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Tinubu’s UNGA Absence Fuels New Debate Over Nigeria’s Representation

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The announcement that President Bola Tinubu would no longer attend the ongoing United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, in New York, as earlier announced, has sparked fresh debate among Nigerians.

Recall that Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, had earlier in July, through a statement, said Tinubu would attend this year’s UNGA.

He even said that a seat had been secured for Tinubu not too far from where United States President Donald Trump would be seated.

However, a statement yesterday by Stanley Nkwocha, spokesman for Vice President Kashim Shettima, announced that Tinubu had directed Shettima to lead the Nigerian delegation to the event.
Part of the statement read: “President Bola Tinubu has mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, in New York, United States.

“VP Shettima will lead a high-level delegation comprising Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, ministers and other senior government officials.

“The 81st UNGA General Debate will be held from September 22 to 28, under the theme, ‘Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.’

“At the General Debate, Senator Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement, outlining the country’s position and priorities on major global issues with implications for national development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation.

“The Vice President will also participate in high-level meetings during the UNGA week, including engagements on the Right to Development, climate action and other issues of strategic importance to Nigeria and the African continent.

“Senator Shettima is also expected to join other world leaders at the traditional reception for Heads of Delegation and participate in a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

“The engagements will provide Nigeria an opportunity to advance President Tinubu’s economic diplomacy, deepen strategic partnerships and strengthen the country’s voice on reform of the global financial architecture, sustainable development, climate finance and multilateral cooperation.”

The cancellation of the earlier announcement has not gone down well with some Nigerians, particularly considering the fact that this is the third consecutive UNGA that Tinubu would be absent from since he assumed office in 2023.

In fact, since he became President, he has never attended the global event, a development that has been interpreted in various ways.

There is claim in certain quarters that the President is afraid of being arrested over allegations relating to a heroin-trafficking court case in the US.

Others have claimed that Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UNGA followed President Trump’s signing of an executive order. A few days ago, US President Trump signed an executive order designating foreign drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations and authorising massive arrests, as well as the use of lethal military force against them.

Some have linked this development to Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UNGA, arguing that he would not want to be disgraced in the US. However, the presidency has continued to dismiss such claims.

The latest development has sparked reactions on Facebook, Instagram, X and other social media platforms.

A Facebook user wrote: “Nnaa, if this man does not attend that meeting, that means his conscience is not clear. Make Nigerians no vote him come January 16, 2027.”

Another person wrote: “If he is sure of himself, let him travel. Na that time we go know say e get mind.”

An Instagram user also said: “If he does not attend, it means something is fishy. The FBI should do the needful.”

Also, an X user posted: “Thought they said he will be sitting next to Trump? Now, he is afraid to travel because Trump signed that Executive Order?”

Another viral comment read: “Let him go and explain his drug case to the world. Nigeria deserves better than a President who is afraid of New York.

“This is not about APC or PDP; this is about Nigeria’s image. The President must attend the UNGA or forget 2027.”

Meanwhile, there are those who claim that the President is focusing on domestic issues and preparations for the 2027 election.

However, other Nigerians insist that President Tinubu must appear in person at the UNGA to defend Nigeria’s interests and address renewed calls for the FBI to release unredacted records related to his 1993 civil forfeiture case in Chicago.

The former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has also added his voice to those calling for an explanation from Tinubu over his decision not to attend the 81st UNGA in New York.

He questioned whether the President’s past controversies in the United States had become a burden on Nigeria’s foreign relations.

A statement by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said Tinubu had also been absent from the 79th UNGA in 2024 and the 80th UNGA in 2025, with Shettima representing him on both occasions.

According to the former Vice President, the repeated absences require an explanation. He said: “The United Nations General Assembly is one of the world’s most important diplomatic gatherings. It brings together representatives of the UN’s 193 member states and provides a unique platform for presidents and prime ministers to defend their countries’ interests, negotiate partnerships and shape global decisions on trade, security and development.

“Vice President Shettima may represent Nigeria capably, but representation by delegation cannot permanently substitute for the personal authority, visibility and responsibility of the President.

“Tinubu cannot continue to treat Nigeria’s seat at the world’s biggest diplomatic table as though it were an inconvenient appointment that can be endlessly outsourced,” he said.

