News
Enough is enough! Governors, leaders, declare war, move to secure North
For the umpteenth time, Northern leaders, comprising governors, traditional rulers and opinion moulders have come together under one roof to chart the way forward to the myriad issues confronting the area, particularly the security crises causing a lot of havocs in many towns and villages.
The meeting under the umbrella of Northern Governors Forum and Northern Traditional Rulers Council is currently ongoing at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, in Kaduna, the Kaduna State capital and capital of the old Northern Region.
In attendance at the parley, which kicked off Monday afternoon under the leadership of Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya Governor of Gombe State and Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, has in attendance Christopher Musa, an army General and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), who hails from Kaduna State.
Yahaya, Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), while bemoaning the situation in the region, told the delegation, in a welcome address, that the ugly situation called for collective action emphasising the need for collective action.
His words: “Our collective resolve is being tested by the ongoing challenges that we face. However, our unity and commitment to the prosperity of the people remain our greatest source of strength that will enable us to overcome those challenges.
“Terrorism, banditry, kidnap-for-ransom, farmer-herder clashes, drug abuse, the menace of Almajiri and out-of-school children, poverty, and unemployment. We must continue to work with the Federal Government and relevant agencies to provide the necessary support and relief to those affected.
“To address these challenges, requires various solutions including sustaining gains against criminals, studying and implementing the Coalition of Northern Group’s Security Committee report, and engaging with security agencies and civil society groups.
“Investing in education, skills development, and job creation; supporting small and medium enterprises; and attracting investment to northern states; as well providing support to farmers, ensuring rural security, and promoting agro-allied industries. Partnering with the Federal Government and stakeholders to build irrigation infrastructure and promote sustainable practices.
“We must deepen our cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, education, and trade, working together to harness our region’s immense potential. Let us not lose sight of the bigger picture – our shared responsibility to chart the way forward for a prosperous and forward-looking Northern Nigeria.
“The people of Northern Nigeria are counting on us to steer them through these challenging times, and with unity, determination, and bold actions, I am confident that we can fulfil our mandate to bring about a brighter, more prosperous future for all our people.”
Uba Sani, Kaduna State Governor, who also emphasised unity and collective action against regional challenges, acknowledged the commitment of the governors commitment to peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity, urging that unity must be sustained for greater goals.
His words: “We must work together to realise our vision of a secure, peaceful, and prosperous North. I commend the efforts of President Bola to combat insecurity. The establishment of a Joint Military Command and Operation Fansan Yamma is clear demonstrations of the Federal Government’s commitment.
Sani, who also commended the CDS for his presence, was optimistic that under the leadership of Yahaya and the Sultan, the aim of the forum to address regional challenges, would be met, added: “I am confident that under the able leadership of H.E. Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, the Northern Governors Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council will make their marks as effective platforms for addressing the security and developmental challenges confronting the North.
“Let me use this opportunity to commend our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for reinvigorating the war against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the North. The establishment of a Joint Military Command and launching of Operation Fansan Yamma are clear demonstrations of the Federal Government’s commitment to decisively tackle the multidimensional challenges of insecurity confronting the North.”
The Sokoto monarch who is also the spiritual leader of the Muslim community in Nigeria, while stressing the roles of traditional rulers in the entire arrangement towards lifting the region from the doldrums, also echoed the prevailing sentiments, saying: “We must work together to ensure our region’s progress.”
Among the regional governors who attended the meeting in addition to many traditional rulers, from the various states of the region, included: Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Babagana Zulum, Borno, Ahmed Fintiri, Adamawa, Abdullahi Sule, Adamawa.
Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor of Oyo State, on Thursday, finally threw his hats into the ring by declaring his intention to run for president in 2027, with a message – history beckons.
The governor, whose ambition has been a matter of speculations for months now and who had teamed up with forces angling to force President Bola Tinubu, out of power, told a teeming crowd in Ibadan on Thursday that time had come to reset Nigeria.
At a mega-rally to announce the alliance between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Allied Peoples’ Movement, (APM), Makinde, expressed worry over the dwindling fortunes of Nigerians, vowing to engage Nigerians to end the drift.
Hear him: “Without a multi-party system, there is no democracy. Where is our multi-party? Where do we go from here? We have been pushed to the wall.
