Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that Nigeria is grappling with what he described as “organised and orchestrated insecurity” driven by terrorism, banditry and insurgency.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Akpabio spoke on Thursday at the 14th national caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the state house conference centre in Abuja.

His words: “We are very sad that people have decided to torment Nigeria with very serious, organised and orchestrated insecurity.

“So as we grow there will be envy, there will be jealousy, and with jealousy comes hatred, and with hatred comes challenges.

“So Mr. President, ours in this caucus today is to assure you that we are not only with you, we are also praying for you, praying for you to overcome the challenges of the day, and also praying for Nigeria.”

The Senate President said the caucus aligned with states mourning lives lost to attacks by terrorists, bandits and insurgents.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for securing the release of more than 100 children kidnapped recently.

“We thank the President for the release of over 100 children who were kidnapped very recently, and we pray to God to give him the ability and the enablement to release the remaining children to rejoin their families,” Akpabio said.

He consoled families of victims and members of the armed forces killed in the line of duty.

“We condole with members of the families who have lost their loved ones, including the armed forces, who lost their lives in the course of trying to protect not just those children, but protecting lives and properties in the country,” he said.

Akpabio said Nigeria’s stability is closely linked to developments in neighbouring countries.

He praised Tinubu for intervening in the Benin Republic to stabilise democracy and urged sustained regional engagement.

Akpabio disclosed that the Senate had taken what he described as “bold decisions” to deter criminality.

He said lawmakers were pushing to classify kidnapping as terrorism, making kidnappers liable to the death penalty once the bill receives presidential assent.

The Senate President also urged governors to enforce laws on capital offences, warning that reluctance to sign execution warrants could embolden criminals.

A Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Isah Abdullahi, also known as Kunkuri, attached to MOPOL 12 in Minna, Niger State, has died after shooting himself with a pistol in the armoury he headed.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

The tragic incident followed allegations linking him to the supply of arms and ammunition to bandits and other criminals in the state.

The crisis began for the deceased DSP during a routine audit of MOPOL 12’s armoury by detectives from Abuja, who discovered 13 missing AK-47 rifles and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

It was gathered that further investigation led to the arrest of Inspector John Moses, attached to the Niger State Government House, who confessed that the late DSP supplied him with arms for delivery to bandits in Erena, Shiroro Local Government Area. Moses reportedly named his brother, an informant to the criminals, as the middleman in the deal.

Against this background, the suspects were taken to Abuja by operatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, for deeper investigation.

DAILY POST learnt that as probes intensified, Abdullahi was brought from Abuja to the armoury for a physical audit. It was there that he allegedly grabbed a pistol and shot himself in the head, dying instantly.

The armoury’s electronic controls, accessible only to Abdullahi, reportedly gave him the opportunity to commit the act.

Furthermore, it was gathered that officers with him were arrested for negligence and faced an Orderly Room trial, while four other police officers linked to Abdullahi are being interrogated.

Confirming the development, the Niger State Police Commissioner, Adamu Elleman, said Inspector Moses is currently under investigation by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

According to him, “He (Abdullahi) smartly brought out a pistol and shot himself when empty ammunition boxes were discovered.”

A special ONSA team is guarding the armoury, and an autopsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death.

Also, in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the incident, it was stated that DSP Abdullahi shot himself during an investigation into his involvement in illegal ammunition dealings.

According to him, “On December 16, 2025, at about 2:30 pm, one DSP Abdullahi Isah, attached to 12 PMF Minna, who was initially arrested on 15th December for being suspected of involvement in illegal dealings of ammunition, was taken to his office for a routine arms audit.

“Unfortunately, while the audit process was ongoing, the said officer shot himself in the head through a pistol he picked up within the office and died on the spot.”

Abiodun also disclosed, “Meanwhile, the policemen who were detailed along for the audit and investigation activities were arrested for negligence in the line of duty, for allowing such a situation to occur. Further investigation is in progress at Paiko Road Police Station, Minna.”

It was further gathered that the armoury is now under 24-hour guard by an ONSA team as authorities work to unravel the full extent of the alleged scheme.

Sources also revealed that Abdullahi owned multiple properties and cars.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of the Board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), following the Senate’s confirmation of its members on December 16.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Naija News reports that this was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Members of the reconstituted Board are:

• Mulisiu Olalekan Oseni, PhD. — Chairman

Dr Oseni started his service as a Commissioner in January 2017. He was subsequently appointed Vice Chairman of the Commission.

His appointment as Chairman took effect from 1 December 2025 and shall subsist until the completion of his ten-year tenure at the Commission, in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2023.

• Yusuf Ali, PhD. — Vice Chairman

Dr Ali was first appointed as a Commissioner in February 2022. His designation as Vice Chairman took effect on 1 December 2025 and shall remain in effect until the completion of his first term.

• Mr Nathan Rogers Shatti — Commissioner

Mr Shatti is serving a second term as commissioner. He was first appointed in January 2017.

• Mr Dafe Akpeneye — Commissioner

Mr Akpeneye is serving a second term, having been first appointed as a Commissioner in January 2017.

• Aisha Mahmud Kanti Bello — Commissioner

Aisha Bello is serving her second term, having been first appointed as a Commissioner in December 2020.

• Dr Chidi Ike — Commissioner

Dr Ike is serving his first term, having been first appointed as a Commissioner in February 2022.

• Dr Fouad Animashaun — Commissioner. Dr Animashaun is serving his first term, effective December 2025.

He is an energy economist with extensive experience in the Nigerian power sector and most recently served as Executive Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the board members of NERC to deepen and consolidate the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s power sector, in strict alignment with the letter and spirit of the Electricity Act, 2023,” the statement added.