Category Nigeria News

Vice President Kassim Shettima on Saturday arrived in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to condole with the government and people of the state over Tuesday’s attack on the Woro community in Kaiama Local Government.

READ ALSO: UN, US Condemn Kwara Attack As Türkiye Vows Military Support

‎ Shettima’s aircraft landed at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport at about 10:30 in the morning.

Accompanying the vice president were the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, Senator Ali Ndume, and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

Shettima was received at the airport by the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu; and the Senator representing Kwara North Senatorial District, Sadiq Umar.

Others were the member representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Mukhtar Sagaya; security commanders, some members of the state legislative and executive councils, and local government chairmen.

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Others were the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Sunday Fagbemi and other party executive members.

Gunmen killed dozens of people, burned shops and a traditional ruler’s home, and wounded people fled into the bushes after the late Tuesday attack.

The refusal of the villagers to be indoctrinated by an extremist group, Mahmuda, was said to have led to indiscriminate shooting, as two vehicles belonging to the village head were used by the bandits to transport many villagers who were abducted.

The attack on Woro Village in Kwara State came after the military recently carried out operations in the area against what it called “terrorist elements”.

Last month, the military said it had launched “sustained coordinated offensive operations against terrorist elements” in Kwara State.

“Troops also stormed remote camps hitherto inaccessible to security forces where several abandoned camps and logistics enablers were destroyed, significantly degrading the terrorists,” the military said in a January 30 statement.

In response to the latest security woes, Kwara State imposed curfews in certain areas and closed schools for several weeks before ordering them to reopen on Monday.

Already, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has visited the community.

A former member of the National Assembly, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, has confirmed her membership in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State.

READ ALSO: APC Replaces Uzodimma With Masari As Convention Chairman

She made the disclosure on Saturday during an interview with a Nigerian football legend, Segun Odegbami, on 103.7FM Eagle7 Sports, which was monitored in Abeokuta.

The daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo described the party as her natural home.

Speaking during the interview, the former senator said her decision to return to politics was influenced by sustained pressure from her supporters.

“As I told you, a group of people whom I did not bring together, I did not form them into a group, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she said.

Iyabo Obasanjo explained that returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which she last contested, was not an option due to the current internal crises being experienced by the umbrella party.

The former commissioner also revealed that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was considered, but she expressed reservations about the party’s preparedness.

She added that those who encouraged her return to politics are all members of the APC, a factor that influenced her decision to join the broom party.

According to her, she conducted extensive consultations before formally joining the ruling party.

“So, I think APC is my natural home. I don’t have any animosity towards any individual or any group within the APC. I feel comfortable with all the actors I know within the APC.

“I feel more comfortable, actually, than with some of the actors I know in the PDP, and some of them are now in the ADC. So I think it’s my natural home. I feel quite confident and happy to have made that decision.

“I have an absolute 100 per cent feeling it’s my natural home,” she said.

Although the APC has yet to issue an official statement, the development marks her return to active politics after about 15 years.

She joined the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections in Ogun State, with speculations in some quarters that she may join the governorship race in the build-up to the election.

There were reports that she had participated in the ongoing APC e-registration exercise at Ibogun, Ward 11, in the Ifo Local Government Area of the state, formally sealing her membership of the ruling party.

She represented the Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, after she served as the state commissioner for health in the administration of former governor Gbenga Daniel.

She lost her re-election bid in 2011 to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Plateau State has confirmed an outbreak of Lassa fever affecting seven local government areas, with 11 positive cases and four deaths recorded since December 2025.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed this during a press briefing on Saturday at the Ministry of Health in Jos, where he provided an update on the outbreak and the state’s response efforts.

“We were first alerted on December 20, 2025, following a case from the Quanpan Local Government Area, and immediately, we activated our incident management team,” Baamlong said.

He explained that two cases were initially confirmed, prompting extensive contact tracing.

According to the commissioner, the state has so far recorded 28 suspected cases, with six confirmed.

READ ALSO: Lassa Fever Kills Doctor, Three Others In Plateau

“At that time, we traced about 69 contacts, from which we recorded 16 suspected cases, and five were confirmed positive.

“This means that from December till now, we have confirmed eleven positive cases in Plateau State,” he said.

The commissioner noted that the outbreak has resulted in four deaths across major health facilities in the state.

He explained that one of the fatalities was a health worker.

“Sadly, we have recorded four deaths, two at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, one at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, and one at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital.

“One of the deaths is a medical practitioner who attended to an infected patient. As of today, another medical doctor is also on admission and receiving treatment,” Dr Baamlong disclosed.

Baamlong noted that 109 contacts are currently under follow-up, as health authorities intensify surveillance and response.

“What we are doing now is to continue active case search through surveillance and to deploy our rapid response teams to affected communities,” he said.

The affected local government areas are Quanpan, Shendam, Wase, Langtang South, Jos North, Jos South, and Mangu.

He stated that public enlightenment was critical to curbing the spread of the disease.

“We are commencing active public health enlightenment. This is very key so that we can address and suppress the transmission of this disease,” the commissioner said.

