Rivers: Nwuche Urges FG to Grant Amnesty to Repentant Cultists, Militants

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Governing Board of the South-South Development Commission, Chibudom Nwuche, has appealed to the Federal Government to establish an amnesty programme for repentant cultists and militant youths in the Orashi region of Rivers State who are willing to renounce violence and surrender their weapons.

Nwuche said individuals involved in cultism, kidnapping, robbery, assault and other violent activities should be given an opportunity to abandon criminality through a structured process of rehabilitation, reorientation, skills acquisition and reintegration into their communities.

He made the appeal through his representative, Chief Kingdom Ajugo, during the opening of the 2026 Upata Folklore (Ele) at Ula Upata in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Orashi region comprises Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas.

Nwuche expressed concern over the security challenges confronting parts of the region, particularly Ahoada and neighbouring communities, where residents have continued to face killings and other forms of violent crime.

He cited the 2023 killing of SP Bako Angbashim, the former Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada Division, who was killed during an operation against criminal elements in the area. The incident triggered intensified security operations and investigations in the region.

According to Nwuche, repeated calls had previously been made for the Rivers State Government to introduce an amnesty initiative for youths willing to abandon criminal activities, but such a programme had yet to materialise.

He therefore urged the Federal Government, particularly the Office of the National Security Adviser, to consider a comprehensive amnesty framework for individuals who genuinely renounce violence.

He said such a programme should include the surrender of weapons, proper identification and screening of participants, rehabilitation, vocational training and reintegration into society, alongside mechanisms for monitoring beneficiaries.

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Nwuche also urged youths still involved in violent activities to take advantage of any genuine rehabilitation opportunity provided by government rather than continue on a path that threatens lives and undermines the economic prospects of their communities.

He said insecurity had affected economic activities across the Orashi region, making it difficult for residents to farm, trade and carry out other legitimate businesses without fear.

The former deputy speaker called for greater cooperation among government agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents in tackling cult-related violence and other criminal activities.

He also appealed to traditional rulers in Ekpeye land to promote unity and peaceful coexistence, urging them to work together in addressing issues affecting their communities.

The remarks were made during the Upata cultural festival, which attracted traditional rulers, chiefs, community leaders, women, youths, students and other members of the Ekpeye community.

The Eze Igbu Upata III, Eze Felix Otuwarikpo, declared the festival open and described it as an important platform for preserving the cultural heritage and identity of the Upata people.

The monarch said the annual celebration, traditionally held after the harvest season, provides an opportunity for the community to promote unity, hospitality and peaceful relations while passing its traditions and history to younger generations.

Nwuche further encouraged young people in the region to reject criminality and pursue legitimate economic opportunities, stressing that sustainable development could only take place in an environment where lives and property are protected.

He also urged the traditional institution to maintain constructive engagement with government authorities and oil companies in order to protect the interests of local communities.

The call for an amnesty for repentant cultists and militants comes amid wider debates over how to address youth involvement in cultism, armed violence and other criminal activities in parts of Rivers State.

If adopted, any such initiative would require clearly defined eligibility conditions, verification of participants, weapon surrender procedures and sustained rehabilitation and monitoring to ensure that beneficiaries genuinely abandon violent activities.

For communities in the Orashi region, the proposed approach would combine security measures with rehabilitation and economic opportunities for youths willing to renounce violence, while those who continue to commit crimes would remain subject to existing laws.

Rivers: Nwuche Urges FG to Grant Amnesty to Repentant Cultists, Militants

Lagos Arrests Man Over Viral Video of Toddler Being Flogged

The Lagos State Government has confirmed the arrest of a man allegedly seen repeatedly flogging a toddler in a viral social media video, as authorities intensify investigations into the reported child abuse.

The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and is currently in police custody following the circulation of a video that showed a shirtless man repeatedly hitting a young child with what appeared to be a charger cable.

The footage, which circulated widely on social media, showed the child crying and attempting to shield her head and body from the blows. The video triggered widespread concern and calls for authorities to identify and apprehend the person involved.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) initially launched efforts to identify and locate the alleged perpetrator after the video came to public attention.

NAPTIP said it was working with relevant security agencies to locate the man and ensure that he faced appropriate legal action if the allegations were established.

The development took a new turn after the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) confirmed that the suspect had been apprehended.

