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2023: Ohanaeze, Igbo leaders, CSOs decry destruction of INEC facilities in Southeast
• Say over 50 INEC offices have been torched, destroyed in 3 years
Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has raised the alarm over the safety and security of its personnel and facilities in the Southeast.
This followed frequent attacks on its offices and facilities, resulting to their destruction and in some cases, death of its staffers.
The electoral commission recently indicated that it may be forced to suspend the ongoing Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) in the region.
INEC said that at least 41 of its offices were attacked by armed non-state actors between February 2019 and May 2021.
According to the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, Imo State had topped the list with the highest cases of attacks.
However, there have been renewed attacks in the region with Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State recording two incidents in this month alone. The first occurred on July 3, when the hoodlums destroyed 748 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles, office furniture and equipment.
The attack led to the suspension of the CVR exercise in the local government area.
In the latest incident, Sunday Sun learnt that INEC also lost two registration machines, while the staff involved in the attack lost personal property.
INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, said in a statement on July 14, that officials of the commission were attacked by an armed gang on Wednesday, July 13, at a community primary school in Umuozzi Ward 19 of Igboeze North Local Government Area of the Enugu State.
Okoye said that no casualties were recorded during the attack, but added that a member of staff of the commission sustained different degrees of injuries due to the attack.
It was not possible to ascertain those who carried out the attack.
“The gunmen fired sporadically into the air to disperse registrants and registration officials. In the ensuing stampede, one of our staff sustained injuries and is receiving treatment in a hospital.
“However, two voter registration machines and personal items of the staff such as mobile phones were lost. Consequently, Ward level registration of voters in Igboeze North is now suspended,” Okoye announced.
Attacks on INEC facilities deprive residents of voter registration opportunities. Like Enugu, other states in the Southeast and South-south have recorded several attacks.
Clearly, INEC chairman, Yakubu had said that “these acts of unjustifiable aggression may undermine the commission’s capacity to organise elections and dent the nation’s electoral process. The commission facilities are there to serve the local communities for the most fundamental aspect of democratic governance, which is elections.”
The trend, however, did not stop after the INEC boss’ outcry as the current attacks implied that many affected residents were denied access to CVR ahead of next year’s general elections.
INEC itself confirmed this in its Election Project Plan (EPP) released in May, where it stressed that physical attacks, kidnapping of its personnel for ransom, and arson on its offices and facilities would affect the registration of voters.
In Imo State, INEC had in April suspended the CVR in all the 54 additional centres created to facilitate the registration of voters across the state due to further threats to staff.
The staffer, Nwokorie Anthony, was shot dead at Nkwo Ihitte (PU 004) in Amakohia Ward (RA 02) of Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area, while registering members of the community.
Residents of the zone expressed worry that the development if not checked would affect people’s participation in the 2023 general elections in the area.
They also said that this might affect the performance of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi in his catchment zone and invariably ruin the bright chances of the region to clinch the presidency next year.
An Enugu-based lawyer and rights activist, Olu Omotayo said it was high time elders of the region and pressure groups woke up from the slumber to stop the menace.
He said: “What I think is that the elders and the pressure groups here have a lot of work to do. They should be able to convince and educate the people, so that people who are doing this thing should stop it because it is not just a recent something. It is something that has been ongoing.
“The elders need to stand up and talk to the people and make sure the people who are doing this thing stop it, if not the implication is that a large number of people from this part of the country will be shut out with all these things that is happening.
“The way forward is for Ohanaeze and all the respected people from this place to tell them that please let this thing stop so that the votes from the people of this part will be counted.”
For the Coordinator, the Professional Christian Youth Leaders Forum Nigeria, Dr Ejim Emeka, the subject matter was not accidental again because of the selected target areas, adding that “any doubting Thomas is actually believing now.”
He explored likely motives behind the attacks, including whether fifth columnists were scared of what he called the coming Tsunami in 2023.
