Category: PM News

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has revealed why security agencies kept Nigerians in the dark and resisted pressure to launch a hasty operation during the 56-day captivity of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State.

Disu said the silence was deliberate, as disclosing operational details or rushing into the kidnappers’ hideout could have endangered the hostages and resulted in collateral damage.

The pupils and teachers were abducted in May 2026 after suspected terrorists attacked two schools in Oriire Local Government Area and dragged dozens of victims into captivity.

They were eventually rescued after spending 56 days with their captors following a coordinated operation involving the police, military, vigilantes and aerial surveillance teams.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Disu said security agencies faced intense criticism during the operation, with Nigerians questioning the delay and comparing the country’s response with rescue operations elsewhere.

He maintained that security chiefs could not respond publicly because doing so might have exposed the victims and compromised the operation.

‘Everybody was attacking us left and right. What is this? What is that? We could not come out and talk. We could not expose those children,’ he said.

‘There is something they call collateral damage. People were forcing us. People were comparing us to other countries in the world. They wanted us to take hasty decisions.’

Disu said the attackers invaded two schools and escaped with the pupils and teachers in a vehicle belonging to one of the head teachers.

The kidnappers later set the vehicle ablaze at the entrance of the forest into which they disappeared.

‘I will share with you the incident of the Ogbomoso kidnap. That day, they came. They went to two schools and kidnapped those children and their teachers.

‘They used the vehicle of one of the teachers, the head teacher. When they got to the entrance of the bush they were going into, they set fire to the vehicle. We did not know why they did it,’ he said.

The police chief said the location of the schools created serious difficulties for the rescue teams because the area had no reliable telecommunications network and was far from the nearest police station.

‘In that area, there is no network at all. I think even the police station is very far from them. They had only one road that goes to the two villages where this kidnapping happened,’ Disu said.

According to him, police officers, soldiers and vigilantes immediately began tracking the attackers through the forest.

He disclosed that one officer was shot dead during the search, lamenting that the sacrifice and risks taken by security personnel received little public attention.

‘Policemen came, soldiers came and vigilantes came. They followed them through the path. Somebody was shot as we were following them.

‘Nobody mentioned that. Nobody saw it. Nobody saw the effort we put in,’ he said.

Disu said helicopters belonging to the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Air Force were also deployed as the search continued day and night.

‘From that moment, the Nigerian Air Force helicopter, the police helicopter, everybody was there searching day and night,’ he added.

The IGP said senior security officials held meetings late into the night, weighing available options and trying to determine how to rescue the hostages without placing them in greater danger.

‘We were holding meetings late in the night about it, trying to take decisions,’ he said.

He added that details of the operation were withheld even from several security personnel because authorities wanted to prevent information from reaching the kidnappers.

‘Most of this, we did not come back and tell a lot of our colleagues because we wanted to keep it secret. Parties we could not attend. A lot of things happened, but we could not talk about them,’ Disu said

National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Seriake Dickson, has warned politicians plotting to manipulate the 2027 general elections to prepare for disappointment.

Dickson declared that Nigerians would resist violence, intimidation and every attempt to subvert their will at the polls.

The former Bayelsa State governor gave the warning in a statement shared on his verified X account.

He assured Nigerians that every lawful vote cast during the elections would count, insisting that the will of the people remained supreme.

According to him, politicians who depend on armed thugs, compromised security operatives and fabricated results to win elections will not succeed in 2027.

‘I want to assure you that every vote will count. There will be no room for violence, intimidation, or the deployment of security operatives and armed thugs against law-abiding citizens, as some people do,’ Dickson said.

The NDC leader called on Nigerians and members of his party to remain vigilant and prepared to resist attempts to undermine the electoral process through democratic means.

‘We believe the people’s will is supreme. Thank you once again for your prayers and support for me and for all the candidates of our party.

‘Together, we must remain vigilant and ready to democratically resist intimidation, oppression, violence, inducements, and every attempt to undermine the will of our people,’ he added.

Dickson also boasted that his political camp had defeated what he described as ‘federal might’ on several occasions.

‘We have defeated federal might severally before, and, by the grace of God, we shall do so again, with me leading from the front, as you know,’ he declared.

Oyo governor, Seyi Makinde on Thursday announced that he has set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the abduction of pupils and teachers from Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

The setting up of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry was announced in a statement by Dotun Oyelade, Oyo State the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation in a statement on Thursday in Ibadan.

According to the statement, the commission was expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the abduction and identify the factors that led to the security breach.

He said that the panel which would be inaugurated on Friday was also tasked to make recommendations to prevent a recurrence.

