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Abducted pupils: President sends Shettima to Kebbi
- It’s assault on education, says First Lady
- COAS to troops: step up rescue efforts
Vice President Kashim Shettima will today lead a delegation to Kebbi State to convey the Federal Government’s solidarity and deliver a message of reassurance to the families of abducted pupils.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated his directive to security agencies to move swiftly to rescue the schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

He assured Nigerians that the children would be brought home safely.

In a statement yesterday by his spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said he had received full briefings from military authorities regarding both the abduction and the separate loss of soldiers in Borno State.

The statement reads: “As Commander-in-Chief, I am depressed by the tragic death of our officers on active duty.

“May God comfort the families of Brigadier-General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes,” he said.

He commended Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris for his efforts to prevent the attack despite prior intelligence warning of bandit movement in the area.

The President condemned the attack, describing it as a cruel disruption of the education of innocent girls.

He urged communities in vulnerable regions to strengthen intelligence-sharing with security agencies.

“Our forces cannot succeed without the cooperation of the people. Timely information is crucial,” he said.

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The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing schools nationwide.

Condemnation trailed the killing of the school’s vice principal and the abduction of 25 pupils.

Legislators, the First Lady, governors, UNICEF and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) all demanded urgent action to halt what they described as the worsening attacks on schools and security personnel.

During an operational visit to Kebbi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, ordered troops of Operation Fasin Yamma to intensify search-and-rescue efforts.

“We must find these children. Act decisively on all intelligence. Success is not optional,” he told field commanders.

He met with local vigilantes and hunters, urging closer collaboration based on their knowledge of the terrain.

The COAS also paid condolence visits to the Danko monarch and the school principal, assuring them of the military’s “unwavering commitment” to rescuing the girls unharmed.

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu described the attack as a painful assault on the nation’s values of safety, learning and human dignity.

“This heartbreaking incident is not only an attack on innocent girls and dedicated educators, but an assault on the values schools embody,” she said in a statement.

She offered prayers for the families and reiterated that the President had already ordered security agencies to ensure the girls’ swift rescue.

The Senate, after a motion by former Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi, observed a minute of silence for the slain vice principal and Brig-Gen Uba.

It urged security agencies to urgently rescue the abducted students and set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative.

Lawmakers also called on the Federal Government to recruit an additional 100,000 security personnel to strengthen the fight against terrorism.

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda described the abduction as “the worst form of criminality” and urged security agencies to intensify efforts.

“This attack on a school is an assault on our collective future,” he said.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu also condemned the killings and called for the immediate rescue of the pupils.

UNICEF said no child should risk death or abduction in pursuit of education.

“Students and schools must be protected under international laws, and those responsible must be held to account,” the statement said.

The NBA condemned the Kebbi abduction and the killing of Brig-Gen Uba, warning that Nigeria faces a “growing culture of brazen violence”.

NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), demanded a time-bound rescue mission, a full inquiry into security lapses, prosecution of terrorism financiers, and full implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative.

“This is about leadership, justice, and the soul of the nation. Delay is danger. The time to act is now,” he said.
November 19, 2025
‘CAN’s Christians targeted killings claim faulty’
- •SANs, ex-VC, others disagree
Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), a retired Rear Admiral and a former Vice Chancellor, among others yesterday cautioned against framing Nigeria’s security crisis as a purely religious genocide against Christians.

Retired Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai, Professor of political science Kayode Soremekun, and SANs Chief Felix Fagbohungbe and Dr Wahab Shittu said the killings affecting multiple regions of the country cut across faiths and require urgent, holistic action from the government.

Their reactions followed the Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) renewed insistence at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Jos that Christian communities in the North and Middle Belt are experiencing “targetted killinga.”

Rear Admiral Bobai, Chairman of the Southern Kaduna Aid Foundation and former Chief of Training and Operations in the Nigerian Navy, rejected the claim.

He argued that available security data show high casualties among both Christians and Muslims across several regions.

“In my opinion, there is a general insecurity in the country,” Bobai told The Nation.

