Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said he is ready to die for the country.

Obi made the declaration in an interview broadcast by Nevon Media on Tuesday, it was reported.

“We need one man to take charge of the security challenges facing the country.

“I said somebody has to be in charge. We go into battle. If you’re ready to live, you have to be ready to die. “Go home if you’re not ready to die,” he said.

Obi reiterated that he had no reason to hold the passport of any other countries.

I am ready to die for Nigeria.” It’s a country. “Non-state actors cannot take over the state,” Obi said.

Meanwhile, Obi has said that if he was President of Nigeria, he would have removed the subsidy on petroleum products in an orderly manner.

Obi was said to have declared his support for the removal of fuel subsidy but would not have declared it on the day of his swearing-in.

The former governor of Anambra State made this known in an interview with Rufai Oseni, responding to allegations that he criticised President Bola Tinubu for the removal of the fuel subsidy in 2023.

Tinubu had announced the removal of fuel subsidy at his inauguration as President.

Obi’s concern was not the removal of subsidy per se, but the process adopted by the present administration.

“I did not criticize Tinubu over the removal of the subsidy. I said I’d have taken it out but in an orderly way. Obi said, “I wouldn’t have announced it at my inauguration.

Before making such a major policy announcement, he said, he would have consulted with operators and stakeholders in the petroleum sector.

“I would have gone to the operators in the industry first because we know there is a lot of criminality around the subsidy,” he added.

Obi said that for any subsidy removal plan to be effective, there must be a clear understanding of how much the country was spending on the scheme and a strong action against corruption.

“I would remove it to see how much exactly is being spent on subsidy and also tackle the issue of exchange rate deregulation. “But the most important thing in doing these things is to fight corruption head on,” he said.

The NDC flagbearer said policy reforms should be rolled out in a way that protects ordinary citizens.

The post Peter Obi Speaks Out Strongly on Insecurity Crisis, Issues Stern Warning appeared first on TheNigerian.

Gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday attacked the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State.

The attack was confirmed in a statement by the NIPSS Head of Public Affairs Department, Dr Osime Samuel, it was reported.

“Security personnel and relevant security agencies brought the situation under control promptly,” he said, adding that “there is no threat to the safety of the participants, staff, residents or facilities of the Institute and normal activities are continuing as scheduled.”

Reacting to speculations of the death of some security agents during the attack, Samuel said such reports remain unconfirmed and further updates will be made public as soon as verified information is available.

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, wishes to inform the general public that there was a security incident in the vicinity of the Institute in the early hours of today.

“The situation was swiftly brought under control by the quick response of the security personnel and relevant security agencies. There is no current threat to the safety of participants, staff, residents or facilities of the Institute and regular activities are proceeding on schedule.

Security agencies have launched investigations to know how the incident happened. It would be premature to speculate on the nature, scope or outcome of the event as investigations are ongoing. Therefore, the Institute is unable to confirm information currently circulating on social media and other unofficial platforms.

“NIPSS is in close contact with the relevant authorities and will share verified information as soon as it is available. We urge the public and media to rely on official communications from the Institute and relevant security agencies.

“The Management of NIPSS remains committed to the safety and security of all members of the Institute community and appreciates the professionalism of the security personnel and agencies involved in the response.

“Further updates will be provided in due course,” the official statement said.

Some reports, however, said a police officer attached to a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and two soldiers were killed in the exchange of gunfire during the incident.

NIPSS is Nigeria’s premier policy institution charged with the training of senior public officials, military officers and policy strategists from all parts of the country.

Security has been increased around the institute and investigations and manhunt operations are underway at the time of filing this report.

The post Gunmen Attack NIPSS Headquarters in Plateau State appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Osun State Police Command, in a bid to reinforce security across the state, has launched an enforcement exercise across the state against vehicles and motorcycles operating with covered, obscured, defaced, concealed, unauthorised, or unregistered number plates.

The operation, the Command said was in response to a directive given by the Inspector-General of Police to enhance public safety and to prevent criminals from exploiting anonymity to carry out unlawful activities.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, in a statement on Tuesday in Osogbo, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ibrahim Gotan, had ordered that all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and officers on the field, should impound offending vehicles and carry out detailed investigations in accordance with extant laws.

