A public affairs analyst, Alhaji Ahmadu Ibrahim, also questioned the apparent disparity in the government’s response.

He urged the Federal Government to explain why the Oriire pupils were rescued while the Mussa children remain in captivity.

A Mobile Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, has sentenced 30 persons to two months’ imprisonment each for vandalising and removing iron rods supporting bridges across the state.

The convicts were arraigned before the court on Friday after they were arrested in connection with the alleged vandalism of structural components of the Alakija, Trade Fair, Orile and Abule-Ado bridges.

They pleaded guilty to the charges, following which the court convicted and sentenced each of them to two months in prison.

The prosecution alleged that the suspects removed iron rods supporting the bridges, an act capable of weakening critical infrastructure and putting the lives of motorists and other road users at risk.

Those convicted are Aminu Muhammed, Alamin Ibrahim, Bashiru Kabiru, Ibrahim Usman, Muritala Abdullahi, Nnana Obi, Umoru Haruna, Monsuru Abubakar, Muktari Aminu and Ayodele Abiodun.

Others are Destiny Peter, Akolade Oluwaseun, Raphael Ugoji, Misa Zaki, Kabiru Nosiru, Rabiu Zachariah, Yahaya Abdulrasheed, Olamilekan Mufutau, Azeez Balogun and Daniel Ayeru.

The remaining convicts are Bello Kabiru, Rasheed Akanni, Abdul Muhammad, Ahmeed Sanni, Jubril Lawal, Nurudeen Idris, Okazie Maxwell, Emmanuel Chibuzor, Alaba Mufutau and Esther Emmanuel.

The convictions come amid growing concern over the vandalism of public infrastructure in Lagos, particularly the removal of metal components from bridges, road installations and other government facilities for economic gain.

The latest convictions are expected to reinforce the authorities’ crackdown on the vandalism of public infrastructure, particularly facilities considered critical to public safety and transportation.