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Senate asks FG to scrap Terrorists’ Rehabilitation Programme
The Senate has called on the federal government to discontinue the rehabilitation programme for repentant Boko Haram members following the abduction and killing of military officers.
The decision followed the adoption of an additional prayer on Tuesday during deliberations on the country’s security situation.
The prayer, proposed by Joseph Ikpea, senator representing Edo Central, was adopted through a voice vote during consideration of a motion on the escalating attacks, abductions and killings of serving and retired military personnel.
Supporting the proposal, Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo North, said: “It does not make even common sense to grant pardon and rehabilitate criminals”.
The motion, sponsored by Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, Senator representing Katsina Central and Chairman, Senate Committee on the Nigerian Army, was prompted by the abduction and death of Rabe Abubakar, a retired Major General and former Director of Defence Information.
Abubakar died in captivity after he was kidnapped alongside his wife in Katsina State.
Leading the debate during Tuesday’s plenary, Yar’Adua described the country’s security situation as a “national emergency”.
He said insecurity had assumed “increasingly complex, persistent and alarming dimensions”, manifesting through terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, violent attacks on communities and the destruction of livelihoods across several parts of the country.
“The death of the retired Major General and others in the custody of terrorists represents not only personal tragedies but also a painful national loss and a stark reminder of the scale and persistence of insecurity confronting the nation,” he said.
Yar’Adua said terrorists had become increasingly sophisticated and emboldened, extending their attacks beyond civilian communities to serving and retired military officers.
“The increasing frequency with which serving and retired military personnel are being targeted by criminal and terrorist groups represents a dangerous evolution in the nation’s security challenges,” he said.
The senator warned that attacks on current and former military personnel undermine the morale of security agencies, weaken public confidence in the state’s ability to provide security and embolden criminal groups.
He listed a series of attacks on senior military officers, including the abduction of Rabiu Garba Yandoto, a retired colonel, in Zamfara in January 2023; the kidnap and killing of Richard Duru, retired major general, in Imo in September 2023 despite the payment of ransom; the murder of Uwem Udokwere, retired brigadier general, in Abuja in June 2024; the abduction of Maharazu Tsiga, former NYSC director-general, in Katsina in February 2025; the death of Joe Ajayi, a retired major, in captivity in Kogi in May 2025; the abduction and rescue of Joseph Ajanaku, a retired colonel, in Plateau in January 2026.
’PERPETRATORS MUST BE ARRESTED’
Seconding the motion, Osita Izunaso, Senator representing Imo West, urged security agencies to ensure those responsible for the attacks were arrested.
“We have to mandate them to ensure that these people are arrested because we are all following the incident. The perpetrators must be arrested and brought to book,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, said insecurity had made travelling unsafe even for public office holders.
“It’s becoming increasingly dangerous for people, even like us who are protected by the government, to move around the roads these days,” Moro said.
He recounted the killing of a professor near a police checkpoint in Benue State.
“They just shot him dead right there, very close to a police checkpoint. If people can conveniently be killed like that, then it becomes increasingly scary that we are all walking corpses,” he said.
Moro urged the Senate leadership to meet with President Bola Tinubu to brief him on lawmakers’ concerns over the security situation.
Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, questioned why criminal groups were controlling parts of the country.
“Is this country at war? If we are not at war, why are non-government bodies controlling parts of this country?” Ningi asked.
He also called for an investigation into the number of security personnel killed across the country and the support available to their families.
Responding to the debate, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, defended the efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies.
“Our men in uniform are doing their best. They are working very hard,” Barau said.
He added that terrorism and banditry had become regional challenges affecting several West African countries.
“The issue of banditry and terrorism has a global dimension. The entire West African region is confronted with this sad reality, from Mali to Burkina Faso, Niger and beyond,” he said.
OTHER RESOLUTIONS
The Senate also urged security and intelligence agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, intelligence sharing, surveillance operations, threat assessment mechanisms and early warning systems.
Lawmakers called for deeper collaboration with local communities, traditional institutions and religious leaders to improve community-based intelligence and trust-driven security partnerships.