He also questioned the economic implications of the President’s absence, saying the sidelines of the UNGA provide opportunities for leaders to engage investors, development partners and other governments.

“When a President makes himself absent from that stage for three consecutive years, his country loses opportunities.

“Investment does not follow silence. International capital does not pursue a country whose leader repeatedly abandons the room in which consequential economic relationships are being built,” he added.

He further linked Tinubu’s absence to Nigeria’s reported $9 million engagement of a US lobbying firm.

He said documents filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act showed that the Federal Government, through Kaduna-based Aster Legal, retained Washington-based DCI Group in a deal valued at $9 million to help communicate Nigeria’s security efforts and maintain US support for counterterrorism efforts.

According to him, reports also said the initial $4.5 million retainer was paid, with the arrangement structured at $750,000 per month.

He said the spending raised questions about why the administration would invest heavily in improving Nigeria’s standing in Washington while the President repeatedly stayed away from the UNGA in New York.

“Why hire lobbyists to speak for Nigeria in America when the Nigerian President cannot summon the courage to appear at the world’s biggest diplomatic gathering on American soil?” he queried.

Atiku also questioned an earlier statement by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN that a seat had been secured for Tinubu “not too far from where the US President, Donald Trump, will be seated.”

“The seat was secured, but the President disappeared. If proximity to President Trump was considered such a diplomatic achievement, why did Tinubu abandon the opportunity and send his deputy?” he asked.

Read Also: INEC, Journalists Raise Concern Over AI Deepfakes Ahead of 2027 Polls

He raised questions about Tinubu’s history in the United States, referring to a 1993 forfeiture case in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

“The complaint stated that the funds represented proceeds of narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

“A supporting sworn affidavit by an Internal Revenue Service criminal investigation agent similarly stated that funds in accounts controlled by Bola Tinubu were connected to drug-trafficking proceeds. The proceedings eventually resulted in the forfeiture of approximately $460,000 to the United States government,” Atiku said.

He acknowledged that there was no announced legal restriction preventing Tinubu from travelling to the United States but questioned whether his past legal controversies had influenced his decision.

“We are not asserting that Tinubu is legally prohibited from entering the United States. The Presidency has announced no such restriction.

“But if no legal, diplomatic, medical or personal impediment exists, why has Tinubu repeatedly avoided the UNGA since 2024? How can one man’s personal history become a burden on Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement?” he asked.

However, Ambassador Ibrahim, who earlier announced in July that the President would attend the UNGA, has now said there is no cause for concern over Tinubu’s absence from the event.

He argued that more than 60 per cent of those listed to speak at the ongoing 81st session of the UNGA were being represented by either their vice presidents or foreign ministers.

In a statement by the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations in New York, he said it was not unusual for countries to delegate representation to senior government officials when their presidents were unable to attend.

“The Vice President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are adequately positioned to represent Nigeria at the General Assembly and participate fully in the diplomatic engagements surrounding the session,” he said.

He explained that President Tinubu would not personally attend the session as he is currently in France on annual leave.

“The absence of the President should not be interpreted as Nigeria being inadequately represented. Our delegation will continue to participate fully in the proceedings,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to view the country’s participation within the broader context of diplomatic representation, stressing that Nigeria would continue to play its role fully at the General Assembly.

INEC, Journalists Raise Concern Over AI Deepfakes Ahead of 2027 Polls

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coic
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and media stakeholders have raised the alarm over the growing threat of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated misinformation to the credibility of the 2027 general elections, warning that fake election results, deepfake videos and manipulated audio could mislead voters and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

INEC said advances in generative AI had made fabricated audio, video and images cheaper to produce and considerably harder to detect, while journalists warned that false election information could spread through social media faster than professional journalists and fact-checkers could verify or debunk it.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, raised the concern in Abuja at a Capacity Building Workshop for Public Affairs Officers (PAOs), declaring that the danger posed by AI-generated misinformation was “no longer a distant, theoretical risk” to the commission.

The media stakeholders, separately, sounded a similar warning at the 8th Bagauda Kaltho Media Lecture Series organised by the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF), where they identified fabricated election results, deepfake videos and manipulated audio as emerging threats ahead of the polls.

