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300 captives: ACF, Middle Belt, Borno Stakeholders Demand Oyo-Style Rescue (Updated)

Published

8 hours ago

July 19, 2026

ACF, Middle Belt, Borno Stakeholders Demand Oyo-Style Rescue for Nearly 300 Captives in Terrorists' Den

300 captives: ACF, Middle Belt, Borno Stakeholders Demand Oyo-Style Rescue

Kwara victims spend 166 days in captivity

Fresh outrage is mounting across the North over what stakeholders have described as the Federal Government’s uneven response to mass abductions, with nearly 300 Nigerians, including women and children, still languishing in terrorists’ enclaves months after their abduction. On Saturday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) , the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) , northern leaders, stakeholders in Borno and prominent Nigerians questioned why the Federal Government had yet to demonstrate the same urgency, commitment and coordinated security response that secured the release of abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State. They urged the Federal Government to rescue hundreds of other Nigerians, including schoolchildren, women and community members, who remain in the custody of ISWAP, Boko Haram and armed bandits across Borno, Kaduna, Kwara and other parts of the North. They insisted that every Nigerian life carries equal value, stressing that no child, woman or community should receive preferential attention because of geography, ethnicity, religion or political considerations.

A Sunday Tribune investigation revealed that the growing concern is fuelled by the prolonged captivity of 176 residents of Kwara State who were abducted by terrorists on February 3. As of today (Sunday), the victims have spent 166 days in captivity, with stakeholders warning that every passing day exposes the captives to worsening health conditions, psychological trauma, abuse and other life-threatening dangers. The investigation also showed that aside from the 176 victims from Kwara, scores of other Nigerians abducted in separate attacks across Borno, Kaduna and Zamfara states are still being held by terrorists, pushing the number of those believed to be in captivity to nearly 300.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) called on the Federal Government to use the same tactics it used in rescuing the Oyo kidnapped schoolchildren on schoolchildren being held by ISWAP and other terrorist groups in the region. Speaking in an interview on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, noted that while the forum is happy the Oyo schoolchildren have been released, they believe that nobody should spend a day in the hands of kidnappers. Going further, he expressed surprise that the same rescue has not been done for schoolchildren under the control of terrorists in Borno, Kwara, Zamfara, and other places in the region, especially the one in Borno in particular, where the schoolchildren and teachers were abducted at about the same time as the one in Oyo. He acknowledged that while the ACF does not have full evidence to conclude that government is biased, it is their duty to point out to government that they need a lot of sensitivity. If this rescue represents a new approach in the fight against terrorism, then we welcome it, but we plead that the same be extended to all people, and indeed to kidnapped citizens in the hands of terrorists, as soon as possible in the region.

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Similarly, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) urged President Bola Tinubu to launch similar operations to free hundreds of other schoolchildren, women and other Nigerians still being held by terrorists across the country. The National Publicity Secretary of the Northern Elders Forum, Prof Abubakar Jiddere, criticised the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, saying the successful rescue of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and teachers should not obscure what he described as the government’s failure to prevent such kidnappings in the first place. The forum urged the Federal Government to deploy the same level of urgency and operational commitment that secured the release of the Oyo victims towards rescuing schoolchildren and others still being held by kidnappers, including those abducted in Borno State. Additionally, a member of the Northern Elders Forum, Abubakar Yusuf, called on the Federal Government, the Defence Headquarters, and the Ministry of Defence to adopt a non-kinetic approach to secure the release of children abducted by suspected insurgents in Borno State, cautioning against the use of force in the rescue operation as it could endanger the lives of the victims.

