Author: Editor
By Owei Lakemfa I have worried that President Bola Tinubu did not appreciate the fact that our country is at war against vicious, unfeeling bandits and terrorists who massacre babies, children, the young and the old. But on November 26, 2025, he proclaimed a state of emergency declaring war on these criminals some of who are foreign invaders. Tinubu had also announced the decision and determination of the government to fight and defeat these criminals and, free the country from their grip. This is a welcome departure from his previous position that what is going on is some ‘herder-farmer’ clash…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia Diocese, Archbishop Raphael Opoko, has said that Nigeria lacks the capacity to tackle the rising wave of insecurity, especially banditry and terrorism ravaging different states in the country. Archbishop Opoko, who spoke while featuring as a resource person at the Ikengaonline monthly town hall meeting, urged the Federal Government to seek external help and deal decisively with the monster. He said: “Nigeria has not got the capacity to be able to deal with this situation and protect the lives of the citizens for which all these people were elected, both the President and…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Sunday morning, visited the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre, Sokoto State. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma. According to the statement, Governor Otti encouraged Kanu to remain strong, assuring him that the engagements initiated over two years ago—of which Kanu was aware—had been intensified despite recent developments. “The Governor enjoined Kanu to remain calm but strong, assuring that the issue will be resolved administratively and that he,…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Bandits struck again on Sunday, invading a newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, and abducting the pastor, his wife, and several members of the congregation. The attack occurred on November 30, 2025, while the church service was ongoing. The pastor, popularly known as Orlando, was reportedly taken away along with his wife and an unspecified number of church members. Residents described the incident as terrifying, noting that the bandits stormed the community unexpectedly, leaving many in shock. The exact number of abductees had not been confirmed at…
…Raises alarm over plot to implicate him Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Prince Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has raised the alarm over what he described as a plot by “Igbo enemies” to implicate and possibly jail him, just as they did to his brother. He said those behind the plot were the sponsors of a malicious media propaganda claiming that he is the same person as Emma Powerful, the IPOB Spokesperson. Prince Emmanuel was reacting to a social media article authored by one Stanley George, which claimed that “there…
By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu When Olusegun Obasanjo returned as the president of Nigeria in May 1999, according to Mohammed Dikko (MD) Yusuf, a former Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) he “inherited a Police Force that was poorly equipped, decimated in numerical strength, deprived of necessary logistics, and lacking, as it were, moral and public support necessary for effective performance and the enhancement of the security of the nation.” Former IGP, MD Yusuf said these in the report he submitted in 2008 to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as the Chair of the second Presidential Commission on Police Reform to report in as…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Catholic priest and Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, has flatly denied the existence of any genocide against Christians in Nigeria. Kukah, who is the Convener of the National Peace Committee (NPC), argued that genocide is not determined by the number of casualties but by intent. The bishop made the remark while presenting a paper at the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) in Kaduna. He said he aligned himself with the Vatican Secretary of State, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, and all Catholic bishops in…
Our Reporter, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, days after forwarding an initial batch of three candidates. The latest nominations were disclosed in an official statement issued on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, President Tinubu, in two separate letters to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, urged the upper chamber to “consider and confirm expeditiously” 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees. The non-career nominees include several notable political figures: former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; former presidential…
Our Reporter, Abuja Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has defended calls for foreign intervention in Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, saying the Federal Government has failed to protect citizens from relentless killings by terrorists and bandits. Speaking at the second edition of the Plateau Unity Christmas Carols and Praise Festival, held at the Ten Commandments Prayer Altar in Du, Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State, Obasanjo lamented that the country is “being killed,” accusing the government of offering excuses instead of decisive action. “My brothers and sisters, I come to you today with a heavy heart. Nigeria is being killed. Nigerians…
…As ABSECTA regains accreditation of 80 programmes Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti says he is considering paying the N60 billion gratuity arrears owed Abia pensioners in installments. He also disclosed that over 27,980 applications had been received for only 4,000 teaching positions in public primary and secondary schools across the state. Similarly, Otti announced that the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu (ABSECTA), which lost accreditation some years ago, has now regained it. Speaking during a media parley Thursday night in Umuahia, Otti said the committee set up to review the accumulated pension arrears had submitted its report.…