Represented by National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Amupitan said AI was changing the information environment in which elections were conducted.
“Generative AI has made it cheaper and considerably harder to detect manipulated audio, video and images. Its misuse extends beyond fabricated content to targeted messaging capable of dividing voters along conflicting narratives,” he said.

The INEC chairman warned that election credibility could no longer be protected solely by securing ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and result sheets.

“Election credibility today no longer depends only on ballot papers, BVAS machines and result sheets, but equally on the information environment in which voters form their judgments.

“Electoral technology and electoral communication should be treated not as separate concerns but as a single discipline,” he said.

Amupitan said the workshop, themed, “Strengthening PAOs Capacity for Credible, Verified and Responsible Election Communication Towards 2027,” was designed to prepare the commission’s frontline communicators for the challenge.

Read Also: Flood Alert: Lagos Directs Residents of 13 High-Risk Areas to Move

He said the volume and speed of information about INEC and the electoral process would increase considerably as the elections approached, making verification, escalation and consistent messaging critical.

The journalists and media stakeholders, in a communiqué issued after the Bagauda Kaltho lecture, expressed similar concerns about the increasing deployment of AI to create deceptive election content.

They warned that misinformation and disinformation could spread on social media faster than journalists and fact-checkers could respond, making verification increasingly important for newsrooms.

The stakeholders called on media organisations to invest in continuous training in fact-checking, digital verification and artificial intelligence and strengthen newsroom systems for detecting and responding to false information before and during the elections.

They also urged technology companies and digital platforms to work with journalists, civil society and government institutions to develop mechanisms for identifying manipulated, synthetic and AI-generated content.

INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said the commission operated under constant public scrutiny and was regularly confronted with attempts to misrepresent its activities and undermine public confidence.

“It is through you that Nigerians form much of their impression of who we are, what we stand for, and how reliable our information is,” she told the PAOs.

Eta-Messi said further capacity-building programmes were already at advanced stages of planning, describing the workshop as the beginning of sustained efforts to prepare INEC’s communication personnel for the responsibilities ahead.

Flood Alert: Lagos Directs Residents of 13 High-Risk Areas to Move

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coic
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Lagos State Government has ordered residents of 13 flood-prone and low-lying areas to immediately relocate to safer locations following a fresh seven-day flood warning by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA).

The warning, which runs from September 19 to 25, covers Lagos and 14 other states, with rising river levels threatening vulnerable communities and critical facilities.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, gave the directive on Monday, warning residents not to wait for floodwaters to rise before leaving vulnerable locations.
The areas identified include Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Oke-Ira Nla in Ajah, Kirikiri, Ilaje Waterfront Jetty, Jetty Terminal B, Isheri North, Kara, Itowolo, Ajegunle, Majidun, Ogolonto and parts of Agboyi.

Other settlements downstream of Isheri Olofin, particularly communities along the Ogun River and other major waterways, were also placed on heightened alert.

The latest warning followed NiHSA’s decision to place Lagos and 14 other states on high flood risk between September 19 and 25 over rising river levels and the threat of riverine flooding. The other states are Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Edo, Kogi, Taraba, Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu and Abia.
NiHSA warned that vulnerable communities could be inundated and that schools, healthcare facilities, markets, farms and places of worship could also be affected.

In Lagos, concern is particularly high in communities along the Ogun River and other waterways, where heavy rainfall and rising water levels upstream could worsen conditions downstream.

The warning also comes during what the state describes as the second phase of the rainy season, when increased rainfall, rising water levels and tidal influences can combine to aggravate flooding in low-lying, riverine and coastal communities.

“We are urging Lagosians, particularly those living in flood-prone and low-lying areas, not to take this warning lightly. When the signs point to danger, the safest decision is to move early. No property is worth risking a life.”

Wahab said the government was treating the NiHSA warning seriously and had intensified monitoring of the identified locations and other riverine, coastal, low-lying and flood-prone communities.

Wahab specifically warned communities along the Ogun River and other major waterways to exercise heightened caution, noting that heavy rainfall upstream and rising water levels in interconnected river systems could have serious downstream effects in Lagos.

He directed affected local governments, emergency management agencies and community leaders to activate their early-warning and response mechanisms, while residents were advised to move people, livestock and valuables to safer locations where necessary.

