‘No Water, No Vote’: Plateau Community Threatens Election Boycott

Residents and youths in Mabudi, the headquarters of Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Wednesday staged a massive protest over the persistent lack of potable water in the community, warning that they may boycott future elections if the crisis is not urgently addressed.

The demonstrators, made up mostly of young people and women, marched through major roads in the town wearing T-shirts branded with the inscription “No Water, No Vote,” while chanting solidarity songs and demanding immediate government intervention.

Many of the protesters carried placards with messages such as “Water Is Life,” “Mabudi Needs Water Now,” “Stop Neglecting Rural Communities,” and “No More Empty Promises,” accusing politicians of repeatedly abandoning the community after elections.

The protest has drawn renewed attention to the growing water scarcity in Plateau State, particularly in rural communities struggling with poor infrastructure, prolonged dry seasons and inadequate government intervention.

Speaking during the protest, youth leader Nanlir Gambo said the demonstration was intended to alert both the state government and elected representatives to the worsening humanitarian situation in Mabudi.

“This protest is just a sign that we are serious about our demands. We won’t allow any politician to come here and deceive us again, using our needs only to abscond after the election,” he said.

Gambo lamented that residents have been forced to rely on unsafe streams and stagnant ponds shared with animals, exposing families to diseases linked to contaminated water.

According to him, women and children now travel long distances daily in search of water for cooking, drinking and household use, a development he described as “deplorable and unacceptable.”

The situation in Mabudi reflects the broader Nigeria water crisis, which continues to affect millions of people, especially those in underserved rural communities.

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Recent reports from communities in Langtang South and neighbouring areas of Plateau State revealed that residents have resorted to digging dry riverbeds and competing with livestock for water as the dry season intensifies.

Reacting to the protest, the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area, Butko Iliya, said the council had already begun temporary interventions to cushion the effects of the shortage.

According to him, the council chairman, Nanfa Nbin, has been supplying water to affected communities through tanker services since the start of the dry season, with at least one tanker reportedly delivered daily to each settlement.

Iliya also disclosed that the Plateau State Government had directed the council to intensify efforts aimed at addressing the crisis while broader and more sustainable interventions are being developed.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State Ministry of Water Resources and Energy has commenced emergency and long-term plans to tackle the problem.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Lohnan V. Gambo, recently led a high-level delegation to Mabudi following a petition submitted by the council chairman to Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

During the visit, the ministry confirmed that geophysical surveys had already commenced in Mabudi and nearby communities as part of plans to establish sustainable water projects.

Gambo assured residents that the administration of Governor Mutfwang remained committed to finding a permanent solution to the lingering water shortage in Plateau communities.

The Council Secretary, Nanman Domtau, commended the state government for responding quickly to the plight of the people and pledged the council’s support for all intervention efforts.

Also speaking, the Galadima of Mabudi, Chief Ringjul Dashe, described access to clean water as a basic necessity of life and praised the government for responding to the concerns raised by residents.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria continues to face a severe clean water and sanitation crisis, with millions lacking access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities despite the country’s abundant natural water resources.

The organisation estimates that poor access to clean water and sanitation contributes significantly to waterborne diseases and child mortality across the country, with thousands of children dying yearly from diarrhoeal infections linked to unsafe water.

‘No Water, No Vote’: Plateau Community Threatens Election Boycott

Zamfara Airstrike: 72 Feared Dead as Military, Amnesty Disagree on Death Toll

At least 72 people were reportedly killed after a Nigerian military airstrike hit Tumfa weekly market in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Sunday, in an incident that has triggered conflicting accounts from residents, human rights groups, and the military.

According to AFP, which quoted a local community leader, the actual number of casualties remains difficult to confirm due to the presence of both civilians and armed groups in the area.

“The actual death toll is hard to establish at the moment. Everybody, residents and bandits, goes to the market. People are at the mercy of the bandits. There is nothing they can do,” the community leader, Garba Ibrahim Mashema, was quoted as saying.

Reports indicate that Tumfa market is located in a region frequently affected by banditry and is believed by some security sources to be under the influence of armed groups, raising concerns about the complexity of identifying combatants during military operations.

Eyewitness accounts claim that many of the victims included traders, women, and young girls selling food items such as millet porridge and tofu when the airstrike occurred.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International, however, gave a higher casualty figure, saying more than 100 people may have died. The group also alleged that one nearby village buried about 80 victims in a mass burial following the attack.

Amnesty International described the incident as part of a disturbing pattern of civilian harm during military operations in Nigeria’s conflict-affected northern region, calling for an urgent independent investigation.

“The authorities must investigate these deadly strikes, and put an end to reckless attacks on civilians,” the organisation said.
“These horrific deaths must not be overlooked. The devastated survivors and their families deserve truth, justice and reparations.”

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The group also alleged that injured survivors were rushed to hospitals in Zurmi, Shinkafi, and the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau for treatment.

It further stated that the market was struck without warning while it was crowded, causing panic and chaos.

“Military aircraft bombed the weekly market. At one point, it was full of people and without warning. The scene was chaotic. There were screams, blood, and bodies all over the ground,” Amnesty said.

In contrast, the Nigerian military has strongly denied allegations that civilians were deliberately targeted or that the airstrike resulted in mass civilian casualties.

Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Michael Onoja, told AFP that reports claiming civilian deaths in Zamfara were “not true,” while insisting that military operations are intelligence-driven and targeted at armed bandits.

