The Kaduna State Government has vehemently denied hiring a private negotiator or contemplating making such a move to facilitate the safe return of school children abducted in Kuriga community, Chikun Local Government of the state. A statement issued on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Muhammad Lawal Shehu, said, “The attention of the Kaduna State Government has been drawn to an outrightly mischievous and false report in the Punch Newspaper of 9th March 2024 stating that the Kaduna State Government has hired a private negotiator to facilitate the safe return of school children abducted in Kuriga community, Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State.”

Operatives of the Nigerian Army have destroyed the Supreme Headquarters of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN on Thursday.

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) which was non-functional in the past Administration will be ready for inauguration in May as it is 95 percent complete. This feat was part of measures put in place to enhance public transportation in the FCT. This was made known during a visit by the Belgium Ambassador to Nigeria, Daniel Bertrand, to the minister in Abuja. Wike stated " When we came on board, we found out that the Abuja Light Rail was not functional and we felt that it would be a good thing for the people if we decongest the city by putting it to function. So, President Bola Tinubu directed that whatever can be done should be done, so that in his one year in office, the light rail will come on board for the use of the residents, and instead of going with their vehicles, they can take the train.

Following the unabated security incidences that seem to linger in Nigeria, the House of Representatives are calling for the incorporation of security education as a subject in the Primary and Secondary Schools Curriculum to teach children some basic security tips.. Accordingly, the lawmakers have since mandated its Committee on Basic Education and Services to ensure implementation of the idea soon. 

The Nigerian Army and Navy troops, on Tuesday, neutralised five armed men in a firefight at identified IPOB/ESN camps in Ejemekuru in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo. The Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday said the troops overpowered the armed separatists’ resistance with overwhelming firepower and recovered a significant cache of dangerous weapons. According to him, the weapons recovered included one AK-47 rifle, two Pump-action Semi-automatic rifles, one locally fabricated gun, two magazines, and three rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.

An apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has applauded the National Assembly effort over the passage of the South-East Development Commission, SEDC, bill to its final stage. Recall, the Senate had on Thursday passed the bill for final reading two months after its passage by the House of Representatives.