The DSVA said it was alerted to the alleged abuse in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State on Tuesday and immediately activated its response mechanism.

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The agency subsequently established contact with the child’s mother, who reportedly disclosed that the incident had already been brought to the attention of authorities.

The mother had reportedly approached the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, while the matter was also reported at the Imota Police Station.

The DSVA said officers at the Family Support Unit confirmed that the complaint had been received and that the authorities were already taking steps to address the matter.

Following the reports, the alleged perpetrator was arrested on September 23 and taken into police custody for further investigation.

The child and her mother have also been referred to a General Hospital for medical attention and further assessment.

The DSVA said it would continue to monitor the case and provide necessary support to the child and her mother.

The agency also reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s zero-tolerance policy on child abuse, stressing the importance of protecting children from physical violence and other forms of abuse.

The arrest came shortly after NAPTIP’s appeal for information, effectively bringing the initial manhunt to an end while shifting attention to the police investigation and possible prosecution.

The incident has also renewed concerns about the use of social media videos to expose alleged child abuse cases in Nigeria. While viral footage can draw attention to suspected abuse, authorities still have to establish the circumstances surrounding each case through investigation and due process.

For the Lagos incident, the police investigation is expected to determine what led to the alleged assault, the relationship between the suspect and the child, and whether additional offences were committed.

The suspect’s arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. The allegations remain subject to investigation and any subsequent judicial proceedings.

For now, the Lagos Government has confirmed the arrest, while the child and her mother are receiving medical attention and support as authorities continue investigating the alleged abuse.

Lagos Arrests Man Over Viral Video of Toddler Being Flogged

Police Probe Alleged Self-Kidnapping of Adeleke’s Aide in Osun

The Osun State Police Command is investigating an alleged self-kidnapping involving Shakirulahi Babatunde, a media aide to Governor Ademola Adeleke, amid claims that the incident was intended to obtain money from government officials.

The controversy began after Babatunde reportedly sent a message claiming that he had been kidnapped, prompting the state government to alert the police.

According to Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, an incident report was immediately lodged with the police on the instruction of the governor’s Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye.

The matter was subsequently referred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Osun State Police Command, which commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported abduction.

The development took a different turn after allegations emerged that Babatunde may have staged the incident himself in an attempt to extort money from the Osun State Government.

Reports said the alleged incident occurred in Ede, Osun State, with claims that the aide remained in a hideout while contacts were made concerning the purported kidnapping.

The state government has confirmed that the matter is under investigation but has rejected allegations that senior officials of the Adeleke administration are attempting to interfere with the process.

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Rasheed said the government had no reason to frustrate an investigation into a case that it had itself reported to the police.

He also denied reports that Akinleye or other officials attempted to influence police officers or pay them to suppress the investigation.

The spokesperson said the administration would wait for the outcome of the police probe before taking any further action.

The controversy has also triggered a fresh exchange between the Osun State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The opposition party alleged that some government officials initially publicised the reported kidnapping on social media and blamed opposition elements before the circumstances surrounding the case changed.

The APC further alleged that Babatunde was arrested by police officers attached to the Dugbe Division in Osogbo after he was allegedly traced to a hideout.

The party also claimed that the aide confessed to staging the alleged kidnapping.

However, the reported confession has not been independently established by a detailed public statement from the police.

The Osun State Police Command had not publicly released a comprehensive account of the alleged arrest, the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the aide or any confession attributed to him as of the latest reports.

The government has therefore urged the public to allow law enforcement authorities to complete their investigation rather than rely on competing claims surrounding the incident.

The case has attracted attention because of Babatunde’s position as a media aide to Governor Adeleke and the wider political tension between the APC and the Osun Government.

The allegations also come against the background of continuing political disputes in Osun following the 2026 governorship election, won by Adeleke.

For now, the police investigation remains central to determining what happened and whether the reported kidnapping was deliberately staged.

While the state government says it promptly reported the matter and has denied interfering with the probe, the APC has raised allegations about the handling of the incident and called for a transparent investigation.

Until the police release their findings or a court makes a determination, claims that Babatunde deliberately staged his own kidnapping or sought to obtain money through the alleged abduction remain allegations.

Police Probe Alleged Self-Kidnapping of Adeleke’s Aide in Osun