The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned the incessant abduction of students by bandits in parts of the country. In a communique issued after the standing committee meeting held last Thursday in Lagos, the Guild expressed worry that the spate of abductions, if not checked, could discourage parents from sending their children to school and thereby lead to a ...

The 38 abducted schoolchildren and officials of the Government Science College Kagara, Niger State, on Saturday, regained their freedom from bandits, who kept them in captivity for 10 days. The abductees, who were received by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello at the Niger State Government House in Minna, recounted their ordeal in the bandits’ den on Saturday. The 38 victims, comprising ...

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent a Freedom of Information request to the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, urging him to “clarify the action that his Ministry has taken to address and find the alleged billions missing from the Ministry and its agencies, and if there is relevant admissible evidence of corruption and mismanagement, to refer ...

The kidnapped schoolgirls of Government Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara State have been released and are currently in the palace of the Emir of Anka waiting for transportation to Gusau, the state capital. A very competent source had informed Sunday PUNCH on Saturday that negotiations with the bandits who kidnapped the schoolgirls had reached a very advanced stage, saying “they may ...

Raymond Ozoji,  Awka The Director-General Media and Publicity of Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo Governorship Campaign Organization, Dr. Harris Chuma Odili, has enjoined the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) delegates to beam searchlights towards Nwankpo as a better option to consolidate on Gov. Willie Obiano’s achievements. Odili made the call during an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Awka at the weekend. ...

Leading energy company, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), has restated commitment to support the Federal Government of Nigeria’s goal of using the country’s proven gas reserves to trigger economic activities for gas-based industrialization. SPDC’s Managing Director and Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, said Shell’s support is shown in the company’s multi-billion ...

Gozie Okafor The right to protest is a constitutionally guaranteed right in Nigeria as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution. It is essential to our democracy, giving voice to those with no platform or privilege. It is one of the powers that people can exercise beyond voting in an election. Democracy thrives on deliberating, arguing and dissent. However, ...

…says aspirants should sell manifestoes not sarcastic statements  Raymond Ozoji,  Awka Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Political Matters, Hon. Barr. Ifeatu Obiokoye, has warned all governorship aspirants on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)  to shun all manner of vulgar language and sarcastic statements against one another. Obiokoye gave the warning in a 9-point ...

There are reports that the abducted schoolboys and some staff members of the Government Science School, Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State have been released. They were released in the early hours of Saturday. A very competent source told THISDAY that the abductees are on their way to Minna and should be in the Niger State capital ...

Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, has said he will not be intimidated by the fresh attempt by the police, the army and the Department of State Services to arrest him, saying any effort to arrest him on Yorubaland will fail. Igboho said this during an interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, while reacting to the face-off between him ...