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2027: Christian Clerics Endorse INEC Boss, Warn Against Sack Campaign
2027: Christian Clerics Endorse INEC Boss, Warn Against Sack Campaign
Prominent Christian clerics across Nigeria have voiced strong support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan rejecting recent calls for his removal and affirming confidence in his leadership as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released during a national Christian leaders’ forum, the clerics praised the INEC Chairman for his commitment to credible, free, and fair elections, highlighting the perceived integrity of his stewardship in previous polls. They described attempts to pressure or remove him as politically motivated and potentially harmful to the country’s democratic stability.
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The clerics urged all stakeholders—including political parties, civil society organizations, and government officials—to respect the independence of INEC and allow the commission to carry out its duties without interference. They emphasized that maintaining peace, transparency, and voter confidence is essential to Nigeria’s democratic process, especially ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political analysts suggest that the clerics’ public endorsement could influence public perception and bolster confidence in the electoral process, signaling broad-based support for the INEC leadership from faith-based communities. The move also underscores the critical role of religious leaders in promoting civic engagement, responsible governance, and peaceful democratic practices in Nigeria.
2027: Christian Clerics Endorse INEC Boss, Warn Against Sack Campaign
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‘You Must Treat Me With Respect’ – Oshiomhole Blasts Rufai Oseni During Heated Live TV Interview
‘You Must Treat Me With Respect’ – Oshiomhole Blasts Rufai Oseni During Heated Live TV Interview
Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has engaged in a heated exchange with Arise Television presenter, Rufai Oseni, during a live appearance on the station’s Morning Show.
The confrontation occurred on Friday, October 30, 2026, when Oseni questioned the senator about political developments involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and President Bola Tinubu’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia.
Oshiomhole, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), became visibly displeased with the presenter’s questioning style, accusing him of repeatedly interrupting his responses instead of allowing him to address the issues raised.
The senator insisted that Oseni had asked several questions and should give him sufficient time to respond before introducing further questions or challenging his explanations.
During the heated exchange, Oshiomhole warned the presenter against what he described as a practice of asking questions and answering them himself.
“I won’t allow you to continue with this tradition of speak to yourself and answer yourself. You asked three questions and I will reply them. And you have no right to interrupt when I am replying,” the senator said.
He further called on the presenter to observe what he described as international best practices in conducting television interviews.
“Let’s agree on international best practices. You must have the patience to listen to my answer. And you must treat me as a guest with respect,” Oshiomhole added.
The former Edo governor also challenged Oseni, declaring: “Rufai, I am very ready for you.”
The disagreement reportedly centred on questions concerning Wike’s political activities, Uzodimma’s position and the President’s foreign trip.
Oshiomhole subsequently defended the relationship between Tinubu and Wike, rejecting suggestions that the FCT minister was receiving preferential treatment within the President’s political circle.
The exchange comes amid increasing political discussions and controversies surrounding the Tinubu administration as political parties and prominent figures begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It also follows another heated encounter between Oseni and APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on the same programme on October 27, during which the two disagreed over the President’s campaign remarks in Kaduna and the country’s economic situation.
The latest confrontation has once again brought attention to the often-contentious relationship between political officeholders and television journalists during live interviews.
‘You Must Treat Me With Respect’ – Oshiomhole Blasts Rufai Oseni During Heated Live TV Interview
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Captured Bandit Exposes Alleged Military Arms Supplier, Claims Gang Collected ₦1bn From Two Customs-Linked Kidnappings
Captured Bandit Exposes Alleged Military Arms Supplier, Claims Gang Collected ₦1bn From Two Customs-Linked Kidnappings
A suspected notorious bandit, identified as Dago Sale, has made startling allegations against a serving Nigerian soldier, accusing the military personnel of supplying firearms to his criminal gang for ₦1 million per weapon.
The suspect also claimed that his gang collected a staggering ₦1 billion in ransom from two separate kidnapping operations involving officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), raising fresh concerns about possible collaboration between criminal networks and individuals within Nigeria’s security institutions.
Sale made the revelations during an interrogation conducted in Hausa in a video reportedly obtained by SaharaReporters and subsequently reported by other Nigerian media organisations on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
According to the suspect, who claimed to have participated in banditry for approximately four years, the criminal network operated across parts of Kaduna and Kogi states, maintaining camps in forest locations while targeting travellers and other individuals considered capable of paying huge ransoms.
In one of the most disturbing aspects of his confession, Sale identified a serving soldier, whom he named only as Abdul, as an alleged supplier of firearms to the gang.
He claimed that the soldier sold each firearm for ₦1 million and personally delivered the weapons to the gang’s section in Kaduna State using a vehicle.
The suspect further alleged that the arrangement was facilitated through the gang’s leadership, which introduced members to the alleged military supplier.
Sale also claimed that the soldier had several houses in an area identified during the interrogation as Pida Bulu, Babang Saura, alleging that the properties were acquired with proceeds from the gang’s criminal activities.
He further alleged that the soldier was holding ₦5 million belonging to him, explaining that the money was connected to an arrangement involving the purchase of Plaster of Paris (POP) materials for house renovation.
During the interrogation, Sale reportedly expressed willingness to cooperate with security agencies to identify the alleged soldier and other individuals who supplied the gang with weapons, food and other necessities.
The suspect’s allegations, however, have not been independently verified, and no official confirmation of the identity or involvement of the alleged soldier was contained in the reports.
In another shocking revelation, Sale claimed that the gang collected ₦500 million from each of two kidnapping operations involving Nigeria Customs Service personnel in Kaduna State.
According to his account, the first operation involved the abduction of a Customs officer, with the gang allegedly receiving ₦500 million as ransom.
