The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Southwest’s response to security emergency

    Southwest’s response to security emergency

    When the six governors of the Southwest states of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos converged on Ibadan, its regional headquarters, for strategic security deliberations during the week, they were taking a cue from the wisdom of their forefathers during the pre-colonial and colonial days.

    Then, kingdoms were being conquered and chiefdoms subdued. Land and crowns were factors in the inter-tribal wars of yore. But later, the sea and the economic advantages it conferred on Yoruba land drew the envy of some powerful warmongers from distant tribes.

    Yoruba, the vast territory of the then Alaafin, came under siege. The tormentors depended on the powers of their horses, spears, bows, and arrows. They coveted the land they saw flourishing with the best of nature. Few among the Yoruba warriors had horses too. They could only face the onslaught with Dane guns, cutlasses, and well-crafted sticks called ponpo. Both sides were also known for possessing charms.

    Everybody’s attention, from Lagos to Akoko, Igbomina to Egba, Ebolo to Ijebu, and Oyo to Ondo, was in the war of resistance. Led by the brave Ibadan warriors, the Yoruba of Ekiti, Oyo, Akoko, Remo, Ijebu, Igbomina, Ijesa, Popo, and Isabe put their minor differences aside and confronted their common enemy, who wanted to annex their fatherland and impose an alien religious and political administration on their towns and villages.

    It was the battle of Osogbo in 1840 when the ambition of the jihadists to expand their territory collapsed. The Yoruba army from Ibadan was strengthened by their strong will, capacity, unity, and resolve to preserve their identity, their history and heritage. The soldiers fought with ideas and knowledge, propelled by the desire to defend their nation with the last drop of blood. The rest, as it is said, is history.

    Politically, the Southwest of today is not one, but the threat to the zone does not discriminate. It is gratifying that the Southwest Governors’ Forum (SGF) is proactive. This is not a time for rhetoric. The governors, like their illustrious grandsires who took their destiny in their hands, are taking the bull by the horns. But speed is required as any further delay could jeopardise the existing arrangement.

     If the ideas canvassed by its former leader, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, had seen the light of day, the region would today boast of a formidable regional security outfit capable of rising to the occasion.

    Nevertheless, the legacy of Amotekun has endured, reminding potential interlopers of a resistant apparatus that can marginally withstand a dosage of security challenges in regional interest.

    Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Ademola Adeleke (Osun), who was represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, were in sober reflection, conscious of the fact that the region can only sleep on guard to its peril.

    The Yoruba kith and kin suffer in Eruku and Isapa in Kwara State, which is contiguous to Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun. It is a signal that danger is looming in the neighbourhood.

    The governors know that the bandits are not Yoruba. The total agenda of the evil men is unknown but bold. There is concrete evidence suggesting that the kidnapping business is booming. Others insinuate that the region’s vast natural endowments are the targets. Yet, others speculate that banditry and terrorism come with a message of religious subjugation. The Yoruba are the most religiously tolerant people with attendant peace across the region. They would never allow the merchants of chaos to occupy an inch of their land for a purpose that breaches the ethos of the region’s religious finesse.

    If the identities of the bandits, their sponsors, sources of funding, and other motivations are known in some quarters, it would be relatively easier to devise solutions.

    Yet, these cannot be said to be too hidden in a troubled country where some people have boldly come out to present themselves as negotiators and advocates of amnesty for terrorists and other known killers. The basic fact is that those who have pushed the country into a war have internal collaborators who maximally profit from insurgency.

    Compared to other regions, particularly the three northern zones, there is relative peace in the Southwest. The zone has plans for regional progress and prosperity, and the people look forward to the commencement of operations by the Southwest Development Commission, which is expected to be a model to its counterparts in the remaining five regions.

    The peace in the Southwest, therefore, should not be allowed to be compromised. The region is one, unique, and indivisible entity with a history of political accommodation and religious tolerance. The cohesion of the region is underscored by its conglomerado, Oodua Investment, jointly owned. Other regions can only copy this primal model.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    What Sanwo-Olu and his compatriots have done is to embark on a bold, pre-emptive, and strategic move to forestall terrorism incursion into the Southwest from the contiguous region.

    If there is a crisis in Ekiti, Ondo, or Osun, it has implications for Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun, and vice versa. That is why the leaders are mobilising ideas and resources to invest in prevention instead of cure.

    That Southwest is now setting up a Regional Security Fund under the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission is salutary. The initiative is just beginning to catch up with the proposals envisioned by Lagos State over a decade ago. Nigeria should acknowledge the reality that a regional security outfit, once halted by the Muhammadu Buhari government but now bolstered by the right technological equipment, can indeed make a difference.

    This proposed regional security architecture, backed by a ‘Joint Security Intelligence Sharing and Communication Platform,’ would enhance early detection of threats, strange movements, and intended onslaught. The establishment of a live, digital intelligence-sharing platform among the six states would also enhance a collective surveillance due to the exchange of threat notifications, incident logs, and traveller and cargo alerts, resulting in a coordinated state-to-state rapid response.

    Also, an improved forest surveillance by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), hunters, Amotekun Corps members and other security agencies is likely to flush out criminals who hide in the bushes.

    Terrorists do not strike without first spying on the targeted environment. They plan and assess their chances of escape ahead of carrying out their evil enterprise. Thus, vigilance is key.

    Since the Southwest is ready to provide the required personnel, the Federal Government should not wait any longer before deploying the forest guards.

    In the Southwest are strange faces, including herders whose identities and missions are unknown. There is freedom of movement, but this emergency time calls for the regulation of interstate migration, as proposed by the governors. If not well checked, it could actually snowball into a conduit for insecurity. As highlighted, it would involve stricter border or boundary monitoring, data collection and self-identification. This is why each of the six states would now work with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for proper identification.

    A contributory factor to banditry is the porous borders. Over 1,000 of them are unguarded, serving as easy routes for systematic invasion by foreigners who come in to torment Nigerians in their land. Some of the foreigners are involved in illegal mining activities, which “threaten environmental safety, public health and security”.

    If there is a comprehensive licensing framework, monitoring mechanisms, and strict enforcement actions, as proposed by the governors, violators who want to perpetrate violent crimes under the guise of mining would be effectively checked.

    There is also the policing of the land, which is a critical issue. Almost three decades ago, the Southwest led the way in the clamour for restructuring and decentralisation of the security apparatus. Under the Buhari administration, the governors established a regional security outfit that was watered down by elements who uncritically perceived it as a signpost to regional autonomy within the federation.

    The presidential nod for the creation of state police has validated the claim of critics who have pointed out that the current defective and centralised policing structure is inadequate for a vast federal country like Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s position on the issue makes state police optional. But it is an answered prayer for the six governors who are now expected to seize the opportunity, following the accelerated constitutional review by the National Assembly.

