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Abducted Oyo Principal’s Husband Weeps, Begs Makinde to Secure Her Release

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2 months ago

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Abducted Oyo Principal’s Husband Weeps, Begs Makinde to Secure Her Release

Abducted Oyo Principal’s Husband Weeps, Begs Makinde to Secure Her Release

The husband of abducted Oyo school principal, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, broke down in tears as he spoke about his kidnapped wife, while begging the government to rescue her and other schoolchildren held captive in a terrorist den. Mr. Alamu made this emotional appeal on Saturday when Governor Seyi Makinde visited Esiele, the community raided by bandits on May 15, which resulted in the abduction of over 40 staff and schoolchildren. Mr. Alamu introduced himself as “the husband of the abducted principal of Community High School Esinele.” According to Tribune Online, the grieving husband is Prof. Wole Alamu, Dean of Renewable Natural Resources at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) , Iseyin Campus. “My wife is the woman the terrorists record to speak to Nigerians. Seeing video of my wife in terrorist den is depressing and disheartening,” Mr. Alamu said as he broke down in tears. The professor commended Governor Makinde’s intervention but urged him to sustain efforts towards securing the victims’ release. Another resident, Mrs. Funmilayo Ojo, disclosed that four of her grandchildren and her son’s wife were among those abducted, while other community members described the incident as the first of its kind in the area.

On Friday, Mrs. Alamu, in a video recorded by her abductors, issued a desperate plea from captivity. “I’m here again to beg the government. Governor Seyi Makinde should dialogue with these people. They should not use force. The force they used yesterday has cost us so much,” she said. Begging the government to secure their release, Mrs. Alamu warned that the abductors had allegedly selected one of the captives for execution following a failed rescue attempt by security operatives. “In fact, one of us has been picked that they are going to kill him. Please, we want you to call them and dialogue with them so that our lives will be saved,” she said. In another video, the distressed principal revealed that she and the other captives had spent 13 days in the bush, exposed to harsh weather conditions. “Please, help us. We beg you in the name of God, please have mercy on us. This is too much. In the sun and in the rain. Both old and young, we are in the same place,” she pleaded. Mary Akanbi, one of the abducted teachers who is nursing a baby, also appealed to Governor Makinde to negotiate with the kidnappers for their freedom. “We are pleading with Governor Seyi Makinde, please help us, negotiate with these people. Whatever they want, please give to them. We are all here; we the teachers and the students,” she said.

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Mr. Makinde spoke to the families of the abducted teachers and schoolchildren during his visit to the community on Saturday, assuring them that the abductees would be released. “All I need is your cooperation. Please trust us. I cannot speak much because it has security implication. I know your hearts are bleeding. My heart is also bleeding. Please trust us. We will secure their release,” Mr. Makinde said. The governor disclosed that he had been holding regular meetings with security chiefs as part of efforts to secure the victims’ release. “I have not been sleeping well myself. Together with the service commanders, we meet twice every day, one in the morning and one at night, sometimes until 10 or 11 p.m.,” he added. Makinde described the abduction as particularly disturbing, noting that cases involving primary school pupils were rare in Nigeria. “There is nowhere in Nigeria where we have seen this sort of situation where primary school students are kidnapped. If it were secondary school students, we have heard that before, but primary school students are strange,” he said. He stressed that while many Nigerians had expressed opinions on how the crisis should be handled, authorities must proceed with caution given the sensitive nature of the ongoing operation. “This is not the time to trade blame between the state government, the federal government, local governments or any other institution. This is a time for unity. Let us come together with one purpose: to rescue our children and their teachers safely,” he said.

Mrs. Alamu’s plea comes 13 days after she and others were abducted. The coordinated terrorist attack on May 15, 2026, targeted three schools in the Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area: Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School, Alawusa. During the attack, mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was beheaded by the abductors. A motorcyclist was also killed, and a security personnel died after running into improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the abductors during early rescue attempts. The attack triggered protests in Ogbomoso, where teachers suspended classroom activities and marched peacefully to the office of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), demanding urgent action to secure the release of those still being held captive.