Stakeholders in Borno called on government to intensify efforts to secure the release of students abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents, expressing fresh concern over their continued captivity and urging stronger measures to protect schools across the state. The renewed appeal came during a stakeholders’ engagement on the Safe Schools Programme following confirmation that students abducted from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, and Mussa Secondary School, along with one teacher, remain in the custody of the insurgents. Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, said the Borno State Government had not relented in its efforts to ensure the safe return of the victims, stating that they are doing everything within their capacity to see that the abducted students are reunited with their families. While acknowledging the military’s sustained operations against insurgents, Wakilbe commended the armed forces for their sacrifices and appealed for greater efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives. The Executive Director of the Zenith of the Girl Child and Women Initiative Support (ZEGCAWIS), Kabu, described insecurity as one of the greatest threats confronting education in the North-East, noting that many communities had become increasingly vulnerable to attacks, and emphasized that every child regardless of where they come from, deserves equal protection. The Executive Director of the Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI), Sadia Abubakar Mu’azu, called for stronger collaboration among government, security agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to improve school safety across the state, insisting that no child should be left behind in captivity.

At the centre of the growing criticism is the abduction of 42 pupils from Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, who were kidnapped during a Boko Haram attack on the same day as the Oyo schoolchildren. Among those abducted were toddlers as young as two years old, with the school complex housing a nursery, primary and secondary school, leaving families devastated as many of the children have yet to regain their freedom. Residents of Borno State have lashed out at the federal government over what they called prolonged silence on the abduction of these 42 students, as the school was temporarily shut by the state government and the remaining students relocated after the attack, but weeks later families and residents say they’ve heard no concrete update from the federal government under President Bola Tinubu. The residents accused the Tinubu administration of neglect, arguing that the lack of communication is heightening fear and disrupting learning in already vulnerable areas.

The chairman of the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, Abubakar Suleiman, said the federal government is not fair to the victims of both incidents, noting that the Federal Government visited Oyo State with a high-powered delegation including the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, Chief of Staff to the President among others with a helicopter, and landed at the local government where the abduction took place, while in the case of Borno, around 416 people were kidnapped in Ngoshe on the 3rd of May, and there has not been any FG intervention.

A prominent political analyst in Borno State, Abubakar Kareto, also echoed similar sentiment, noting that both abductions are heartbreaking reminders that rural schools remain highly vulnerable soft targets, and that a visible and unsettling imbalance exists in how the federal government responded to these two attacks, with the Oyo incident receiving a rapid, high-profile response while the Borno abduction has mostly received standard rhetorical condemnations.

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The forum further recalled that terrorists also attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in the same Askira/Uba Local Government Area on June 29, 2026, while students were writing their secondary school examinations.

According to the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, 36 students – 25 girls and 11 boys – and one staff member were abducted during the attack, with at least one teacher killed. The Borno State Government has confirmed receiving a proof-of-life video showing some of the abducted students from Lassa, and Commissioner Wakilbe noted that the recent attacks marked a worrying return to mass school abductions in the state since the Chibok abduction in 2014.

Following the devastating ISWAP raid on the Borno State school, tension escalated sharply in the Lassa community. The attack occurred at approximately 9:00 a.m. on a busy local market day, a strategic timing chosen by the insurgents to exploit the heavy civilian foot traffic.

According to eyewitness accounts, the ISWAP terrorists infiltrated the Lassa community riding motorcycles, deliberately disguised in fake military fatigues and specialized forest guard uniforms to deceive local security perimeters. The highly coordinated assault was launched while students were sitting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) biology examinations. While rapid intervention by Operation Hadin Kai military troops successfully resulted in the rescue of 10 abducted students, a community-led compilation of school registers confirms that 36 children remain entirely unaccounted for.

The profound psychological toll of the abduction rapidly morphed into intense civic outrage when a high-level Borno State Government delegation arrived in Lassa led by the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, intending to officially commiserate with the devastated families and assess the structural damage to the school.

But the official visit quickly devolved into a chaotic confrontation as enraged youths and desperate relatives of the 36 missing students vehemently rejected the delegation’s formal address, chanting, “We don’t want any talk, just go and bring back our children.”

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the terrorist attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, describing it as a damning indictment of Nigeria’s failing security architecture.

The attack, which occurred during the conduct of the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, reportedly left a teacher dead, another injured, and an unspecified number of students abducted by armed assailants. Reacting to the incident, HURIWA, through its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the latest assault was not merely another security breach but a tragic reminder that terrorists, insurgents, bandits and other non-state actors continue to operate with alarming audacity despite repeated assurances by government officials that insecurity is being brought under control.