    It also implies that at the state level, more Southwesterners would be recruited, trained, and deployed within their region of birth to provide security and have a sense of patriotism and emotional attachment to their region and the nation-state.

    The anticipated constitution review is to pave the way for multi-layered policing. The relationship between the centralised and state police would have to be determined, and measures to guard against abuse at the sub-national level put in place.

    The Southwest appears to be rising to the occasion and the governors deserve the support of all and sundry – traditional rulers, who once lost four members to banditry in Ekiti; religious leaders whose colleagues have been victims in the North; security agencies who deserve continuous praise for facing the fire on the battle field; corporate organisations that need a conducive atmosphere to thrive; community development associations, and youths who are the future leaders of the nation.

  • The ex-minister and his interests

    The ex-minister and his interests

    These are not the best of times for a noted All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain from the South-South geopolitical zone. The man who also used to be a state governor and one-time minister is on the ropes as it were. But it’s not only his economic interests that are threatened, those of his loyalists are under pressure as individuals with  federal connections are angling to take over their existing surveillance contracts.

    They are moaning that moves to hijack the surveillance contract of loyalists to the Niger-Delta born politician were politically motivated,  and warning that cancelling their meal ticket would be counter productive.

    Already, certain youth groups within the ruling APC are accusing the administration in this South-South state of collaborating with vested interests in the state to undermine our man’s interests.

    The youths lamented that the only offence of the targeted surveillance contractors was their steadfast loyalty to the under-fire politician. They insiste that executing what they claim is a  witchhunt against founding  members of APC who had given their all to the party would hamper peace in the state.

    The youths said: “Any attempt to wrest these contracts from them, if true, would represent not only an act of political victimisation but also a direct threat to the economic stability of hundreds of youths who rely on these engagements for their survival.

    The APC youths said allowing such a plot  would be deeply regrettable and could further inflame existing tensions in a state already grappling with economic and political strain.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    “It would be disappointing, and indeed unnecessary, for individuals in such privileged positions to seek control over the modest enterprises that sustain many ordinary citizens.

    “What is playing out, in our view, reflects an increasingly intolerant and overreaching political culture—one that seems driven more by insecurity and resentment than by genuine public interest. Having already manoeuvred to dominate political structures built through the sacrifices of others, one must ask: what more is there left to take?

    They called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use his good offices to ensure fairness and restraint in the handling of matters affecting peace, livelihood, and cohesion in the state.

    “We urge all actors to remember that the essence of leadership is service, not conquest, and that governance should never descend into a zero-sum contest of personal interests.

    “We remain committed to pursuing every legitimate and peaceful avenue to resist any unjust or economically harmful action against our members”, they said.

  • Sickening noise on whereabouts of rescued schoolgirls’ abductors

    Sickening noise on whereabouts of rescued schoolgirls’ abductors

    As a secondary school student, my classmates used to joke that I should pursue a degree in Theology because of my consistently high grades in Christian Religious Studies. But I have never eyed the pulpit or developed any likeness for the cassock. My fascination for the subject was the juicy stories that abound in the section of the syllabus recommended to us.

    One of the bible stories I enjoyed reading was Jesus’ healing, on the Sabbath day, of a man who had been blind from birth. As the story goes, Jesus and his disciples were walking along when they sighted the blind man, prompting a question from the disciples as to whether it was the blind man who had sinned or his parents. Jesus responded that neither the man nor his parents sinned. Rather, he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

    Jesus then commenced the process of healing the man. He spat on the ground, mixed some mud with the saliva and applied the same on the blind man’s eyes, after which he directed him to go to a pool called Siloam and wash. The blind man did as Jesus directed and regained his sight. The incident became the talk of the town, drawing the ire of the Pharisees (Jesus’ perennial enemies), who said he committed an abomination by carrying out healing on the Sabbath, a day of the week when, by Jewish tradition, no one was expected to work.

    The Pharisees summoned the blind man’s parents and asked how their blind son regained his sight. The parents, already sensing that they were up to mischief, deflected the question, telling the Pharisees to direct it to their son because he was of age. They summoned the man who had been blind and said, “Tell us the truth; this man (Jesus) is a sinner.” The man who had been healed looked at them and said, “I don’t know whether he is a sinner or not. What I do know is that I was blind but now can see.”

    I was reminded of the story by the cynical reaction of the critics of the Tinubu administration to the rescue of some Nigerians, including schoolchildren, abducted in Niger, Kebbi, Kwara and some parts of the country recently. It is proof that treachery and cynicism are as old as human history. Hence (,) the negative reactions of some Nigerians to the return of the victims, who rather than congratulate the returnees and their loved ones (,) resorted to rhetoric on the whereabouts of their abductors, is rooted in human nature.

    It was as if the safety of the abductees mattered less than evidence that their abductors had been eliminated or arrested. In the immediate instance, the lives of the abductees were at stake, and their abductors held the power of life and death. They had the yam and the knife and were in a vantage position to decide what to do with them. They were the proverbial leper who cannot milk a cow but endowed with more than enough ability to spill the milk.

    Leading the pack of critics was former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who accused the Tinubu government of turning a national tragedy into a propaganda spectacle when the pictures of rescued schoolgirls in Kebbi State appeared online. “Why were these criminals not arrested, neutralized or dismantled on the spot? Why is the government boasting about talking to terrorists instead of eliminating them? Why is kidnapping now reduced to a routine phone call between criminals and state officials?” he queried.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    But a former Field Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, Major-General Anthony Atolagbe (rtd), was quick to respond to the tirades of the former Vice President and his ilk, saying that they all spoke from a position of ignorance or limited understanding of what happens on the field. Gen. Atolagbe urged Nigerians to realise that rescue operations do not always result in the arrest or neutralization of kidnappers, because such missions are inherently complex and targeted primarily at saving lives.

    Rescue operations, he said, should not be confused with combat engagements as troops on such missions are not deployed to wage war but to ensure the safe return of victims. “You want to get the children out safe and alive. When you meet these people inserted between the children, what do you do? They may tell you, ‘Allow us to pull out and then you can take your children.’ Would you insist on capturing them, or leave them for a later date since you already know where they operate?”

    In spite of the insanity that has been unleashed on Nigeria by wailers who are always out to fault every move made by the authorities because of the hatred they harbour for the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led government, saving victims’ lives will always take precedence over pursuing kidnappers during an active operation.

    Ironically, the people demanding the heads of the kidnappers now in preference for the safe return of the victims would be the first to dismiss the rescuers as thoughtless and insensitive if any of them is hurt in the event of a crossfire with bandits. Nigeria should count herself lucky that the man at the helm in this moment of orchestrated violence is someone of Tinubu’s clout, intelligence and sagacity. Any of the other characters parading themselves as political rivals would have bolted or crumbled under the weight of the current challenges.

