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S’Africa denied me entry while white people had free access – Nigerian billionaire
From Abdul Samad Rabiu, Nigerian billionaire business tycoon, came a startling depiction of the raw deal Africans suffer in South Africa that indicate the sharp difference with other races of the world.
South Africa, once home to the most degenerate human oppression in history – apartheid, is currently an enclave where citizens have turned against their brothers on the African continent in many years of xenophobic attacks.
Regardless of the attempt by the authorities in the country to downplay the situation, Rabiu, who is also Africa’s second richest man, used his personal story to underscore the scant regard of Africans in the country, even after escaping from the oppressive regime some three decades ago.
At the ongoing Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, Rabiu told his story at one of the forums, tagged: Africa at scale: Capital, policy, and the architecture of growth, how the incident, occurred in February 2025 while he was travelling to Cape Town for the Mining Indaba.
He said: “I had a personal experience. Last year February, I was travelling to Cape Town for the Mining Indaba. And as we landed… I tendered my passport, and the immigration officer looked at it and was like, where is your visa, and I said, ‘My visa is there.’
“Unknown to me, my visa had expired the day before. Unfortunately, our crew did not check the visa… We were there for four hours, but at the end of the day, I had to turn back. I was turned back to Lagos.
“But the issue is, while we were waiting… there were like three international flights from Europe. All three flights were mostly Europeans. I was standing there by the immigration desk, and every passenger on those three flights went into Cape Town without any visa.
“I do not have a problem with the fact that I was there without the visa and I was returned. I took full responsibility of that. I had an issue with being an African in Africa, being turned away because I do not have a visa and foreigners from other continents were coming in and were allowed to enter without a visa. This must change.”
Lamenting that such barriers undermined the spirit of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), he stressed that fragmentation continues to limit cross-border business expansion.
His words: “At BUA Group, as we expanded our regional investment, we actively sought to supply several African markets under the AfCFTA framework. While some countries embraced the spirit of agreement, others were less supportive in practice… limiting our ability to participate fully in regional trade.
“So really, AfCFTA is not working as it should… we were actually frustrated. Capital to finance ambition, policy to enable execution, infrastructure, the foundation of growth, value-addition to unlock the full value of our resources, and integration to unlock scale.
“The reality is clear: Africa is not short of capital, it is short of coordinated mobile capital deployed at scale. What is required is clear and transparent rules, predictable enforcement and coordinated industrial strategies across borders.
“The 21st century will not reward detached brilliance, but coordinated execution. African leaders must move from policy declarations to implementation-driven development.”
Barely 24 hours after the rescue of 416 residents of Ngoshe community in Borno State, abducted during an invasion by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists three months ago, a fresh wave of relief and emotion has swept across parts of the state, as another set of captives regained freedom.
This time, it was Dille community in Askira/Uba, where 11 women abducted seven months earlier, while on a fishing expedition, were reunited with their families after what residents described as months of anguish, uncertainty and silent prayers.
The women were reportedly among those rescued, following coordinated operations by the Nigerian Army under Operation HADINKAI, the same military offensive credited with the wider liberation of over 400 captives from Ngoshe and adjoining communities.
Their return sparked emotional scenes in Dille, where families, who had lived with unanswered questions for months broke into tears of joy, thanksgiving and relief.
Community sources said the returnees had undergone comprehensive medical examinations and health assessments before reunification with their families, as part of standard procedures after captivity.
Vanguard also gathered that during their time in captivity, two of the women managed to escape, while another two were later released by their abductors before the final rescue operation.
Confirming the development, Chairman of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Mada Saidu, expressed gratitude over their safe return and commended security agencies for their sustained efforts in the region.
He said: “We thank God for the safe return of our daughters and wives. We also appreciate the Nigerian Army, the Borno State government and all security agencies for their commitment and sacrifices toward ensuring their freedom and safety.”
While the relief was still being processed in Askira/Uba, attention also remained fixed on Ngoshe, where the Ngoshe Stakeholders Forum, NSF, denied reports attributing the rescue of the 416 captives to any individual or non-recognised group.
In a press conference in Maiduguri, yesterday, attended by former Gwoza Local Government chairmen, community leaders and concerned stakeholders, chairman of the forum, Prof. Suleiman Bello, distanced the community from claims credited to a group
He said: “We, the stakeholders and representatives of our people, wish to categorically dissociate ourselves from a self-acclaimed group operating under the name ‘Borno South Youth Alliance,’ allegedly managed by one Samaila Kaigama, who has publicly claimed involvement in the facilitation of the release of our people.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this group is unknown to us, does not represent our people in any capacity, and was never mandated to speak or act on our behalf. Their claims are entirely false, misleading, and should be disregarded by the general public.”
