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President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday decorated Tunji Disu with his new rank as Acting Inspector-General of Police at the State House, Abuja, during a ceremony held at about 4pm in the President’s office.

The event was attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; and the immediate past IGP, Kayode Egbetokun.

Disu’s appointment came 48 days before his scheduled retirement on April 13, 2026, when he would attain the mandatory retirement age of 60.

However, under the amended Police Act, which provides a four-year tenure for Inspectors-General of Police irrespective of age, he may remain in office until 2030.

While pinning the new insignia on his uniform, the President commended Egbetokun for his service to the nation.

The ceremony followed Egbetokun’s resignation letter submitted to the President on Tuesday, citing family matters that require his full attention.

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An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded early Wednesday along the Gusau–Funtua highway in Zamfara State, triggering panic and disrupting traffic.

The blast occurred near Unguwar Mai Chida village and damaged a cement-laden trailer travelling from Sokoto to Kaduna. The impact created a crater on the road and severely damaged the front of the truck. Fortunately, the driver was rescued alive and no fatalities were recorded.

Local sources said the device was suspected to have been planted by terrorists and detonated as the vehicle passed through the area.

A resident, Samaila, explained that the explosion happened just hours after a joint team of police and military personnel cleared and reopened the Kucheri-Danjibga-Keta Road in Tsafe Local Government Area, which had been shut for over a month due to planted explosives. He noted that security operatives had earlier faced resistance during the clearance operation, leading to hours of gunfire exchange.

According to him, the device that struck the trailer may have been among those originally planned to target security forces.

Another eyewitness, Lawali, a commercial driver, said motorists helped rescue the injured driver, identified as Dauda Adamu, from the wreckage. He described the explosion as deafening, causing many road users to stop at a safe distance until security operatives arrived to cordon off and clear the highway.

Confirming the incident in a telephone interview, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said officers from the Explosive Ordnance Department had been deployed to the scene.

The incident comes days after a Nigerian Army Armoured Personnel Carrier reportedly struck a planted explosive along the Keta-Danjibga road in Tsafe Local Government Area.

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Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Matthew Ndagoso, has been elected President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.

The CBCN is the highest body of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, coordinating spiritual leadership and social engagement, serving as a moral voice while uniting bishops, clergy, the faithful, and the broader Nigerian society.

Ndagoso was elected alongside other executive members at the ongoing 2026 First Plenary Meeting of Catholic bishops in Abuja.

He succeeds Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri, whose four-year tenure expires this February.

A statement on Tuesday by Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Michael Banjo, said the newly elected officials would be formally presented at the closing ceremony of the plenary on Wednesday.

Other officials elected include Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos as Vice President; Bishop Peter Odetoyinbo of Abeokuta as Secretary; and Bishop Peter Chukwu of Abakaliki as Assistant Secretary.

The statement read, “We are pleased to announce the newly elected principal officials of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria: President: Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso (Archbishop of Kaduna); Vice President: Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins (Archbishop of Lagos).

“Others are Secretary: Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo (Bishop of Abeokuta); Assistant Secretary, Most Rev. Peter Chukwu (Bishop of Abakaliki).

The statement added, “There were other bishops elected to oversee the various directorates, departments and units of the Catholic Secretariat and CBCN agencies.

“Please keep them in your prayers as they take up the responsibility of leading the Conference over the next four years in faithful service to the Church and the common good.”


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“Law and order do not begin at the police station or the courthouse,” Tunji Disu wrote on X in 2025. “They begin at home, in the quiet corners where parents teach their children right from wrong. When this foundation cracks, society inherits the fallout.” The maxim almost sums up the policing approach of the man who, on Tuesday, was named the acting inspector-general of police (IGP).

Police is a mostly thankless career, especially in a country like Nigeria, where there is deep-seated mistrust for the men in black. But after 30 years on the job, after leading squads from Lagos to Rivers to Abuja, Disu’s record in the force attracts mostly praise and commendations from residents, stakeholders, and community leaders.