“The implications are enormous, the laughable figure that are usually given to the whole five South eastern states will deplete further. Many will be disenchanted to the whole electoral process. Many will likely succumb to the old axiom, ‘our votes will not count.’ Above all, we will willingly enthrone evil for the years ahead. God forbid!
“Enough of being used and dumped. Enough of enthronement of evil. That Mr Peter Obi and Senator Datti-Ahmed came together to salvage our ailing economy should be supported by all men of goodwill. The youths should note that they are the benefactors of today’s good or bad events. Let’s learn to say no. Let’s expose the evil sponsors of these dastardly acts. Enough of burning INEC offices in all the local governments and states of the federation. If the results can change in Osun State, we should trust INEC to effectively deliver come 2023. We have gotten the assurance from the INEC boss and we believe,” the youth leader stated.
One of the respondents, Mrs Eunice Okwu, said that those behind the attacks on INEC facilities in the Southeast, including their sponsors should know that they are enemy of Ndigbo.
Okwu said: “In the 2023 general elections, we need all the votes that can come from the zone and burning INEC facilities in our zone is depriving us of those needed votes.
“You know INEC like any other body in Nigeria comes with excuses for their shortcomings talk more when you avail them the opportunity of having what to hang on to give excuses. So, the implication of burning INEC facilities in the zone is heavy and detrimental to us.
“I plead with our leaders and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to take urgent steps to unravel the cause of this and put an immediate stop to it. We must like the Bible says, be wise as the serpent.”
Enugu State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ndubuisi Elechi-Onyia regretted the level Nigeria had deteriorated in terms of statehood, noting that rebuilding any destroyed public property would be at great cost to the community.
“There is a clear disconnect between our governments and the citizen. People now see destruction of government property as a form of protest. Again, the absence of people-oriented governance and the failure of our security infrastructure have increased insecurity and criminality in the land.
“What has happened to intelligence? Our security infrastructure is in need of repairs, but more importantly, government needs to meet the needs and expectations of the governed,” he said.
Our investigation in Abia State showed that the last time the INEC facilities were attacked in the state was on May 10, 2021, at Amaekpu Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area, where gunmen burnt the place.
And the respondents there condemned the development, noting that it was reprehensible and despicable.
Chairman of Abia chapter of Civil Liberties Organision (CLO), Dr Charles Chinekezi who did not rule out the possibility of involvement of people from outside the zone still wondered what such persons stand to gain from such nasty actions.
“The fact remains that an average Igbo man feels marginalized in Nigeria and wants this yoke off his neck, but I don’t think that burning of INEC offices will solve the problem, rather it will escalate it.
“If INEC offices are burnt and people were not registered to enable them vote during elections, how would they vote out bad leaders to end the marginalization, for instance,” he queried.
Chinekezi advised youths in Southeast not to allow themselves to be used to destroy what will give them hope for the future.
But he carpeted INEC chairman for threatening to stop the ongoing voters’ registration in the Southeast should the burnings continue, saying that if INEC had continued to register voters in the Northeast where Boko Haram has made life more unbearable for the people, nothing should stop the electoral umpire from completing the exercise in Southeast.
Like many respondents, the founder of the Centre for Equity and Democratic Governance (CEDOG), Prince Kalu Onumah said that the incessant burning of INEC facilities in the zone will definitely affect Peter Obi’s chances of winning the presidential election if nothing was done.
Onumah said: “The Southeast is Obi’s constituency so to speak, although he is not going to be president only for the Southeast, he is going to be president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But the burnings in his constituency will affect him because the Southeast is his own political base and he is supposed to win in his own base convincingly.”
He also averred that the dastardly act might just be the handiwork of fifth columnists.
His words: “I want to believe that some powerful forces outside the region who see Obi’s growing political influence as a threat to their political ambition are the ones masterminding the burning of INEC offices in the Southeast, although with the collaboration of some elements within”.
In fact, a prominent community leader from Abia North, Chief Okoh Igwe said: “The burnings are being engineered by Obi’s political opponents from outside the Southeast region.