The commissioner said the government would continue to monitor rainfall patterns, river levels and other hydrological developments in collaboration with relevant federal agencies.

He also urged residents to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains, canals and waterways, warning that blocked drainage channels could worsen flooding and delay the recession of floodwaters.

Wahab cautioned motorists and pedestrians against attempting to cross flooded roads, bridges or fast-moving water and urged residents in vulnerable locations to make arrangements for temporary relocation whenever official warnings indicate imminent danger.

He assured residents that the government would continue to deploy measures to mitigate the impact of flooding and provide updates as the situation develops.

“Who Is in Charge?” – Dino Melaye Questions Tinubu, Shettima’s Absence

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coic
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A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has questioned why President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima are both absent from Nigeria at the same time.

It was reported that Melaye raised the issue in a post on his verified 𝕏 handle on Monday, asking who was currently exercising presidential authority in the country.News Aggregation Platform

Tinubu is currently on an annual vacation scheduled to last three weeks. The President travelled first to London, United Kingdom, before proceeding to Paris, France. Shettima, meanwhile, travelled to New York, United States, on Sunday to represent the President at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to a statement by the Vice-President’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said Nigeria’s participation at the global gathering would be guided by the country’s national interest, commitment to multilateralism, and Tinubu’s advocacy for reforms of international institutions.

Reacting to the simultaneous trips, Melaye questioned the constitutional arrangement for exercising presidential powers while both the President and Vice-President are outside the country.

“The President and Vice President are out of the country. Power is not transmitted. “Who is in charge of Nigeria as we speak? Tinubu travels out of Nigeria every month. Never for once has power been transmitted,” Melaye said.

‘APC Is Confused’ – Isaac Fayose Criticises Wike’s Campaign Role

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coic
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Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has mocked the All Progressives Congress, APC, over Nyesom Wike’s appointment as campaign coordinator of the FCT and Rivers State.

In a video posted on his verified Facebook page, Fayose said the APC is already confused ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the APC’s recent political maneuvers will not undermine the momentum and the electoral prospect of the Obidients or the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

“The situation is critical for the APC. Early this morning, they weakly announced Wike to head the campaign in Rivers State and Abuja, just after my video. If you can’t convince them, you can confuse them. They are already confused.

“My Obidients, the five governors I earlier said are still with us. They are standing with us. We are going to defeat Wike in Rivers and in Abuja. If they like let them appoint him and reappoint him.

“He will lose in Abuja. He will lose in Rivers because already we are stronger in Rivers and Abuja than the APC,” he said.

Recall that Fayose had said five APC governors are secretly supporting the NDC ahead of the 2027 polls.

We Have Abandoned Nigerian Youths, Turned Them Into Political Labourers – Sule Lamido

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coic
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Former Jigawa State Governor and a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has expressed concern over the increasing use of Nigerian youths as political labourers by politicians.

Lamido spoke on Sunday in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.

The former governor said he deliberately chose to meet with youths instead of organizing a conventional gathering involving political elites, saying the decision was informed by his concern over the future of the country and the challenges facing younger Nigerians.

He said political leaders had failed to provide adequate mentorship and character formation for the younger generation.

“We, the leaders, have abandoned Nigerian youths in terms of moulding them, character formation, inculcating brotherhood, sisterhood, human empathy and all those values that make human beings.

“The question is, why can’t we give the younger generation what we were given when we were young?

“In the next 35 years, we will not be here. Why, then, are we using our future, our youths, as political machinery and political labourers?” Lamido asked.

He expressed concern that youths were increasingly being exposed to political activities characterised by thuggery, hatred, abuse and disrespect, rather than constructive engagement based on ideas and principles.

Read Also: Abia Community in Shock as Man Allegedly Hacks Mother to Death

According to him, some politicians mobilise young people around individuals instead of political principles, a development he said could create unnecessary divisions among youths.

Lamido urged youths across political parties, including the PDP, APC and ADC, not to regard one another as enemies, stressing that they shared common aspirations and faced similar challenges.

“Whether you are in PDP, APC, ADC or any other political party, you share so much in common as a youth. Therefore, while you are in your own political party, you should not be enemies,” he said.

He called on political leaders and other stakeholders to invest in the intellectual, moral and leadership development of young Nigerians through education, employment opportunities, mentorship and proper character formation.

