Oshiomhole Clarifies Remarks on Natasha Suspension, Denies Forgery Allegation

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has denied allegations that he accused members of the Senate of forging signatures during the process that led to the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, insisting that his remarks on the matter were misrepresented.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District said comments he made during an appearance on AIT’s Politics Today were wrongly interpreted, creating the false impression that he questioned the authenticity of signatures attached to a Senate committee report.

According to Oshiomhole, he never alleged that any senator’s signature was forged during the proceedings that culminated in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.

“The insinuation that I said signatures of senators were forged is a complete misrepresentation of what I actually said,” the former Edo State governor stated.

The senator emphasized that he fully agreed with Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu that no senator’s signature was forged in the process leading to the suspension of the Kogi Central lawmaker.

Oshiomhole explained that no senator had approached him with complaints about forged signatures. Rather, the only point he raised during the television interview was a claim allegedly made by a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions.

According to him, the committee member had suggested that signatures from an attendance register may have been attached to the committee’s final report, a claim that differs from allegations of outright forgery.

“The only comment I made is that one senator, who is a member of the committee, claimed that the signatures of attendance of some senators were attached to the final report,” Oshiomhole said.

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“Any suggestion to the effect that I alleged that any senator’s signature was forged is completely untrue and should be disregarded.”

The controversy emerged after reports circulated claiming that Oshiomhole had questioned the authenticity of signatures contained in the committee report that recommended Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. The reports triggered reactions within the Senate and fueled public debate over the circumstances surrounding the disciplinary action.

Oshiomhole further clarified that the issue arose during a discussion on claims by the programme’s interviewer that Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele had described the Natasha suspension controversy as “the lowest point of the three years of the 10th Senate.”

Responding to that assertion during the interview, Oshiomhole said that if Bamidele indeed made such a statement, it deserved serious consideration because the Senate Leader was not known for making frivolous remarks.

The senator, however, maintained that the matter had since been resolved and that the Senate had moved on from the controversy.

The suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan remains one of the most talked-about issues in the 10th Senate. The Kogi Central senator was suspended following recommendations by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions after a dispute involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The development sparked widespread reactions from political stakeholders, legal experts and civil society groups, with debates continuing over the legality and implications of the suspension.

Seeking to put the matter to rest, Oshiomhole reiterated that no senator informed him that any signature had been forged and expressed regret over any misunderstanding that may have arisen from his comments.

“Finally, I regret if my comments may have caused embarrassment to any senator or the 10th Senate as an institution,” he said.

His clarification is expected to ease tensions generated by the controversy and reinforce the Senate leadership’s position that due process was followed in handling the suspension case.

Oshiomhole Clarifies Remarks on Natasha Suspension, Denies Forgery Allegation

Woman Sentenced to Death for Supplying Ammunition to Bandits in Katsina

A Katsina State High Court has sentenced a woman, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, to death by hanging after convicting her of conspiracy to commit terrorism and aiding terrorist activities by supplying ammunition to bandits operating in northwestern Nigeria.

The judgment was delivered by Justice A. B. Bawale of High Court No. 3 in Katsina after the court found that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through witness testimonies and documentary evidence presented during the trial.

Mukhtar, described by security agencies as a female arms courier, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at Jibia Motor Park in Katsina State on September 16, 2023. She was allegedly caught while attempting to transport 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition intended for a suspected bandit kingpin identified as Ado, who reportedly operates from the notorious Dunburum Forest in Zamfara State.

According to court documents, the DSS launched an investigation after receiving intelligence about the movement of ammunition to criminal groups responsible for attacks, kidnappings, and other violent crimes across parts of the North-West.

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Following her arrest, the DSS arraigned Mukhtar on a two-count charge bordering on terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and aiding terrorist activities. During the proceedings, prosecutors presented exhibits and testimonies linking her to the transportation of ammunition allegedly destined for armed groups operating in the region.

