Words and acts of consolations, seem quite inadequate so far to assuage the deep sorrow of the family of Kingsley and Mercy Edu, a major victim in the torrential rain that caused havoc within Ikot Awatin community, Calabar municipality, Cross River State and environs at the weekend.

Four children from the family identified as Bright, 18; Godswill, 12; Daniel, 11; and Richard, 10, were reportedly buried alive alongside another identified, simply as Mr. Udo, a tanker driver attached to a fuel depot, in a mudslide that accompanied the rain.

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The tragic incident occurred just three days after floodwaters claimed the life of a one-year-old child and destroyed property worth millions of naira along Mayne Avenue by Atu Street in Calabar South Local Government Area.

Attempts to save the victims, were said to have failed, as community youths, working through the night with bare hands and shovels, were too late by the time they finished digging through the rubble, as all five victims were recovered dead.

The mother of the children, popularly known within the community as Mama Uwana, was said to have taken her children to church for evening service, only for them to leave the service for home as the rain worsened, to beat the storm, while their father, a security officer, was away on official duty.

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Unaware of the fate awaiting them, the children were said to have changed into dry clothes, and lay down to rest, unaware that the saturated earth above their home was already giving way, only for the soil to give way, trapping them beneath the caved earth.

Wailing uncontrollably, the distraught mother, said to be a waterleaf farmer who lost not just her children but everything she owned, could barely find words for her loss, loudly bewailed her fate.

Hear her: “Everything was buried in the landslide, taking my children and leaving us hopeless and homeless. Why me? Four out of seven are gone in one day. My husband never buys anything for himself because he wants his children to go to school, three boys and a girl, all gone.”

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For her husband, his still silence, which contrasted sharply from his wife, betrayed his own deep emotions, as he stood at the scene speechless, while sympathisers and neighbours gathered around in almost futile attempts at consolation.

The four children were buried shortly after their bodies were recovered, while the remains of Mr. Udo were deposited in a morgue, with his family left to grapple with the sudden loss of a breadwinner who had simply been doing his job on a stormy night.

Residents and sympathisers who trooped to the scene were shocked by the scale of the devastation, calling on the Cross River State Government and well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the Edu family, who in a single night lost four children and the roof over their heads.

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Efa Nyong, Director General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), led other agencies including Disaster Management Unit of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, conducted a three-hour, on-the-spot assessment of the site on Saturday.

The team, which included the Red Cross’s Disaster Management Officer, Agbor Okim, and CR-SEMA’s Head of Relief and Rehabilitation, Preye Obo, walked through the wreckage, spoke with grieving family members, and documented the extent of the destruction.

Nyong described the loss of the children as heartbreaking and conveyed the sympathy of the state government to the bereaved families, assuring residents that the government would work with relevant stakeholders to provide support.

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Explaining that the assessment was designed to guide the government’s response, from immediate humanitarian intervention to longer-term measures aimed at reducing the risk of future disasters, he urged residents in landslide and erosion-prone communities to remain vigilant, to promptly report signs of soil movement or land cracks, and to cooperate with authorities when evacuation becomes necessary.

Bassey Patrick, who spoke on behalf of the deceased family, thanked the assessment team for responding promptly despite the difficult circumstances and called  for more emergency assistance for survivors who, in his words, had lost loved ones and struggling to cope with the aftermath of the disaster.

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The idea of blanket pardoning of terrorists instead of punishing them is a disservice to their victims, Christian Association of Nigerian Americans (CANAN), has said, urging the Federal Government to halt the programme which has since raised a lot of dust within the polity.

The group told reporters during a zoom meeting that reintegrating suspected terrorists into society without first putting them through the judicial process amounted to great injustice which should never be allowed to happen.

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Dr James Fadel, and Banjo Olaniyan, President, and Executive Director of the body, while outlining its position on terrorism, religious freedom and security reforms, also reviewed the thinking of Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor, during the recent U.S.–Nigeria Faith Heroes Award in Washington, D.C. on the volatile security situation in Nigeria.

It said: “CANAN remains concerned about reports that some captured terrorist suspects have been reintegrated into society without transparent judicial processes.

“We respectfully urge the Federal Government to ensure that all persons accused of terrorism are handled in accordance with the rule of law. Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done. Upholding due process honours the memory of victims, strengthens public confidence in the justice system, and discourages future acts of violent extremism,” the association said.

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Expressing excitement on some of the feats recorded by security operatives in recent times, the group, particularly commended them over the arrest of suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), saying those efforts should be followed by diligent prosecution in line with the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Hear the group: “Due process, accountability, and appropriate punishment for those found guilty are essential to justice for victims and to deterring future acts of terrorism.”

The association equally welcomed continued counterterrorism cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, saying every successful operation against terrorist groups strengthens hope for lasting peace, protects innocent lives and contributes to Nigeria’s stability and development.

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On the proposed State Police, CANAN congratulated the National Assembly and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for advancing constitutional reforms to establish the new policing structure, describing it as an important step in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

It, however, urged the authorities to include credible civil society representatives in State Police oversight structures to promote transparency, accountability, public confidence and respect for human rights.

The briefing also drew attention to Pastor Adeboye’s message at the Faith Heroes Award, where he thanked the United States Government for supporting Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts but stressed that the country still faced an uphill battle against terrorism.

