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Group slams Atiku for supporting calls to free Nnamdi Kanu
A group representing various Northern organizations, known as the Northern Youth Frontiers (NYF), voiced strong disapproval on Thursday of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent endorsement of protests calling for the immediate freeing of Nnamdi Kanu, who heads the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The NYF labeled Atiku’s view as “profoundly inconsistent and ethically troubling,” claiming it casts doubt on his reliability and fitness for national leadership.
In a statement released by their National Coordinator, Sama Musa, the group argued that Atiku’s comments go far beyond simple politics, revealing a “profound disregard for the lives and welfare of countless Nigerians who suffered as a result of Kanu’s incitement.”
READ ALSO: Atiku joins Sowore in call to free IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu
He said: “The tragic loss of life, particularly among the over 500 Northerners and law enforcement personnel attributed to Kanu’s incitement, cannot be overlooked or trivialised. These are not mere statistics; they represent families torn apart, communities shattered, and a collective grief that resonates through the fabric of society. Atiku Abubakar’s response to such a humanitarian crisis is not only a reflection of their values but also a litmus test of their commitment to the people they aspire to lead.”
The statement further noted that Atiku’s apparent lack of concern is alarming, as his push for Kanu’s release—without considering the violence and division it caused—suggests that the hardships faced by many in the North are less important than political gains.
“This stance raises significant ethical questions. How can a leader claim to represent the interests of all citizens while simultaneously disregarding the pain and suffering of a substantial segment of the population? The Northern Youth Frontiers believes that a leader must embody empathy and understanding, qualities that seem to be lacking in Abubakar’s current approach.”
Musa encouraged voters to thoroughly review Atiku’s qualifications as a potential president, given the array of options in Nigeria’s political environment.
“In light of these considerations, it is imperative for the electorate to engage in a critical assessment of Atiku Abubakar’s suitability as a presidential candidate. The political landscape is rife with choices, and the future of Nigeria hinges on the decisions made by its citizens.”
The NYF advised the public to scrutinize Atiku’s motives, asserting that true leadership depends on qualities like compassion, responsibility, and honesty rather than just alliances.
He added, “The Northern Youth Frontiers emphasises the importance of accountability in leadership. A leader’s actions should align with their words, and any disconnect between the two can erode public trust. Atiku Abubakar’s support for Kanu’s release, without a clear acknowledgement of the consequences of such actions, may leave many questioning his priorities. Do we believe that a leader who overlooks the suffering of his constituents can effectively address the myriad challenges facing Nigeria? The answer, we contend, is a resounding no.”
The group also discussed the wider effects of Atiku’s position on national harmony, pointing out that in Nigeria’s diverse setting, leaders must work to close gaps rather than widen them.
“The Northern Youth Frontiers also recognises the broader implications of Abubakar’s stance on national unity and cohesion. In a country characterised by diverse ethnicities, religions, and cultures, the need for leaders who can bridge divides is more pressing than ever. By failing to address the ramifications of Kanu’s actions, Abubakar risks exacerbating existing tensions and fostering an environment of mistrust. A leader must be a unifying force, capable of bringing people together in pursuit of common goals. The electorate must consider whether Abubakar possesses the vision and capability to fulfil this essential role.”
Finally, the NYF called on citizens to have thoughtful discussions about their leaders and hold them accountable.
“As we navigate the complexities of the political arena, the Northern Youth Frontiers calls upon all citizens to engage in informed discourse about their leaders. It is not enough to accept Atiku Abubakar’s rhetoric at face value; we must demand accountability and consistency from those who seek to represent us. The future of Nigeria depends on our collective ability to scrutinise the actions and statements of our leaders, ensuring they align with the values we hold dear as a nation.”
They encouraged voters to back candidates who truly prioritize the well-being and cohesion of all Nigerians: “As we approach the next election cycle, let us prioritise candidates who demonstrate a genuine commitment to the welfare of all citizens, regardless of their background. The path to a more united and prosperous Nigeria lies in our hands, and it is our responsibility to choose leaders who will champion the cause of inclusivity and justice for all.”
Justice Muhammad Nuraddeen Bello of High Court sitting in Sokoto State has sentenced three men, including a foreign national, to death by hanging, after convicting them on charges bordering on terrorism and arms proliferation.
The convicts, Yusuf Muhammad (alias Sallau), a Nigerien; Jabbi Alhaji Yalle; and Kabiru Muhammad, were apprehended on 13th June, 2025, by the Department of State Services (DSS) Counter Terrorism Unit in connection with cross-border criminal activities bordering on arms trafficking and terrorism.
Bello, who found all three defendants guilty as charged and sentenced them to death by hanging, while also ordering the forfeiture of all monetary exhibits recovered from the convicts to the Federal Government, said: “The conviction is the latest in a series of successful prosecutions by the DSS in its sustained operations against terrorism and organised cross-border criminal networks across Nigeria.”
