Schoolchildren Abductions: Pastor Ibiyeomie Drops Bombshell, Names Sponsors

The founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has dropped a bombshell allegation that politicians are actively sponsoring the kidnapping of schoolchildren across Nigeria, as the nation grapples with a worsening abduction crisis that has seen over 600 students and teachers taken from their classrooms since 2024.

Speaking during a fiery church service that has since gone viral across social media platforms, the outspoken cleric did not hold back as he tackled the growing insecurity head-on, questioning why security agencies—particularly the Department of State Services (DSS) —have been unable to apprehend those responsible despite possessing advanced tracking technologies. Ibiyeomie made the explosive claim amid a recent wave of abductions involving students and teachers in states such as Sokoto and Oyo, which has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for urgent school safety reforms.

Standing confidently in his signature white attire before his congregation, Ibiyeomie declared that the kidnappers could not possibly be carrying out such large-scale operations without the backing of powerful and influential individuals. He argued that the brazen nature of the abductions—where victims are publicly displayed and ransom demands are widely circulated—points to the involvement of high-profile sponsors who operate with impunity. “They are not just picking these children without sponsors. Politicians must be behind it; they cannot abduct children and publicly display their pictures without support from powerful people,” Ibiyeomie declared to his congregation. The pastor’s comments have since ignited intense debate across Nigeria, with many citizens demanding that security agencies investigate his allegations while others call for concrete evidence to back the claims against political figures.

The clergyman directed sharp criticism at the Department of State Services (DSS) , questioning why the agency has failed to track and arrest the perpetrators despite its technological capabilities and legal mandate. He argued that modern surveillance, phone tracking, and geolocation technologies should make it possible to locate anyone making calls or sending messages in connection with these crimes, yet no arrests have been made. “Do you know that even the DSS can track people and know where they are, so how come they are not tracking these kidnappers?” Ibiyeomie queried during his sermon. The pastor further suggested that the continued success of kidnappers—who operate freely across multiple states—points to the strong possibility of hidden forces actively aiding their operations and shielding them from arrest. “There must be an invisible hand behind it because if you are calling from anywhere, they would know the spot where you are, so how come in Nigeria nobody is ever caught?” he added.

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The pastor’s allegations come against the backdrop of alarming statistics that reveal the true scale of Nigeria’s school abduction crisis under the current administration. According to a media tally compiled from verified reports, no fewer than 603 students and teachers have been kidnapped in seven mass abductions across schools in Nigeria between March 2024 and May 2026 under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. These figures represent only the major incidents and do not account for smaller, unreported abductions in remote communities. The repeated attacks have raised serious questions over the effectiveness of the N145 billion Safe Schools Initiative, a fund introduced after the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction to protect educational institutions across the country. Stakeholders have repeatedly blamed weak implementation, lack of basic infrastructure such as perimeter fencing and guard posts, poor security presence in rural schools, and insufficient coordination between federal and state governments for the continued vulnerability of Nigerian schools.

On March 7, 2024, armed men on motorcycles attacked LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State, abducting 137 schoolchildren in one of the largest mass abductions of the year. Just two days later, on March 9, 2024, gunmen stormed a Tsangaya (Islamic) school in Gidan Bakuso, Sokoto State, abducting 15 students in a raid that highlighted the vulnerability of non-formal education institutions. In November 2025, a deeply troubling incident saw 25 schoolgirls abducted from Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, raising fresh fears about the safety of female students in northern Nigeria. Later in 2025, a staggering 303 students and 12 teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, marking one of the largest single abductions in recent memory. On May 15, 2026, armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 39 students and seven teachers. Two teachers—Michael Oyedokun, who reportedly died while in captivity, and Adesiyan Adegboye, who lost his life during the attack—were killed, along with one pupil. Just two days after the Oyo attack, on May 17, 2026, 42 students were abducted after suspected Boko Haram fighters invaded a school in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, underscoring the persistent threat of Islamist insurgent groups targeting educational institutions.

Switching from political criticism to spiritual warfare, the fiery cleric turned to the Bible to declare divine judgment on all those involved in the criminal enterprise of kidnapping schoolchildren. Quoting Ezekiel 35:6, Ibiyeomie prayed passionately over his congregation: “Everyone sponsoring this evil in Nigeria, let them and their children die by blood,” warning that the sword of judgment would never depart from the wicked. His imprecatory prayer has since sparked heated debate online, with some applauding his boldness while others question the appropriateness of praying for death upon alleged perpetrators. This is not the first time the Salvation Ministries founder has made such dramatic declarations against kidnappers. In a November 2025 video shared on his official Facebook page, Ibiyeomie declared that any kidnapper who abducts a member of his church would die within seven days. “Any kidnapper who dared you before will die in seven days. Anyone that dares any member of Salvation Ministry or any of our loved ones, by Sunday this week, I pronounce them dead,” he had said in the viral video that attracted millions of views.

