News

Gov AbdulRazaq receives 23 freed hostages, pledges to crush kidnappers in Kwara

Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Tuesday, received 23 abductees rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army, warning that kidnappers and other criminal elements ‘have no place’ in the state.

The victims were handed over to the governor at the headquarters of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi, Ilorin, following their release by the Army after weeks in captivity.

During the brief handover ceremony, AbdulRazaq expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Armed Forces and President Bola Tinubu for their support in the ongoing military operations to clear out bandits and kidnappers from forests across the state.

The governor said: ‘We thank God that you were all freed following pressure from the security forces. We also thank the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Nigerian Army for this success.

‘We are glad to see 23 victims freed today. The government will support your rehabilitation. The challenges we are facing are temporary. It is either these criminals leave Kwara or they die here. This is a state of harmony’.

AbdulRazaq commended the General Officer Commanding and the new Brigade Commander (GOC), Brigadier General Nicholas Nemetne Rume, for their renewed onslaught against criminal elements in the state, adding that their deployment has restored calm to previously troubled areas.

He disclosed that the state government would immediately deploy forest guards once the ongoing Army ‘clean-up operations’ are concluded to maintain peace and enable displaced farmers to return to their farmlands.

‘The GOC has been on the ground for two weeks, and since he came, we’ve seen a turnaround. Many criminals have been arrested or neutralised. Peace is being restored to Kwara’, the governor added.

Rume praised the governor for his support of the Army, vowing to sustain pressure on the kidnappers until they are completely flushed out of the state.

He said: ‘Your Excellency, without the state government’s support, most of our operations would not have been possible’, he said.

‘The GOC’s order is clear it is either the bandits leave Kwara State or they die here. That’s the only mandate I have, and we will continue to do our best to achieve it.

One of the rescued victims, Pastor Obafemi recounted his ordeal in captivity, describing the experience as ‘traumatic’.

He said: ‘It was a very painful experience being held against our will. I thank the Governor and the troops for rescuing us. God will continue to strengthen them to overcome the people tormenting us’.

Kwara, once regarded as one of the most peaceful states in North Central Nigeria, has in recent months witnessed a surge in kidnapping and banditry, particularly in parts of Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi local government areas.

The Nigerian Army and other security agencies have since launched coordinated operations to dislodge the criminal networks believed to have infiltrated the state from neighbouring Niger and Kogi states.

AbdulRazaq has repeatedly assured residents that his administration will continue to support security agencies with logistics, intelligence, and welfare packages to ensure that the state remains safe for residents and investors.

News

Maryam Sanda removed from Tinubu’s pardon list

The name of Maryam Sanda sentenced to death in 2020 for the culpable homicide of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, has been removed from the pardon list by President Bola Tinubu.

This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday.

Onanuga noted that President Tinubu was exercising his constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy as captured under Section 175(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He stressed that the new list came about after consultations with the Council of State and the public opinion and signing of all relevant instruments necessary to formalise the updated list of beneficiaries.

According to the statement, Tinubu ordered the removal of individuals convicted of severe crimes, including kidnapping, drug offenses, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal firearms possession or trafficking, from the list.

Also, those who were previously pardoned on the old list have had their sentences reduced.

News

Fresh list of 34 persons granted clemency by President Tinubu released

A new list of those granted clemency by President Bola Tinubu has emerged from the Presidency.

The list contained about 15 Nigerians pardoned by the Tinubu administration.

Another four persons, whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment and fifteen others granted clemency, were also listed

Pardon:

1. Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia
2. Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar
3. Ayinla Saadu Alanamu
4. Hon. Farouk M. Lawan
5. Herbert Macaulay
6. Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa
7. Ken Saro Wiwa
8. Saturday Dobee
9. Nordu Eawo
10. Daniel Gbooko
11. Paul Levera
12. Felix Nuale
13. Baribor Bera
14. Barinem Kiobel
15. John Kpuine

From death sentences to life imprisonment:

1. Emmanuel Baba
2. Abubakar Usman
3. Khalifa Umar
4. Mohammed Umar

Clemency:

1. Oroka Michael Chibueze
2. Adesanya Olufemi Paul
3. Daniel Bodunwa
4. Hamza Abubakar
5. Buhari Sani
6. Mohammed Musa
7. Muharazu Abubakar
8. Ibrahim Yusuf
9. Saad Ahmed Madaki
10. Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa
11. Richard Ayuba
12. Adam Abubakar
13. Emmanuel Yusuf
14. Chinedu Stanley
15. Johnny Ntheru Udor

News

Anambra election: Violence won’t be tolerated – NSA warns

The National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a stern warning to politicians and stakeholders against violence in the November 8, 2025 Anambra governorship election.

The NSA warned that violence won’t be tolerated.

Ribadu gave the warning on Tuesday at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, held at INEC Headquarters, Abuja.

Represented by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, the NSA reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure a peaceful and secure environment for the poll.

He charged political parties and candidates to promote peace and discourage violence before, during, and after the exercise.

“We are engaging with political leaders and local stakeholders to send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated,” he said.

According to him, the Office of the NSA is committed to implementing President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the strategic mobilization of security forces during the electoral period.

He further stated that enhanced surveillance, deployment of adequate security personnel, and improved intelligence gathering have been put in place to prevent any attempt by destructive elements or desperate politicians to undermine the electoral process.