By Uthman Baba -Naseer,Minna

The Inspector General Of Police,IGP Rilwan Olatunji Disu, has condemned in the strongest terms the abduction of over six hundred worshipers at Juma’at Mosque in Dekera village of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The IGP described the incident as painful,unfortunate, and heartlss.

He said the abduction of the worshipers as carried out by the armed men,is the highest level of ungodly as displayed by the armed bandits..

Addressing officers and men of the Niger State Police Command during his one day official working visit to the Command at the Police headquarters in Minna at the Weekend, IGP Olatunji Disu, noted that the armed men have taken their operational activities too far.

He noted that the kidnapping of the worshipers on the 24th, of August 2026, in Dekera village, is a very serious incident that concerned every Nigerians and the country as a whole.

“ I sincerely condemned these attacks in the strongest possible terms. I equally condemned the continued damaging of innocent citizens by these criminal elements whose activities threatened the peace and economic wellbeing and social stability of our communities” he declared.

IGP Olatunji Disu noted further that the activities of the armed bandits on rural communities whose source of lively hoods is farming is being threatened as a result of unwholesome activities of these criminal elements.

“ Wherever they are,we want them to know that what they are doing is wrong. They are targeting innocent citizens,and this is affecting the economic situation of the state, even the country in general” he added.

The IGP,explained that his visit was aimed at strengthening the ongoing efforts to rescue the abducted worshipers while identifying practical measures to address the operational challenges confronting security in the state.

He disclosed that the Police had already deployed tactical and counter-terrorism teams, and the special intervention squad and Explosive Ordinance Personnel (EOD),as part of efforts to rescue the victims in the affected Communities.

He charged officers and men of the Niger State Command to remain vigilant,proactive and professionally committed in the discharge of their duties.

The Police Chief,further urged men and officers of the Command to strengthen Community engagement and intelligence gathering mechanism,stressing the need for credible information capable of preventing attacks to be transmitted promptly to the appropriate operational authorities.

Speaking on the proposed establishment of State Police IGP Rilwan Disu,assured men and officers of the Command,that the establishment of the state Police would not in any way disrupt on-going security operations “ but it could strengthen the capacity and efficiency of security personnel in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Maintaining that the Nigeria Police Force remains the primary Policing institution in the country, with a critical responsibility for the maintenance of internal security.

While acknowledging the sacrifices of Police officers,IGP Disu noted their courage,resilience and commitment to duty remain essential to the collective efforts to secure Niger State and the country.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Niger State,CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman, appreciated the laudable support received from the IGP since the abduction and the attacks on the Worshipers.

He described Niger State as the largest state with land mass in the country which he said as a result of the landmass it posed a serious challenge to effectively policing the state.

He disclosed that the three Senatorial zones in the state are facing peculiar security challenges which he attributed to the state bordering some neighbouring states which include Zamfara,Kebbi,Kwara,Kogi and FCT.

CP Adamu Elleman commended the IGP for deploying the Assistant Inspector General Of Police in-Charge of Zone 7 AIG Victor Olaiya as a result of the abduction of the Worshipers,stating that his presence in the state,has boosted the morale of the personnel already on the rescue of the victims.

By Dvid Owei,Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Government, on Thursday, urged communities in Biseni clan in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, to discontinue blocking of access roads to oil facilities as response to unmet demands from oil companies operating in the area.

The Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, made the call at a meeting with the leadership of Biseni Kingdom, officials of Oando Plc and relevant top government functionaries in Government House, Yenagoa.

Dr Akpe, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, underscored the importance of using peaceful means of resolving conflicts, stressing that the act of staging frequent protests was inimical to the corporate image of the state.

He, therefore, advised the people of Biseni, to make a comprehensive documentation of all their grievances and demands, and submit same to appropriate government offices within a week for action.

The Deputy Governor equally directed the state Ministry of Mineral Resources to interface with Oando Plc and its host communities in Biseni, with a view to resolving the recumbent issues, including the construction of the dilapidated road linking the communities and some oil facilities owned and operated by the oil firm.

Dr Akpe, who expressed dissatisfaction with Oando’s handling of the issues, urged the oil company to cooperate with the Ministry of Mineral Resources, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to achieve amicable resolution of the conflict in no distant time.

His words: “As a government, we are not comfortable with such protests, because we believe there are better alternative ways to go about resolving issues. Road blocks will not solve any problem. They will rather cause more harm than good for you.

“Let’s not also burst pipelines because the oil that is spilled will destroy our farmlands, our rivers and fishes; it is we that will ultimately bear the economic, social and environmental cost. It doesn’t help us in any way.

“As paramount rulers, I want you people to deal with these issues. Government works in strata. So, report to the appropriate offices and action will be taken. Clearly, I can see that there is no proper organization and coordination on the side of the company concerning the issues.