The affable 59-year-old brought a genial face to policing at every posting without losing discipline and order. As the commander of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Disu nicknamed his team “The Good Guys” to counter public misgivings against police. The friendliness extended only to upright citizens; criminals felt the opposite, as RRS was named “Best Anti-Crime Police Squad in West Africa” by Security Watch Africa (SWA).

He used a carrot-and-stick approach as the commissioner of police in Rivers — community engagements with traditional rulers and indigenes in the daylight and vicious attacks on cultists in the night. Under his command, Gift Okpara, a serial kidnapper, notorious cultist, and cop-killer, otherwise known as 2Baba, was terminated. He was awarded the “Best Commissioner of Police of the Year” at the 2024 Inspector General of Police (IGP) Recognition Awards.

Disu mastered how to handle the tightrope of love and discipline from his childhood as a son of two disciplinarians but doting parents.

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President Bola Tinubu has urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume and Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue to mend their differences for peace and development of the state.

Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, made the appeal at the Progressive Governors Forum Renewed Hope Ambassadors Summit 2026, held at the State House Conference Hall, on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the summit was, ‘Taking Renewed Hope to the Grassroots: One party, One message, One Mobilization Framework’.

The Nigerian leader emphasised the need for the SGF to reach out to Governor Alia to build Benue together,  saying,” Benue deserves peace,  Benue deserves development.

“I want to use this special forum to make appeal to the SGF and Governor Alia to mend fences and move the state forward.

” What binds us together as I always said superceeds whatever divides us. The trajectory of global growth is facing Africa, and Nigeria will make or mar that transition.

” Nigeria is greater than all of us. As Martin Luther King Jr. rightly said, we either learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

” And we are not a nation of fools. We are a nation of very intelligent, very smart people that knows their onions, ” Tinubu said.

The president said his administration had shifted focus from stabilisation in 2025 to acceleration in 2026, with the N58.18 trillion 2026  budget anchoring the new phase.

He said that the summit calls for reflection on the administration’s reforms, the sacrifices made, and the responsibilities to translate vision into measurable impact for Nigerians.

“As we advance into 2026, our focus shifts from stabilisation to acceleration. The N58.18 trn budget shall anchor this new phase.

”  A record capital expenditure, the largest allocation to national security in the history of our country and prudent revenue projections, we are scaling growth while strengthening resilience,” he said.

Tinubu said that the administration’s landmark tax reforms were “introduced to protect the vulnerable, encourage enterprise and entrench transparency in public finance.”

He cited the recent executive order affecting remittances to the federation account designed to safeguard federation revenues, eliminate duplicative structures, curb waste and ensure better management of natioal resources.

“Today, we are seeing clear signs that our reforms have began to yield results. Inflationary pressures are moderating, fuel prices are easing, our currency is strong and stable,” he stated.

He, however, observed that no reform can succeed without public understanding and participation, just as he identified the communication gap as “the strategic importance of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors.

” This platform shall serve as the avenue for civic engagement. Ambassadors must explain why tough decisions had to be made and how they lead to jobs, security, enterprise, opportunities and a more stable future.

“They must counter misinformation with facts, replace rumour with evidence and ensure that Nigerians from across the country have access to the truth.

” They must also serve as the channel for feedback, bringing community concerns and lived experiences back to government.”

Tinubu tasked the Renewed Hope Ambassadors on wider outreach, saying they must “move beyond conference centres to the wards, markets, and campuses, across the country.

“This mission is about presence, truth and trust. Elections are not conducted on social media platforms, they conducted by Nigerians who will vote.

” This summit affirms our commitment to a shared future of promise and peace for all Nigerians. Together we will continue translating reforms into opportunities, policy into impact and sacrifice into renewed hope,” he added

Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Chairman, Progressive Governors’ Forum, reaffirmed the forum’s unwavering support of for the reform direction of President Tinubu’s administration.

” We understand that transformation requires patience. We understand that restructuring requires courage. We understand that stability requires discipline.

” Your administration has chosen long-term national interest over short-term applause. History will record that.

