NIGERIA NEWS
Senate’s push for death penalty against kidnappers
In response to security challenges nationwide, the Senate has been working diverse measures to deepen internal peace, order and stability. The measures include the classification of kidnapping as an act of terrorism and prescription of death penalty for kidnappers, their financiers and informants.
The last fortnight has been quite engaging in the Senate, even the National Assembly. The reasons for such high-spirited engagement are in two folds. First, it is associated with the spate of kidnapping, hostage-taking and other related heinous offences that took place in different parts of the federation.
Second, the search for lasting antidotes to the security challenges further deepened the senate’s multi-pronged engagement. And the engagement was tied to restoring peace, order and stability across the federation. This is premised on the conviction that the National Assembly has the mandate to make or review laws to enable security agencies carry out their operations within the ambit of duly enacted laws.
Specifically, the succession of kidnapping incidents in Maga, Kebbi State; Papiri, Niger State; and Eruku, Kwara State inspired the senate to take diverse initiatives to support the efforts of the President Bola Tinubu administration to nip insecurity in the bud. At least, these cases alone brought 313 persons, including about 250 schoolgirls, into the captivity of the kidnappers. However, some of them have regained their freedom.
Measures from the Senate
In response to these challenges, the senate has been taking measures to strengthen the country’s counter-terrorism operations. One of such measures was the dissolution of the Senate Committees on Air Force as well as National Security and Intelligence, which Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele attributed to ineffectiveness in the exercise of their oversight powers. This initiative received unanimous support from all senators across all the political divides.
Besides, the senate directed its Committees on Army, Navy, Defence, Interior and Police Affairs to submit reports of their activities to the plenary within two weeks. The essence of the reports, according to Bamidele, is to highlight the initiatives the committees have taken to reduce the waves of insecurity in the country and justify why they should not be dissolved and reconstituted.
While President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio subjected this initiative to the decision of the plenary, it was a case of unanimity among the senators. This attested to what Bamidele ascribed to the resolve of the senate to first purge itself as it explored other measures that could further reinforce the country’s national security.
The senate, also, treated with an unusual speed the request of the president for the screening of his Minister of Defence Nominee, General Christopher Musa. The request was subjected to consideration the day the senate president formally read it at the plenary, which according to him, could not be delayed due to the need to sustain the fight against the enemies of the country.
Inside the Bill
Apart from all these measures, the senate initiated “a Bill for an Act to amend the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.” The amendment bill was sponsored by the senate leader. But prior to its initiation, all senators subscribed to the national significance of the bill, which they all argued, would meaningfully contribute to countering extremist violence across the federation.
At the core of the bill lies the collective will of all the lawmakers, indeed all Nigerians to address gaps in the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. As canvassed in his lead debate, the senate leader pointed out three central objectives that inspired the senate to seek review of the Act, first enacted in 2011 to prosecute and punish any person found guilty of terror and other related acts.
Bamidele first identified the compelling need to designate kidnapping, hostage-taking and other related offences as acts of terrorism. The classification, according to him, empowers our security agencies with broader operational authority, intelligence capabilities, and prosecutorial tools available under counter-terrorism law.
He, also, cited the failure of the existing counter-terrorism legislation to prescribe maximum punitive measures for kidnappers and hostage-takers. Unlike the existing regime, the senate now agreed that the death penalty be recommended for all perpetrators of kidnapping, hostage taking and other related crimes.
Bamidele further observed that the bill did “not only recommend the death penalty for kidnappers or hostage takers. It equally recommends it for their logistics providers, financiers, informants, harbourers, transporters and anyone who knowingly assists, facilitates, or supports kidnapping operations. And its essence is to serve the purpose of deterrence and empower law enforcement agencies to confront kidnapping at a scale it currently demands.”
The senate leader highlighted the significance of the bill, when it becomes law, to become a veritable tool, which the law enforcement agencies “will leverage to dismantle kidnapping networks by enabling stronger enforcement as well as placing kidnapping under the terrorism framework anywhere in the federation.
