The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maraban Rido, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have cried out to Nigerians for help amid the country’s hardships.

The IDP Camp Commander, Maraban Rido, Comrade Sule Adams, who spoke to journalists on Wednesday on the challenges of the IDPs, said that life is becoming unbearable for them.

According to Adams, most displaced persons cannot afford the necessities of life like food and clothing.

He appealed to Nigerians to assist the IDPs with food and educational materials, which he said would greatly improve their lives.

He, however, explained that the IDPs are currently observing the Lenten fast, urging Nigerians to show them love despite their difficult conditions.

“Many of them were displaced from their homes in Chikun Local Government Area due to persistent attacks by bandits and kidnappers and are now struggling to survive in new communities”.

One of the displaced persons, who identified herself as Mrs Grace, called on the government to intensify efforts to tackle banditry so she and her children can return to their village and continue farming.

“Life in the city is too expensive. We want to return home”.

Also, the District Head of Maraban Rido, Mallam Auta Alkali, praised the efforts of corporate organisations and civil society groups to support banditry victims.

He also thanked the Kaduna State Government for its continued assistance to the IDPs and urged them to do more.

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight has invited Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the state’s sole administrator, to appear before it for a comprehensive interactive session on Thursday.

House leader and chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon Julius Ihonvbere, said the engagement is necessary to ascertain the true state of affairs in Rivers State and ensure that the House remains properly guided in discharging its oversight responsibilities in the public interest.

LEADERSHIP reports that Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on Tuesday inaugurated a 21-member Ad-hoc Committee to oversee the emergency rule in Rivers State that led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly and the appointment of Ibas as sole administrator.

According to the House spokesperson, Hon. Akin Rotimi, the panel held its inaugural meeting at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Wednesday when it resolved to invite the sole administrator.

“The Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight, constituted by the House of Representatives following the resolution of the National Assembly approving the presidential proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State, held its inaugural meeting today (Wednesday) at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

“The meeting, which followed the formal inauguration of the committee by the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, provided a platform for members to deliberate on preliminary reports and developments emerging from Rivers State since the sole administrator assumed office.

“Pursuant to its constitutional mandate to exercise full legislative oversight in accordance with Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the committee resolved, among other matters, to invite Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, to appear before it for a comprehensive interactive session.

Opposition leader and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday night, reacted to the semifinal victory of English club Arsenal over Spanish side Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), saying it symbolised the essence of unity for the Opposition in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Gunners were through to the semifinals of the UCL after beating trophy holders Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in their quarterfinal match to advance to the semifinals on Wednesday night.

Atiku, reacting to the outcome of the derby shortly after, took to his social media handles with a cryptic post emphasising the need for a coalition to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led by President Bola Tinubu.

The former Vice President wrote: “Arsenal just taught us a lesson in consolidating our strengths in a coalition vehicle. Victory is assured when we stand united ?.”

LEADERSHIP recalls that the governors elected on the platform of Atiku’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on Tuesday rejected any possible merger or coalition arrangement with any group or political parties for the purpose of contesting the presidency in 2027 general election

Arsenal are through to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League (UCL), beating holders Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in their quarterfinal match to advance on Wednesday night.

The Gunners were too much for Real Madrid, as they secured a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu in their second match on Wednesday to reach the semifinals with a 5-1 aggregate win.

Wednesday’s quarterfinal burst into action after a pair of first-half penalty decisions. Bukayo Saka’s penalty was easily saved by Thibaut Courtois, while Madrid’s renewed optimism was dented minutes later after a penalty call of their own was overturned by the referee after a long VAR review.

Arsenal stymied Madrid’s attack in the second half before Saka made amends for his penalty miss with the game’s first goal. But a mistake by William Saliba immediately after led to Vinicius Junior scoring for the reigning European champions.

Gabriel Martinelli scored in injury time to cap off a memorable night for Arsenal and set up a date with Paris Saint-Germain in the team’s first semifinal appearance s

ince 2009.

A one-time Senator representing Kaduna Central, Comrade Shehu Sani, has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the appointment of Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), dismissing claims that his selection was an ethnic favouritism towards the Yorubas by President Bola Tinubu.

LEADERSHIP reports that Ojulari hails from Kwara State in North-Central geo-political zone of Nigeria.

In a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday evening, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain described the criticism as “unfortunate” and called on Nigerians to focus on the potential of the appointment for Northern Nigeria rather than its ethnic implications.

“Those who think that the new CEO of NNPCL, Bayo, is another Yoruba appointment despite the fact that he is from Kwara State in the geographical north of the country is unfortunate,” the former federal lawmaker said.

He emphasised that ‘antagonising Ojulari makes no sense’, adding that his appointment should be seen as an opportunity to re-activate oil exploration in Northern Nigeria.

“This should rather be another opportunity to appreciate his appointment and demand that he reactivate the oil exploration activities in Northern Nigeria, particularly in Borno, Bauchi, Sokoto, Gombe, and Kebbi states,” he wrote.