The forum warned against attempts to exploit the humanitarian crisis for personal gain, stressing that such actions risked undermining genuine peace and security efforts in the region.
Bello added: “We are deeply concerned by the activities and utterances of such individuals and groups whose actions appear designed to exploit sensitive humanitarian and security situations for personal gain.
“Available indications strongly suggest a pattern of deceptive conduct capable of undermining genuine efforts towards peace, security, and community stability,”
He further urged the public, media organisations, humanitarian actors and stakeholders to exercise caution in engaging unauthorised individuals or groups.
“We, therefore, advise members of the public, media organisations, humanitarian actors and relevant stakeholders to exercise caution and avoid engaging with or recognising any unauthorised group or individual falsely claiming to represent our people,” he added.
Despite the controversy, the forum expressed appreciation to government and security agencies for their intervention, while also appealing for urgent post-conflict support to affected communities.
Bello said: “As law-abiding citizens, we remain sincerely grateful to the federal, Borno State governments, security agencies, humanitarian institutions and all relevant stakeholders for their sacrifices, commitment, and support toward the safety, peace, and well being of our people.
“We remain committed to lawful engagement, responsible communication, and continued support for all legitimate efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and stability in our communities.
“We wish to formally announce and celebrate the successful release and safe return of 416 Ngoshe captives who had been held by Boko Haram insurgents. The freed captives have since reunited with their families and loved ones amid emotional scenes of relief, gratitude and renewed hope for peace and stability in Ngoshe and the entire Gwoza axis.
“We also extend our deepest appreciation to the Nigerian Army, especially troops stationed in Ngoshe, Pulka and Gwoza, whose sacrifices, resilience and patriotism continue to guarantee security and hope for our people despite enormous challenges.
“We are pleased to also note that the returnees are currently receiving adequate medical attention, psychological support and humanitarian care to aid their recovery and reintegration into society after enduring traumatic experiences in captivity.”
However, the forum warned that despite the successful rescue, reconstruction and resettlement challenges remained critical, especially as the rainy season sets in.
Community’s dilemma
However, the 416 rescued residents did not return to their ancestral homes, they were taken to Pulka community to join their relatives.
The community, located at the foot of the Mandara Mountains, along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, described as Boko Haram’s enclanve, was attacked by insurgents in March this year, forcing nearly 3,000 residents who had earlier been resettled there to flee once again to Pulka, where the government established an Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camp for them.
Speaking on the development, community sources said Ngoshe residents had previously spent more than seven years in displacement before Borno State government, under Governor Babagana Zulum, reconstructed their destroyed homes and facilitated their return nearly two years ago.
However, the insurgents reportedly overran the community in March, killing some residents and dislodging both civilians and security personnel..
Troops have since regained control of the area and maintained a visible presence across key corridors around the Mandara axis. The question of return remains tied to one condition: until the community is declared fit for habitation, military presence will remain. The military were still at their Base in the community as at yesterday (Tuesday).
In Dille, the emotion was difficult to contain. Residents who had gathered in expectation yesterday broke down in tears as the 11 women arrived. Some were embraced in silence, unable to speak.
Chairman of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Mada Saidu, described their return as a moment of relief and gratitude.
He commended the Nigerian Army, the Operation HADINKAI, Borno State government and other security agencies for their efforts, saying the rescue reflected continued pressure on insurgent groups across the region.
317 terrorists neutralised, 221 hostages rescued in one month — Military
Meanwhile, Defence Headquarters has said troops recorded significant operational gains in May 2026, neutralising 317 terrorists, criminals, illegal miners and informants across various theatres of operation.
According to statistics released by the Defence Media Operations, “314 suspects were also arrested for offences ranging from terrorism and criminality to illegal mining and acting as informants, while 18 insurgents surrendered to troops during sustained military pressure.”
The military further disclosed that three illegal refining sites and associated assets were destroyed, thereby cutting off key funding sources for criminal networks.
It added that 221 kidnapped hostages were rescued during the operations, while 21,910 litres of illegally refined petroleum products were recovered alongside 93 assorted firearms, ammunition and other military hardware.