“So between now and Friday next week, let there be a comprehensive compilation of everything that has to do with the Biseni matter and it should be submitted to my office for further engagement.

“Get yourselves well acquainted with what is right to do, get your facts and get to the Ministry of Mineral Resources and they will give us the feedback. But please don’t ever go to block any road again.”

In his contributions at the meeting, the Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Council, Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, said the grievances of the people were justified, which result from alleged failure on the part of the oil companies to implement mutual agreements with the communities.

Hon. Ndiwari described the roads being used by the oil companies to access their facilities in Biseni as death traps, which informed the decision of the people to block the roads in protest against Oando Plc, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company for the companies to reconstruct the deplorable roads.

Speaking on behalf of Oando Plc, the Lands Manager , Sir Okechukwu Onuemize, disclosed that the position of the company ab initio had remained that of rehabilitating the bad portions in the road and not a full reconstruction of the entire road as being canvassed by the communities.

On his part, the Acting Clan Head of Biseni, His Royal Highness Williams Wariebi threw his weight behind the position of the State Government and appealed to his people to desist from incessant blocking of the roads in the best interest of the Biseni clan and the entire state.

By David Owei

The KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust recorded significant progress in governance, financial oversight, infrastructure delivery and community development in 2025, with its project portfolio achieving 78 per cent execution.

Presenting the Board of Trustees’ report at the Trust’s 2025 Annual General Meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Board Secretary, Dr. Matthew Sele-Epri, said the Board strengthened oversight through regular meetings, committee reviews and monitoring of the approved workplan and budget.

“The Board provided strategic direction and exercised oversight through its meetings, committees and engagements with the Trust’s statutory and operational structures,” Sele-Epri said.

He said the Trust also strengthened the oversight roles of its Programs Oversight, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee; Advocacy, Communications, Partnership and Stakeholder Management Committee; and Finance, Accounts Audit and Risk Management Committee *.

According to him, progress was recorded in procurement,* recruitment, grievance management, stakeholder engagement, project delivery, HSE standards, ethics, budgeting and financial management. Forvis Mazars was appointed external auditor, while the Trust completed its registration with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. Vetiva Capital and FBNQuest were also appointed to manage approved naira and dollar reserve investments.

Sele-Epri said the Board was satisfied that management operated substantially within its mandate, workplan and budget, while noting the need for improved information flow, performance appraisal, early risk escalation, reporting, timely delivery, prudent resource use, community participation and sustainability.

The Board subsequently endorsed the Management Implementation Report and audited financial statements for presentation in the AGM.

Trust Records Progress in Education, Health and Infrastructure

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, HRH Moses Theophilus, said 2025 was marked by institutional consolidation and measurable progress across the 11 KEFFESO host communities.

He disclosed that the Trust supported 258 education, health and water-service personnel, profiled 229 persons living with disabilities, and enabled 40 young people to access opportunities under the Federal Government’s technical and vocational education initiative. It also facilitated scholarship, employment and contractor-registration opportunities through industry relationships.

“Stewardship requires us to manage the Trust’s resources prudently, make decisions transparently and remain answerable to the communities whose aspirations we represent,” Theophilus said.

On infrastructure, he said all four legacy concrete-road projects inherited from the GMoU framework had been completed, while five solar-powered industrial boreholes were delivered and water facilities in four communities maintained. Also the 2025 projects are currently on-going across the 11 communities and the permanent site of the KHCDT. Overall project execution stood at 78 per cent.

The chairman also highlighted FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited 2025 medical outreach, which reached 3,871 beneficiaries and distributed 916 pairs of eyeglasses, as well as the K-yan digital education initiative implemented with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.

However, Theophilus acknowledged delays in procurement, contractor performance and HSE compliance.

“Transparency demands that we speak honestly about the gaps. Procurement timelines were longer than anticipated; contractor performance and HSE compliance require firmer oversight; information flow across our organs must improve; and community expectations must be managed through earlier and more consistent engagement,” he said.

He said the Trust would strengthen monitoring, clarify institutional roles, improve contractor accountability, digitize processes and develop sustainability plans.

“Our measure of success must go beyond the number of projects commissioned. We must ask whether our investments remain functional, whether they improve lives, whether communities take ownership and whether the benefits can be sustained for future generations,” Theophilus said.

He thanked FIRST E&P, NNPCL Exploration & Production Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, community leaders, women, youths, persons with disabilities, development partners and other stakeholders for their support.

KEFFESO represents Koluama, Ezetu, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni, Sangana and Opu-Okumbiri/Okumbiribeleu/Oginibiri. It is the Host Community Development Trust of the NNPC Limited/FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company ( *FIRST E&P) Joint Venture,* operator of PML 53 and OML 54