The Federal Government has placed all security agencies on red alert ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

A security source in Abuja said the directive was issued through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and covers the ministries of interior and defence, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force.

The source said the agencies have been directed to maintain a 24-hour security watch across the nation’s air, sea and land borders.

According to the source, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has issued operational orders to Assistant Inspectors-General, state Commissioners of Police and other formations nationwide.

The police chief reportedly directed commanders to intensify patrols, intelligence gathering and deployment of personnel and critical assets before, during and after the festivities.

The source said the DSS has also placed all its formations nationwide on red alert to ensure a hitch-free celebration.

According to the source, DSS commands are expected to provide regular situation reports to headquarters in Abuja.

The source added that the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service have stepped up security at seaports, airports and land borders.

The Defence Headquarters said the armed forces have put robust and proactive measures in place to prevent attacks during the festive period.

The source also said the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has mobilised its personnel nationwide.

According to the source, the corps has been tasked with providing security escorts for VIPs and protecting critical national assets during the festive period.

The source added that NSA Nuhu Ribadu, is expected to meet with security chiefs and the minister of defence for further briefing on operations.

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By Laleye Dipo in Minna

The remaining 130 students of St Mary’s Catholic Primary/Secondary School abducted by bandits have been released.

They were seen in several vehicles being moved to Wawa in Niger State Sunday night.
It is believed that they will undergo medical examination before being moved to Minna or Abuja.
Their release is coming two weeks after the release of 100 of the abducted school girls.

Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Prince Dapo Abiodun, confirming their release, expressed delight, adding that it is a clear indication that evil forces will not prevail over Nigeria.

With the latest release, a total of 230 abducted students have now regained their freedom.

Abiodun noted that the successful rescue of the students fulfils President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge to ensure their safe release without harm and facilitate their reunion with their families.

Commending the President for the security measures put in place across the country, the governor said the sustained release of abducted persons has helped to restore public confidence in governance and national security.

He cited the rescue of 24 abductees in Kebbi State, 100 students from a Catholic school in Niger State, and Christian worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State, as evidence of the administration’s capacity to confront Nigeria’s security challenges head-on.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Sunday, Abiodun described it as heartwarming that the students and their parents would be able to celebrate the Yuletide season together after such a traumatic experience.

He also urged security agencies to ensure that those responsible for the abductions are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

He said: “I am extremely delighted to learn that the remaining 130 students of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri community, Niger State, who were hitherto in captivity, have been released.

“The students, their parents, the Papiri community and the Niger State Government have all been through a lot, and I rejoice with them in this moment of triumph over the forces of darkness who seized innocent students from their hostels and teachers from the school premises.

“If this incident shows anything, it is the commitment of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to a safe, secure and prosperous Nigeria. The President deserves our collective prayers, support and encouragement.

“The President is determined to tackle the upsurge in kidnapping and terrorist attacks and restore sanity to our society. This will, in turn, rebuild confidence among Nigerians and the international community and pave the way for sustainable development.

“The security agencies deserve commendation for this achievement. I also urge them to ensure that the terrorists behind these attacks on innocent and law-abiding Nigerians are tracked down and prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.”

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The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has ordered the deployment of additional officers and tow trucks along the Abuja–Lokoja Road to ease the ongoing traffic gridlock and ensure swift removal of obstructions.

In a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Sunday, the Corps Marshal confirmed that the congestion was largely due to increased vehicular movement, ongoing construction points, as well as undisciplined and impatient drivers driving against traffic.

He urged motorists traveling within this season to cooperate with personnel on duty for smooth traffic flow.

The Nation reports that motorists plying the Abuja-Lokoja highway have been left stranded for the past three days following severe gridlock around the Koton Karfe axis. 

The highway is usually gridlocked a few days before Christmas due to heavy vehicular traffic and motorists’ disregard for traffic rules.

Reports indicate the congestion was caused by two fallen trucks on the highway, while others attribute it to the ongoing road rehabilitation pace. 

The blockage led to a pile-up of trucks and vehicles between three and five miles, forcing some commuters to take extremely dusty off-road diversions. 

The FRSC has been working to clear the blockage, deploying reinforcements to quickly remove the trucks and restore motorist movement.

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A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr Sawyer Sunday, has empowered no fewer than 1,000 vulnerable residents with food and cash gifts to bring them succour.

The event was held on Sunday at the Nawarudeen Secondary School, Oyingbo, in Lagos

The convener noted that the items were extended especially to old people, widows, and the less privileged, to ease their plights, and also in the spirit of yuletide.

Speaking with newsmen during the outreach, he said that the initiative is aimed at uplifting families to celebrate the season with joy and peace.

