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National, News

Tinubu Orders Police Officers Off VIP Duty, Onto Streets as 30,000 Recruitment Begins

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently providing security for Very Important Persons (VIPs) in the country, according to a statement from the State House. In a meeting with security chiefs in Abuja on Sunday, President Tinubu directed that police officers guarding VIPs be redeployed to focus on core police duties. The President has instructed that VIPs who require police protection should instead request armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Read Also: Tinubu Holds Emergency Security Meeting With Service Chiefs in Abuja The move is aimed at boosting police presence in communities, particularly in remote areas where policing is currently limited. The President has also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and is working with states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide. The meeting was attended by top security officials, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Waidi Shaibu, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

National, News

Tinubu Holds Emergency Security Meeting With Service Chiefs in Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has convened an extended high-level security meeting with Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and heads of other intelligence agencies at the State House in Abuja. According to the Presidency, the meeting is reviewing fresh security reports from affected areas across the country and evaluating ongoing operations. President Tinubu is receiving continuous briefings from the top security commanders as part of efforts to stabilise vulnerable communities and protect citizens. The President has also directed all security agencies to act with speed, precision, and total resolve in confronting criminal elements threatening national peace. Read Also: President Tinubu Confirms Rescue of 38 Kwara Worshippers, 51 Niger Schoolchildren Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to the safety of every Nigerian, stressing that those undermining the country’s security would face the full weight of the law. He added that his administration remains focused on restoring peace and ensuring that Nigeria prevails over all forms of insecurity.

National, News

President Tinubu Confirms Rescue of 38 Kwara Worshippers, 51 Niger Schoolchildren

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says he cancelled his planned trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa to directly coordinate ongoing security operations following recent incidents of abductions across the country. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the President confirmed that all 38 worshippers kidnapped in Eruku, Kwara State, have been rescued by security forces after intensified operations in the past few days. He also disclosed that 51 of the missing students abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State have been recovered. Read Also: FG Orders Immediate Closure of 41 Unity Schools Over Insecurity Tinubu noted that he has been receiving continuous updates from frontline security commanders, adding that he is closely monitoring developments nationwide. He reiterated his commitment to ensuring the safety of every Nigerian. “Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety — and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people,” he said. Tinubu assured citizens that ongoing security operations will continue until all abducted persons are accounted for and criminal networks are dismantled.

Kebbi, News

Kebbi Government Directs All Schools to Close Amid Recent Attacks

The Kebbi State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all public and private secondary schools, as well as all tertiary institutions across the state, following recent security incidents. The directive was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Issa Abubakar-Tunga, and the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Halima Bande, in Birnin Kebbi. According to the commissioners, the decision became necessary due to recent cases of attacks in some parts of the state, prompting the government to take precautionary steps to safeguard students and staff. Read Also: Yobe Orders Immediate Closure of All Boarding Secondary Schools Over Security Concerns The affected tertiary institutions include Kebbi State Polytechnic Dakingari, Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology Aliero, College of Health Sciences and Technology Jega, Adamu Augie College of Education Argungu, and the School of Remedial Studies Yauri. However, the government noted that the College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, Birnin Kebbi, is exempted from the closure. The commissioners urged all school managements to comply with the directive and assured that a new resumption date will be communicated in due course. 

Education, News, Yobe

Yobe Orders Immediate Closure of All Boarding Secondary Schools Over Security Concerns

The Yobe State government has ordered the immediate closure of all boarding secondary schools as part of precautionary measures to safeguard students, coming less than 24 hours after similar directives were issued in Katsina, Plateau, and Taraba states. The decision was taken during a high-level security meeting chaired by Governor Mai Mala Buni, alongside heads of security agencies in the state. The meeting reviewed the rising security incidents affecting schools in different parts of the country. Read Also: FG Orders Immediate Closure of 41 Unity Schools Over Insecurity In a notice issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Bukar Aji Bukar, the government directed all boarding secondary schools to shut down immediately until security conditions improve. Governor Buni called on residents to continue praying for the state’s leadership, security agencies, and for lasting peace and stability across Nigeria.

