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.

The Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Bago has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays ahead of the 1 November 2025 local government elections.

According to a directive on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, the work-free days would provide voters the opportunity to go to their respective polling units and cast their ballots.

The government said that markets, banks, financial institutions, and public offices would remain closed, while movement of persons and vehicles would be restricted, except for those on essential duties.

‘Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has declared Thursday, 30th, and Friday, 31st October, 2025, as state-wide work-free days to enable citizens across the state to fully participate in the forthcoming Local Government Elections on Saturday, 1st November, 2025.

‘A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, stated that the work-free days are intended to provide all eligible voters the opportunity to go to their respective polling units and cast their votes in the elections.

“The SSG further announced that markets, banks, financial institutions, and public offices will remain closed, while movement of persons and vehicles will be restricted, except for those on essential duties”, Lawal stated.

He quoted the SSG as saying that the government was encouraging residents to come out en masse and perform their civic responsibilities on Saturday.

‘Government is encouraging citizens to come out en masse and perform their civic responsibilities on Saturday, 1st November, 2025.

‘This election provides yet another opportunity for Nigerlites to elect capable leaders who will champion development and represent our collective interests at the grassroots level.

‘Bago has directed all security agencies in the State to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, reaffirming the government’s commitment to guaranteeing a safe and hitch-free electoral process’. Usman said.

Human rights activist, Mr. Omoyele Sowore has condemned the revocation of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka’s United States visa, describing the development as ‘sad’.

In a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, the publisher of SaharaReporters expressed dismay over the incident.

He wrote: ‘Donald Trump reportedly revokes U.S. visa of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka! Sad! What the U.S. has become’.

Soyinka had disclosed during a media parley at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery at Freedom Park, Lagos, that the United States government had revoked his visa, effectively barring him from entering the country.

‘It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States who are expecting me for this event or that event do not waste their time’, Soyinka said.

‘I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me’, he added.

According to Soyinka, the U.S. Consulate informed him of the revocation in a letter dated 23 October 2025.

The Nobel Laureate said he was unaware of any wrongdoing that might have warranted the action, describing it as puzzling.

He also urged people to continue standing against discrimination and injustice everywhere.

Soyinka noted that he had maintained a cordial relationship with the U.S. for many years, except for moments of tension that emerged during Trump’s first administration.