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No Plans To Move Repentant Insurgents, IDPs To Southeast, Commission States
The Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijani Ahmed, said this in Abuja on Tuesday while reacting to the attack on the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) centre at Ezeoko-Nsu in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
Suspected arsonists burnt the centre and the residence of a former lawmaker, Senator Frank Ibezim.
The attack was carried out following a viral video that the federal government planned to renovate the NOUN facility as a training ground for repentant Boko Haram insurgents.
While setting the record straight, the Federal Commissioner said his visit to Imo State last month was to inspect a property located at the premises of the NOUN Centre in Ezeoke-Nsu in Ehime Mbano LGA for the establishment of a skills acquisition centre aimed at training persons of concern and youth from the five southeastern states.
He said: “Our goal was to explore and ascertain whether the centre could be utilized to train returnee migrants, refugees, and displaced persons, such as victims of floods and communal clashes, as well as the youth and people of Imo State and the broader southeast region.
“Displaced persons are found throughout Nigeria, including those affected by floods and other crises in places like Orlu, Njaba, and Orsu areas of Imo State.
“Our primary aim was to train, certify, and empower the vulnerable populations of Imo State and the southeast with vital skills for self-reliance, with the potential to establish the centre as the regional headquarters for this initiative.”
He noted that similar skills acquisition centres are proposed to be established in the six geopolitical zones of the country to serve the populations in each respective zone, in line with the Commission’s “Skills to Wealth” initiative and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
On why the southeast region needs a skill acquisition centre, Ahmed said: “It is important to highlight that out of the over 6 million people facing displacement in Nigeria, a significant number reside in the southeast, where entire communities have been displaced due to ecological challenges such as erosion, landslides, and other forms of environmental degradation.
“In 2024 alone, the Commission facilitated the return of 4,550 stranded migrants, with no fewer than 30 per cent of them originating from the southeast.
“The region hosts approximately 500 non-Nigerian nationals currently seeking asylum as refugees in Nigeria. This group belongs to the subset of the population referred to as persons of concern to the Commission.”
He added that the proposed establishment of the skills acquisition centre was a humanitarian initiative designed to serve as a critical resource and provide training in areas such as vocational skills, entrepreneurship, and capacity building.
“These programmes will benefit displaced persons, returnee migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable groups, irrespective of their political affiliation, ethnicity, or religious inclination within the southeast region.”
The Federal Commissioner also stated that the NCFRMI’s intervention in Imo State and the entire southeast has no political motives, adding that it does not intend to take IDPs from the northern part of the country to reside in the southeast.
The commission while condemning the attack, said it regrets the misrepresentation of information that led to the unrest and the destruction of properties by some unscrupulous elements.
“We strongly condemn the arson attack on the National Open University in Nsu Ehime Mbano. We sincerely express our deepest sympathy to the Executive Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and the good people of Imo State over this tragic event. We equally appeal to all members of the affected community to remain calm and avoid any further acts of violence and destruction of their assets, as they all belong to them.”
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Tension Erupts: Atiku’s Aide Dares Tinubu To Resign, Branding It A Move Of ‘Strength, Not Weakness’.
Paul Ibe, the media adviser to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has publicly called for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign. Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Ibe argued that stepping down is a patriotic decision rather than a sign of weakness when a leader fails to meet the fundamental duties of government—specifically the security and welfare of the citizenry.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Ibe criticized the current administration as “incompetent” and “clueless,” asserting that the government’s approach to insecurity has been an ineffective cycle of “trial and error”. He pointed to the ongoing captivity of various victims and recent violence in Plateau, Benue, Oyo, and Kogi states as clear evidence that the government has failed to protect vulnerable communities or restore public confidence.
Regarding the proposed introduction of state police, Ibe clarified that while the Atiku camp supports the concept in principle, they view the government’s current push to legislate it ahead of the 2027 elections as a political maneuver rather than a genuine security initiative.
Furthermore, Ibe addressed public sentiment regarding the political establishment, noting that it remains the prerogative of Nigerian voters to evaluate whether Atiku Abubakar possesses the necessary competence and skill set to lead the country. He also dismissed recent media reports concerning alleged conditions set by former Minister Rotimi Amaechi for a potential running mate role, labeling such claims as mere speculation and stating that the party will handle its ticket announcements in due course.
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Drama In Court: El-Rufai Fires Back At DSS With No-Case Plea In Explosive Wiretapping Saga!.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is preparing to submit a no-case plea in his ongoing wiretapping trial following the Department of State Services (DSS) decision to rest its case at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The DSS had charged the former governor with five counts, including unlawful communication interception and threats to national security, stemming from his February interview on Arise Television where he claimed to have intercepted a call involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu regarding his own potential arrest.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
During Tuesday’s proceedings, DSS counsel Oluwole Aladedoye announced that the prosecution would not present further witnesses. In response, El-Rufai’s defense counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), declared the intent to file a no-case submission, asserting that the prosecution failed to produce enough evidence to warrant a formal defense. Both parties have been granted two weeks to submit their respective filings.
Additionally, the defense requested a relaxation of El-Rufai’s bail terms, labeling the current requirements—which include sureties who are Level 17 civil servants with property in Maitama or Asokoro and verification from the Kaduna State Traditional Council—as overly burdensome. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik denied the request, maintaining that qualified civil servants exist who can meet these conditions. The case has been adjourned until September 22 to address the no-case submission and move forward with the trial.
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DSS Orders Immediate Probe After Shocking Courtroom Scuffle With Sowore!.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has officially launched an investigation into the behavior of its operatives following a publicized altercation involving activist Omoyele Sowore. The incident occurred at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 22, 2026, after the court ordered Sowore’s remand to Kuje Prison. Viral footage of the event captured a heated confrontation between Sowore, an official from the Custodial Centre, and DSS operatives. While Sowore eventually chose to be transported in a DSS vehicle rather than one provided by the Correctional Service, the agency’s Director General has ordered a probe into the conduct of the involved personnel.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The DSS released a statement to clarify the background of the matter, citing several points:
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The legal proceedings stem from a 2025 social media post in which Sowore allegedly disparaged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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Initially, the DSS opted to request a retraction of the post in September 2025, rather than pursuing an immediate arrest, as part of its current policy to avoid the use of force.
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The Service highlighted its history of seeking judicial interpretation for various disputes—such as the “Shadow Government” case involving Prof. Pat Utomi and reports regarding the Lagos State House of Assembly and National Assembly—rather than relying on arrests.
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The DSS noted that it did not oppose the court’s decision to grant Sowore bail on his own recognizance at the start of the trial.
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The agency emphasized that the remand was a direct result of court proceedings, not a forced enforcement action by the Service itself.
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