The group questioned the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s current security strategy, asking President Bola Tinubu to urgently overhaul the nation’s security architecture and warning that repeated attacks on schools threaten to reverse decades of progress in educational advancement.

The association expressed particular concern that the attack occurred in Borno State, where government authorities have repeatedly claimed significant progress in the fight against insurgency.

The Kwara State abduction has become a focal point of the growing outrage. Youths in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State staged a protest at the council secretariat, demanding urgent action over the continued captivity of 176 women and children abducted from Woro community.

The protest, led by the Kaiama Youths Advocacy Group, followed the circulation of a viral video showing some of the abductees, including women and children, pleading for rescue, a development that has heightened tension and outrage across the area. Addressing journalists during the demonstration, the group condemned what it described as a failure of authorities to ensure the safety of citizens, warning that the prolonged captivity of the victims reflects deep cracks in the security system.

The group said the abduction of such a large number of vulnerable residents signified a major security lapse, expressing concern over what it termed delayed response and lack of transparency from relevant authorities.

In a further escalation, terrorists issued a fresh threat to execute dozens of the abducted women and children if their demands are not met.

The assailants, believed to be members of Boko Haram, reportedly passed the warning through some of the abducted victims after a Jumu’ah prayer session.

The traditional ruler of the community, Salihu Bio, confirmed the development, explaining that one of the victims was allowed to speak with her relatives and used the opportunity to relay the terrorists’ message, stating that after the Jumu’ah prayer on Friday, the terrorists said the government was not taking the matter seriously and that if nothing was done within one week, they would begin to take drastic actions.

Another source within the community painted a more troubling picture, stating that the Boko Haram fighters complained that they were spending money and resources to feed the abductees and that nothing was coming out of it, threatening that if nothing was agreed upon within one week, they would start marrying off some of the girls and kill those they consider liabilities.

The Kwara State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress has called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to take urgent and decisive action to secure the release of the 176 women and children, describing the prolonged captivity as a humanitarian tragedy.

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Stakeholders in Nigeria’s North Central also accused the Federal Government of applying double standards in its response to mass abductions, condemning what they described as its continued silence over dozens of schoolchildren abducted in Borno State on the same day pupils and teachers were kidnapped in Oyo State.

They argued that while the Oyo victims were rescued through coordinated security efforts, scores of children and other victims in the North have remained in captivity for months without a similar level of urgency from authorities.

The criticism gathered momentum after the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) , in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Luka Biniyat, lamented that while the entire country rightly rallied behind the Oyo victims, the children of Mussa had suffered in near silence, with the disparity in attention leaving affected families questioning whether some Nigerian lives were considered more valuable than others.

The forum further cited the April 6, 2026 attack on three churches in Ariko Village, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where armed bandits killed seven worshippers and abducted 37 others, mostly women and children, and according to the Forum, one of the abducted women gave birth in captivity, while some victims are believed to have died from the harsh conditions under which they have been held.

Following the attack, the Inspector-General of Police ordered the immediate deployment of senior operational personnel to Kaduna State, and seven kidnapped victims were rescued. “Since the first reports of that horrific incident, the nation appears to have moved on, leaving the victims and their grieving families to suffer alone. It is as if these children have been forgotten simply because they come from what appears to be a neglected part of Nigeria,” the Forum said.

The MBF maintained that the victims in Mussa, Lassa and Ariko remain in captivity while their families continue to endure unimaginable pain with little reassurance from those constitutionally charged with protecting them.

Echoing similar concerns, a northern elder and political stakeholder from Niger State, Alhaji Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, said the Federal Government must show equal commitment to rescuing all kidnapping victims regardless of where they were abducted, insisting that no Nigerian should be treated as a second-class citizen.

However, a former Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mohammed Ngoshe, has explained why the intelligence-driven operation that secured the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State cannot be replicated in every kidnapping case.