” We, at the subnational level, stand as partners, not spectators. We stand ready to align policy, mobilisation, and communication with your national direction,”he added

Uzodimma, who is the Director-General of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, said the summit was all about ambitions and institutional continuity, adding that the Nigerian people deserve stability and reform that works.

He added, ” They deserve a party that speaks with clarity. They deserve leadership that thinks beyond the next election cycle.

” As Progressive Governors, we recommit ourselves to strengthening national cohesion, supporting federal reforms, ably led by President Bola Tinubu, deepening subnational productivity, and institutionalising message discipline. “

The National Chairman of APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party believed in the reform and mission of President Tinubu, insisting that good governance without communication was invisible.

He said, “Communication without structure is noise. And politics without grassroots mobilisation is an organised defeat.

” We are here to ensure that governance translates into gratitude and gratitude translates into loyalty and that loyalty translates into victory in 2027. “

The national chairman added that the APC is not a coalition of convenience, but  a movement of progress that survive on discipline.

He says, ” Let this summit mark the beginning of a disciplined, data-driven, grassroots-powered movement that secures not just governance, but generational dominance.”  (NAN)


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Ebonyi State has recorded the lowest number of applications 1,667 in the ongoing recruitment of 50,000 police constables, according to the Police Service Commission (PSC).

Other states with low application figures include Anambra State with 1,739, Bayelsa State with 2,430, and Lagos State with 2,448.

At the top of the list, Adamawa State recorded the highest number of applications at 38,989. It was followed by Benue State with 34,511, Kaduna State with 30,397, and Borno State with 24,009.

Speaking at the PSC headquarters in Abuja, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Taiwo Lakanu, who chairs the PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters, disclosed that a total of 616,873 applications were received before the recruitment portal closed on February 8, 2026. The eight-week exercise began on December 15, 2025.

Lakanu expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 50,000 additional personnel into the Nigeria Police Force, describing it as a bold step toward strengthening internal security.

He also commended the collaboration between the PSC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry of Police Affairs, and the Federal Character Commission, noting that inter-agency cooperation was vital to the success of the exercise.

A breakdown of the applications shows that 348,974 candidates applied for General Duty positions, while 85,630 applied as specialists. Of the total applications, 434,604 candidates qualified for further screening, 121,596 were disqualified, and 60,673 submissions were invalid.

In terms of gender distribution, 442,592 applicants were male, while 114,640 were female.

Lakanu acknowledged the disparity in participation across states, explaining that the commission extended the application deadline by two weeks to allow states with low turnout to improve sensitisation and mobilisation efforts. He said the intervention yielded positive results and maintained that the overall distribution aligns with the Federal Character principle.

With the application phase concluded, physical screening and verification of credentials will commence on March 9, 2026, across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Successful candidates will proceed to computer-based examinations, medical checks, and comprehensive drug integrity tests in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Lakanu stressed that individuals with drug-related issues or questionable character would not be admitted into the force. Successful applicants will undergo training at designated police colleges before deployment for active service.

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A Police Corporal, Mbazigwe Chinedu Friday, and a bus conductor, Isaac Eddy Ndeesor, have been sentenced to death by hanging for the kidnapping of Elder Akara Johnson Mendie, Vice Principal of Community Secondary School, Nkek, in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo convicted the duo on charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The court heard that on July 5, 2015, at about 3:30 p.m., four armed men in a Toyota Camry blocked Mendie’s vehicle along Urua Akpan Udosen/Ikot Unah Road in Ukanafun as he was returning from church with his wife and family. The gunmen abducted him and fled with his wife’s handbag, which contained important documents and personal items.

Mendie told the court he was blindfolded and taken to an unknown location, where his captors demanded a ransom of N50 million and threatened to kill him. His family eventually paid N200,000 through his younger sister on July 10, 2015, after which he was released in Bori, Rivers State. He later reported the incident at the Bori Police Station and was assisted back to his community.

In his confessional statement, Friday, 41, attached to Mopol 57 in Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, admitted his involvement. He said he was contacted by a man identified as Felix, who introduced another accomplice known as “Different Man.” According to him, they claimed an unnamed “honourable” wanted the victim abducted over allegations that he had killed a friend.

