Nasarawa Police rescue one as gunmen abduct three FULafia students

The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three students of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) by suspected gunmen, with one of the victims successfully rescued during a swift security operation.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night at Living Seed Lodge, an off-campus student hostel located in a bushy area along Awe Road on the outskirts of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ramhan Nansel, said the command received a distress report from the university’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) at about 9:20 p.m., informing the police that three students had been kidnapped by armed men.

According to the police spokesperson, the report was immediately relayed to the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, who directed the rapid deployment of tactical teams, patrol operatives, intelligence officers and other security personnel to the area.

Nansel said the security operatives swiftly mobilised and launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation across the surrounding forest and adjoining communities.

He disclosed that the operation led to the successful rescue of one of the abducted students shortly after the attack, while efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining two victims.

“The prompt response of the police led to the successful rescue of one of the abducted students. Efforts have since been intensified to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining two victims still in captivity and the arrest of the perpetrators,” the statement said.

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The command assured members of the public that all available operational and intelligence resources had been deployed to track down the kidnappers and ensure the remaining students regain their freedom unharmed.

The police also reaffirmed their commitment to bringing those responsible for the attack to justice.

SP Nansel urged residents of Nasarawa State to remain calm, vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing rescue operations.

He advised members of the public to promptly report suspicious movements, unusual activities or persons to the nearest police station or other security agencies for immediate action.

Although the identities of the affected students have not been made public, reports indicate that the gunmen invaded the off-campus hostel before whisking the victims away into a nearby forest, taking advantage of the isolated location of the students’ residence.

Security sources said search operations remain active in the forests and surrounding communities as operatives intensify efforts to rescue the remaining students without harm.

The latest kidnapping has renewed concerns over the security of students living in off-campus accommodation around tertiary institutions, particularly residences located in remote or poorly secured areas.

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks targeting educational institutions and student communities across parts of Nigeria, prompting renewed calls for stronger security collaboration among universities, host communities and law enforcement agencies.

While the Federal University of Lafia had yet to issue an official statement as of Wednesday evening, the police expressed confidence that ongoing operations would lead to the safe rescue of the remaining students and the arrest of those behind the attack.

Parents, students and residents have meanwhile appealed to security agencies to sustain the rescue efforts and strengthen surveillance around student hostels to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Nasarawa Police rescue one as gunmen abduct three FULafia students

Seven Dead, 5,403 Affected as Windstorms Ravage 120 Jigawa Communities

The Jigawa State Emergency Relief Management Agency (SEMA) has confirmed that no fewer than seven persons have lost their lives, while 5,403 others have been affected following a series of devastating windstorms that swept through 120 communities across 13 local government areas of the state, destroying homes, schools, health facilities, and critical public infrastructure. The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Hon. Hannafi Yakubu, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Dutse on the extent of the destruction caused by the disaster. He said the windstorms, which accompanied the onset of the rainy season, have left a trail of destruction across the state, damaging residential buildings and public infrastructure, including schools, health facilities, and police stations.

According to Yakubu, about 50 schools and health facilities, as well as two police stations, were damaged by the storms, making it the most significant disaster currently facing the state. The windstorms have impacted 120 communities spread across villages and towns in the affected local government areas. The affected local government areas include Dutse, Gwaram, Birnin Kudu, Kiyawa, Babura, Gumel, Kaugama, Ringim, Gagarawa, Kirikasamma, Sule Tankarkar, Miga and Buji. Ringim Local Government recorded the highest number of victims, with 1,182 affected persons, followed by Dutse with 792, Babura with 650, Kirikasamma with 605 and Birnin Kudu with 539. In Dutse metropolis, the heavy rainfall and windstorm destroyed fences, blew off the roofs of houses and shops, and damaged electricity poles and power lines, leaving many communities without electricity for more than 16 hours. The affected areas within the state capital include Gida Dubu, Takur Site, Mobile, Kudi, Dan Masara, Kwaimawa, and Yalwawa.