“By placing kidnapping under the terrorism framework, agencies can pursue: asset tracing and forfeiture, intelligence-led operations, inter-agency coordination, swift pre-trial procedures under terrorism laws, disruption of funding and logistics chains. This will help weaken the infrastructure that sustains kidnapping syndicates,” he pointed out with a conviction to pursue counter-terrorism campaigns with more consequential regimes.
The grounds for these proposals are pure and simple,, according to the leader of the senate. He ascribed the grounds to the manners kidnappers “have killed their victims; compelled them to pay ransom; subjected them to brutal torture, raped, mutilated and starved hostages; and used crime proceeds to procure more weapons and perpetrate more crimes.”
Evident in its grievous consequences for the victims, their families and the economy at large, Bamidele argued that kidnapping “is no longer a mere crime. It is terrorism in its purest form,” which he argued, should not be fought with kid’s gloves. “If an offence repeatedly results in mass murder, mass fear, mass displacement, and systemic destabilization, then the strongest legal sanction becomes necessary.”
No more deradicalisation
At the height of the debate, some senators questioned the efficiency of the deradicalisation programme, which the federal government introduced to discourage violent extremists and terrorists from taking up arms against the state. Even though all senators supported amendments to the Terrorism Act, some argued against the programme, citing its failure to bring about desired outcomes.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Adams Oshiomhole first questioned the deradicalisation programme, which according to him, had not failed to prevent extremists, hostage takers, kidnappers and terrorists from returning to their crimes.
He emphasised the danger of extending amnesty “to extremists and terrorists, a model that has not effectively countered extremist violence.” He, thus, faulted “a practice whereby an extremist or terrorist will be arrested and allowed to go without facing consequence of his crimes in the name of deradicalisation and reintegration. This has not produced any meaningful result given the rising acts of terrorism nationwide.”
Based on evidence in the public domain, Oshiomhole pointed out two scenarios, which he said, justified the failure of the deradicalisation programme. In the first place, the failure of the programme manifested in a situation where some of the repentant terrorists went back “to take up arms against the state that granted them amnesty.”
The failure, also, became more evident in another situation whereby the federal government spent “so much money on prosecuting terrorists, and the suspects will not be allowed to bear the brunt of his heinous crimes.” He classified such a practice as a case of double loss, which according to him, would continue to fester the wounds of injustice in the federation.
Oshiomhole, therefore, pushed for the adoption of capital punishment for kidnappers, hostage takers and other related offences. He said such a measure “is rooted in the Bible and Quran. If the holy books prescribe that those who are killed have no right to be alive, we should not hesitate to do the same. This bill should outlaw any initiative or programme that seeks to deradicalise whether extremists or terrorists, kidnappers or hostage takers. If any individual is caught and convicted for such heinous acts, then the penalty should be death and nothing more.”
Supporting Oshiomhole’s argument against the deradicalisation programme, Chairman, Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu lamented untold agonies that kidnappers “have subjected their victims, whether in the North or in the South.
“Consequently, it is a natural thing for all senators to unite against such acts and push for a system that will enforce maximum penalties. Likewise, informants, sponsors and everybody involved in such heinous acts must face the full consequences of their crimes.”
Kalu concluded that Nigerians “have suffered so much in the hands of kidnappers. Young girls have been raped. Women have become widows for no reason. This must not continue again,” Kalu called attention of his colleagues to untold and grievous pains that Nigerians had suffered and the need for more consequential measures.
Resolution of the Senate
Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Abba Moro summed up the perspectives to the bill, which according to him, perfectly reflected the spirit of unanimity among all senators. As a result, he called for its passage into second reading, citing the need “to complete the review on time and come up with a new regime that emphasises consequence rather than pardon.”
After the exhaustive debates, the senate resolved in favour of the bill, passing it into second reading unanimously. It also adopted all the amendments to the bill as proposed by the senate leader. It referred the bill to the relevant committees for the purpose of wider consultation, public hearing and securing buy-in of the people.