According to him, the initiative also underscores a collaboration between constituency representatives and the Federal Government’s social welfare drive during the festive season.

“This gathering is to share yuletide joy by giving rice and money to residents; the idea is to make sure that families have food at home, while supporting President Bola Tinubu’s effort to put smiles on people’s faces,” he said.

In his remark, a former Councillor, Mr Jimoh Kamal, described the event as being impactful, adding that there was visible relief among beneficiaries, who had no hope for the yuletide.

“The people are happy because some of them had nothing to eat this yuletide, but now, they have food and money,” he said.

Reacting to the gesture, the coordinator of ward A, Lagos Mainland, Mrs Adenike Adeleye, noted that a passionate leader would understand the needs of the people.

She added that the outreach reflects efforts to bring the government’s support directly to the grassroots.

“Leadership means knowing your people’s needs and acting on them; through the outreach, we ensure that government initiatives will positively impact citizens, especially during this festive period,” she said.

In appreciation of the gesture, a beneficiary known simply as Iya Biliku thanked the party member for his kindness.

“I deeply appreciate the honourable’s thoughtful gift; it has brought immense joy and brightened our hearts this festive season,” she said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sunday aspires to occupy a seat in Lagos Mainland Constituency II.

Vanguard News

The post Yuletide: APC member gifts 1,000 Lagos residents food, cash appeared first on Vanguard News.

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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that robust and proactive measures have been emplaced to prevent any attacks during the Christmas festivities.

A statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), working closely with other security agencies, have intensified operations across identified vulnerable areas.

He added that troops have been deployed to strategic locations and routes while special forces units and air support elements have been placed on high alert to ensure rapid response capability.

He stated further that surveillance efforts—including aerial monitoring and intelligence gathering, have been heightened to track the movement and communication patterns of suspected criminal groups.

“Unit Commanders in all areas have been directed to strengthen patrols, establish fortified checkpoints, and maintain close collaboration with community leaders, local vigilante groups, and state security formations.

“As we approach this festive period, the Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirm their unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians,” he stated.

The DHQ spokesman reiterated that the security and stability of the nation remained top priority, and every necessary measure were being taken to ensure that citizens celebrate Christmas in peace, unity, and joy.

He, however, urged citizens’ cooperation, which he said remained a critical component of national security.

“We assure you that all reports will be treated with urgency and confidentiality,” he declared.

The Director further urged citizens to remain calm but vigilant, and to promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest security formation.

“Public cooperation remains vital in ensuring the success of ongoing operations,” he added.

According to the statement, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, wished citizens a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year in advance.

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Nigerian authorities have secured the release of 130 kidnapped schoolchildren taken by gunmen from a Catholic school in November, a presidential spokesman said Sunday, after 100 were freed earlier this month.
“Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity,” Sunday Dare said in a post on X.

In late November, hundreds of students and staff were kidnapped from St Mary’s co-educational boarding school in north-central Niger state — though the exact number, and whether all are free, has been in dispute.

The attack came as the country buckled under a wave of mass abductions reminiscent of the infamous 2014 Boko Haram kidnapping of schoolgirls in the town of Chibok.

The west African country suffers from multiple interlinked security concerns, from jihadists in the northeast to armed “bandit” gangs in the northwest.

A UN source told AFP that “the remaining set of girls/secondary school students will be taken to Minna”, the capital of Niger state, on Tuesday.

The exact number of those kidnapped, and those who remain in captivity, has been unclear since the attack on the school, located in the rural hamlet of Papiri.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said 315 students and staff were kidnapped.

Some 50 escaped immediately afterward, and on December 7 the government secured the release of around 100.

That would leave about 165 thought to remain in captivity.

A statement from President Bola Tinubu at the time put the remaining people being held at 115.

– Spate of mass kidnappings –

It has not been made public who seized the children from their boarding school, or how the government secured their release.

Analysts have said that based on past rescues, it was likely authorities paid a ransom, which is technically prohibited by law.

Kidnappings for ransom are a common way for criminals and armed groups to make quick cash in Nigeria.

But a spate of mass abductions in November put an uncomfortable spotlight on the country’s already grim security situation.

Assailants kidnapped two dozen Muslim schoolgirls, 38 church worshippers and a bride and her bridesmaids — with farmers, women and children also taken hostage.

The kidnappings came as Nigeria faces a diplomatic offensive from the United States, where President Donald Trump has alleged that there were mass killings of Christians that amounted to a “genocide” and threatened military intervention.

The Nigerian government and independent analysts reject that framing, which has long been used by the Christian right in the United States and Europe.

One of the first mass kidnappings that drew international attention was in 2014, when nearly 300 girls were snatched from their boarding school in the northeastern town of Chibok by Boko Haram jihadists.

