Author: The Whistler Newspaper

Stakeholders from Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State have dismissed allegations that their community is monopolising political positions in the council, insisting that the emergence of Chief Brendan Ani as the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate for the forthcoming local government election aligns with established power-sharing arrangements and principles of equity.

The stakeholders made their position known in separate statements issued on their behalf by Ifeanyi Ogenyi, Esq in response to a press conference by a group known as Isi-Uzo Patriots, which criticised the zoning of the APC chairmanship ticket to Eha-Amufu West Development Centre and alleged political imbalance in the local government.

They commended Governor Peter Mbah, the APC leadership in Enugu State and party members in Isi-Uzo for supporting Ani’s emergence during the party’s primaries, describing the outcome as a fair recognition of a community that had, according to them, been excluded from producing a council chairman for nearly three decades.

According to the stakeholders, the narrative that the nomination has sparked anger and division in Isi-Uzo was “misleading” and based on selective interpretation of demographic and electoral data.

They accused some critics of relying heavily on voter registration and turnout figures from the 2023 general elections to diminish Eha-Amufu’s political weight, while ignoring what they described as the “severe security disruptions” that affected the area prior to the polls.

The stakeholders stated that Eha-Amufu endured repeated attacks by suspected herdsmen between 2020 and 2022, leading to loss of lives, displacement of residents and disruption of normal political participation.

Defending the zoning arrangement, they referenced a 2007 political agreement allegedly reached by representatives of the five communities in Isi-Uzo—Eha-Amufu, Ikem, Neke, Mbu and Umualor.

They explained that the agreement reportedly split the local government into two political blocs, Eha-Amufu and Igbo-Ano, and recognised Eha-Amufu’s demographic strength based on population, land mass, voter registration and education figures at the time.

Quoting from the position, they maintained that “Eha-Amufu accounted for about 60 per cent of the population, 55 per cent of land mass and 52 per cent of registered voters,” insisting these figures justify rotational equity in leadership selection.

The stakeholders argued that political offices in Isi-Uzo have not always strictly followed zoning arrangements, recalling earlier periods when key positions were concentrated in certain communities without similar backlash.

They also faulted renewed calls for a return to the old three-development-centre structure, describing such demands as “politically motivated and coming late in the day,” given that stakeholders had long adopted the current framework.

They further noted that the creation of a second development centre in Eha-Amufu in 2015 was intended to reflect demographic realities and improve fairness in political representation.

On current political structure, they maintained that positions are spread across the four development centres, insisting that Eha-Amufu West Development Centre presently holds neither elective nor appointive office.

The stakeholders pointed to what they described as the existing concentration of key offices in Isi-Uzo Central, including the State House of Assembly seat, a commissioner position, and other strategic appointments in the state government.

In their view, denying Eha-Amufu West the chairmanship position would worsen imbalance rather than correct it, arguing that “equity demands inclusion, not exclusion.”

They further alleged that some of the critics of the APC primary outcome had previously opposed the party and only became vocal after the emergence of Ani as the chairmanship candidate.

Reaffirming their stance, they stressed that Eha-Amufu is not in conflict with any other community in Isi-Uzo and urged residents to resist attempts to inflame tensions or distort historical agreements for political advantage.

The stakeholders called for unity across the local government, urging all actors to prioritise peace and collective development while reaffirming support for Governor Peter Mbah’s administration and the APC ahead of the forthcoming local government election.

Eha-Amufu Leaders Reject Monopoly Claims, Back APC Chairmanship Candidate is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested an Aviation Security officer and two other suspects over alleged involvement in cash and gold smuggling at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

A statement by EFCC said the suspects, Ali Baffa, an Inspector 1 with Aviation Security (AVSEC), along with Aushabu Nasidi and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria were arrested by operatives of the Kano Zonal Directorate of the EFCC during an operation at the airport.

According to the agency, the arrests were made on Friday, June 11, 2026, during what the commission described as a routine surveillance exercise by the Land and Property Fraud Section of the Kano Zonal Directorate.

The operation followed a directive from the EFCC Executive Chairman ordering all zonal offices to step up enforcement against the smuggling of mineral resources and bulk cash through international airports.

According to initial findings, Ali Baffa allegedly hid 22.2 kilograms of unprocessed gold bars, valued at over N4.4 billion, inside his trousers with the intention of evading security checks. The gold was allegedly meant to be handed over to passengers travelling out of the country for illegal export.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Aushabu Nasidi, who was alleged to have supplied the gold bars to Baffa. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly found with several foreign currencies in his possession.