  • Insecurity: Again, how did we get to this pass? (1)

    Insecurity: Again, how did we get to this pass? (1)

    The roots of the current crisis stretch deep into the past. To truly discern these origins, one must look all the way back to the Justice Alexander Ovie Aniagolu Report on the Maitatsine Riots in Kano (1981), whose findings clearly harbingered the events that were to come. Four decades later, we are facing the fatal consequences of unheeded warnings.

    Between 1980 and 1985, the Maitatsine Riots encompassed a series of violent religious uprisings in Northern Nigeria. It was initiated and led by Muhammad Marwa (Maitatsine), whose followers belonged to the militant Islamic sect, Yan Tatsine. The conflict began in Kano and spread to other cities, resulting in thousands of deaths before it was suppressed by the Nigerian military.

    The crisis Nigeria currently faces was foretold in the Maitatsine and other Reports. The deepening poverty and woes in the North and parts of Nigeria were largely caused by the destruction of the agricultural value chain. This destruction was exacerbated by the termination of the 1963 Republican Constitution in 1966, and the irresponsible fixation on a misplaced depiction of an oil boom. The inability to reverse the destruction of the rural economy in Northern Nigeria, alongside the failure to make education free and compulsory from the age of 16, starting around 1977, ultimately led us to where we are today.

    Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida’s misconceived and now-discredited Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) also added salt to the North’s festering injury. And, as if the gods were angry, SAP deconstructed its nascent industrial base, wiping out fundamental industries such as textiles. Nobody should be surprised, in view of this, that we landed in the era of Boko Haram. Indeed, it would have been absurd had we not landed in that era. Having landed in that era, the political will to tackle the root cause was lacking. Instead, what became depicted as an insurgency opened a vast new avenue for making money by members of the connected political and military establishment.

    The military industrial complex arose out of the war against terror. Without parliamentary oversight worth the name, a never-ending war found a stool and sat comfortably in the country. Sadly, the Return on Investment (ROI) for those profiting from this war might be as high as an investment in Oil and Gas. Even a primary school student can do a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) of the profiteering and conclude, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Nigeria has been badly defrauded in the pursuit of what is now a phantom war against terror.

    The National Assembly must now, as a way out of terror, do a forensic audit into spending on the war against terror, stretching back fifteen years. This will reveal everything and show conclusively that even if we quadruple expenditure on Defence spending, the war will go on ad infinitum. This is simple common sense, for no turkey votes for an early Christmas. We have an entrenched business encompassing the high and the mighty, and dismantling it would be a determined Herculean task. If we do not dismantle the business framework, we will be fighting the war against terror until the Year 2050, and beyond.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    Worryingly, Nigeria does not have the much needed Unexplained Sources of Wealth Act, even though, commendably, Senator Ali Ndume from Borno South is proposing one. It is only by asking people to account for their wealth that we can really get to the root of the profiteering and racketeering industry that has arisen from the war against terror over the past fifteen years.

    In addition to the forensic audit, the country must now have the intellectual humility to admit that it’s been fighting the war in a wrong way. Faced with guerilla warfare, we need to develop a framework centered on Special Forces as well as an increase in specially-trained ground troops to destroy the terrorists. For example, it is clearly absurd to pursue fleeing terrorists on motorbikes with heavy armour. We should have developed our own Special Forces with their own specially-configured motorbikes, perhaps even using electricity, to pursue, overtake and dismantle them.

    It is clear that the development of Special Forces is not in sync with the profiteering and racketeering in Defence expenditure. We must now quickly develop Special Forces as well as strengthen the intelligence framework at the local level and use technology to monitor the movements of the terrorists. Satellite sensors could have monitored the movement of scores of motorcycles moving symmetrically. We must also investigate the failure of intelligence.

    Nigeria is in a very terrible situation and the entire sector of the war must now be configured in order to defeat terrorism. The top echelon of the Nigerian Defence system must study unconventional warfare, dating back about eighty years, to see how modern armies had to configure their methods to fight insurgents.

    A key example is Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam. Seventy-one years ago, on the paddy fields of Vietnam, a lightly-armed, barefooted guerrilla army, led by a lawyer named Võ Nguyên Giáp, not only defeated but also destroyed the French Army, which had air power, armoured tanks, and the most modern weaponry at its disposal.

    The Battle of Dien Bien Phu (March-May 1954) was the decisive engagement of the First Indochina War. Apart from changing the conception of warfare forever, it also showed that a revolutionary ragtag army can defeat one of the best armies in the world. Most importantly, it showed that guerrilla warfare is fundamentally different from state-on-state wars like Nigeria versus Ghana or Togo versus Niger Republic.

    The French surrender ended its colonial rule in Vietnam and led to the country’s temporary partition. We must therefore study this as well as other examples of asymmetric warfare to resolve the ugly situation we now face. To put it succinctly, there must be a complete overhaul, for it is now clear that the constant changing of personnel is not the issue. The issue is that the strategy must change! It means that we must have a different force structure within the army!

    It must also be noted that an insurgency movement mutates. When insurgents quarrel, which is not unlikely, divisions set in and the groups mutate, moving into different sectors. This means that, instead of fighting three groups, a country may eventually face ten or eleven. So, a country worth its vision and mission on security must anticipate this and nurture its strategic plans.

    Eni tó kàn ló mò! (Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches!). For yours sincerely, the argument that heightened insecurity is merely a pre‑election narrative for 2027 is too lazy to sound as an excuse. Do we think the parents whose children were kidnapped care a hoot about any election? Have we counted how many of the Chibok girls’ parents are still alive? What of the parents whose children were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Kebbi: do we know how many have ended up in the hospital?  For God’s sake, when will this madness come to an end?

    Again, consider the ancient wisdom: “Àgbàrà òjò kò l’óun ò n’ílé wó. Onílé ni kò níí gbà fun.” (The intent of a heavy storm and flood is to wreak havoc, and that of those to be affected is to prevent it.) This dynamic defines all conflict. It stands to reason that nobody has ever waged unconventional, or even conventional, warfare without successfully infiltrating the security apparatus of the opposition. Unfortunately, this tactic takes a sinister turn in a religious war. Here, there are people who view it as a divine calling, making infiltration a sacred duty.

  • School abductions: letter to Northern governors

    School abductions: letter to Northern governors

    The world has moved on from the historical past. While humanity remains, development in all sectors of human life has changed how humans live and engage. Traditional education by families and communities can sustain cultures but modern education does much more to enhance human flourishing. The level of development of each nation is undoubtedly tied to the level of education of all of its citizens.

