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Babangida’s autobiography, a reference book for criminals – Vatsa Family

Published

1 year ago

February 28, 2025

Trends Admin

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida

Babangida’s autobiography, a reference book for criminals – Vatsa Family

The family of the late General Mamman Vatsa has claimed that military president Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, which was released to the public last week, was full of lies and could only be used as a reference book for criminals.

Vatsa and Babangida, both from Niger State, were childhood friends and confidants. In 1986, Babangida, the military head of state at the time, hanged Vatsa on charges of plotting a coup to overthrow his administration.

A Supreme Military Tribunal convicted Vatsa and his co-conspirators guilty of the coup plot and sentenced him to death by firing squad, a sentence Vatsa disputed and appealed.

However, before the appeal was heard, the Babangida junta ordered Vatsa’s execution by firing squad.

The Vatsa family responded to a claim in Babangida’s book that the late Vatsa’s assassination was legitimate since there was enough evidence linking him to the coup and his death was necessary to safeguard the country’s security.

Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, the family’s spokesperson and former commissioner for Information Culture and Tourism in Niger State, addressed reporters and responded to Babangida’s statements in the book, which have sparked controversy.

The younger Vatsa portrayed Babangida as a man who has lost out on honor matters due to the numerous lies contained in his memoirs.

According to Jonathan Vatsa, he opted not to comment until he had read the book, observing that the book was full of deceptions and distorted facts. Vatsa stated that Babangida’s book could not serve as reference material for the younger generations.

“It’s a collection of distorted facts called a book written by a man without identity, which cannot serve as a reference book for the younger generation but is a good reference book for criminal-minded people,” he said.

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Vatsa, who was also a former Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was almost drawn to tears while addressing the media in Minna, as he explained that ordinarily, the Vatsa family wouldn’t have joined issues with a man who, he said, “changed his identity just to belong to a certain ethnic group in the country,” emphasizing that “since Babangida has refused to allow the late General Vatsa to rest in peace after killing him, we will let him know that even in death, the late General Vatsa was a more honorable man because he had an identity and came from a home.”

Vatsa said Babangida acknowledged in his book that he changed the name Badamosi to Babangida so that people would know he came from the north, saying, “Where did he get the name Badamosi from in the first place, because northerners do not bear the name Badamosi? That name is synonymous with people from the Southwest.

“A man who denied his tribe and identity is not fit to live.”

He went on to say that the numerous lies in Babangida’s book demonstrated that “he is not the genius the Nigerian media created for him, rather, “a lily-livered” general for annulling the June 12 election and failing to retire the late General Sani Abacha for fear of being killed by the Abacha loyalists in the army, as he claimed in his book.”

“How can he lie that it was Abacha who annulled the June 12 election if he was in control as the head of state? He equally admitted that the military was heavily politicized, and because of that, he couldn’t retire Abacha for fear of being killed by Abacha loyalists in the army,” he said.

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Vatsa maintained that those who advised Babangida to write what he termed “the bunch of lies and blackmails called autobiography” had further harmed his already battered image, adding that “it was better for him to have kept silent than dishing out the chunks of lies and deceit far from the truth about yourself as a human being.

“Unfortunately, the man he accused of annulling the June 12 election and all the actors in the June 12 controversy are no more today to tell their own side of the story, and that is why no serious-minded individual should take the book seriously.

“This is the man that had earlier said he would not write any book because, according to him, there are people he cannot resist abusing and that he wouldn’t want to hurt their children and grandchildren, but what has he done now? This is a lack of emotional stability.

“Even in death, Babangida has refused to allow late General Vatsa and his family to rest in peace. He is still troubling the dead man and his entire family. Well, people have seen the end of our brother, but Babangida doesn’t know how he will end.

“Our joy is that the reactions of Nigerians after the so-called book presentation show that the killing of the late General Vatsa was done out of envy, malice, and hatred. It was a case of a man with a root and identity versus someone who has no root and a second name.”

The Niger State APC Chieftain, while expressing regret for the cream of individuals that assembled for the book launch, pointed out that the country called Nigeria was a tremendous joke, “a country where people who call themselves leaders act before they think. No reasonable Nigerian who is benefiting from the current democratic system, which Abiola struggled and eventually died for, should have donated towards this revelation of evil done to Nigeria and Nigerians called an autobiography.

“This has further confirmed why some Nigerians, in their opinions, believe that this country is not worth dying for. If not, how can we as a people gather to celebrate the evil done to a nation by an individual?” Vatsa queried.

He recalled that the late General Vatsa informed the then-military tribunal that tried him that the day the Nigerian Army started mocking itself, others would join; thus, through this book, Babangida ridiculed himself, and others would join.

Babangida’s autobiography, a reference book for criminals – Vatsa Family

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Benue School Harassment: Authorities Investigate Assault on Female Student at Seat of Wisdom Aliade

Published

3 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Benue School Harassment: Authorities Investigate Assault on Female Student at Seat of Wisdom Aliade

Authorities in Benue State have launched an investigation following a disturbing incident at Seat of Wisdom Secondary School, Aliade, where a female student was reportedly harassed and assaulted by her peers. The event has raised serious concerns over student safety and supervision in the state’s schools.