“The exercise is targeted at enhancing security, improving public safety and denying criminal elements the anonymity that is often exploited in the commission of crimes,” the statement read.

Police said the enforcement would also target vehicles with fake, improperly issued, altered or other unauthorized registration number plates warning that such violations would not be tolerated.

“The command has therefore directed the motorist, transport operators, fleet owners and members of the public to ensure that all their vehicles are duly registered with valid registration number plates that are clearly visible at all times,” the statement added.

The statement added that the operation was not aimed at inconveniencing law-abiding citizens, but to enhance the capability of law enforcement agencies in identifying vehicles, investigating crimes and tracking down criminal suspects across the state.

“This exercise is not designed to harass law abiding residents but to improve the capability of law enforcement agencies to identify vehicles, investigate crimes, track criminal suspects and boost the overall security architecture of Osun State,” the police said.

The Command re-affirmed its commitment to the protection of lives and property and urged residents to adhere to the directive, providing credible and timely information to security agencies.

It said the officers deployed for the enforcement exercise had been directed to conduct themselves professionally, courteously and strictly within the ambit of the law.

The post Insecurity: Police Launch Crackdown on Unregistered Vehicles, Covered Plates in Osun appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare has reiterated the commitment of the government to ending terrorism in Nigeria.

The presidential spokesman was quoted to have commended the country’s security forces for their efforts in the fight against terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminals operating in the country.

“But whether it takes long or not, the terrorists must either surrender or be neutralised,” he added.

He said President Tinubu would not succumb to the demands of the terrorists.

“These victories, arrests and pressure against terrorists and kidnappers by our soldiers must be commended and recorded as part of the security achievement of the Tinubu administration. We will not give up, President Tinubu has since vowed. “The terrorists must surrender or be decimated,” he wrote on his 𝕏 Account in response to a statement by the Nigerian Army that troops have achieved a significant operational success with the arrest of a suspected high-profile arms trafficker connected to an interstate illegal weapons network.

Recall that President Tinubu has said he was shocked by the death of retired Major-General Rabe Abubakar in the custody of terrorists in Katsina State.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said that General Abubakar, after a distinguished career in the military, retired few years ago. He added that he was on his way to his home town when the hoodlums got him.

“Despite the terrorists’ best efforts, the President wants them to know that the government will never succumb to their demand for the release of their members held by our security agencies,” the statement said.

The post Presidency Issues Ultimatum: Terrorists Must Surrender or Face Elimination appeared first on TheNigerian.

Suspected cultists have reportedly attacked Oreta community in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, killing a 22-year-old resident, Abdulmalik Bakare, and two others.

Tunde Bakare, father of the deceased, said the incident occurred on Wednesday and that six suspects have been arrested.

The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the case has, however, assured the family that he would carry out a thorough investigation, Bakare told journalists Sunday.

“The DPO has promised that the case will be thoroughly investigated,” he said.

When our correspondent visited the community on Sunday, there was a fearful and uncertain atmosphere in the whole area and residents were still trying to recover from the violence.

The findings showed that the attack might have been connected to a previous confrontation between a trailer driver and a gang of suspected hoodlums on Gbogbo Road.

A resident who gave his name only as Fasasi said armed men on motorcycles stormed the community around 8 p.m. and began shooting indiscriminately.

Earlier in the day, some youths reportedly stopped a trailer carrying a container and demanded money from the driver, leading to an escalation in tensions, he said.

He said the driver claimed some people at a junction near where he was parked collected N350,000 as payment from his employers.

“It was in the afternoon. A driver of a trailer carrying a container was stopped at Gbogbo by some boys who wanted to collect money from him. The driver said they had already paid. The Chinese owners said they paid N350,000 to their bosses at the junction.

“But they said no. As they were dragging it at the junction, one of the area boys who climbed the trailer was caught under the tyre and died. “The police said they settled it and it was an accident, Fasasi said.

He said some of the youths regrouped after the incident and later launched a reprisal attack on the community.

They rounded up their gang members in the night and raided the community on bikes. They reached Oreta and began shooting.

They killed him when he was about to close his shop. They also shot dead a physically challenged child who was eating. They started smashing shops and glass doors. “A man who came to buy fish was also shot dead,” he said.

At the time of this report, the identities of the other victims had not been confirmed.