“It still beats my imagination that it’s only in the Southeast that INEC offices are burnt, in the North where bandits hold sway, and the Southwest, INEC offices are not being burnt. Why must it be in the Southeast that these burnings of INEC offices must be taking place?”
He urged INEC to discard the idea of stopping voters’ registration exercise in the zone instead, it should devise means of beefing up security round their offices.
In Anambra State, probably the last recorded attack on any INEC facility was in 2021 before the November 6 governorship election in the state.
Daredevil criminals had stormed the state headquarters of the commission at night and wreaked havoc, destroying whatever was within their reach. Although they were stopped midway by the gallant policemen who trailed and engaged them with superior firepower, the hoodlums had already caused much in some parts of the state capital.
The armed criminals, who drove into Awka in eight vans, first visited a filling station near Regina Caeli Junction along the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway and dispossessed the people there of their valuables, including petroleum products, money and phones before proceeding to the INEC headquarters.
At INEC, the hoodlums managed to burn seven operational vehicles belonging to the commission. While four were completely burnt, three were partially razed.
They also burnt down their collation centre, a store housing many generators, and another store serving another purpose.
And in Ebonyi, our correspondent reported that the last time INEC offices were attacked in the state was in May 2021 when gunmen launched coordinated and simultaneous attacks at its offices in Ezza North and Ebonyi local government areas.
A staffer of the commission in Abakaliki who wished not to be named said that efforts were being made to fix the destroyed facilities ahead of the elections.
“There has been no attack on any of our facilities in Ebonyi since the beginning of this year. The last attacks were on 18th May, 2021, when our offices in Ezza North and Ebonyi LGAs were torched by unknown persons. Though not fixed yet, but it can’t stop elections next year,” he said.
Nevertheless, he said that insecurity was one of their major concerns ahead the 2023 general elections (Sunday SUN)
Trial by ordeal, witch-hunt, dehumanisation, banishment and other forms of human right abuses are becoming the order of the day in Ebonyi State.
In the state, many people have been paraded naked, beaten and tortured or killed by youths in their communities with their property destroyed on the allegation of diabolism and witchcraft.
HRH Ugadu Ogba
Joseph Agwu banished from his community
Some of the victims were accused of murdering their family members and members of communities through occult means. In many cases, mischievous individuals connived with local prophets, and traditional priests to carry out the ugly trend.
Local mobs in the communities, after torturing the victims, subject them to oath-taking and force them to drink harmful and poisonous concoctions which led to their deaths or damage their health. The mobs have also destroyed houses, farms and crops of the victims after subjecting them to the inhuman and degrading treatments in public places. Those who are often targeted are political opponents, elderly, widows and other vulnerable persons in the state in most cases.
Places where the incidents have been recorded in the state included Izzi, Okposi, Afikpo, Ohaukwu, Ishielu, Ezza North, Ezza South and other places. Most of the victims who survived the human degradation have not recovered from the barbaric acts as they continue to count their losses.
Nnennaya Chuwu forced to drink concotion
Lamentations of victims
Joseph Agwu, a native of Ekwashi, Ngbo autonomous community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state, was banished from the area on 4th August, 2025 after being tortured by villagers who tied palm fronds all over his body and paraded him round the community, including market squares.
Onwe Nwamaka
The villagers accused him of killing his brother’s child as well as other people in the area through diabolism. The villagers set his belongings, including his two compounds ablaze, and banished him for five years from the community after parading him against the plea of their traditional ruler.
Thomas Eze
Since that 4th August, the septuagenarian, who has been taking refuge in his maternal home, Umuezeaka autonomous community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, has been in exile without any effort to take him back to his community.
He narrated his ordeal thus: “I married four wives. One is late and the remaining three have many children and grandchildren for me. I am a native of Ekwashi Ngbo autonomous community in Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State.
“This happened on 4th August 2025 and since then I have been in my maternal home in Umuezeaka autonomous Community Ohaukwu Local Government Area. I ran to my maternal home for safety, when my people tortured me to near death against our traditional ruler’s order.