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Affected residents of Dutse have described the rainstorms as one of the most destructive in recent times, with many affected families left homeless and now seeking temporary shelter with neighbours and relatives. Maryam Hashim, whose home was damaged, recounted that the rainstorm was so intense that part of her roof was blown away and sections of her fence collapsed before she could comprehend what was happening, and she noted that they were still trying to come to terms with the extent of the damage. For Tukur Malami, a resident of the Yalwawa area, the devastation was particularly painful, as he had spent nearly 15 years building his house, which was not yet completed, though the family had moved in due to high rental costs; he lamented that neighbours had accommodated them for two days yet they had no idea how to begin again, appealing to the government for urgent aid and noting the difficulty of housing his two wives and six children in a neighbour’s home. Abdulkahar Lawal also reported that the storm destroyed his entrance gate and damaged his garden, leaving him shocked to find his gate badly damaged and several plants he had spent years nurturing destroyed.

The intense rainfall immediately exposed the systemic failure of drainage infrastructure in many communities, as channels and culverts designed to divert floodwaters away from residential zones were choked with accumulated waste and plastic debris, which exacerbated the flooding. Some residents attributed the severity of the flooding to the abandonment of annual, community-led drainage clearing exercises and warned that the situation could lead to even more severe flooding if urgent measures are not taken. Hassan Sani advised homeowners to inspect their roofs, gates, and fences regularly to minimise damage during heavy rainfall, and he also urged residents to secure loose roofing sheets and trim trees near their homes. Residents expressed growing concern over recurring storm damage, highlighting the urgent need for better structural maintenance and preparedness during the rainy season.

Yakubu explained that SEMA has been working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assess the level of damage and coordinate emergency response efforts. Describing disaster management as a collective responsibility, he called on the Federal Government, local governments, development partners, humanitarian organisations, corporate bodies, and well-meaning individuals to support efforts aimed at assisting affected communities. He revealed that, as part of its disaster preparedness measures, the Jigawa State Government had approved more than N800 million for the procurement of emergency relief materials before the onset of the rainy season, adding that the relief materials are being stockpiled to enable the government to respond promptly to emergencies across the state. During a visit to affected communities in Ringim, the council chairman, Hon. Badamasi Garba, confirmed the scale of the disaster and noted that three institutions—the local council, Jigawa State Government, and NEMA—are coordinating relief operations, and all district heads have received orders to work with village leaders in documenting affected families. Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, NEMA’s Kano/Jigawa zonal director, arrived in the state to assess damage firsthand, telling reporters the visit aimed to show federal solidarity with victims and measure the destruction for possible federal intervention.

Yakubu also confirmed that an isolated flooding incident was recorded in Miga Local Government Area, where more than 70 hectares of farmland were destroyed. However, he clarified that the incident could not yet be classified as part of the annual flooding season, since major rivers across the state had not overflowed. The SEMA Executive Secretary assured residents that the state government would continue to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response mechanisms to minimise the impact of natural disasters and provide relief to affected communities. Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency has warned that more than 148 communities across the state are at high risk of flooding this season and has urged residents in flood-prone communities to take precautionary measures.

Seven Dead, 5,403 Affected as Windstorms Ravage 120 Jigawa Communities

Reps in Rowdy Session Over Motion to Summon Tinubu Over 2025 Budget Delays

The House of Representatives was thrown into a heated rowdy session on Wednesday as lawmakers sharply disagreed over a controversial motion seeking to invite President Bola Tinubu to appear before the National Assembly to explain the slow implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act and delays in funding for constituency projects. The chaotic scene unfolded during plenary after two separate motions raised concerns over a June 29 Treasury Circular issued by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, which directed all federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to halt payment processing for constituency and Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs) unless they had first obtained a Certificate of Verification and Compliance from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs. The directive, aimed at strengthening accountability and transparency in project implementation, was seen by some lawmakers as an unnecessary bureaucratic hurdle that would further stall already delayed budget execution.