The attack sent panic through the community, forcing many people to flee and commercial activities to be abruptly disrupted, residents said.

Efforts to get an official comment from the Lagos State Police Command were unsuccessful.

At the time of filing this report, calls and text messages to the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, were not responded to.

The post Three Feared Dead as Gunmen Attack Lagos Community appeared first on TheNigerian.

Insecurity is escalating in Nigeria, and the bloodthirsty terrorists have gruesomely murdered no fewer than six active serving military commanders and one Retired Major General since January this year, 2026.

The fight against insurgency has turned deadlier recently with a sharp rise in killings and abduction for ransom, signaling no end to the decade-long national crisis, reports said.

Military officers and commanders are also not left out in the targeted strikes by the assailants as innocent civilians are being murdered on a relatively daily basis.

On 16th February, 2026, Boko Haram fighters attacked the Mandaragirau community in the Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, killing Lt. Col O.C. Okolo.

He was buried in his home town of Obinofia Ndiuno, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State in April 2026.

The armed militants killed Maj. U.I. Mairiga the Commander, Mayenti base in Borno State on March 1, 2026, a month after the death of Colonel O.C. Okolo.

Lieutenant Colonel S.I. Iliyasu, another top military commander paid the supreme price on March 6, 2026 when Boko Haram fighters attacked a Battalion in Konduga area of Borno State.

Similarly, on March 9, Lieutenant Colonel Umar Farouq was killed in another deadly attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military base in Borno State.

The killings continued in April with the murder of Colonel I.A. Mohammed Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army’s 242 Battalion in Monguno, Borno State, in active service on April 13, 2026.

It also recalls that Brig. Gen. Oseni Omoh Braimah was shot dead by members of the Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP terror group on April 9.

The latest was the sad report of the death of Retired Maj-Gen Rabe Abubakar.

The Retired General was not killed in active service, but died in the forest after being kidnapped by terrorists in Katsina State.

He and his wife were abducted on 30 May along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Rabe was last seen in a video where his captors demanded the release of some bandits and the seizure of livestock, it was reported.

In the four-minute, two-second video that has been circulating on social media, the couple were seen standing and relaying the demands of their captors.

In the video, the widow said the abductors demanded the release of three of their members, namely, Sani, Aminu and Nasiru.

She said two of the detained persons were arrested in Jikamshi and the third was in Kano.

She also appealed to Katsina State Government and the leadership of the five local government areas to assist in meeting the demands to ensure their release.

But Rabe died from complications of diabetes and hypertension, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Katsina, Nasiru Mu’azu said in a statement on Saturday.

Nigerians react: Nobody is safe

Nigerians took to social media on Saturday with posts of their deep anger over the government’s failure to rescue General Rabe before his death.

Following the announcement of Rabe’s death, some political big wigs took to their X handle to mourn the late general and made comments on the bigger issue of insecurity in the country.

Peter Obi: ‘We cannot continue like this’

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi in a statement on X, said the unfortunate incident was painful, describing the deceased as a “distinguished military officer who contributed a large part of his life to defending Nigeria and protecting its citizens.

“It is tragic that a man who served his fatherland with honour, rose through the ranks of the Nigerian Armed Forces and retired after years of meritorious services would meet such a heartbreaking end at the hands of criminal elements.

“His death is a national tragedy and a sobering indictment of the insecurity that has engulfed our country.

“When traders can no longer safely travel to markets, farmers cannot reach their farms, communities live under the constant fear of attack and even retired senior military officers are not spared from the menace of kidnapping and violent crime, it is clear that our nation is facing a grave security emergency”.

Obi urged the Federal Government and security agencies to go beyond the rhetoric and adopt a more proactive, intelligence-driven, technology-based and coordinated approach to tackling insecurity.

“Nigeria must strengthen its security architecture, improve intelligence gathering, secure our borders, equip and motivate our security personnel and ensure that those behind these heinous crimes are apprehended and brought to justice,” he said.

It has become a national calamity – Sam Amadi

The former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Sam Amadi has said that the deteriorating security situation of the country is becoming a national tragedy. Amadi cited the killing of other top military personnel.

Amadi called the unfortunate development a sad development and asked “why should a retired General be held in the forest for weeks and the Nigerian state cannot rescue him and his wife?