The recovered currencies included 3,000 Saudi Riyals, 40,000 Turkish Lira, 199.75 Kuwaiti Dinar, 20,700 Philippine Peso, 80 Australian Dollars, 310 Chinese Renminbi, 4,000 Algerian Dinar, 40 Hong Kong Dollars, 26,000 Hungarian Forint, and 1,000 Sudanese Dinar.

The probe also led to the arrest of Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, who was alleged to have supplied the gold bars to Nasidi. During interrogation, he reportedly admitted involvement in multiple shipments.

“While being interviewed, Dan Zaria revealed to the Commission that he had smuggled an estimated 40.2 kilograms of gold from June 1 to June 11, 2026 using the same modus operandi,” the statement said.

All three suspects are currently in EFCC custody.

The Commission said they will be charged to court upon completion of ongoing investigations.

EFCC arrests airport security officer, two others over alleged gold smuggling in Kano

The Federal Government, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, frowned at the hostility against its citizens in South Africa.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said this on Thursday during an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television.

She said what Nigeria will do in terms of bilateral relations will be heard from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the presidency.

“Honestly, enough is enough. Enough really has to be enough, but whatever will be done, you’ll hear from the higher authorities.

“For us as a commission, we’ve been engaging people to people. We’ve gone there many times to talk to our own people, but I tell you something, like I said, none of these people that came back committed any crime in South Africa.

“If one person commits a crime, get that person and deal with that person. You cannot generalize. But don’t forget that it’s not just Nigerians, but we have a higher number, so it’s something in them, and their government is looking the other way,” she said.

Xenophobia: ‘Enough is enough’ – Nigerian Govt

Ahead of Democracy Day celebrations, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has cautioned against linking criminal activities to any religion or ethnic group, warning that such narratives could deepen divisions and undermine efforts to tackle insecurity in the country.

The council made the call on Thursday in a Democracy Day message signed by its Public Affairs Officer, Abbas Jimoh, on behalf of the President-General of the NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

According to the statement, while insecurity remains a major challenge confronting the country, criminality should not be given ethnic or religious colouration.

It added that the council was concerned about the persistent threats posed by banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other forms of violent crime, which continue to claim innocent lives, displace communities and hinder national development.

“Criminality should neither be given ethnic nor religious colouration, as such narratives deepen divisions and undermine collective efforts to address insecurity and achieve lasting peace,” the statement said.

It expressed concern over what it described as attempts by some individuals and groups to associate Nigerian Muslims with banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, saying such profiling is unfair and does not reflect the character of the majority of Muslims in the country.

“We wish to state unequivocally that such religious profiling is false, misleading, and grossly unfair to the overwhelming majority of peace-loving Nigerian Muslims who continue to live, work, and contribute positively to national development across all sectors of society,” it said.

“While some mischief-makers were hell-bent on criminalising the Muslims and the Shariah for the kidnapping of students and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, recent developments have vindicated the Muslims of the attempted false-criminalisation,” the statement added.

It further argued that ethnic profiling was equally misleading, noting that suspects arrested in connection with the incident were not identified as Fulani, contrary to earlier reports.

The council urged media organisations, opinion leaders and other stakeholders to uphold professionalism, accuracy and fairness in their reporting and public commentary.

It also warned against narratives capable of inflaming tensions among Nigeria’s diverse communities and called for greater cooperation among government, security agencies and citizens in addressing insecurity.

Islamic Council warns against linking crime to religion, ethnicity

Community youths in Umuawa Alaocha, Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, have stormed the forest in the community to rescue two kidnapped indigenes of Ohuhu, Mr. Dennis Izuchukwu and Mrs. Onyinyechi Ekechukwu, who were earlier abducted by suspected herdsmen on Wednesday.

Dennis, a tricycle operator, and Mrs. Onyinyechi Ekechukwu, a farmer, were abducted at about 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, prompting youths from Umuawa Alaocha and neighbouring villages to launch a search for them.

The search efforts eventually yielded results at midnight when the victims were rescued from captivity after suffering varying degrees of injuries.

Speaking from his hospital bed after his rescue, Mr. Dennis Izuchukwu said the incident occurred when Mrs. Onyinyechi Ekechukwu engaged his services to help transport cassava she had harvested from her farm in Umuawa Alaocha.

According to Izuchukwu, while they were returning from the farm, they encountered about six suspected herdsmen. He added that one of the men suddenly emerged from the bush carrying a gun.

