Author: Vanguard News

By Golok Nanmwa

Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Naanlong Daniel, has formally declared his intention to seek a second term in office, even as leaders and party officials in his Mikang Local Government Area constituency gave him a resounding marching order to contest.

Daniel made the declaration during a consultative meeting with members of the Mikang Legislative Arm and All Progressives Congress (APC) officials in the area.

Addressing the stakeholders, the Speaker described grassroots leaders as the “pillar and structure” of democratic governance, stressing that their experience and deep understanding of local dynamics are critical for sustainable development.

He expressed gratitude to God for the prevailing unity within the APC in Mikang, describing it as vital for political stability and progress in the area.

The Speaker said the consultation was to seek the support, prayers, and understanding of the legislators and party leadership, whose roles he described as indispensable in shaping the future of the local government.

Highlighting the importance of experience in governance, Daniel noted that his journey, including his time as Majority Leader, had been marked by loyalty and sincerity, which had prepared him adequately for the speakership.

He pointed out that the new harmonised Standing Rules across state houses of assembly in the federation now ensure that only returning members preside over legislative leadership, underscoring the need for continuity and institutional knowledge.

Lamenting that Mikang had lagged in development for years, the Speaker stressed that progress must be deliberate, conscious, and driven by visionary leadership.

“I remain a leader for the entire Local Government, not for any particular tribe or group,” he affirmed, while urging councillors and party officials to embrace purposeful leadership anchored on a clear vision for the people.

Daniel clarified that his re-election bid was not aimed at blocking anyone’s ambition but to consolidate existing gains and accelerate development across Mikang, which he said stands at a crossroads.

The Speaker assured his constituents of tangible dividends, disclosing that fertilisers would soon be distributed to farmers through councillors and party chairmen as points of contact.

He added that plans are underway to drill over 25 boreholes across the four districts of the local government.

On infrastructure, Daniel revealed that the Lifidi-Piapung to Baltep and Lalin to Garkawa road projects, facilitated through his office with the support of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, have been awarded and construction is ongoing.

He said the roads, when completed, would boost economic activities in the area.

The Speaker called for inclusive and friendly politics, warning against divisive tendencies, and reiterated his commitment to work with all stakeholders for the collective good of Mikang.

“I am a leader for everybody. I am here to seek your prayers, support, and cooperation so that together, we can move Mikang to greater heights and transform it into a tourist haven,” he declared.

In their responses, the Leader of the Mikang Legislative Arm, Hon. Putdet Shepshal, commended Daniel for his consistent and purposeful leadership, including interventions such as paying WAEC and NECO examination fees, JAMB registration, and scholarships for students across tertiary institutions.

Shepshal noted that the council had backed the Speaker even during their time in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and would continue to support him.

Similarly, APC Chairman in Mikang, Peleng Caleb, and the Chairman of Ward Chairmen, Hon. Sati Yongpian, described the Speaker as a “miracle child” and a unifying figure.

They collectively endorsed his re-election bid, assuring him of their full support.

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At least, 24 people have been killed in a brutal attack on Debe community in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, triggering outrage from Amnesty International, which has called for immediate and impartial investigation.

The attack which occurred on the evening of April 5, 2026, coinciding with Easter Sunday, left scores dead and many others displaced, according to accounts gathered from residents who fled the violence.

Witnesses described the attack as indiscriminate and extremely violent.

One resident, speaking to Amnesty International, said: “The killers were on rampage. During the attack they killed Muslims, Christians and followers of traditional religion. They killed every human being they came across.”

In addition to the killings, widespread destruction was recorded across the community. Several homes were razed, leaving families without shelter, while a Catholic Church, identified as an outstation of Sacred Heart Parish Shafa, was completely destroyed.

Local traders were also affected, with at least 14 shops set ablaze, wiping out goods and livelihoods in the already vulnerable rural settlement.

The violence forced many residents to flee to neighbouring communities, creating a fresh wave of displacement in the area.

