MURIC Commends NSCIA Over Appointment of Abbas Jimoh as Spokesperson

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has applauded the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) for appointing veteran journalist Abbas Jimoh as its spokesperson, describing the decision as a commendable step that reflects inclusivity, transparency and merit.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Executive Director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, said the council had chosen the right person for the role, expressing confidence in Jimoh’s ability to effectively manage the organisation’s public communication.

Akintola noted that Jimoh’s extensive experience in journalism makes him well suited for the position, adding that he possesses the expertise and professionalism required to represent the country’s apex Islamic body.

According to him, the newly appointed spokesperson is well acquainted with the workings of the media and has the capacity to navigate the challenges associated with public communication.

“Mr. Abbas Jimoh is a veteran journalist who knows the straights and bends of the Fourth Estate of the Realm. We have no scintilla of doubt that he has the required experience to weather any storm in the pen profession,” Akintola stated.

He further described Jimoh as “a square peg in a square hole,” saying his appointment was based on merit and competence.

The MURIC leader also praised the leadership of the NSCIA for what he described as an inclusive, transparent and objective selection process.

“We are not surprised that the umbrella Islamic organisation picked the right person. NSCIA leadership deserves encomiums for adopting inclusivity, transparency and objectivity as its search mechanisms to pick its spokesperson,” he said.

Akintola congratulated Jimoh on what he described as a well-deserved appointment and urged him to discharge his responsibilities with diligence, courage and a high level of professionalism.

The NSCIA had last week announced the appointment of Abbas Jimoh, a veteran journalist and former Daily Trust staff member, as its spokesperson.

The appointment has continued to attract commendations from stakeholders within the Muslim community, with MURIC expressing optimism that Jimoh’s wealth of media experience will enhance the council’s public engagement and communication.

MURIC Commends NSCIA Over Appointment of Abbas Jimoh as Spokesperson

VeryDarkMan Faults Pastor Adeboye Over Tinubu Remarks, Revives 2010 Criticism of Jonathan on Insecurity

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has criticised the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, over comments suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not be held solely responsible for Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

The controversy began after Adeboye spoke at the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala in Washington, D.C., on June 23, where he addressed the country’s persistent security challenges, including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

During the event, the respected cleric acknowledged that insecurity had spread beyond northern Nigeria to several parts of the country, revealing that he had personally advised President Tinubu to issue a 90-day ultimatum to military commanders to eliminate terrorists or resign from office.

Adeboye also urged the President to identify and prosecute individuals financing terrorism, stressing that those enabling violent groups should face the full weight of the law.

While speaking on the President’s role as Commander-in-Chief, the RCCG leader argued that Tinubu had fulfilled his immediate responsibility by issuing directives to security agencies.

“When a Commander-in-Chief gives an order, he has done his bit. You don’t expect him to wear khaki and go to the battlefield himself,” Adeboye said.

The remarks quickly generated reactions online, with some Nigerians agreeing that the President cannot personally lead military operations, while others argued that he remains ultimately responsible for the performance of the country’s security architecture.

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Joining the debate, VeryDarkMan accused the cleric of applying different standards to President Tinubu compared with former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a video shared on his Facebook page, the activist displayed archived newspaper reports from 2010 showing Adeboye openly criticising Jonathan’s administration over rising insecurity and kidnappings.

One of the newspaper headlines cited by the activist read: “Adeboye petitions Jonathan over rising kidnappings.”

VeryDarkMan questioned why the cleric appeared more restrained in his criticism of the current administration despite ongoing security challenges across the country.

“Pastor Enoch Adeboye just wants to turn a blind eye because Tinubu is the President. Weren’t you the one in this video protesting years ago with a placard? This is just tribal bigotry,” the activist said.

The social media personality also rejected Adeboye’s argument that issuing directives alone amounted to sufficient leadership.

Drawing an analogy with family leadership, he argued that a father who assigns responsibilities to his children must also ensure they carry out those instructions effectively and take corrective action when they fail.

“As a father, if you give your children instructions to do something and later find out they didn’t do it properly, you either correct them or remove them immediately,” he stated.