After reviewing the evidence, Justice Bawale ruled that the prosecution had successfully established the charges against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. The court subsequently convicted Mukhtar and sentenced her to death by hanging in accordance with the provisions of the Katsina State Penal Code Law, 2021.

Security analysts have described the conviction as a significant step in efforts to dismantle the supply chains that sustain banditry and terrorism in northern Nigeria. Authorities have increasingly targeted not only armed gang leaders but also individuals involved in procuring, transporting, and distributing weapons and ammunition to criminal networks.

The judgment comes amid intensified security operations against armed groups operating across Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, and parts of Niger State, where bandit attacks and mass kidnappings have remained major security concerns.

The case also follows other recent terrorism-related convictions secured by Nigerian authorities. In May, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced another female suspect, Halima Haliru Umar, to 20 years imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to possessing hundreds of rounds of ammunition allegedly meant for terrorist elements.

Similarly, a Federal High Court recently convicted four men linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, highlighting ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to prosecute individuals connected to terrorism and violent crimes.

The conviction of Hauwa’u Mukhtar is expected to reinforce the government’s resolve to crack down on the logistics networks that enable bandits and terrorist groups to acquire weapons and sustain their operations across the country.

Woman Sentenced to Death for Supplying Ammunition to Bandits in Katsina

DHQ: Troops Rescue 398 Kidnap Victims, Arrest 31 Terrorists in One Week

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that coordinated military operations across the country have resulted in the rescue of 398 kidnapped victims, the arrest of 31 suspected terrorists and collaborators, and the neutralisation of 10 criminals within the last week. The update was given in Abuja on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, who said the Armed Forces recorded significant operational gains across all six geopolitical zones. Onoja explained that troops operating under various missions intensified offensive and intelligence-driven operations in the North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-East, and Niger Delta, targeting criminal networks and disrupting their supply chains, with the military continuing to urge members of the public to provide credible and timely information to support ongoing security efforts.

In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai intensified operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters through raids, patrols and clearance operations across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, with a major breakthrough occurring when military operations in the Mandara Mountains led to the rescue of hundreds of civilians abducted by terrorists. According to Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander of the Northeast Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, the rescue followed a coordinated special operation conducted on June 6 across multiple fronts around the Mandara Mountains, with Special Operations Forces initially carrying out preliminary missions that created confusion within terrorist camps, paving the way for ground troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade to extract the captives successfully. Major General Michael Onoja stated, “This daring manoeuvre induced widespread chaos within the terrorist networks, enabling ground troops to successfully rescue 360 civilians, predominantly women and children, who had been held since their abduction during an attack on the Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026.” Tragically, two infants died due to the harsh terrain during the evacuation, but the surviving 358 victims were evacuated to the hospital, treated, provided with food and water, and later handed over to the relevant authorities for reunification with their families. The military also confirmed the arrest of informants and logistics suppliers linked to insurgent groups, alongside the recovery of communication gadgets, cash, and other materials used to support terrorist activities, while additional tactical victories in the North-East included the surrender of a 20-year-old terrorist, Fannami Ali, in Monguno town, and the arrest of suspected informants in Yobe and Adamawa states. Troops also foiled an attack in Mallam Fatori, forcing the adversaries to flee and leaving behind an AK-47 rifle bearing Arabic inscriptions, further demonstrating the effectiveness of ongoing military operations in the region.