“My attackers said I confessed to killing them when I was drunk at a burial ceremony. But to be honest with you, I am a traditional worshiper and not a wizard. I have not killed anybody.
“If I ever killed anybody, let me not see the next day, let moving vehicles kill me on the road as I go on my bicycle, to the extent that vultures feed on my flesh and I will not be given any burial rites.
“One of my brothers accused me of confessing to have killed his child who died years ago and many other people when I was drunk, but I am innocent. I am not a trouble maker. I am a good farmer. They just conspired and intimidated me out of my community so as to take over my vast lands and farms.
“When the incident was reported to our traditional ruler, he instructed my accusers to stop beating me but go to my compounds in search of evidence for their claims. He directed them to organise oath-taking process as our tradition demands to prove my innocence or otherwise, but they ignored all the orders.
“My children who tried to stop them from assaulting me were also assaulted, despite that the search parties didn’t find any evidence to their claims in my compounds.
“I also learnt that they accused one of my wives of hiding my objects of worship and compelled her to take oath, whereas they stopped me from taking an oath as the prime suspect.
“They have even come here to threaten my maternal relatives to throw me out.
“One of my brothers supplied the fuel used to destroy my property. I demand that government and all people of goodwill help me get justice and return to my home.
“According to our tradition, they are supposed to let me take an oath of innocence and not to beat and banish me from my family, lands and farms. After the said oath, if I am guilty as they claimed, I will die before the end of the year. If not, I will live to care for my family,” he lamented.
The story of 65-yearold Nnennaya Donatus-Chukwu of Mebiokpa Amaeke, Okposi community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state is even more pathetic. She also suffered inhuman treatment unleashed on her and two other members of the community by their village youths over the alleged killing of her husband ‘s nephew, Innocent Chukwu through witchcraft.
The said late Innocent Chukwu reportedly died in a road accident on his way home from Calabar, Cross River State to continue erection of his building. The woman and two other elders in the family compound were accused of killing him because they had earlier objected to his choice of the building site which they said was too close to their family deity.
Said the woman: “I was behind my house in the village where I was processing some palm fruits into palm oil on 21st February 2025 when a multitude of youths invaded our compound, chanting war songs and started destroying everything.
“Our windows and doors, household items, fully stocked yam barn, goat pens, 50 gallons of palm oil, my box of wrappers, those of my children, our motorcycles, solar panels and inverters, mattresses etc were destroyed.
“On sighting them, I hid myself but they later found me and beat me black and blue, accusing me of causing the death of Innocent Chukwu in collaboration with two others through witchcraft.
“The protesting youths looted and destroyed everything in both our family compound and that of my first son. They said since Innocent would not be alive to live in his house, that we would not have a house to live. I thank God my children were not at home because they would have been killed. Before now, I had no quarrel with Innocent, the mother or anybody. The more I tried to explain that I am innocent of the accusations, the more they beat me.
“After some time, I was taken to our traditional ruler who blamed the youths for beating me and destroying my family belongings. He advised them to hand us over to the police at Obiozara for in-depth investigations and prosecution in the court of law. But they refused.
“Rather, they took me and the other two persons back to our compound where they washed the dead man’s armpits, reproductive organs, mouth and face, added four kola nuts, and forced us to drink the water to prove our innocence. After the oath, they banished us out of the community till after our next new yam festival, if we are still alive.
“I plead with the state government, the wife of Ebonyi State governor, NGOs, National Human Rights Commission, human rights activists, security agencies and other groups to help me get justice. They accused me of killing someone who died in a road accident in the city the same day and time I was preparing palm oil in rural village. Since then, I’ve been on admission at the hospital,” the victim lamented.
On his part, first son of the victim, Ogbonnaya Donatus regretted that the youths also went to his personal compound and destroyed property worth about N50 million for alleged witchcraft perpetuated by his mother
“I call on both state and federal government to intervene in this issue. My property destroyed is not less than N50 million despite that I was not one of those directly accused of the alleged witchcraft,” he told Saturday Sun.