Ngoshe argued that the circumstances surrounding the Oriire abduction differed from those in other parts of the country, stating that every case and every security operation has its own dynamics.

He noted that the political aspect and other considerations that weighed on the minds of the terrorists to go into Oriire are not the same considerations given to the issue in Gwoza, where a lot of people are still in captivity.

Ngoshe claimed the security agencies isolated the kidnappers in the Oyo case, cutting off access to food, weapons and informants before surrounding their location, and they saw that they had no option other than to surrender.

He urged Nigerians to support security agencies with patience and cooperation, stating that security operations cannot be conducted in the open.

Professor Kamilu Fage of the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano (BUK), urged the Federal Government to adopt the same strategy it used to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State.

Speaking on the country’s growing insecurity, Fage said the approach employed in Oyo had yielded results and should be replicated wherever schoolchildren are abducted, arguing that since what they used in Oyo State produced results, that is what they should be doing rather than anything different.

The MBF has also urged the Nigerian Union of Teachers to demonstrate that its concern for the safety of teachers and schoolchildren is national in scope by extending the same solidarity to the victims in Southern Borno.

The forum appealed to civil society organisations, human rights groups, religious leaders, the media, development partners and the international community not to allow the innocent victims to disappear from public consciousness, saying that every Nigerian child held hostage by enemies of society deserves to be remembered.

As of the latest reports, a total of 78 students remain in captivity following separate abductions in different parts of Borno State.

With nearly 300 Nigerians still held in terrorists’ enclaves across the North, stakeholders insist that every Nigerian life carries equal value, stressing that no child, woman or community should receive preferential attention because of geography, ethnicity, religion or political considerations.

300 captives: ACF, Middle Belt, Borno Stakeholders Demand Oyo-Style Rescue

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He Was Not Like That Before — Father Says 2-Year-Old Changed After Kidnapping

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2 hours ago

July 19, 2026

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He Was Not Like That Before — Father Says 2-Year-Old Changed After Kidnapping

Traumatised toddler now cries uncontrollably at bedtime and when scolded, highlighting deep psychological scars left by captivity in Oyo State

The father of a two-year-old boy abducted alongside 39 pupils and six teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has revealed that his son is still struggling with psychological trauma weeks after regaining freedom. Sikiru Abiodun, a farmer in Yawota community, said his toddler has not been the same since returning from 56 days in bandits’ captivity. The child was among those abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed bandits attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esienle. The victims were eventually rescued on July 10 and taken to the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital for medical evaluation and psychological assessment before being reunited with their families.

Speaking to THE WHISTLER in Yoruba, Abiodun described the troubling changes in his son’s behaviour. “Before he was abducted, if he wanted to sleep, he would just go and sleep by himself. But since he came back, anytime he wants to sleep, he will start crying and he would not stop until we hug or carry him.” The farmer also noticed that his son now reacts with extreme distress whenever he is scolded. “Anytime he’s doing something or wants something and we shout at him; he will start crying also. He was not like that before,” Abiodun said. Despite the changes in his son’s behaviour, Abiodun expressed gratitude that the boy returned alive. “We’re just happy that he came back alive because we had lost hope of seeing him again,” he stated.

The toddler’s story is not an isolated case. A frightened four-year-old girl in the Ahoro-Dada community bolted in terror when she saw cameras and microphones, mistaking them for the guns that had shattered her world on May 15. Her terrified parents eventually caught up with her, held her gently by the hands and repeatedly assured her that the visitors were not kidnappers. The reaction of the little girl revealed that while the victims had regained their freedom, many have remained prisoners of fear. Though they might have left the forest, for many of them, the forest has refused to leave their minds.