The senate further directed its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters chaired by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN to midwife the process of the public hearing and report to the plenary within two weeks. It mandated the judiciary committee to work together on the bill with its Committee on Interior as well as Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
• Akinsanmi, a peace and governance, specialist, wrote from Abuja
NIGERIA NEWS
US lawmaker, who made Christian genocide claims against Nigeria, holds ‘productive’ meeting with Ribadu, others
The US Congressman, Riley Moore, who made repeated claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, says he and other American lawmakers held “productive and positive” conversations with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Mr Moore is part of the US congressional delegation visiting Nigeria to discuss security in the West African nation.
The Republican lawmaker had repeatedly criticised the Nigerian government for not doing enough to protect the country’s Christians and claimed there was a Christian genocide in the country.
He insisted on his claims despite the Nigerian government and local and international organisations saying different factors caused the insecurity in Nigeria and could not be tagged a genocide against any group or religion.
READ ALSO: US delegation arrives Nigeria, meets Ribadu on strategic security partnership
On Monday, Mr Moore wrote on X that “There were concrete steps and actions discussed at length” with Mr Ribadu and other Nigerian officials.
He said if the steps are “fully executed, I believe will enhance security across the country for all Nigerians.”
Details later…
The Nigerian Forest Security Service, NFSS, has vowed to reclaim Nigerian forests from bandits, kidnappers, terrorists and other criminals nationwide.
The Commander General of NFSS, Dr Joshua Osatimehin made the vow during a four day National Workshop organizes for Officers and Men of NFSS particularly those in the Operations and Intelligence Departments of NFSS held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Dr. Osatimehin said the workshop was to further sensitize the participants on operations and local intelligence gathering towards complimenting the efforts of formal security agencies in securing the country’s forests.
According to him, the participants during the four days national workshop which was attended by over three thousand officers from the Operations and Intelligence Departments of NFSS featured paper presentations and lecture from the Military, DSS, Police, NSCDC, NDLEA, Immigration, Customs, Federal Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and other critical stakeholders in the nation’s security sector
“The main essence of this workshop is to further enable us synergize with the constituted authority and during the four days training, the DSS has tutored us on how to gather local intelligence around the forest corridor and the Nigeria Police has also trained us on joint operations as well as the Nigeria military on how we synergize also to make sure that we can flush out criminals from our forests nationwide ” He said.
In his words” We the Officers and Men of NFSS have to give in our best to support President Bola Tinubu because for him to have established the Nigerian Forest Security Service shows that the citizens depend on us and we must do our best to make sure that we did not betray the confidence reposed in us by Mr President hence the need for this four days national workshop”.
“We are now using this opportunity to tell the bandits, kidnappers, boko haram, terrorists and other criminals using our forests to perpetrate evil that enough is enough because NFSS is battle ready to flush them from our forests and take our forests back from them and I must confess to you that we have the manpower and structure to deliver on that because our offices and men in all the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT as well as on the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria are combat ready for them “. the NFSS CG stated.
Dr. Joshua Osatimehin therefore used the opportunity to once again appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure full integration of NFSS into Nigeria’s security apparatus to enable the Service take the battle to the forests and dislodge all the criminal elements that have invaded our forests ‘.
“Nigeria has 1,129 forest reserves, 29 games reserve, and 17 National Parks as well as 417 grazing reserves and we have map out all the interconnectivity of these forest linkages because it’s our job and we’re products of local hunters and forest experts and we can use our knowledge of local terrain to combat this criminality all what we need now is for Mr President to help us to be properly and fully integrated and incorporated into National Security so that we can discharge our constitutional Mandate because Nigeria is expecting much from us and we’re ready to deliver “.
Some of the participants, Sunny Akpa and A A Ibrahim said the four days national workshop would further enhance their performance in combating forest related crimes in their various States.
While commending the Commander General of NFSS, Dr Joshua Osatimehin for his visionary leadership through the provision of regular training and retraining for officers and men of the Service, the Participants stressed the need for the support of State and Local Governments in the programme of activities of NFSS towards strengthening the fight against insecurity nationwide.