The upper legislative chamber further urged the federal government to accelerate the deployment of modern security technologies, including unmanned aerial systems, geospatial intelligence capabilities, integrated command and control platforms and advanced communications systems to combat terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
Lawmakers also mandated the Senate leadership to constitute a delegation to visit the family of the late Abubakar, the Katsina state government and the Nigerian Army to convey the condolences of the Senate.
• One casualty recorded, three hospitalized
The Anambra State Government has sealed the site of the collapsed building at Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barr. Chijioke Ojukwu announced immediate closure of the site pending comprehensive investigations and structural integrity assessments.
He said preliminary findings indicated structural failure as the likely cause of the collapse.
While reaffirming government commitment to stricter enforcement of physical planning regulations and the elimination of unsafe construction practices, Ojukwu vowed that the incident would mark a turning point in enforcement of building regulations across the state.
He assured that owners and developers of defective or non-compliant structures would face sanctions, while ongoing projects would undergo stricter inspections.
On his part, Commissioner for Works, Arc. Okey Ezeobi, said technical investigations were ongoing to determine exact cause of the collapse.
He added that government had engaged a team of professionals to carry out a comprehensive structural evaluation.
Recommendations will be implemented
He assured residents that government would implement recommendations from the investigation to strengthen the state’s building control system.
Implementation will also prevent future occurrences while ensuring prosecution of culprits in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, said government immediately deployed medical personnel and ambulances to the scene to provide emergency care for the injured, while the Ministry of Health worked closely with other emergency response agencies throughout the rescue operation.
Obidike commended the swift and coordinated response of the Anambra State Government and emergency agencies, describing it as crucial to the rescue efforts and timely medical treatment of victims.
The Mayor of Orumba North Local Government Area, Rtd. Captain. Casmir Nwafor, praised the rapid intervention of the state government and emergency responders, noting that their coordinated efforts helped contain the situation and minimize further risks.
Nwafor urged developers, property owners, institutions, and residents to comply strictly with approved building regulations and safety standards, reaffirming the local government’s support for the enforcement of physical planning laws.
Running to safety
Eyewitnesses, Prince Ifeanyi Ezefunamba said the building, reportedly occupied by students of Federal Polytechnic Oko, collapsed at about 10:00 p.m. after occupants heard cracking sounds and evacuated.
One survivor, Miss Chioma Akabike narrowly escaped moments before the collapse, while rescue operations commenced immediately.
Also present during the inspection were officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) headed by the Enugu State Head of Operations, Mrs. Priscilla Mbaekwe, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Others include: the Anambra State Fire Service, and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), who participated in rescue, security, and preliminary technical assessments.
As of the time of filing this report, one fatality had been confirmed, while three injured victims were receiving treatment at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) and St. Michael’s Hospital, Oko, as rescue operations continued.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, on Saturday commended the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for demonstrating that Local Content Policy could be a force for transforming lives and creating socio-economic value through community-focused interventions.
Speaking at the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at IkaComprehensive High School, Ikot Akpan Anwa, Akwa Ibom State, the Minister said such a strategic investment in the area, with vast possibilities for research and online learning through diverse educational platforms, would bolster human capital development, digital literacy and sustainable community development.
The ICT Centre, built and equipped by the NCDMB, comprises a modern computer laboratory with 50 networked desktop workstations, an interactive smart board, projector, server room and Starlink high-speed Internet connectivity to support digital learning, research and computer-based examinations. Designed to accommodate up to 70 users, the facility also features air-conditioned learning spaces, a staff room, store and separate convenience facilities. Power reliability is supported by a 15kVA generator and a 15kVA solar power system with battery backup, complemented by a dedicated network infrastructure for seamless connectivity.
“This ICT Centre,” according to the Minister, “is far more than a building equipped with computers; it is an investment in the future of our children and a gateway to knowledge, innovation, creativity and opportunity.” Continuing, he noted that, “Nations that invest in the digital education of their young people today are the ones that will lead the world tomorrow.”
