Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
Fresh calls are mounting over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity following the abduction of a newly called lawyer, Onyesom Peace Udoka, and her sister along the Lokoja highway in Kogi State. The incident happened on Friday, September 27, just days after Udoka celebrated her call to bar ceremony in Abuja on September 23. Reports online say the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N20 million for their release. NBA Demands Urgent Rescue The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the abduction, describing it as “distressing and unacceptable.” NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), said the ordeal highlights the dangers Nigerians face daily on…
The Nigeria Police Force is facing an embarrassing security breach after one of its official vehicles was reported stolen right inside its headquarters in Abuja. According to an internal signal, the missing vehicle a Toyota Buffalo Land Cruiser with registration number NPF 5594 D; was attached to the Department of Operations at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House. The vehicle reportedly disappeared from the official parking lot on July 28, 2025, and has since not been recovered. Nationwide Alert on Missing Vehicle Police authorities have confirmed that the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) is handling the case. All divisional police…
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the resumption of petrol sales in naira following federal government intervention. In a fresh memo to marketers on Saturday, the refinery said the reversal came after the Naira-for-Crude Technical Committee stepped in to resolve earlier disputes. The refinery urged marketers to immediately place orders in naira for both self-collection and delivery to designated depots across the country. Suspension Caused Panic Among Marketers Just a day earlier, the refinery had shocked the market with an announcement that it would halt fuel sales in naira starting Sunday, September 28, 2025. The suspension was linked to the…
Security operatives in Kwara State have recorded a major victory against drug trafficking after intercepting a truck loaded with tubers of yam used to conceal 127 bags of cannabis. The operation, which took place along the Babanla–Oreke–Oke-Ode axis, was a joint effort by the Kwara Police Command, operatives of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), and local vigilante groups. Police spokesperson, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, described the seizure as a breakthrough in the ongoing fight against crime and illicit drugs in the state. Two Suspects Arrested Over Cannabis Smuggling The suspects, identified as Dan-Teni Haruna and Rabiu…
The crisis in Zamfara State may soon take an international dimension as the Northern Intelligentsia Network has vowed to petition the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Governor Dauda Lawal. The advocacy group accused the governor of failing to curb mass killings, abductions, and the destruction of villages by bandits across the state. Dr. Aminu Shehu, President of the group, in a statement on Saturday, alleged that Governor Lawal’s public confession of knowing the hideouts of bandits without handing such intelligence to security agencies amounted to complicity. “When a leader admits knowing the locations of criminals terrorising his people and still…
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has again suspended the sale of petrol in naira, a move that has unsettled fuel marketers and heightened concerns of another spike in pump prices. In an email sent to customers on Friday evening, the refinery announced that the suspension would take effect from Sunday, September 28, 2025, blaming it on the depletion of its crude-for-naira allocation. The statement, titled “Suspension of DPRP PMS Naira Sales – Effective 28th September 2025”, advised customers with pending naira transactions to request refunds. “We have been selling petroleum products in excess of our Naira-Crude allocations and, consequently, we are…
The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has taken a swipe at local government chairmen in Adamawa State after reports emerged that their wives were flown to Turkey for a so-called leadership training. According to reports, 21 wives of LGA chairmen, along with top officials from the state ministry of local government, travelled to Istanbul last week. The trip was organised under the banner of equipping the women with “leadership skills.” Suleiman Toungo, chairman of Toungo LGA and head of ALGON in the state, defended the trip, saying it would enable their spouses to “offer useful advice on governance.”…
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Ofeme-Ohuhu in Umuahia, Abia State, Hajjia Rabia Adamu, has warned that Nigeria is heading for a full-blown crisis in the education sector due to a massive shortage of teachers. Adamu gave the warning on Friday at the maiden matriculation ceremony of the institution, where 160 students were formally admitted into the college. She noted that the system is stretched far beyond its limits and needs at least 1.2 million teachers to restore balance. One Teacher to 500 Pupils in Some Schools Speaking passionately, Adamu explained that the…
The General Manager of the Abia State Debt Management Office, Kingsley Nwaigburu, has dismissed claims credited to former Commissioner for Finance, Obinna Oriaku, about an alleged ban on Fulani cattle rearers in Umuajuju village, Isiala Ngwa South LGA. Oriaku had, in a social media post, claimed that some Fulani cattle rearers working for an Abia farmer, Akudo Alozie, were banned from operating in Umuajuju by orders of Governor Otti. But debunking the report on Friday, the General Manager of the Abia State Debt Management Office, Kingsley Nwaigburu, said Governor Alex Otti should not be dragged into a restriction order issued…
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has appealed to politicians and party stakeholders to put aside bitterness and embrace unity as the state marked its 38th anniversary. Speaking at a special banquet in Uyo, the governor reminded political leaders that beyond party lines, everyone remains an Akwa Ibomite. He stressed the need to “play politics with a human face,” warning that rancour and division could harm the state’s progress. “We Must Put Akwa Ibom First” Governor Eno praised the transformation of Akwa Ibom from its humble beginnings in 1987 to what he described as a “destination of choice.” He…