In Nigeria’s tightly controlled world of political performance, ceremonies involving the spouses of national leaders are typically seamless productions. Scripts are written in reverence. Praise is choreographed. Gratitude is rehearsed. Applause is expected, not earned. And public emotion is not spontaneous—it is curated. So when Oluremi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former senator, visited the Delta State School of Nursing under her Renewed Hope Initiative, everything was supposed to follow the playbook.

She was to be welcomed with a warm song, hailed with ceremonial respect, and praised as “mother of the nation” by students trained to perform gratefulness. The plan was simple: elevate the First Lady as a symbol of national nurture. But something unexpected cracked the performance. As the Master of Ceremony (MC) attempted to ignite a call-and-response chant, echoing “Na my mama be this o, we no get another one,” what followed was not praise—but protest. The students responded with piercing sarcasm: “Na your mama be this ooooo.”

Laughter followed. The clip went viral. But beneath the laughter was something powerful and painful. A rupture. A revolt. A rebellion not just against a phrase—but against an entire emotional order. What seemed like a moment of disrespect was actually a national psychological explosion. A collective breakdown of symbolic authority. This wasn’t just a chant—it was Nigeria’s youth, in one voice, rejecting emotional manipulation by power. And as strange as it may sound, this moment was not just political. It was Freudian.

The Freudian Slip: When the Pain People Hide Finally Comes Out

There’s a psychological idea from Sigmund Freud called a slip—it’s when someone says something by “mistake,” but deep down, it reveals what they really feel. But sometimes, it’s not just one person making a mistake. Sometimes, the whole event—or the script people are told to follow—falls apart, and all the hidden anger people have been holding inside just spills out.

That’s exactly what happened during the First Lady’s visit. The MC kept repeating “our mother” over and over again with so much force, like he was trying too hard. His tone was too loud, his words too dramatic. It didn’t sound natural. Was he being serious? Or was he trying to push something he knew people wouldn’t accept?

Whether he meant it or not, the students responded from the heart: “Na your mama be this ooooo.” That reply wasn’t planned. It was real. It came from a deep place of frustration that many Nigerians feel every day.

Psychologists call this kind of reaction “the return of the repressed.” It means all the pain, anger, and disappointment people have been hiding suddenly comes out—just like that. The students didn’t need to carry placards. They didn’t need to protest on the streets. All it took was that one chant—and the truth was out. Laughter followed, but behind that laughter was pain. It wasn’t just a joke. It was therapy. It was healing. It was Nigeria, speaking its truth through its children.

Songs as Subversion: The Rhythm of Defiance

In Nigeria, music is not entertainment alone—it is a political weapon. From Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat rebellion to the #EndSARS generation’s chants of “Soro Soke!”, Nigerians have mastered the art of protest through rhythm. So when the MC turned the phrase into a chant, possibly hoping to generate praise, he unintentionally created a structure perfect for protest.

The call-and-response chant, common in both church and street protest, became the battlefield. The students flipped the chant. They rewrote the script in real time. And in doing so, they turned a praise performance into protest poetry.

There were no placards. No megaphones. No chants of “We no go gree o!” But the impact was just as thunderous. The students used wit, sarcasm, and cultural cadence to destroy a stage-managed illusion. What was meant to be a song of national maternal love became a public refusal to pretend.

Parental Authority and the Collapse of Emotional Contracts

To call someone “mother of the nation” is not just symbolic—it is emotional. It evokes expectations of nurture, sacrifice, presence, and protection. In Freudian psychology, parental figures represent not only authority but also emotional security. They are the guardians of childhood, the providers of order, the moral compass in times of confusion.

But what happens when these “mothers” and “fathers” of the nation disappear in moments of national pain? What happens when they are present only in ceremonies but absent in suffering?

In Nigeria today, the parental metaphor is collapsing. The emotional contract is broken. The people are not feeling protected—they are feeling punished. The economy is battered. The fuel subsidy is gone. The naira has lost value. Inflation is rising. Youth unemployment is choking. Citizens are not surviving—they are suffocating.

