General News
Motorists Stranded on Gusau–Funtua Highway Amid IED Fears, Police Dismiss Claim
Tension gripped commuters along the Gusau–Funtua highway in Zamfara State on Friday following reports that suspected armed bandits had planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the busy federal road.
Eyewitnesses claimed the suspected device was discovered in the early hours of Friday at Ungwar Mai Chida village, the same general area where an IED explosion earlier in the week reportedly damaged a trailer.
The reports triggered panic among motorists, many of whom were said to have halted their journeys and sought safer routes amid fears of a possible attack. Some commuters were left stranded for hours as uncertainty spread along the highway.
Residents in the area said security operatives later mobilized to the scene, secured the location, and cleared the road to allow traffic to resume.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, told Arise News via telephone that no such incident occurred on the highway. According to him, the police merely carried out proactive security measures to ensure the safety of motorists and commuters.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and rely on verified information, assuring road users of continued security surveillance along the route.
General News
Viral Video by Omoyele Sowore Involving the Honourable Minister of Works at Police Headquarters
The Media Office of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, CON, has taken note of a video currently being circulated by Omoyele Sowore, in which he attempts to publicly confront and provoke the Minister over a matter already before the appropriate authorities.
This was made known in a press release signed by Mr. Francis Nwaze, FIPMD, Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media) in Abuja.
According to the statement, for clarity and public record, the allegations referenced by Mr. Sowore were made by Mrs. Tracy Ohiri and have been in the public domain since last year. The claims, bordering on alleged assault and unpaid campaign materials, have been repeatedly circulated through social media videos and publications.
It is important to state that her accounts have been inconsistent and contradictory, a fact widely observed by members of the public who have followed the matter over time.
Contrary to the narrative being promoted, the Honourable Minister did not deploy the police to settle any personal matter. The Nigeria Police Force, acting within its constitutional mandate to maintain law and order and investigate complaints, acted on a petition submitted by the Minister’s legal representative. The Police subsequently arrested Mrs. Ohiri and invited the Honourable Minister in line with standard investigative procedure for the purpose of obtaining statements.
Mr. Sowore’s attempt to dramatize this lawful process by staging a public spectacle reflects a pattern of performative activism aimed at drawing attention rather than allowing due process to take its course. The Honourable Minister, consistent with his respect for institutional procedures, declined to be drawn into theatrics and calmly disengaged.
As of this moment, the matter remains under investigation by the Police, where facts and evidence will determine the outcome.
Activism, in its true sense, is rooted in integrity, balance, and a genuine commitment to justice — not indiscriminate attacks on public office holders or actions calculated to generate public drama.
The Honourable Minister of Works remains fully committed to transparency, respect for the rule of law, and the uninterrupted delivery of critical infrastructure projects for the benefit of Nigerians. He will continue to uphold institutional processes and will not be distracted by calculated provocations.
General News
BREAKING: Tinubu Stops Retirement of 30 DIGs, AIGs After Disu’s Emergence as Acting IGP
President Bola Tinubu has halted a planned mass retirement of about 30 Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) and Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) following the appointment of Tunji Disu as Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The development followed the removal of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun, who handed over to Disu earlier this week.
Sources within the Presidency disclosed that Tinubu intervened to stop the compulsory retirement of the senior officers, stressing the need for stability and experience within the Force during the transition.
“The Presidency has halted the firing of DIGs and AIGs, saying the new Acting IGP needs their experience,” a source said on Friday.
Retirement List Suspended
An internal list circulating within the Nigeria Police Force reportedly showed that at least eight DIGs — including Yahaya Abubakar (Finance), Adebola Hamzat (Logistics), Adebowale Williams (ICT), and Frank Mba (Training) — were among officers pencilled down for retirement before the President’s directive.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) was said to have compiled about 30 names for compulsory retirement, in line with the long-standing practice of asking senior officers to step down when a junior officer is promoted above them.
The practice, often justified as necessary to prevent “status reversal” in the command structure, has remained controversial.
Disu May Not Get Tenure Extension
Disu, born April 13, 1966, in Lagos State, was promoted to Assistant Inspector-General on March 6, 2025, and is due for statutory retirement on April 13, 2026, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.
Although the amended Police Act allows an Inspector-General to serve a four-year tenure regardless of age, sources indicate that Disu may not enjoy such an extension.
“They’re pushing to ensure Acting IGP Disu leaves in April, on the date he is required to retire,” a source said, noting that several senior officers have renewed hopes following the suspension of the retirement exercise.
Legal Backdrop
The issue of compulsory retirement gained prominence in 2023 after former DIG Moses Ambakina Jitoboh challenged his forced retirement following Egbetokun’s appointment.
Jitoboh had sued the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force at the National Industrial Court, arguing that his tenure was protected by law and could not be terminated based on administrative tradition. A landmark ruling later declared such retirements unconstitutional.
The latest intervention by Tinubu is expected to further shape ongoing debates around police reforms, hierarchy, and leadership succession within the Nigeria Police Force.
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to education, describing the sector as a central pillar of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
L-R: Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Olushola Oladoja when the NANS Leadership paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Staff, in the State House Abuja. Friday February 27, 2026
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the assurance on Friday when the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) paid him a courtesy visit at the State House, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila urged student leaders nationwide to reciprocate government investments in education by intensifying advocacy against social vices on campuses, particularly drug abuse, cultism and prostitution. He stressed that universities and colleges are not only centres of academic learning but also institutions for character development.
According to him, President Tinubu considers the fight against social vices a national priority, noting that a special committee has been set up to address rising concerns in secondary and tertiary institutions.
“Education is one of the pillars of this administration. We believe in the youths — in your energy and capacity — and we do not pay lip service to issues that affect you,” Gbajabiamila said. “I want to charge you to make moral reorientation part of your engagement with fellow students.”
The Chief of Staff commended the NANS leadership for its proactive and constructive engagement with government and encouraged the association to promote moral values as an unwritten code of campus culture.
He also disclosed that sustained dialogue between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has resulted in a lasting agreement, helping to maintain stability in the university system. He noted that Nigeria is approaching three years without a nationwide university strike.
Gbajabiamila recalled his experience as Speaker of the House of Representatives, where he participated in negotiations with ASUU during periods of frequent industrial actions that prolonged students’ academic programmes.
Highlighting government interventions, he pointed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, saying the student loan scheme is enabling indigent students to remain in school.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, reiterated the Presidency’s commitment to sustained dialogue with students and to restoring predictable academic calendars.
Speaking on behalf of the students, NANS President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, commended President Tinubu for what he described as unprecedented support for Nigerian students. He said improved engagement with ASUU and the implementation of the student loan scheme have helped stabilise tertiary education, with many four-year programmes now running their full course without disruption.
Oladoja disclosed that over 900,000 students have benefited from the loan scheme. He also cited recent security interventions, including the approval of perimeter fencing for vulnerable institutions following reports of hostel incursions.
While pledging continued support for government policies, the NANS president said the association would sustain its conflict-resolution framework. He also requested an audience with the President, sought palliatives for students during the fasting seasons, and appealed for increased job opportunities for young graduates.
Oladoja further informed the Presidency of plans to hold a major student gathering in Abuja to publicly endorse the President’s policies, pledging that NANS would continue to promote peace and constructive dialogue across campuses.