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Clinical psychologists warn that the effects of kidnapping on young children can be profound and long-lasting. According to Sabina Ebadan, a clinical psychologist, kidnapping is not only a security incident but a deeply traumatic experience that can leave lasting mental health consequences if victims do not receive professional support. She explained that rescued victims may experience acute stress reactions such as shock, confusion, emotional numbness, panic attacks, sleep difficulties and poor concentration immediately after the ordeal. Some may later develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), characterised by flashbacks, nightmares, fear of returning to school or work, hypervigilance, avoidance of discussions about the incident, and difficulty sleeping or concentrating. The psychologist noted that affected children may become withdrawn, aggressive or unusually clingy, while teachers may struggle with emotional exhaustion, anxiety and reduced confidence in returning to the classroom. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has also warned that freedom from captivity does not necessarily mark the end of the ordeal for survivors. Professor Afekhide Ernest Omoti, NMA President, stressed that survivors require immediate and comprehensive medical attention, trauma-informed psychological care and long-term rehabilitation to recover fully from the hidden effects of captivity. He warned that untreated physical injuries, infectious diseases, malnutrition and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are among the health challenges that can persist long after victims regain their freedom. Research suggests that between 30 and 70 per cent of kidnapping survivors may develop PTSD, with the risk particularly high among those who experienced prolonged captivity, physical or sexual assault, repeated threats to life, or witnessed the abuse or death of others.

Zaccheaus Olatunde, one of the seven teachers rescued after spending 56 days in captivity, recounted the horrors they endured. He described how two of his colleagues – Mr Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye – lost their lives under brutal circumstances. The adult male captives were kept inside makeshift tents, their hands handcuffed and their legs chained for virtually the entire period. Their eyes were often blindfolded, while even basic human needs depended on the permission of their captors. If they wanted to urinate or defecate, they had to beg them. The terrorists rarely stayed in one place, moving the captives from one forest location to another to avoid detection by security forces. Most days, the captives survived on plain rice or rice mixed only with palm oil, without pepper or salt. The terrorists prohibited Christian prayers among the captives, beating them mercilessly whenever they were caught praying.

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The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikirun Branch, has called on the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to establish specialised trauma rehabilitation centres for victims of violent crimes, saying the rescue of the victims must be followed by long-term healing and institutional reforms. The NBA expressed concern over the psychological impact of the 56 days the victims spent in captivity, noting that most of the survivors are young children. “Child psychology dictates that these raw, uncensored experiences of violence, torture and unreported sexual abuse will be deeply integrated into their developing minds. The societal victory of their physical rescue remains incomplete until comprehensive, long-term measures are taken to heal their invisible wounds,” the statement said. Similarly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called for immediate psychological support for the rescued victims, stressing that emotional recovery should be treated with the same urgency as their physical wellbeing. She urged the federal and state governments to work with relevant agencies to ensure the victims receive comprehensive mental health support, noting that survivors of kidnapping often bear invisible emotional scars that require professional counselling and coordinated rehabilitation to enable them to reintegrate successfully into their families, schools and communities. The Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) has also warned that the victims may have escaped captivity but remain trapped by deep emotional wounds, urging the government to immediately provide professional mental health care to aid their recovery. The association stressed that many of the victims could suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, nightmares, fear, withdrawal, poor concentration, and other long-lasting psychological challenges if left without proper care. The NPA called for immediate psychological assessment, trauma-informed counselling by qualified psychologists, family counselling, school-based reintegration programmes, long-term mental health support and community sensitisation to prevent stigma against the victims.

The traumatic experience has also left many parents reluctant to send their children back to the affected schools, despite their successful rescue. One relative, Fausat Akindele, said the incident had permanently changed many parents’ perception of the schools’ safety. Another family member, Basirat Adigun, said: “No parent wants to take any risk after what these children went through. We appreciate the efforts that brought them back, but we need to see concrete security measures around the schools and the communities before we can think of returning them.” Reacting, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, described the parents’ concerns as understandable. “It is understandable if parents do not want to send their children back to those schools. As human beings, the emotional trauma which they have undergone will ordinarily not allow them to freely release their children to further their education because of the nightmare,” he said. He added that the state government had already begun implementing interventions to improve infrastructure in the affected schools.