“From available statistics, there are high numbers of casualties from both Christians and Muslims. The perpetrators are terrorists who must be flushed out.”

He distinguished the Middle Belt, saying the violence there is driven by organised land-grabbing by armed herdsmen.

“What is happening in the Middle Belt is a deliberate attack on villages by land-grabbing armed Fulani herdsmen,” he said.

He warned that integrating hardened criminals into society was dangerous.

“You cannot catch these people and say you are integrating them into the system. We need to take them out of our bushes,” he added, citing the killing of Brig.-Gen. Uba as a reminder of the risks.

According to him, the focus on whether Christians or Muslims are being killed misses the core issue.

“The girls kidnapped in Kebbi, are they Christians? We must stop the needless argument and go after the criminals,” he said.

Prof. Soremekun, former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, said CAN’s claim represents only one dimension of a larger, more complex crisis.

“The other version is that just as Christians are being killed, Muslims are also being killed,” he said.

“If we focus exclusively on one version of reality, we are likely to mistake the woods for the trees.”

Soremekun pointed to a more troubling trend: infiltration of security agencies by criminal elements.

He said: “The enemy is not just out there; he is also within. This should be the starting point in solving these twin problems of genocide and terrorism.”

He also accused some political actors of fuelling the crisis and called for decisive action against such individuals.

“It is only when these points are taken seriously that we will begin to see the end of this persistent scourge,” Soremekun said.

Fagbohungbe said that the killings do not follow any religious pattern, insisting that both Christians and Muslims are victims of the violence.

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“CAN may see it that way, but I don’t,” he said.

“I think both Muslims and Christians alike are being killed.”

Fagbohungbe cited the case of a Muslim soldier who was ambushed and killed to buttress his point that the atrocities spare no faith group.

The learned silk argued that the government must intensify efforts to halt the killings.

“If need be, the government could seek foreign help to stop the killings and this ugly trend,” he added.

Dr. Shittu noted that Nigeria’s security crisis has spiralled into a nationwide emergency affecting citizens irrespective of religion, ethnicity or social status.

“From Boko Haram and ISWAP terror attacks in the Northeast to rampant banditry and kidnappings in the Northwest and Central Belt, and herder–farmer clashes across the Middle Belt, the violence cuts across all regions,” he said.

He stressed that although certain communities may suffer disproportionate impact, the incidents do not amount to a Christian genocide.

“The violence is indiscriminate and affects all Nigerians,” Shittu said.

While acknowledging that the recent wave of violence has understandably sparked fears of a targeted campaign, the SAN maintained that there is no credible evidence to support the claim that these incidents constitute a Christian genocide.

CAN maintains stance

CAN national leadership insisted yesterday that the alleged Christian genocide in the country must not be dismissed.

Its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said Christian communities across Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt were facing what he described as “Christian genocide”.

He stressed that the association would continue to demand justice, accountability, and adequate protection for Christians nationwide.

Okoh spoke at the Fourth Quarterly National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of CAN in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

He said the violence, mass displacement, and repeated attacks on Christian communities had reached alarming proportions and attracted significant concern from the international community.

Reassuring Christians in the North and other parts of the country, he said: “Our presence in Jos today is not accidental. It is intentional, purposeful, and deeply symbolic. We are here as ambassadors of solidarity, compassion, and moral support.

“We are here to identify with our brothers and sisters across Plateau State and Northern Nigeria who have endured years of persecution, displacement, devastation, and unrelenting insecurity.

“It would be a grave injustice to deny the painful reality of what has transpired – lives brutally cut short, communities uprooted from their ancestral lands, families torn apart, churches razed, and hopes shattered.

“CAN stands unwaveringly by its position that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria.”

Okoh recalled his recent visit to Bokkos, where he met displaced Christians, listened to their stories, prayed with them, and offered relief support.

“We declare with one united voice: You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. The Body of Christ stands firmly with you,” he said.

The Federal Government in an earlier reaction, following United States President Donald Trump’s genocide claim, said Nigeria faces complex security challenges that affect all communities, irrespective of religion, including Christians and Muslims.

Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said: “The violence, which includes banditry, terrorism, and organized crime, is a broad national security issue and not a targeted religious campaign or “genocide”.

“Criminals do not target one religion alone, and both Christian and Muslim communities have suffered from attacks, displacement, and loss of life.

“Certain international platforms, online influencers, and groups of propagating false narratives with ulterior motives, which risks inciting sectarian conflict and tarnishing Nigeria’s image.

“Government is committed to protecting all citizens and is working to address the security situation and counter false information through the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and other government bodies.”
November 19, 2025
JUST IN: PDP members defect to APC in Ondo, declare support for Tinubu’s re-election

Scores of members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging their support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

The defectors, who are grassroots mobilisers drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state, said they could no longer remain in the “crisis-ridden” PDP with what they described as a weakened leadership structure.

The PDP defectors, who are also members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), attributed their switch to APC to President Tinubu’s economic reforms and ongoing infrastructure projects across the state.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors under the banner of the Asiwaju Transport Movement on Tuesday, Mr. Ojo Adewole commended President Tinubu for what he called the restoration of the country’s “lost glory” through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Adewole cited several federal road projects – including the dualisation of the Benin-Ilesa Expressway, the Ore -Ondo Akure road expansion, the Akure – Ado-Ekiti Expressway, and the ongoing coastal highway – as major factors that influenced their decision.

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“We were encouraged to join the APC by our Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. We thank him for the opportunity given to us, and we will not disappoint him nor the party,” He said.

He added that the continuation of road projects initiated during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari convinced them that President Tinubu was committed to national development.

Adewole also recalled that the only PDP federal lawmaker from Ondo State, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, and the three remaining PDP members in the state House of Assembly had recently defected to the APC – a development he said had left the state “virtually a one-party system.”

Receiving the defectors at the APC Secretariat in Akure, the state chairman of the party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin welcomed and urged them to mobilise support for a landslide victory for President Tinubu in 2027.

“This is the party of victory. In the APC, we don’t discriminate -there are no old members or new members; we are all equal, Adetimehin said.

He noted that the performance of President Tinubu had continued to draw more supporters into the ruling party.

“President Tinubu has done well for us in this state. We can all see what he is doing. His Renewed Hope Initiatives are favouring us.

“Work has begun on new road projects in Ondo State, and our people are being given appointments. So, we must work hard to give him a landslide victory here,” he added.

November 18, 2025
JUST IN: Foreign reserves hit $46.7bn

…as CBN marks 20 years of monetary policy department

Nigeria’s external reserves have risen to $46.7 billion as of November 14, 2025, providing 10.3 months of import cover in goods and services.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) attributed the growth to steady inflows and renewed investor participation across different asset classes.

CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, represented by the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate, Mr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, disclosed this at a colloquium marking the 20th anniversary of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Department (MPD).

He said the increase in reserves “reflects investor confidence in our policies leading to improved oil receipts, stronger balance of payments, and renewed foreign portfolio inflows.”

Cardoso linked the rising confidence to recent upgrades of Nigeria’s sovereign outlook by the three leading international ratings agencies, including S&P Global Ratings, which recently revised Nigeria’s outlook from stable to positive. According to him, the upgrade “reflects the impact of sustained reforms that have placed our economy on a more resilient path.”

He also noted that Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List marked “another significant milestone in restoring international confidence in our financial system.”

Cardoso stated that the development shows “our full alignment with global standards on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing,” adding that it opens more opportunities for foreign investment and trade finance.

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The CBN Governor said the combination of these developments has strengthened the currency, boosted trade balances and provided a firmer base for inclusive growth.

Speaking on the role of the MPD, Cardoso described the Department as central to the Bank’s policy architecture. He noted that it supports the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and the Monetary Policy Technical Committee (MPTC) with research, analysis and coordination to ensure coherence in decision-making.

A major task ahead, he said, is the Bank’s transition to a full inflation-targeting regime. Cardoso stressed that the shift is “a strategic imperative for anchoring expectations and sustaining price stability.” He added that inflation targeting will promote transparency, boost credibility and improve how monetary policy decisions transmit through the economy.