Responding to the incident, Amnesty International condemned the killings and urged Nigerian authorities to act swiftly.

The organisation called for a “prompt, thorough and impartial investigation” to ensure that perpetrators are identified and prosecuted.

It also stressed the need for immediate protection for survivors and humanitarian assistance for those displaced, noting that affected families require urgent support to rebuild their lives.

Authorities in Kebbi State are yet to issue a detailed official statement on the attack when this report was filed.

Gunmen kill 24 in Kebbi community as Amnesty demands urgent probe

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has accused Al Jazeera journalist, Mehdi Hasan of engaging in what he described as opposition-style journalism during a recent interview.

Bwala made the claim while speaking on News Central’s programme, 60 Minutes with Mr Kay, aired on Friday, where he reviewed his interview with Hasan.

According to him, the journalist’s approach was not neutral but aimed at challenging and discrediting the government.

“What Mehdi Hasan did was what we call opposition-style journalism, where you play the role of the opposition,” Bwala said.

He alleged that the interview was designed to extract statements that could be used against the administration.

“In that interview, Mehdi sought to elicit information from me to discredit the government, but he could not,” he added.

Bwala explained that a large part of the interview focused on his past political criticisms of President Bola Tinubu, which he acknowledged but said were not relevant to the main discussion.

“In the first 15 minutes, he kept asking about things I said when I was in the opposition. I admitted them, but I asked that we move on to the purpose of the interview,” he said.

He further claimed that the repeated focus on his past statements affected the flow of the discussion.

“He continued on that line, and at a point I warned him that if he kept going that way, I would deny it. He still continued, and that was why I reacted that way,” Bwala stated.

The presidential aide maintained that despite the tense exchange, he handled the interview properly and remained focused on defending the government’s position.

It was an opposition-style journalism – Bwala drops new comment on Al Jazeera interview

The Nigerian Navy officer involved in the unprofessional conduct during the official visit of President Bola Tinubu to Bayelsa State on Friday, will be facing a court-martial on Monday, THE WHISTLER has learnt.

This incident exposed a breakdown in discipline among security personnel assigned to the presidential convoy.

The officer, who was driving a Naval Police van as part of the president’s escort team, became involved in a confrontation that escalated into a public altercation.

The incident, captured in a widely circulated 53-second video, showed security operatives abandoning protocol and engaging in disorderly conduct in full view of civilians.

Footage of the incident showed the driver of a “Naval Police” Hilux vehicle stepping out of his truck to exchange heated words with personnel from the army who were also part of the convoy.

The confrontation intensified after the officer returned to his seat, when a soldier armed with a rifle approached the vehicle and threw a sudden punch at him, turning the verbal dispute into a physical assault.

The situation escalated rapidly as personnel from both the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy joined the altercation, trading blows and creating a chaotic scene that drew the attention of onlookers.

The public display of infighting among armed operatives during a high-profile state visit had triggered widespread criticism and raised concerns over inter-agency coordination and professionalism within Nigeria’s security architecture.

Reacting to the incident in a post via his X handle on Saturday, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abi Folorunso, confirmed that those involved have been taken into custody and are undergoing disciplinary procedures.

“The affected personnel are in custody and already undergoing appropriate administrative and disciplinary procedures in accordance with extant military regulations,” he wrote.

However, further findings by THE WHISTLER indicate that the naval officer is currently being held at the Nigerian Navy Ship Soroh in Yenagoa, where he remains in custody pending further action.

A senior officer familiar with the development confirmed that the arrest followed a directive issued by the Commanding Officer, with initial documentation of the case scheduled through the Officer of the Day (OOD).

The officer said, “The individual is currently detained at the guardroom of NNS Soroh, with both hands and legs in handcuffs. On the directive of the Commanding Officer, he is to be presented before the Officer of the Day (OOD) tonight for preliminary documentation of the case.

“He will also appear before the Commanding Officer again on Monday between 9:00am and 10:00am.

“He is expected to face a court-martial on six charges, underscoring the gravity of the offence.

