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 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

By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) vehemently condemns the latest increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), describing it as intolerable, unacceptable and insensitive to the economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians.

The latest increase by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which raised its petrol gantry price from N1,185 to N1,200 per litre, effective today, August 26, 2026, is coming at a time when international crude oil prices have recorded significant declines.

HURIWA in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko is particularly concerned that Nigerians continue to bear the consequences of incessant petrol price increases while the Federal Government has failed to make the country’s publicly owned refineries fully operational despite the enormous resources reportedly committed to their rehabilitation.
We condemn the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), for what appears to be a prolonged failure to revive the nation’s refineries.
It is unacceptable that billions of dollars reportedly committed to turnaround maintenance of the refineries have not translated into functional facilities capable of producing petroleum products for Nigerians.

HURIWA therefore demands a full, independent and transparent forensic audit of the funds reportedly spent on the rehabilitation of the country’s public refineries.

The Federal Government must tell Nigerians precisely how the reported expenditure of over $2 billion was utilised, who authorised the contracts, which companies received the funds, what work was actually carried out and why the refineries have remained largely non-functional.

Where investigations establish fraud, corruption or diversion of public funds, those responsible must be arrested, prosecuted and compelled to return every recoverable amount to the public treasury.

It is unacceptable for individuals who may have questions to answer over the management of such enormous public resources to continue enjoying freedom and public influence without accountability.
HURIWA also rejects any proposal for another cycle of massive public spending on the same refineries without first accounting for previous expenditures and recovering funds found to have been misappropriated.
The continued failure of the public refineries has created an unhealthy dependence on private refining capacity and raised legitimate concerns about competition and pricing within the downstream petroleum sector.
While HURIWA recognises the importance of private investment in the petroleum industry, Nigerians must not be placed at the mercy of any dominant player because government-owned refineries have been allowed to collapse after years of questionable expenditure.
The Federal Government and relevant regulatory authorities must therefore ensure that petrol pricing is transparent, competitive and subject to effective regulatory oversight.
The recurring increases in petrol prices are having a devastating effect on the Nigerian people. Every increase immediately feeds into transportation costs, food prices, production expenses and the general cost of living.
At a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with multidimensional poverty, government policies must prioritise economic relief, transparency and social protection rather than allowing policies that further erode household purchasing power.
HURIWA consequently demands:
An immediate explanation for the latest petrol price increase.
A comprehensive forensic audit of all funds spent on the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s public refineries.
Publication of contracts, payments and project reports relating to the refinery turnaround maintenance.
Investigation and prosecution of anyone found to have diverted or mismanaged public funds.
Immediate recovery of all stolen or misappropriated funds.
An end to arbitrary or unjustified petrol price increases that worsen the cost-of-living crisis.
Stronger regulatory measures to guarantee competition and prevent market abuse in the downstream petroleum sector.
The Federal Government must understand that Nigerians cannot continue to pay the price for institutional failures, alleged financial mismanagement and the inability to deliver functional public refineries after billions of dollars in reported expenditure.
HURIWA gives the Federal Government until 1:00pm today, August 26, 2026, to respond to these demands and provide Nigerians with clear answers on the latest petrol price increase and the expenditure on the nation’s public refineries.
Nigeria’s petroleum resources belong to the Nigerian people. The management of the sector must therefore be governed by transparency, accountability and the public