    The United Nations through its agencies has been a veritable tool in enhancing global development. Given the value of children to the sustenance of humanity, the UN, through UNICEF and UNESCO promotes child welfare, child rights and education while advocating for global cooperation in education, science, culture and communication to foster global peace and development.

    Every child, no matter their geographic or economic situation has the right to quality education. Sadly, in Nigeria statistics show that one in every five of world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria. Ironically, even though primary education is officially free and compulsory, more than 18.5 million children aged 5-14 years are not in school.

    In Northern Nigeria, the situation is even more dire. A huge number of children in Northern Nigeria are out of school. The North East and North West seem the worst hit given a lot of variables; poverty, gender, child marriage, insecurity, socio-religious beliefs and some other factors well beyond the control of the children who depend on adults to make the best decisions to enhance their welfare and secure their future.

    The Chairman of Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdulahi, former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, lamented the fact that 80% of the 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria are in the Northern part of Nigeria. While he advocated more budgetary allocation to education as one of the solutions, it is a known fact that Nigeria has never met the UN 26% budgetary benchmark for education. But a lot more introspection and actions need to be done at both federal and sub-national levels.

    The past few years and the litany of school kidnappings in Nigeria has again rekindled the fear that the Northern part of Nigeria might be laying foundation for  future of more illiterate and uninformed children in a world driven by technology and ideas. From Buni Yadi boys’ massacre of February 2014 in Yobe state to Chibok girls abduction of April 2014 in Bornu, to Dapchi abductions that still holds Leah Sharibu in Yobe to the more than 100 abduction of students in Zamfara state to that of the school of agriculture in Kaduna and in the last two weeks the abductions in Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states.

    Dear Northern governors, as you meet today for an emergency meeting possibly with some of your traditional rulers, the Roundtable Conversation wishes you all a very successful meeting. However, there are serious actions to be taken by each and every one of you governors. Understandably, the recent spate of insecurity in the country would be top on the table but we also know that this is not the first of such meetings since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999.

    We all know that besides the national Governors’ Forum through which successive state governors unite to seek for the welfare of you all the governors including but not limited to political interests, federal allocations and all other individual and collective interests, you have kept the 19 Governors’ Forum alive and well. In the usual politically expedient associations, all these national and sub-national fora defy political leanings. When it comes to such associations, political parties, tribe and religion dissolve into nothingness. You all speak with one voice.

    So, the Roundtable Conversation would be glad to see the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II reiterate the developmental guidelines he had over the years advocated for on different platforms across Nigeria. There is no Northern elite that has been as transparently and honestly realistic about the value of education especially of the girl child as the Emir in the last two decades or more. For the avoidance of doubt, the emir is well educated and so his words about the value of education can be trusted.

    He has a PhD in law from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University f London, he holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. He equally has qualifications in Islamic Studies and Sharia from the International University of Africa, Khartoum, Sudan.

    Recounting the educational qualifications of the Emir, one of the leading traditional/religious leaders of northern extraction is important in this circumstance. He is an Islamic leader, he understands and deeply studied the Islamic religion, he also studied economics so the issues of both macro and micro economics of development are well known to him. He was once the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and under his leadership of the bank, he appointed more female directors than any other CBN governor and those ladies have added value that stand as proof of the value of female education and equal opportunities.

    Realistically, Northern Nigeria as a whole has the most illiterates of any region in Nigeria. However, the illiteracy graph keeps rising with the increase in child marriages and school abductions. These two hydra-headed problems are solvable if you, the governors of the region make conscious efforts to solve the problems. According to Emir Sanusi II, “…girl child education is a ‘single silver bullet” that addresses various socio-economic issues, including child-marriage, anti-natal care, nutrition and inter-generational poverty”. He had proposed for free education for girls from primary to tertiary levels pointing out the impact on maternal, new born, and child health.

    The Roundtable Conversation believes that the fire service approach by most governors being very reactive cannot solve any problem in the North. The talk-shops are getting repetitively exhausting and very ineffectual. Obviously today’s meeting is coming on the heels of the multiple cases of school kidnappings across the region. However, what is needed is real action. Each governor must think of the legacy he wants to leave behind. Politically expedient actions can be as ephemeral as they can be ineffective in the long run.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    Dear governors, education is the key to the future. Insecurity has become one of the worst issues of our times. The impact is as diverse as it is far reaching. It is a social menace that has left a huge trust deficit on leaderships at all levels. It has impacted food security, social life, economic prosperity and education. These issues are too damaging to a developing country like Nigeria and even more so to the region.

    If truth must be told, insecurity is as much a global issue as it is also a national albatross to Nigerians in general but yet, the Northern governors must take steps to address the issues that seems to be sinking the economy of the region. The huge ‘security allocations’ to the governors across the country has not been seen to have been deployed effectively to impact the people. The Northern governors can do better by being more proactive.

    The sad impact of the new wave of school kidnappings especially of female students is an ill-wind that blows no one any good. Abduction of female students is not just a mere coincidence. It stems from the socio-religious fixation that has for centuries objectivized the girl child and women across all religions. Time has come for those who know better like governors and traditional/religious leaders to create more and better awareness of the value of human development.

    The impact of school abductions is in the danger inherent in parents choosing between illiterate children and kidnapped children. Reports show that most parents are withdrawing or even refusing to enrol their kids in schools. On the state level, School safety issues can be arranged to augment the federal school-safety programmes. What seems to be lacking is the will power to address the school security issues. The consequences are better imagined.

    For a region with the world’s highest number of out-of-school children, you, Northern governors must urgently take decisive actions by collaborating with each other to seriously address the issues that are exacerbating insecurity in the region. Attacks on schools would definitely create more illiterates and as women become targets, what would the future hold? What would an abducted girl become as a woman? A Leah Sharibu and all the unreleased Chibok and St. Mary’s Catholic school in Niger state and many other un-named, unaccounted for abductees are the lost children of Nigeria’s future.

    There is no culture or religion that can enhance human flourishing holding on to some un-progressive socio-religious issues. Citing socio-cultural or religious excuses for not making positive changes to the governance structures for better human development should not be acceptable in a 21st century world where the world is welcoming the innovative values of technologies like AI.  Northern Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind for any reason. Enjoying the benefits of democracy while clinging to un-progressive socio-cultural values is the bane of development.

    Dear governors, as you meet today, look at your political parties, your houses of assembly, your cabinets, your civil service, how many women are stirring the ship of leadership? Why is the North that produced a Queen Amina, a Gambo Sawaba, Dudu Waziri, Sultan Bello’s mother,(Hajia Maiurno) and Gogo Nwabueze all great women of impact and influence in Northern Nigeria not concerned about the development of women and girls today? We at the nation would want each of you to account for what you have done to uplift women and girls in your state.