So when a political figure walks into that landscape and demands to be called “mother,” it does not inspire affection. It triggers rejection. Emotional revulsion. The title becomes unbearable. It moves from symbolic to insulting.

The Delta students weren’t rejecting Oluremi Tinubu as a person—they were rejecting the emotional manipulation that her title represented.

The MC: Loyal Mouthpiece or Unwitting Instigator?

This raises a subtle but fascinating question: was the MC just following orders—or was he deliberately pushing the limits? Was this a moment of unconscious sabotage? A performance of subversive obedience?

In authoritarian or tightly controlled spaces, where truth is dangerous and direct dissent is punishable, people often resist through sarcasm, exaggeration, or absurdity. The MC’s exaggerated tone—his theatrical delivery of the chant—may have been a passive-aggressive plea: “I’m saying what you told me to say, but I know they won’t buy it.”

In doing so, he offered the students an emotional microphone. He opened the door. And once that door was opened, the chant escaped. And it could not be pulled back in.

A Freudian Protest in a Fractured Political Imagination

This moment wasn’t about tradition. It wasn’t about protocol. It was about imagination. National imagination. Nigeria’s political elite imagine a people that still believe in symbolic closeness. That still care for titles. That still respond to motherly declarations. But that imagination is broken.

The youth are no longer interested in political parents. They are tired of emotional scripts. They are done performing gratitude. Their reality is hunger, not hope. Their dream is escape, not allegiance. They are not rude—they are wounded. They are not disrespectful—they are disillusioned.

The chant was not born from malice. It was born from mourning. Mourning the death of trust, the betrayal of leadership, and the erosion of public empathy.

The Real Mothers Were Watching—So Was the World

Now imagine a Nigerian mother—one of the millions who have sold vegetables before sunrise, who skipped her meals so her child could eat, who borrowed money to pay for school fees and medical bills. She sits in her living room, watching the broadcast. The MC chants: “We no get another one.”

She hears it. Her child hears it. And for a moment, the child starts to repeat it.

Her heart breaks.

Because she knows the truth. She is the one who raised that child through sweat and sacrifice. She is the one who stayed when the system failed. And now, on national television, she is erased. Replaced by a political figure in Aso Rock. She knows this isn’t tradition—it is performance. And in that moment, she feels insulted.

But it wasn’t just her.

The world was watching too.

In the age of TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and global media, there are no private stages. Everything is public. And what the world saw was not respect—it was resistance. Not cultural reverence—but institutional embarrassment. In that chant, the international community saw a nation’s youth tell the truth to power with biting humor.

They saw that Nigeria’s elite still expect loyalty from the hungry. Still demand praise from the jobless. Still stage ceremonies in a collapsing economy.

And they now know what the students know. What the mothers know.

That the empire of political affection has fallen.

Rejecting the Performance of Unity in the Face of Suffering

The Delta nursing students didn’t just insult the First Lady—they exposed the widening emotional gap between the governed and those who claim to govern with compassion. Their chant was not simply a youthful retort. It was a public rejection of the persistent illusion that Nigerians, especially the young, must pretend to be part of one big happy national family with leaders who are clearly out of touch with their lived pain.

This was not about culture. It was not about etiquette. It was about survival. It was about truth. And in that truth, the students exposed a contradiction that every struggling Nigerian recognizes: the same government that asks for emotional loyalty has failed to show material responsibility.

Their protest was echoed by the digital revolution already underway—the #30DaysRantChallenge, where ordinary Nigerians document, day by day, the unlivable nature of current economic policies. These online confessions have revealed soaring prices, unpaid salaries, joblessness, hunger, and frustration. Every tweet, every post, every video under that hashtag is a cry for help. And what the students did in Delta was bring that cry offline—into the real world, face-to-face with power.

What they revealed is this: President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” slogan is clashing violently with Nigeria’s harsh realities. For citizens who wake up daily to increasing hardship, hope is not a campaign slogan—it is a demand for change. And change is not achieved through titles or optics. It is earned through policy, action, and human empathy.

By refusing to perform loyalty in the midst of suffering, the students shattered the illusion of unity. They declared that national healing does not begin with forced praise. It begins with truth. And the truth is: people are tired, hungry, and unheard.

