THE VIRGIN TIMES AFRICA

  Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has assured Nigerians of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to making the country safe for all citizens, saying Nigeria will soon overcome its security challenges. Tinubu, who described the cases of kidnappings, banditry and killings in parts of the country as disheartening, said a lot of efforts were ongoing to further secure the country and stamp out criminality, but these efforts could not be divulged publicly. Mrs Tinubu spoke in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, during her engagement with Ekiti State traditional rulers, as part of her one-day working visit to the state. Her comment was in response to the call for a review of the kidnapping law and the fast-tracking of the process to create state police. The First Lady said President Tinubu was committed to the security of the lives and properties of citizens through a stronger internal security plan and building of security alliances with developed nations. She said, “President Tinubu has entered i...

  The Nigeria Union of Teachers has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to withdraw their services from Monday, June 1. The action is in protest against continued abduction of teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area of the state. Recall that on May 15, 2026, gunmen stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota), Community Grammar School, and L.A Primary School (Esiele), all in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting teachers, pupils and students. Those kidnapped include 39 students, seven teachers among which is Mrs. Rachael Alamu, the principal of Community High School, Esinele, while two teachers have been killed. The NUT directive is part of a nationwide action by the union, which also includes solidarity rallies scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026, across all state capitals to demand urgent government intervention and the safe release of abducted school personnel and learners. Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, ...

Suspected terrorists who abducted schoolchildren and teachers from three schools in Esinele, Yamota and Alawusa towns in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have opened communication channels with the state government, Saturday PUNCH can report. Two highly credible sources told our correspondents that the hoodlums refused to speak directly with the families of the victims. “They said they only want to talk to the governor and nobody else. That was the condition they gave for negotiation. So, nobody knows the details and what they are demanding,” a source said. It cannot, however, be confirmed if the negotiation is being done by the governor himself or a representative of the state. ut a top source said the communication channel was a relief. “It is not that security agencies don’t know what to do. But the risks are too high. The relief is that at least now, they are talking,” the source said. The report gathered that the demands of the terrorists were being kept discreet in...

 The decision by some former ministers of President Bola Tinubu to resign from the Federal Executive Council in pursuit of elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections appears to be yielding mixed fortunes, with only two securing party tickets so far. Five former cabinet members stepped down from their positions after the Presidency directed political appointees seeking elective offices to resign before participating in party primaries. Their resignation was in line with the Electoral Act 2026. Among those affected were former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who resigned to contest for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Bauchi State; and former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, who resigned to pursue Kebbi senatorial ticket. Others are former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, who resigned to contest Gombe governorship ticket; former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, pursuing House o...

  Fresh cracks have emerged within Nigeria’s opposition bloc ahead of the 2027 presidential election as major political parties and pressure groups faulted the position of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that no southern candidate can defeat President Bola Tinubu in the next general election. The parties, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Labour Party, Young Progressives Party, Social Democratic Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, as well as both the Kwankwasiyya and Obidient Movements, disagreed with the former vice president over his stand. In separate exclusive interviews, they insisted that the presidency should remain in the South in the interest of fairness, national cohesion and political stability. The disagreement followed a statement issued on Sunday by Atiku’s media aide, Olusola Sanni, warning opposition parties against zoning their presidential tickets to the South.

  Senate reverses principal offices rule as Oshiomhole slams Akpabio The Senate on Thursday rescinded controversial amendments to its Standing Orders 2026 following concerns by lawmakers that some of the provisions were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution. The reversal came barely days after the upper chamber amended portions of its rules, a move that had triggered controversy and sharp exchanges among senators. It, however, drew sharp rebuke from the senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, as he called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to resign from office. The amendments had come amid growing interest by outgoing governors and political heavyweights, many of whom are positioning to enter the Senate in 2027 to contest for top leadership roles such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President. No fewer than 10 governors and several former governors are already angling to secure senatorial tickets, leveraging their influence over party structures to emer...

 The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, recovering a stolen motorcycle from them. The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued Thursday. According to the statement, “On 4th May, 2026, operatives attached to Ningi Division arrested Moh’d Sani, aged 25 years, and Sani Lawan, aged 20 years, both males from Badungu Village, Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State. “At the time of arrest, a red Boxer motorcycle was recovered in their possession.” Habib explained that further investigation linked the suspects to an earlier robbery incident in Ningi Local Government Area.

  ABUJA  The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, escalated, yesterday as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the faction aligned with Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, traded fierce words over control of the party ahead of 2027. Wike threw an open challenge to the Kabiru Turaki-led camp, daring it to prove its claim to leadership by opening a party secretariat and bank account in Abuja, and vowing to shut any such move. Speaking during a media chat, the former Rivers governor accused the rival bloc of fraud, defiance of court rulings and deliberate deception. “When will people stop being fraudulent? You cannot disobey court judgments and then turn around to deceive Nigerians that you have a legitimate structure. That is not how democracy works,” he said. He insisted the group lacked legal standing to run PDP affairs and challenged it to demonstrate otherwise. “If they are sure they are the authentic leadership of the PDP, let them ope...