“Where is the competence of the Tinubu government if it cannot save this retired General? It has happened too often to be a national disaster.

“The Nigerian government can only do propaganda and arrest political enemies and activists”.

David Mark laments: Nigerians now at risk in their own country

Senator David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, said that Nigerians are now endangered in their own country “due to the persistent threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes”.

In a statement by his media aide, the former Senate President said, “insecurity has continued to escalate for over a decade now, affecting every segment of society.

He called on Nigerians to unite in the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality that are threatening the peace and stability of the country.

President Bola Tinubu, in a statement issued Saturday night by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that while the terrorists had “done their worst”, the government would never bow to their demand to release their members held by our security agencies.

“Bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror should now surrender or face the full weight of the Nigerian State,” Tinubu reiterated.

“Those windows of surrender won’t stay open forever. “And there shall be no mercy for those trading in the blood of Nigerians”

The post Outrage as Nigeria Loses 7 Military Commanders to Terrorism and Banditry appeared first on TheNigerian.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has revealed that schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped by suspected bandits in Oriire Local Government Area of the state are being kept in the Old Oyo National Park.

Makunde said this Friday while giving an update on the rescue efforts of the kidnapped victims nearly four weeks after their abduction.

The governor said security agencies are making concerted efforts to secure the safe release of the victims, who were whisked away during coordinated attacks on schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esinle communities on May 15, 2026.

He said intelligence reports have it that the abductees are still within the sprawling Old Oyo National Park, which covers about 2,500 square kilometres across 10 local government areas in Oyo State.

Makinde pointed out that the vast and difficult terrain of the park has created operational challenges for security personnel, requiring careful planning, coordination and sustained efforts to achieve a successful rescue mission.

The governor however assured residents that every credible lead is being pursued and all lawful measures are being deployed to ensure the victims are rescued unharmed. He also encouraged members of the public to stay alert and report suspicious activities through the state’s toll-free emergency number, 615.

He warned against spreading unverified information, saying that misinformation could hinder ongoing rescue operations, urging residents to continue supporting security agencies with useful information and to keep the abducted students and teachers in their prayers as efforts to secure their freedom continue.

“One thing I can say is that our security reports show that they are still within the wider Old Oyo National Park axis. This is a huge area that spans parts of 10 local government areas in our State and covers some 2,500 square kilometres.

I say this not to dissuade anyone, but to help us grasp the magnitude of the challenge ahead of us. This is not a problem specific to the Oriire Local Government Area.

“It’s an issue that affects all of us. The size and terrain of the area demand patience, coordination and perseverance. That also means vigilance from members of the public remains very important,” he said.

The post Makinde Discloses Where Abducted Oyo Pupils, Teachers Are Being Held appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.) has said the fight against terrorism, banditry and insurgency in Nigeria remains difficult because criminal groups enjoy the support of sponsors and some members of the public.

Musa was billed to speak on Friday at The Platform Nigeria 2026 edition, an annual national discourse organised to mark Democracy Day.

The event which was monitored on Channels Television was hosted by The Senior Pastor and Founder, The Covenant Nation, Pastor Poju Oyemade.

The minister, who spoke on the theme, “Governance, Democracy and National Security,” said terrorists and bandits depend on local collaborators for food, water, intelligence, logistics and funding.

He said security agencies could only achieve a lasting solution if citizens refuse and expose those who aid criminal elements.

“The people are everything. If the people are ready and willing to change, then change will happen. “If the people are not willing, nothing will happen,” Musa said.

“Let me tell you, with what is happening with the challenges we have in the country – banditry, insurgency and terrorism – why does it look like it is so difficult to deal with them? And maybe we have people who are also encouraging and supporting these things because the terrorists and bandits are living among the people.

“There are many stories of how people have helped them with food, water and information and these are the things that keep them going. We call it the oxygen. Who is paying for them? Who do they get their info from? And who are the ones providing the logistics that keep them going? It’s still the people.”

“Modern insecurity has made security operations more complex than conventional warfare,” the minister said.

“Today, security threats are often generated by the people who live among us and are part of our communities, unlike state-to-state conflicts where the enemies were easy to spot,” he said.

“Traditionally, conventional warfare was state-to-state, country-to-country. So you know who your enemy is. “The most dangerous thing in a battle or a campaign is when the enemy is inside,” he said.

