Xenophobia: FG Receives 270 Nigerians Returning Voluntarily from South Africa

The Federal Government has received 270 Nigerian citizens who returned from South Africa under an ongoing voluntary return and reintegration programme coordinated by relevant government and humanitarian authorities.

The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday after completing mandatory registration, documentation, and screening processes required for participation in the initiative.

Officials confirmed that the exercise was jointly facilitated by government agencies and partner organisations to ensure the safe, orderly, and dignified return of Nigerian citizens willing to come back home.

In a statement issued by the Lagos Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (National Emergency Management Agency), the agency said its officials, alongside other stakeholders, were on ground at the airport to receive the returnees and coordinate immediate humanitarian support.

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The statement, signed by the Head of Operations, NEMA Lagos Operations Office, Mr Mohammed Olatunde, noted that the return programme is designed to support Nigerians abroad who voluntarily choose to return, particularly in situations involving economic hardship, safety concerns, or difficult living conditions.

According to him, the returnees had duly registered for the programme and completed all required screening procedures before departing South Africa, ensuring compliance with established migration protocols.

On arrival in Lagos, the returnees were assisted through immigration clearance and profiling procedures, after which arrangements were made for their onward movement to different parts of the country.

Olatunde explained that the Federal Government provided transportation support to help ease their movement from Lagos to their respective destinations across Nigeria.

He further disclosed that medical personnel and emergency response teams were stationed at the airport to provide immediate attention to any returnee requiring healthcare services upon arrival.

Reaffirming NEMA’s role in the operation, he said the agency remains committed to humanitarian coordination, emergency response, and the welfare of Nigerians returning from abroad under organised frameworks.

He added that the initiative reflects ongoing collaboration between Nigerian authorities and international partners aimed at ensuring the safe reintegration of returnees into their communities.

Authorities also noted that the programme includes post-arrival support measures, which may involve referrals for psychosocial support, transportation assistance, and reintegration guidance to help returnees resettle productively.

Officials stressed that the voluntary return initiative is part of broader migration management efforts and diplomatic engagements designed to support Nigerians abroad while ensuring their dignity and safety.

The arrival of the 270 returnees comes amid continued concerns over xenophobic tensions in South Africa, which have previously affected foreign nationals, including Nigerians, prompting periodic evacuation and return programmes.

Xenophobia: FG Receives 270 Nigerians Returning Voluntarily from South Africa

BREAKING: House of Reps Passes State Police Bill

The House of Representatives has passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police in Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to tackle rising insecurity through decentralised policing.

Lawmakers approved the bill during plenary on Thursday as part of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, paving the way for one of the most far-reaching security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Constitution to allow states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). At present, policing is exclusively controlled by the Federal Government, with the Nigeria Police Force serving as the country’s only constitutionally recognised police institution.

The passage of the bill comes amid increasing calls for State Police as Nigeria grapples with persistent security challenges, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, communal clashes and other violent crimes across various regions.

Supporters of the proposal argue that a decentralised policing structure would improve intelligence gathering, enhance community policing and enable faster responses to security threats at the local level. They also believe governors and local authorities are better positioned to understand the unique security concerns within their states.

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The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, had previously described the establishment of State Police as a critical step toward strengthening Nigeria’s security framework.

According to proponents, the current centralised policing system has become overstretched due to the country’s growing population and increasingly complex security landscape.

The push for State Police in Nigeria has gained momentum in recent months following consultations involving the Presidency, state governors, security agencies, lawmakers and civil society organisations.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration has repeatedly expressed support for discussions around policing reforms, with many governors also backing the proposal as a means of improving security at the grassroots level.

However, the initiative has continued to spark debate among stakeholders.

While advocates maintain that state-controlled police formations would improve security and accountability, critics have raised concerns that state governments could misuse such forces for political purposes, particularly during elections and periods of political tension.

To address these concerns, lawmakers have indicated that constitutional safeguards, oversight mechanisms and operational guidelines would be incorporated into the framework to prevent abuse and ensure professionalism.

Despite its passage by the House of Representatives, the bill has not yet become law.