To Suppress This Moment Would Be Political Suicide

Let no one twist it—those students committed no crime. They broke no law. Their act was constitutional, peaceful, expressive, and valid. To punish them would not only be morally absurd—it would be politically suicidal.

In today’s world, you do not silence dissent—you amplify it by punishing it.

If the Tinubu administration chooses suppression over self-reflection, it will not kill the message—it will globalize it. The students will become symbols. The chant will become anthem. The moment will become movement.

Repression is no longer power—it is proof of panic.

Conclusion: The Mind Will Rebel When the Mouth Is Gagged

Words matter. Titles matter. But when language is used to force intimacy between a suffering people and the political elite, the reaction will not be reverence—it will be rejection. The forced framing of “our mother” during the First Lady’s visit to Delta State was not just poorly chosen—it was deeply out of touch. It implied emotional closeness between a people who are hungry, overburdened, and unheard, and a figurehead largely removed from their pain. Even a slight adjustment—“Mother of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu”—while still politically awkward, would have at least respected emotional distance. Because in times of economic trauma, grand titles without meaningful sacrifice feel more like insults than honors.

Nigeria is not just suffering economically—it is suffering emotionally. The poverty is real, yes. But so is the fatigue. So is the disconnection. And in both politics and psychology, when voices are suppressed long enough, the body—the collective national body—finds its own way to speak. What happened at the Delta School of Nursing was not a childish outburst. It was not a rebellion for rebellion’s sake. It was a moment of national catharsis. A breaking point. A chant that cut through performance and exposed the raw truth beneath: Nigerians are tired of pretending.

Whether or not the Master of Ceremony meant to provoke it, his exaggerated chant became the trigger. What followed was not chaos—it was clarity. In those six syllables—“Na your mama be this ooooo”—an entire nation found its voice. That chant was not just for Oluremi Tinubu. It was a mirror held up to every leader who demands loyalty but withholds dignity, who expects praise without performance, and who cloaks failed governance in emotional titles.

To Madam Remi Tinubu: yes, you are human. And yes, it probably hurt. It happened in Delta, your birthplace—a place where you may have expected warmth. But pain often comes from the places where expectations were highest. The truth is, you did not birth those students. You have not suffered with them. You do not feel the sting of rising school fees, decaying infrastructure, or daily hunger. So why should they call you “mother”?

This moment is not about disrespect. It is not about tradition. It is about reality. When people are forced to pretend they are part of a national family that has long abandoned them, resistance is inevitable. The title of “Mother of the Nation” cannot be inherited. It must be earned. Not by appearances, but by presence. Not by symbolism, but by sacrifice. And if you have not stood in their struggle, you cannot demand their affection.

Blame the MC if you need a scapegoat. Blame your husband’s failing economic policies. Blame poor messaging. But do not blame the students. Their honesty is not an attack—it is an invitation. If you are truly committed to national healing, let this moment teach you. Let it stretch you. Let it humble you. And if the hurt lingers, do what any emotionally intelligent leader would do—seek clarity, even therapy if necessary. Reflect. Heal. Then lead.

Because leadership today is not about control—it’s about connection. Real, grounded, mutual connection. The youth do not owe you titles. They do not owe you songs. They do not owe you silence in exchange for suffering. In times like these, what binds a nation is not ceremonial obedience—it is shared truth, courageous empathy, and visible justice.

So don’t try to erase this moment. Don’t suppress it. Study it. Let it stand. Because in that chant lies the purest feedback your administration will ever receive. “Na your mama be this ooooo” was not just a deflection—it was a declaration. A line drawn between performance and pain. A generational cry against emotional manipulation. A public therapy session turned national turning point.

Let it go, Madam. Let the script go. Let the illusion go.

And if you truly want to be remembered as Mother of Nigeria—fight not for their obedience, but for their tomorrow.

Let something real begin.

The plight of oil host communities and the need to ensure that funds allocated to them under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) are effectively utilized to deliver meaningful development in host communities came into sharp focus at a recent stakeholder engagement session held with the KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT).  The KEFFESO HCDT serves as the representative body for various oil producing communities including Koluama 1 and 2, Ezetu 1 and 2, Okumbiri, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni, Sangana, Opu, Okumbiribeleu and Oginibiri in Bayelsa State, under the NNPCL/First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P) JV.

The Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, which consigned Petroleum Act and Petroleum Tax Act of 1967 to history allocated 3 percent Host Community Development Fund for the development of oil host communities. This significant legislation which brings the oil host communities into sharp focus is imbued with revolutionary fervor; for the first time, it created a special fund which ensures that allocated funds are properly channeled to foster tangible development in the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta and elsewhere. Given the pivotal role he played in the birthing of the Petroleum Industry Act, his tireless advocacy, strategic engagements with critical stakeholders within the legislative branch and the oil and gas sector, it incontestable that the PIA Act has the imprimatur of Mele Kyari. This assertion is without prejudice to the unwavering commitment and strong political will exhibited by the Buhari administration which broke the over two decades stalemate of the bill.  The Act created a Host Community Development Trust Fund with the aim to cushion the negative impact oil exploration may have on oil producing communities. The fund would be managed by a Board of Trustees. Funding for the Trust Fund will be secured from holders of Licenses or leases who will contribute three per cent of the operating expenditures of the previous year in respect of all petroleum operations affecting the host communities.

Kyari’s unbridled enthusiasm and full support of the allocation to oil producing communities is driven by his strong passion to drive development in oil producing states, who suffered decades of neglect. In giving ringing endorsement to the Act, he believes that emplacement of the Act will galvanize massive development for oil producing communities. As corporate leader with human face, Mele Kyari, even before the PIA was deeply committed to interventions that would impact the lives of oil host communities as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of NNPC. It mattered so much to him that the Act would cure observed anomalies of the past by ensuring that the host communities take full responsibility and ownership of development projects that would be sited in their communities. This is in furtherance of the commitment of NNPC to improve physical and material wellbeing of the people. Under this arrangement, only projects with direct developmental impact on the people would be implemented through the fund. The active participation of members of the host communities in the power structure of the organization emplaced to manage the fund will ensure that the resources will be used in a manner that conforms to the aspirations of the host communities.  According to the spirit of the Act, the fund will be deployed in such a manner to engender sustainable development for the benefit of the host communities. Also, the fund will be used to advance and propagate educational development of the people, support healthcare and local initiatives that will enhance protection of the environment.

According to Kyari, “The whole concept of the Host Communities was the creation of the executive and the government decided that the PIB must have a provision in the law where the welfare of host communities is taking back to them.

“The Host Communities Fund is in control of the host communities; it is not one that will be managed by the oil companies. It is our responsibility as government to ensure that those funds are set up.

“The data along how much oil companies are spending in a year is no longer secret, the PIB has made it clear that you must disclose your spending for the purpose of taxation to the FIRS and therefore your cost of operation is no longer secret.

“Let us not forget that every attempt in the past to ensure that development comes to the host communities failed. Without any contradiction, I can tell you that the 13 per cent derivation was designed to make sure development comes to the Niger Delta region and by implication the host communities.

“Secondly, we have the NNDC to ensure that development comes to the Niger Delta Region and more so by implication the host communities.

“So, this is an addition to complement what is on ground and we will make sure the existing structure delivers what it is meant to achieve. While the NDDC is doing what it should do according to its Act, the Host Communities Fund will drive massive development that will be driven by the communities.

“We know what the host communities go through, there are villages that are just 200 metres away from a flow station that don’t have drinking water, no hospitals, the schools are not operating and yet there are massive provisions that we have made as an industry to make this work but this won’t happen. Going forward, these communities will decide what they want and it will be done because the funds are available.”

The insight provided by Mele Kyari captures succinctly the neglect of oil producing communities particularly in the Niger Delta and underpins his determination to turn the page with the inauguration of the PIA. For decades, this neglect has led to environmental degradation, lack of basic amenities and social unrest. Government cannot be totally blamed for doing nothing to ameliorate the problems of the oil producing communities. Critical interventions to cure this systemic problem has recorded minimal progress at odds with billions of dollars that has poured into their operations by the federal government and players within the oil and gas ecosystem.