“The matter is currently under formal military disciplinary process, with further action to follow.”

Bayelsa Convoy Brawl: Military Personnel To Face Court-Martial Monday is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolve to decisively defeat all security threats confronting the nation.

Shaibu gave the assurance during an operational visit to Yobe, where he conducted a battlefield assessment and boosted troop morale.

This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, on Friday.

The COAS said the army remained steadfast in spite of recent attacks on troop positions, noting that ongoing operational adjustments were already yielding results.

“The Nigerian Army will remain aggressive and adaptive in responding to evolving threats across various theatres of operation,” he said.

Shaibu urged continued support from citizens and state governments, stressing that collaboration remained critical to achieving lasting peace.

He commended the government and people of Yobe for their sustained support to troops engaged in counter-insurgency.

During the visit, Shaibu was received by Gov. Mai Buni, represented by Deputy Governor Idi Gubana, at the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Damaturu.

At Headquarters, Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai, Damaturu, the COAS charged troops to remain resolute and intensify operations against terrorists.

He urged them to honour fallen comrades through renewed commitment to duty and sustained offensive actions.

In his remarks, Governor Buni commended the army’s resilience and sacrifices in restoring peace to affected areas.

He offered prayers for fallen soldiers, describing them as heroes who paid the ultimate price in defence of the nation.

Meanwhile, Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, accompanied by Sen. Ali Ndume, paid a condolence visit to the army over recent personnel losses in the North-East.

Zulum pledged to evolve additional strategies to support security agencies in tackling emerging threats in the region. (NAN)

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The Federal Government has ordered the withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their citizenship of the country.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, issued the directive to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) through his media adviser, Alao Babatunde, on Saturday.

According to the Minister, the directive applies to Nigerians whose renunciation of citizenship has been formally approved by the president.

Tunji-Ojo explained that the move is in line with constitutional provisions guiding citizenship status and the integrity of national documentation.

He cited subsections (1) and (2) of Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which state: “(1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation. (2) The President shall cause the declaration made under subsection (1) of this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria”.

The minister noted that once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, such an individual is no longer entitled to hold any sovereign document of the country, including a Nigerian passport.

He said this was part of reforms in the passport and visa system aimed at strengthening national security and safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s citizenship framework.

“We will continue to strengthen systems that secure Nigeria’s borders, prevent identity fraud, preserve the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship, and facilitate legitimate travel while preventing unauthorized or ineligible access,” the minister said.

FG Withdraws Passports Of Nigerians Who Renounced Citizenship is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

I have been troubled for days. Not just by the news of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, another senior military officer killed in Borno, but by what these repeated losses are quietly telling us.

Before the grief from the most recent death could settle, I remembered Brigadier General Musa Uba, who died in equally disturbing circumstances in late 2025. He was separated from his team in Damboa, hiding in the forest, using WhatsApp to send his live location and proof-of-life video, hoping rescue would come. It never did.

When I reflect on that incident, something about it keeps bothering me. A senior commander, alone in hostile terrain, forced to depend on a smartphone signal for survival. In today’s battlefield, that is like lighting a lantern in the middle of a dark bush. You want your people to find you, but you may also guide the enemy straight to your hiding place.

Contrast this with the recent tragedy of General Braimah in Benisheikh. Reports suggest his end came not from a digital signal, but from a mechanical failure, an armored vehicle that reportedly failed to start at the critical moment of escape.

Whether it is a smartphone signal that gives away a location or an engine that fails in the heat of an ambush, the root cause is the same: our finest men are being sent into battle with tools that are either too “loud” or too unreliable for the modern theater of war.

Around the same time, news broke of a miracle extraction in Iran. A US airman was pulled from a mountain crevice without saying a word. No WhatsApp, no radio, no signal. The CIA reportedly used a tool called “Ghost Murmur.” They did not look for his phone. They looked for the rhythm of his life. They filtered out the desert heat and the mineral-rich rocks until they found one thing: the steady thump-thump of a human heart. They found their man because he was alive. His biology was his broadcast.