“I initially thought it was a joke, but before I knew it, others came out from different directions and surrounded us,” Izuchukwu said.

He recalled that the kidnappers allegedly dragged them through a narrow path deep into the forest, where the armed men identified themselves as bandits before demanding a ransom of N10 million each for their release.

Izuchukwu further disclosed that Mrs. Ekechukwu pleaded with the kidnappers, explaining that she could only afford N50,000, a plea that reportedly angered the abductors, who began beating her.

During the ordeal, Izuchukwu said one of the kidnappers suggested shooting them, but another member of the group asked him to hold on.

Speaking about the rescue, the member representing Umuahia North Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Anderson Akaliro, condemned the invasion of his constituency by bandits.

Akaliro, who lamented that the male victim suffered serious machete cuts during the attack, commended the patriotic and courageous efforts of the community vigilante group and other youths in rescuing the victims.

Female farmer, tricycle operator rescued from kidnappers in Umuahia 

A former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has said former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, died of a heart attack, contrary to widespread claims that he was poisoned.

Amachree insisted that evidence pointed to the fact that Abacha died of a heart attack.

Abacha died on June 8, 1998, while serving as Nigeria’s Head of State, and there have been different accounts of his death.

In an interview on TVC News, Amachree said investigators questioned a woman who was reportedly with Abacha shortly before he died, describing her account as the only direct eyewitness testimony of what happened in the room.

According to him, the woman arrived at the residence with her sister, who was said to know the former Head of State.

“The girl who was with him when he died was later brought to me for questioning. When she entered my office, the first thing she said was, ‘I did not kill him.’ She was very direct about it.

“I had to believe her because she had no reason to lie to me. I did not create an atmosphere that would make her feel threatened.

“Her account remains the only true eyewitness account of what happened because nobody else was in that room with them.

“From everything she told me and from what I gathered during the investigation, I strongly believe it was a heart attack. She did not know he was dead while she was with him, but later realised something was wrong. In my assessment, his death was the result of a heart attack,” he stated.

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Abacha died of heart attack, wasn’t poisoned – Ex-DSS director

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has said that lasting peace remains essential for the state’s development, adding that the door to negotiation is open to those willing to embrace peace across the state.

According to him, the state government is willing to engage bandits and kidnappers who genuinely denounce criminal activities, stressing that it is also prepared to facilitate their reintegration.

He urged them to abandon violence, embrace dialogue and surrender their weapons in the interest of peace and development.

The governor reportedly made the appeal during the official commissioning and handover of 152 housing units to internally displaced persons in Jibia Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.

The houses were constructed under the UNDP Northwest Prevention Facility Project, with support from the government of Germany in partnership with the state government.

The governor urged those still involved in criminal activities to turn a new leaf and return to their families and communities, assuring them that government support and opportunities could also be extended to them if they choose the path of peace and lay down their weapons.

“To our brothers and sisters in the bush and forests, to those who still raise weapons against innocent people, and to those engaged in banditry, kidnapping and violence, hear me clearly today: there is a better path, the doors for dialogue, repentance and reintegration remain open,” he said.

Radda reiterated his administration’s commitment to pursuing lawful and practical measures aimed at ending the persistent insecurity confronting many communities across the state, adding that lasting peace remains essential for the state’s development and pledging continued support for initiatives that promote stability, rehabilitation and community recovery.

Gov Radda opens door to dialogue with bandits, urges peace in Katsina

Major General Emmanuel Emekah, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, has credited the pipeline surveillance collaboration between Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Army for driving crude oil production to approximately 1.7 million to 1.8 million barrels per day.

Emekah spoke at the inauguration of 60 transit residential units for senior military officers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, built with support of Tantita Security Services and Maton Engineering Services.

“It is noteworthy that the contributions and collaborative efforts of stakeholders such as Tantita Security Services have significantly enhanced the operational environment within the Niger Delta region,” the GOC said.

“These efforts have contributed immensely to the attainment of the current crude oil production output of approximately 1.7 to 1.8 million barrels per day, a remarkable feat that has not been achieved since 2009,” he added.

The Army GOC’s remarks come as recent security data indicate declining violent incidents in the South-South geopolitical zone and rising crude oil production after the Federal Government’s award of pipeline surveillance contract to Tantita in 2022.

A recent analysis by THE WHISTLER found that violent incidents in the zone declined by 20.9 per cent between 2023 and 2025, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED).

The data showed that violent events in the South-South fell from 651 in 2023 to 515 in 2025. Fatalities from such events declined by 8.3 per cent in the same period.