The controversy began when Benedict Etanabene, the lawmaker representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State, raised a point of privilege over the Accountant-General’s circular. Etanabene argued that the directive could significantly undermine the implementation of projects already captured in the 2025 budget and frustrate lawmakers’ efforts to deliver constituency projects to their constituents. He urged the House to summon President Tinubu to explain the slow pace of budget implementation and the rationale behind the directive, insisting that the executive owed Nigerians and the National Assembly a clear explanation. A similar motion was then moved by Alex Mascot Ikwechegh (LP – Abia State), who specifically called for President Tinubu to appear before the House to address the persistent funding delays. Ikwechegh highlighted revelations made by ministers and heads of MDAs during ongoing 2026 budget defence sessions, which showed that several agencies received little or no capital releases throughout the 2025 fiscal year. He also cited repeated protests by indigenous contractors over unpaid certificates for completed projects, many of whom had been pushed to the brink of insolvency after borrowing from banks to execute government contracts. Ikwechegh further recalled that President Tinubu had, at a Federal Executive Council meeting in December 2025, directed the immediate settlement of verified contractor liabilities estimated at about N1.5 trillion. However, he argued that despite the presidential directive, releases to MDAs remained slow or non-existent. Heating up the debate, Ikwechegh proposed an amendment to suspend plenary for one week until the issue was resolved.

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The proposal to summon the President immediately divided the House, with some lawmakers supporting the invitation, arguing that the President, as head of the executive arm of government, should account for the implementation of the national budget, while others strongly opposed the move. Among those who opposed the invitation was Yusuf Gagdi (APC – Plateau State), who argued there was no constitutional basis for summoning the President. He insisted that ministers and heads of MDAs were constitutionally responsible for budget execution and should instead be summoned to address the issues. Gagdi called for the motion to be divided so that lawmakers could vote separately on the controversial prayer to invite the President. His remarks triggered loud protests from members, leading to shouting matches across both sides of the chamber as lawmakers attempted to outshout one another. The heated exchanges disrupted proceedings for about 30 minutes, with some members chanting “Sit down! Sit down!” at their colleagues.

Amid the disorder, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas repeatedly called for order and eventually ruled against the motion. Abbas explained that the prayers contained in the motion as read on the floor differed from those contained in the document originally submitted by the sponsor, describing it as a deviation from the approved text. He declined requests to subject the controversial prayer to a separate vote, insisting that the House would proceed in line with its established rules and legislative procedures.

The June 29 circular issued by the Accountant-General’s office mandates all Accounting Officers, Directors, Heads of Finance and Accounts, and Internal Audit units across MDAs to reject any payment request for constituency projects that does not have the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs’ Certificate of Verification and Compliance. According to the circular, the decision followed observed lapses in compliance with an earlier circular issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on September 20, 2023, which introduced revised guidelines for the implementation of constituency projects. The Treasury Office stated that the measure is aimed at tightening financial controls, improving transparency, and ensuring that public funds are released only for duly verified and approved projects. Constituency projects, officially known as Zonal Intervention Projects, are federal budget projects nominated by members of the National Assembly to address developmental needs in their constituencies. Over the years, the programme has come under increasing scrutiny for abandoned projects, duplication, poor execution, weak monitoring, and misuse of public funds.

The incident highlighted growing frustration among lawmakers over the pace of the 2025 budget implementation, delayed releases of capital funds to MDAs, and the mounting backlog of unpaid contractors—issues many legislators say are hampering infrastructure delivery and undermining public confidence in government spending. Earlier reports had indicated that the 2025 budget faced significant implementation challenges, with capital implementation only beginning in October 2025, several months after the budget was signed into law. Economic stakeholders had expressed worry over the delay in budget preparation and execution, with some describing the budgeting process as chaotic and uncoordinated.

Reps in Rowdy Session Over Motion to Summon Tinubu Over 2025 Budget Delays