As a constitutional amendment, it must still secure concurrence from the Senate and be approved by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

If eventually enacted, the legislation would fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s policing system and represent one of the most significant constitutional reforms since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

The latest development is expected to reignite nationwide conversations on security sector reforms, federalism and the devolution of powers within the Nigerian federation.

BREAKING: House of Reps Passes State Police Bill

Oyo School Abduction: IGP Deploys DIGs, Orders Nationwide Crackdown on Unregistered Vehicles

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has assured Nigerians that the Police, working in collaboration with other security agencies, will do everything within their power to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State. The IGP also ordered the deployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to strengthen ongoing rescue operations aimed at securing the release of the victims. Disu disclosed this during a conference with senior police officers in Abuja on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. He also directed the immediate nationwide enforcement against vehicles operating without registration number plates, as well as those with concealed, defaced, or altered number plates. According to him, the Police would no longer tolerate such practices, noting that unregistered or disguised vehicles are frequently used by kidnappers, terrorists, and other criminal groups to evade detection and arrest. “From this moment, enforcement will be strict and uniform. There will be no preferential treatment,” he said. While noting that significant progress had been made in efforts to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers, the IGP said the full operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force, in coordination with other security agencies, had been deployed to secure their safe return. “We are making progress and will not relent until every hostage is brought home safely,” he said. Disu further stated that the deployment of DIGs, which takes effect from June 15, 2026, is aimed at improving supervision, operational coordination, and accountability across police formations nationwide. He explained that the reform is intended to bring strategic leadership closer to field operations and enhance rapid response to emerging security threats.

The abduction incident occurred in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State in the early hours of Friday, May 15, 2026. Armed men attacked schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esinele communities, resulting in the abduction of 39 pupils and students as well as seven teachers. The attack targeted three schools: Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School. During the attack, a mathematics teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded. A motorcyclist was also killed, and a security operative died after running into improvised explosive devices planted by the abductors during early rescue attempts. The Oriire LGA communities sit on the fringes of a forested belt that the abductors have exploited for cover since the attack. A total of 46 people — comprising students, pupils, and teachers — remain in captivity.

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On May 16, 2026, the IGP visited Oyo State following the abduction incident. He was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Ojo Adekimi, owing to the strategic proximity of the Oriire axis to communities bordering Kwara State, as well as the Commissioner of Police, Schools Protection Squad, CP Abayomi Shogunle. During the visit, the Inspector-General met with the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, alongside other security stakeholders, where he received operational briefings on ongoing rescue efforts and security deployments across the affected communities. He directed the deployment of additional tactical and intelligence assets to strengthen ongoing operations in the area and adjoining forests. The IGP assured residents, parents, and guardians that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified coordinated search-and-rescue operations, intelligence gathering, and tactical deployments aimed at securing the safe return of all abducted victims.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State and ordered the deployment of a specialised security unit to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers. The directive was announced during a visit by a high-powered Federal Government delegation to Esiele and Yawota communities on May 31, 2026. The delegation, led by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, conveyed Tinubu’s concern over the incident and reassured residents of the government’s commitment to securing the safe return of the victims. According to the delegation, the President approved the recruitment of the forest guards in collaboration with the Oyo State Government as part of measures to strengthen security in the area. Tinubu also directed a specialised rescue team with advanced operational capabilities to support ongoing efforts aimed at freeing the abducted pupils and teachers. The delegation included National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, and Presidential Media Adviser Sunday Dare. Addressing residents, Gbajabiamila said the President was deeply troubled by the abduction and had ordered the deployment of all necessary resources to ensure the victims’ safe return. “Whatever it takes, our children and teachers will be brought back home safely,” he said, assuring the communities that the rescue operation would be intelligence-led and carefully coordinated. Gbajabiamila also addressed appeals from parents and community members urging caution in the rescue operation, explaining, “Mr President also saw the appeals from some parents and community members urging caution in the rescue efforts. Let me assure you that the operation will be intelligence-led and carefully coordinated, deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to secure the safe return of the victims.” The delegation also visited the widow of the slain teacher, Mrs. Mary Oyedokun, and her two children, where Gbajabiamila delivered the President’s personal condolences to the family and promised that they would not be left to suffer. Community leaders had also requested the establishment of a military base in the area, and the delegation said the request would be forwarded to the President for consideration.