Cardoso urged MPD staff to remain focused on the bigger national goal. “Remember that our ultimate goal extends beyond technical achievements. It is about building a resilient economy that fosters growth, creates jobs, and delivers shared prosperity. Monetary policy must remain credible, coherent, and adaptive to changing realities,” he said.

He further encouraged them to maintain high standards. “The journey ahead requires even greater commitment, creativity, and collaboration. Continue to innovate, continue to strengthen coordination, and continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism,” he said.

Director of the Monetary Policy Department, Dr. Victor Oboh, in his address, traced the evolution of the department from its early team-based structure to a modern system built around five specialized divisions covering macroeconomic analysis, monetary policy, committee coordination, international economic relations and policy research. He said the department has consistently produced experts who have served as special advisers and directors to successive CBN governors.

Oboh noted that the department has grown into a strategic centre of the Bank’s policy framework, supporting the MPC with high-level research and analysis that aligns Nigeria’s policy decisions with global standards. He recalled key historical moments—such as the global financial crisis, commodity price shocks and the COVID-19 pandemic—where MPD’s capacity “proved its resilience and relevance.”

The MPD Director further explained that Nigeria’s gradual migration toward inflation targeting followed lessons from global and domestic crises. According to him, the CBN moved from an exchange rate targeting framework to monetary targeting, before adopting a hybrid model that integrates elements of inflation targeting.

Oboh said the Bank has made significant progress since announcing its decision to adopt inflation targeting in late 2023. “We have pursued a disciplined monetary policy stance, hosted high-level monetary policy forums to deepen dialogue on disinflation, and strengthened policy communication to anchor expectations,” he said.

He added that these efforts have helped moderate inflation, stabilize the foreign exchange market, reduce exchange rate gaps, and increase external reserves to more than $46 billion. “Today, we stand at an advanced stage of this phased migration, integrating elements of inflation targeting into our hybrid framework while laying the foundation for a credible, forward-looking regime that will restore price stability and further strengthen investor confidence,” Oboh stated.

Reflecting on the theme of the anniversary, “Monetary Policy in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future,” Oboh described it as a moment for reflection and projection. He said the MPD’s work over two decades has strengthened credibility, supported transparency, and sustained public confidence in monetary policy.

Looking ahead, he noted that the future of monetary policy would require even greater innovation and coordination. Oboh pointed out that global fragmentation, digital currencies such as stablecoins, and climate-related financial risks will demand that MPD remains agile, data-driven, and forward-looking.

November 18, 2025
Pro-Wike PDP NEC expels Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Bode George, others

…dissolves Oyo, Bauchi, Ekiti, Lagos, others

A factional National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the expulsion of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, and former Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, alongside Senator Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, and several others for alleged anti-party activities.

The committee also sanctioned the dissolution of the State Executive Councils in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, Edo, and Ekiti States.

These decisions were reached during the party’s 103rd NEC meeting held on Tuesday at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.

Presenting the memo recommending the expulsions, the Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, said the affected members were sanctioned for allegedly disregarding court judgments, a conduct he described as bringing the party into disrepute.

The communique of the meeting was read by the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

It reads, “The National Executive Committee (NEC) met on 18 November 2025 to address recent developments affecting the unity, stability, and constitutional order of our Party. At a time when Nigerians look to the PDP for leadership, NEC convened to uphold truth, justice, discipline, and respect for the rule of law.

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“NEC expressed deep concern over the actions of some members who violated subsisting court orders by organizing and attending a purported and unauthorized convention. This act triggered confusion, factionalisation, and the defection of governors and legislators nationwide.

“NEC reaffirmed that the PDP draws its legitimacy from strict adherence to its Constitution and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not from impunity.

“NEC received the report of the Acting National Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, detailing breaches of Articles 58(1) and 59(1), including anti-party activities, disobedience to court orders, and conduct bringing the Party into disrepute.