Kingsley Ibeh was also accused of witchcraft. Ibeh who hails from Afikpo area of the state said his accusers mixed faeces and fermented cassava and rubbed the mixture all over his body.
He further alleged that the villagers stripped him naked, tied rope on his waist and instructed women to parade him round the market in the area.
He called for arrest and prosecution of all those who dehumanised him.
He disclosed that the villagers accused him of causing misfortunes in the area, including causing deaths of some members of the community through diabolism.
He said: “I was accused of witchcraft in the month of June 2025. During the execution, my accusers mixed faeces and fermented cassava and rubbed the mixture all over my body. As if that was not enough, they striped me half naked, tied rope on my waist and instructed the women to drag me on the rope round our market,” he lamented.
Mrs Onwe Nwamaka from Ebele village, Umuogudu Akpu Ngbo community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state and her children, have been banished from the area after her husband was banished also for alleged witchcraft.
She said there have been many issues in her husband’s family since nine years of her marriage.
She said her husband’s brother became sick and later died of the sickness and her husband was accused of being responsible for his death.
The woman alleged that immediately the husband’s brother died, his brothers started accusing the man of being behind his death and he was banished from the community. She said she had not set eyes on her husband since then.
Nwamaka, who was later banished from the community alongside her children, narrated her ordeal: “I’ve been married to my husband for nine years. There have many issues in my husband’s family since I married him. This year, one of his brothers became sick and died later. His brothers alleged that he was the one that killed the man.
“My husband told his brothers that he was innocent. But they still mobilised villagers who beat him to near death and inflicted severe injuries on him. They banished him from the community and also banished me and our children from the community.
“They demolished my husband’s houses and destroyed every property he has. I have no father, I have no mother, I don’t have anyone. I took my children to where I was born. Few months ago, I went to our farm in my husband’s place to harvest crops and the villagers heard of it, came there and beat me to stupor.
“They harvested all the crops in our four farms and destroyed the farms. They reported me to our traditional ruler and said that they wanted to go and look for what killed my husband. We don’t have what we are eating now, our traditional ruler has been the one feeding us since they harvested all our crops and destroyed our farms.
“They have destroyed our economic trees, household belongings and every other property. I have not seen my husband since they banished him in 2022. I have not heard from him since the banishment and he has no phone for contact.
“My children have dropped out of school since they banished my husband. I want my husband to be taken back to his place, I want his houses to be rebuilt because they have destroyed our houses. We have no house anymore.”
Thomas Eze, from Ebele, Umuogudu Akpu in Ngbo community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state is still having bruises arising from the severe injuries inflicted on him by his villagers.
He was accused of burying a charm in his farm by one of the villagers and the villagers alleged that he was responsible for the misfortunes of some members of the community.
All efforts by the traditional ruler of the community to stop the people from torturing him, proved abortive. He was bound with ropes and tortured with sharp objects till he sustained severe injuries. He was subsequently banished from the community and warned not to set his toes on the community.
His words: “I was accused of witchcraft by a member of our community. He said that I buried charms in my land and I told him no, I didn’t do such a thing.
“They insisted that I buried charms on my land. I told him that I have been severally accused of this by the community and I was made to take an oath to prove my innocence.
“I then went and reported the incident to the traditional ruler
“The man went and informed our community members. Our community members said I should leave the community and banished me immediately. Before they banished me, they beat me up and inflicted several injuries on me. They tied my hands at the back.
“Our traditional ruler took me and started taking care of me. I want to go back to my community. The government should come to my aid.”
Action barbaric, wicked
The traditional ruler of Ngbo community, Godwin Ugadu Ogba condemned the actions of people of the area against the victims, describing it as barbaric, wicked and unconstitutional. He lamented that despite his appeal to the perpetrators to stop the acts, they have continued to disobey him. He vowed to work with relevant agencies to end the menace in the community.