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed a surveillance aircraft to support efforts to rescue the abducted teachers and pupils. Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed the deployment during a visit by senior Nigerian Air Force officials, according to a statement issued by the Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame. Makinde said the Air Force responded quickly after the incident was reported. “The NAF promptly deployed an aerial surveillance platform immediately after the abduction was reported, providing critical intelligence to support search-and-rescue operations,” the governor said. He added that “intelligence generated from the surveillance missions has continued to assist security agencies in tracking developments and coordinating efforts towards securing the safe release of the victims.” The governor praised the military for its support, noting that the aircraft was deployed while Oyo State’s newly acquired aerial assets, two Diamond-42 aircraft, were still being assembled at the NAF Base in Lagos. He urged residents to remain patient and cooperate with security agencies, assuring them that all necessary resources are being deployed to secure the victims’ release. Governor Makinde also emphasized that patience was required to successfully carry out the operation, noting that his government bought the aircraft proactively to ease the burden on overstretched security forces.

In a significant move to curb the activities of criminals who exploit unregistered vehicles, the IGP has mandated an immediate enforcement initiative targeting vehicles operating without registration plates or those with concealed, altered, or defaced number plates. The IGP stated: “Let me now address the growing disturbing trend that has several implications for public safety and national security across several parts of the country. We have observed an increasing number of vehicles being driven without registration number as well as vehicles whose number plates are deliberately concealed, defaced, covered, or altered in an attempt to evade identification.” “This practice is unlawful, irresponsible, and unacceptable and so, I wish to state unequivocally that from today, the Nigerian Police Force will no longer tolerate such acts of impunity. Every vehicle operating on our roads must be properly registered and must display its approved registration number in accordance with the law,” he said. The IGP noted that vehicle registration was not merely an administrative requirement but a critical component of crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and national security, as criminals, kidnappers, terrorists, and other offenders often exploit unregistered vehicles to perpetrate crimes and evade detection. “All CPs, Tactical Commanders, and heads of formation are therefore directed to immediately intensify enforcement operations against unregistered vehicles, and those with concealed registration numbers. There shall be no preferential treatment or selective enforcement. The law must be applied equally to all, and anyone who chooses to disregard this directive will face the full consequences of the law,” Disu said.

Presenting the Force’s operational achievements since its last strategic meeting on May 5, 2026, the IGP said: “Since our last conference on May 5, 2026, the Force has arrested eight suspected terrorists, 29 murder and culpable homicide suspects, 65 armed robbery suspects, 55 kidnapping suspects, and 42 suspected cultists.” “Our operations also led to the rescue of 88 kidnapping victims. In addition, 114 assorted firearms and 843 rounds of ammunition were recovered, while 28 stolen vehicles were also recovered,” he added. The IGP cited a recent operation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , where intelligence reports revealed that five suspected kidnappers were heading to Abuja to carry out criminal activities. “Through coordinated intelligence and operational deployment, the suspects were intercepted and arrested before they could execute their plans. This demonstrates the importance of proactive policing and intelligence-driven operations in preventing crime before it occurs,” he said. He described the achievements as evidence of improved intelligence gathering and proactive policing strategies.

To further strengthen security, the IGP directed Commissioners of Police to establish coordinated “Handshake Patrols” between neighbouring states to prevent criminals from exploiting jurisdictional boundaries. He also ordered enhanced surveillance along major entry and exit routes nationwide, improved intelligence sharing, and joint operational responses where necessary. “Criminals do not respect state boundaries. Our response must be equally seamless,” he said. The IGP urged officers to deepen collaboration with communities and strengthen intelligence gathering through public trust and engagement. He also called for proactive communication with the media to counter misinformation and ensure accurate reporting of police operations. He commended officers and men of the Force for their dedication and urged them to intensify efforts to rid the country of criminal elements.

Oyo School Abduction: IGP Deploys DIGs, Orders Nationwide Crackdown on Unregistered Vehicles