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Meanwhile, members of the Oyo State House of Assembly have firmly rejected calls for the state government to negotiate with kidnappers over the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso on May 15. The lawmakers insisted that the focus must remain on intensified rescue operations, intelligence-led security action, and sustained pressure on the abductors until all victims are freed unharmed. Speaking during plenary, the Speaker of the Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, warned that negotiating with kidnappers would set a dangerous precedent that could encourage further attacks and strengthen criminal networks across the state and beyond. “We cannot reward criminality with negotiation. That will only embolden them to strike again,” Ogundoyin was quoted as saying.

The abduction crisis has sparked nationwide protests coordinated by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) across the Federal Capital Territory and multiple states including Edo, Rivers, Cross River, Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Osun, Lagos, Niger, and several others. Teachers wearing red armbands have taken to the streets in major cities, demanding immediate government action to secure the release of abducted colleagues and students and to implement lasting safety measures in all schools. In the National Assembly, the Senate resumed plenary after the Sallah recess and observed a one-minute silence in honour of the victims of school abductions. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the Oyo incident as an attack on Nigeria’s collective humanity, stating: “We resume our work under the mournful shadow of a tragedy that has shaken our nation. The abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State is not merely an attack on innocent citizens; it is an assault on our collective humanity.” In the House of Representatives, lawmakers called on the Federal Government and security agencies to immediately secure the release of abducted schoolchildren across the country. They also demanded the urgent implementation of a comprehensive national Safe Schools Security Framework to protect educational institutions nationwide, with specific timelines and accountability measures.

At the time of filing this report, the Department of State Services (DSS) had not issued any official response to Pastor Ibiyeomie’s allegations regarding political sponsorship of school abductions or his questioning of the agency’s tracking capabilities. The agency has historically maintained a policy of not commenting on operational matters or public accusations. However, civil society organizations and concerned citizens have continued to demand transparency and accountability from security agencies as the wave of abductions shows no sign of abating. As Nigeria continues to grapple with this deepening crisis, all eyes remain on security agencies to track down the perpetrators, rescue the remaining captives, and bring an end to the nightmare that has seen hundreds of innocent children torn from their classrooms and held in captivity for weeks and months.

Schoolchildren Abductions: Pastor Ibiyeomie Drops Bombshell, Names Sponsors

Band A Users to Get Relief as NERC Orders DisCos Compensation Plan

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved a compensation framework for eligible Band A electricity customers affected by prolonged power shortages across Nigeria, following widespread generation and transmission constraints within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

According to a public notice issued on Thursday, the regulator said the decision covers service disruptions recorded between February and March 2026, during which several Distribution Companies (DisCos) failed to meet the minimum supply threshold required under the Band A service-based tariff regime.

The affected DisCos include major operators such as Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Ikeja Electric, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO), and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

NERC attributed the shortfall in electricity supply to a combination of inadequate gas supply to thermal power plants, grid constraints, and vandalism of critical gas and transmission infrastructure, which significantly reduced available generation capacity during the review period.

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Under the approved compensation arrangement, feeders that supplied between 18 and 20 hours of electricity daily will still qualify for partial relief under the existing regulatory framework covering both Maximum Demand (MD) and Non-Maximum Demand (Non-MD) customers.

However, customers on Band A feeders that received less than 18 hours of supply daily during the affected months will receive additional compensation. NERC clarified that such feeders will not be downgraded for the period under review despite failing to meet the required service standard.

For Non-MD customers, compensation will be calculated at 20 per cent of the approved February 2026 energy cap applicable to their feeders, while MD customers will receive compensation equivalent to 20 per cent of their average billed energy for February 2026.

The commission directed that prepaid customers should receive compensation through token credits, while postpaid customers will benefit from bill adjustments reflecting the value of the shortfall.

NERC further instructed that DisCos must complete compensation payments for February 2026 by May 31, 2026, while March 2026 compensation must be implemented no later than June 30, 2026.

It also warned DisCos against using compensation credits to offset customer debts, stressing that customers must be clearly informed of the value, period, and basis of the compensation.

The regulator said the intervention is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen consumer protection under Nigeria’s electricity market reform programme, ensuring that tariff increases under the Band A structure are matched with measurable service delivery.

Industry stakeholders have long criticised inconsistent power supply under the Band A classification, arguing that many customers continue to receive less than the promised 20 hours of electricity per day despite paying higher tariffs.

NERC said it will closely monitor compliance by all DisCos and conduct verification exercises to ensure affected customers receive full entitlements, warning that further regulatory sanctions may apply in cases of non-compliance.

Band A Users to Get Relief as NERC Orders DisCos Compensation Plan

Jilted Groom Sues Ex-Fiancée’s Father for Dowry Refund

A businessman, Nasiru Dayyabu, has dragged the father of his ex-fiancée, Mallam Sani Direba, before a Shari’a Court II sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna, demanding the refund of N260,000 paid as dowry and introduction fees for a marriage that never materialized. The complainant joined Direba in the suit alongside two brothers, demanding a refund of N250,000 dowry and N10,000 introduction money (kudin gausuwa) paid to secure the defendant’s daughter’s hand in marriage. However, in a surprising turn of events inside the courtroom, the three defendants appeared with the full N260,000 and declared they were ready to present it to the court.