He said the initiative of the Board aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by advancing access to quality education, youth empowerment, digital transformation and inclusive economic growth, as young Nigerians in rural communities acquire relevant digital skills and competencies to participate effectively in a technology-driven economy.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Director, Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, stated that digital literacy and ICT capacity development remain a key component of the Board’s human capital development mandate aimed at building a skilled workforce for the Nigerian oil and gas industry and the broader economy. He noted that the facility would provide students with access to digital learning, research tools, artificial intelligence and global knowledge resources.
“This ICT Centre is more than a building; it is an investment in the future of our young people,” he stated, adding, “It represents our commitment to extending Nigerian Content objectives beyond industry into classrooms, where innovation, technology and skills development can empower the next generation.”
Halilu stressed that the project’s long-term success depends on collaboration among the Board, the school and the host community. He urged the community to take ownership of the facility and ensure its proper maintenance and sustainability for future generations.
“Our expectation is not simply to hand over a facility but to see measurable outcomes in the lives of the students who will use it. We therefore call on the school and the host community to safeguard this centre and ensure it continues to deliver value for many years to come.” He added.
Speaking on behalf of the project delivery team, the Managing Director of Standard Institute of Technology Limited, Engr. Alexander Nsidibe, expressed appreciation to NCDMB for the confidence placed in the company to deliver the project. He described the ICT Centre as a demonstration of the Board’s commitment to quality infrastructure development and human capital advancement. He pledged the company’s continued support for the facility’s maintenance for one year after handover, noting that the Centre would enhance students’ digital competencies and prepare them for productive life in industry.
In her welcome address, the Principal General of IkaComprehensive High School, Mrs. Nkom John Umoette, described the ICT Centre as a transformative intervention that would bridge existing digital access gaps. She noted that the school lacked an ICT facility, which constrained students’ exposure to digital learning and computer-based education.
She expressed appreciation to Rt. Hon. Ekpo and the NCDMB for making the project a reality, stating that the facility would equip students with essential digital skills, improve their preparedness for computer-based examinations, and create greater opportunities for academic excellence and future careers.
A representative of the community commended the Minister and the NCDMB for the delivery of the ICT Centre, noting that the facility would significantly improve access to digital learning and computer-based examinations. He recalled that students previously travelled to Uyo and neighbouring communities to register for and take examinations such as JAMB, incurring additional costs and facing logistical challenges.
Many students are reportedly trapped even as rescue operation is ongoing in Oko community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State where a private student hostel reportedly collapsed Sunday night.
Several occupants are feared trapped beneath the rubble of the three-storey building identified as Elite Five Star Lodge collapsed at Amokpala, Oko.
Eyewitnesses said a loud bang was heard moments before the multi-storey building gave way, sending students and residents rushing to the scene in confusion and fear.
“We heard a loud bang, and within seconds people were screaming for help. Everyone rushed out to see what had happened,” an eyewitness said.
Videos and photos circulating on social media showed a large crowd gathered around the collapsed structure as residents, students and emergency responders launched frantic rescue efforts. Local volunteers were also seen assisting in clearing debris in a bid to locate survivors.
Rescue operations ongoing – Police
The Anambra State Police command confirmed the incident in a statement Monday morning saying a coordinated rescue operation was underway.
The building, located beside Tonimas Filling Station, caved in on July 26, prompting an immediate emergency response from the Anambra State Police Command and other security agencies.
The statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Police-led joint security team swiftly mobilised to the scene upon receiving a distress call adding that the area was secured to prevent further danger while rescue efforts commenced in collaboration with relevant emergency responders.
According to the statement, personnel of the Anambra State Fire Service and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) joined the operation to assist in searching for survivors and evacuating victims from the debris.
The police command disclosed that some injured occupants have already been rescued and taken to a hospital in Oko, where they are receiving medical treatment.
However, rescue operations are still in progress, and authorities said the number of casualties or persons trapped could not yet be confirmed.
The command appealed to residents and members of the public to remain calm, refrain from spreading unverified information, and stay away from the disaster site to enable emergency personnel carry out their duties without obstruction.
Ikenga assured that further updates would be provided as more verified information becomes available.
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