Even interventionist agencies such as Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) continues to be mired in lack of transparency and accountability. Instead of fulfilling its core mandate, over the years, the commission has turned out to be a cesspool of corruption, to enrich a few persons. At inception, NNDC was saddled with the mandate which included the formulation of policies and guidelines for the development of the Niger Delta region, conception, planning and implementation, in accordance with set rules and regulations, of projects and programmes for sustainable development in the areas of transportation (roads, jetties and waterways), health, employment, industrialization, agriculture and fisheries, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications. The commission was also saddled with the responsibility to survey the Niger Delta and come up with measures that will promote its physical and socio-economic development, prepare masterplans and schemes designed to promote the physical development of the region.

The achievement of these lofty objectives has remained a pipedream. As at 2022, a study and the forensic report, commissioned by the Social Action in conjunction with MacArthur Foundation on the activities of the commission spanning 20 years revealed that 12,000 contracts were abandoned. Among other underhand dealings, the study found that personnel of the commission diverted the larger chunk of payments made to contractors who as a result abandoned the projects. The report also discovered that the region lost over N15 trillion or $40 billion to 13,377 contracts awarded and 12,000 abandoned.

After NNDC gulped trillions with modest impact, the consensus of opinion is that everything should be done to ensure that KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) does not go the way of the commission. The deepening of NNPCL’s activities in this sphere underscores its belief in the importance of stakeholder collaboration in driving socio-economic growth within oil producing communities. In furtherance of this objective, NNPC is leaving no stone unturned; Mele Kyari is resolute in directing PIA funds towards key development projects in education, healthcare and infrastructure. Attempts in the past to ensure that oil companies provided for the host communities were impaired because it was not carried out in the right manner in the name of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.

As the team leader in NNPCL, he has left no one in doubt about the sustenance of robust strategic engagements by the company. According to him, “Our mission is clear. We are committed to fostering lasting peace, creating economic opportunities and transforming the Niger Delta into a model of unity and progress. NNPCL stands with the Niger Delta as it builds a prosperous future that is driven by mutual respect and collaboration.”

After initial delays in getting the Trust to take-off, NNPC and other critical stakeholders have put in place, processes to ensure that oil host communities enjoy projects covering infrastructure, social, economic and human capital investments that will lead to sustainable development of the people and the communities. Recently, in Rivers state, HCDT in conjunction with joint venture operators, Green Energy International Ltd. (GEIL) and Lekoil Oil Joint Venture kicked off several projects in the first phase of the implementation of the five year development plan in three of their host communities namely Ugama Ekede, Ayama Ekede, Asukama and Asukoyet in Ikuru Town of Andoni Local Government Area of the state. The projects include 1Km access road into Ugama Ekede, scholarship for students in primary, secondary and tertiary schools, bursary for university students in Ugama Ekede, a town hall, a box culvert in Asuk-ama and a road project in Asukoyet.

NNPCL under Kyari strongly believes that the institutionalization of the community development trust initiative and constant stakeholder engagements will engender the much needed governance, transparency and accountability in community development efforts. NNPCL has already stamped its leadership footprint on these initiatives and for the foreseeable future, will continue to provide remarkable guidance which it hopes will usher in a new era of lasting peace and economic prosperity to the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta.

•Sotonye Princewill contributed this comment from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in the last general elections, has decried the gruesome murder of some Northern Nigerian travelers in Edo State.

The gruesome attack happened in Udune Efandion community in Uromi, Edo State, on March 27, 2025, has sparked outrage.

In a statement published on his personal Facebook page, Kwankwaso described the attack as a “harrowing display of mob injustice and a sad reminder of the barbarity of jungle justice.”

He emphasized that all Nigerians should be able to move around without harassment or intimidation.

“It is general perception that the citizens all over the country must be able to move about without intimidation or harassment,” he said.

Kwankwaso asked the authorities concerned to thoroughly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“I appeal to the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this tragic accident and prosecute the offenders,” he said.

The ex-governor also commiserated with the families of the victims, the government of Kano state, and the other states affected by this disaster, praying for those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

Pressure is mounting on the police and security agencies to ensure that justice is done.

