The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has officially dismissed allegations suggesting it intends to recruit individuals categorized as “repentant” terrorists. DIG Isyaku Mohammed, the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the North Central Zone, clarified this stance during a stakeholder meeting in Ilorin, Kwara State, which included traditional, religious, and security leaders.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Vetting Responsibilities: DIG Mohammed urged community and religious leaders to exercise extreme caution and refuse to sign recommendation letters for individuals with questionable backgrounds, warning that leaders will be held accountable if such individuals are recruited into the police.

• Recruitment Safeguards: The NPF is implementing strict measures to ensure that neither “repentant” criminals nor other individuals of poor character are permitted to join the force.

• Addressing Federal Policies: While acknowledging that the military previously accepted de-radicalized Boko Haram members—a decision that met significant community resistance in areas like Yobe—the DIG emphasized that the police force has no role in those federal government decisions.

• Strengthening Security: To combat criminality in Kwara, which borders several states and the Benin Republic, the police plan to launch joint border patrols.

• Community Policing: DIG Mohammed reiterated that the current national security strategy relies heavily on community policing and requested that local stakeholders actively identify and expose criminals to keep them out of the security system.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has officially condemned the brutal murder of its Benue State Chairman, Alhaji Ardo Risku, urging security forces to launch an immediate and transparent investigation. In a statement released by National President Baba Othman Ngelzarma, the association expressed deep shock, labeling the killing a direct assault on ongoing peace-building initiatives in the region.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to MACBAN, the Chairman was targeted shortly after attending a security meeting in Ohimini Local Government intended to foster stability. The group reported that Risku and a companion were intercepted and shot multiple times in Okudu village. Raising suspicions of premeditation, the association highlighted that this incident follows a recent attack on Risku’s son, a lawyer, in another village. MACBAN asserted that both events must be thoroughly probed to ensure the perpetrators face justice, warning that such violence against peace advocates threatens the foundation of community reconciliation.

Option 2: Concise and Direct

MACBAN has demanded a comprehensive inquiry into the assassination of its Benue State Chairman, Alhaji Ardo Risku, who was ambushed and fatally shot in Okudu village. National President Baba Othman Ngelzarma described the killing as “dastardly” and expressed alarm that the Chairman was attacked immediately after participating in an official peace and security meeting.

The association is calling for a transparent investigation into the murder, as well as a separate, earlier attack on the deceased’s son. MACBAN emphasized that targeting community leaders undermines efforts for peaceful coexistence and pledged to continue collaborating with security agencies to ensure the culprits are apprehended. They further extended their condolences to the bereaved family and the Benue State chapter of the association.

Option 3: Impact-Focused

Following the tragic killing of Benue MACBAN Chairman Alhaji Ardo Risku, the association has called for urgent state intervention to bring the attackers to book. National President Baba Othman Ngelzarma stated that the news was met with “deep shock,” noting the irony that Risku was killed while returning from a government-led security summit aimed at resolving local conflicts.

MACBAN has requested that security agencies investigate the possibility of a coordinated plot, pointing to a previous attack on the Chairman’s son as a concerning development. Emphasizing the need for accountability to prevent further escalation, the group reiterated its dedication to dialogue and urged the public and government officials to prioritize justice for the victims.

Ikenna Enekweizu, the National Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has asserted that the recent Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, which set aside a previous order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC, will not withstand legal scrutiny.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Enekweizu highlighted several key points regarding the party’s legal standing during his interview with ARISE Television:

• Deemed Registration: He explained that the court’s initial substantive judgment deemed the NDC to be registered, as the party had met all necessary requirements, yet INEC refused registration without justification.

• Shifting Justifications: Enekweizu argued that INEC originally denied registration based on an alleged logo resemblance to the All Progressives Congress (APC), not the Peace Movement Party (PMP). He noted that INEC only introduced the PMP as a reason after the NDC had already initiated legal action.

• Non-Existence of PMP: He maintained that the PMP is not a registered political party, nor was it among the 171 political associations that applied to INEC for registration.

• Legal Inconsistency: Enekweizu contended that INEC admitted during the hearing that the logo did not resemble the APC’s and that the PMP was not a registered entity or an applicant, which he believes invalidates the commission’s justification for withholding registration.