The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called on Nigerian journalists to stop featuring reports on terrorism and banditry on their front pages. Addressing a National Security Summit organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abuja, the Minister argued that responsible journalism requires prioritizing nation-building over the potential glorification of criminal acts.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Strategic Reporting: Minister Idris emphasized that the most effective editors are those who understand the importance of what not to report for the sake of the country’s stability.

• Limiting Exposure for Criminals: He urged the media to deny terrorists and criminals the “free” publicity they crave by moving these stories away from front-page headlines.

• Shifting the Focus: The Minister expressed concern that security agencies’ achievements are often underplayed while criminal activities are amplified, and he encouraged the media to instead celebrate the sacrifices of military personnel.

• The Media’s Stake: He reminded attendees that a peaceful and secure Nigeria is necessary for any media organization to exist and function.

Government Actions and Support

• Combatting Insecurity: The Federal Government is utilizing both kinetic military operations and non-kinetic approaches—which address the root causes of insecurity—to tackle the nation’s security challenges.

• Educational Support: Highlighting recent progress, the Minister reported that over 1.3 million students have utilized the National Education Loan Fund to access higher education.

• Welfare for Journalists: The government is reportedly working on initiatives to provide better welfare packages for media workers to improve their economic well-being and morale.

The Ekiti State chapter of the Accord Party (A) has formally refuted allegations that its gubernatorial candidate, Opeyemi Falegan, has withdrawn from Saturday’s election to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Wole Oluyede.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Party Denies Withdrawal

• The Accord Party’s state chairman, Adeniji Philip, characterized reports of Falegan’s withdrawal as entirely false and urged the public to ignore them.

• Philip emphasized that Falegan is still actively in the race and fully prepared to participate in the upcoming election.

• This statement served to counter a viral Facebook video posted by Isaac Fayose, the younger brother of former Governor Ayodele Fayose, which claimed that Falegan had stepped down.

PDP Campaign Clarification

• While the Oluyede Campaign Organisation confirmed receiving support from certain Accord Party leaders, they clarified that Falegan himself has not issued a formal endorsement of the PDP candidate.

• Campaign spokesperson Idowu Adelusi noted that Accord’s deputy governorship candidate, Bayo Omoniyi, and other party officials have officially declared their support for Oluyede at his residence in Ikere-Ekiti.

• The PDP campaign expressed optimism that this support, along with endorsements from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the Young Progressives Party (YPP), significantly bolsters their prospects for victory in the election.

On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja handed down death sentences to three individuals following their convictions for terrorism-related crimes. These rulings occurred as part of a broader series of terrorism trials, with the defendants receiving their sentences after entering guilty pleas to charges brought by the Federal Government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The individuals condemned to death by hanging are Danladi Lawal, Abdullahi Mohammed, and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu.

Case Summaries

• Danladi Lawal (alias Dankawu): Presiding over the case, Justice James Omotosho sentenced the 33-year-old to multiple penalties, including death by hanging, life imprisonment, and additional prison terms, following his guilty plea to a five-count charge. Lawal was accused of abducting an elderly man in Katsina State in 2020 and collecting a portion of the demanded ransom, an act prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act 2013.

• Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu: Justice Salim Ibrahim issued death sentences to both men after they pleaded guilty to their respective terrorism charges. In addition to the death penalty, Shaibu received a sentence of life imprisonment.

• Additional Convictions:

  • Mohammed Dezami Sherife was sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Ibrahim across three counts of a ten-count charge.

  • Shamsudeen Muhammad Ibrahim (alias Abu Harira) received a life sentence and an additional 35-year term from Justice Omotosho for supporting the ISWAP terrorist group and failing to report information regarding their activities.

  • Lawi Abubakar Mohammed was sentenced by Justice Emeka Nwite to a cumulative 40 years in prison—running consecutively—with a mandate that he undergo rehabilitation and deradicalization prior to his eventual release.