The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá (Yoruba Union), has called on Nigerians to vote President Bola Ahmed Tinubu out of office in the 2027 general elections, accusing his administration of worsening insecurity, deepening economic hardship, and refusing to acknowledge the suffering of ordinary citizens.

The call was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the group’s Convener, Olusola Badero, and made available through its Home Director, Princess Balogun.

The organisation said Nigeria was “bleeding” under the current administration, alleging that despite the country’s mounting security and economic challenges, the President had continued to dismiss the concerns of suffering Nigerians.

“Our people have become beggars under Tinubu’s watch while hundreds of innocent citizens remain in the hands of Fulani terrorists waiting for ransom payments. The cost of living has become unbearable, yet the President does not want to listen to Nigerians,” the group said.

The Yoruba Union maintained that the Tinubu administration had failed to provide meaningful solutions to the nation’s most pressing problems, insisting that Nigerians should reject the President’s re-election bid in 2027.

The group also aligned itself with concerns recently raised by the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and other Catholic bishops, who reportedly told President Tinubu during a meeting that millions of Nigerians were grappling with severe economic hardship and worsening insecurity.

According to the organisation, rather than acknowledge those concerns and outline practical measures to address them, the President insisted that his administration’s policies were yielding positive results.

“The country is truly bleeding, but Tinubu neither wants to see the realities nor listen to the cries of Nigerians,” the statement added.

The group further cited the security situation in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, alleging that nearly 176 women and children abducted since February were still being held captive, while about 200 people had been killed, despite government assurances that security was improving.

It argued that deteriorating economic conditions had pushed many Nigerians into criminal activities as they struggled to survive.

“Many people have resorted to different forms of criminality because of the economic situation in the country, yet Tinubu insists that the economy is doing fine,” the organisation stated.

The Yoruba Union also accused the President and his family of being insulated from the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians because of the privileges associated with public office.

“Since Tinubu and his family enjoy taxpayers’ money, travel abroad, eat well and have access to every luxury they desire, they will never believe that millions of Nigerians are wallowing in poverty.

“They will never understand that hunger is killing people daily or that many Nigerians have died simply because they could not afford to buy medicines needed to treat themselves.”

The group equally blamed the administration for what it described as the growing insecurity across the country.

“Tinubu has institutionalised insecurity. Military generals are being killed and kidnapped, students are abducted and murdered, yet the government behaves as though nothing has happened,” it alleged.

It argued that the nation’s security challenges alone should be enough reason for Nigerians to reject the President at the next general election.

“The realities facing this country today are enough reasons for Nigerians to vote Tinubu out in 2027,” the statement said.

The organisation also expressed concern over the plight of Nigerians in the diaspora who returned home to invest after government appeals, alleging that many had instead been subjected to intimidation, multiple taxation and destruction of their businesses.

“Many Nigerians who were encouraged to return home and invest are now regretting their decisions. Some obtained loans abroad to finance businesses in Nigeria, but instead of encouraging them, the government has continued to torment them, destroy their properties and burden them with numerous taxes,” it stated.

The Yoruba Union further accused security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, of abandoning their constitutional responsibilities and becoming instruments of political oppression.

“The country is truly bleeding, and security agencies like the DSS and the police, which ought to stand with the people, are now being used by the Tinubu government to oppress citizens.

“They are being used to arrest, detain and jail innocent Nigerians whose only offence is demanding good governance and accountability.”

Describing Nigeria as a “banana republic” under the current administration, the group called on Nigerians to unite behind credible leaders capable of restoring accountability, rebuilding public confidence and returning the country to the path of national progress.

“It is time for Nigerians to wake up from their slumber, unite and support credible leaders who can hold corrupt politicians accountable, recover Nigeria’s lost glory and restore the country’s dignity both in Africa and on the global stage,” the statement added.

The Enugu State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped woman and neutralised a suspected kidnapper during an intelligence-led operation in Okpuje, Nsukka Local Government Area of the state.

The operation, which took place on Friday, July 31, 2026, was launched after police received a distress call at about 10:10 a.m. reporting that armed kidnappers had emerged from a nearby forest and abducted a woman along Anuka Road, Okpuje.

According to a statement issued on Saturday, August 1, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, operatives of the Okpuje Police Division immediately mobilised alongside Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch to trail the kidnappers.
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The security team tracked the suspects into the Anuka forest near the Enugu-Kogi State boundary, where they engaged the gang in a gun battle.Time & Calendars

During the exchange of gunfire, one of the suspected kidnappers was killed, while other members of the gang escaped into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds.

The police said the abducted woman was rescued unhurt, while her two children and motorcycle, which the kidnappers abandoned at the scene, were also recovered.

“The victim and her children have since been reunited with their family, while efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects,” the statement said.

Reacting to the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the police operatives, Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch members for their swift response and effective collaboration.

He reaffirmed the command’s determination to sustain intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.

The police commissioner also urged residents to remain security conscious and continue supporting law enforcement agencies with credible and timely information.

CP Giwa said the command remains committed to protecting lives and property through proactive policing and strengthened collaboration with local security stakeholders.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued a kidnapped senior military officer, Lt. Col. Ofor Amobi, and a civilian, Mr Ikechukwu Onwuanra, after a 10-day joint search-and-rescue operation in Enugu State.

This is contained in a military operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

The military said the victims were rescued in the early hours of Friday, following sustained pressure on their abductors.

The military said troops of Sector 1 of Operation UDO KA, comprising personnel of the 82 Division Garrison, 103 Battalion (Reinforced), the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service and the 197 Special Forces Battalion, carried out the operation.

It said the troops, led by the Commander, 82 Division Garrison, conducted intensive searches across Inyi, Awlaw and Akpugo-Eze forests and communities in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

According to the report, troops received intelligence from the Divisional Police Officer of Inyi Division at about 2:00 a.m. on Friday on the whereabouts of the victims.

It said the troops immediately launched a fighting patrol to the location where the victims were found abandoned at the edge of a forest in Inyi.

The military said both victims had sustained gunshot wounds and were rescued before being evacuated to the 82 Division Medical Hospital for treatment and medical evaluation.

It added that preliminary interrogation revealed the victims had been blindfolded, transported to an unknown location and later abandoned within a forest along the Enugu-Anambra border.

“The victims attributed their rescue to the sustained pressure mounted by the joint troops, which denied the kidnappers freedom of movement and compelled them to abandon their captives,” it said.

The military said further details on the operation would be made available later.

(NAN)