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North suffered more under Buhari — Ango Abdullahi
Pan-Arewa socio-political organisation, Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has chided President Muhammadu Buhari over his negligence and lack of political will to fix the problems of Nigeria, especially that of the North.
The group berated the Buhari-led administration, saying that the North suffered more under his administration, in terms of terrorism, banditry and negligence of the North.
Convener of the Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, stated this at the 10th anniversary of the Northern General Assembly, of NEF, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.
The NEF convener warned against any attempt to scuttle the conduct of a free, fair and credible election, adding that the North will stand by any presidential candidate that emerges as the winner.
He further cautioned against those saying that the North had no business in contesting for the presidential seat, explaining that the North had a 4-year deficit. Abdullahi emphasised that the North had “rubbed more backs,” of leaders from other regions of the country.
According to him “When we believed that General Muhammadu Buhari was a better candidate than President Jonathan, we campaigned for him and went to great lengths to have him elected in 2015. When it became obvious that President Buhari lacked the political will and competence to fix the problems of Nigeria and the worsening circumstances under which Northerners lived, we publicly campaigned against his administration’s ineptitude and lack of commitment to accountability.
“In 2019, we vigorously campaigned against his re-election, believing that our insecurity, crumbling economy and social problems would worsen. He won re-election, and our projections were sadly proved right.
“Yet we consistently demanded safety and continued welcome for other Nigerians who had made the North their home, and we will continue to do so. We followed national discourses and sentiments and noted how the Northerner was being held responsible and vilified for the shortcomings and failures of President Buhari.
“Yet, no region had ever suffered under any leader than the North did under the current leadership; and no region benefitted from more undeserved advantages than the South did under him. Our governors and legislators abandoned us.
“We have followed candidates through their campaigns, remaining neutral until we are satisfied that we can justifiably advise fellow Northerners on the directions that best suit our interests as Northerners. We have a healthy respect for the rights of all Northerners to make their own choices, and we are sensitive to the huge trust of our fellow Northerners to advise them in making the right choices.
“We have been saddened by the deterioration of the campaigns to levels where region, ethnicity and faith have been made defining characters of many of our leading candidates. We have resisted the pressure to follow suit, choosing instead to give every candidate a fair chance to show their character and potential.
“We have been worried over the alarming and inciting campaigns by supporters of some candidates, some of them explicitly threatening the continued existence of Nigeria if their candidates lose in a democratic contest.
“We have advised Northerners to remain calm and prepare to vote in a peaceful atmosphere. Nonetheless, we must remind fellow Nigerians of the position of the North: these elections must hold and a credible result must emerge from them. Leaders who win fairly will be accepted by Northerners, and we do not expect anything less from other Nigerians.
“Our response to threats that certain parts of the country will be locked down and out of the elections is that this is a threat to all Nigerians. We demand that the government of President Buhari and all other leaders and elders must call out this dangerous bluff. Those who say they will not accept credible results from the elections unless their candidates win represent threats to national security, and should be treated as such.
“We appeal to all persons with responsibility and influence to lend their weight behind the conduct of credible elections and a peaceful transition. We should also assure all communities that they will be safe before, during and after the elections. We hear of conspiracy theories and other fanciful contraptions being peddled by people in place of credible elections. Let our voices be heard now: the North will not accept any arrangement produced through the violation of our constitution, and we have faith that millions of other Nigerians share the same opinion.”
On his part, Director-General, NEF, Prof. Doknan Sheni, emphasized that the North will accept any candidate who emerges fairly as the next President to lead Nigeria.
He said, “Since 1999, the South has ruled the country for 14 years and the North for 10 years. There would therefore be a deficit of 4 years in favour of the North. Constitutionally, any Nigerian is free to contest elections. The north will continue to accept any candidate that wins the elections fairly, on the terms of one man one vote.
“We do not intend to be intimidated by improper or uncivil utterances or threats of violence. Nor will we be coerced to supporting a candidate based on non-democratic principles. Nigerians and particularly the people who love democracy will not accept any contraption of governance that is non-constitutional. If this happens it will create an unnecessary fault line that will challenge our management skills. Thankfully there are Nigerians with similar stances and perspectives from other parts of the country.”
Dignitaries who graced the event were, the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, and a representative of the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the All-Progressives Congress, Senator Kashim Shettima, as well as a representative of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.
Vanguard
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)
Armed men have reportedly abducted a Catholic seminarian, Mr. Kelvin Ochai, after invading the residence of a Catholic bishop in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attack reportedly occurred on Wednesday, July 29, when the gunmen stormed the Bishop’s residence located in the Asa III area of Otukpo, sparking concern within the Catholic community.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Rev. Fr. Joseph Aboyi Itodo.
According to the statement, the kidnappers made away with the seminarian, Mr. Kelvin Ochai, while details surrounding the attack and the circumstances of his abduction remain unclear.
The Diocese disclosed that the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo, Most Rev. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and called on members of the Church and the general public to pray for the seminarian’s safe return.
Describing the abduction as a painful development, the bishop appealed to all Christ’s faithful in the Diocese of Otukpo, as well as people of goodwill, to unite in prayer for the victim and others being held captive across the country.
“The Bishop, who is deeply saddened by this unfortunate development, calls on all Christ’s Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo and all people of goodwill to earnestly pray for the seminarian’s quick and safe release,” the statement read.
The Diocese further entrusted the abducted seminarian and all other kidnapping victims in Nigeria to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“We commit our brother and all those in the kidnappers’ den throughout the country to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for their speedy and safe release from the hands of their abductors,” the statement added.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not released an official statement on the attack, and it remains unclear whether contact has been established with the kidnappers or if any arrests have been made.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Benue State and the increasing number of attacks targeting religious institutions and clerics, prompting renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect lives and property.
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