By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expresses deep sorrow, profound outrage, and serious national concern over the latest building collapse in the Durumi area of Abuja which reportedly claimed no fewer than five lives and left several others trapped beneath rubble.

This tragic incident is not an isolated accident.

It is the latest symptom of a long-standing structural and institutional failure within the administration of the Federal Capital Territory.

For over a decade, Abuja has witnessed recurring incidents of collapsed residential and commercial buildings, many of which were entirely preventable if regulatory institutions had functioned professionally, transparently, and without political interference.

HURIWA strongly believes that the repeated collapse of buildings across the FCT reflects a dangerous combination of regulatory negligence, compromised engineering standards, weak enforcement mechanisms, institutional corruption, political patronage, and the deployment of substandard construction materials by desperate developers seeking profit at the expense of human lives.

The painful truth is that many buildings collapsing in Abuja are products of systemic failure long before they physically cave in.

Professional engineers, architects, urban planners, builders, and quantity surveyors have repeatedly identified common technical factors responsible for these disasters:

use of substandard reinforcement materials,
weak concrete mixtures,
structural overloading,
illegal modifications,
poor soil analysis,
compromised foundations,
non-compliance with approved engineering specifications,
and the absence of rigorous integrity testing during construction stages.

Yet despite repeated warnings from professionals and regulatory bodies, successive FCT administrations have failed to establish a sustainable, transparent, and technologically driven compliance mechanism capable of preventing structural disasters.

HURIWA recalls that since 2015, Abuja has recorded multiple building collapses in areas including Jabi, Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Lokogoma, Sabon Lugbe, Lifecamp, Guzape, and other rapidly expanding districts where aggressive real estate speculation has overtaken regulatory discipline.

In many cases, investigations were announced with media fanfare, committees were established, reports were written, and promises were made — only for institutional silence and impunity to eventually prevail.

Nothing fundamentally changed.

The cycle continues because there are rarely consequences for regulatory failures.

The central tragedy of Abuja’s urban crisis is that the city is increasingly being governed more as a political estate-sharing arrangement than as a carefully regulated capital territory deserving world-class planning standards.

Many successive FCT ministers appear more interested in allocating lands — including environmentally protected green areas — to political associates, business allies, family members, cronies, and privileged networks than in building enduring institutional legacies rooted in safety, planning discipline, and sustainable urban governance.

The consequence is the emergence of chaotic construction patterns, overstretched infrastructure, compromised environmental standards, and dangerous structural practices across the Federal Capital Territory.

Abuja was designed to be a modern, properly regulated capital city governed by strict masterplan principles.

Sadly, what Nigerians increasingly witness today is the commercialization of land administration without corresponding commitment to structural safety and urban integrity.

HURIWA therefore demands:

An independent judicial panel of inquiry into recurring building collapses in the FCT since 2015.
Public prosecution of developers, contractors, engineers, and regulatory officials found culpable in negligence or approval fraud.
Immediate structural integrity audits of ongoing high-rise and major construction projects across Abuja.
Full digitalization and public transparency of building approval processes.
Mandatory integrity certification at every critical construction phase.
Stronger collaboration between COREN, NSE, NIA, and urban development regulators.
Criminal sanctions against officials approving illegal structures or compromised projects.

We further call on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to move beyond reactive sympathy visits and emergency interventions by initiating a lasting institutional reform capable of restoring confidence in Abuja’s urban regulatory architecture.

Providing free treatment for survivors is commendable, but preventing avoidable deaths must remain the primary responsibility of government.

Nigeria cannot continue normalizing building collapses as routine urban occurrences.

Every collapsed structure represents institutional failure.
Every avoidable death represents regulatory negligence.
Every compromised building approval represents corruption with deadly consequences.

The lives lost in Durumi must not become another forgotten statistic buried beneath official statements and temporary outrage.

By Our Correspondent

In a bid to rid the country of banditry and insurgency,the troops of the Northeast Operation Hadin Kai ( OPHK), of the Nigerian military in collaboration with the United State of American (US) military have neutralizd ISIS global.second in Command, Abu Bilal Al- Minuki alongside several key lieutenants and fighters in Metele Bormo state.

The OPHK in a statement issued on Saturday by its Spokesman Lt Col. Uba Sani said “Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in coordination with partners, have successfully conducted a precision air-land counter-terrorism operation resulting in the neutralisation of Abu – Bilal Al- Minuki , the Islamic State ‘s (ISIS) global second-in-command and the most senior Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) leader, alongside several of his key lieutenants and fighters.”

“The operation, conducted in the early hours of Saturday, 16 May 2026, at Metele in Borno State within Sector 3 of the Theatre, followed sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts which confirmed the presence of the high-value target and his cell within a concealed enclave. Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, was a prominent figure within ISWAP’s leadership structure, with links to transnational terrorist networks operating across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel region”, the statement said.

The OPHK also said “. He had previously been designated by the United States Department of State as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) for his role in facilitating operational coordination and resource mobilisation for terrorist activities.*

“Acting on credible intelligence, OPHK forces, in synergy with partner support, executed a coordinated air and ground assault on the identified location. The operation involved precision air strikes followed by ground force manoeuvres to isolate the target area, block escape routes, and ensure effective engagement of the terrorist elements. Preliminary battle damage assessment confirms the neutralisation of the high-value target along with several of his associates, while follow-on exploitation operations are ongoing to consolidate gains and disrupt any surviving terrorist elements within the area.* The theater Command added.

The statement further said “the operation was executed without casualties to own troops or loss of equipment, underscoring the high level of professionalism, coordination, and operational effectiveness of the forces involved. This development represents a significant milestone in ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the North East, further degrading the leadership and operational capabilities of terrorist groups operating in the region. ”

The theater Command therefore reassures the public of its continued commitment to sustaining offensive operations aimed at total elimination of terrorist threats, restoring normalcy, and ensuring lasting peace , security and economic stability across the North East region.

The Military High Command also commends the troops of OPHK for impressive joint battle performance of OPHK and US partners, urging the troops of OPHK to sustain the operational tempo in the security, peace and economic interest of the North East region and Nigeria as a whole.

By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi

Security expert and executive protection specialist, Dr. Jackson Lekan Ojo has commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the Office of Special Adviser on Homeland Security and for appointing Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Fadewa, rtd., to the role.

In a statement made available to journalists, Ojo said the move signals a clear commitment to strengthening internal security coordination, enhancing intelligence-driven operations, and improving inter-agency collaboration at a time when Nigerians are demanding safer communities.

He described Fadewa as a highly decorated officer with over three decades of experience in military and intelligence operations, counter-terrorism, and national security strategy.

“His role in establishing the Intelligence Fusion Centre at the Office of the National Security Adviser demonstrates his capacity for high-level coordination and strategic planning,” Ojo said.

He, however, suggested a swap of roles between National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu and Fadewa to better align expertise with mandate.

“In the spirit of constructive nation-building, I respectfully advise a strategic swap to align expertise with mandate,” he said.

Ojo proposed appointing NSA Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, arguing that his background as a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, and former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC chairman aligns directly with managing domestic threats, policing, civil unrest, and inter-agency cooperation.

He recommended appointing Maj. Gen. Fadewa as the NSA, citing his extensive military career, experience as the Principal General Staff Officer to the NSA, and leadership in intelligence fusion and national security strategy.

“This realignment is not a criticism of any individual, but a recommendation to match skillsets to roles for optimal results.

“The right person in the right seat will accelerate policy execution, improve synergy between security agencies, and give Nigerians confidence that both internal and external threats are being addressed with the right expertise,” Ojo said.