Author: Tribune Online

Residents of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, have commended the state government for ongoing road development projects aimed at improving infrastructure and easing transportation. Some residents, who spoke with newsmen during an inspection tour of projects in Odo-Ado area, expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work. The Abodi of Ado-Ekiti, Chief Adedipe Olusola, […]

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with Mass Industrial Development and Logistics Limited and other key stakeholders in the palm oil sub-sector, has launched a renewed push to revitalise Nigeria’s palm oil industry through strategic partnerships with states and private investors. The initiative, unveiled at a national Stakeholders’ meeting on the […]

By Ifeoluwa Adeyeye The Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Honourable Oludaisi Elemide, has warned residents across the state, particularly those living on Idi-Aba road in Abeokuta, to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road medians, stressing that offenders will be arrested and prosecuted. Elemide issued the warning during plenary, where he condemned the […]

The Rotary Club of Ibadan Jericho Metro has marked its 14th anniversary with a humanitarian outreach aimed at supporting vulnerable members of the public through the distribution of essential items. The outreach, carried out in partnership with Kingdom Alive Outreach Ministries and Cornerstone Orphanage, featured the donation of household goods, clothing, food items, shoes, bags […]

In a bid to boost agricultural productivity and enhance food security, Yewa North Local Government Area has commenced the second phase distribution of 30,000 free cash crop seedlings to more than 1000 farmers.         The seedlings, comprising over 12,000 cashew, 9,000 cocoa and 9,000 Oil palm, were distributed during a flag-off at Adokun Royal Field, Igan-Okoto, […]

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued all passengers abducted during the recent Otukpo kidnapping incident involving a Benue Links bus, bringing the total number of recovered victims to 18.

The victims were kidnapped on April 15, 2026, along the Otukpo axis in Otukpo. Police said the breakthrough followed coordinated clearance operations by the Benue State Police Command across the Amla Forest corridor and surrounding areas.

According to authorities, the final batch of 13 victims among them eight students travelling to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination were rescued safely. All victims have since undergone medical checks and are reported to be in stable condition. They are expected to reunite with their families after routine debriefing.

During the operation, police arrested seven suspects, three of whom have been identified as members of the kidnapping syndicate. Investigations are ongoing to track down other accomplices and dismantle the wider criminal network behind the attack.

Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, praised officers for their professionalism and bravery.

He also ordered intensified security operations across the Otukpo axis to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of residents.

The police leadership reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property nationwide, urging Nigerians to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing security efforts.

Police Rescue All Otukpo Kidnap Victims, Arrest Seven Suspects is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Amnesty International has strongly criticised the Nigerian government over the abduction of at least 1,100 people in just three months under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, describing the surge in terrorist attacks and kidnappings as a horrifying spate that continues to target vulnerable rural communities and internally displaced persons in northern Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Monday, the global human rights organisation called on President Tinubu and his government to urgently address the worsening insecurity, particularly in the North East, North West and North Central regions where armed groups operate with little resistance.

Amnesty International is a global human rights organisation that campaigns against abuses and advocates for the protection of fundamental freedoms worldwide. It regularly documents violations and calls on governments to uphold international human rights standards.

The organisation highlighted several recent large scale incidents to illustrate the severity of the crisis. On March 3, 2026, Boko Haram fighters attacked Ngoshe town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting more than 400 people and laying siege to the community. On February 3, 2026, an armed group invaded Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing 200 people and abducting 176 others. In the first week of April 2026, gunmen abducted 150 people during coordinated attacks on Kurfa Danya and Kurfan Magaji villages in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The organisation noted that these abductions primarily affect rural communities and internally displaced persons who have already been displaced by earlier violence, turning them into soft targets for bandits, Boko Haram and ISWAP operatives.

President Bola Tinubu and his government must urgently address the country’s horrifying spate of abductions targeting rural communities and internally displaced persons in the northern part of the country, as at least 1,100 people have been abducted in three months from January to April 2026, Amnesty International stated.