He Was Not Like That Before — Father Says 2-Year-Old Changed After Kidnapping

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Meet Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya: Only Second Woman to Lead NBA in 93 Years

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2 hours ago

July 19, 2026

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Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya

Meet Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya: Only Second Woman to Lead NBA in 93 Years

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria made history as only the second woman to lead the Nigerian Bar Association in its 93-year history, securing 12,317 votes in an election disrupted by a cyberattack

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has elected Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) , as its 33rd president, making her only the second woman to lead the association since its formation in 1933 . She polled 12,317 votes (47.18 per cent) to defeat fellow SANs Lateef Akangbe (7,934 votes) and Olumuyiwa Akinboro (5,855 votes) in an electronic election that was delayed by a cyberattack on the voting platform .

Here are seven key things to know about the incoming NBA president.

1. Academic Background

Badejo-Okusanya holds degrees in both English and Law from the University of Lagos . She earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English between 1983 and 1987 before returning to study Law, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 2000 . She later attended the Nigerian Law School, where she obtained her Barrister-at-Law (B.L.) qualification in 2002 .

2. Legal Career and SAN Rank

The Senior Advocate has built a legal career spanning more than two decades in litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) . She specialises in domestic and international dispute resolution and has represented both private and government clients in commercial matters before trial and appellate courts across Nigeria . She began her legal career at Olaniwun Ajayi LP, one of Nigeria’s leading commercial law firms, and was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on September 29, 2025, one of the highest honours in the legal profession .

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3. Public Service in Lagos State

Before returning to private practice, Badejo-Okusanya served in the Lagos State Government. She was Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Justice Sector Reform and Policy between 2007 and 2011 before serving as General Counsel to the Governor from 2011 to 2015 . In July 2011, she was appointed General Counsel to the Governor of Lagos State and played a pivotal part in developing the landmark Lagos State Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) under the Fashola administration . During her time in government, she worked on public-private partnerships, arbitration legislation, consumer protection and justice sector reforms .

4. Law Firm Leadership

Since May 2017, Badejo-Okusanya has been a founding partner at ALP NG & Co (Africa Law Practice NG & Company), where she serves as Co-Head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice . Her practice covers litigation, arbitration, mediation, public policy and government relations, and she is also recognised for her expertise in regulatory compliance and dispute resolution .

5. Arbitration and Professional Memberships

Badejo-Okusanya has played active roles in arbitration and legal organisations . She previously served on the Executive Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Nigeria Branch, and currently serves on the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration . She is also a member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, ArbitralWomen, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the International Bar Association, the London Court of International Arbitration, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) .

6. Mediation and Dispute Resolution Expertise

An accredited Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) mediator, Badejo-Okusanya is recognised for her expertise in arbitration and ADR . She is frequently consulted on international arbitration matters and regulatory compliance, with experience across both domestic and international dispute resolution frameworks .

7. Historic Victory

With her victory, Badejo-Okusanya became the 33rd President of the NBA and only the second woman to lead the association, following Priscilla Kuye, who served as NBA president from 1991 to 1992 . She is also the first woman to be directly elected to the position, as Kuye had assumed office from the position of First Vice President when the then president was appointed Attorney-General of the Federation . She will serve a two-year term from 2026 to 2028 . In her victory statement, she pledged to “lead with integrity, courage, humility, fairness, and accountability” and promised to build “an NBA where lawyers can earn better, live better, and practise better” .

Meet Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya: Only Second Woman to Lead NBA in 93 Years

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Akinboro Rejects NBA Poll, Alleges Name Alteration, OTP Failures

Published

2 hours ago

July 19, 2026

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Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN)

Akinboro Rejects NBA Poll, Alleges Name Alteration, OTP Failures

Defeated presidential candidate rejects poll outcome, says his name was altered and photograph omitted from ballot; ECNBA blamed cyberattack for disruptions

A defeated presidential candidate in the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN), has renewed his attack on the conduct of the poll, alleging that the exercise was riddled with irregularities that prevented him from effectively participating and undermined the credibility of the election. In a statement released after the conclusion of the election, Akinboro alleged that his name was altered on the presidential ballot from “Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro SAN” to “Aare Oluwatoyin Muyiwa Akinboro SAN,” describing the development as a grave error that compromised the integrity of the process. He further claimed that while the photograph of the eventual winner, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) , appeared on the electronic ballot, the photographs of the other presidential candidates, including his own, were omitted. According to him, the voter authentication One-Time Password (OTP) was sent through email instead of registered phone numbers as stipulated in the election guidelines, raising questions about the competence of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) and its service providers.