Lamido said previous generations benefited from guidance provided by political leaders, elders, religious institutions and other societal structures, which helped shape their values and leadership abilities.

He urged the present generation of leaders to provide similar opportunities for young Nigerians, saying the future of the country depended on how effectively youths were prepared to assume leadership responsibilities.

The former governor also called on youths from the North, South, East and West to recognise their shared interests and responsibilities as members of the same generation.

He said Nigeria could achieve sustainable development if its youths were adequately prepared for leadership based on competence, integrity, tolerance and national responsibility.

Abia Community in Shock as Man Allegedly Hacks Mother to Death

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coic
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A man identified as Livingston Nwakanma has been arrested by youths of Osaa Ukwu community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State for allegedly killing his mother, Mrs Nwaigbe Nwakanma, with a machete.

Livingston was arrested by the community youths after fleeing from home.

The suspect, who was said to be a drug addict and mentally unstable, allegedly hacked his mother, Mrs Nwaigbe Nwakanma, to death on Saturday before fleeing.

It was gathered that the deceased, a popular trader in her community’s local market, was in her kitchen preparing to make soup when her son, Livingston Nwakanma, stormed in and attacked her with a machete.

Read Also: Wike Set for Possible Appointment as APC Campaign Council Coordinator in FCT, Rivers

The attack resulted in the instant death of the woman, popularly known as Daa Nwaigbe, an incident that threw the entire community into mourning and anger.

The Abia State Police Command is yet to officially confirm the incident as of the time of filing this report.

However, the deceased’s husband, Dede Nwakanma, confirmed the unfortunate incident, lamenting that his life partner was murdered in cold blood.

The distraught father disclosed that his son, who committed the crime, had been showing signs of mental instability for four years.

Wike Set for Possible Appointment as APC Campaign Council Coordinator in FCT, Rivers

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coic
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In a bid to give him a clearly defined role ahead of the 2027 election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to appoint the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, as the coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign structure in Rivers State and the FCT.
It was reported that despite the appointment, the former Rivers State Governor will retain his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was a subscription

Speaking to ThisDay, sources disclosed that the emerging arrangement is designed to harness Wike’s political network without formally placing him inside the hierarchy of the APC, a party he has repeatedly said he does not belong to.

Recall that there is a growing disagreement between the minister and several APC governors over how support for Tinubu should be organised ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike has repeatedly insisted that he does not require membership of the APC or a position in the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to work for Tinubu’s re-election.

According to ThisDay, the arrangement would, in effect, give the minister a defined presidential campaign responsibility in two strategic territories where he has repeatedly claimed substantial influence.

But even as the campaign structure is being assembled, the sources said there would not be a single chain of command running through the entire council.

Former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, will serve as Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council, but Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, are not expected to report to him, according to sources familiar with the proposed structure.

Rather than a conventional military-style structure in which every senior campaign official reports to the director general, the emerging framework is expected to give some of the party’s most influential figures distinct spheres of responsibility.

A source said that same logic underpins the proposed role for Wike, who will be in charge of the FCT and River as Tinubu plans to ensure that clashes do not happen among the key drivers or top echelon of his campaign.

Recently, Wike had accused some APC governors of working against him, specifically slamming Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

This came after APC governors rejected Wike’s rainbow coalition. Reading a resolutions of the Progressives Governors Forum a few days ago, the Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Forum, Uzodimma, declared that the governors unanimously resolved not to have anything to do with the Rainbow Coalition.Track Congressional Bills

According to the source, it is this brewing chaos that Tinubu is seeking to nip in the bud by quickly streamlining the role that Wike should play in the upcoming presidential polls.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is being tipped for a prominent spokesperson role in the campaign.

It was gathered that Keyamo will bring considerable campaign communication experience to the emerging structure.

He served as a spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs in Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign and previously played a senior communications role in Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election campaign.

His experience has also extended beyond electioneering into government, having served as Minister of State for Labour and Employment under Buhari before becoming the current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development under Tinubu.

Akpoti-Uduaghan Honours Late Former Kogi Governor Ibrahim Idris

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The senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has mourned the death of former Kogi State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, popularly known as Ibro.

