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Nigerian celebrities condemn rising wave of insecurity
Some Nigerian celebrities have strongly condemned the increasing wave of banditry and terrorism across states of the federation, demanding urgent action from the federal government to save lives of the citizens.
The celebrities, including comedian Debo Macaroni and Nollywood actor Femi Adebayo, said incessant killing and kidnapping of Nigerians was unacceptable.
Macaroni said the killings should concern every Nigerian irrespective of their region, describing the attacks as “madness.”
“These terrorist attacks concern all of us! Please don’t think it doesn’t affect you. Whether it happens in the North, South, East, or West, it affects all of us!
“We cannot keep quiet while Nigerians are being slaughtered in different parts of the country! This is madness!” he wrote on X.
He had on Tuesday shared a post made by Tinubu in 2023 where the latter had “vow to end the scourge of insecurity” if elected President.
“You made a vow to end the scourge of insecurity once and for all if elected President of Nigeria. What changed? What are you doing about the kidnapping of innocent school children in Kebbi?” Macaroni asked the President.
Actor Adebayo, in a Facebook post, referred to the viral video that captured the moment worshippers were being attacked inside a church in Kwara.
“That elderly woman struggling to find safety… it tells you everything about where we are right now as a nation,” he wrote.
“These are human lives. Families, futures, dreams, real people,” he added. “We need to step up our security measures and strategies. This can’t continue anywhere within our country. Nigeria must be better than this. #EndTerroristsKillingInNigeria.”
Singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, also condemned the killings in posts made on X.
Simi lamented that the country “is in such disarray that they turn us into seemingly performative complainants.”
“She wrote, “People losing their lives in the name of religion. Children being stolen from their families like their lives are worth nothing.
“Sorry’ is not enough. Never has been. Never will be. No value for life. Not from the powers that be. Not from the powerless.
“If the government doesn’t get up and do something like they would if these were their children, then we know exactly where they stand. We know exactly what we mean to them. Our epistles and tears haven’t done much, if anything. They just wait us out. ‘They’ll get tired and move on to something else.’ And what do you know, they succeed.”
She demanded that something be done to check the insecurity.
Gunmen on Thursday night ambushed and beheaded a 30-year-old man, Elisha Abbas Saku, at Riwhie-Chwo in Nzharuvo, Miango District of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred around 10 pm when the gunmen stormed the community, throwing residents into panic and confusion.
A statement issued on Friday by the Irigwe Youth Movement described the killing as a brutal ambush.
The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Yonkpa, who signed the statement, prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul while calling for divine comfort for the entire Irigwe Nation.
“Yesterday night, 16th April 2026, gunmen ambushed and beheaded Mr. Elisha Abbas Saku, 30 years old, at Riwhie-Chwo, Nzharuvo, Miango District of Bassa LGA, Plateau State,” the report stated. “May his soul rest in peace, and may God comfort the entire Irigwe Nation.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of results for 632,788 candidates who participated in the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), held on Thursday.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Friday.
According to the Board, candidates can now access their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to either 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number registered during the examination process.
At this stage, only result viewing is available, as printing of result slips has not yet been enabled.
JAMB emphasised that the UTME exercise is still ongoing, adding that additional batches of results will be released progressively as marking and processing continue.
The Board also issued a stern warning against any attempts to manipulate or falsify results.
It cautioned candidates against altering SMS messages received from its official platforms to misrepresent their scores to others, including parents and guardians.
JAMB Releases Results of 632,788 Candidates from Day One of the 2026 UTME
The results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, candidates should send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019…
— Fabian Benjamin (@FabianB58246501) April 17, 2026
Describing such actions as a serious criminal offence, JAMB disclosed that it has already taken action against offenders. “Two candidates and one parent are currently in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement revealed.
The Board reiterated that anyone found guilty of such misconduct would face the full weight of the law.
JAMB urged candidates to adhere strictly to official channels and maintain integrity throughout the examination process, as it continues efforts to ensure a credible and transparent admissions system in Nigeria.
The Arewa APC Forum, Kano State chapter, has announced the withdrawal of its support for the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing concerns over governance and leadership direction.
In a statement dated April 17, 2026, the forum said its decision followed “extensive consultations and careful reflection” on the state of affairs at the federal level.
The group stated that it could no longer, “in good conscience,” continue to support the current administration, which it criticised over alleged issues including nepotism, incompetence, and corruption.
“We believe that leadership must inspire confidence, uphold fairness, and demonstrate a sincere commitment to national unity, institutional integrity, and responsible governance,” the statement read.
It added that where such values are persistently undermined, “silence becomes complicity.”
The forum further declared that its confidence in the current political direction has been withdrawn, urging its members to align with this position in future political engagements.
The statement was signed by Sallah Hakilu Kibiya, chairman of the forum in Kano State.
The development signals potential cracks within support structures linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in the northern region, as political alignments begin to shift ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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