NEC approved the commencement of disciplinary procedures against the following: Adolphus Wabara, Olabode George, Ben N. Obi, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), Bala Mohammed, Oluseyi Makinde, Dauda Lawal, Taofiq Arapaja, Setonji Koshoedo, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Woyengikuro Daniel, Mohammed Kadade Suleiman, Emmanuel Ogidi, Sumaila Adamu Burga, Umar Sani, Udom Emmanuel, and Emmanuel Enorden.

“NEC further resolved that Chief Ali Odefa must refund all salaries and allowances collected after his expulsion on 12 December 2024. These actions are taken to preserve order and discipline within the Party. NEC also ratified Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck as Acting National Vice Chairman (South East).

“NEC ratified the dissolution of State Excos in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti. The NWC is directed to constitute caretaker committees and begin fresh congresses immediately, while the Edo State Exco, led by Barr. Nosa Ogieva has been approved.

“NEC directed Deputies in all National Working Committee positions now vacant owing to expulsion to assume the substantive positions in acting capacity and function as NWC members.

“NEC also formally ratified the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman as the Acting National Chairman of the party.

“NEC directed the legal team and NWC to commence immediate constitutional action to recover seats of all elected officials who defected from the PDP, in line with Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

“NEC approved a Party-wide reconciliation initiative to heal divisions and rebuild trust, while ensuring that reconciliation does not undermine discipline. A nationwide membership audit and revalidation will begin ahead of the 2027 elections.

“NEC acknowledged the anxieties among members but assures the Party faithful that these decisions are aimed at stabilising and strengthening the PDP.

“The NEC affirms that the era of indiscipline is over. The PDP will not bow to lawlessness or personal ambition.

“With unity, discipline, and renewed purpose, the PDP will rebuild stronger and restore public confidence ahead of the next electoral cycle.”

Earlier in their opening remarks, the BoT Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, and Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, urged the party members to remain steadfast, expressing confidence that the PDP will surmount its problems.

November 18, 2025
JUST IN: Turaki, Govs Makinde, Mohammed tear gassed as Wike arrives PDP Secretariat

Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tanimu Turaki were part of a crowd tear gassed by police operatives to disperse a crowd of supporters at the PDP National Secretariat on Tuesday.

The Governors and Turaki were denied access to Wadata House by Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led faction, which manned the main gate.

As the gathering became rowdy, police operatives fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Read Also: JUST IN: Police fire tear gas, disperse crowd at PDP secretariat

But the gate was thrown wide open when FCT Minister Nyesom Wike arrived the Wadata House.

Details shortly…

November 18, 2025
JUST IN: Police fire tear gas, disperse crowd at PDP secretariat

Police operatives fired tear gas at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat to disperse a crowd of supporters gathered at the Wadata Plaza as the struggle for control of the party heats up.

The incident happened as the Senator Anyanwu-led group tried to stop Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) from accessing the Secretariat.

Anyanwu’s men, who are fully in charge at the Secretariat and decide who enters and doesn’t, were heard describing the Governors as impostors who must not be allowed into the NEC/ BoT meeting

Details Shortly…

November 18, 2025
JUST IN: Tension as Anyanwu storms PDP Secretariat

There is a tension at the Wadata plaza national Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Samuel Anyanwu and Taminu Turaki-led factions prepare to hold their separate meetings at the same venue over control of the party.

There is a heavy deployment of police, Officers of the Directorate of State Services and other security personnel around the Zone 5 Secretariat with a handful of supporters of the two factions drumming and singing close to the Secretariat.

However at the time of the report, some of those invited by the Anyanwu-faction of its NEC meeting had started arriving the Secretariat.

Anyanwu himself arrived the Secretariat around 8.50am and went straight to his office.

As at 9.27, Kabiru Turaki’s loyalists were yet to arrive the Secretariat but there are rumour that they are on their way to the Secretariat.

Read Also: PDP govs split over expulsion of Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, others

Anyanwu told reporters he invited the security agents around the Secretariat, adding that it is the usual practice to invite security agents whenever the party is holding a NEC meeting because of the expected turnout.

He said: “I wrote to the security agencies and I NEC on the 14th November informing them of the NEC/BoT meeting scheduled for today. I am the National Secretary of the party and.y tenure runs till December 8.