    • The dialogue continues…    
  • Furore over alleged burning to death of military officer by wife five months after marriage

    Furore over alleged burning to death of military officer by wife five months after marriage

    Family members, friends and colleagues are still confused over the death of Lt. Samson Haruna allegedly masterminded by his wife barely five months after they got married. The widow’s claim of innocence has introduced a twist to the saga, KOLADE ADEYEMI reports.

    HE word out there is that 31-year-old Lt. Samson Haruna died in the hospital about two weeks after he suffered severe burns from a fire incident allegedly triggered by his wife, Retyit, in their matrimonial home at Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa in Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State on September 22.

    But confusion has crept into the matter over Retyit’s insistence that the fire incident that consumed her husband five months after marriage was a pure domestic accident.

    Close and distant relations, friends and associates are now trying to unravel the mystery behind the matrimonial tragedy which occurred only five months after the couple said “I do” to each other.

    While a version of the incident claimed that it was Retyit that poured petrol on her unsuspecting husband and set fire on him after a disagreement had occurred between them, Retyit insisted that the fire incident occurred when Haruna, a medical doctor attached to the medical corps of the Nigerian Army, accidentally hit a petrol jerry in their store and poured its content.

    According to her, the young soldier had even jokingly threatened to spray her with petrol and went into the house to pick a lighter, warning her to end an existing quarrel between them.

    She said unfortunately, Haruna slipped and fell, while a spark from the lighter in his hand caused the petrol to explode into an instant fire that engulfed him.

    She said she immediately raised the alarm and tried to help her husband to quench the fire but it was all to no avail.

    She said before help could come from neighbours, the young army officer had sustained severe burns.

    He was immediately rushed to the Military Reference Section (MRS) in the barracks where he was stabilised and later referred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for further management. 

    Unfortunately, he died 15 days later.

    In a post on her Facebook account, Retyit’s elder sister, Nandyel Dalong, also exonerated her, saying she did not kill her husband as was being rumoured.

    To support her claims, Nandyel shared an audio recording where a voice, supposedly that of Retyit, vehemently denied being the culprit.

    In the five minutes, 41 seconds audio clip, the voice, responding to questions from other voices in the background, claimed that Retyit had been a victim of domestic violence as her late husband was in the habit of beating her.

    She also claimed that an elder brother of her husband had also been maltreating and frustrating her.

    She said on several occasions, her late husband threatened to set her ablaze if her parents would not come and take her away.

    The soft and sober voice added: “On the day the incident happened, that was the 22nd of September, he came and dropped me off from work.

    “His elder brother asked him to pack my things from the room. He had been frustrating me.

    “Whenever he frustrated me, I would leave the room. So he bought a new mattress and took it to the store.

    “The store had fuel and other things. So while he was packing, he accidentally hit the fuel. When he hit the fuel, the fuel poured in the house.

    “So he has been beating me. He has beaten me on so many occasions. He even beat me to the extent the I had a miscarriage.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    “He has injured me several times but I had to hide the scars. He had been threatening to kill me, to set me ablaze if my parents didn’t come to carry me.

    “So when he hit the fuel and it poured, he picked a lighter and said ‘I’m going to set you ablaze’.

    “I thought he was playing. He also thought the lighter was not working.

    “I even called the commandant. I told the CO that this man was going to set us ablaze. I called him three times before he picked.

    “You can check my phone to see that I really called the CO. I said to the CO ‘this man is going to set us ablaze’.

    “He thought I was joking. He just ended the call and did not answer me again.

    “As he pressed the lighter, the net at the place caught fire.

    “I was even threatening that I was going to record it and put the video live on Tiktok.

    “I don’t know why I did not record it and put it live on Tiktok.

    “They deprived me of the opportunity to tell my own side of the story.

    “I was even telling them to come and see the house to know if what they are saying is achievable, but they refused to listen to me.

    “They locked me up without hearing from me. I had no access to anyone because they locked me up without my phone.

    “They refused to allow people to come to the house.

    “I told them that I am not a military personnel but a civilian and they should hand the case over to the police to do their investigations, but they refused.”

    Further expressing concern over her detention by the army, Retyit said: “They were protecting the Army’s name. They locked me up in the guardroom for 12 or 13 days.

    “It was when they saw that I was almost giving up the ghost that they removed me from the guard room and took me to the RMS.

    “People are saying I killed him. I am not guilty. I was not the one that killed him. Why are they still keeping me here?

    “They said they would keep me till they finished their investigation. They have finished their investigation and they are still keeping me here.

    “Even my husband told you people I did not do anything wrong. It is just his brother who has been fighting with him.

    “Even my husband knew I did not do anything wrong. He knew I did not do anything wrong.

    “I was keeping quiet so that his job would not be at stake.

    “Before he died, he used to send me messages. He kept sending people to ask how I was doing.

    “I knew that was his way of telling me to calm down; that everything will be fine.

    “They should treat me as a civilian. They have been punishing me for no reason.”

    Meanwhile, the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Akwa Ibom State, said it had commenced investigations into the “brutal killing” of its officer, Lt. (Dr) Samson Haruna, the Regimental Medical Officer of 6 Battalion, who was allegedly set ablaze by his wife, Retyit Samson Haruna, a certified nurse.

    The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Captain Lawal Muhammad, who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo, said the Army, while condemning the gruesome murder of the officer, called for calm as investigation was underway.

    Captain Muhammed stated that the late Lt. Haruna succumbed to severe burns inflicted in a domestic incident with the wife at their residence at Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, Akwa Ibom State, on September 22, 2025.

    The statement said preliminary investigations revealed that the tragic incident occurred after a heated argument between the couple, reportedly stemming from a family crisis, which escalated when Mrs Haruna allegedly set ablaze some property in the house, and Haruna was caught by the inferno.

    The statement further said that Haruna sustained severe burns, but was initially stabilised at the Battalion Medical Facility, and later transferred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for further treatment, where he passed away.

    The statement said: “The Nigerian Army 2 Brigade is deeply saddened and unequivocally condemns the tragic death of Lieutenant Samson Haruna, the Regimental Medical Officer of 6 Battalion, who succumbed to severe burns inflicted in a domestic incident between his wife, Mrs Retyit Obadiah Dalong Samson Haruna, at their residence in Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, Akwa Ibom State, on 22 September 2025.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the tragic incident occurred after a heated argument between the couple, reportedly stemming from family crisis, which escalated when Mrs Haruna allegedly set ablaze properties in the house and the officer was caught by the inferno.

    “Doctor Haruna sustained severe burns, but was initially stabilised at the Battalion Medical Facility, and later transferred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for further treatment, where he unfortunately passed away early hours of Tuesday 7 October 2025.