‘The commission will examine the events leading to the kidnapping, assess the response of relevant authorities, and recommend measures to improve security and safeguard schools and communities across the state,’ Oyelade said.

He further explained that the setting up of the panel was in line with the governor’s commitment to ensuring a thorough and independent investigation into the incident.

The abduction occurred on May 15, while the abducted pupils and teachers were rescued after 56 days in captivity.

Makinde had earlier called for independent probe of the abduction of children and teachers in a broadcast he made immediately after their release

He solicited the help of international human rights and accountability mechanisms, including those within the United Nations system to investigate the matter.

According to him, the circumstances of the abduction are sufficiently grave and unusual.

He said that such scrutiny was intended to reinforce public confidence that the truth would be established.

He added that Nigerians deserve a full and transparent account of what happened, including whether there were institutional failures, negligence, or collusion.

‘The reunion of these children and teachers with their families does not mark the end of this painful chapter.

‘It marks the beginning of another responsibility: our collective responsibility to establish the truth,’ he said.

The governor stressed that the call was not about politics ‘but about justice for the victims, reassurance for our people, and restoring public confidence that every Nigerian child can go to school without fear’.

The City Boy Movement has dismissed allegations that Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign by attending the inauguration of the group’s Lagos chapter.

The movement spoke after the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, demanded the immediate suspension and resignation of the police commissioner over his presence at the event.

The NDC had accused Fatai of partisanship, arguing that his attendance at a gathering organised by a pro-Tinubu movement had raised questions about his ability to remain neutral during the 2027 elections.

But the City Boy Movement, in a statement signed by its National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response, Bashir Ahmad, said the commissioner’s presence should not be interpreted as political endorsement.

It maintained that police officers regularly attend or deploy personnel to political, religious, civic and community gatherings as part of their responsibility to maintain law and order.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, the mere presence of the Commissioner of Police at a public event should not, without more, be interpreted as political endorsement, partisan participation or institutional alignment with the organisers of that event,’ the movement said.

It argued that the constitutional responsibilities of the Nigeria Police Force include the protection of lives and property, prevention of crime and maintenance of peace during lawful public gatherings.

According to the movement, those responsibilities are owed equally to all individuals and organisations, regardless of their political affiliations.

It said it was unfair to conclude that the police had abandoned its professional neutrality solely because the commissioner attended the inauguration.

‘Accordingly, it is neither fair nor accurate to infer, solely from the Commissioner’s attendance, that the Nigeria Police Force has taken a partisan position or abandoned its obligation of professional neutrality,’ it said.

The movement insisted that public institutions should be judged on the basis of facts and not speculation.

It also denied seeking preferential treatment from the police or any other government agency.

‘We neither seek nor expect preferential treatment from any agency of government. Like every law-abiding organisation, we expect only that our lawful activities will continue to enjoy the protection guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other applicable laws,’ it stated.

The group commended the security arrangements at the inauguration, saying they ensured the event was peaceful and incident-free.

It urged opposition parties, members of the public and political commentators to exercise restraint and stop attributing partisan motives to public officers without credible evidence.

‘Responsible public commentary strengthens democratic institutions, whereas speculation and misinformation unnecessarily undermine public confidence in institutions established to serve all Nigerians,’ it said.

The movement reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful political participation, respect for the rule of law and democratic engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has sealed shops and business premises along the Tejuosho-Ojuelegba corridor over persistent illegal dumping of refuse on road medians.

The enforcement followed repeated warnings to traders who allegedly continued violating Lagos State environmental sanitation laws in spite of sustained sensitisation campaigns.

A statement issued on Thursday by LAWMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr Mukaila Sanusi, said the operation was conducted by the agency’s Waste Investigation Surveillance and Enforcement team.

LAWMA Managing Director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the action became necessary to restore environmental order and safeguard public health along the busy corridor.

He said indiscriminate waste disposal by traders had undermined sanitation efforts and defaced public infrastructure, despite continuous engagement with market leaders and stakeholders.

According to him, several advocacy campaigns and consultations failed to stop the practice, leaving the authority with no choice but enforcement.

‘We had no option but to invoke relevant provisions of the state’s environmental laws,’ Gbadegesin said.

He disclosed that affected shops and market stalls would remain sealed until traders fully complied with prescribed sanitation requirements.

‘The affected shops and market stalls will remain sealed until the traders comply fully with prescribed sanitation requirements,’ he stated.

Gbadegesin added that LAWMA must also be satisfied that adequate preventive measures had been implemented before the premises could be reopened.

