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Groups Reject Senator’s Call for Removal of NSA Nuhu Ribadu

Published

2 months ago

December 4, 2025

National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

Groups Reject Senator’s Call for Removal of NSA Nuhu Ribadu

Two notable groups — the Oodua Peoples Network (OPN) and the Niger Delta Stakeholders’ Forum (NDSF) — have strongly rejected a call by Senator Francis Fadahunsi urging President Bola Tinubu to replace the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, because he is not a military officer.

Senator Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East, had argued that the President should appoint a retired military officer as NSA, claiming such restructuring would enhance national security management.

But in a joint statement signed by OPN leaders Olasupo Bamidele, Emmanuel Adesokan, and Kehinde Olasope, the group criticised the senator for taking his concerns to the media rather than using proper communication channels with the presidency.

According to OPN, the senator’s position reflects a misunderstanding of modern security structures, noting that the NSA position is not exclusive to military officers.

The group cited historical precedents, recalling that the Office of the NSA was successfully led by non-military figures such as Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta and Ismaila Gwarzo, both considered among the best to have held the position.

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OPN noted that although soldiers held the position between 1999 and 2023, national security challenges persisted, proving that military experience alone does not guarantee effective national security leadership.

It added that the most successful NSAs in the U.S., UK and other advanced democracies are typically civilian security experts, not retired soldiers.

The organisation also highlighted Ribadu’s diplomatic achievements, especially his recent leadership of a Nigerian delegation to address the U.S. “Country of Particular Concern” designation, saying his international network and intelligence background made him ideal for the job.

Similarly, the NDSF, in a statement signed by Andrew Mene, Rowland Tamunopiri and Umukoro Erhimeyoma, dismissed the senator’s call as “a narrow and outdated view” of national security leadership.

According to the group, modern threats — including terrorism, cybersecurity, and intelligence coordination — require expertise beyond military experience. They argued that Ribadu’s background as former EFCC Chairman and his involvement in governance and security reforms demonstrate competence, integrity, and deep strategic capacity.

The NDSF stressed that national security leadership today relies on intelligence, inter-agency synergy, and strategic coordination—not military rank.

The group urged leaders to stop politicising security appointments and instead support ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening intelligence gathering and restoring peace nationwide.

Both OPN and NDSF maintained that President Tinubu made a strategic and globally aligned decision in appointing Ribadu as NSA, insisting that what Nigeria needs is “competence, strategy, and results.”

Groups Reject Senator’s Call for Removal of NSA Nuhu Ribadu

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EFCC Arraigns Mompha’s Associate Over Alleged ₦206m Fraud

Published

3 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Trends Admin

EFCC Arraigns Mompha’s Associate Over Alleged ₦206m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Sarumi Samusudeen Babafemi, an associate of social media personality Ismaila Mustapha (Mompha), alongside three corporate entities, over an alleged ₦206 million fraud before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja.

Babafemi — Managing Director and CEO of 606 Autos Limited, 606 Music Limited, and Splash Off Entertainment Limited — faces five counts of conspiracy, concealment, and transfer of proceeds of crime, allegedly committed between 2013 and 2018. The EFCC claims the offences involved large sums, including ₦37.6 million and ₦93 million transferred to third parties, with knowledge that the funds were proceeds of unlawful acts.

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When the charges were read, Babafemi pleaded not guilty. His defence lawyer, SAN Kunle Adegoke, filed a bail application, which the court granted, ordering that Babafemi be released to his counsel upon signing an affidavit of undertaking to appear in court. The trial is now scheduled to commence on March 24, 2026.

The EFCC said Babafemi acted in concert with Mompha and other co-accused — Ridwan Momodu Allison (Osama) and Richard Ugbah, who are currently at large — to facilitate the alleged money laundering scheme. This latest prosecution comes as part of broader EFCC efforts to tackle financial crimes and fraud networks linked to high-profile figures in Nigeria.

EFCC Arraigns Mompha’s Associate Over Alleged ₦206m Fraud

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Police U-Turn: Worshippers Abducted in Kaduna, Security Forces Deployed

Published

3 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Police U-Turn: Worshippers Abducted in Kaduna, Security Forces Deployed

The Nigeria Police Force has officially confirmed that worshippers were abducted during attacks on churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, after initially denying the reports. The reversal comes as security agencies deploy tactical units to rescue the victims and secure the area.

Eyewitnesses and local sources say armed gunmen stormed multiple churches, including ECWA and Cherubim and Seraphim, during Sunday services, seizing dozens of worshippers. Community leaders report that over 170 people may have been abducted, with some survivors managing to escape.

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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other local bodies have condemned the attacks and called for an urgent and thorough rescue operation. Authorities say they are intensifying efforts to locate and safely recover the victims, amid growing national concern over mass kidnappings in northern Nigeria.

The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in Kaduna State and other northern and central regions, where armed gangs and kidnappers frequently target vulnerable communities, often for ransom or political leverage. Families of the abducted worshippers continue to appeal for swift action as the rescue operations proceed.

Police U-Turn: Worshippers Abducted in Kaduna, Security Forces Deployed

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Presidency Accuses IPOB of Spreading False Christian Genocide Claims in Nigeria

Published

3 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu

Presidency Accuses IPOB of Spreading False Christian Genocide Claims in Nigeria

The Presidency of Nigeria has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of deliberately spreading false claims of a Christian genocide, saying the narrative is being amplified to mislead international opinion and influence foreign policy. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, described the reports as propaganda lacking verification and stressed that they do not reflect the reality of Nigeria’s security situation.

Bwala’s remarks follow widespread reports linking the so-called genocide narrative to statements from IPOB and affiliated actors, which have circulated on social media and attracted attention from international media and some foreign lawmakers. According to the Presidency, these claims oversimplify Nigeria’s complex security challenges, which include terrorism, banditry, and communal violence, rather than targeted religious persecution.

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The controversy has drawn U.S. congressional attention, with some lawmakers reportedly considering diplomatic responses. In response, the Nigerian Government has engaged U.S.-based lobbyists to highlight its efforts in protecting all citizens, regardless of faith, and to correct misleading narratives surrounding violence in the country.

Religious and civic leaders in Nigeria remain divided. While some dismiss the genocide claims as exaggerated and potentially divisive, others acknowledge violence against Christians but caution that framing it as genocide misrepresents the broader security context. Analysts warn that the debate over religious persecution and misinformation has significant implications for national unity, international perception, and Nigeria’s foreign relations.