BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER,MINNA

The Niger State Child Right Agency (NSCRA) will continue to raise its voice against all sorts of violence and molestation against girl child,women and the vulnerable in the state.

This was disclosed by the Director General of the Agency in Niger State,Hajiya Umulkhatum Mohammed Esq. In an interactive chat with journalists in her office in Minna.

The Government under the enabling law as passed by the enabling legislative, to protect the right of the girl child,domestic violence,gender based violence (GBV), among other unpleasant abuses that will be detrimental to the girl child.

According to the Director General,among such includes withdrawal of girl child from schools to early marriage, child bullying,gender based violences of all sorts and girl molestation warning that the agency will ensure the full prosecution of such persons in court of competent jurisdiction

She noted that some parents are in the habits of withdrawing their girl child and their under aged girl child from school for early marriage,describing the trends as unacceptable.

Stating that the agency had recieved series of such complaints “ and the agency under my watch will go after any parents or guardians that engage in any of such unpleasant attitudes”

“ I will go after any parents and guardians that henceforth withdraw their girls from schools for early marriage.I will ensure that such parents and guardians will go to jail.

“ The law is very clear on that unpleasant act. If you think you can just go to school and withdraw your daughters for early marriage, dare that and you will see the consequences of the agency” she declared

Speaking further, the Director General of the agency pointed out that she has zero tolerance for all sorts of gender based violence and girl child molestation and domestic violence insisting that agency would not fold its hand to watch disgruntled elements take pleasure in gender based violence sexual abuse as well as domestic violence on the vulnerable in Niger State.

She stressed the need for community based organisation, CBO,Non Governmental organisation, NGO, Community and religion leaders,as well as all critical stakeholders in the state to partner with the agency by voicing out the increasing rates of gender related vices against girl child in the state.

This, according to Hajiya Umulkhatum Mohammed will assist the agency in bringing any culprits to face the full consequences of Justice.

The Director General noted that the law establishing the agency was backed with the instrumental of the enabling legislation that empowered it to ensure the full prosecution of any sort of gender related crimes against the girl child emphasizing the needs for members of the public in the state to speak out.

Disclosing further, Hajiya Ummukhatu Mohammed stated that the agency has taken an Islamiya teacher in Bosso to custody for abusing his Almajiri causing body harm on him assuring that full wrath of the law will be visited on him to serve as a detergent to other Islamiya teachers that are in the habit of abusing their Almajirai (pupil).

She warned that the Niger State Child Rights Agency under her watch continue to ensure the protection of the right and dignity of girl child,women and gender and domestic violence.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

Some communities in Borgu and Agwara, local government area of Niger State again came under heavy attacks as some armed men believed to be terrorists wrecked heavy havoc on the communities killing over 26 persons

The assailants carried out their offensive assaults on the locals for the past three days resulting to setting houses and farm products ablaze and abducting over 200 persons including women and children

It was reliably gathered that the terrorists began the invasion of the communities in Feyi in Borgu kingdom in the late hours of Thursday 12th February 2026,before spreading the attack to other communities of Tungan Makeri and Nkpaso villages .

The source further explained that the criminals came into the communities riding on unspecified numbers of motorcycles, armed with sophisticated weapons,shooting sporadically to scare the villagers and causing confusion among the people.

According to another source who pleaded anonymity,”The terrorists started the attacks last Thursday night, and early hours of Friday in Feyi village and during the attack,Six persons were killed, adding that the criminals carried out their nefarious activities freely unchallenged, moving from one community to another killing more people in the invaded communities “..

” The terrorists later moved to other communities of Tungan Makeri and Nkpaso villages both in Konkoso Ward of Borgu local council in the early hours of Saturday, killing another 20 people”.

The terrorists also set the Police station in Pissa ablaze but later escaped into the forest upon hearing the sound of helicopters moving towards their direction.

All the communities attacked by the terrorists are said to have been abandoned by their inhabitants due to incessant attacks by the terrorists,they however appealed to governments at all levels to come to their aid to save lives and property from further attacks.

The Commissioner of Police in Niger State CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman, had told journalists in his office last week,that the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun directed the deployment of 120 armed tactical Squad to the communities to effectively police the residents of the affected communities.

He told journalists that a total of 120 armed tactical Squad have been deployed to Agwara and Borgu to secure the both communities against the activities of these terrorists group.

The Niger state Police command, is yet to respond to the incident as the Spokesman of the command SP Wasiu Abiodun could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.

By George Mgbeleke

Following The release of 2027 election timetable, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has welcomed INEC’s announcement of the February 20, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections but urged the Commission to give Nigerians clear assurances on the real-time electronic transmission of results. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the credibility of the polls would depend not just on the timetable but on transparent processes, calling on INEC to outline concrete safeguards against manipulation and on the National Assembly to pass a binding legal framework to remove ambiguity around real-time electronic transmission.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, notes the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, fixing February 20, 2027 for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

We welcome the early release of the timetable, which provides political parties, stakeholders, and the Nigerian electorate with needed clarity for long-term planning and democratic preparation.

However, the credibility of the 2027 general elections will ultimately not be judged by the timeliness of the timetable alone, but by the Commission’s demonstrable commitment to transparency, technological integrity, and strict adherence to due process throughout the electoral cycle.

Of particular importance is the question of real-time electronic transmission of results. While the Commission has indicated that it will operate within the ambits of the law, the current Electoral Act still leaves procedural discretion in critical areas that directly affect public confidence.

In his recent engagement with the media, the INEC Chairman acknowledged the Commission’s technological capacity to deploy electronic transmission and affirmed that the Commission will continue to use technology in the conduct of elections. The ADC therefore respectfully urges INEC to provide early and unambiguous clarity to Nigerians on its readiness to adopt real-time electronic transmission of results should the necessary legal amendments be enacted.

Beyond this, the Commission should clearly outline the specific guardrails, both manual and electronic, that will be deployed to safeguard the integrity of results management and prevent any recurrence of the irregularities that have troubled recent off-cycle elections.

The ADC also reiterates its call on the National Assembly to urgently pass a binding legislative framework that removes ambiguity around electronic transmission of results and strengthens the legal architecture for transparent elections.
Nigerians have shown, time and again, that they are ready to defend the sanctity of their votes. What is now required is for the electoral umpire to match that civic vigilance with institutional clarity, operational transparency, and administrative excellence.

As a party committed to democratic deepening and credible elections, the ADC will continue to engage constructively with INEC, the National Assembly, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the 2027 elections reflect the true will of the Nigerian people.