    “The Nigerian Army strongly condemns this act of domestic violence, recognising the imperative of peaceful coexistence and respect within families.

    “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Lieutenant Haruna.

    “The Nigerian Army will continue to advocate for healthy relationships, addressing domestic violence, and fostering a culture of respect and dialogue within families and communities.

    “The Nigerian Army is calling for all parties to remain calm while awaiting outcome of military police investigation.”

  • Anxiety in Southwest states over threats of attack by terrorists

    Anxiety in Southwest states over threats of attack by terrorists

    • Monarch advocates deployment of bees, ants to expel bandits
    • Current wave of abductions artificial, says ex-Amotekun Commander

    The activities of terrorist groups are no doubt a big source of worry for both the government and citizens. The groups had previously limited their activities to the Northwest and the Northeast, but buoyed by their success in the two zones, they moved to the North Central, where they have been wreaking havoc. The matter assumed a more worrisome dimension with a secret memo released by the secret police to the effect that terrorist groups could make inroads into the Southwest. GBENGA ADERANTI reports on how the new threat could be arrested.

    Until the deadly attack on the Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on June 5, 2022, wherein 41 worshippers lost their lives, and many others were badly injured, few people had imagined that the Southwest region could fall under the radar of terrorist groups that had been threatening some parts of the country.

    But the attack, combined with the recent warning of clear and present danger by the Department of State Services, has made nonsense of that belief.

    On Tuesday, October 21, the DSS had warned of a plot by the Islamic State West Africa Province to attack Ondo and Kogi states, sending shock waves through the spines of not only the residents of Ondo but also other states in the Southwest.

    Before then, the only semblance of the threat in the Southwest had been the activities of criminally minded herdsmen in various communities in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State. The fierce resistance by Yoruba Nation agitators led by Chief Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a. Sunday Igboho, the activities of the South West Security Network also known as the Amotekun Corps as well as the activities of local hunters, however, nipped the threat in the bud.

     But while the inhabitants of Oyo communities may be enjoying respite, the same cannot be said of residents of Ondo communities. A letter by the secret police titled, ‘Imminent Attacks in Ondo State by Members of ISWAP’, has thrown many communities in the Southwest into anxiety.

    In a confidential letter addressed to the Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, the secret police warned of “imminent attacks” by ISWAP terrorists and urged heightened surveillance and security deployment across vulnerable areas.

    The letter signed by H. I. Kana on behalf of the State Director of Security, intelligence, confirmed plans by members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) to carry out coordinated attacks on communities in Ondo and Kogi states any time soon.

    The letter read in part: “It was further gathered that the group has commenced surveillance on potential soft targets in the above-mentioned locations. Consequently, there is a need to scale up the level of security alertness in the various communities to forestall any untoward situation.”

    Residents of Owo, Ondo State, were thrown into panic recently after a loud explosion occurred near a commercial bank in Ondo town. A week before the incident, panic also spread in the Akungba-Akoko community following rumours that Boko Haram members had invaded the area.

    However, the Students’ Union Government of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), dismissed the claims as false and capable of causing unnecessary fear among students and residents.

    Cause for concern

    Reacting to the warning, a security expert, Jackson Lekan Ojo, warned that the people of the Southwest have every cause to feel concerned because of the activities of the terrorists in the Northwest and Northeast.

    He explained that the only way to invade the Southwest would be through the territorial boundaries between the North Central and the Southwest. Therefore, because both Kogi and  Kwara states share boundaries with the Southwest, there is a genuine reason to be apprehensive.

    Aware of the danger this could pose, he averred that “once these people can penetrate the Southwest from those areas, the invasion will continue to destabilise the entire region.”

    He drew the attention of The Nation to the unprecedented criminality in the North Central and North East and how it has crippled both the economic activities and vehicular movements, warning that everything should be done to stop such from spreading to the Southwest.

    “What is happening today in some parts of the North Central, the Northwest and the Northeast, if it penetrates the Southwest, Nigeria is finished. They will overrun this country easily,” the security expert warned.

    As of today, Nigeria ranks 6th on the 2025 Global Terrorism Index and accounted for 6% of global terrorism deaths in 2023. Since 2007, more than 11,000 people have been killed, with millions more displaced.

    According to him, the only alternative area to penetrate the Southwest would have been through international boundaries, that is Benin Republic, which would be difficult, hence the decision to penetrate through Kogi and Kwara states.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    Already, some states like Osun are taking security measures. The state government was said to have put measures in place to prevent the infiltration of the boundary communities long before the alarm by the DSS was raised.

    It will be recalled that the state had in the past battled killer herdsmen in some of its communities, especially Osun North, where the activities of criminal herdsmen were rife. The then Commandant of the Amotekun Corps in the state, Amitolu Shittu, had a running battle with these criminals and recorded a relative success.

    Ojo told The Nation that rather than raising the alarm or sending warnings, the DSS, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) or Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) should break the door down and take the fight to the terrorists.

    “They should gather intelligence and synergise with other security agencies to overrun the terrorists,” he said, warning that raising the alarm would give the terrorists ample opportunity to change strategies.

    “They (terrorists) may just lie low for a short period, and by the time there is no more attention on them, they will massively carry out their attack,” Ojo warned.

    While many have argued that Amotekun would play a vital role in dislodging the terrorists, considering the role they played in dislodging the criminal herders that once troubled some parts of the zone, Ojo warned that the outfit needs to do more to confront the terrorists.

    He argued that in other parts of the country where terrorists are making life difficult for the residents, they too have a security outfit that is akin to Amotekun, yet have not been able to defeat the terrorists.

    “We should not deceive ourselves. What they call the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the Northwest and the Northeast is even more effective compared with Amotekun.

    “What kind of arms or ammunition does the Amotekun corps bear? If somebody is bearing a pump action, and a Dane gun , maybe with only a maximum of 12 rounds, and you are expecting him to face somebody carrying the type of arms some of the terrorists are carrying?’ he wondered. 

    To validate his claim, he drew the attention of The Nation to a peace meeting held recently with one of the leaders of the terrorists.

    He said: “During the meeting, one of the leaders of the terrorists was carrying a magazine. Only one person had more than 13 magazines, each of which contained 36 rounds.

    “Aside from that, they had a General  Purpose Machine Gun, and you are expecting someone who has a Dane gun or pump action to go and confront them?

    “Two hundred people with pump action cannot confront only two people with an AK-47. One person carrying an AK-47 has superior power.”

    Considering the active role Sunday Igboho played in dismantling kidnappers and criminal herders in Oyo communities, Ojo said he would have recommended him to join forces with security agents, but the Yoruba nation agitator has been stigmatised.

