President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a nationwide state of emergency on national security, directing the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to immediately increase personnel and strengthen operations across the country. In a statement released via his official media centre, Tinubu said, “Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces. By this declaration, the police and the army are authorised to recruit more personnel.” The President specified that the police would recruit an additional 20,000 officers,…
Author: Podium Reporters
Shehu Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to halt the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, urging that the funds be redirected to address rising insecurity in northern Nigeria. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Abubakar questioned the rationale behind investing in infrastructure while safety concerns remain unaddressed. He wrote, “If the President is serious, he should suspend the work on Coastal road, and rechannel those funds to solving insecurity in the country. What’s the point of the roads if people aren’t safe driving on them?” The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, a major…
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe has turned down the membership claim of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The party said the registration carried out for him at Jada 1 Ward in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State did not follow its rules. Dr. Christopher Okechukwu, who serves as the Director of Media and Public Affairs for the faction, said in a statement that the officials who handled Atiku’s registration were not recognised by the party’s national leadership. According to him, the party had told Atiku several times to register with the proper ward…
Former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose has said that he became very upset during his 65th birthday celebration after comments made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Fayose explained in a new interview that he had tried to make peace with several political figures before the event. He said he reached out to Obasanjo through a mutual friend who gave him the former president’s phone number. According to him, the call was not meant to be an apology. He said Obasanjo later invited him to his home and promised to attend the celebration even though he had another engagement abroad. Fayose…
A social media investigation has revealed that several X (formerly Twitter) accounts claiming to be based in the United States while pushing a narrative of an alleged “Christian genocide” in Nigeria were, in fact, operated from within Nigeria. The discovery was first highlighted by the user @secmxx, who shared screenshots of the accounts’ “About this account” details. According to him, “‘US based’ accounts pushing the Christian genocide in Nigeria are actually from Nigeria…”—a revelation that has sparked fresh conversations about coordinated online influence operations. Screenshots attached to the post show multiple accounts branded with American symbols, pro-Trump imagery, and U.S.…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that police officers currently assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) be withdrawn and redeployed to focus on their core policing duties. The presidential instruction came during a security meeting held on Sunday in Abuja with top military and security officials, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Adeola Ajayi. Speaking on the decision, the presidency noted that “VIPs who want police protection…
The Kaduna State Government has rejected the claim by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai that the current administration paid ₦1bn to bandits. The government said the allegation is false and driven by politics. In a statement released on Sunday, the government gave El-Rufai one week to present proof or withdraw the claim. It warned that failure to do so will lead to legal action. El-Rufai had recently said during a television interview that the state government made payments to criminal groups as part of security efforts. Responding to this, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shu’aibu, called the…
Peter Obi has sparked widespread discussion after calling for dialogue with violent groups, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), instead of relying solely on long prison sentences. He argued that negotiation could be a more effective way to address Nigeria’s long-standing security challenges. Obi stated that engaging in talks has successfully resolved conflicts in other countries and that Nigeria should explore similar approaches. “Dialogue should not be ignored,” he said, highlighting the potential for negotiation to reduce violence while addressing the political and social issues that fuel extremism. His remarks have sharply divided opinions. Supporters describe Obi’s view as…
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has spoken publicly for the first time since the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment on November 20. In a statement released on Saturday, the governor said he already began a plan to help secure Kanu’s release and that the process started during the court case. According to him, “While Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is free to appeal his conviction, I’m happy to inform you that I have activated and will continue to work on the already agreed strategy until his freedom is…
Investigative journalist David Hundeyin has stirred strong reactions online after rejecting comparisons to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra who was sentenced to life in prison on November 20, 2025. In a post on X, Hundeyin said he should not be compared to Kanu. He described Kanu as “a separatist funded by a foreign government” and claimed that Kanu received support while living in Israel. He also mentioned the long history of interaction between some Biafran supporters and Israel. There is no confirmed public evidence of direct financial support, but his claim has created a new…