A decade later, Nigeria’s kidnap-for-ransom crisis has “consolidated into a structured, profit-seeking industry” that raised some $1.66 million between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a recent report by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consultancy.

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The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has stated that only the throne of Oyo has the authority to confer chieftaincy titles that carry the name “Yorubaland.”

The monarch made this declaration during the installation of Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari as Obaloyin of Yorubaland and Barrister Seyi Tinubu as Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Sunday at Aganju Forecourt, Aafin Oyo.

Oba Owoade emphasised that chieftaincy in Yoruba culture is not a matter of favour or decoration but a duty that comes with responsibility. 

He explained that the throne of Oyo has historically served as a central coordinating authority for the Yoruba people, a role recognised both during colonial administration and in post-independence governance.

The Alaafin highlighted that titles bearing the name “Yorubaland” are collective titles representing the Yoruba people as a whole, not individual towns or kingdoms, and must therefore be conferred by an authority whose reach spans the entire region. 

He noted that colonial records, post-independence councils, scholarly works, and the Supreme Court of Nigeria have all affirmed this historical authority.

Oba Owoade described the newly installed titles as positions of trust requiring courage, loyalty, and service to the Yoruba people. 

He added that such honours are meant to bind recipients more closely to Yorubaland and reinforce that authority, tradition, and respect for boundaries are central to sustaining Yoruba culture.

He urged the new titleholders to serve with humility and to ensure that their honours contribute to unity, dignity, and the collective good of Yorubaland.

He said partly, “We are gathered here today for a purpose that goes beyond celebration. We are here to witness history and to place responsibility where tradition has long placed it. Chieftaincy, in our culture, is not an act of favour. It is not decoration. It is duty, conferred only when history, authority, and responsibility align.

“From the earliest organisation of the Yoruba people, authority was never vague. Our forebears understood structure. This understanding gave Yorubaland stability long before modern governance arrived.

“The throne of Oyo emerged in that history as a coordinating authority, by responsibility. When colonial administration came, it did not invent this reality; it encountered it and recorded it. By 1914, Oyo Province had become the largest province in Southern Nigeria, covering 14,381 square miles. It was bounded in the north by Ilorin and Kontagora, in the east by Ondo and Ijebu, in the south by Ijebu and Abeokuta, and in the west by French Dahomey. This reflected recognised leadership over a wide and diverse space.

UPDATED: Bayelsa deputy gov, Ewhrudjakpo dies after collapsing in office – Tribune Online

“This history explains why certain chieftaincy titles are different in nature. Titles that bear the name “Yorubaland” are not local titles. They are collective titles. They speak not for one town or one kingdom, but for the Yoruba people as a whole. Such titles must therefore proceed from an authority whose reach, by history and by law, extends across Yorubaland.

“Today, I do not speak to provoke debate. I speak to state order. Among the Yoruba, authority has never been a matter of assumption or convenience. It has always been a matter of history, structure, and law. Thrones were not created equal in function, even though all are sacred in dignity. From the earliest organization of Yorubaland, the Alaafin of Oyo occupied a central and coordinating authority—an authority that extended beyond the walls of Oyo and into the collective political life of the Yoruba people. This was not self-declared. It was recognised, enforced, and sustained across generations.

“Colonial records acknowledged it. Post-independence councils preserved it. Scholars documented it.

“And finally, the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed it. The law is clear. History is settled. Chieftaincy titles that bear the name Yorubaland—titles whose meaning, influence, and obligation are not confined to a single town or kingdom—fall under a singular, established authority. That authority is the throne of Oyo.”

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

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Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has expressed delight over the release of the remaining 130 students of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri community, Niger State, who were held in captivity, describing it as a sign that evil will not triumph over Nigeria.

Abiodun noted that the latest release, coming after the earlier freedom of 100 students, brings the total number of rescued students to 230 and fulfils President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge to ensure their safe return without harm and reunite them with their families.

Commending the President for the security measures put in place, the governor said the successful rescue operations have restored Nigerians’ confidence in their government.

He added that the release of abducted persons across the country, including 24 victims from Kebbi State, 100 students from a Catholic school in Niger State, and Christian worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State demonstrates the administration’s capacity to confront Nigeria’s security challenges head-on.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Sunday, Abiodun described the development as heartwarming, noting that the students and their parents would now celebrate the Yuletide together after enduring a traumatic experience.

He urged security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

“I am extremely delighted to learn that the remaining 130 students of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri community, Niger State, who were hitherto in captivity, have been released,” Abiodun said.