    He explained that, unlike the civilian JTF in the Northeast, the perception many have about Sunday Igboho is that of a secessionist.

    “So it won’t be legally convenient for people like us to call on him. But we know that apart from the stigmatisation in certain areas, Sunday Igboho would have been more effective,” he said.

    Politics as threat to Southwest security

    The Nation gathered that, unlike the time when the late Arakunrin Rotimi  Akeredolu held sway as the governor of Ondo State and the Amotekun Corps was strong and united, a lot of things have changed. It is now more or less every state for itself.

    Ojo also expressed worries that, unlike before, when Amotekun was united and shared information, state governors in the region belong to different parties; a situation he said exposes the region to ISWAP and other criminal elements.

    “We don’t have a centralised Amotekun corps at the moment. Kudos to the late former governor of Ondo State,  Arakunrin  Akeredolu. During his time, there was a central Amotekun in Yorubaland.

    “There is no synergy now. Rather, what we have is sectional Amotekun. There is no uniformity in their information, there is no uniformity in arm and ammunition procurement, there’s no uniformity in training, and there is no uniformity in their remuneration.”

    He warned that the politicisation of Amoteku is inimical to the security of the Southwest, and until the governors come together, forget their political differences, as a united Oodua children, “they cannot achieve anything.”

    He expressed concerns about the ISWAP threat and the lackadaisical attitude of the leadership in the Southwest, stressing the need for a security summit in the region.

     “I pray this threat does not catch them unaware. If it spreads to Lagos, the economic and commercial nerve of this country would boomerang on the entire country,” Ojo warned.

    Confronting ISWAP threat

    Baring his thoughts on the ISWAP threat, the traditional ruler of Ode Ule, Ogun State,  Oba (Dr.) Adedayo Olusina Adekoya, dismissed the threat, saying it will come and go like others.

    Adekoya, a monarch cum medical doctor, believes that reinforcing and fully equipping the Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn would be a masterstroke to take care of “the West”

    He said: “I do not call it Southwest because we are not in the South at all, geographically. One of the first things to do is to psychologically remove ourselves from that very wrong classification. Once we see ourselves as the West, we will not be south to any North, and anyone thinking of invading the South should face the South and not the West.”

    He was also of the opinion that newly constituted forest guards could be a solution. More so if it is funded and controlled by the states and not the Federal Government, which would only give it support and recognition as a fully armed security and military tool of the states.

    While many may not agree with him, he advised the government to merge indigenous with contemporary, by making use of bees and ants, to fight the criminals via African science.

    He said: “The indigenous technology of fighting invasion must be developed for broader use. The magun tool used to beat animal invasions should be used against terrorists. These are secret weapons that need development.

    “There are also the methods of the “unseen clubber” that clubs an unwanted intruder to death.

    “Also, you cannot enter a guarded territory to do evil and leave. Immediately, your intentions are to do that, you just go round and round until you are caught.”

    According to the monarch, what is required is a mindful research for applicability on a broader deployment.

    “These are very cost-effective and efficient methods leading to efficient security coverage for the peaceful conduct of a vibrant economy,” Adekoya said.

    Terrorists thrive on propaganda

     Speaking to The Nation on how to confront the ISWAP threat, former Commandant of the Amotekun corps in Osun State, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, recalled that when he was leading the Amotekun corps in Osun some years back, he had a running battle with suspected herders who were terrorising Osun at a time, especially the Ijesha axis, and was able to subdue the terrorists.

    Commending President Bola Tinubu on the fight against terrorism, he also joined others who have expressed a sort of concern over the threat, but insisted that the problem of terrorism is surmountable if proper measures are put in place.

    Recalling the activities of criminal herders in Osun, which are akin to those of the ISWAP, Amitolu said that while he was the Commander of Amotekun in Osun, he used native intelligence to fight criminality in the state.

    Amitolu explained that the threat could, after all, be politically motivated.

    “All they want to do is to create an artificial problem, so that the president can lose the election. They know he is well-versed in politics. The only way they can deal with him is just to create insecurity, especially in the Southwest.”

    The former Osun Amotekun commander, while recognising the ISWAP threat, said the group dwells on propaganda to create fear in people.

    “They use propaganda. They always create fear in the minds of the people. They are using sophisticated weapons that the military and police don’t have. That  in your mind, to confront them will be difficult for them. Although they have access to sophisticated weapons, they are not as lethal as they claim.

    “They live on propaganda and the spreading of false information. Creating fear has been their strategy.

    “Part of the strategy ISWAP is using is disseminating fake information, propaganda, and they launch themselves into the minds of our security operatives, ensuring that some within our security operatives will propagate their own philosophy, and what they are not, they help them to say it.”

    Substantiating the claim, he drew the attention of the reporter to a video that was trending. “How did the information get to the public? If criminals want to divert attention, there is nothing they cannot do.

    “How did their video find its way into our space? As long as Nigerians continue to help in spreading the activities of the terrorist group, they will be emboldened to continue,” he said.

    He enjoined Nigerians to stop circulating the videos of the activities of these terrorist groups.

    “Probably, the operations of the terrorist group in Nigeria could have been minimised; those who are responsible for tracking these videos are not doing what they are supposed to do.

    “Aside from fake information being dished out by ISWAP, Amitolu also disclosed that the media should play down the reportage of terrorist groups like ISWAP.

    “If ISWAP is under-reported, the press gives them too much attention, they hype their activities in the press, and this makes them think they are more than they are.”

    He described ISWAP as cowards and their activities as ungodly.

    He also appealed to bloggers to downplay the activities of terrorists, saying, “They are cowards; they are not bold enough to come out. Why are we giving them undue publicity?”

    He said that after succeeding in creating fear, the terrorists attack and run back.

    Amitolu agrees with Ojo that the problem within Amotekun in the Southwest would make it difficult to confront ISWAP, adding that Amotekun has a role to play in the fight against ISWAP. Still, they have to work as a team.

    “There is a need for the governors to come together, forgetting their interests. They should allow the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission to take charge.”

    While many have cast doubt on the ability of the Amotekun to withstand the terrorists with their weapons, Amitolu said that beyond arms and ammunition, African science would play a big role in stopping the terrorists.

    Southwest governors to the rescue

    However, as a means of strengthening security in the Southwest, six governors of the region, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun), who was represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, converged on the Oyo State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, for a crucial discussion on security, economic development and regional integration.

    At the end of the meeting, the governors unanimously agreed to jointly tackle insecurity in the area before it develops into a multi-headed monster.

    The governors resolved to set up a joint regional security fund and a security intelligence sharing communication platform while also reinvigorating forest surveillance across the six states.