He stressed that road medians, drainage channels and other public spaces were not designated locations for waste disposal.

The managing director warned that the authority would sustain strict enforcement against individuals and businesses violating environmental regulations across the state.

He urged traders, market associations and residents to patronise assigned Private Sector Participants waste operators for proper refuse management.

Gbadegesin also advised residents to dispose of waste responsibly and support government efforts aimed at maintaining a cleaner environment.

He reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to combining continuous public enlightenment with firm enforcement to improve environmental compliance statewide.

According to him, the authority will continue implementing measures designed to protect public health and improve residents’ quality of life.

LAWMA has intensified enforcement of environmental sanitation laws in recent months across Lagos.

The agency has repeatedly warned that illegal dumping on road medians and drainage channels contributes significantly to flooding, environmental degradation and public health risks.

Former Osun Commissioner For Information and Strategy, and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Oluomo Sunday Akere, has accused the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration in the state of awarding the Oke Fia and LAMECO bridges which have shown signs of defects to a fertilizer distribution company and not a construction firm.

The APC chieftain, who was responding to a question put to him by a member of the panel of journalists on Osun NUJ Guest Platform on Wednesday over the allegation by the ruling Accord Party in the state that the APC sent agents to vandalise the bridges in order to tarnish government’s image, said APC had nothing to do with the defects noticed on the bridges.

The Osun State Coordinator, Tinubu Renewed Hope Ambassadors and Pioneer Governor of Lions International Club, District 40486 Nigeria, Akere, said rather than awarding the construction projects to qualified engineers, the Adeleke administration chose to award them to a fertilizer distribution company and a tie and dye firm.

‘Our party has nothing to do with the damage noticed on the structurally defective overhead bridges constructed by the administration of Gov Ademola Adeleke. When you want to do a job, it is always very good that you give the job to a person who has adequate knowledge, the wherewithal. When the Adeleke administration announced that they wanted to do high brides at Oke Fia and LAMECO, our party came out to alert the people of Osun State on the likely danger inherent in giving an overhead bridge to a company that is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC as a distributor of fertilizer. Our party protested that the government was giving the LAMECO Bridge to a company registered with CAC as a tie and dye producer. They said we were spreading propaganda and that we were talking rubbish. Eventually, the people of Osun can see it clearly now.

‘I belong to a platform on social media and there were arguments there yesterday (Tuesday 28 July 2026) on how they came about the defective nature of the overhead bridge. One man argued that ‘they accuse the government of giving the job to a tie and dye company and for doing it by direct labour, was it not direct labour that Oyetola used to construct the Olaiya Bridge during his tenure?’ and I laughed. An elderly person came there and challenged the man that if he did not know anything, everybody in Osun knew that Olaiya Bridge was awarded to a renowned construction company that has done more than five bridges like that in Delta. He is the one that the Federal Government just awarded the dualisation of Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road to. That is to tell you the competence that the man has. But the boy was arguing, ‘No, he only put the company’s name for coverage, the job was done by direct labour.’

‘Assuming it was even done by direct labour, the people that are supposed to do this work are in the ministry and they are supposed to be qualified engineers. Why the defects? This bridge was commissioned less than two months ago. We said it when they were doing Oke Fia flyover, the day they brought a big roller there, as the roller was going on top of the bridge the structure was shaking. They had to remove the big roller. All of us are not strangers to things that happen in Osun. They had to remove the big roller and bring a smaller one that would not affect the structure. The job they did is defective. They knew that they didn’t do a thorough job. Of what benefit will it be to us as a party to now go to the bridge and start destroying it?

‘Some few days back, we were in Ife and I saw the overhead bridge that they said they were doing at Lagere, the bridge looked bent and by the time there is a noticeable error again, they will say it’s the opposition. Personally, I keep saying it, a party in government that cannot effectively construct a podium for the governor to stand and campaign cannot tell you that it can do an overhead bridge. The governor climbed the podium to campaign, the podium collapsed. Is that the people who would do an overhead bridge for us? We have nothing to do with the errors noticed. Instead of them to accept responsibility, they are lying. Government is continuum. Both assets and liabilities left behind by a government will be inherited by the one that is coming. So, we have nothing to gain from destroying it. They should be bold enough to accept responsibility that they are doing bad jobs.

‘Several of the roads that they said they are doing are bad. Last week Monday we were in Ila-Orangun for campaign, the 4-lane road that they said they are doing there, when you drive over it, the vehicle will be dancing. That road, after a few weeks the asphalt will start peeling. They are not doing a good job and we have the right as a party, as a citizen of this state to air our complaints, to air our opinion because Osun deserves the best,’ Akere said.