According to VeryDarkMan, the same principle should apply to governance, insisting that leaders must be held accountable not only for issuing directives but also for ensuring that their policies produce measurable results.

The exchange has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with opinions sharply divided. Some users supported VeryDarkMan’s call for greater accountability from public officials, while others defended Adeboye’s comments, arguing that the cleric merely explained the constitutional role of the President as Commander-in-Chief.

The debate also reflects broader public concerns over Nigeria’s insecurity, as communities across several states continue to grapple with terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and communal violence despite ongoing military operations.

Security experts have consistently maintained that tackling the country’s security crisis will require improved intelligence gathering, stronger coordination among security agencies, better equipment for security personnel and sustained political commitment from all levels of government.

Beyond the immediate exchange, the controversy has reignited conversations about the role of influential religious leaders in public affairs, with many Nigerians debating whether clerics should focus solely on spiritual guidance or also speak more directly on governance, accountability and national development.

VeryDarkMan Faults Pastor Adeboye Over Tinubu Remarks, Revives 2010 Criticism of Jonathan on Insecurity

Parents Raise Alarm as 37 NECO Candidates Remain Missing After Borno School Attack

Fresh concerns have emerged over the fate of students abducted during Monday’s terrorist attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, as parents say 37 National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and a school staff member remain missing despite ongoing rescue efforts.

The attack occurred while students were sitting for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by NECO, forcing candidates and teachers to flee as heavily armed terrorists stormed the school.

The incident has once again highlighted the persistent security challenges facing schools in Nigeria’s North-East and renewed calls for stronger protection of students and educational institutions.

According to military authorities, troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Air Component and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), responded swiftly after receiving a distress call and pursued the attackers into nearby communities.

The security operation led to the rescue of 10 abducted students and one teacher, while several terrorists were reportedly engaged during the pursuit. However, the operation came at a cost, with one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force losing their lives.

Despite the initial rescue, many families say they are still searching for their children.

To account for those yet to return home, the Borno State Government opened a register for parents to report missing students and staff.

One of the affected parents, Mbula Bura, whose 19-year-old daughter Esther remains missing, said the register had recorded 37 missing persons, raising fears that dozens of students are still in captivity.

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“Parents who could not find their children were invited to come and register. I discovered that 37 names have been registered so far as missing. My daughter is still missing,” he said.

Providing an official update during a visit to the affected community, Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, confirmed that 36 students and one staff member remain in captivity.

According to the commissioner, those still missing include 25 female students, 11 male students and one staff member, while eight victims, including the school’s vice principal, have been rescued and reunited with their families.

Wakilbe assured residents that the state government was working closely with the military and other security agencies to secure the safe release of those still in captivity.

The commissioner, who led a government delegation to Lassa, also met with parents, school officials, traditional rulers and community leaders to assess the situation and reassure families that rescue efforts remain ongoing.

However, frustration boiled over during the visit as some youths staged protests, demanding faster action from security agencies and expressing concern over the recurring attacks on schools and communities in the area.

Earlier, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the attack, saying suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters invaded the school while students were writing their examinations before abducting an unspecified number of candidates.

Security agencies immediately launched a joint search-and-rescue operation, combing nearby forests and surrounding communities in an effort to locate the victims.

Although no group has formally claimed responsibility for the attack, security experts say the modus operandi resembles previous attacks carried out by ISWAP and Boko Haram, insurgent groups that have repeatedly targeted schools, students and rural communities across Borno State.

The latest abduction has revived painful memories of previous mass school kidnappings in Nigeria’s North-East, including the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls abduction, and underscores the continuing threats faced by schools in conflict-affected communities.

Education stakeholders and humanitarian organisations have renewed calls for the full implementation of Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative, urging governments at all levels to strengthen security around schools, especially during national examinations, and improve intelligence gathering to prevent future attacks.

The incident has also raised concerns about the psychological impact on students preparing for national examinations, with education advocates warning that repeated attacks could discourage school attendance and undermine learning outcomes across the region.

As rescue operations continue, anxious parents have appealed to the Federal Government, the Borno State Government and security agencies not to relent until every missing student and staff member is safely reunited with their families.

Parents Raise Alarm as 37 NECO Candidates Remain Missing After Borno School Attack