“They calculated and self-opposition cannot unite but I am here to say that the opposition is the everyday Nigerian. This is the time for all us to ensure Nigeria works for us. This is the time to confront it fears. It is time to engage as citizens and not spectators.
“For the opposition political parties, this is the time to unite and work in unity and give our nation the much reset it needs. The time to reset Nigeria is now. Ibadan is the city of warriors. The first grand alliance is formed. The PDP and APM is formed. This handshake will allow us to field candidates from presidency to state Assembly. And so, I declare my candidacy for office of the president of Nigeria.”
Eyo Ekpe, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), on Wednesday, gave a detailed account on how operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) manhandled him on Monday.
He told reporters that he was at sea on why he should fall victim to the assault against his person and eventually arrested given that was not right person directly involved in the information the agency sought.
Some operatives of the EFCC who invaded the hospital, had whisked Ekpe away after firing teargas to scare away the workers, patients and visitors to the hospital, following what appeared like a fracas the ensued over what it claimed was a routine duty in the facility.
Ekpe, Deputy Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), described how an operative had first entered his office to make inquiries on why the hospital was yet to give a response to an EFCC inquiry over a medical report linked to a suspect facing trial.
He detailed how he briefed the operative that the said response was being prepared and even went ahead to show him the draft of a letter in that regard, which needed to go through the gamut of official endorsement before being released.
Hear him: “The head of that internal medicine department looked at the report and also discovered that the name of the doctor that signed the report is not a member of staff of that department.
“I had prepared prepared a response to the EFCC on Monday, May 11, 2026, based on the findings. When the EFCC operative visited my office the next morning to collect the document, I told him that the response was ready in draft. I even showed him the draft, but told him that the document still needed approval from the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital before it could be officially signed and released.
“He pretended to have accepted that. He left, but later later returned with another armed operative and informed me that I was under arrest. I asked him why. I was not the one that issued the medical report. My name is not on the medical report. The report was not issued from my unit.
“But he said I would get the answer when I get to their office. I then asked him to at least wait for my staff member who I sent on an errand before joining them. But they refused.
“They started pushing me. They dragged me out of the office. Then I began to cry while they were dragging me. They had warned me not to speak. They had taken my phone. My cry as they were dragging me, attracted the workers to the scene, who enquired what was going on, but because they ordered me not to speak, I couldn’t say anything. They had their guns.
The members of staff of the hospital initially blocked them from taking me away. They then made a call. After that I saw many masked and armed men came violently, broke the protector, threatening the people that were around and people ran away.
“They picked some staff that were still by me. they dragged me and other staff, five of us into their van downstairs. By that time they discovered that the gate of the hospital were locked. So, they drove towards the gate and packed and the commotion continued. We were inside the van.
“I was so emotionally and psychologically traumatised that I couldn’t even look out of the vehicle to see what was happening outside. But I know that teargas and live bullets were shot. That’s all I can say for now.”
Joyce Abdulmalik, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, heard on Wednesday, how Zenith Bank raised alarm over the huge transaction in one of its branches by Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF-MoJ).
The bank said it immediately filed a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) in respect to the transactions, during its appearance in the ongoing trial of Malami, his wife, and son over allegation of massive looting of funds belonging to the Federal Government during his tenure.
Mashelia Bata, a compliance officer with the bank, who appeared as witness in the case, where Malami, et al, are facing a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N8.7 billion, to which they pleaded not guilty, gave the testimony while being questioned on the bank’s roles in the matter.
Details of the testimony conveyed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stated how the compliance officer who was cross-examined by Adebayo Adedeji, lawyer to the defendants admitted that the deposits in the account statements complied with the guidelines of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Arguments had stretched when Adedeji, opposed Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), lawyer to the EFCC, who had asked the witness to explain the meaning of a suspicious transaction report, stressing that there was no ambiguity in the term.
However, Okutepa, in response, maintained that section 215(3) of the Evidence Act did not preclude him from re-examining the witness while urging the court to allow the question for proper explanation.
After Abdulmalik, agreed and overruled Adedeji, the witness told the court that banks were required to alert the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) about fund deposits coming in a repetitive pattern, adding: “Any deposition of funds seen in a pattern or repetitive, you must escalate it to the NFIU.”
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