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Recalling Adeboye’s remarks, the association quoted him as saying: “While I deeply appreciate the support of the United States Government, the mission is far from over. Innocent Nigerians continue to be killed almost daily by terrorist groups.”

CANAN said the cleric also encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora to engage U.S. policymakers on the need for stronger American support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign.

The cleric also said: “The administration should intensify efforts to identify, investigate, and bring to justice not only those who carry out terrorist attacks but also those who sponsor, finance, and benefit from terrorism.

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“Dismantling the entire network behind terrorism is indispensable if Nigeria is to bring this menace to an end.”

The association said Adeboye also appealed to Christians across the country and everyone who values religious freedom to stand together against terrorism and violent extremism.

It noted that he expressed concern over attacks on Christian communities in Northern Nigeria, pointing out that the Redeemed Christian Church of God has more than 8,000 churches across the region.

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CANAN further recalled Adeboye’s reflection on a time when Christians, Muslims and adherents of traditional religions lived peacefully together and freely practised their faith, saying he described the current wave of religious violence and intolerance as a departure from those ideals.

The association said it would continue to advocate justice, religious freedom, national unity and the protection of every Nigerian, regardless of faith or ethnicity.

“For the sake of the innocent victims, the displaced, and future generations, we will not keep silent. We will continue to work with governments, faith leaders, civil society organisations, and international partners to promote peace, defend human dignity, and support communities affected by terrorism,” the association said.

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Nothing outside external intervention free from direct and indirect government influences, will assuage the feelings of Adeniyi Adeyemi, controversial Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), in his current ordeal with the Federal Government

He wants President Bola Tinubu to constitute an independent, multi-stakeholder investigative panel to probe the controversy surrounding the council and the alleged N1.3 billion budget allocation.

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Adeyemi, who made the request through an open letter to the President is emphatic that the current efforts by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the PFIPC scandal, would yield little positive result.

Maintaining that he did not believe the agency would come up with the true picture of what transpired, in the saga, which has seized the national space in the last three weeks, Adeyemi, said impartiality under the current framework of ICPC was almost zero.

In the letter copied to both Nigerian and global institutions, he wrote: “I commend your recent directive tasking the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with investigating the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC Scandal and ₦1.3 billion allocation inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

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“This directive is a vital first step, but the structural realities of this investigation compel me to speak out of a profound desire for absolute transparency.

“Under the current framework, obtaining a truly impartial hearing presents severe structural challenges. The public narrative emanating from official channels remains heavily weighted toward my immediate arrest, effectively overshadowing the gravity of the systemic vulnerabilities and high-level involvement I have brought to light. True accountability cannot be achieved when the agency conducting the investigation answers directly to the branch of government within which the core allegations lie.

“Furthermore, I must state clearly that walking freely into custody under the current arrangement poses an immediate, existential threat to my life. I have received verified, highly reliable intelligence indicating that I am targeted for elimination the moment I surface in an unmonitored environment.

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“This is not an unfounded fear. My concerns are deeply validated by the highly alarming events surrounding Mr. Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, a central intermediary in this matter.
Official reports claim Mr. Tanimola tragically died in a sudden fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Utako, Abuja. Yet, there remains a total absence of independent eyewitness or media verification of any such inferno.
“More disturbingly, under highly unclear circumstances and without the official involvement of any federal capital regulatory agency, the entire Kachi Hotel structure was swiftly invaded by unidentified armed actors and manually demolished down to the rubble days later — effectively erasing a vital physical crime scene and erasing material evidence.

“Following this calculated destruction of a key locus of this investigation, alongside multiple direct attempts on my life and the safety of my family, I am forced to communicate from a secure, undisclosed location.

“If this investigation is to command the absolute trust of the Nigerian public and the international community, it must transcend standard bureaucratic boundaries. Therefore, I respectfully urge Your Excellency to expand the scope of this inquiry by establishing an independent, multi-stakeholder investigative panel.

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“To guarantee complete neutrality, this panel should comprise:

1. Civil Society Organisations: Specifically Amnesty International, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other transparency Organisations.
2. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA): To guarantee strict adherence to constitutional due process.
3. Independent Media Representatives: Selected members from reputable print and broadcast institutions to ensure unfettered, transparent access to documentation.
4. International Financial Observers: Representatives from the World Bank and the IMF, given that the funds in question tie directly to multilateral credit frameworks.
5. Human Rights Observers: Amnesty International, to monitor compliance with international safety and legal standards.
6. Diplomatic Observers: Representatives from the United Nations, United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, ECOWAS and the African Union.
7. Statutory Enforcement: The ICPC and EFCC, serving as technical partners within this broader, independent coalition.

“The moment this independent, multi-stakeholder panel is constituted, I will immediately step forward to present comprehensive documentation and verifiable evidences. A system cannot credibly investigate itself when its own key actors are central to the discourse.
“By broadening this panel, you will demonstrate to the world that your administration’s commitment to anti-corruption is absolute, institutional, and above palace  politics. The international community is closely watching how Nigeria handles this test of fiscal integrity and governance.

“I remain fully prepared to present the facts and cooperate entirely with a balanced, secure and independent panel.”

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