Reminded of the plan by the Turaki led group to hold an NWC at the Secretariat, he said We are going our meeting and we do not expect any intruder. He is coming to hold meeting here as what?

Details shortly…

November 18, 2025
Tinubu orders manhunt for abductors, rescue of 25 pupils
- Vice principal killed during dawn attack on Kebbi girls’ school
- We’ll bring them back, says governor
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday ordered security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the 25 female students abducted during an attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSSS), Maga, in Kebbi State.

Gunmen invaded the school in the early hours of Sunday, killing Vice Principal Malam Hassan Makuku.

They whisked away the schoolgirls.

Makuku was shot while attempting to shield the pupils.

The attack, which occurred in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, threw the community into deep mourning.

Residents have continued to offer prayers for Makuku, praising his courage and sacrifice.

Kebbi Police spokesman, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, said security operatives had launched a manhunt for the attackers.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the President’s directive for a high-level rescue operation.

“President Tinubu has reiterated that protecting every Nigerian, especially schoolchildren, remains a solemn responsibility of the State,” he said in a statement.

“Security and intelligence agencies have been issued clear directives to locate, rescue, and safely return the pupils, and to ensure that the perpetrators face justice.”

The minister assured that the Federal Government would not relent until the girls are safely reunited with their families.

He also said the country is strengthening cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to secure its borders and dismantle terrorist networks.

He added that the government was “recalibrating the nation’s military, policing and intelligence capabilities to prevent attacks and respond more rapidly to threats.”

Read Also: Matawalle delivers Tinubu’s message to troops in Zamfara

Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle condemned the attack.

He described it as unacceptable and called on all security agencies to act urgently and in concert to locate and secure the safe release of the abducted pupils.

He said: “President Tinubu has directed that the state’s security apparatus swing into immediate action to ensure the abducted students are released unharmed.

“Residents should remain calm and go about their business while government and security agencies address the situation.”

Mattawalle condoled with the family of the late vice principal and with all families affected by the attack.

“I pray to Allah to grant him mercy, a peaceful resting place, and to console his family and loved ones over this painful and unjust loss,” the minister added.

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, assured parents of the schoolgirls that efforts were underway to rescue their children.

The governor spoke after visiting Maga, where he met with security agencies, traditional rulers, and parents.

“The unfortunate thing has already happened. They have abducted our children. We came here, we saw things for ourselves, and we met the parents whose children were taken.

“We gave them confidence, and we gave them our word that we will do everything possible to ensure that their children are rescued.

“We also assured them to remain confident, and that security agencies will do everything necessary.

“That is the essence of our coming to Maga, to see the people and give them confidence and words of encouragement.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the killings and abductions.

He said he was “devastated” by the attack.

Atiku urged the Federal Government to overhaul its security architecture and deploy more personnel to vulnerable communities.

Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, prayed for the safe return of the pupils.

He stated on X: “My heart is heavy in faraway Monaco as I receive the heartbreaking news from Kebbi State about the attack on Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School, which led to the abduction of several young female students and the killing of a staff member.

“My deepest sympathies go to the government and people of Kebbi State, the parents and families of the abducted girls, and all those affected by this tragedy.”

The mass abduction of school children first occurred in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014, when more than a hundred schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram.

There were other abductions of schoolchildren in attacks on schools in Yobe, Kaduna and Katsina states.
November 18, 2025
Factions head for showdown at PDP secretariat
- Different camps plan meetings for national secretariat
- Turaki: Wike, Anyanwu, others remain expelled
All indications point to a major showdown at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat in Abuja today.

The newly elected national leadership, led by Alhaji Taminu Turaki, yesterday vowed to face off with the Muhammed Abdulrahman-led faction.

Both camps announced high-level meetings today at the Wadata Plaza national secretariat.

The faction led by Abdulrahman, believed to be loyal to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, scheduled emergency meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) for today while the Turaki faction plans an inaugural meeting.

They are billed at the same venue at almost the same time.