[DailyTrust]

The Kaduna State chapter of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has denied that former Governor, Nasir El-Rufai is a registered member of the party.

El-Rufai, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently announced his departure from the ruling party, citing a misalignment with its current direction.

However, at a press conference on Friday, SDP’s Assistant National Secretary for the Northwest Zone, Idris Inuwa, clarified that El-Rufai’s membership remains a rumor since he has not followed due process.

Inuwa emphasized that neither the Kaduna North Local Government Chapter nor the leadership of Unguwar Sarki ward had any record of El-Rufai’s membership.

He advised the former governor to complete the necessary procedures if he intends to officially join the party.

Additionally, Inuwa rejected the purported dissolution of the Kaduna SDP State Working Committee, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of due process.

He stressed that the committee was elected through a valid State Congress and has a four-year mandate.

The Kaduna SDP leadership reaffirmed its openness to new members but insisted that all must adhere to proper registration procedures.

[DailyPost]

Heirs Holdings Founder and Group Chair, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, has been appointed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to its Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, convened by IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva.

Elumelu, Africa’s leading advocate of entrepreneurship and whose Foundation has funded, mentored and trained over 25,000 African entrepreneurs since 2015, champions entrepreneurship as the engine for the economic transformation of Africa. A self-made entrepreneur, Elumelu’s embracing of entrepreneurship is fundamental to his concept of Africapitalism, his belief that Africa’s private sector can and must play a leading role in the continent’s development, making long-term investments, that deliver social and economic value.

The Advisory Council comprises global business leaders, policymakers, and academics, dedicated to identifying and addressing regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship. Its mandate is to recommend policies that enhance resource allocation, stimulate innovation, and catalyse sustainable private sector-led economic growth. Elumelu will be instrumental in ensuring that Africa’s entrepreneurial potential is central to global economic policymaking.

Other members of the Council include: Harberger Professor of Economics, University of Chicago, Professor Ufuk Akcigit; Saudi Ambassador to the United States, HRH Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud; Chair, CEO, and Co-Founder of Salesforce, Mr. Marc Benioff; Executive Chair, Banco Santander, Ms. Ana Botín; Chairman, Tata Group, Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran; Chief Executive, Vodafone Group, Ms. Margherita Della Valle; Founder, Chairman and CEO, Vista Equity Partners, Mr. Robert Smith and Argentine Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Mr. Federico Sturzenegger.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council on Wednesday 26 March 2025, the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, noted: “The Council brings together a group of leading thinkers and practitioners in business, finance, academia, and policymaking to share their views and experiences on how macroeconomic and financial policies can provide a supportive environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity—key ingredients for a thriving private sector and strong economic growth.”

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and soldiers clashed on Thursday afternoon resulting to gun battle at the popular Banex Plaza, Abuja. 

The clash occurred just hours after the United States Embassy in Nigeria issued a security alert, warning its citizens about planned IMN protests in Abuja and other major cities on Friday.

In the advisory, the US Embassy cautioned that demonstrations could lead to disruptions such as roadblocks, traffic congestion, and possible confrontations.

“The Islamic Movement of Nigeria has called for demonstrations in Abuja and other major cities on Friday, March 28, 2025. Heavy traffic and other disruptions are possible. Based on past occurrences, protests may involve roadblocks, checkpoints, traffic congestion, and physical confrontations,” the embassy stated.

The security warning listed potential protest locations, including Banex Plaza, Berger Junction, Unity Fountain, the National Human Rights Commission Head Office, Eagle Square, Area 10 Shopping Plaza, the National Mosque, Al-Noor Mosque, and Fouad Lababidi Mosque.

Details of the incident is sketchy as at when filing this report. 

Efforts to get the reaction of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Public Relations Officer, SO Josephine Adeh were futile as call and messages put across were not responded to. 

Details shortly…… 

[TheNation]

Gunmen have reportedly launched a deadly attack on mourners in Ruwi community, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State and killed ten persons.

The mourners were said to have gathered at a deceased family’s house in the community when the gunmen attacked them on Thursday night.

According to eyewitnesses, the victims were mostly women, with seven being brutally clubbed to death with machetes.