Highpoints of the four days National Workshop was the presentation of Award of Excellence to the Commander General of NFSS, Dr Joshua Osatimehin by the Lion Female Squad of the Service and CG Football Cup competition among the State Commands and the FCT where the FCT Command of NFSS won the competition.
- A young man has finally made a statement after popular activist Harrison Gwamnishu was accused of stealing
- The statement by the young man comes after another individual claimed Harrison stole N5.4 million from ransom money
- Many people have reacted to the initial post, sharing their observations about the whole matter involving the activist
A Nigerian man who knows a popular activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, personally has reacted to claims that he stole from the ransom money.
The statement of the individual is coming after a user, @AbdulGaniyuOse1, shared a post online, claiming Harrison Gwamnishu fled after removing a certain amount of money from the cash that was supposed to be handed over to kidnappers who kidnapped his sister and her husband.
Nigerian man reacts to claims Harrison stole from ransom money. Left photo for illustration purposes only. Photo Credit: Getty Images/PeopleImages
Source: Getty Images
Nigerian man reacts to claims Harrison stole
He mentioned that the said money took about 10 days to raise and claimed Harrison took the sum of #5.4 million and fled.
Read also
“I knew him”: Man shares experience with Harrison Gwamnishu amid controversy, post trends
However, news of the arrest of the activist soon made its way online.
In the middle of this, a man who knows Harrison personally took to social media to speak about him.
According to a post he made available on his page, @DuduyemiYalaju, via a popular social media platform, Twitter, the individual mentioned that he knows Harrison Gwamnishu personally.
Aside from knowing him personally, he mentioned that the individual is not a thief and he can vouch for his behavior.
Nigerian man reacts to viral post accusing Harrison of stealing ransom money. Photo Credit: Harrison Gwamnishu
Source: Twitter
His statement:
“Harrison is not a thief. I know him personally and can vouch for him.”
In the post of the individual who accused Harrison of removing money from the ransom, many individuals reacted in the comments section.
Reactions as man accuses Harrison of theft
@Odoemena58 stressed:
“Did you call the kidnappers to know how much exactly they collected from him? Me sef, no too trust that guy but I no get evidence.”
Read also
“My money, he must pay it”: Harrison’s friend calls him online out over 5-year debt, post goes viral
@Mryems20 shared:
“If what you said is all true. Why haven’t the auchi police declared him wanted since he ran away.”
@_xtian01 noted:
“How is it that all of a sudden @HarrisonBbi18 is a thief? And it bothers me that there a just few pple here asking the right questions, what went wrong? Hope this is not a campaign against this young man who dared.”
@WarriWeirdo added:
“The person you’re accusing posted on Facebook less than an hour ago without saying anything about your allegations. If you’re wrong on this I hope they pick you up. You have police before you went to a civilian.”
@Dstructuralguy stressed:
“This particular idiot might be the one who connived with the bandit to kidnap his other sister… Ur family still dey kidnappers den na money be ur problem… U r evil.”
@anonymousegoat shared:
“Hmmm this same guy as recover millions from kidnappers but now you all forget what he has done because of things you are not even sure about , so you trusted the kidnappers that they can’t lie with amount you gave to them , another day to learn that you can’t fight for people.”
Read also
UK-based man who knows Harrison Gwamnishu posts their chat, shares why netizens should pray for him
@x_thejuice said:
“He said you can write a petition against him …he can’t give out all the details of what transpired online so as not to jeopardize the operation…what is even wrong with people sef ….are you sure you are not in contact with the kidnappers? …how did you know the money was short?”
Read the post below:
In a similar story, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian man recently shared his personal encounter with popular activist Harrison Gwamnishu amid allegations that the activist stole ransom money.
Nigerian man calls out Harrison over debt
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that the same friend had earlier taken to his social media page to openly accuse Harrison Gwamnishu of owing him a huge sum of money.