Turaki met with the FCT Commissioner of Police yesterday, accompanied by other party leaders.

He said his team was prepared to confront anyone attempting to disrupt their gathering.

Turaki described members of the opposing camp as “no longer members of the PDP,” insisting their expulsion at the Ibadan convention remains binding.

According to him, the newly-elected NWC was willing to “lay down their lives” to defend the party’s mandate and Nigeria’s democracy.

He said the outgoing leadership was, by the party’s earlier timetable, expected to hand over between December 1 and December 8, since the Damagum-led tenure officially ends on December 8.

He told reporters: “We came to interface with the Commissioner of Police regarding our meeting tomorrow. We are holding our inaugural National Working Committee meeting of the PDP.

“At this meeting, we have invited our stakeholders, founding fathers, governors, National Assembly members, Board of Trustees members, state chairmen and other critical stakeholders.

“As law-abiding citizens, we came to notify the police ahead of the meeting. This is our first gathering since the Ibadan national convention.”

Turaki dismissed the parallel NEC and BoT notices issued by the Anyanwu faction, insisting that those behind the notices have been expelled.

“Next to God in the management of a political party is the National Convention. Its decision overrides all others. Our National Convention has made a decision to expel these elements. They are no longer members of our party,” he said.

He said the police had been alerted to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

Read Also: Wike loyalists convene PDP NEC, BoT meetings as battle for party control intensifies

“This democracy that our forefathers sacrificed their lives for, we are ready to also give our lives to sustain it,” Turaki declared.

He said the new leadership would access the national secretariat today with or without assistance from the police.

“Anybody occupying our offices without our consent is an interloper.

“We will go there, open the offices and begin to perform the functions for which we were elected,” he said.

Turaki added that the Commissioner of Police assured them of protection.

“We shall be there at 10 a.m. I will lead from the front. We expect the police to provide the protection we are entitled to under the law.”

The notice by the Abdulrahman-led faction, signed by the “expelled” National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, said the BoT meeting would be held at 11 a.m. while the NEC meets at 2 p.m., both at Wadata Plaza.

The Ibadan convention, where Wike, Anyanwu and others were expelled, was held despite conflicting orders on its validity.

On October 11, Justice James Omotosho ordered the maintenance of the status quo in a suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, filed by Austine Nwachukwu (PDP Chairman in Imo State); Amah Abraham Nnanna (PDP Chairman, Abia State) and Turnah George, Secretary, PDP Southsouth).

In a judgment on October 31, Justice Omotosho ordered that preparations for the convention be put on hold pending when the PDP would comply with the provisions of its constitution, the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The judge restrained INEC from monitoring the convention until the PDP complies with the relevant laws in relation to the holding of a convention.

On November 5, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the High Court of Oyo State issued an ex-parte order, granting permission to the PDP to proceed with its planned convention.

On November 11, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order of interim injunction stopping the PDP from proceeding with plans for the convention.

The order, which was to subsist pending the determination of the substantive suit, was issued in a suit filed by former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, who claimed to have been prevented from obtaining form to contest the party’s chairman position.

On November 13, Justice Akintola extended his earlier order, granting permission to the PDP to proceed with the convention.

On November 14, Justice Lifu delivered judgment in the suit by Lamido and ordered the PDP not to hold the convention without Lamido’s being allowed to contest the chairmanship position.

How Wike, others were expelled

Also yesterday, fresh details emerged on how Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and other key party leaders coordinated the expulsion of Wike, Anyanwu and others during Saturday’s national convention.

Sources told our reporter that both Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who chaired the convention planning committee, and Plateau State Governor Caleb Maftwang were deliberately kept in the dark about the plan to expel Wike and his allies.

“Fintiri is Wike’s friend. They feared he could have sabotaged the plan or even withdrawn from the convention if he was informed,” a source said.

The source said the motion for expulsion, moved by Chief Bode George, shocked both governors.

“They immediately dissociated themselves because they knew nothing about it until the motion was made.”

The source described the convention as a “carefully choreographed operation” designed to outwit Wike’s supporters and ensure the party charted a new direction.
November 18, 2025