Boko Haram Abducts Pastor’s Wife, Three Children in Borno

Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have abducted the wife of a pastor and her three children along the Maiduguri-Damasak highway in Borno State, in an attack that community sources say specifically targeted the family because of their Christian faith.

The abduction occurred around noon on Saturday near Kareto village in Mobbar Local Government Area, approximately 156 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital. The victims, whose identities have been withheld, were travelling in a commercial vehicle to Damasak, where the head of the family, Pastor Moses Guguma, serves as the resident pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN). Community sources told journalists that the attackers intercepted the commercial vehicle close to Kareto village and singled out the pastor’s wife and her three children, ordering them to disembark. The gunmen allowed the driver and the remaining passengers to continue their journey before retreating into the bush with the captives. According to a source close to the Guguma family, the victims were deliberately targeted because of their religious identity.

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The pastor’s wife, whose identity has been withheld, had reportedly only recently been discharged from a hospital in Maiduguri after a prolonged illness and was still recuperating at the time of the abduction. The source further disclosed that she had been receiving treatment for some time before being discharged, making the timing of the abduction particularly distressing for the family. “As of now, we are holding a special prayer to God for the safe return of the victims,” a family source said, expressing the community’s collective anxiety and hope for the family’s safe return.

As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the woman and her children remained unknown. Security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while there was also no indication that the abductors had made any contact or presented any demands. The lack of communication from the terrorists has left the family and the church community in a state of anxious waiting, uncertain about the fate of the captives.

Damasak, located in Borno North Senatorial District, has repeatedly witnessed attacks linked to insurgent groups and remains a frequent flashpoint for Boko Haram and ISWAP activities in the Lake Chad Basin region. The town has been a target of several attacks in recent years, with insurgents frequently launching assaults on military formations and civilian communities. The latest incident highlights the persistent security challenges along major roads in northern Borno, where insurgents have continued to target commuters despite ongoing military operations in the region. This abduction also underscores the vulnerability of religious leaders and their families who continue to serve in communities deeply affected by the insurgency. It is the latest in a series of attacks targeting Christian communities in northeast Nigeria, adding to the growing concerns about the safety of worshippers and religious institutions in the region.

Boko Haram Abducts Pastor’s Wife, Three Children in Borno State

139 Million Nigerians in Poverty Despite Three Years of Tinubu’s Reforms – World Bank

Despite nearly three years of sweeping economic reforms and various palliative measures, about 79 per cent of Nigerians remain poor or vulnerable to falling into poverty, according to new World Bank documents, as experts point to inflation, weak job creation, and governance gaps as key obstacles.

The findings, contained in the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria (2026–2032) and its accompanying Streamlined Country Diagnostic, reveal that about 139 million Nigerians currently live below the national poverty line, with poverty concentrated largely in the northern part of the country. The report further indicates that 33 per cent of the population is classified as ultra-poor and unable to meet minimum food requirements, while 61 per cent live below the poverty line. This means approximately 139 to 140 million citizens are trapped between soaring food prices, a weak naira, unreliable public services, and wages eroded by inflation. The reforms aimed to free fiscal space and attract investment, yet the benefits have yet to translate into meaningful improvements in living standards for most Nigerians from Lagos to Kano.

A herd of economic and finance experts have given reasons why, despite successive governments’ promises that subsidy removals, tax overhauls, and cash transfers would lift millions out of poverty, the relief has not matched the hardship for most households. CEO of CFG Advisory, Dr Adetilewa Adebajo, noted that rising inflation continues to undermine purchasing power, consumer demand, and overall growth. “We’re expecting that maybe when inflation gets to single digit, the amount of Nigerians in poverty will reduce. But as inflation begins to inch up again, then you’re going to affect purchasing power. There is need for us to coordinate our industrial policy with our trade policy and our investment policy, so that you can begin to increase productivity and create employment. That is the key challenge in Nigeria right now,” he said. Adebajo’s analysis points to the interconnected nature of Nigeria’s economic challenges, where monetary instability and lack of productive capacity reinforce each other, trapping millions in poverty despite macroeconomic adjustments.