Meanwhile, the North-West recorded a 127.9 per cent rise in incidents between 2023 and 2025, the North-Central zone recorded a 74.1 per cent increase, and the North-East saw a 19.5 per cent rise alongside a 26.4 per cent increase in fatality rate. Together, the three northern zones accounted for approximately 78 per cent of all conflict events and over 90 per cent of all fatalities in 2025.

Tantita, which currently employs about 136,000 persons in pipeline surveillance activities, has also partnered with Stakeholders Development Network and Ecosus Pro Nigeria Limited to launch the Tantita Sustainable Rice Farming Initiative to transition communities previously engaged in illicit oil-related activities into structured, large-scale rice farming.

Managing Director of TSSNL, High Chief Kestin Pondi, had stated at the launch of the programme in 2025: “We recognise that security enforcement is only one part of the solution. Providing alternative, sustainable livelihoods is the real way to break the cycle of illegal oil activities.”

At Wednesday’s inauguration of the residential units, Major General Emekah said: “The completion of these 60 units of one-bedroom flats is a testament to what can be achieved through strategic partnership, shared vision, and commitment to national development.”

He said the project aligns with the philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, which places “premium emphasis on the sound administration and welfare of troops as a critical enabler for operational success.”

Tantita’s General Manager (Security), Brigadier General Efemena Edafioghor (rtd), represented High Chief Pondi at the event, said the company believes that troops’ welfare is key to operational effectiveness.

“The decision by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and Maton Engineering Services to facilitate the construction of this accommodation project was informed by our belief that the welfare of personnel is a critical component of operational effectiveness,” Edafioghor said.

“As indigenous companies committed to the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, particularly in the Niger Delta region, Tantita Security Services and Maton Engineering recognise the importance of strategic partnerships in promoting peace, security, and economic prosperity.

“Our collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies has continued to yield positive outcomes in safeguarding the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure, enhancing security, and supporting the economic well-being of our country,” he said.

He expressed hope that the facility would “serve as a lasting symbol of the fruitful partnership between the Nigerian Army and responsible corporate organisations working together for the advancement of our nation.”

Army GOC Credits Tantita Security As Nigeria’s Oil Output Hits 18-Year High is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon. Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, on Tuesday freed 22 awaiting-trial inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ado-Ekiti, during his quarterly visitation to the facility.

The Chief Judge said the exercise was in line with his constitutional mandate under Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 12 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ekiti State.

A total of 543 cases were reviewed during the visit, comprising 535 male and 8 female inmates. Of the number, 18 inmates were released unconditionally, 3 were granted bail, and 1 was released on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution for having no case to answer.

Justice Ogunmoye thanked stakeholders in the justice sector for their support and said the visitation would be sustained. He promised to return to the centre before the end of the year.

In his welcome address, the Comptroller of the Correctional Centre, CC Alaba Ajeleti, commended the Chief Judge for the decongestion exercise, describing it as “great succour” for inmates. She, however, lamented that the facility was overstretched.

“The centre was originally designed to house 324 inmates but currently accommodates 937 inmates,” Ajeleti said. She urged the Chief Judge and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN, to liaise with relevant authorities for the construction of additional cells.

She added that many states now operate more than one custodial facility and commended the Ekiti State Judiciary for exploring non-custodial sentences for minor offences.

Officials present at the visit included judges of the Ekiti State Judiciary, magistrates, the Director of Legal Aid Council, Mr. Adeyinka Opaleke, the Director of Public Prosecution, and lawyers from the private and official bars.

The Chief Judge said only inmates with minor offences were considered for release.

Ekiti Chief Judge frees 22 awaiting trial inmates, 543 cases reviewed

 

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected impostor who allegedly posed as a retired Major General in Kaduna State.

Military sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect was apprehended on Wednesday by troops of the 312 Artillery Regiment deployed at the Strike Force Base in Sabo area.

The suspect was alleged to have been impersonating retired Major General A.T. Ibrahim.

According to the sources, the arrest followed intelligence that led troops to the suspect at about 9:14 a.m.

“The individual was arrested for allegedly impersonating Maj.-Gen. A.T. Ibrahim (rtd) and is currently in military custody undergoing preliminary investigation,” the source said.

The sources added that the suspect would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution after the completion of initial military procedures.

Military authorities have not disclosed the motive behind the alleged impersonation or whether the suspect used the false identity to commit any offence.

However, security agencies said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case and determine whether other persons were involved.