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Nasarawa Senator Godiya Akwashiki Dies at 52 After Prolonged Illness

Published

10 months ago

January 1, 2026

Nasarawa Senator Godiya Akwashiki

Nasarawa Senator Godiya Akwashiki Dies at 52 After Prolonged Illness

Senator Godiya Akwashiki (SDP, Nasarawa North) has died at the age of 52 following a prolonged illness, family sources have confirmed.

A family source, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Nassarawa Eggon, said the lawmaker died on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at a hospital in India, where he had been receiving treatment.

The source described Akwashiki’s death as a major blow to Nasarawa North Senatorial District, noting that it had created a huge vacuum due to his commitment to constituency development and empowerment programmes.

“In the history of Nasarawa North, Senator Akwashiki was the best senator the zone ever produced because of his purposeful leadership. His projects are in every nook and cranny of the constituency, and he was the only senator from the zone who re-contested and won a second term,” the source said.

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Until his death, Akwashiki was serving his second term in the Nigerian Senate, having been first elected in 2019 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Before joining the National Assembly, the late senator had an extensive legislative career in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, where he served as Majority Leader and later as Deputy Speaker.

Born on August 3, 1973, in Angba Iggah, Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Akwashiki was widely regarded as a grassroots politician with a strong focus on community development.

His death has continued to draw tributes from political associates and constituents across Nasarawa State, who have described him as a committed public servant and effective legislator.

Nasarawa Senator Godiya Akwashiki Dies at 52 After Prolonged Illness

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Abuja Market Shooting: NSCDC Suspends Officer, Orders Trial

Published

12 minutes ago

October 29, 2026

Trends Admin

Abuja Market Shooting: NSCDC Suspends Officer, Orders Trial

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has suspended one of its officers, Deputy Superintendent of Corps Onoja Babayo Samuel, over an alleged shooting incident during a confrontation with traders at Kubwa Market in Abuja.

The corps has also ordered an Orderly Room Trial to determine the officer’s level of responsibility in the incident, which reportedly occurred on October 25, 2026.

Samuel’s suspension followed his arrest by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command over allegations that he fired shots into the air during a dispute with traders at the market.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, the NSCDC’s National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, said the alleged conduct amounted to a serious violation of the corps’ rules of engagement and standard operating procedures, particularly those governing the use of firearms.

The Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, reportedly directed the officer’s immediate suspension and the commencement of disciplinary proceedings to establish his culpability.

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The corps said Samuel had been stripped of his official responsibilities and relieved of his assignment pending the conclusion of the disciplinary process.

A committee at the NSCDC national headquarters in Abuja will oversee the proceedings, while the corps has promised to make the outcome of the internal investigation and disciplinary trial public when concluded.

The NSCDC reiterated its commitment to professional conduct, accountability and public safety, stressing that it would not protect any officer found responsible for actions that endanger lives or violate established operational guidelines.

How the Abuja Market Shooting Happened

The FCT Police Command had earlier confirmed Samuel’s arrest following a distress call reporting that an armed man was firing shots into the air at Kubwa Market.

According to the police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, preliminary investigations indicated that the officer had gone to the market with a pistol after receiving reports that some traders had assaulted his wife.

Police operatives attached to the Kubwa Division responded to the report, disarmed the suspect and arrested him at the scene.

The police also reported recovering a CZ pistol and 17 rounds of live 9mm ammunition from the officer.

The police said investigations would be concluded before the officer was charged in court.

Following the incident, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, urged personnel of other security agencies operating in the territory to exercise restraint and notify the relevant police divisions before carrying out authorised operations.

He said better coordination among security agencies was necessary to prevent avoidable confrontations and improve public safety.

The NSCDC’s disciplinary proceedings and the police investigation are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine any further action.

The suspension is an administrative measure and does not, by itself, establish criminal guilt. The allegations against the officer remain subject to investigation and the relevant disciplinary and legal processes.

Abuja Market Shooting: NSCDC Suspends Officer, Orders Trial

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Eight Days After Abduction, Kidnappers Demand ₦50m for Nasarawa Teacher

Published

20 minutes ago

October 29, 2026

Trends Admin

Amina Hussaini

Eight Days After Abduction, Kidnappers Demand ₦50m for Nasarawa Teacher

The family of a primary school teacher abducted in Nasarawa State has appealed to the government, security agencies and members of the public for urgent assistance after her captors reportedly demanded ₦50 million ransom for her release.