In that post, he shared an old photo of both of them together and explained that they had been very close before things fell apart.
Source: Legit.ng
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo has called on the State House of Assembly, the National Universities Commission, NUC, and the Council of Legal Education, CLE, to investigate the alleged controversial Professor of Law title conferred on the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru, SAN.
DAILY POST reports that the party said the call for investigation was necessitated by a petition by the Concerned Law Students, Faculty of Law, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State signed by one K. Akanbi S.A.L.
A statement by the Publicity Secretary of PDP, Dan Osa-Ogbegie described the petition as embarrassing and disturbing.
Osa-Ogbegie opined that the petitioners alleged that the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice may have been conferred with the title of Professor of Law in circumstances that point to an unmistakably to academic fraud.
The PDP statement titled, “Edo at a moral crossroads: Allegations of academic fraud against the Attorney-General demand immediate, public and credible investigation,” dated December 8, 2025.
According to him, this development is profoundly troubling. While it is true that Mr Otaru, SAN, has enjoyed a long and commendable legal career, such a career, however illustrious, cannot and must not be used to sidestep allegations of academic impropriety.
“A professorship is not an ornament of political prestige. It is a hard-earned academic rank achieved only through transparent scholarly progression, including mandatory service as Reader or Associate Professor, and backed by verifiable research, teaching, examination of postgraduate students, and recognised intellectual contributions.
“The petition alleges that none of these essential academic milestones was attained before the purported appointment of Mr Otaru as Professor of Law. It equally raises questions about the authenticity and academic weight of the PhD said to have been obtained only recently from a nondescript institution.
“These are not trivial inconsistencies. They are serious claims that strike at the heart of academia and at the dignity of the chief law office of our State.
“This is not the first time Edo people have been forced to endure embarrassment from the present administration. What makes this episode even more shocking is that the Governor and alleged his rubber-stamp State House of Assembly failed woefully to conduct proper background checks before clearing and appointing commissioners, despite taking nearly a full year to assemble a cabinet.
“The intellectual lassitude displayed by both the Governor and the Assembly in this matter is staggering. How a government that kept Edo waiting for months could not perform the most basic due diligence on nominees is yet another glaring testament to the administrative incompetence and indolence that have become the hallmark of this government.
“This is how Edo State, once respected for its intellectual heritage, now finds itself reeling from yet another avoidable national embarrassment orchestrated by an administration that confuses governance with improvisation and treats due diligence as an inconvenience.
“Edo people deserve more. We deserve truth, clarity and accountability, not silence, shortcuts and negligence”, he said.
The party, however, called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to immediately address the matter publicly and transparently, rather than through the usual silence and subterfuge that has become his alleged preferred method of avoiding accountability.
It also called on the Edo State House of Assembly to redeem its alleged battered dignity by constituting an independent, competent and credible investigative committee to probe the professorship claim, the PhD claim, the academic trajectory, publications, teaching records and all related circumstances.
It further called on the National Universities Commission, NUC, and the Council of Legal Education, CLE, to conduct external verification and publish their findings to Nigerians.
“If the allegations are false, let the Attorney-General be vindicated before the entire nation. If they are true, then Edo State must not, for a single day more, tolerate an Attorney-General whose academic credentials are the product of manipulation, misrepresentation or undue advantage”, he added.
The party posited that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration has embarrassed Edo people enough, stating that it must not add the desecration of academic credibility to its growing list of failures.
While noting that Edo people are watching, the party threatened that “this time, we will not look away”.
“This matter cannot be swept under the carpet. It cannot be managed in whispers. Integrity demands sunlight, and Edo people will accept nothing less”, Osa-Ogbegie stated.
However, reacting, Prof Roland Otaru described the allegations as a deliberate attempt to smear his rising profile.
Otaru insisted that he was duly appointed as a Professor by the Senate of the Federal University.
“I am a PhD holder, I have two Master’s Degrees, and I have up to five or six fellowships. I have been SAN, working for the past 20 years. So what are they talking about? Maybe somebody there engineered it because of my rising profile.