Friday admitted using his Toyota Camry to block the victim’s vehicle, enabling his accomplices to force the victim into the car. When the vehicle developed a fault, he switched to another car and continued the operation, transporting the victim to a bush in Ogoni, Rivers State. He stated that the firearm used was not an official police weapon.

A search of his residence led to the recovery of a locally made revolver pistol, live ammunition, an empty AK-47 magazine, Indian hemp, CCTV equipment, multiple phones, ATM cards, SIM packs, and car accessories.

Ndeesor also confessed, admitting they trailed the victim from his residence and that he stole and used the victim’s phone, which ultimately led to his arrest after it was tracked.

Delivering judgment, Justice Nsemeke Daniel criticised the prolonged trial, noting that a case filed in 2016 was only concluded in 2026. He dismissed claims by the first defendant that he was framed, describing them as inconsistent.

The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced both men to five years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, seven years for unlawful possession of firearms, and death by hanging for kidnapping, stating, “You shall be hanged by the neck until you be dead. May God have mercy on you.”

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President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, told opposition elements and party faithful that “elections are not conducted on social media platforms. Nigerians conduct elections.”

The President also urged Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, to reconcile with Governor Hyacinth Alia for the unity of Benue State.

This is as Tinubu has rallied governors, federal lawmakers and party leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to consolidate economic reforms and intensify grassroots engagement, declaring that the administration is moving from economic stabilisation to full-scale growth acceleration in 2026.

Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Renewed Hope Ambassadors Strategic Summit at the Presidential Villa’s Old Banquet Hall, Tinubu stressed APC unity as the party shifts from economic stabilisation to growth.

He hailed Akume’s long service—from Benue’s director of protocol and permanent secretary, to two-term governor (1999-2007), senator, minister, and now SGF—before issuing a direct plea: “Let’s build the area together.”

The call drew applause amid tensions over Benue’s APC control.

The rift pits Akume’s established machinery against Alia’s reformist base, which propelled his 2023 win amid insecurity and hardship.

Flashpoints include ward-level executives, nominations, parallel meetings, suspensions, appointments, and House of Assembly loyalties—threatening federal-state ties on security and development in the agrarian North-Central state.

Framing the administration’s first phase as one of “difficult but necessary corrections,” the President said structural reforms introduced since 2023 had begun to restore fiscal credibility and stabilise key macroeconomic indicators.

According to him, inflationary pressures are easing, fuel supply disruptions have been addressed and the naira is showing stronger fundamentals, aided by interventions of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He said: “Our economy is picking up. Major investment decisions across Africa increasingly favour Nigeria. That reflects renewed confidence in our direction.”

Tinubu disclosed that the proposed N58.18 trillion 2026 budget would mark a pivot “from stabilisation to acceleration,” with record capital expenditure, the largest security allocation in the country’s history and tax reforms aimed at protecting vulnerable citizens while broadening the revenue base.

He stressed that policy success would ultimately depend on public understanding, charging members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors platform to take reform messages beyond conference halls into wards, markets and campuses.

“This mission is about presence, truth and trust. Elections are conducted by Nigerians, not on social media platforms,” he said, urging party faithful to counter misinformation with verifiable facts.

In his remarks, the SGF urged governors to institutionalise Central Results Delivery and Coordination Units at the state level.

“Governance must move from policy pronouncements to measurable outcomes,” Akume said, emphasising stronger federal-state alignment as critical to sustaining reform momentum.”

On the legislative front, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, represented by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s backing for the administration’s reform architecture.

He described the fiscal consolidation measures, subsidy restructuring and tax reforms as foundational steps toward long-term prosperity, warning that policy gaps between government intent and public perception must be managed through transparency and sustained engagement.

Abbas proposed a quarterly reform interface between federal and APC-controlled state legislatures to harmonise laws and oversight priorities, alongside a “Renewed Hope Public Dashboard” to publish simplified data on revenues, capital projects and social interventions.

He also advocated structured youth and women participation in monitoring reform implementation, arguing that political ownership deepens when participation is genuine.