The sentencing is coming about two weeks after the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja sentenced each of the five suspects arrested on May 31, 2026, by the DSS for their involvement in the November 21, 2025, attack on St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, to 25 years’ imprisonment.
Justice Binta Nyako, had handed down the judgment after the men, including two Nigeriens, pleaded guilty to all four terrorism-related charges, bordering on support for the commission of an act of terrorism, breaching both Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, were pressed against them.
According to Count One, the men were accused of jointly conspiring to assist a terrorist by agreeing and intentionally playing various roles towards conveying 15 AK 103 rifles as well as about 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from the Diffa region, Republic of Niger, to one Malam Ahmad, a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group based in Borgu, Niger State, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Primate Elijah Ayodele, is on the verge of coughing out a whopping N10billion, if he fails to offer unrestrained apology to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State within the next 24 hours, and retract his claim that the former Minister of Defence is bidding his time to betray Peter Obi, to whom he is to contest the 2027 presidential election as a running mate.
Without doing so, the controversial cleric, should be ready for a major court battle with the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the platform on which the pair is to contest the election.
In a letter indicating a legal action against Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church over defamatory remarks, Kwankwaso, through Magaji Mato Ibrahim, SAN & Co., his lawyers demanded an immediate retraction and apology from the cleric over the allegations.
Details of the letter, dated June 11, and unveiled through the X platform of the legal team, was based on a viral video recorded during a live-streamed church service, where the preacher made allegations targeting Kwankwaso’s integrity as Peter Obi’s running mate under the NDC.
Quoting the cleric as stating: “KWANKWASO IS A FAKE TO OBI, KWANKWASO WILL BETRAY YOU. KWANKWASO HAS BEEN PAID TO BE VICE PRESIDENT TO OBI AMONG OTHER LIBELOUS COMMENTS WHILE PRETENDING TO BE A PREACHER,” the former governor said the comments were unprovoked, grossly unfounded, and carefully designed to create a rift within the ranks of the political party and its supporters.
Handing Ayodele a 24-hour ultimatum to publish a full and unequivocal retraction across all social media platforms and news outlets with the same prominence as the original video, they also demanded a written undertaking that he would cease and desist from making any further malicious statements against their client, warning that failure to comply, would lead to full legal actions.
The letter stated: “We shall claim substantial damages to the tune of Ten Billion Naira and cost of the action on a full indemnity basis amongst other reliefs.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday demanded the immediate end to the exportation of minerals from countries in Africa in their raw forms, which he said had led to massive exploitation of the continent.
The President, told member countries of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), a forum of Ministers in charge of Mining and Solid Minerals on the continent to speak with one voice to promote, collective interests, ensure value addition, and prevent the continent from becoming merely a source of raw materials for the rest of the world.
As the Grand Patron of the group, chaired by Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, gave the charge while receiving a delegation of AMSG in the State House, Tinubu told the delegation that the group had a critical role to play in strengthening Africa’s bargaining power in the global mineral market and ensuring that the continent derives maximum value from its natural resources.
His words: “ What we should do is avoid bureaucracy and deceit; we must put an end to exploitation. The rest of the world won’t mind if your country is a cesspit of dams and rubbish and excavates your raw materials without giving value.
“It is our responsibility to collaborate and cooperate to ensure that these metals and minerals bring value to us, bring technology to us, and we can do it. It is how much each country will put into the research, development and refinery. I don’t see reasons we cannot demand centralisation of that conversation somewhere on the continent. So why not utilise that in our research and development and knowledge-based economy to enhance the quality of life and bring prosperity to our people.”
Emphasising that Africa possessed enormous mineral wealth that should be strategically harnessed to drive industrialisation, create jobs and accelerate economic transformation across the continent, the President, said the era of exporting raw minerals without local processing and beneficiation must give way to a new model that encourages investment in local industries, technology transfer and the development of value chains that retain wealth within Africa.
Alake, who had earlier expressed gratitude to the President for his exemplary leadership under the Renewed Hope Agenda, said the gesture had shown support for Nigeria’s mineral sector, especially in the local value-addition and economic diversification drive, where artisanal miners are empowered.
He told the President: “You encouraged us to look at the focal point of the establishment of this group, which is to ensure that the African natural resources, especially with regards to minerals, critical matters, are localised, the beneficiation coming directly to Africans generally.
“You charged us that we should set our sails very high and ensure that local value addition is a pivot around which all the objectives of this organisation should revolve.
“So, sir, we have gone implemented your charge and we are quitted that today local value addition is reverberating all over Africa.”
He added that some member countries have gone ahead to ban the export of raw minerals.
He explained members of the body were in Abuja for the Fifth edition of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2026), to push for a new continental approach to resource management and industrial development.
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