The rights body warned that the persistent attacks which have spread across states including Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Benue and parts of Kwara reflect a broader pattern of mass killings and kidnappings for ransom, with inadequate security presence in many affected areas.

Since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, his administration has faced repeated criticism over its handling of Nigeria’s security challenges despite pledges to overhaul the country’s security architecture.

As of the time of this report, there has been no official reaction from the Presidency or security agencies to Amnesty International’s latest condemnation.

The development comes amid growing domestic and international concern that Nigeria’s insecurity is spiraling further out of control, with serious humanitarian consequences for millions of citizens.

Amnesty International Condemns Abduction Of 1,100 Nigerians In Three Months is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has released detailed statistics from its ongoing recruitment exercise.

It provided a breakdown of applications, screening outcomes, and examination performance nationwide.

The data shows that 1,120,491 applications were completed and processed, and they formed the pool of candidates who progressed into the examination stage.

However, 432,935 applications were recorded as incomplete, while 360,923 applicants were disqualified during the shortlisting phase following screening checks.

The data further indicated that the recruitment exercise attracted over 1.8 million applications across Nigeria.

The recruitment, which spans paramilitary agencies under the board includes the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, and Nigeria Correctional Service.

The board also published a national score distribution from the computer-based test (CBT), as it shows candidates’ performance.

According to the portal:

1. 221,996 candidates scored between 0–40
2. 229,155 candidates scored between 41–60
3. 278,543 candidates scored between 61–80
4. 142,697 candidates scored between 81–100

The data show that the largest proportion of candidates fell within the 61–80 score range, indicating a concentration of average-to-strong performance, while top-tier scorers (above 80) formed a smaller segment of the total candidates.

The next phase of the exercise will involve physical screening and document verification, with shortlisted candidates expected to receive notifications detailing screening venues, dates, and required documentation.

Only candidates who meet the required performance benchmarks and satisfy screening criteria will proceed to this stage.

The board has maintained that the recruitment process is free of charge and advised applicants to rely solely on official communication channels for updates, warning against misinformation and unofficial messages.

Earlier, many candidates had expressed concern over lack of communication, as the recruitment portal became intermittently inaccessible.

793,858 Applicants Disqualified From Paramilitary Recruitment is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A university don, Prof. Adams Agahiu, has outlined what opposition political parties can do differently to help tackle the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

He advised opposition parties to work in synergy with the federal government to promote rapid economic growth and grassroots development, rather than engaging in negative criticism.

Agahiu, who is the director of the National Education Summit in Nigeria, made the remarks while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday.

He noted that the country’s ongoing political and economic reforms provide a rare opportunity to dismantle long-standing barriers to national prosperity.

“The political and economic structures that have long undermined Nigerians’ prosperity are being steadily replaced through the realignment of the economy to enable full participation,” he said.

Agahiu also stated that the current administration has maintained democratic principles since taking office in 2023, including respect for the rule of law, separation of powers, and protection of citizens’ rights.

He further called on Nigerians to disregard what he described as misinformation allegedly being circulated by opposition elements against the government.

Hardship: What opposition parties can do differently in Nigeria – Agahiu

Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, April 20, 2026: Nigerian currency depreciates significantly

The Naira depreciated significantly against the United States dollar across foreign exchange markets on Monday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s data showed that the Naira weakened to N1,349.67 on Monday from N1,343.64 traded last week, Friday.

This means at the official market the Naira dropped by N6.03 against the dollar on Monday when compared to the close of work last week.

Similarly, at the black market, the Naira dipped massively by N20 to N1430 on Monday from N1410 on Friday, according to multiple Bureau de Change operators in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

DAILY POST: A downward trend across foreign exchange markets comes at a time the country’s external reserves declined further to $48.62 billion as of 17th April 2026.

Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, April 20, 2026: Nigerian currency depreciates significantly