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President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday appointed AIG Tunji Disu as the acting Inspector-General of Police.

His appointment followed the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun from the apex office of the nation’s police force.

The immediate past IG tendered his resignation, citing pressing family considerations.

Appointed in June 2023, Egbetokun was serving a four-year term scheduled to conclude in June 2027, in line with the amended provisions of the Police Act.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President received the letter earlier on Tuesday and expressed appreciation for his service to the nation.

Until his appointment, Disu was the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.

In Nigeria, it is an established practice for senior police officers to retire when a junior colleague is appointed Inspector General of Police, and although this is not legally mandatory, it reflects the force’s strong respect for hierarchy, seniority, and organisational stability.

In this report, PUNCH Online identifies the affected DIGs who would need to leave for Disu to be a substantial IG of the country’s police force.

Frank Mba

Frank Mba began his policing career as an Inspector and steadily rose through the ranks. In 1999, he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police, followed by Deputy Superintendent of Police in 2003. He was promoted to Superintendent of Police (SP) in 2008, Chief Superintendent of Police in 2012, Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2014, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in 2018, and Commissioner of Police in December 2020. In March 2023, he was decorated as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

He is a three-time National Spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force and has received the UN Medal for his service as a member of the Nigeria Police Contingent to the United Nations Mission in Liberia from 2006 to 2007.

Mohammed Gumel

Mohammed Gumel assumed duty as the 4th Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Department at the Force Headquarters in Abuja in late December 2025/early January 2026. He is a seasoned officer, known for community policing.

The Force Intelligence Department is the apex intelligence-gathering arm of the Nigeria Police Force. He formerly served as a Commissioner of Police and was notably recognized as the best Community Policing Advocate of the Year (2024). He holds the FIPMA (Fellow, Institute of Professional Managers and Administrators) and psc (Police Staff College) designations.

Adebola Hamzat

Adebola Hamzat currently serves as the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Department of Logistics and Supply of the Nigeria Police Force. He was appointed and decorated as a Deputy Inspector-General of Police in March 2025.

As the head of the Department of Logistics and Supply, he oversees the technical, administrative, and logistical needs of the entire Nigeria Police Force, including procurement, works, housing, and the Force Quarter-Master.

Previous Roles: Before his elevation to DIG, he served as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 16, Yenagoa (covering Bayelsa and Rivers States). He was also the Commissioner of Police for Oyo State and the former AIG in charge of the Counter Terrorism Unit. He is an indigene of Ifelodun L.G.A of Kwara State.

Yahaya Abubakar

Yahaya Abubakar is a senior Deputy Inspector-General of Police in the Nigeria Police Force who most recently served as the Head of the Department of Finance and Administration at Police Force Headquarters, Abuja. He was appointed to lead the Department of Finance and Administration, which oversees the financial management, budgeting, human resources, and administrative processes of the Force.

DIG Abubakar was appointed to the position following his promotion by the Police Service Commission in 2024, having previously served in senior roles such as Assistant Inspector-General and Zone Commander.

Basil Idegwu

Basil Idegwu was  appointed to lead the Department of Research and Planning at the Force Headquarters in Abuja as of March 2025. He is responsible for strategic planning, policy formulation, and enhancing the Force’s operational efficiency.

He holds a Ph.D. in Peace and Security Studies. Idegwu heads a key department focused on ensuring standards, uniformity, and modernisation in policing services.

Bzigu Kwazhi

Bzigu Kwazhi is a senior officer in the Nigeria Police Force, currently serving as the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Department of Operations.

He is responsible for leading, coordinating, and implementing operational activities, crime prevention strategies, and maintaining law and order across Nigeria. As the head of the Department of Operations, he manages tactical operations, joint security operations (with the military), and policies for controlling incidents like riots, disasters, and elections.

In 2025, he has been actively involved in high-level security assessments, including leading operations to restore peace in Plateau State and Adamawa State. He is a seasoned officer with extensive field experience, having previously served as the Commissioner of Police in both Osun and Akwa Ibom states.