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President Bola Tinubu condemned the killing of Michael Oyedokun as “barbaric” and assured that the Federal Government is working closely with the Oyo State Government to secure the release of all abducted victims. The President also disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police is personally leading a technology-driven operation aimed at rescuing the victims and apprehending the perpetrators. In his Children’s Day message, President Tinubu specifically addressed the abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo and Borno states, assuring them that they had not been forgotten. He pledged that his administration would intensify efforts to secure their safe return. The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, also announced the deployment of additional detectives from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, to collaborate with the joint security team, while the Defence Headquarters said troops had made contact with the abductors and were working to ensure the rescue of the victims.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed deep concern over the continued captivity of the pupils and teachers, describing the situation as “heartbreaking, barbaric and unacceptable.” The union called for expedited and more decisive actions from the government and all relevant security agencies, emphasizing that “time is of the essence.” NUT President Titus Amba had earlier warned that the next attack on any school could trigger a nationwide shutdown of basic education schools, stating, “If teachers are not safe where they work, then the system has failed because our schools are endangered.” As of the time of this report, the victims remain in captivity, with their families enduring an agonizing wait for news of their loved ones’ safe return. The Oyo State Government continues to work with federal security agencies to secure the release of all abducted persons.

Abducted Oyo Principal’s Husband Weeps, Begs Makinde to Secure Her Release

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State Police Reform: FG Invites Nigerians to Submit Policy Proposals as Draft Bill Nears September Deadline

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13 hours ago

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August 4, 2026

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State Police Reform: FG Invites Nigerians to Submit Policy Proposals as Draft Bill Nears September Deadline
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill

State Police Reform: FG Invites Nigerians to Submit Policy Proposals as Draft Bill Nears September Deadline

The Presidential Working Group on State Policing has opened a two-week public submission window for memoranda and policy proposals, setting the stage for a landmark legal framework that could redefine security architecture across Nigeria.

The Federal Government has officially called on Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, civil society organisations, security agencies, academics, professional bodies, and sub-national governments to contribute to the drafting of the proposed National Policing Bill, which seeks to establish a legal and operational framework for state police in Nigeria. The call was made public on Monday by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, following a high-level meeting at the State House, Abuja. The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that all submissions will be reviewed and integrated into the draft bill, which will then be subject to further national consultation before being finalised and sent to the National Assembly. The development comes weeks after the National Assembly passed the bill following its transmission by President Bola Tinubu, signalling strong political will to actualise one of the most debated governance reforms in Nigeria’s recent history.

This public consultation exercise is critical because the Working Group is currently reviewing the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations, and other relevant laws to develop a modern, effective, and accountable policing system. The proposed framework is expected to set national minimum standards for policing across all states, define state readiness and certification requirements before any state can operate its own police service, and clarify jurisdictional responsibilities between federal and state police forces. Additionally, the bill will ensure independent oversight and safeguard human rights, guarantee sustainable funding and financial accountability, and prevent the use of state police as a tool for political persecution – a concern earlier raised by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, who stressed that the legislation is designed to protect citizens from potential abuses of power at the sub-national level.

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Nigerians have until August 13, 2026, to submit their memoranda and policy proposals through the dedicated portal at www.nationalpolicingbill.com, marking the close of a two-week submission window. The Presidential Working Group has adopted a seven-week, milestone-driven work programme running from July 27 to September 14, 2026, with the draft Executive Bill scheduled for presentation to President Bola Tinubu on September 3, 2026. Following this, national consultations will be held on the completed draft before it is finalised and transmitted to the National Assembly. All Nigerians, including professionals, academics, security experts, state and local governments, and civil society groups, are encouraged to participate in this historic policy-shaping process.