Whether exaggerated or not, the idea behind it struck me. It suggests a future where rescue happens quietly, without exposing the person in danger.

Then I looked back at our own reality. In Damboa, General Uba had to share his location to be saved. Every digital move meant to rescue him may have also increased his vulnerability. If reports about tracking or internal leaks are even partly true, then the tragedy becomes even harder to ignore.

Where I come from, elders say that when you shout in the forest, you must be ready for whoever answers. It may be a friend; it may also be a predator. That is exactly what modern warfare has become. Signals are no longer neutral. They are footprints. Similarly, an armored vehicle that cannot move is not a shield; it is a cage.

I do not believe this is simply about bravery. Our officers lead from the front. They take risks many of us cannot imagine. But courage alone cannot defeat a changing battlefield. War is no longer only about bullets; it is about information, reliability, and silence.

What worries me most is the pattern. When senior officers are lost, the cost is not just emotional. We lose experience, leadership, and institutional memory. Troops feel it. The public feels it. And insurgents exploit it for propaganda.

I am also concerned about the information gap that follows these incidents. Initial denials, followed by conflicting reports, and then confirmation through insurgent propaganda. In communication, credibility is everything. As the proverb goes, the man who hides the truth today may not be believed tomorrow.

To me, the lesson is clear. We are fighting a loud war in what has become a silent battlefield. Our movements are visible. Our signals are audible. Our equipment is aging. Meanwhile, the enemy thrives in the shadows, exploiting every weakness in our hardware and our communication.

I believe we must start thinking differently. Communication discipline must improve. Smartphones are not designed for battlefield secrecy. Furthermore, our hardware, the APCs and engines our leaders rely on, must be as reliable as their courage. In my village, we say the secret that passes through many mouths soon loses its owner. We might also say that a warrior is only as fast as the horse beneath him.

The officers we have lost did not fail. They were doing their duty under difficult conditions. The real failure would be if we do not learn from their sacrifice. War has changed. It has moved from noise to data, from open confrontation to hidden detection.

My heart breaks for General Braimah and General Uba. These were not just names on a map; they were shields of our nation. But bravery alone cannot fight a ghost.

The lesson from “Ghost Murmur” is simple: The human body itself may now be a signal. If we do not learn how to manage that reality, how to protect it, hide it, and provide the mechanical reliability to move it; we will keep sending our heroes into the forest with nothing but a prayer and tools the enemy has already mastered.

It is time we stopped looking for signals and started listening to the heartbeat. We owe the fallen more than mourning. I believe we owe them a smarter fight.

Young Ozogwu is an Abuja-based public commentator. You can contact him on young.ozogwu@gmail.com

OPINION: Two Generals, Double Tragedy: Are Nigeria’s Battlefields Technologically Outdated? is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The luxury San Francisco home of OpenAI boss Sam Altman was hit by a Molotov cocktail on Friday, the company said, as police announced the arrest of a suspect.

No one was injured in the incident, and the firm behind the popular ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot would not confirm if the CEO was home at the time.

The motive for the attack and subsequent threats to set fire to OpenAI’s San Francisco headquarters — apparently by the same 20-year-old man — were not immediately known.

But they come as Altman’s profile has risen with the increasing use of AI, amid fears it could massively disrupt employment patterns and cause irreversible societal changes.

Police in San Francisco responded after reports that someone had tried to set fire to a gate at the sprawling home.

A statement from the San Francisco Police Department said officers were dispatched to the home just after 4:00 am (1100 GMT).

“At the scene, officers learned that an unknown male subject threw an incendiary destructive device at a home, causing a fire to an exterior gate. The suspect then fled on foot,” SFPD said.

A short time later they were called to the firm’s offices where a man was making threats.

“When officers arrived on scene, they recognized the male to be the same suspect from the earlier incident and immediately detained him,” the statement said of the unnamed 20-year-old suspect.

A spokesman for OpenAI confirmed the attack on the chief executive’s residence and the threats to the San Francisco headquarters.