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In the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamna recorded decisive gains against terrorists and criminal elements in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara States, with one of the most significant operations occurring on 5 June 2026 at a snap checkpoint en route from Gusau to Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Troops intercepted a vehicle and recovered a locally fabricated 9mm pistol, 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm by 39mm ammunition, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and 10 rounds of 9.4mm ammunition, all concealed in a sack of millet, with the suspect, Mallam Mustapha Abubakar, arrested with the items and believed to be an arms dealer. Preliminary interrogation revealed the weapons were destined for an unidentified contact in Shinkafi LGA; troops subsequently tracked and arrested the intended recipient at Tupa village in Shinkafi LGA, with the suspect identified as 42 years old and allegedly involved in the illegal transportation of arms and ammunition to terrorist groups operating within the region. Troops also neutralised terrorists during separate operations in Birnin Magaji and Maru Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, recovering motorcycles, communication gadgets, uniforms and other logistics items, while in Tudun Wada village, eight suspected terrorists were arrested, and seven motorcycles were recovered along with 30 phone batteries, 19 mobile phones, 41 power banks, seven phone chargers, four Baofeng handheld radios, four pairs of camouflage uniforms, and three pairs of boots. The DHQ also recently launched “Operation Clean Sweep III” in Katsina State following the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted by suspected terrorists alongside his wife, with the operation targeting terrorists operating in Matazu Local Government Area and surrounding communities.

In the North-Central region, troops conducted intelligence-based operations across Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, and Taraba states, leading to the rescue of kidnapped travellers and the arrest of suspected kidnappers and informants, with firearms, ammunition, mobile phones, and other incriminating items also recovered during the operations. Troops of Operation Savannah Shield arrested a high-value terrorist informant at Kara Market, Wawa, who had been on the watch list, with investigation of a recovered mobile phone revealing a photograph of a beheaded individual dated 2 May 2026, indicating possible links to terrorist networks. Operation Enduring Peace troops rescued six passengers along the Hawan Kibo – Rafin Sayin road in Riyom LGA of Plateau State after responding to reports of kidnappers blocking the road, while troops also arrested a suspected kidnappers’ informant at Mungi village in Mangu LGA and recovered a concealed pistol from his residential compound. In Kogi State, troops rescued two kidnap victims, including a bar manager and a sales girl abducted on 6 June 2026 at Ikoyi in Ijumu LGA, and reunited them with their families, while security forces also disrupted kidnapping networks in the state, preventing the movement of victims across criminal routes.

In the South-East, troops of Operation Udoka conducted joint operations targeting suspected IPOB/ESN hideouts, with one of the most significant operations occurring on 9 June 2026 when troops in conjunction with Department of State Services (DSS) operatives arrested six suspected IPOB/ESN members at Nenwe community in Aninri LGA of Enugu State. A follow-up operation to a suspected arms hideout disguised as a piggery led to the recovery of one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one RPG-7 tube, three AK-47 rifles, two hand grenades, a tear gas gun, 2 tear gas cartridges, six AK-47 magazines, and 748 rounds of assorted ammunition, representing a significant blow to the operational capacity of the proscribed group. On 10 June 2026, at a suspected IPOB/ESN safe house at Agbani in Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State, troops recovered eight AK-47 rifles, 12 AK-47 magazines, a tear gas gun, 323 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and 10 pairs of IPOB uniforms, with all suspects and recovered items handed over to DSS Enugu State Command for further action.

In the Niger Delta, troops of Operation Delta Safe intensified anti-oil theft operations, dismantling illegal refining sites in Rivers and Delta states and recovering stolen petroleum products, with one notable operation occurring on 7 June 2026 along Road Eket–Etinan in Eket LGA of Akwa Ibom State. Troops recovered approximately 1,200 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) valued at approximately ₦2,256,000, with the suspects fleeing into the bush while their vehicle and product were appropriately handled. In Edo State, troops arrested five suspected kidnappers who confessed to involvement in kidnapping activities over the past two years, while in Delta State, troops discovered a trampoline tank containing approximately 4,000 litres of stolen crude oil, along with other illegal refining infrastructure, all of which were appropriately handled. Major General Onoja said the successes reflect the military’s sustained pressure on criminal elements and the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations across the country, reaffirming the Armed Forces’ commitment to restoring peace and ensuring the safety of lives and property nationwide.

DHQ: Troops Rescue 398 Kidnap Victims, Arrest 31 Terrorists in One Week