Represented by his counsel, Mr. Sani Sunusi, Dayyabu told the court that he sent his people from Karaye, Kano State, to Kaduna in 2025 to formally seek the defendant’s daughter’s hand in marriage. According to the complainant, the traditional processes were completed, including payment of the dowry and introduction money, and both families were awaiting a date for the wedding ceremony. “Unfortunately, the lady’s father called to inform us that they have cancelled the marriage,” the counsel told the court. The complainant said he had requested a refund of his money since September 2025, but all efforts to recover the funds proved abortive. He further claimed that his client had traveled from Kano to Kaduna three times to resolve the issue before eventually filing a suit and hiring a lawyer—a situation he said significantly affected Dayyabu’s finances.

Sunusi, therefore, prayed the court to compel the defendants not only to refund the N260,000 but also to pay an additional N250,000 as damages for wasting his client’s time and resources. On their part, the three defendants surprised the courtroom by stating that they had come prepared with the N260,000 dowry and introduction money and were ready to present it to the court immediately. However, regarding the additional claim of N250,000 as compensation for “wasted time,” the first defendant offered a contrasting narrative. He claimed that it was Dayyabu himself who called off the marriage, not the bride’s family. This dispute over who actually terminated the marriage agreement could prove crucial in determining whether the court awards the additional damages being sought by the complainant.

The presiding judge, Mallam Yakubu Abdullahi, asked the defendants if they had witnesses to support their claim that Dayyabu was responsible for calling off the marriage. The defendants confirmed that they did. Consequently, the judge adjourned the case to June 17, 2026, for the defendants to present their witnesses and substantiate their version of events.

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This case highlights a recurring legal issue within Nigeria’s pluralistic legal system, where customary and Islamic laws govern marriage contracts alongside statutory law. Under Islamic law, which applies in Shari’a courts across northern Nigeria, a woman seeking divorce (khul’i) may return the dowry, but courts often allow flexibility based on economic hardship. In customary law contexts across Nigeria, the refund of bride price is widely recognized as a critical step in formally terminating a customary marriage. In the landmark case of Eze v. Omeke (1977) , the court described dissolution of a customary marriage without addressing bride price refund as “meaningless.” Similarly, in Ezeaku v. Okonkwo, the Court of Appeal adopted the principle that “the refund of the bride price is one of the important subjects to be settled” when a customary marriage ends. However, legal experts note that bride price refund is not automatic or absolute under all circumstances. Factors such as the duration of the marriage, the birth of children, and the wife’s contributions to the household may affect refund obligations.

This is not the first time a jilted groom has approached the same Shari’a Court in Magajin Gari seeking dowry refund. The court, presided over by Judge Yakubu Abdullahi, has handled several related cases in recent months. In October 2019, a 70-year-old man, Abdullahi Dahiru, prayed the court to recover N25,000 dowry he paid to his alleged former fiancée, Ms. Rakiya Ibrahim. In that case, the woman had given birth to twins, which the elderly groom rejected, claiming he had never been intimate with her. More recently, in April 2026, a Shari’a court sitting at Magajin Gari granted Ahmad Kazeem’s request for time to amicably resolve his matrimonial difference with his wife, Jamilat Abdullahi, who had filed for divorce and declared she was ready to refund the N10,000 dowry. In May 2026, another case before the same court saw Fatima Usman seek divorce from her husband, Sulaiman Adamu, after three months of marriage through Khul’i (redemption divorce) . Fatima offered to pay half of the N100,000 dowry—N50,000—to secure her freedom. Judge Yakubu Abdullahi ruled that their marriage had been dissolved and ordered her to pay back the dowry immediately, explaining that in Islam, a woman seeking divorce is allowed to return her dowry, which could be higher or less than the actual dowry paid to her.

In another notable case before the court, the judge ordered a woman, Hauwa’u, to return N100,000 dowry and an additional N20,000 given as “Kudin Gaisuwa” (money given to her parents during introduction) to redeem herself from her one-year marriage to businessman Malam Baballe Ibrahim. In a more extreme example, a Sharia Court in Magajin Gari ordered a divorce-seeking housewife, Binta Sani, to pay N20,000 to her estranged husband, Adamu Abdullahi, to free herself from their 19-year marriage. The judge noted that while the petitioner had the right in Islam to ask for a divorce, the court also has the right to add to the amount of the dowry to enable the husband to remarry.

As the June 17 hearing approaches, the key question remains: who actually called off the marriage? The defendants claim Dayyabu was the one who terminated the agreement, while the complainant insists the bride’s family canceled the wedding. The outcome of this factual dispute will likely determine whether Dayyabu receives only the N260,000 refund or also secures the additional N250,000 in damages. If the defendants’ witnesses can credibly establish that Dayyabu walked away from the marriage voluntarily, the court may limit its order to the refund of the dowry and introduction money—which the defendants have already indicated they are willing to pay. However, if the court finds that the bride’s family unjustly canceled the marriage without justification, the additional claim for damages may succeed. The case also underscores the importance of documentation in customary marriage negotiations, as written agreements or witnesses to the terms of the betrothal can prove decisive in disputes over who bears responsibility when a marriage agreement collapses.

Jilted Groom Sues Ex-Fiancée’s Father for Dowry Refund