Senator Shehu Sani also took a swipe at those stoking ethnic division, urging them to let go of narrow sentiments. “Ethnic jingoists should go and rest,” he stated bluntly.

LEADERSHIP recalls that on April 2, 2025, President Tinubu dissolved the board of NNPC Limited and appointed Bayo Ojulari as the new group chief executive officer of the oil company. Ahmadu Musa Kida was appointed the new non-executive chairman, replacing Chief Pius Akinyelure. This, however, sparked arguments in the country with some critics accusing the president of being bias in his appointment

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate return of President Bola Tinubu to Nigeria.

Atiku, in a statement on Wednesday, said Tinubu’s trip to France is grossly unjustified and an insult to Nigerians.

The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) added that President Tinubu has abandoned the country at a time when Nigerians are battling poverty, insecurity, and despair.

He described Tinubu’s absence in the country at a time attacks are being recorded in Plateau and Borno States as a dereliction of duty.

Naija News reports that Atiku submitted that there is nothing Tinubu is doing in France that can’t be done anywhere in Nigeria.

“On April 2, 2025, President Bola Tinubu flew out to France. Had this absurd announcement come just a day earlier, Nigerians would have dismissed it as an April Fool’s joke. But sadly, it’s no prank — just another insult to a nation pushed to the brink by a presidency that treats its citizens like fools.

“The official excuse? A so-called “working visit.” But Nigerians aren’t buying the spin. The presidency scrambled to clarify that it wasn’t a medical trip — how noble. But even if it’s not medical tourism, what justification is there for gallivanting across Europe while Nigeria bleeds? What kind of leader borrows billions only to blow scarce funds on vanity trips abroad? It’s not just irresponsible— it’s contemptuous.

“Let the facts speak for themselves. By the time Tinubu struts back from this latest escapade, he will have racked up a staggering 59 days in France since assuming office. “See Paris and die?” No — see Paris and abandon your country.

“While Tinubu dines under chandeliers in the land of good governance, the country he governs is spiraling into chaos. Plateau has turned into a killing field — over 100 lives lost in relentless attacks. Benue is bleeding. Boko Haram is seizing territory. And every single day, Nigerians sink deeper into poverty, insecurity, and despair.

“This isn’t just negligence. It’s dereliction of duty on a catastrophic scale.

“If Tinubu had even a shred of empathy, he would cut his trip short and return immediately. A leader with an ounce of patriotism wouldn’t need to be begged to show up in times of crisis. The constitution says the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government. But under Tinubu, that sacred duty has been trashed.

“Let’s be honest: there is absolutely nothing Tinubu is doing in France that he couldn’t do in Lagos, or even in Iragbiji. This so-called “working visit” is nothing more than a vacation cloaked in official jargon.

“Nigeria is in a full-blown state of emergency. Not a contrived political emergency like what Tinubu declared in Rivers for partisan gain — this is a national collapse. So when, exactly, will Tinubu declare a state of emergency on his own disastrous presidency? Atiku asked in the statement signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe

Love Oyedepo Ogah, the daughter of the General Overseer of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has revealed an account of a failed assassination attempt on her father by hired killers.

In a viral video shared by Love, she described how the assailants, who had entered their house with the intent to kill Bishop Oyedepo, could not find him despite searching the entire property.

Recalling the terrifying incident, Love narrated, “One particular night, we were visited in our house by hired killers, and they specifically stated right from when they entered the gate that they ‘are here to execute him’—by him, my father.”

She explained that the killers demanded to know where her father was, shouting, “Where’s he? Where’s he?” Despite the tense situation, Bishop Oyedepo was reportedly in the house, standing in front of the assailants, but they failed to see him.

Love continued, saying, “They were like, ‘Where’s he? Where’s he?’ But he was looking at them the entire time and they couldn’t see him.”

The assailants spent hours ransacking the house in search of the bishop but left the premises without finding him.

In the aftermath of the terrifying encounter, Love said her father calmly emerged from his room and addressed the family, saying, “I was staring at them the entire time.”

According to her, the killers searched every part of the house but mysteriously failed to locate the man they were sent to kill

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has opined that social media is a terrorist organisation.

Naija News reports that the monarch made this known while speaking during the 7th Executive Committee Meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The Sultan cited social media’s role in spreading false information and inciting unrest, adding that security agencies should treat social media platforms with the same seriousness as other threats to national security.

He said, “Social media is one terrorist organisation.

“Somebody can sit in the comfort of their home and formulate stories and you will consider that it is true.

“Social media is a terrorist organisation that we must deal with. Security agencies must deal with this terrorist organisation called social media.”

Meanwhile, the Sultan has stated that traditional leaders are more deeply troubled by the ongoing killings and insecurity in the Northern part of Nigeria than many politicians in the country.

The Sultan noted that these leaders have convened as dedicated servants of the nation to address pressing security concerns in a private session.

While expressing hope that the security challenges in the North can be addressed, the first class traditional ruler emphasised that this can only happen if political, traditional, and religious leaders, along with the general populace, demonstrate sincerity and a willingness to contribute to the solution.