According to preliminary reports, the victim, a female student at the school, was subjected to inappropriate treatment by a group of classmates while on school premises. The incident came to light after other students alerted the school authorities, prompting the administration to notify local law enforcement.

The Benue State Police Command confirmed that officers have begun a formal investigation. Police spokespersons said statements are being taken from witnesses, and the identities of those involved are being verified. Officials have emphasized that the safety and well-being of all students remain a top priority.

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School management has pledged full cooperation with authorities, stating that disciplinary measures will be taken against any student found responsible, while also offering counselling services for both the victim and other students affected by the incident. Parents and community leaders have condemned the act, describing it as unacceptable and a violation of students’ rights.

Child protection experts have stressed that incidents like this highlight the urgent need for robust safety policies, awareness programs, and reporting mechanisms within schools. They recommend that schools implement regular workshops on respect, personal boundaries, and peer conflict resolution to prevent future occurrences.

The case has sparked broader discussions across Benue State about the responsibilities of school administrators, teachers, and guardians in protecting students from harassment and ensuring a safe learning environment.

Authorities have assured the public that the investigation will be thorough, and anyone found culpable will face legal consequences in accordance with Nigerian law.

Benue School Harassment: Authorities Investigate Assault on Female Student at Seat of Wisdom Aliade

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Violent Protest in Ogoja After Man Allegedly Kills Girlfriend in Cross River

Published

3 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Cross River Police Spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah

Violent Protest in Ogoja After Man Allegedly Kills Girlfriend in Cross River

Tension has gripped Ogoja following the alleged killing of a 26-year-old woman, Moshie Igu, by her boyfriend, sparking a violent protest in Cross River and renewed concerns over gender-based violence in Nigeria.

According to the Nigeria Police Force, the suspect, 35-year-old Malime Ejor, allegedly carried out the attack in the early hours of Saturday, March 28, 2026, at a farm in Nwang Village, Ekajuk community.

Police spokesperson Sunday Eitokpah disclosed that preliminary findings show the suspect reportedly lured the victim to a nearby stream, where he attacked her with a machete, leading to her death.

Operatives responded swiftly after the incident was reported, arresting the suspect and rescuing him from an attempted mob action by enraged youths at the scene. He is currently in custody, while arrangements are being made to deposit the victim’s remains at the General Hospital mortuary in Ogoja. The police further confirmed that the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Calabar for a thorough and discreet investigation.

The situation escalated on Monday when hundreds of women and youths from Nwang I & II and other parts of the Ekajuk clan staged a protest, demanding the release of the suspect. The demonstrators marched to the Area Command in Ogoja, but the protest soon turned violent, with some protesters attacking officers and vandalising property, including a vehicle and parts of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) facility.

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Security operatives were forced to deploy smoke canisters to disperse the crowd, while at least eight individuals were arrested in connection with the unrest. Authorities say the situation is now under control, and in a bid to ease tensions, those arrested during the protest were later released to a community leader.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to ensuring justice, stressing that the suspect remains in custody and will face due legal process. With the case set for transfer to SCID, authorities are expected to deepen investigations and prepare for prosecution.

The incident has sparked fresh conversations around femicide, domestic violence, and the increasing cases of relationship-related killings in Nigeria. Analysts warn that attempts by communities to interfere in criminal investigations—such as demanding the release of suspects—could undermine justice and embolden perpetrators.

Residents and stakeholders have been urged to remain calm and allow the law to take its course, as calls for justice for the victim continue to grow.

Violent Protest in Ogoja After Man Allegedly Kills Girlfriend in Cross River

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Gunmen Attack Wedding in Kaduna, Kill 13, Abduct Several Guests

Published

5 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State is CP Muhammad Rabiu

Gunmen Attack Wedding in Kaduna, Kill 13, Abduct Several Guests

Suspected bandits have attacked a wedding ceremony in Kahir village, located in Kagarko Local Government Area, killing at least 13 people and abducting an unspecified number of guests.

The incident occurred late Sunday night in Kaduna State when heavily armed assailants reportedly stormed the venue and opened fire on attendees gathered for the celebration.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers arrived at about 11:47 p.m., shooting indiscriminately inside the wedding hall and causing widespread panic. A resident, Shehu Bala, said some guests sustained gunshot injuries during the assault.

According to reports, the gunmen operated for nearly an hour without resistance, leaving several casualties in their wake.

Injured victims were initially taken to Kagarko General Hospital, while those with critical injuries were later transferred to medical facilities in Kaduna for advanced treatment.

A community leader confirmed that 13 people lost their lives in the attack and have since been buried. He added that efforts are ongoing to ascertain the exact number of those abducted by the assailants.

The attackers were also said to have looted shops within the community, carting away food items, provisions, and drugs from a local chemist during the raid.

“The entire community was thrown into panic due to the heavy gunfire, forcing many residents to flee into nearby bushes,” the community leader said.

Police authorities in Kagarko have confirmed the incident but stated that investigations are still ongoing, particularly regarding the number of abducted victims. The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Hassan Mansur, also confirmed the attack, noting that a comprehensive report would be released upon conclusion of investigations.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, alongside a serving senator, visited injured victims receiving treatment at the hospital in Kagarko.