“It is very funny. The Senate of the University conferred it on me. I have a letter to that effect. And on that day, I was not the only one; we were about four. It was an approval from the Senate of the University, and I delivered the lecture on that day, December 9, 2024.
“They were there that day, they were there when I delivered the lecture. It was an assemblage of all the students in that faculty when I delivered the lecture. There was no financial inducement, nothing like that, The conferment was based on merit.
“It is not a fake award. I don’t know what they want, but there is no cause for alarm. I have the letter of the award”, he stated.
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has alleged that the Tinubu-led government is deeply uneasy about the rising political strength of Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 election.
CUPP claims that President Bola Tinubu and his team view Obi as the single major threat to their hold on power and are allegedly exploring ways to keep him off the ballot.
These allegations were made by the CUPP National Secretary, Peter Ameh, during a recent interview on Monday.
Ameh said that the information did not come from rumours but from deliberate research, private engagements and data gathered across different regions by the coalition.
According to him, the findings show that the presidency is more focused on Obi than any other politician expected to contest in 2027.
He insisted that internal conversations within government circles reveal that the Labour Party candidate is seen as the only figure capable of disrupting the ruling party’s plans.
Ameh explained that the administration’s worry is evident in the continuous online attacks directed at Obi by presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga.
He noted that the level of attention given to Obi by government-aligned voices shows that the ruling party is monitoring him closely.
He said his conclusions came from extensive political consultations and private briefings.
“We are not just running election and just making speculation out of the blues. We also collect data, do a lot of engagement… And we know that the only person that this government does not want to be on the ballot is Peter Obi. They are doing everything,” he said.
Ameh pointed at the frequency of Onanuga’s posts to drive home his point. He stressed that the government barely talks about other notable political figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi, who are expected to join the race.
He maintained that Obi is the only contender generating genuine concern within the ruling establishment.
“Go and count how many times Bayo Onanuga has posted about Peter Obi on his Twitter page… Tinubu is not afraid of Atiku and Rotimi Amaechi. It’s on record, they know it. There’s a high level of fear,” he added.
Ameh also recalled Obi’s performance during the 2023 general election. He said the Labour Party candidate recorded strong numbers in several states and even secured a victory in the Federal Capital Territory, despite the presence of “federal might.”
He argued that this remains one of the reasons Obi is now seen as a serious political force heading into 2027.
“It took the Mr Peter Obi to garner about 1 million votes that was reduced to 500,000 votes. It took a Peter Obi to come to FCT where there was seat of power to defeat the APC,” he said.
The CUPP secretary noted that the administration’s alleged attempts to weaken Obi’s chances highlight the tension gradually building up as the election cycle approaches.
Troops of the Nigerian Army under 6 brigade and sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke have rescued victims of highway robbery, arrested suspects and recovered an AK-47 rifle in Taraba state.
Umar Mohammed, Acting Assistant Director, Army public relations, 6 brigade, said the troops responded to a distress call on December 6 after armed robbers blocked the Manya–Takum road and attacked commuters.
He said the soldiers carried out a rapid clearance operation which forced the attackers to flee and abandon their weapons.
His words: “On sighting the advancing forces, the criminals fled in disarray, abandoning their weapons. The subsequent search led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, and three rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” he added.
Mohammed said in a separate operation, troops rescued two abducted men, Yusuf Musa and Muhammed Umar, who escaped from their captors around Kufai Amadu area.
He said the victims had been stopped under the guise of giving directions before being taken towards New City in Kurmi local government area.
The spokesman added that troops also recovered two pump action guns, 13 cartridges, two motorcycles and four mobile phones during a raid in Garin Sambo, Tau village, Ardo Kola local government area.
He said two suspects, Baba Wura Sambo and Mallam Adamu Darda, were arrested and are currently in military custody for further investigation.
Mohammed said Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of 6 brigade, commended the professionalism and gallantry of the troops.
“The Brigade remains fully determined to secure all major highways and communities to ensure safe and unhindered movement throughout the festive period,” he said.