The new policing framework will impose strict operational readiness requirements on any state seeking to establish its own police service. According to Gbajabiamila, a proposed State Police Service must demonstrate credible arrangements in recruitment and vetting processes, training and capacity development, pay, pensions and welfare, equipment and logistics, custody and detention standards, complaints and discipline mechanisms, data management and reporting, firearms control and regulation, independent oversight bodies, and financial sustainability plans before it begins policing. These stringent criteria are designed to ensure that only states with the institutional capacity and financial resilience can operate their own police forces, thereby preventing a patchwork of poorly equipped or unaccountable state-level security services.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, represented by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, has described the state police initiative as one of the defining reforms of President Tinubu’s administration, expressing the forum’s commitment to ensuring the success of the policy. The Working Group is also considering recommending federal grants to assist states with limited financial capacity in establishing their police services, acknowledging the fiscal disparities among the 36 states. States that are not yet ready to establish their own service will continue to rely on the Nigeria Police Force until they meet the required standards, ensuring that no state is left without adequate security coverage during the transition period.

The final submission to the President will go beyond a conventional bill and is expected to include schedules and explanatory memoranda, a legal audit of existing policing laws, a state readiness framework, a fiscal and implementation note, and a risk register with transition arrangements. This comprehensive approach is designed to ensure that the reform is defensible, auditable, and capable of implementation across Nigeria’s diverse states, addressing everything from constitutional alignment to practical logistics on the ground.

The government has emphasised that this is a people-driven process, and by inviting input from all segments of society – including ordinary citizens, diaspora communities, and professional bodies – the Working Group aims to build a policing system that reflects the aspirations and realities of all Nigerians. As a senior official close to the Working Group noted, this is not just a government bill but a national project in which every Nigerian has a stake in how they are policed. Interested individuals and organisations are encouraged to visit www.nationalpolicingbill.com before August 13, 2026, to submit their memoranda and policy proposals, with all submissions to be reviewed and incorporated into the draft bill ahead of further national consultations.

State Police Reform: FG Invites Nigerians to Submit Policy Proposals as Draft Bill Nears September Deadline

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Biafra Civil War: Gowon says Igbo bank depositors were fully paid, defends Awolowo over £20 policy

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14 hours ago

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August 4, 2026

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Biafra Civil War: Gowon says Igbo bank depositors were fully paid, defends Awolowo over £20 policy
Yakubu Gowon and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

Biafra Civil War: Gowon says Igbo bank depositors were fully paid, defends Awolowo over £20 policy

Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has defended the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo against long-standing criticism over the controversial post-civil war £20 policy, saying the decision was taken collectively by the Federal Government and was not Awolowo’s personal policy.

Gowon also stated that people from the former Biafran territory who could provide evidence that they had money in Nigerian banks before or during the Nigerian Civil War received the full value of their deposits, including accrued interest.

The former Head of State made the clarification in his memoir, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, where he revisited the circumstances surrounding the currency policy introduced after the end of the civil war in January 1970.

The £20 policy has remained a subject of public debate for decades, with critics accusing Awolowo, who served as Federal Commissioner for Finance during the war, of restricting people from the former Biafran territory to a flat payment of £20, regardless of the amount they had held before the conflict.

However, Gowon said Awolowo had been unfairly blamed for a policy that was approved by the Federal Government after consultations and consideration of the economic challenges facing Nigeria at the end of the war.

According to Gowon, the Central Bank of Nigeria established a panel to examine the possible consequences of converting the Biafran pound into Nigerian currency.

He explained that the exercise was difficult because the Biafran currency was not recognised by the Federal Government as legal tender during the war.

Gowon said the large volume of Biafran currency in circulation also created concerns that exchanging all the notes at the same value as the Nigerian pound could have caused serious economic disruption.

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Economic advisers subsequently recommended that the Federal Government provide a uniform payment of about £20 to each adult from the former Biafran territory, regardless of the quantity of Biafran currency presented.

“We agreed to the proposal and made it our official policy,” Gowon wrote, adding that the government faced major difficulties in determining the volume of Biafran currency in circulation and establishing a practical basis for converting it.

He maintained that the decision was made by the Federal Government and should not be attributed solely to Awolowo.

Gowon further stated that people who had left Nigeria but could provide proof that they held funds in Nigerian banks received the full value of their deposits, including interest, in Nigerian currency.