He claimed that the second operation targeted another Customs officer but resulted in the abduction of the officer’s wife in an attempt to exert pressure on her husband.
The gang allegedly received another ₦500 million from the second incident, bringing the total ransom collected from the two operations to ₦1 billion.
The claims, if substantiated, could raise serious questions about the safety of security personnel and their families, as well as the extent of intelligence available to criminal networks operating in the country.
Sale also provided details of the gang’s alleged kidnapping operations along the Lokoja highway in Kogi State, describing how members identified and abducted travellers they considered wealthy.
He claimed that the gang members usually assessed potential victims through their appearance, clothing and the type of vehicles they travelled in.
According to him, the criminals would gather along the highway, stop vehicles and abduct selected occupants before taking them into nearby forests, where they were held until ransom negotiations were concluded.
He alleged that the gang demanded between ₦100 million and ₦200 million from some victims.
The suspect estimated that approximately 20 members of the criminal network operated from a camp around Lokoja, while more than 100 bandits operated across several groups in Kaduna State.
He suggested that the number of armed criminals operating in Kaduna could be significantly higher.
Sale also identified Rijana as one of the gang’s camps, describing its location as deep inside a forest beyond Sabuwa Gayam and Doguwa Gayam.
When questioned about the whereabouts of some abducted victims, he reportedly said they were taken into forests but could not identify the exact location of the particular forest where they were being held.
He nevertheless maintained that other members of the gang remained active along the Lokoja road.
The latest allegations have added to longstanding concerns about the proliferation of illegal firearms and the possible involvement of compromised security personnel in Nigeria’s banditry and kidnapping crisis.
In October 2025, Punch Newspapers published an investigation detailing allegations by serving soldiers that some military personnel and commanders diverted weapons and ammunition meant for counterterrorism operations to criminal groups.
The investigation also revisited the case of an arms dealer, Shehu Ali Kachalla, who was arrested in 2021 and confessed to trafficking hundreds of rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition to bandit groups operating in parts of northern Nigeria.
Although the earlier investigation concerned separate cases, it highlighted the security challenges associated with illegal arms trafficking and alleged insider involvement in weapons supply networks.
The latest claims by Sale therefore present another serious set of allegations requiring investigation by the appropriate authorities.
The Nigerian military and the Nigeria Customs Service would need to establish whether the individuals and incidents mentioned by the suspect can be identified through independent intelligence, operational records and other evidence.
It also remains unclear from the reports whether the alleged soldier has been identified, arrested or formally questioned by military authorities, or whether investigations have commenced into the two alleged kidnappings involving Customs personnel.
The authorities are expected to establish the authenticity of the confession, investigate the alleged arms supply arrangement and determine whether other individuals within or outside the security agencies provided logistical support to the criminal network.
Until such investigations are concluded, the allegations against the unnamed soldier and the claimed ransom payments should be treated as unverified claims by an arrested suspect.
Captured Bandit Exposes Alleged Military Arms Supplier, Claims Gang Collected ₦1bn From Two Customs-Linked Kidnappings
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Kano Task Force Arrests Suspected Gang Leader in Port Harcourt Over Deadly Clashes
Kano Task Force Arrests Suspected Gang Leader in Port Harcourt Over Deadly Clashes
The Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has arrested a suspected gang leader in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over allegations of sponsoring violent gang clashes that reportedly claimed several lives in Kano.
The suspect, identified as Ishaq Lawan Ibrahim, popularly known as Malam Keya, is 27 years old and hails from Yelwa in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.
The task force said Ibrahim was arrested on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following an intelligence-led operation in Port Harcourt. He has since been returned to Kano for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The chairman of the task force, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, confirmed the arrest, alleging that the suspect played a leading role in financing and coordinating violent activities linked to rival gangs in parts of Kano.
According to the task force, the alleged gang activities had contributed to insecurity and fear among residents of Dala Local Government Area and surrounding communities.
The suspect reportedly fled Kano after security agencies intensified operations against criminal gangs and suspected drug networks in areas affected by recurring violence.
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Acting on intelligence, operatives tracked him to Port Harcourt and apprehended him in an operation led by the task force’s Head of Operations, CSP Bashir Gwadabe.
The task force said Ibrahim’s arrest outside Kano demonstrated its determination to pursue suspects accused of sponsoring violence, regardless of where they might attempt to hide.
Several communities affected by the intensified security operations include Jakara, Madigawa, Yalwa, Sanka, Kul Kul, Dogon Nama, Kuka Bulukiya, Dala, Shatsari and Dandalin Turawa.
Confirming the development, Magaji warned individuals suspected of financing violent gangs that security agencies would continue efforts to bring them before the law.
He said the task force would sustain its campaign against criminal gangs, their alleged sponsors and drug supply networks linked to insecurity in the state.
The chairman also acknowledged the support of the Kano and Rivers State Police Commands and other security agencies in the operation.
The task force urged residents, community leaders, religious leaders, parents and young people to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities and helping prevent the recruitment of youths into criminal gangs.
The arrest comes amid the Kano State Government’s wider campaign against drug abuse, illicit trafficking and gang violence, popularly known locally as daba.
The multi-agency task force was established to tackle drug-related offences and associated criminal activities across Kano’s 44 local government areas.
In September, the task force reported that it had arrested more than 380 suspects and secured over 230 convictions since its inauguration in July 2026. It also outlined plans to expand rehabilitation, vocational training and reintegration programmes for young people affected by substance abuse.
Authorities say the campaign combines enforcement with rehabilitation and community engagement as part of efforts to improve public safety.
Ibrahim’s allegations remain subject to investigation and due process. His arrest does not amount to a conviction, and the allegations must be established through the appropriate legal proceedings.
Kano Task Force Arrests Suspected Gang Leader in Port Harcourt Over Deadly Clashes
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