Idris Abubakar

Idris Abubakar was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force as a cadet ASP on 18/5/1992. He hails from Garko LGA of Kano State. He holds a B.Sc. in Education from Utman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and an M.Sc. in Education, in Psychology and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Abuja.

Adebowale William

Adebowale Williams is a senior Nigerian police officer serving at the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police in the Nigeria Police Force. He held/has held a key leadership role as the Head of the Department of Information and Communication Technology at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

He was appointed to lead the Department of Information and Communication Technology within the NPF. This department is responsible for managing and advancing the Force’s technological infrastructure, systems, and digital tools to support modern policing.

(Punch)


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Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said that experiences of lawlessness are “not new” to him following the attack on him, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and some chieftains of the African Democratic Congress in Edo State.

In a statement on Tuesday, Obi thanked Nigerians who reached out in solidarity after the incident at the ADC office in Benin.

He said, “I am profoundly grateful to Nigerians from around the world for your prayers, calls, and solidarity following the incident at the ADC office in Benin yesterday.

“I especially appreciate your support during this difficult time for the family of the distinguished elder and former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Oyegun, who has served Nigeria honourably in various capacities, as well as for another former Governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor. Your support has strengthened my faith in our shared humanity and our collective hope for a better Nigeria.”

The attack occurred on Tuesday during the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata into the ADC.

According to Obi’s former campaign spokesman and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, “Peter Obi and the leadership of the ADC are under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State. At the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata into the African Democratic Congress, armed individuals followed us from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

“They shot at the gate and destroyed several vehicles in what appears to be a survived assassination attempt on our lives. Democracy is in danger.”

Photos and videos circulated by Tanko reportedly showed bullet-riddled gates and several SUV windscreens smashed during the incident, heightening concerns about political tensions in the state.

The attack followed prior warnings from Governor Okpebholo, who in July 2025 stated that Obi must notify him before visiting Edo State, or his security would not be guaranteed.

The governor had said a previous visit by Obi that month resulted in a “resurgence of violence” and three deaths, stressing that the directive was purely for security purposes and not personal.

The Edo State Government dismissed claims of targeted attacks by officials as “false and malicious.”

In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, the government said, “The Okpebholo administration is not, and will never be, in the business of attacking innocent Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliation.

“No directive was at any time issued by the governor or any organ of the Edo State Government to target members of any political party. These allegations lack credible evidence and appear calculated to mislead the public and create unnecessary political tension.”

The statement also noted that the incident coincided with internal ADC disputes, explaining that a faction led by former Senate Chief Whip Roland Owie was shut out of a meeting at Odigie-Oyegun’s residence.

Reflecting on the incident, Obi said, “Experiences of lawlessness are not new to me. Years ago, the violence and insecurity in Anambra shaped my determination to seek the governorship of the state, convinced that leadership must restore order, security, and public trust.

“Today, the growing lawlessness across our country calls upon all men and women of goodwill to step forward—not in fear but with a sense of responsibility.”

Highlighting the stakes of civic inaction, Obi cited Plato: “As Plato reminded us, the price good people pay for refusing to participate in government is to live under the rule of bad people.”

He urged Nigerians to make informed choices at the ballot box, stating, “This moment urges Nigerians to be even more resolute in electing leaders defined by competence, commitment, character, and compassion—leaders who prioritise the nation above self and service above power.”

Concluding his reflection, Obi emphasised the power of collective action, saying, “Together, with courage and unity, we can build the peaceful, secure, and prosperous Nigeria our people deserve.”


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The Police Service Commission (PSC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, has announced that physical and credential screening for 50,000 police constable applicants will commence nationwide on March 9, 2026.

In a statement issued Tuesday by PSC spokesperson Torty Njoku, the Commission said the screening exercise will run until April 18, 2026, across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the statement, applicants who successfully completed the online recruitment registration are required to log in to the official portal to confirm their status and print essential documents for presentation at their designated screening venues.