“It therefore begs the question whether the above anomalies were also a part of the cyberattack rather than a clear demonstration of the incompetence and unpreparedness by both the Service Providers and the ECNBA,” Akinboro said. He further alleged that he was excluded from the presidential ballot because his correct name did not appear among the listed candidates. “I, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, was inexplicably excluded from the ballot for the office of President as the names on the ballot for the said office were: Aare Oluwatoyin Muyiwa Akinboro SAN, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe SAN and Oyinkansola Badejo Okusanya SAN (Mrs. B),” he stated.

Akinboro also dismissed the ECNBA’s explanation that a cyberattack disrupted the voting platform, arguing that the reported technical failures pointed instead to poor preparation and incompetence. The ECNBA had earlier acknowledged that the electronic voting infrastructure was subjected to a “deliberate, coordinated and sustained cyberattack” shortly before voting was scheduled to commence at midnight on July 18, delaying the start of the exercise. The committee said its cybersecurity experts and the Election Voting Service Provider activated emergency measures to contain the attack and secure the platform. The system was eventually restored, and voting commenced at approximately 7:35 a.m. However, Akinboro alleged that the election platform failed to commence voting at the scheduled time despite the guidelines fixing the exercise to begin at midnight.

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According to him, the 2026 election was “built on a faulty foundation,” alleging unconstitutional appointments into the ECNBA, partisanship by the NBA leadership, and the selection of incompetent service providers. “It is no news that from the outset, the entire electoral process… was built on a faulty foundation,” he said, accusing the NBA leadership of deploying the association’s structures in favour of a preferred candidate. The senior advocate also claimed that he was unable to vote because he never received the authentication code required to access the voting portal, adding that “tens of thousands” of lawyers experienced similar problems. “Furthermore, I have participated in all the online National Officers election of the NBA but I must say that this election stands out as the most controversial,” he said.

Akinboro’s allegations were not isolated. Another presidential candidate, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe (SAN), also raised serious concerns about the electoral process. In a protest letter to the ECNBA, Akangbe demanded the immediate suspension of the election, alleging that the electronic voting portal had collapsed and that voters were receiving OTPs via email instead of SMS in violation of the committee’s revised guidelines. He also complained that the presidential ballot displayed the photograph of only one candidate while omitting others. “A flawed, rushed election carried out today under these chaotic conditions cannot yield a credible result,” Akangbe said in the protest letter. “Whoever is declared the winner of an election conducted on a collapsed portal, with breached authentication, and on a visually defective ballot, will not lead the Bar with the confidence of the profession.”

Akinboro further alleged that interventions by senior members of the legal profession to address the challenges and preserve the credibility of the election were resisted by individuals who allegedly benefited from the existing system. Despite the outcome, he thanked lawyers across the country who supported his candidacy, saying the campaign enabled him to interact with members and exposed what he described as deep-rooted problems within the association. He alleged that many lawyers were subjected to pressure and intimidation during the election period, insisting that his campaign was aimed at reforming the NBA’s electoral process and restoring internal democracy.

Despite the disruptions, the ECNBA proceeded with the exercise after extending the voting period. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) was subsequently declared the winner of the presidential election, polling 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast. She defeated her closest challenger, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who secured 7,934 votes (30.39 per cent), while Akinboro garnered 5,855 votes (22.43 per cent). With her victory, Badejo-Okusanya becomes the 33rd President of the NBA and only the second woman to lead the association since its formation in 1933, following Priscilla Kuye, who served from 1991 to 1992. The election recorded a turnout of 26,106 valid votes out of 82,172 registered voters, representing approximately 31.8 per cent participation. The ECNBA Chairman, Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the final results at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja.