
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has assured residents that abducted schoolchildren and teachers will be rescued, stating that the government is making every effort to secure their release. Addressing social media influencer VeryDarkMan and other protesters at the Oyo State Government House, Governor Makinde expressed his personal distress over the abduction, noting that the victims, including nursery and primary school pupils, have been held captive for over a month. He explained that details of the ongoing security operation cannot be disclosed due to its sensitive nature but emphasized efforts for a safe return without casualties. Governor Makinde described the incident as unprecedented, marking the first time nursery and primary school children have been abducted in Nigeria. He also acknowledged that the state is in communication with the abductors, an exceptional measure necessitated by the circumstances, and expressed confidence that once the victims are rescued, measures will be implemented to prevent future occurrences.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe Nigeria Olympic Committee NOC has launched a national safeguarding policy for sports, instructing all national sports federations to adopt and implement the framework. This initiative aims to shield athletes from abuse, harassment, discrimination, and exploitation, ensuring a safe environment for their development and competition. NOC President, Habu Gumel, stated that the policy aligns Nigeria's sports sector with international best practices and the International Olympic Committee's consensus statement on harassment and abuse in sport. The policy follows the inauguration of the NOC Safeguarding Commission in February 2025 and extensive awareness campaigns. It establishes clear standards, reporting mechanisms, and accountability structures for all stakeholders, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as children, female athletes, and persons with disabilities. Gumel urged federations to appoint safeguarding officers and encouraged coaches, administrators, and technical officials to undergo safeguarding training, for which the IOC has allocated resources. Adebola Olajide, Chairman of the NOC Safeguarding Commission, highlighted that the policy protects the entire sports ecosystem by defining responsibilities and reporting channels, addressing issues like psychological abuse, sexual harassment, neglect, and bullying. Olajide emphasized that safeguarding enhances athlete performance by fostering an environment free from fear, allowing athletes to concentrate on their long-te
Must ReadThe Nigerian Senate has suspended its legislative recess and called an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, June 23, at 11:00 a.m. in Abuja. The session, directed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, will address urgent national issues, particularly the worsening security situation across the country. This decision alters the National Assembly's previous schedule, which had lawmakers resuming on July 7, 2026. The emergency recall comes amid increasing concerns over insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping. President Bola Tinubu recently stated that no mercy would be shown to terrorists and their sponsors, noting that over 13,000 terrorists had been neutralized in the past year and terror-related deaths had dropped by 81 percent since 2015. He acknowledged the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states as a painful reminder of security challenges. The emergency sitting will also consider ongoing legislative efforts to reform Nigeria's security architecture, including proposals for state police. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are working to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow for decentralized policing by transferring policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List. The Senate has passed this measure for a second reading, indicating a commitment to finding solutions to the country's persistent security crisis. The June 23 session is expected to provide an opportunity for senators
Must ReadThe Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, requesting a stay of execution for a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress ADC and four other political parties. INEC also supported the appeal filed by the affected parties. The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had ordered the deregistration of the ADC, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party, citing their failure to meet constitutional requirements. INEC's counsel, Haliru Mohammed, stated that the commission was surprised by the lower court's decision, given an earlier appellate court order to halt the judgment's delivery. Counsel to the ADC, Mr. Shuaibu Aruwa SAN, informed the appellate court that his party received notification of the judgment via WhatsApp and urged the court to intervene, arguing that the lower court's decision was delivered despite a subsisting order from the Court of Appeal. Lawyers for the affected parties also highlighted upcoming by-elections scheduled for June 20 in six states, expressing concerns that the judgment could create electoral uncertainties. The original ruling by Justice Lifu followed a suit by the National Forum of Former Legislators NFFL, which argued that the parties failed to meet constitutional benchmarks for retaining registration, including performance thresholds in elections.