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‘Military Operations Alone Won’t End Banditry’ – Ribadu Reveals What Nigeria Must Do.

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The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has said that military operations alone cannot bring an end to banditry in Nigeria, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling the security crisis.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

He noted that banditry had evolved beyond cattle rustling, highway robbery and kidnapping, becoming a more complex security challenge requiring coordinated interventions.

Ribadu made the remarks through the Director of Legal Services in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, at a brainstorming session on addressing banditry organised by the Sokoto Advancement Forum in collaboration with the Centre for Peace Studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, on Saturday.

The NSA explained that Sokoto’s proximity to the Republic of Niger and the wider Sahel region had added a cross-border dimension to the crisis, allowing armed groups to exploit porous borders and security gaps to sustain their criminal activities.

According to him, tackling the problem requires a combination of intelligence-driven military operations, effective border control, regional collaboration and sustained efforts to disrupt the supply of illegal weapons and other logistical support to criminal groups.

Ribadu also stressed the importance of addressing the socioeconomic challenges that make young people susceptible to recruitment by criminal networks.

He advocated lawful rehabilitation programmes for eligible individuals who are willing to renounce violence, while emphasising that such initiatives must not undermine accountability.

“Reintegration must never replace justice or reward violence,” he said.

The NSA identified five priority areas for improving security in Sokoto State. These include denying armed groups safe havens, strengthening intelligence gathering and early-warning mechanisms, building public trust in security agencies, safeguarding agriculture and rural livelihoods, and preventing young people from being recruited into criminal networks.

He further urged security agencies to improve coordination and information-sharing to strengthen their response to security threats.

Ribadu added that communities would be more willing to provide useful intelligence when they had confidence that security authorities would act promptly on the information and protect the identities of those who supplied it.

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UCH Ibadan Finally Speaks On Controversy Surrounding Toluwanisings’ Death.

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The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has stated that it has no official record indicating that Nigerian singer Olayemi Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, was brought to the facility before his death.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The clarification comes amid public outrage over allegations that several hospitals in Ibadan, Oyo State, failed to provide emergency medical care to the singer after he reportedly collapsed.

Toluwanisings’ personal assistant, Babadunni Olayemi, had claimed that efforts to save the singer were unsuccessful despite taking him to between seven and eight hospitals in the city.

According to him, some of the hospitals reportedly cited a doctors’ strike, while others allegedly declined to admit the singer.

He said, “They took him to different hospitals. Some said doctors were on strike, while others said hospitals rejected him. We all tried, praying for him and taking him around to hospitals. We took him to about seven or eight different hospitals here in Ibadan, but God said it was his time.”

The incident has generated widespread reactions, with some Nigerians linking the reported difficulties in obtaining emergency treatment to the industrial action by resident doctors at UCH. Others have criticised the government over what they described as inadequate attention to the country’s healthcare sector.

However, UCH’s Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Enitan, told The Punch that the hospital had previously experienced an internal strike but had resumed normal services following the suspension of the resident doctors’ industrial action.

Enitan clarified that the dispute was an internal hospital strike rather than a nationwide industrial action.

She also maintained that the hospital’s management had not received any official notification that Toluwanisings was brought to the facility.

“The hospital is running its services. The strike was a local one within the hospital; it was not a national strike. I was not aware that he was brought to UCH. I was not officially informed that he was brought to UCH. There was no record of it with the management,” she said.

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Delta Police Arrest Two Suspected Armed Robbers Over Abduction, Forced Bank Transfers.

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The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate allegedly operating with a tricycle in the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement, Naija News reports.

According to Edafe, the suspects, identified as Musa Haruna, 22, and Mubarak Abdulahi, 20, were arrested on October 11, 2026, following credible intelligence about their alleged criminal activities.

He explained that operatives attached to the Orerokpe Police Division received information from the Civilian Anti-Cult Group in Osubi about suspected armed robbers operating with a tricycle along Osubi Road.

Following the report, the police team mobilised in collaboration with members of the civilian anti-cult group and local vigilantes to apprehend the suspects.

The operation resulted in the arrest of the two men, who were intercepted while travelling in a tricycle with registration number BDG 429 QN.

Edafe disclosed that a search of the tricycle led to the recovery of a locally made cut-to-size double-barrelled shotgun, seven live cartridges and a jackknife.

He added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were allegedly part of a criminal syndicate involved in robbing and abducting unsuspecting passengers and forcing them to transfer money from their bank accounts.

The police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing to identify and arrest other suspected members of the syndicate.

He added that the command remained committed to ensuring that those involved in criminal activities were brought to justice.

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2027 WAEC Exams: Fresh Trouble As Schools Increase Registration Fees.

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The Federal Ministry of Education is working to prevent schools from imposing excessive charges on students registering for the 2027 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has disclosed.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The newly appointed Head of WAEC’s National Office in Nigeria, Suleiman Danlami Kum, made this known on Saturday while speaking with journalists during an inspection of the ongoing 2026 WASSCE for Private Candidates, Second Series, Naija News reports.

Kum revealed that the examination body was aware that some schools had been charging students amounts above the officially approved examination fees ahead of the 2027 May/June WASSCE.

However, he clarified that WAEC had yet to release the registration entries for the forthcoming examination, noting that the Federal Ministry of Education was already taking steps to address the situation.

“We know in the past that schools have been charging more than the examination fee. But I want to tell you that the Federal Minister of Education is not just sitting down. We thank God for the Minister of Education we have. I want to assure you that something is being done by the Federal Ministry of Education now to check those schools that are increasing these examination fees arbitrarily,” he said.

Kum recently assumed office as WAEC’s National Office head, succeeding Dr Amos Dangut, who was appointed Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the examination body.

Providing an update on the ongoing examination, the WAEC official disclosed that more than 56,000 candidates had registered for the 2026 WASSCE for Private Candidates, Second Series, nationwide.

He added that approximately 272 candidates registered through the walk-in arrangement, which enables individuals to register for selected subjects after the regular registration period has closed.

According to him, Lagos State accounted for more than 22,000 candidates participating in the examination.

Kum explained that the walk-in option provides an opportunity for candidates seeking to improve their results in specific subjects to register and sit for the relevant papers on their scheduled dates.

Speaking on the conduct of the examination, he expressed satisfaction with the ongoing process and described computer-based testing (CBT) as an effective measure for strengthening examination security and reducing malpractice.

He noted that WAEC began introducing computer-based examinations in 2024 and had continued to refine the system to improve its effectiveness.

“CBT has come to stay,” he declared, adding that the technology had simplified examination administration while helping to curb malpractice.

The WAEC official further explained that candidates underwent searches before entering examination halls to ensure they did not bring prohibited materials into the venues.

He said male candidates were searched by male officials, while female candidates were checked by female personnel.

According to Kum, the screening process was designed to safeguard the credibility of the examination rather than deliberately catch candidates who might unknowingly have prohibited items in their possession.

He reiterated WAEC’s commitment to conducting credible examinations and embracing innovations that would improve its operations.

Kum also urged candidates preparing for upcoming examinations to remain dedicated to their studies and make effective use of WAEC past questions and answers as part of their preparation.

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