Baamlong also assured residents of the availability of treatment and protective materials.

“The drugs required for treatment, including personal protective equipment, have been distributed to health facilities and are currently available at the Jos University Teaching Hospital and the Plateau Specialist Hospital,” he said.

Security operatives have successfully neutralised an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by suspected terrorists along the Danjibga-Kuncin Kalgo axis in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The operation was carried out by a combined force of the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD–CBRN) Unit, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and the Military EOD, with heavy security backup from the Zamfara State Police Command.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the spokesman of the police command, Yazid Abubakar, said the operation, which took place on Friday, was led by SP Abdulrazak Musa Hassan.

He said the security team applied standard Render Safe Procedures (RSP) to professionally and safely neutralise a pressure-plate IED discovered at the location.

“The explosive components were recovered and secured for further forensic examination,” Abubakar said.

READ ALSO: IGP Directs Tactical Deployment, Manhunt After Kwara Attack

The command’s spokesman stated that following a comprehensive sweep and technical assessment of the area, the axis was declared safe and free of any additional IED threats, thereby restoring safety for commuters and residents.

He called on members of the public to remain vigilant and to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing security efforts across the state.

Zamfara is one of the states affected by banditry, who have wreaked havoc despite the presence of security operatives in the area.

For years, non-state actors have been intensifying attacks in rural areas of northwest and central Nigeria, killing thousands and conducting kidnappings for ransom.

The gangs have camps in a vast forest straddling several states, including Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Niger, from where they launch attacks.

Between July last year and June 2025, at least 4,722 people were kidnapped in 997 incidents, and at least 762 were killed, according to a recent report by SBM Intelligence.

It said kidnappers demanded some ₦48 billion overall but only managed to get ₦2.57 billion (around $1.66 million).

During that period, “Nigeria’s kidnap-for-ransom crisis consolidated into a structured, profit-seeking industry,” said the Lagos-based security advisory firm.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

His visit was to brief the President following the safe return of 183 worshippers abducted from the Kurmin Wali community in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Disclosing this via his X, the governor said the meeting on Friday focused on issues of strategic importance to the state, particularly security, infrastructure, and broader developmental initiatives aimed at achieving lasting stability and shared prosperity.

“I briefed Mr President on the safe return of worshippers abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, on January 18, 2026,” he said.

The governor said the successful rescue of all the victims was the result of painstaking, intelligence-driven operations carried out through close collaboration between state and federal security agencies.

“I provided a detailed account of the painstaking, intelligence-driven operations carried out through close and effective collaboration between state and federal security agencies, which culminated in the successful rescue of all victims.

“This outcome affirms the strength of coordinated leadership, institutional synergy, and the professionalism of our national security architecture when guided by clarity of purpose and unwavering resolve,” Sani stated.

READ ALSO: Gov Sani Receives 183 Rescued Worshippers In Kaduna

He appreciated Tinubu for what he described as the President’s “ceaseless personal calls” during the two weeks the abducted worshippers were held captive, noting that the outreach provided reassurance and comfort to the affected families and the wider Kaduna community.

The two leaders also reviewed critical developmental and infrastructural projects in Kaduna State.

According to the governor, of particular importance, was the commencement of the long-awaited Birnin Gwari road project, which he described as a transformative intervention capable of improving security, stimulating economic activities, and restoring connectivity to previously isolated communities.

He noted that the meeting underscored the urgency of rehabilitating other major road networks, including the Kaduna Eastern Bypass, the Jere–Kwoi–Kafanchan road, and the Zaria–Pambegua–Saminaka road, all considered vital for regional mobility and economic integration.

Governor Sani also commended the dedication and sacrifice of security personnel whose efforts ensured the safe return of the abducted worshippers.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has replaced Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, with ex-Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, as Chairman of the National Convention Central Coordination Committee ahead of the party’s March 27 and 28, 2026, convention.

Disclosing this in a statement via X on Friday, the National Secretary of the APC, Surajudeen Basiru, said Uzodimma, who was earlier named to lead the committee, would now serve as treasurer.

The ruling party also expanded the membership of the committee from 73 to 90 members in a move aimed at accommodating more party stakeholders.
Basiru said the committee was reconstituted following “further consultations with its leadership and national stakeholders”.

READ ALSO: Uzodimma, Other APC Govs Meet In Abuja

“In further consultation with the leadership and national stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Central Coordination Committee for the 2020 National Convention has been reconstituted,” the statement read.

“Sub-committees of the Central Coordination Committee will be constituted and announced in due course.”

ADJUSTED APC 2026 SCHEDULE OF NATIONWIDE CONGRESSES, NATIONAL CONVENTION, AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

NOTE: The Expression of Interest Form and the Nomination Form will be available for purchase and collection at the Directorate of Organisation, 2nd Floor, APC National Secretariat,… pic.twitter.com/Ko48TIhmfA

Under the new arrangement, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, was named Vice Chairman I, while Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, will serve as Vice Chairman II.

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, was retained as Secretary of the committee.