“The individual is in custody, and we’re assisting law enforcement with their investigation,” the spokesman told AFP.

– AI for war –

Altman and OpenAI have become targets for people protesting AI as a threat to society.

Detractors have been particularly troubled by OpenAI’s decision to provide its technology to the US Department of Defense.

In a rare post on his personal blog, Altman shared a photo of his husband and their baby “in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house.”

The OpenAI chief defended his convictions and called for a de-escalation of rhetoric surrounding.

“I empathize with anti-technology sentiments and clearly technology isn’t always good for everyone,” Altman wrote.

“But overall, I believe technological progress can make the future unbelievably good, for your family and mine.”

OpenAI last month said it was valued at $852 billion after a funding round that raised $122 billion.

The figure reflects the surging costs of computing power and came amid lingering questions about whether OpenAI and rival companies can generate sufficient revenue to cover expenses.

ChatGPT claims the top position in consumer AI, with more than 900 million weekly active users and some 50 million subscribers.

Use of ChatGPT’s online search engine has tripled over the course of a year, according to OpenAI.

AFP

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Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, says President Bola Tinubu is in talks with Britain, US and Türkiye, among others, to end Nigeria’s security challenges.

Ibrahim, who stated this on Friday in New York on his arrival to assume duty as the new Nigerian ambassador, assured that Tinubu would solve Nigeria’s security problems.

He explained that Nigeria was not focused on only one country, adding that whatever country has a solution to Nigeria’s security problems is being engaged.

“Nigeria is our country. We can have problems like Boko Haram but we are embarking on multilateral engagements to solve them,” he said.

“We are not looking for one single country to come and help us. We are looking for many countries to come and help us.

“As America is there, the President is talking to Istanbul (Türkiye) and we just left London, Britain is coming to assist.

“As we engage stakeholders, we welcome people that want to help us solve our problems and we hold them in high esteem.”

He stressed that every country in the world has had its own challenges at one point or the other, citing the infamous Sept. 11 coordinated terrorist attacks in the U.S.

According to him, Tinubu sent him to the UN to rally the global community in support of Nigeria.

The immediate past Senator who represented Ondo until his ambassadorial appointment, insisted that Nigeria remains one indivisible country.

“The president must be successful. Nigeria must be one indivisible sovereign nation,” he stressed.

“We all know that sovereignty is not absolute but to the extent that we are one is an excitement for Mr President.

“Anything contrary to that is unheard of, un-doable un-achievable. It’s one sovereignty. We are all from different backgrounds but we like ourselves.

“Nigeria is a unique country for the world to reference. Nigeria must be one, can only be one. So let us have that very clearly in our minds.”

The Nigerian envoy stressed that it was better for the world for Nigeria to remain one country and assured the country would overcome its current security challenges.

“What I’ve got to deliver here is that Nigeria must be one and indivisible – cannot be divided, cannot be discussed.

“The question about division of Nigeria cannot be discussed and cannot be heard of. We will clearly pass that message.

The Nigerian diplomat underscored the need for the officers of the permanent mission to project the agenda of the administration, saying they were sent to project the best of the country.

“We need to be very innovative to carry up President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which has its own foreign elements,” Ibrahim said.

“The president is very serious and is working hard to make sure our foreign policy is re-engineered to reflect the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“He has sent me here to put the Renewed Hope Agenda in very clear terms to our multilateral partners and to our bilateral offices that we have across the world.”

The new Nigerian envoy was received on arrival at the JFK Airport by officers of the permanent mission and the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York.

(NAN)

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The United States, US, Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, for talks with Iran aimed at easing tensions.

Vance, accompanied by a US delegation, departed Washington on Friday ahead of the negotiations.

Before leaving Joint Base Andrews, he cautioned Tehran against undermining the process, while expressing readiness for constructive engagement.

“We’re going to try to have a positive negotiation,” Vance told reporters.

“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand.

“If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive,” he said.

US VP Vance arrives Islamabad ahead of peace talk with Iran