Required Documents

Candidates must present the following:

Guarantors form

Application submission slip

Invitation slip

Credentials screening form

Physical screening form

Items to Present at Screening Venues

Applicants are expected to appear with:

Invitation slip (with assigned table)

Credential screening form

Original National Identity Number (NIN) printout or NIMC card

O’ Level (GCE/SSCE) certificate

Birth certificate or declaration of age

Local Government/State of origin certificate

Trade test certificate (for specialists only)

Completed guarantors form with referees’ passports attached

Original and duplicate copies of credentials in two white flat files with recent passport photographs

The PSC also directed candidates to wear white canvas shoes, white T-shirts, white shorts, and white stockings to the screening centres, which will be located in each state and the FCT as indicated on their invitation slips.

The Chairman of the PSC, Hashimu Salihu Argungu, reiterated that the recruitment exercise is free and does not require any form of payment.

He assured applicants that the process would be conducted with transparency and accountability, warning candidates to beware of fraudsters and online impostors seeking to exploit the recruitment process. He added that anyone caught engaging in fraudulent activities would be arrested and prosecuted.

The screening marks a major step in the ongoing recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force, aimed at strengthening manpower and improving security across the country.


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The Lagos State Government has expressed grief over the death of a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer and two other  in a fatal road accident at the Badagry Roundabout, inward Seme, on Monday, February 23, 2026.

In a statement, the LASTMA confirmed that the crash involved a fully loaded SHACMAN truck belonging to the Dangote Group. Preliminary findings indicate that the truck suffered brake failure while speeding, causing the driver to lose control.

The vehicle reportedly struck a LASTMA officer who was on duty regulating traffic, as well as a pedestrian at the roundabout, before continuing its movement and hitting another individual about 200 metres away. All three victims sustained fatal injuries. The driver fled the scene but was later arrested by LASTMA officials and handed over to the police.

Emergency responders, including LASTMA operatives, the police, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, were deployed to the scene. The victims were taken to the hospital, where they were confirmed dead.

Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki described the loss as devastating, noting that the fallen officer died in the line of duty.

He said the incident underscored the dangers faced daily by traffic personnel and renewed calls for stricter safety standards among haulage and logistics operators.

According to him, mechanical failures, particularly faulty braking systems, remain a major cause of fatal crashes on Lagos roads.

The accident vehicle has been impounded and transferred to the Badagry Police Division for forensic investigation.

LASTMA said it would collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure accountability and prevent a recurrence, while the Lagos State Government reiterated its commitment to improving vehicle monitoring, emergency response and public road safety awareness across the state.


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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Fidet Okhiria, a former managing director (MD) of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), over alleged fraud to the tune of $385,000 and N165,438,000.

Okhiria was arraigned  on a seven-count charge before the special offences court in Ikeja, Lagos state, on Tuesday.

“That you, Fidet Okhiria Edetanle, while serving as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, between May 29, 2024, and September 11, 2024, in Lagos, transferred a cumulative sum of Two Hundred and Five Thousand United States Dollars ($205,000.00) from your domiciliary account in Access Bank Plc (account number 0010069159) to the account of Ehimen Richard Okhiria at ABN AMRO Bank, Netherlands (account number NL38ABNA011257662), being proceeds of unlawful activities, thereby committing money laundering,” part of the charge sheet reads.

“You, Fidet Okhiria Edetanle, after leaving office, between October 21, 2024, and November 21, 2024, in Lagos, transferred Forty Thousand United States Dollars ($40,000.00) from your Access Bank domiciliary account to the account of Ehimen Richard Okhiria at ABN AMRO Bank, Netherlands, being proceeds of unlawful activities, committing money laundering.”

The former NRC boss pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

After the plea, Abba Muhammad, EFCC counsel, asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.

Meanwhile, Adebowale Kamoru, counsel for the defendant, informed the court that he had just received the charge and requested a short adjournment to file a bail application.

Rahman Oshodi, the trial judge, ordered Okhiria to be remanded at the correctional facility.

The case was adjourned to May 13, 14, and 15, 2026 for trial.

Okhiria was appointed NRC MD in 2016 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. He left office in 2024 after the expiration of his eight-year tenure.

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