The teacher, identified as Amina Hussaini, reportedly teaches at Central Pilot Primary School in Kuru, Toto Local Government Area of the state. She was allegedly abducted from her residence in Kuru community on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

The incident has left her family deeply worried as they struggle to secure her freedom and meet the reported ransom demand.

A family member, Suwaiba Abdullahi, made the appeal on Tuesday, October 27, calling on well-meaning Nigerians to assist in efforts to bring Hussaini home safely.

According to reports, the abductors demanded ₦50 million before releasing the teacher. The amount has placed considerable pressure on the family, prompting its appeal for support and intervention.

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The family reportedly said the incident had been reported to the police and urged the relevant authorities to intensify efforts to secure the teacher’s release.

It also appealed to the Nasarawa State Government, security agencies and members of the public to help ensure her safe return.

As of the latest available reports, there was no confirmed information about the identities of the abductors, the status of negotiations or whether any arrests had been made in connection with the incident.

The abduction has also renewed concerns about kidnapping and insecurity in Nasarawa State. On October 27, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly raised concerns over renewed abductions in parts of the state and called for stronger measures to protect residents.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Danladi Jatau, expressed concern about the security situation, while lawmaker Solomon Akwashiki drew attention to recent incidents affecting communities.

For Hussaini’s family, however, the immediate concern is securing her release and ensuring that she returns home safely.

The family’s appeal comes as residents continue to look to security agencies and the state government for more effective measures to address abductions and protect communities.

Eight Days After Abduction, Kidnappers Demand ₦50m for Nasarawa Teacher

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N1m Minimum Wage Will Collapse Nigeria’s Economy, Ajaero Warns

Published

32 minutes ago

October 29, 2026

Trends Admin

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero

N1m Minimum Wage Will Collapse Nigeria’s Economy, Ajaero Warns

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has warned that raising Nigeria’s national minimum wage to ₦1 million without addressing the country’s economic challenges could collapse the economy.

Ajaero made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, October 29, 2026, amid renewed discussions over workers’ salaries and the rising cost of living.

“N1,000,000 minimum wage will collapse the Nigerian economy,” the NLC president said.

He argued that Nigeria’s problem goes beyond the amount workers receive as salaries, stressing that the government must prioritise restoring the purchasing power of the naira and reducing the cost of essential goods and services.

According to Ajaero, a substantial increase in wages would not necessarily improve workers’ living standards if inflation continued to erode the value of their earnings.

He maintained that workers needed a stable currency and an economy in which their salaries could adequately cover basic necessities, including food, housing and transportation.

The labour leader’s comments come as Nigerian workers face mounting financial pressure from rising petrol prices and other living expenses. Labour unions have repeatedly argued that the current ₦70,000 national minimum wage, signed into law in July 2024, is insufficient to meet workers’ basic needs under prevailing economic conditions.

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Ajaero’s position does not amount to an endorsement of the existing wage level. Rather, he has argued that wage negotiations must be accompanied by measures that tackle inflation and improve the value of workers’ incomes.

The NLC has also pushed for fresh minimum-wage negotiations, insisting that discussions should begin before the current wage agreement expires in 2027. The union has maintained that the government should not delay the process while workers continue to struggle with rising costs.

The debate has intensified following the Federal Government’s approval of a ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for eligible public servants for six months, beginning in November 2026. The arrangement followed a conciliation meeting with the NLC.

The allowance has, however, generated disagreement within organised labour, with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) rejecting the temporary intervention and calling instead for a more substantial salary increase.

Ajaero’s warning adds another dimension to the debate over how Nigeria can improve workers’ earnings without worsening the economic pressures affecting households, employers and government finances.

The central issue, according to his argument, is not simply how high the minimum wage should be, but whether workers’ earnings can retain enough value to provide a decent standard of living.

No new national minimum-wage figure has been agreed upon by the Federal Government and organised labour as of Thursday, October 29, 2026.