National, News

Two Defence Ministry Directors Feared Dead as Four Others Regain Freedom After Kogi Kidnap

Four senior female directors of the Ministry of Defence abducted in Kogi State have regained their freedom after spending almost two weeks in captivity, while Mrs. C.A. Ladoye and Mrs. J.A. Onwuzurike were feared dead during the ordeal. The officials, who were travelling to Abuja for a promotion course and examinations, were ambushed by armed men along the Kabba–Lokoja highway and taken into the forest. They reportedly trekked through remote bush paths in Kogi State before eventually reaching Kaduna State. The six directors kidnapped during the incident were identified as Mrs. Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs. C.A. Emeribe, Mrs. C. Helen Ezeakor, Mrs. C.A. Ladoye, Mrs. J.A. Onwuzurike, and Mrs. Catherine O. Essien — all senior staff members of the Ministry of Defence. According to a report by Sahara Reporters, a source close to the situation confirmed that four of the women were released alive, while two were feared dead. Their deaths were said to have resulted from severe exhaustion during the prolonged trek imposed by their abductors, although the online newspaper noted that it could not independently verify the claim. Read Also: FG Orders Immediate Closure of 41 Unity Schools Over Insecurity Katsina and Plateau Govts Order Temporary School Closures Over Insecurity Kwara Church Attack: Abductors Contact Families, Demand N100m Ransom Per Victim “I learned they have been released, but two of them unfortunately couldn’t make it,” the source said. “They died from exhaustion after trekking from Kogi to Kaduna through the forest. The remaining four are undergoing medical examinations.” The victims were reportedly subjected to harsh conditions in captivity, including minimal access to food, water, and rest — factors believed to have contributed to the fatalities. Attempts to reach the Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Brigadier General Samaila, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were unanswered. The abduction earlier triggered panic within the Ministry of Defence and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN). The union, in a statement signed by President Shehu Mohammed and Secretary-General Joshua Apebo, condemned the attack and confirmed the identities of the kidnapped officials. Security sources had described the November 10 ambush as a “well-coordinated attack,” raising renewed concerns over the safety of government personnel travelling through the area. (Platinum Post)

Abuja, National, News

DICON–D7G Begins Local Assembly of DG-103 Rifles, Eyes African Export Market

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria–D7G (DICON–D7G) has announced a major breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to boost local weapons manufacturing, revealing that it has successfully assembled nearly 1,000 units of the DG-103 rifle—an upgraded variant of the AK-103—within just two months of commencing production in Kaduna. This milestone was disclosed during a media briefing at the company’s Abuja headquarters by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Osman Chennar. According to him, all rifles in the first production batch have undergone comprehensive testing and certification, fully meeting the operational standards required by the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies. He added that the company is simultaneously producing drones and anti-drone systems equipped with early-warning features designed to enhance military field operations. Read Also: Explosion Rocks Defence Industries Facility in Kaduna, One Dead, Several Injured “With full operations now underway, our target is to achieve an annual production capacity of sixty million rounds of ammunition,” he stated, reaffirming DICON–D7G’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s defence ecosystem. Speaking on behalf of the CEO, retired Major General M. A. Masanawa revealed that the company is finalizing plans to acquire a military jetty in Lagos by February 2026. The proposed facility, he said, will house a production line, warehouses, and staff accommodation. He explained that the acquisition is projected to significantly enhance local production capacity and create new prospects for exporting defence equipment to neighbouring African countries. Furthermore, DICON–D7G plans to establish a shipyard at the facility to provide maintenance and servicing for naval vessels. DICON–D7G, a central player in Nigeria’s renewed hope agenda for defence industrialization, noted that these developments represent only the beginning of broader initiatives aimed at reducing foreign dependence and strengthening national security readiness.