He urged residents to provide credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations across Taraba state.
- Gunmen attacked St. Andrews Anglican Church in Isiokwe, Lilu community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing the wife of the church priest and one other person.
- The assault occurred in the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, as congregants prepared for worship. Eyewitness accounts reported indiscriminate gunfire, multiple injuries, and extensive property damage, including the burning of vehicles, parts of the church building, and the priest’s residence.
- The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident on Monday, with Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu condemning the attack as a “heinous and abominable act” against innocent worshippers and the community’s values.
A group of armed men launched a brutal attack on St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe, in the Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, resulting in two fatalities, including the wife of the church priest.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, as worshippers were preparing for the start of Sunday service. The attackers opened fire indiscriminately, also burning vehicles and partially setting fire to the church building, including the cleric’s apartment.
An eyewitness detailed the attack to Punch:
“A brutal attack occurred at the St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe in Lilu community of Ihiala LGA in the early hours of Sunday… Unfortunately, they brutally murd£red the wife of the church priest and one other person. They also injured many others, razed down the priest’s house to ashes, burnt down some church vehicles and other church properties, including a part of the main church building.”
Police Condemn “Heinous Act”
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the attack on Monday, December 8, with the spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, relaying a statement from the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu.
The CP strongly condemned the actions:
“The CP states that this heinous and abominable act, committed against innocent worshippers, is not only an assault on the community, but a grave affront to our shared values of peace, sanctity of life, and freedom of worship.”
The Police Command extended sympathies to the families and assured the public that the Joint Security Team has been deployed and intelligence-driven operations intensified to relentlessly hunt down the perpetrators, promising that “no resource will be spared” in the investigation.
NIGERIA NEWS
“He must pay”- Man who claims to be Harrison Gwamnishu’s friend calls him out over nearly 5‑year debt
The ongoing buzz surrounding human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu intensifies as a man who claims to be his friend calls him out over a nearly 5‑year debt.
Earlier, GistReel reported that Harrison Gwamnishu was arrested amid claims he diverted part of a ransom payment.
The arrest was confirmed by controversial commentator, VeryDarkMan, who claimed he involved security operatives.
Man Calls Out Harrison Gwamnishu Over Debt
According to the man identified with the Facebook handle, Shine Onyebiga, Harrison Gwamnishu owed him 2 million naira, which remains unpaid after nearly five years.
In the now-viral post, he agreed that Harrison can repay the debt with a monthly payment of 100,000 naira.
Furthermore, he called for the fight against injustice regardless of the individual involved.
Read Post Below…..
If Harrison Gwamnishu asks to pay 100k monthly till he completes my 2m, I will accept it. But he must pay, not threatening or boasting to be invisible. We must stand against injustice no matter whose involved.
He used to be my friend and I have nothing against him. Matter of fact I wish him well. But as for my money he must pay it.
As for his gullible followers I have one word for you; IF E REACH YOUR TURN FORGET YOUR MONEY WITH YOUR DEBTORS.
See post below…..
NIGERIA NEWS
Johnvents Group marks strong global expansion as Ondo Government reaffirms support at 2025 End-of-Year Celebration
- JohnventsGroup hosted its 2025 End-of-Year Celebration in Akure, highlighting its growth trajectory, global partnerships, and Ondo State’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for enterprise and inclusive prosperity.
- The Governor of Ondo State commended Johnvents as a model of homegrown success, citing its impact through over ten factories, 1,500 direct jobs, thousands of benefiting households, and an ecosystem of 5,000 farmers, while reaffirming policies to attract investment and industrial growth.
- Johnvents reiterated its mission to deepen partnerships, invest in capacity, and drive sustainable agribusiness and manufacturing across Africa, positioning itself as a catalyst for Nigeria’s economic transformation and global competitiveness.
Johnvents Group, a global agribusiness and manufacturing conglomerate, hosted industry leaders, international partners, government officials, traditional rulers including the Deji of Akure, and key stakeholders at its 2025 End-of-Year Celebration held at The Dome, Akure.
