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Fresh kidnapping: Niger Govt Blames School for Ignoring Security Warning
Fresh kidnapping: Niger Govt Blames School for Ignoring Security Warning
The Niger State Government has condemned the abduction of pupils from St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area, describing the attack as “deeply saddening and avoidable.”
In a statement issued on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, the government said the exact number of abducted children had yet to be determined, as security agencies were still conducting assessments and gathering verified information.
Usman disclosed that the government had previously received credible intelligence pointing to heightened security threats across parts of the Niger North Senatorial District. Based on the alert, authorities ordered the suspension of construction activities and the temporary closure of boarding schools in the high-risk areas.
However, St. Mary’s—a private Catholic school—reportedly reopened and resumed academic activities without notifying or securing approval from the government. The SSG said the violation exposed pupils and teachers to grave danger.
The attack occurred around midnight on Thursday. Witnesses said dozens of armed men arrived on more than 60 motorcycles and a van before overpowering the school and abducting an undisclosed number of students. The gunmen were said to have stormed the premises in the early hours of Friday, shooting the gatekeeper and leaving him severely injured.
The state government said security agencies had launched a full-scale investigation alongside intensified search-and-rescue operations to ensure the safe return of the abducted pupils.
It urged school owners, community leaders and stakeholders to strictly comply with security directives, stressing that safeguarding lives—particularly those of children—remains the administration’s foremost priority.
If you want, I can also craft a Punch-style headline or refine the tone for a front-page lead.
Northern Nigeria has witnessed repeated school abductions since Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped 276 Chibok schoolgirls in 2014. More than 1,500 students have been seized in the region since then.
Security analysts blame the unending cycle on the failure to prosecute perpetrators and on corruption that limits security agencies’ access to adequate weapons while bandits maintain steady supply lines.
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Delta State Police Recover Arms, Arraign 18 Suspects in Crackdown on Cultism, Violent Crimes
Delta State Police Recover Arms, Arraign 18 Suspects in Crackdown on Cultism, Violent Crimes
The Delta State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has made significant strides in its ongoing campaign against cultism and violent crimes. Recent operations, including an intelligence-led arms recovery in Abraka and the arraignment of 18 suspects, highlight the command’s intensified enforcement efforts across the state.
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Spokesperson SP Bright Edafe said on Saturday that the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), under ASP Julius Robinson, executed a successful operation on December 6, 2025, targeting cult-related activities and the proliferation of illegal firearms. Acting on credible intelligence, officers conducted a coordinated search at No. 2 Umeghe Community, Abraka, the residence of Isiakpere Friday, 67.
The move underscores the Delta State Police’s commitment to restoring safety and security in communities affected by criminal and cult-related activities.
Delta State Police Recover Arms, Arraign 18 Suspects in Crackdown on Cultism, Violent Crimes
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Nigerian Army Suspends Retirements for Officers Amid Nationwide Security Emergency
Nigerian Army Suspends Retirements for Officers Amid Nationwide Security Emergency
The Nigerian Army has temporarily frozen both statutory and voluntary retirements for certain officers, including Generals, following the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu. The decision aims to bolster manpower as the country faces a surge in kidnappings and worsening insecurity.
The move comes after more than 600 abduction cases were reported in November 2025, including the kidnapping of over 300 students in Niger State, 38 worshippers in Kwara State, and 25 students in Kebbi State.
An internal circular dated December 3 and signed by Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff cited provisions in the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service Officers (HTACOS) 2024, allowing service extensions “in the interest of the service.” The memo explains that officers usually retire upon reaching age limits, completing 35 years of service, or failing promotion/conversion boards, but these rules can be overridden during national emergencies.
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The suspension affects officers who have:
- Failed promotion examinations three times
- Been passed over repeatedly at promotion boards
- Reached rank age limits
- Failed conversion boards thrice
- Completed 35 years of service
Officers granted extensions will remain in service but will not be eligible for further promotions, courses, secondments, or extra-regimental appointments. Those unwilling to continue can still proceed with standard exit procedures.
Commanders have been instructed to communicate the directive and manage morale across units, with the policy to be reviewed once national security conditions improve.
Nigerian Army Suspends Retirements for Officers Amid Nationwide Security Emergency
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Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism
Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism
Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has strongly denied allegations linking him to terrorism financing in Nigeria, describing the claims as “mischievous and malicious.”
In a statement released on Saturday, December 6, 2025, Emefiele said the reports were “entirely fabricated, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to malign my name, mislead the public, and sow confusion for motives best known only to the publishers and their sponsors.”
He emphasized that the fight against terrorism is too important to be trivialized by irresponsible reporting, warning that Nigerians deserve accurate information rather than “reckless misinformation.”
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“Throughout my service to the nation and in my private life, at no time have I been involved in any activity remotely connected to terrorism, terrorist financing, or any action that threatens the peace and security of our nation,” Emefiele stated. He added that he has never been invited, questioned, or investigated regarding such allegations and has no connection to the individual cited in the media reports.
“There is no scintilla of truth in the allegation,” he said, urging the public to disregard the claims entirely and calling on media organizations to verify facts before publishing sensational stories.
Emefiele’s statement seeks to reaffirm his reputation and distances him from any activities undermining national security.
Ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Denies Allegations of Financing Terrorism
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