Idris, who governed Kogi State from 2003 to 2012, died in the United Kingdom on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

In a condolence statement issued by her media office, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the late governor as a significant figure in Kogi State’s political history, saying his years in public service left an enduring mark on the state.

“The passing of His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, is a profound loss to Kogi State, the Peoples Democratic Party and indeed Nigeria. He was a major political figure whose years of service contributed to the political development of our state,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said the former governor’s political journey represented an important chapter in the evolution of Kogi State, particularly during the period when the PDP wielded considerable political influence in the state.

“Beyond the office he occupied, Ibro represented a generation of political leaders whose experiences, relationships and contributions helped shape Kogi’s political history. His departure creates a significant vacuum, and his contributions will remain part of the historical narrative of our dear state,” she said.

Read Also: Katsina: Military Arrests Suspected Commanders Linked to Killing of Major General Rabe

The senator also recalled the late governor’s contributions to infrastructure and development during his tenure, including the International Market, Specialist Hospital, Confluence Stadium, Greater Lokoja Water Scheme, housing projects, road construction and investments in education infrastructure.

She said the impact of public service remained part of a state’s collective memory, urging political leaders to learn from the contributions and experiences of those who served before them.

“Leadership is ultimately measured by the lives touched, institutions strengthened and opportunities created for future generations. As we mourn His Excellency Ibrahim Idris, we must also remember the chapter he wrote in the history of Kogi State and the lessons his journey offers to those of us entrusted with public responsibility,” she stated.

Akpoti-Uduaghan extended her condolences to the Idris family, his political associates, friends and the people of Kogi State, praying for strength and comfort for the bereaved.

“May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus. May He also grant the Idris family, the PDP family and the people of Kogi State the fortitude to bear this great loss. His memory will remain with us,” she said.

Idris defeated the then incumbent governor, Prince Abubakar Audu, in the 2003 governorship election, but his 2007 re-election was nullified by the courts, leading to a re-run election in 2008, which he won.
He completed his tenure in January 2012 and was succeeded by Captain Idris Wada.

Katsina: Military Arrests Suspected Commanders Linked to Killing of Major General Rabe

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Troops of the Nigerian military operating under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, in collaboration with local vigilantes, have captured key commanders of a notorious terrorist group accused of involvement in the kidnapping and killing of Major General Abubakar Rabe (retd) in Katsina State.

The operation, conducted on Sunday, September 20, 2026, reportedly led to the capture of several senior members of the terrorist group operating under the name “Kachalla Maha”.

Among those apprehended was Samagi, identified as one of the group’s top commanders and a key figure within its operational structure.

The capture of the senior terrorist commanders marks a significant development in ongoing military operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and disrupting their command and control structures across the North-West.

The suspects are believed to have played prominent roles in the activities of the Kachalla Maha group, which has been accused of involvement in kidnapping, killings and other violent attacks in parts of the region.

The operation involved troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA working closely with local vigilantes, who provided support during the security operation. The collaboration highlights the importance of credible local intelligence and community-based security partnerships in tracking terrorists operating across difficult and remote terrain.

The capture of Samagi and other senior members of the group could provide security agencies with valuable intelligence on the group’s leadership structure, operational methods, hideouts, supply networks and possible collaborators.

The reported killing of Major General Abubakar Rabe has heightened concerns over the activities of armed terrorist groups and the threats they pose to military personnel and civilians in the North-West.

Read Also: Tinubu Praises Kaduna’s Free CNG Transit Programme, Calls for More Relief Measures

Security forces have continued to intensify operations against terrorist groups and other armed criminal elements, particularly in identified areas of operation, with the objective of denying them freedom of movement and disrupting their capacity to carry out attacks and kidnappings.

The latest arrests are also expected to support ongoing intelligence-gathering efforts and potentially assist security agencies in tracing other members of the network and establishing their links to previous attacks.

The suspects are expected to undergo further investigation to determine their individual roles in the activities of the Kachalla Maha group and establish their possible involvement in other violent incidents across Katsina and neighbouring states.

Further official details on the operation, including the exact number of suspects captured and any weapons or other items recovered, are expected from the military authorities.

The development comes as Nigerian security forces sustain coordinated operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, protecting vulnerable communities and restoring security across the North-West.

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