He also condemned the spate of insecurity in the state and said the security agencies in the state were putting measures in place to tame it. He urged the electorate not to be afraid of coming out to vote on Election Day, saying mechanism had been put in place to ensure security before, during and after the August 15 election.

Akere also said the governorship candidate of his party, APC, Asiwaju Munirudeen Oyebamiji would bring good governance to the state.

When Riccardo Pelizzo enrolled at the University of Bologna in the early 1990s, his academic path began with philosophy. More than three decades later, that journey has taken him through universities and research institutions across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and Australia, culminating in his appointment as Dean of the Graduate School of Public Policy at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan.

Born in Verona, Italy, on 31 December 1971, Pelizzo earned a Laurea in Philosophy from the University of Bologna in 1995. Two years later, he completed a Postgraduate Diploma in International Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Bologna Center, before moving to the United States to pursue graduate studies in political science at Johns Hopkins University. There, he obtained a Master of Arts in 2002 and a Ph.D. in Political Science in 2004.

Reflecting on his academic interests in previous professional profiles, Pelizzo has noted that his work centres on political institutions, governance and public accountability. Those themes have remained consistent throughout his teaching and research career.

While completing his doctoral studies, Pelizzo received a series of academic fellowships, including the Johns Hopkins Fellowship for Graduate Studies and the Dean’s Teaching Fellowship. His research training also included participation in the ICPSR Summer Program at the University of Michigan through the Political Science/ICPSR Clogg Scholarship.

His first university appointment came in 2003 as an instructor at Johns Hopkins University. The following year, he joined Singapore Management University as an Assistant Professor, where he worked until 2007. During that period, he secured competitive research grants examining legislative oversight, parliamentary voting, ethics, and political institutions.

In 2007, Pelizzo moved to Griffith University in Australia, serving first as Research Fellow and later as Senior Research Fellow. His work expanded to include studies on electoral competition, public accounts committees, governance, and emergency powers. He also held a visiting fellowship at the Habibie Center in Jakarta, Indonesia.

A decade after completing his doctorate, Pelizzo returned to a teaching-focused role when he was appointed Professor of Practice at McGill University in 2014. That same year, he joined Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan as an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Public Policy. Over the following years, he assumed a number of administrative positions, including Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Vice Dean for Research, Ph.D. Program Coordinator, Acting Vice Dean for Research and Acting Dean. In 2026, he was appointed Dean of the Graduate School of Public Policy.

His academic career has also included visiting appointments at institutions such as the University of Melbourne, Palacký University in the Czech Republic, the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar in Indonesia.

In Italy, Pelizzo obtained the Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale in 2014, qualifying him for appointments at both the associate professor and full professor levels in political science.

His work has been recognised through several academic awards, including the Vincent Wright Memorial Prize, the Distinguished Reviewer Award from Politics and Policy, and honours from Nazarbayev University and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2026, he was inducted into Sigma Xi, an international scientific research honour society.

Throughout his academic career, Pelizzo has remained engaged in research, university administration and international academic collaboration. According to his curriculum vitae, he has delivered lectures and participated in academic and policy discussions at universities, parliaments and public institutions in more than 20 countries, covering topics related to governance, public policy and political institutions.

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other prominent political figures for standing with his family following the death of his mother, Nkechi Stella Rhodes-Vivour.

Rhodes-Vivour, the ADC flagbearer for the 2027 Lagos governorship election, expressed his appreciation in a post on X, describing the support his family received across political divides as a source of strength.

He said losing a loved one creates a certain vulnerability, changes one’s perspective on life and brings attention back to what truly matters.

‘There is a certain vulnerability that comes with the loss of a loved one. It changes one’s perspective on life and reminds us of what truly matters,’ he wrote.

Rhodes-Vivour thanked former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi and Kashim Imam for their empathy and comforting presence.

‘I am particularly grateful to H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, H.E. Atiku Abubakar, H.E. Rotimi Amaechi, H.E. Peter Obi, and H.E. Kashim Imam for their support, empathy, and comforting presence during this difficult period,’ he said.

The ADC flagbearer also appreciated Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Ken Pela, Olumide Akpata and Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, for extending kindness to his family.

‘My sincere appreciation also goes to H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, H.E. Obafemi Hamzat, Ken Pela, Olumide Akpata, and Jandor for extending a hand of kindness and standing with my family in our time of grief,’ he added.

Rhodes-Vivour also thanked members of his political family across different platforms for their prayers, encouragement and unwavering support over the past two weeks.