Defence authority said the results reflected intensified pressure on criminal and terrorist elements nationwide, urging citizens to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies as efforts to restore lasting peace intensify.
Culled from Vanguard
For calling Peter Obi, candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2027 presidential election a thief, at the head of a “criminal enterprise,” Kenneth Okonkwo will have to cough out a whopping N5billion to avoid an impending law suit.
This was one of the conditions the former Governor of Anambra State gave to stop him from stretching the matter further through the courts, where he would seek a bigger penalty and compensation following the damage Okonkwo’s words had done to his name.
The action is coming a day after Okonkwo, who was Obi’s spokesman during the 2023 presidential election when the former governor ran on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), had while appearing as a guest on Sunrise Daily, a breakfast programme on Channels Television accused him of running a “criminal enterprise.”
Specifically, Okonkwo had alleged that Obi and South-east caucus of the NDC demanded N10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants in the party to secure tickets for them, quoting one Obunike Ohaegbu, whom he said, sent a message and a receipt to him to that effect, stating that the former governor led the alleged scam.
Stating that Ohaegbu, an aspirant for the House of Representatives on the platform of Obi’s Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for Nnewi North-South and Ekwusigo Constituency, claimed that after he and others aspirants paid the N10 million bribe, they were asked to go to field for primaries instead of giving them tickets.
Stressing that instead of ensuring credible primaries, Obi, who was directing the entire affairs from Johnwood Hotel Abuja, where he allegedly wrote and submitted a list of the NDC’s candidates for various constituencies, he claimed that anybody who voted for the NDC and Obi in 2027 would be voting for criminality, arguing that the party had been criminally extorting aspirants.
Ohaegbu, himself had on Tuesday, denied making the statements, when he appeared on the same television networ, saying he never made such statements to Okonkwo, saying: “I am telling you that Peter Obi never told me to pay N10 million. I never told Kenneth Okonkwo that Peter Obi, in any way, told me to pay N10 million. I never accused the NDC South-east caucus of bribery and did not say that Obi compiled a list of candidates in Johnwood Hotel.
“What I said is that there was an allegation that the list had been prepared in Johnwood. I didn’t mention names.”
In the letter to Okonkwo, Obi, who refuted the claims, told him that the allegations present him as a bribe collector, fraudster and dishonest political actor who is engaged in criminal conspiracy.
“These are extremely grave, damaging and reckless imputations of bribery, extortion, fraud, financial dishonesty and criminality directed at the character, integrity, reputation and public standing of my person.”
Stressing that Okonkwo made the allegations with clear intent and purpose of exposing him to hatred, contempt and ridicule and damaging his reputation, Obi then demanded Okonkwo’s withdrawal of the defamatory statements and publication of apology on Channels TV as well as across all his social media platforms within seven days.
The letter said: “Take notice that should you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with the above demands within the stipulated period, our client (Peter Obi) shall be left with no option than to seek legal redress against you without further recourse to you.
“Such action shall include, but shall not be limited to, claims for general, aggravated and exemplary damages in the said sum of N5 billion and indeed such a higher sum as the court may deem fit, together with injunctive reliefs, public retraction, apology and the full cost of the proceedings.”
Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance, General Chris Musa, Minister of Defence, Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA), Adeola Ajayi, Director General, Department of State Services (DSS), Tunji Disu, Inspector General of Police (IGP), art to appear before members of the House of Representatives to answer question on the state of insecurity in the country.
Also to appear are the Service Chiefs – General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Idi Abbas, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of Air Staff (CAS).
While the Minister of Finance is expected to brief the House on the financial releases to security agencies to fight insecurity, the others are expected to brief the lawmakers on efforts to curb rising insecurity across the country.
The House called on the President to urgently deploy a more aggressive, comprehensive, and sustained security strategy aimed at flushing out bandits from their strongholds, securing vulnerable schools and places of worship, and ensuring the immediate and unconditional release of all persons currently held in captivity.
In their resolutions following two separate motions of urgent public importance sponsored by Abubakar Gumi (APC, Zamfara), and Ibe Osonwa (LP, Abia) the House also spoke of the need to revisit the cashless policy of government, which discourages the movement of large sums of money, adding that it is often difficult to pay ransom money through bank transfers.
The House also asked the President to immediately order the recruitment of more forest guards in all states of the federation in line with the security challenges in the various states.