“The person you are protecting might be the number one enemy who is going to try and take you out as soon as he gets the chance.”

Musa said the success of security agencies in their operations would be limited without the cooperation of the citizens despite the efforts they put in.

“It is very important for us always to remember that the armed forces and the security agencies, whatever they do, if the people are not ready to support them, it makes the task extremely difficult,” he added.

The defence minister urged Nigerians to stay united, saying that terrorists and criminal groups often exploit societal divisions.

“We have to keep working together because it is those spaces that are between us that these people see and try to widen to divide us and we must not let that happen,” said Musa.

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki also spoke at the event and said an independent legislature is key to sustaining democracy and holding government accountable in governance.

A parliament that just rubber stamps executive proposals without due diligence has failed in its constitutional duty, Saraki said.

“A legislature that cannot say no is no legislature. A legislature that only gets executive proposals, rubber stamps them, and goes home has not done its constitutional duty. “It has been a purely ceremonial role,” he said.

He said the independence of the National Assembly should not be viewed as rebellion against the executive but a prerequisite for legitimate governance.

“Independence of National Assembly is not rebellion against the government of the day. “The National Assembly is the very thing that makes government legitimate if it is independent because a mandate that is never tested is a mandate that no body can trust,” Saraki said.

The post Defence Minister Explains Why Tackling Terrorism Remains Difficult in Nigeria appeared first on TheNigerian.

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, rtd, has said Nigeria’s security forces are not enemies of the country.

Musa, who was a guest speaker on Friday at the June 12, 2026 edition of ‘The Platform’ aired on Channels Television, said all Nigerians, including the security forces, are all victims.

He urged Nigerians to cooperate with the government, stating that the fight against insecurity succeeds when citizens work together with institutions.

“The security forces are not the enemies of the state. In fact I always say we are all victims.

“As a commander, I had the privilege to be the commander in the theater Operation Hadin Kai for 19 months, and the worst thing that can ever happen to you is to have to meet the families of those who have passed on, who were killed, to explain to them what happened to their children, to their wards, or to see those ones that have been amputated because the vehicles they were riding went through Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, which has taken their limbs.

“So I want to appeal to Nigerians that as long as these people are sacrificing themselves, we have a country to protect. We have to honor them, we have to support them, we have to give them everything that will keep them going, and together with the support of citizens, so much can be achieved, and I can assure you that,” he said.

The post Insecurity: Security Forces and Citizens Are All Victims, Says Defence Minister appeared first on TheNigerian.

Hundreds of protesters staged a fresh #EndBadGovernance protest in Lagos on Friday, capitalizing on the Democracy Day period to make a case for immediate government intervention in the areas of economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and the escalating cost of living.

The protest attracted activists, civil society organisations and concerned Nigerians who marched peacefully through parts of the city, holding placards with inscriptions such as “Free All Captives Now,” “End Anti-People Policies Now,” and “For a Living Wage and Mass Creation of Employment.”

Participants expressed concern over the worsening economic situation in the country and called on the government to take decisive steps to address the challenges faced by citizens.

The protest was held against the backdrop of recent mass abductions reported in Oyo and Borno States and rising public frustration over rising cost of living and economic hardship.

The protesters also pointed out the impact of inflation, rising transportation fares and declining purchasing power on the average Nigerians, calling for policies that will reduce the burden on the people.

Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has joined calls for improved governance, enhanced security and economic reforms aimed at improving the welfare of citizens.

Earlier, Falana had joined some civil society groups to announce June 12 as a day of nationwide protests, citing issues of pervasive insecurity, hunger and the economic challenges facing millions of Nigerians.

Security agencies were also deployed to monitor the protest and maintain law and order during the exercise.

Meanwhile, a group of demonstrators also showed up at the venue to support the Federal Government’s economic and policy reforms.

Pro-government supporters marched with banners carrying messages such as “Better Days Ahead for Nigeria”, asking Nigerians to be patient and allow the reforms to produce positive results.

The group said the policies the government is putting in place are aimed at repositioning the economy for long-term recovery, stability and sustainable growth.

The post End Bad Governance: Protest Breaks Out in Lagos Over Hardship and Insecurity appeared first on TheNigerian.