“Some villagers in Ebele are driving people out of the village on allegation of witchcraft. These people don’t behave like human beings and I have been warning them to stop banishing people because their actions are against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“They said they are government, that no one tells them what they should be doing in the community. I brought those they banished back to the community but they refused to allow them to stay.
“I have been telling these people that are doing all these things that there is no law in Nigeria that permits what they are doing. This is why I came to the Human Rights Commission to complain about it, let this ugly trend stop. I will not allow them to continue dehumanising and banishing people,” he said.
A member of the community, Onwe Sunday called for sensitisation in the community to end the menace.
He said those perpetrating the acts are illiterates who never travelled out of the community. He advocated diplomacy in the community when sensitising the people to avoid being killed as according to him, those perpetrating the evil are heartless and can kill at will.
“Poverty and ignorance are the causes of what they are doing. When you go to the village, you see them selling Indian hemp indiscriminately.
“We need sensitisation in this community to stop these things they are doing. They need orientation, they need somebody to be going to them to talk about what they are doing and caution must be taken in talking to them because they are illiterate and they behave anyhow.
“If you want to talk to them when you get there, you must be diplomatic, otherwise they will kill you. These people are evil and they don’t reason like humans. They are an angry mob,” Onwe said.
The community had, in November 2024, stripped two teenage girls naked and flogged them to near-death on allegation of stealing fowls. The girls were forced to parade the community naked with the fowls (chickens) they allegedly stole.
The incident happened in Ojiegbe in the community. The video of their dehumanisation went viral on social media and the state police command arrested two members of the community who super-headed the torture.
The suspects, Dennis Ali and Ituma Sunday were later arraigned and remained in Abakaliki correctional centre after investigation by the police. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the state has called for an end to the human right abuses. The commission described the acts as gross human rights violation.
Speaking to Saturday Sun, the state Coordinator of the commission, Christopher Okorie said the inhuman treatment has become a pandemic. He noted that it is difficult to fight the ugly trend when the fighter believes strongly in the superstitions.
Okorie said: “This issue of unlawful accusations, meting out human rights violation at citizens of the state, is grossly against the law. It is also criminal in nature and now that all these matters are all coming up from here and there, they must be looked into.
“Unfortunately this ignorance is perpetuated by some human rights activists and even some members of law enforcement agents.
“It’s difficult to fight against the ills of superstition when the fighters believe strongly in those superstitions.
“We must find a way to first destroy the seeming appearance of those superstitions through constant enlightenment based on critical thinking, even when such approach is detested by those within the circles mentioned.”
Plea for action
On his part, the Director of Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Leo Igwe condemned the wanton destruction of property and inhuman treatment meted out to some residents of the communities people over alleged killing via witchcraft activities and called on the security agencies for in-depth investigations and prosecution of the culprits.
He said his group will continue to fight the acts through advocacy.
“We advocate to protect the rights of those whose rights are abused as a result of allegations of witchcraft. We emphasise on highlighting these allegations that often lead to banishment, torture, intimidation, killing and all sorts of human rights abuses.
“We also highlight abuses related to ritual attacks/believes. We are in Ebonyi to draw attention to these cases of human rights violations and hoping that we can rally supports of all the necessary institutions in the state to close the gaps. We advocate for stoppage of witch-hunt because witchcraft is superstition.”
Igwe has petitioned the state Deputy Speaker, Chinedu Onah, urging him to use his good offices to end the acts in his Ngbo community.
“The Advocacy for Alleged Witches is drawing your attention to cases of witch hunts and trial by ordeal in Ohaukwu in Ebonyi State. We understand that this community is a part of your constituency. We have received videos and reports of community members accused, paraded naked, beaten, tortured, disappeared or killed by youths in your community. Some of them have been accused of murdering other community members through occult means, without any evidence to support such claims and allegations.
“In many cases, mischievous individuals connive with local prophets, and traditional priests to carry out these atrocities. Local mobs in your community have beaten those so accused, subject them to oath-taking and forcing them to drink harmful and poisonous concoctions that have led to their death or health damage.