Gumi, who lamented that insecurity in Zamfara State and the entire North West had escalated into a complex humanitarian crisis, driven by armed banditry, kidnappings, and the infiltration of transnational jihadist groups, told his colleagues that between the first and sixth of June, 2026, rampaging bandits riding on about 250 motorcycles with three riders on each invaded Gumi/Bukkuyum federal constituency of Zamfara state and some parts of Sokoto state, killing 93 people.
He also said that on the night of June 2, 2026, into the early hours of June 3, 2026, seven students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, were abducted by bandits at their off-campus students’ hostel. Earlier, two senior lecturers of the same Polytechnic (Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda) were kidnapped and had been in captivity for more than two months, despite ransom payments for their release.
He also spoke of the violent attack by bandits on Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State where four people were killed and several travellers abducted, while in Talata Marafa Local Government Area, a Councillor and a Director were abducted while travelling from Jangebe to the local government headquarters over Hajj activities for intending pilgrims from Jangebe.
He said the bandits killed both of them after refusing to collect any ransom, while also raising alarm at the escalation of bandit attacks in other North West States of Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Jigawa.
He said further that “on 3 1st May, 2026, 17 villagers were killed when bandits in their hundreds and riding on motorcycles invaded Dangulbi community in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State. It was also reported that more than 15 communities in Tureta and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas of Sokoto State have been deserted due to constant bandit attacks.
“In Katsina State, a former Director of Defence Information of the Nigerian Army, Major General Rabe Abubakar Batsari (rtd), and his wife were abducted when their vehicle was ambushed along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area on 30 May, 2026.
He also expressed concern about the continuous, unchallenged movement of bandits between the towns, states and their hideouts, severely undermining the credibility of the nation’s security, while expressing conviction that if the recurring trend of insecurity and kidnapping in Zamfara State and the entire North West is not checked, it will destroy lives and ruin the socio/economic fortunes of the entire North West Region.
Stanley Olajide (APM, Oyo), also bewailing the situation, called for investment in satellite imaging to monitor activities of terrorists, while Olumide Osoba said state governments should invest in CCTV.
Babajimi Benson spoke of the need to place the establishment of state police on the front burner of legislative activities, adding that the parliament should set aside a day to hold a special session to pass the bill on the establishment of state police.
Adopting another motion on insecurity by Ibe Okwara Osonwa (LP, Abia), the House called for immediate and decisive executive action to address the escalating wave of insecurity across Nigeria, particularly the surge in banditry, the daily abduction of schoolchildren, and repeated attacks on schools and places of worship.
In considering the motion, the House anchored its concerns on Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
The House expressed grief and alarm over what they described as the unrelenting escalation of banditry, mass kidnappings, and terror attacks across various parts of the country, warning that the development has left Nigerians in a continuous state of fear, mourning, and uncertainty.
The House noted that the persistent abduction of schoolchildren has gone beyond isolated incidents, stressing that it has severely disrupted the nation’s educational system, forced thousands of children out of school, worsened the out-of-school children crisis, and inflicted lasting trauma on affected families and communities.
It further observed with concern that schools and places of worship, once regarded as safe havens for learning, spiritual reflection, and communal peace, have increasingly become prime targets for armed criminal groups.
Lawmakers also highlighted the disturbing trend of attacks on worshippers, noting that religious congregants are now regularly abducted or killed during services, a situation they said constitutes a serious infringement on citizens’ fundamental rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
The House expressed worry that ordinary Nigerians are increasingly feeling abandoned by the state as insecurity continues to cripple economic and social life. It noted that farming communities have been deserted due to terror threats, businesses are collapsing, and families are being pushed into extreme poverty as they struggle to meet ransom demands for kidnapped relatives.
It also observed that despite trillions of naira allocated to the defence and security sectors in successive national budgets, the country’s security architecture appears overwhelmed, reactive, and incapable of effectively countering the sophistication of criminal networks operating across different regions.
The House further raised concern over what they described as the absence of a decisive and coordinated military response, warning that the situation has created the impression that the state may be losing control over parts of its territory.
The House also warned that should the administration fail or prove unwilling to decisively halt the worsening insecurity within a clearly defined timeframe, the Service Chiefs should honourably resign their positions, having failed in their constitutional responsibility to guarantee the safety and welfare of Nigerians.
It further mandated its Committees on Defence, National Security and Intelligence, and the Army to intensify oversight of the implementation of the resolution and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.
The House reaffirmed that the protection of lives and property remains the fundamental duty of government under the Constitution, urging urgent and sustained action to stem the tide of insecurity across the country.
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