Witnesses added that three men were among those killed, while two other women were injured in the attack.

The Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LG, Mr. Kefas Mallai, confirmed the killings to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday, stating that the perpetrators took advantage of the mourners’ gathering to carry out the heinous act.

Mallai noted that security personnel were alerted to the attack, but unfortunately, they arrived after the perpetrators had fled the scene.

The chairman said, “Yes, it is true. It was around 10pm yesterday, March 27, 2025, at Ruwi community in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau state.

“The victims were mostly women. Seven women were clubbed to death with matchettes. Three men were killed, too, with two other women injured because many of them were women.

“They came to mourn their loved one that died a natural death. So, they were just there as is our tradition which demands that they would gather at the deceased family house and many of them would sleep over till the next day and even three days especially relatives just to keep the deceased family company.

“So that was the situation, and the enemy took advantage of that and came in the night and slaughtered the mourners around 10pm. I learnt the perpetrators were killer Fulani herders. When the attack was taking place, I learnt security men were called to the village, but before they could arrive at the place, the killers had finished their evil act and fled the scene.

“But as it is now, there is no any retaliation from the community and even the Bokkos town is calm but if you go the affected community, that is where you will see crowd that has gathered, bemoaning the calamity that has befallen the people ”

“So at the moment, the community is currently in a state of shock and mourning, with many gathering at the affected community to bemoan the calamity”

When contacted, the Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached immediately as his phone indicated that it was switched off.

The attack came barely one week after the police Command had convened an enlarged stakeholders meeting where participants, including farmers and herders, pledged to keep the peace in the state.

[Punch]

At least 144 people have been killed, and more than 730 were injured in the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday, according to the head of the country’s military government.

A strong aftershock of 6.4 magnitude also hit Myanmar, with tremors felt across Thailand and in China.

According to military government officials, the quake triggered the collapse of buildings hundreds of miles away in Thailand.

At least three people have died in the nation’s capital, and authorities are racing to free 81 people believed to be trapped under the rubble of an under-construction high-rise in the city, officials said.

Myanmar, one of Asia’s poorest nations, is reeling from a civil war sparked by a 2021 military coup. Weak infrastructure makes it ill-equipped to deal with major natural disasters.

Swathes of the country are run by a patchwork of militias, making it extremely difficult to gather reliable information. The military also regularly cuts communications in conflict zones.

CNN

The Kano State Police Command has banned all Sallah Durbar celebrations across the state ahead of the 2025 Eid-el-Fitr festivities.

Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori announced the ban while addressing journalists at the Bompai Police Headquarters, citing security concerns and the need to prevent potential unrest.

According to CP Bakori, intelligence reports indicated plans by certain groups to disrupt the Durbar festivities and create instability. After consulting with the Kano State Government and other key stakeholders, the police command deemed it necessary to prohibit the event.

“In pursuit of a safe and secure celebration, and to maintain peace and public order, the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has assessed the rising tensions and uncertainties surrounding the Durbar activities,” Bakori said.

“Following credible intelligence reports about plans to use the Durbar as a proxy for unrest, a ban has been placed on all Durbar activities throughout the state during the 2025 Eid-El-Fitr Sallah celebrations.”

The police commissioner urged worshippers to conduct their Eid prayers only at designated praying grounds and adhere to security guidelines, including: Avoid carrying unnecessary objects that may cause suspicion. No horse riding (Kilisa), car racing, or reckless driving. Parents and guardians should caution their children against involvement in any disruptive activities.

The public is advised to avoid actions that could lead to a breach of peace or breakdown of law and order.

CP Bakori assured residents that adequate security personnel would be deployed to ensure a peaceful Sallah celebration.

 “As we celebrate this joyous occasion, let us prioritize peace above all else, set aside our differences, and unite as law-abiding citizens for the progress of our state and nation,” Bakori urged.

He also encouraged residents to report suspicious activities to the police via emergency contact numbers: 08032419754, 08123821575, and 09029292926 or through the NPF Rescue Me application.

The police command reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining law and order, calling on all stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring a peaceful Sallah celebration.

 [Vanguard]