“The students, their parents, the Papiri community, and the Government of Niger State have all been through a lot. I rejoice with them in this moment of triumph over the forces of darkness that abducted innocent students from their hostels and teachers from the school premises.

“This incident clearly shows that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration is committed to a safe, secure, and prosperous Nigeria and deserves our collective prayers and moral support.

“The President is determined to tackle the upsurge in kidnapping and terrorist attacks and restore sanity to our society, which will, in turn, rebuild confidence among Nigerians and the international community and drive massive development.

“The security agencies deserve commendation for this feat. I also urge them to ensure that the terrorists responsible for these attacks are tracked down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a woman identified as Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat in Lagos after uncovering a large cache of cocaine hidden inside her home.

Naija News reports that the agency in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said she was a key member of a drug trafficking group whose operations stretch across states and borders.

The arrest took place on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at her residence on Onasanya Street in Surulere, Lagos, following months of intelligence gathering and surveillance by NDLEA officers.

During a search of the house, operatives found 23.50 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside a black suitcase kept in her children’s room.

The suspect was said to have admitted that the drugs belonged to her, with the agency placing the street value at over five billion naira.

The arrest followed the earlier breakup of the same drug network in May 2024, when NDLEA operatives stopped a couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda, along the Lagos-Badagry expressway as they attempted to cross into Ghana.

At the time, 47.5 kilograms of cocaine were recovered from them.

Further search of their home in Agbara, Ogun State, led to the recovery of an additional ten kilograms, bringing the total seized from the couple to 57.5 kilograms. Shodunke later went into hiding before she was tracked and arrested.

In another operation, NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, intercepted a businessman, Nwanwene Robinson Destiny, at the terminal II departure hall on Thursday, December 18, 2025.

He was found with 1,020 pills of tramadol and tapentadol concealed in his luggage while preparing to board a flight to Milan, Italy.

The suspect reportedly claimed he was promised a payment of two hundred euros after delivering the drugs abroad.

At the Seme border area of Badagry, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a 48-year-old Beninese national, Leocardi Josu, on the same day with 3,400 tablets of tramadol while trying to enter Nigeria.

Along the Okene–Lokoja highway, a 30-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Adamu, was also arrested on Friday, December 19, with 28.4 kilograms of skunk and synthetic cannabis.

In Oyo State, officers intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Friday, December 19, and recovered 125,000 capsules of tramadol and 1,800 ampoules of pentazocine injection.

Two suspects, Ogunlade Kazeem and Adeleke Ismail, were also arrested earlier in Ibadan with 185.4 kilograms of skunk at Challenge motor park.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Osun State raided the Owena/Ijesha forest and seized 405 kilograms of skunk, leading to the arrest of a 45-year-old suspect, Charles James, on Friday, December 19.

On the same day, another suspect, Jamilu Zakari, was arrested along the Abuja–Kaduna highway with 14,960 pills of tramadol hidden inside kolanut sacks being transported from Abuja to Zamfara State.

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Beyond arrests and seizures, the agency said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse activities nationwide in the past week.

These included awareness programmes in schools, community centres, transport unions, and other public spaces across states such as Anambra, Katsina, and Ekiti.

The NDLEA leadership commended officers involved in the various operations across Lagos, Ogun, Kogi, Kaduna, Oyo, and Osun states.

The agency also urged personnel nationwide to remain alert during the festive period and to maintain professionalism in efforts to reduce drug supply and drug use across the country.

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Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has hailed President Bola Tinubu over the successful release of the remaining 130 students of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Niger State.

The release, which brings the total number of rescued students to 230, follows an earlier rescue of 100 students earlier this month.

Governor Abiodun described the development as a sign that evil forces will not triumph over Nigeria.

Speaking in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Sunday, Abiodun said the release fulfills President Tinubu’s pledge to ensure the freedom of all abducted students without harm and to reunite them with their families.

He said, “I am extremely delighted to learn that the remaining 130 students of St. Mary’s Catholic School Papiri community, Niger State, who were hitherto in captivity, have been released. The students, their parents, Papiri community, and the Government of Niger State have all been through a lot, and I rejoice with them in this moment of triumph over the forces of darkness.”

He commended the President for the security measures implemented, saying they have restored the confidence of Nigerians in their government.

“If this incident shows anything, it is the fact that the Bola Tinubu administration is committed to a safe, secure and prosperous Nigeria, and deserves our collective prayers and moral support

“The president is determined to tackle the upsurge of kidnapping and terrorist attacks, and bring sanity back to our society, which will invariably restore the confidence of Nigerians and the international community in the government, and bring massive development.

“The security agencies should be commended for this achievement. I also call on them to track down and bring to justice those responsible for attacking innocent and law-abiding Nigerians, using the full extent of the law.”

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