Kano, News, Politics

APC Kano Warns Minister Ata Over Comments on Party Affairs

The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned the State Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, over recent public statements which the party described as capable of causing internal misunderstandings. In a letter dated November 21, 2025, and signed by the APC State Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Abbas, the party expressed concern that Ata’s comments “have the tendency to provoke misunderstandings and disunity among members.” The letter was copied to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda; the Kano State Party Leader and immediate past National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR, who also serves as Chairperson of the Board of FAAN; as well as the APC North West Zonal Vice Chairman. Read Also: Kiru Defends 2021 School Closures, Says Current Nationwide Shutdowns Validate Decision The party stated that Ata “is not assigned a public relations role within the party, and such public comments may be wrongly interpreted as official party positions.” It stressed that issues relating to internal party matters remain the exclusive responsibility of the APC leadership and its authorized spokespersons. While acknowledging his right to support any aspirant, the party reminded Ata that “by virtue of your position as Hon. Minister and member of the Federal Executive Council, you are expected to engage on issues that will facilitate the unity of all party members.” The APC further accused the minister of making “uncomplimentary and derogatory public pronouncements,” warning that continued disregard for party discipline may attract “further disciplinary action.”

Education, Kano, News

Kiru Defends 2021 School Closures, Says Current Nationwide Shutdowns Validate Decision

A former Commissioner of Education in Kano State, Hon. Muhammad Sanusi S. Kiru, has defended the 2021 closure of selected schools in the state, saying recent nationwide shutdowns of schools due to escalating insecurity have vindicated the precautionary measures taken during his tenure. In a statement released on Saturday, Kiru recalled that the Kano State Government ordered the temporary closure of schools in early 2021 after security intelligence indicated that armed groups were targeting institutions located on interstate highways, lacking perimeter fencing, or situated in remote areas with delayed access for emergency response. He explained that the decision was aimed strictly at safeguarding students and staff, noting that the affected schools met specific risk criteria. According to him, the closures were followed by intensified security operations that disrupted several kidnapping networks at the time. Read Also: Former Education Commissioner Criticizes Relocation of GGSS Maikwatashi, Calls It a Misguided Decision Kiru praised security agencies in Kano for what he described as a highly cooperative working relationship during his tenure, urging the current administration to strengthen collaboration with security formations rather than “condemning them through cheap blackmail.” His comments come days after the Federal Government ordered the immediate shutdown of 47 Federal Unity Colleges across the country due to rising security threats. Katsina State also closed all public boarding schools following recent abductions, while other states have taken similar measures in response to heightened attacks on educational institutions. Kiru stated that these actions closely mirror the risk-based approach adopted in Kano in 2021, describing the alignment between federal and state decisions as “a clear endorsement” of the method used by the previous administration. He argued that the consistency of these measures across different levels of government shows that the earlier closures in Kano were professional, evidence-based, and timely. The former commissioner criticised the NNPP-led Kano State Government for what he described as the politicisation of past security decisions, urging it to “never again play politics with issues of safety.” He said repeated attempts to portray the 2021 closures as insensitive were misleading and disrespectful to families whose children may have been protected by the move. Kiru called on the present administration to review the security reports that informed the 2021 closures, retract what he termed “unfounded allegations,” and publicly acknowledge that the previous government’s actions were appropriate and life-saving. The statement was signed by Hon. Muhammad Sanusi S. Kiru, FCIA, who served as Kano State Commissioner of Education during the period in question.

Education, News, Taraba

Taraba Shuts Down Boarding System After Student Abductions in Kebbi, Niger

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has ordered every public and private secondary school in the state to “immediately deboard their students” following rising insecurity across the country. The directive was issued in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin. According to her, the growing attacks nationwide have turned boarding students into easy targets, especially after the recent abductions of students in Kebbi and Niger states. Read Also: Katsina and Plateau Govts Order Temporary School Closures Over Insecurity Dr. Godwin said Governor Kefas has now instructed that all secondary schools must operate strictly as day schools until further notice. She added that principals and school owners have been told to remove all boarding arrangements “without delay.” She described the decision as a proactive step to protect children and prevent any threats linked to the ongoing unrest. The government also reassured parents that it remains committed to restoring safety and will continue working closely with security agencies. School authorities were urged to comply fully with the directive and maintain heightened vigilance on their premises.

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