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Job creation has been identified by the World Bank as the single most important pathway out of poverty for Nigeria. The report warns that reforms alone would not significantly reduce poverty unless they generate jobs on a large scale. According to the document, one in four Nigerian youths is neither employed, in education, nor in training, while the majority of workers remain trapped in low-productivity, low-paying informal jobs. It projected that about 60 million young Nigerians would enter the labour force over the next decade, making employment generation Nigeria’s most urgent development priority. This demographic pressure, if left unaddressed, threatens to deepen the poverty crisis and fuel social unrest across the country.

ActionAid Nigeria Country Director Andrew Mamedu echoed widespread frustration, stating that the World Bank has confirmed what many Nigerian families already know – that nearly 8 out of every 10 Nigerians are poor, or one shock away from becoming poor. He highlighted that poverty rose from 40 per cent in 2019 to 61 per cent in 2025 and now 79 per cent in 2026, despite claims of stabilisation, rising reserves, and investor confidence. “Who exactly is this recovery for?” Mamedu asked, pointing to 33 per cent (77 million) facing food insecurity, 86 million without electricity, and 84 per cent of children aged 5-14 unable to read age-appropriate sentences. He criticised government spending, noting less than 1 per cent of the budget protects the vulnerable, with only 8 in 100 poor Nigerians accessing safety nets, while 60 million youths face a constrained job market. Mamedu’s comments highlight the growing disconnect between official narratives of economic recovery and the lived realities of ordinary Nigerians.

The World Bank raised serious concerns over the country’s limited social protection coverage. According to the report, public spending on social protection represented just 0.14 per cent of Gross Domestic Product in 2021, far below the Sub-Saharan African average of 1.1 per cent, and only 8.5 per cent of poor Nigerians were covered by any form of social safety net. The report noted that social protection programmes remain heavily dependent on external financing and must be complemented by investments in education, healthcare, and skills development to improve productivity and earnings. Researchers have concluded that without transparent and accountable mechanisms, palliative distribution risks deepening existing inequalities and further eroding public trust in governance. Academic analysis suggests that food palliatives are not merely humanitarian aid but a calculated political instrument that temporarily appeases public discontent while diverting attention from systemic governance failures such as chronic poverty, corruption, and institutional dysfunction.

Public policy analyst, Engineer Adesanya Adebayo questioned the disconnect, asking whether the average Nigerian can feel the impact of economic reforms in their daily life. He identified bad governance as a core reason, a view shared by many who contrast official data with ground realities, rejecting what some term “paper economics.” Similarly, a quantity surveyor and construction advisor, Olumide A. Aremu, argued that true development requires nationwide impact, not isolated projects. “A developed country is one where ordinary people feel the difference every single day. In 2026, Nigerians still celebrate electricity because it came back. That should never be normal.” He called for construction across all 36 states rather than concentrated efforts in major cities. These expert voices collectively underscore that Nigeria’s development challenges are not merely technical but deeply rooted in governance failures, policy coordination gaps, and a lack of inclusive growth strategies.

Despite the grim statistics, the World Bank acknowledged that recent macroeconomic reforms have helped stabilise the economy and restore investor confidence. Economic growth increased from 3.5 per cent in the first half of 2024 to 3.9 per cent during the corresponding period of 2025, foreign reserves have risen above $42 billion, fiscal deficits have narrowed, and investor confidence has strengthened. The Bank projected that poverty levels could begin to decline gradually starting from 2026 as inflation continues to moderate and economic conditions stabilise. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has, however, warned that Nigerians will face higher prices for essential goods in 2026, cautioning that the trend could worsen poverty and food insecurity despite improvements in the country’s macroeconomic stability. The World Bank stressed that sustained implementation of reforms, supported by deeper structural changes, would be necessary to improve the country’s medium-term economic prospects and ensure that the benefits of reform reach the millions of Nigerians who remain trapped in poverty.