    Other measures agreed upon include the monitoring and regulation of inter-state migration and effective action against illegal mining activities.

    The challenge, therefore, is whether actions like this would effectively check insecurity. Many have expressed pessimism, insisting that the meeting was a motion without movement.

    For instance, outfits like Amotekun cannot bear weapons larger than a pump-action rifle, “so how will they confront a bandit armed with an AK-47?” a security expert asked.

    Besides that, the Inspector General of Police,  Police Kayode Egbetokun, has always expressed his opposition to the idea of state police.

    Whether the current measure being put in place will yield any fruit, Time will tell.

  • CRANKING LONDON DERBY

    CRANKING LONDON DERBY

    • Arteta seeks another statement win at Stamford Bridge

    A six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table and a dominant midweek win over Bayern Munich are no cause for relief for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who anticipates a big challenge when they visit second-placed Chelsea tomorrow.

    Chelsea are on a three-match winning streak and thrashed Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

    But Arsenal, who beat local rivals Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, are determined to maintain their relentless pace as they chase their first Premier League title since 2004, Arteta told reporters on Friday.

    “After beating Spurs, we had to make a statement against Bayern Munich, we did that. Now we have to go to the next one,” the manager said. “It’s a big game, a big London derby. We’re going to play a really good opponent, they are in really good form. We know the challenge and the opportunity we have. We are fully ready for it.”

    Arteta said Chelsea, who have staged a strong comeback in the league after losses to Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion in September, deserve to be in the title race.

    “The squad they have assembled, the numbers they have, the amount of quality, the manager and the coaching staff they have, it makes sense what has happened which is very positive. They deserve to be there,” the Spaniard added.

    Read Also: Play-Offs:  NFF tips Super Eagles to subdue Panthers  after pay dispute

    Arsenal, who had to settle for draws on their last two trips to Stamford Bridge, are hoping Leandro Trossard will be fit tomorrow  after the Belgian attacker picked up a knock against Bayern, Arteta said.

    “With Leo, there is another test today. We have to see how he is feeling. It doesn’t look much. We still have a few hours and we have to wait and see. There is a potential chance,” he added.

    Arteta stressed the need for his players, who are unbeaten in all competitions since August, to maintain their levels of consistency.

    “Not that they surprised me but you have to be able to perform in the manner they did individually throughout long periods of the game against our opponents. That’s very difficult to do,” he added.

  • Wounded Barca, shaky Madrid need La Liga morale boost

    Wounded Barca, shaky Madrid need La Liga morale boost

    Spanish champions Barcelona and current league leaders Real Madrid are looking to build confidence this weekend in La Liga after chastening nights in the Champions League.

    Barca host Alaves  today while Madrid visit Girona on Sunday, as the top two aim to fend off in-form pair Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, who are hot on their tails.

    Barcelona suffered a morale-crushing 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge by Chelsea on Tuesday, while Real Madrid’s defence wobbled alarmingly in also conceding three at Greek side Olympiacos, although they managed to claim a 4-3 victory thanks to four goals from Kylian Mbappe.

    After the hefty loss in London, Barca coach Hansi Flick was left perplexed and scrabbling around for some positivity.

     “I see how we train, the quality, the intensity. It’s totally different than maybe six weeks ago,” he told reporters.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

     “Players are coming back, increasing the quality in the training. I have good feeling about that and am (feeling) positive.”

    The Chelsea defeat was the first time Flick’s Barca had failed to score in 2025.

    Raphinha has made a couple of substitute appearances on his way back from injury and the Brazilian may get to play a larger role when Alaves visit the reopened Camp Nou.

     “You can see I am happy that Raphinha is back again… Marcus (Rashford) is at his level after flu, Pedri will come (back from injury soon),” said Flick.

    Barca’s first Camp Nou match in two-and-a-half years was a 4-0 thumping of Athletic Bilbao last Saturday, and a similar performance against Alaves would help paper over some cracks in the short-term.

  • FactCheckAfrica holds training on AI Fundamentals, others in S’West 

    FactCheckAfrica holds training on AI Fundamentals, others in S’West 

    FactCheckAfrica, through its Digital Democracy Lab project supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) Catalyst Grant, has conducted a series of AI Fundamentals Workshops across four state capitals in Southwest Nigeria, Ibadan, Osogbo, Ado-Ekiti, and Akure.

    Over 500 hundred journalists, youth civic actors, human right activists, lecturers, non-profit founders, students, young feminists and community leaders were trained on responsible use of Artificial Intelligence for governance and accountability.

    Over the past weeks, the organisation has strengthened public understanding of emerging AI technologies and demonstrated how such tools can support civic participation, public oversight, and the fight against information pollution.

    While these workshops were designed to introduce participants to AI fundamentals, the sustained impact goes far beyond training. They are changing behaviours, influencing local civic participation, and inspiring citizen-led accountability initiatives that did not exist just a few months ago. 

    One of the most powerful impact stories emerged from the Osogbo session, where participants formed thematic accountability clusters across sectors: Health, Education, Agriculture, Youth & Sports, Works & Infrastructure, Technology & Innovation and so on. These groups have since begun reviewing state budget lines, identifying discrepancies in spending patterns, and drafting questions to be submitted to relevant ministries. And this action has been replicated in all other states as well. 

    In Osun, a participant-led initiative gained significant traction after Joseph Adebayo, a youth advocate and workshop participant, independently took action following the AI Fundamentals session.

    Joseph explained: “We had an engagement during the workshop, and I felt we needed to push it further. I drafted a petition for young people to sign. Once we reach 100 signatures, we’ll attach it to a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Youth. This training gave us the courage to ask questions.”

    His initiative has since inspired others across the Southwest region to begin similar civic monitoring actions in their sectors of interest.

    Speaking about the significance of the workshops, Lukman Adeoti, Project Lead of the Digital Democracy Lab, said the initiative is reshaping how citizens engage government in the digital age.

    Several youth groups have also signalled interest in joining the upcoming Youth AI Literacy Network, a regional hub being developed under the Digital Democracy Lab to foster collaboration, learning, and innovation.

    The workshops were not theoretical. Participants engaged in real-world tasks, analyzing Osun, Oyo, Ondo, and Ekiti State budgets; reviewing implementation & expenditure reports; and using AI-assisted verification tools.

    Many admitted this was their first time handling actual public budget documents. Amodu Afusat, a PWD from Ondo state: “I had never seen a state budget before this training, talk less of knowing how to analyze it. Now I understand where to look, what to question, and what to track.”

    This shift in mindset is one of the strongest outcomes of the Digital Democracy Lab.

    The Digital Democracy Lab continues to build momentum as it prepares for its next phase: bootcamps, and the first Youth AI Forum, where civic-tech innovations from across the region will be showcased.