Sultan of Sokoto clarified that traditional rulers are not in competition with state governors but are instead there to support them.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has assured investors in the ill-fated trading platform known as CBEX that they would get their money back.

The assurance was given on Wednesday by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, while speaking during an interview with Channels Television. 

He added that before the collapse of the digital trading platform, the EFCC had warned Nigerians to be wary of such ponzi platforms, but unfortunately, many Nigerians didn’t heed their warning.

Oyewale noted, however, that as a responsible agency, the EFCC had started profiling the platform before it collapsed and with the recent collapse, the anti-graft agency is partnering with other international security agencies to track those behind the scheme and ensure investors recover their funds.

Naija News reports that CBEX, which promised investors a 100 percent return on investment, began experiencing trouble last weekend as many could no longer withdraw their funds.

Speaking on the development, the EFCC spokesman said many Nigerians have been besieging them with calls and visits, and the agency is actively working on how the numerous ‘investors’ would get their money back.

Oyewale added that the recovery may take some time.

“We were not waiting for Nigerians to call us before we started our work, of course, we have been working.

“We were not beaten by what actually happened. Our dragnet is wide, our intelligence is very effective, and we were tracking that digital trading platform.

“We were tracking it, and we profiled several things concerning the platform. You will recall that March 11 this year, the executive chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, had called to instruct us to alert Nigerians,” Oyewale said.

Beware Of Ponzi Schemes

The spokesperson recalled how the EFCC warned Nigerians to be wary of about 58 Ponzi scheme companies.

He added that the EFCC would not just sit back but would do everything within its power to recover the funds lost by those who invested in the crashed CBEX platform.

“That shows that we are proactive and we have our hands on what is happening. So concerning this investigation, we were on it, it’s not that we didn’t know.

“We’ve been alerting Nigerians about ways and means of how to separate themselves from this kind of shenanigans.

“Before the calls came, we were working, while the calls are coming, we are working; And even after the calls, we are still working.

“The essential thing is that, of course, we are going to recall some of the things that Nigerians should be looking out for, you know, concerning this kind of investment schemes and all of that,” he said.

Oyewale said, despite the assurances, the recovery is not a short-term process and may take time.

“No, it will be very irresponsible and unprofessional if the EFCC says that you have lost your money; there is nothing the commission can do about it.

“We are already working with Interpol and our international development agencies to ensure that these people are brought to book.

“Investors are going to get their money back, and we are already working on that. Everything I’m saying is that this kind of thing could have been averted.

“Be it as it may, it was not averted, we are not going to throw our hands out helplessly and say that there’s nothing EFCC can do about it.

“We are more responsible and professional than that. We have spread out our wings by talking to Interpol and the necessary agencies across the world to be able to bring all the actors to book, and investors will have their money back,” the spokesperson added.

The Federal Government on Wednesday sympathised with victims of the digital investment platform CBEX, stressing that Nigerians must work together to put an end to the rise of Ponzi schemes in the country.

The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, made the appeal in his keynote address at the second edition of The Spokespersons Summit organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja.

According to Oyedele, ridding the country of such a menace is a collective task for all citizens.

He said, “To put your hard-earned money in an investment that collapses a few months later is very painful. It’s more painful than paying taxes because when you pay taxes, there’s actually the hope that they will fix your road, pay salaries of civil servants, and the government will provide security. But when it’s a Ponzi scheme, the benefit is zero.

“We also want to encourage Nigerians to take the opportunity to learn, including learning about the tax reform, because you may find that one knowledge in one area helps you in another area. I also believe that our regulators, professional bodies, including NIPR and you guys in the media need to educate our people more so they don’t lose their hard-earned money to Ponzi schemes.

“So people shouldn’t fall for all these ‘you get 100 cents in one month.’ If anybody can make 100 per cent returns in one month, they won’t come to you. They’ll go to the bank and take a loan of 30 per cent, make the money and keep it for themselves. If you’re not too sure and you don’t understand it, ask people around before you stake your money into it.”

Continuing, the Presidential Fiscal Policy chair assured that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission are rolling out the development.

When asked if he had fallen victim to such a scheme even as a teenager, Oyedele kicked.

“I’ve never fallen victim. I just feel like you can’t come to me with an investment proposition that does not make sense and leave convincing me it’s almost totally impossible. Even for credible platforms like banks and investment institutions, I challenge them every time before I invest.

“They have to tell me the activity behind the money, the risk I’m taking, and what guarantees you have. The EFCC are also playing their part. So I think it’s a collective assignment for all of us. If it looks too good to be true, it is most likely not true,” he stated.

On Tuesday, the digital investment platform CBEX suddenly collapsed, with reports indicating that investors incurred losses amounting to over N1.3 trillion.

The incident has sparked widespread reactions, with users expressing frustration, criticism, and concern.

In a related development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, however, assured individuals who invested in the crashed investment platform that they would get their money back.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Morning Brief on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said the anti-graft agency has been receiving numerous calls from Nigerians seeking information and remedies regarding CBEX.