Paying tribute to his mother, he said her greatest testament was the love she gave and the lives she touched within her family, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ECOWAS, her church and among her friends.

‘Her legacy reminds me that the true measure of a life is not in what we accumulate, but in the love we share and the positive impact we make,’ he said.

Rhodes-Vivour urged Nigerians to honour his mother’s memory by loving more deeply, standing for what is right and making a positive difference wherever they have the opportunity.

P.M. NEWS reported on 13 July that Nkechi Stella Rhodes-Vivour had died, with her family describing her as a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother who would be greatly missed

Gov. Hyacinth Alia has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving a new division of Nigerian Army with headquarters in Makurdi, the Benue state capital to boost security and stability nationwide.

Alia gave the commendation in a statement signed by Mr Tersoo Kula, his Chief Press Secretary and made available to newsmen in Makurdi.

According to the governor, the division will strengthen military operations through improved command and control, quicker responses to security threats, and enhanced protection of lives and property regionally.

The governor said the approval demonstrated Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and addressing security challenges nationwide.

He stated that the new division, created through expansion of the Nigerian Army’s operational structure from eight to 12 divisions, would cover Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states.

Alia expressed confidence the development would complement his administration’s efforts to combat criminality, safeguard farming communities, and restore lasting peace in parts of Benue facing security challenges.

He also applauded Tinubu for approving recruitment of 28,000 additional Nigerian Army personnel while sustaining investments in military equipment, troop welfare, and operational readiness across the country.

The governor said the measures reflected the President’s determination to build a well-equipped, highly motivated armed forces capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting citizens from security threats.

Alia reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to collaborating with the Federal Government and security agencies toward achieving lasting peace, improved security, and sustainable development across Benue State for all.

Stakeholders at the public hearing on the proposed Ogun State Safe Termination of Pregnancy Law, 2026, have commended the State House of Assembly for initiating the bill.

They described the bill as a well-conceived legislation aimed at reducing maternal mortality, protecting healthcare professionals and providing a clear legal framework for safe pregnancy management in the State.

The stakeholders included a former Chairman of the State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Azeem Adekunle Ashimi, the representative of the State chapter of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Nurse Bello Adejoke, the Onitafin of Otafin, Oba Morufu Alani Adebayo.

Others were representatives of Civil Society Advocacy for Human Rights, Social Development, Alhaji Adesina Adefolahan, the League of Imam and Alfa in the State, Dr. Tajudeen Usman, the State chapter of the Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Dr. Shorounmu Tessie, representative of the State Command of the Nigeria Police, ACP Glory Agbor Otonko, that of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Comrade Yinka Folarin and that of the Centre for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities, Oduntan Bunmi amongst others.

They also advocated the need to address the legal ambiguity surrounding safe termination of pregnancy.

They noted that such ambiguity in the legal provisions often resulted in dangerous delays in patient care while demanding adequate indemnity for qualified medical practitioners to prevent unjust penalties.

They also sought the need to put machineries in place to prevent the victims of rape and incest from patronizing quacks, by ensuring that only the licensed professionals provide such medical services.

In her remarks, Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the proposed legislation would establish a framework around safeguarding the lives and health of women; while also safeguarding health practitioners offering the services.

She added that the bill would help reduce maternal mortality and provide access to mental health services for women and girls experiencing emotional trauma arising from unwanted pregnancy.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Wahab Haruna, explained that the bill was conceived because ‘too many of our mothers, sisters and daughters lose their lives or suffer serious harm from complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth, many of which are preventable.’

He urged the stakeholders to make meaningful contributions to the bill, assuring that their inputs would be given the necessary legislative consideration in the process leading to the passage of the bill.

Earlier, while declaring the stakeholders’ forum open, the speaker of Ogun Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide said the proposed legislation was designed to provide ‘a legal and institutional framework for the safe termination of pregnancy under the defined circumstances.’

He noted that the Assembly considered the increasing incidence of unregulated abortions and considered the resultant deaths of adolescents and women as unacceptable before coming up with the bill.

The Speaker added that the bill would ensure the provision of a legal framework that would not only safeguard the livelihoods of genuine medical practitioners but also deter criminal elements who exploited the absence of rules and regulations to perpetrate evils in the society.

According to him, the legislation seeks to entrench safe motherhood, reduce maternal morbidity and mortality and establish the conditions for the safe termination of pregnancy.

The Speaker also assured participants that every submission made would be meticulously considered in ensuring that the bill takes care of the stakeholders’ interest.

He expressed confidence that the engagement would produce a comprehensive legislation that would strengthen safe pregnancy management in the State.