“Everyone who left Nigeria but had proof that they had money in Nigerian banks got the full amount of their money plus the interest it earned, all in Nigerian currency,” he said.

The former military leader argued that adopting a different approach could have created significant economic and administrative challenges during Nigeria’s post-war recovery.

The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafra War, began in 1967 and ended in January 1970 following the surrender of Biafran forces.

After the war, Gowon declared a policy of “no victor, no vanquished” and introduced the Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation programme, widely known as the 3Rs.

The programme was designed to promote national unity, rebuild war-affected communities and support the reintegration of the former Eastern Region into Nigeria.

Despite the government’s post-war reconciliation agenda, the £20 policy remains one of the most debated aspects of Nigeria’s post-civil war history.

Critics have argued that the policy caused financial hardship for many people in the former Biafran territory, particularly those who lost access to savings, could not provide documentation for their bank deposits or were unable to recover the value of assets affected by the war.

Some historians and commentators have also questioned whether the post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes adequately addressed the economic losses and long-term effects experienced by communities affected by the conflict.

Gowon’s account has renewed public discussion about the Biafra Civil War, the post-war currency policy and Awolowo’s role in the Federal Military Government.

While Gowon maintains that verified Nigerian bank deposits were fully repaid with interest and that Awolowo should not be held personally responsible for the £20 policy, the issue continues to generate debate over post-war justice, economic recovery, historical memory and national reconciliation.

Biafra Civil War: Gowon says Igbo bank depositors were fully paid, defends Awolowo over £20 policy

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How 15-year-old allegedly staged his own kidnapping to extort N200,000 from father

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14 hours ago

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August 4, 2026

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How 15-year-old allegedly staged his own kidnapping to extort N200,000 from father

How 15-year-old allegedly staged his own kidnapping to extort N200,000 from father

The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 15-year-old boy who allegedly staged his own kidnapping in an attempt to extort N200,000 from his father in Suleja.

The teenager was arrested alongside a 17-year-old alleged accomplice after police traced him to a hotel in Suleja, days after his family reported him missing.

The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday.

According to the police, the 15-year-old left home after attending church on July 20, 2026, but failed to return, prompting concern among his family members.

The following day, the family reportedly received a telephone call from someone who claimed that the teenager had been kidnapped and demanded a ransom of N200,000 for his release.

The matter was subsequently reported at the B Division of the Nigeria Police Force in Suleja, leading to the launch of an investigation.

Police detectives reportedly acted on credible intelligence and traced the teenager to a hotel in Suleja on July 25, where he was found with the 17-year-old.

“On receipt of the information, police operatives of the division commenced an investigation and, acting on credible intelligence, the said Kelvin was found at a hotel in Suleja on July 25, 2026, with his accomplice,” the police spokesperson said.

According to the command, the two teenagers allegedly confessed during questioning that they planned the incident to obtain N200,000 from the boy’s father.

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The police said the money was to be shared between them after the ransom had been paid.

“The suspects confessed that they planned to extort the sum of N200,000 from Kelvin’s father, after which they would share the proceeds of the crime,” Abiodun said.

The police said the alleged plan was uncovered before the family paid the requested ransom.

Both teenagers are currently in the custody of the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, in Minna, where further investigations are ongoing.

The command said the suspects would be taken through the appropriate legal process after the investigation had been concluded.

The incident has renewed concerns over staged kidnapping, particularly the emotional and financial impact such incidents can have on families.

Security experts have repeatedly warned that fake kidnapping claims can cause panic, place families under severe emotional pressure and divert police resources from genuine cases involving missing or abducted persons.

The case also highlights the importance of reporting suspected kidnappings promptly to security agencies and allowing investigators to handle ransom demands and related threats.

Residents have been encouraged to provide timely and credible information that could help security agencies prevent crime and respond quickly to reports involving missing persons.

The Niger State Police Command said investigations into the alleged self-kidnapping plot were continuing.

How 15-year-old allegedly staged his own kidnapping to extort N200,000 from father

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