The evening served as a reflection on a transformative year for the Group and a renewed affirmation of Ondo State’s commitment to enabling enterprise and inclusive prosperity.
Delivering the welcome address, Tarun Chawla, Group Executive Director of Johnvents Group, highlighted the organisation’s growth trajectory, strengthened market relevance and expanding global footprint.
He expressed profound gratitude to the Government of Ondo State for providing a stable, structured business environment that enables companies like Johnvents to thrive.
“This year reshaped us as a business,” he said. “We strengthened our operations, expanded our relevance, and demonstrated what a committed team can achieve when purpose and discipline align. The stability and clarity your administration provides form the foundation on which organisations like ours continue to grow and innovate.”
Chawla also appreciated the Group’s partners, including British International Investment (BII), International Finance Corporation, AFRIEXIM Bank, and other financial institutions, for their confidence in the company’s long-term vision. He reaffirmed Johnvents commitment to nourishing Africa and the world, noting that the company is now a global value-chain participant with investments and collaborations spanning Africa, the UAE, Asia and Europe.
The Executive Governor of Ondo State delivered the keynote address. His Excellency, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, commended Johnvents Group as a model of how homegrown enterprises can evolve into global powerhouses while remaining deeply rooted in their host communities.
“Johnvents stands today as a monument to what focused investment and structured institutional support can achieve,” he said. “With over ten factories, more than 1,500 direct employees, thousands of benefiting households and an ecosystem of over 5,000 farmers, Johnvents is living proof that prosperity becomes inevitable when ingenuity meets institutional support.”
The Governor outlined his administration’s deliberate policies to position Ondo State as a competitive hub for agribusiness, manufacturing, technology and energy. He cited reforms in ease of doing business, digitisation of government processes, infrastructure expansion, improved security and the work of ONDIPA as foundations for long-term private-sector growth.
He further emphasised that the success of companies like Johnvents reflects the broader vision of an inclusive, opportunity-driven economy:
“The Johnvents story assures every investor here and across the world that Ondo State is ready for investment, ready for expansion and ready for global competitiveness.”
The evening celebrated the achievements, resilience and commitment of the Johnvents workforce, as well as the organisation’s expanding impact across communities through education, youth development and agribusiness empowerment.
Johnvents Group reaffirmed its commitment to deepening partnerships, investing in capacity and building industries that contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic transformation and Africa’s global competitiveness.
About Johnvents Group
Johnvents Group is an indigenous agribusiness and manufacturing group committed to driving sustainable growth across the entire agricultural value chain from production, processing, manufacturing and distribution. The Company is at the intersection of everything agriculture, unlocking immense values and ensuring food supply and premium export value for Africa.
Johnvents operates a group structure, with seven businesses: Johnvents Cocoa Factory, Johnvents Trading, Johnvents Foods, Johnvents Industries DMCC, Johnvents Farms, Premium Cocoa Product (Ile-Oluji) and Haven Hauling), committed to driving sustainable growth across the agricultural value chain, including production, processing, manufacturing and trade of commodity and food products in Nigeria and the rest of the world.
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The Police Command in Anambra has condemned the attack on a Church carried out by armed criminals which resulted in the death of one person and leaving several others injured.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday in Awka.
Ikenga said that the incident happened in the early hours of Sunday in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had condemned the heinous and abominable act.
“This abominable act, committed against innocent worshippers, was not only an assault on the community but a grave affront to our shared values of peace, sanctity of life, and freedom of worship.
“The Command extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the entire Lilu community and assures the public that the Police shall relentlessly hunt down the perpetrators of this crime.
“Our community should not be subjected to such brutality as the command will not allow criminals to instill fear or destabilize the peace we are working tirelessly to maintain”, the commissioner said.
Orutugu urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with the joint security team investigating the matter by providing useful information that can assist ongoing investigations for justice to be served.
He said that the command remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives and property across Ihiala and the entire state.