139 Million Nigerians in Poverty Despite Three Years of Tinubu’s Reforms – World Bank

Okutepa rejects NBA election, claims process was manipulated to produce predetermined outcome

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, has intensified the controversy surrounding the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election, alleging that the electoral process was manipulated, lacked transparency and abandoned the principles of due process expected of the country’s foremost legal body.

Okutepa’s criticism followed the emergence of Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) as the 33rd President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association, a victory that has continued to divide opinions within the legal community amid allegations of technical failures, voting irregularities and voter disenfranchisement.

In a strongly worded statement posted on his X account, the senior advocate declared that he had lost confidence in the NBA, arguing that the association no longer reflects the ideals of credibility, honesty, objectivity and integrity that define the legal profession.

According to him, politics within the association has eroded confidence in its internal democratic processes.

“I have lost faith in the Nigerian Bar Association as a professional association of lawyers. Credibility, objectivity, honesty and integrity have all departed from the NBA, its affairs and its politics,” Okutepa wrote.

The respected constitutional lawyer further accused many members of the Bar of remaining silent over alleged irregularities in the election despite frequently criticising government institutions for violating due process.

He argued that several lawyers who had publicly condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over technical glitches and procedural lapses during previous general elections appeared willing to excuse similar challenges during the NBA presidential poll.

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According to Okutepa, the credibility of any election is determined not merely by the declaration of results but by the fairness, transparency and integrity of every stage of the electoral process.

He also questioned the composition and independence of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), alleging that the committee was neither sufficiently independent nor impartial to conduct a credible election.

Okutepa claimed the electoral committee abandoned agreed procedures and instead adopted processes that allegedly favoured a predetermined outcome.

He further alleged that more lawyers were disenfranchised than those whose votes were eventually counted, describing the exercise as a “coronation” rather than a genuinely competitive democratic election.

“The processes agreed to be used were jettisoned for processes to produce who the cabals want. The legal profession is going to be the worse for this,” he stated.

He also alleged that every stage of the election was carefully managed to produce a preferred winner, warning that such developments could weaken confidence in the NBA’s commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law.

The controversy has continued to grow as more members of the legal profession raise concerns over the conduct of the electronic voting exercise. Before the official declaration of results, another senior lawyer, A.K. Musa, alleged widespread irregularities, claiming that many lawyers experienced identity verification failures, delayed one-time passwords (OTPs), malfunctioning voting portals and unexplained increases in vote tallies. Several lawyers also took to social media to report difficulties accessing the electronic voting platform, prompting calls for greater transparency and an independent review of the election process.

Earlier, the ECNBA acknowledged that its electronic voting platform came under a cyberattack shortly after voting commenced. The committee said the incident temporarily disrupted the exercise but insisted that the system was restored and adequate safeguards were implemented to protect the integrity of the election. Despite the controversy, the electoral committee maintained that the final outcome reflected the valid votes cast.

According to the official results announced by the ECNBA, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the valid votes cast to emerge as president-elect. Her closest challenger, Lateef Akangbe (SAN), polled 7,934 votes (30.39 per cent), while Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) garnered 5,855 votes (22.43 per cent) from a total of 26,106 valid votes.

Her victory is widely regarded as historic, as she becomes the first woman elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association since the association’s establishment more than six decades ago.

In her acceptance speech, Badejo-Okusanya thanked members of the Bar for their confidence in her leadership and pledged to serve with integrity, courage, fairness, humility and accountability. She also promised to build a more inclusive, united and progressive Bar while protecting the independence of the legal profession and advancing reforms aimed at strengthening the association.

The controversy surrounding the election has reignited calls for comprehensive reforms to the NBA’s electronic voting system. Several lawyers have advocated an independent audit of the election process, stronger cybersecurity measures and greater transparency in future polls to restore confidence in the association’s internal democracy.

While the ECNBA has defended the credibility of the election, criticism from prominent legal practitioners such as Okutepa suggests that debates over the conduct of the poll are likely to continue in the coming weeks.

Okutepa rejects NBA election, claims process was manipulated to produce predetermined outcome