“Mobs from your community have destroyed houses, farms and crops of those so accused. They subject them to inhuman and degrading treatment in public squares. We have been informed that those who are often targeted are political opponents, the elderly, widows and other vulnerable members of the population.
“Hon Onah, these vile and repulsive practices in Ohaukwu must stop. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches urges you to use your good offices to end the abuses and ensure that perpetrators, including those who make false accusations of Igwo Nsi, magical poisoning, killing and harming others are brought to justice. Witchcraft accusation is against the law.
“Witch-hunting is against the constitution and violates human rights of Nigerians. As the deputy speaker, you need to act and help uphold the law, constitution and human rights of the people in Ohaukwu. You should not turn a blind eye to these abuses or enable them in any form.
“As a state actor, and a citizen, you need to ensure the state’s responsibility to protect citizens and victims of witch-hunts and false accusations of killing and harming people through magical means is guaranteed Thank you in anticipation of your support and intervention,” Igwe wrote. (By Uchenna Inya/The Sun)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained why he has never attempted to convince his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, to convert to Islam, stressing his belief in love, religious freedom, and mutual respect among people of different faiths.
Speaking on Saturday at the funeral service of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwada, Tinubu said his marriage to a Christian pastor has never created any conflict in their home.
The president, who arrived in Jos, Plateau State around 2 p.m. for the ceremony at the COCIN headquarters church, said he inherited Islam from his family and has always upheld the principle of freedom of religion.
He noted that both he and the First Lady serve the same God and would ultimately be answerable to Him, adding that what matters most are people’s deeds, character, and love for others.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that hate should never have a place in the country.
He also prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Lydia Yilwada and asked God to grant comfort and blessings to those she left behind.
He said, “Hate is not an option for us. Love is what you preach, that we should love one another.
“Nobody, nobody determines what God has ordained. God’s ordained action and his promises are what matter. I inherited Islam from my family. I didn’t change. But my wife is a pastor. She prays for me.
“No conflict. And I never did at any single time try to convince her or convert her. I believe in the freedom of religion.
“We are praying to the same God. We are answerable to the same almighty God. We will answer to him. We will account to him. Our deeds, our character, our love for our fellow beings are what are important.
“May the almighty accept the soul of Lydia and give all that she left behind blessings and glory, so we say, may her soul rest in peace.”
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said 16 officers are facing military justice for alĺeged indiscipline and breach of service regulations.
Director of Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, a brigadier general, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.
He did not however, listed their names.
Mr Gusau said investigations revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations, among other issues.
He explained that some of the apprehended officers had been under jurisdiction for various offences, either awaiting or undergoing trial.
He further stated that their conduct was deemed incompatible with the standards of military service.
Mr Tukur said upon the completion of the investigation, those indicted would face full military disciplinary process in line with established procedures.
“Upon completion of investigation indicted officers will face the full military disciplinary process in accordance with established procedures to ensure accountability and preserve professionalism within the Armed Forces,” he said.
Below is the full statement:
PRESS STATEMENT
SIXTEEN OFFICERS TO FACE MILITARY JUSTICE FOR INDISCIPLINE, BREACHE OF SERVICE REGULATIONS
The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise has resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers over issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations.
Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations, among other issues.
Some of the apprehended officers had been under jurisdiction for various offences, either awaiting or undergoing trial. Their conduct was deemed incompatible with the standards of military service.
Upon completion of investigation indicted officers will face the full military disciplinary process in accordance with established procedures to ensure accountability and preserve professionalism within the Armed Forces.
The Armed Forces wishes to assure the general public that these actions are strictly disciplinary in nature and part of routine efforts to maintain order, discipline, and loyalty within the ranks.
The Armed Forces will not tolerate behaviour that undermines the integrity of the institution or threatens its constitutional role under democratic authority. The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains fully committed to its constitutional responsibilities and will remain professional at all times.
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