The military also acknowledged a separate air operation in Niger State on the same day, which reportedly led to the death of 13 civilians. Officials said the incident would be investigated, although they maintained that the mission was aimed at criminal elements.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has meanwhile reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to defending the constitution and intensifying operations against terrorism, banditry, and other security threats across the country.

Speaking at the opening of the Nigerian Army Project Management Workshop at the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME), Makurdi, Shaibu—represented by Maj.-Gen. Moses Gara—said ongoing military reforms and welfare improvements are boosting troop morale and operational efficiency.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as sustained support to the armed forces, noting that improved welfare packages have strengthened soldiers’ readiness in counterterrorism operations nationwide.

According to him, the army’s infrastructure drive includes rehabilitation of barracks, construction of training facilities, medical centres, and other critical installations aimed at improving personnel welfare and operational capacity.

Security analysts say the Zamfara incident highlights the persistent challenge of conducting air operations in regions where armed groups operate within civilian-populated communities, making target identification extremely difficult.

The tragedy has sparked renewed national debate over civilian protection, military intelligence accuracy, and accountability in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations, especially in the North-West where banditry remains widespread.

As investigations continue, human rights groups and affected communities are demanding transparency, compensation for victims’ families, and stricter safeguards to prevent future civilian casualties during military strikes.

Zamfara Airstrike: 72 Feared Dead as Military, Amnesty Disagree on Death Toll

How Suspected Kidnappers Lured UNIJOS Graduate With Job Offer

A graduate of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), John Azi Arum, has narrated his traumatic experience after he was allegedly lured with a fake job offer, abducted, and taken to a kidnappers’ camp in Zamfara State, where he spent several terrifying days in captivity.

Arum shared his experience during a testimony session at a church in Tudun Wada, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, shortly after regaining his freedom.

According to him, the incident began on April 11, 2026, when he travelled from Jos to Zaria in Kaduna State after receiving what appeared to be a legitimate welding job offer from unknown individuals who had repeatedly contacted him by phone.

The UNIJOS graduate explained that the callers frequently communicated with him and even sent him transport fare to convince him the opportunity was genuine.

“They kept calling me, asking me to come and work for them. They even sent transport money, so I believed it was real work,” he recounted.

Arum said he arrived in Zaria believing he was heading for employment that could improve his financial situation amid Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship and unemployment crisis.

According to him, after reaching Zaria, he contacted the individuals, who instructed him to continue the journey on a motorcycle toward a remote settlement.

Although he became suspicious during the trip, he said desperation for a job made him ignore the warning signs.

“I started having doubts, but I told myself maybe it was a connection that could help me. I did not know they were kidnappers,” he said.

The graduate explained that upon arriving at the village, a man approached him pretending to be the employer who had arranged the job.

He was then taken deeper into a forested area on a motorcycle where he allegedly encountered another heavily armed man waiting for them.

“I saw a gun I had never seen before in my life. The man told me not to be afraid and claimed the person was a hunter, but deep down I knew something was wrong,” he narrated.

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According to Arum, the kidnappers immediately forced him to kneel down before searching him and confiscating his phone, luggage, and welding tools.

He said the abductors also handed him unfamiliar clothes and a face mask before transporting him through bush paths and isolated routes stretching from Kaduna State through Giwa Local Government Area into Zamfara State.

“We spent almost six hours moving through the bush on motorcycles. There was no security anywhere,” he said.

Arum disclosed that after arriving at the camp, the kidnappers tied his hands and legs before contacting his family and demanding N30 million ransom.

“I gave them my elder brother’s number. They called and demanded N30 million,” he said.

The victim further alleged that he was repeatedly tortured and interrogated by the abductors, who questioned him about his religion and accused him of being a Christian.

According to him, fear initially made him deny his faith because he believed the kidnappers might kill him.

“They were shooting guns everywhere and asking questions. Out of fear, I initially denied being a Christian because I thought they would kill me,” he explained.

However, he said the situation changed after the abductors severely beat him.

“While they were beating me, I suddenly shouted, ‘Jesus.’ That was when they discovered I was a Christian,” he added.

Arum revealed that the kidnappers later nicknamed him “Pastor” throughout his captivity.

He said prayer and faith were the only things that sustained him during the ordeal.

“The only thing I kept doing was praying and asking God to save me,” he stated emotionally.

According to him, negotiations between the kidnappers and his family later reduced the ransom demand from N30 million to N6 million.

However, despite receiving the payment, the abductors allegedly refused to release him immediately and demanded an additional N4 million.

“They started beating me again and said my family should add another N4 million. At that point, I thought I would not survive,” he said.

The UNIJOS graduate explained that intervention and support from relatives, friends, church members, and sympathisers eventually helped secure his freedom after several days in captivity.

He returned home traumatised but grateful to be alive.

The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over the use of fake employment offers by kidnappers and criminal syndicates operating across parts of Nigeria.

Security experts have repeatedly warned young Nigerians, especially unemployed graduates and job seekers, to verify employment offers carefully before travelling to unfamiliar locations.

Analysts say kidnappers are increasingly using social engineering tactics, fake identities, transport assistance, and online recruitment schemes to lure unsuspecting victims into dangerous situations.

The case has also renewed conversations about insecurity, unemployment, and economic hardship, which many observers believe continue to expose vulnerable Nigerians to exploitation by criminal groups.

Meanwhile, security agencies are reportedly investigating the incident and tracking those responsible for the abduction.

How Suspected Kidnappers Lured UNIJOS Graduate With Job Offer