The Benue State Government has described as malicious and false a publication circulating on social media alleging that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration has concluded plans to demolish the Secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Makurdi.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, disclosed this in a statement, describing the claim as baseless and completely detached from the truth.

“We state, without equivocation, that this claim is false,” he said.

Iorpev reaffirmed that Governor Alia is a proud product of the Church and has great respect for, and maintains support and partnership with, religious institutions across Benue State, including CAN.

He said any suggestion to the contrary should be viewed as a deliberate fabrication designed to incite disaffection between the government and the Church and destabilise the peace currently being enjoyed in the state.

The commissioner reaffirmed the Alia-led administration’s commitment to maintaining a cordial, mutually respectful and productive relationship with CAN and all religious bodies operating in the state.

Iorpev urged members of the public, the media and well-meaning residents to disregard the publication in its entirety, stressing that the report does not reflect the position, policy or intention of the government.

“Mischief-makers, rumour peddlers and purveyors of disinformation should take note that deliberate fabrication and circulation of false information intended to incite public disaffection, disturb the peace, or damage the reputation of government institutions would be treated as a criminal offence,” he said.

He said such acts were punishable under extant Nigerian law, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, warning that individuals found culpable would be identified and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Iorpev insisted that the government would not fold its arms while unscrupulous elements exploit social media to sow discord and mislead the public.

He assured that Governor Alia’s administration would remain committed to transparency and continue to engage the public through official channels.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a former staff member of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and 12 others over their alleged involvement in the vandalism of electricity cables worth more than N350 million in Abuja.

The suspects were also arrested in connection with alleged car theft, armed robbery and human trafficking across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring states.

The NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this during a parade at the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja and at a crime scene in Yangoji, Kwali Area Council.

Afolabi said the arrests were made by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) as part of efforts to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.

He said the operations covered the FCT and Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Niger and Kaduna states.

“One of the major suspects arrested is 25-year-old Isaac Zegbe, a former AEDC employee, who allegedly worked with his accomplices to vandalise more than 15 kilometres of aluminium conductors between Yangoji and Abaji.

“The vandalised cables were valued at more than N350 million and were later supplied to buyers in different markets across the FCT,” he said.

Following a sting operation, operatives recovered a large quantity of the vandalised cables at Gudu Market and arrested suspected receivers.

One of the suspects, identified as Chijoke Christian, allegedly admitted that he knowingly bought the stolen cables.

The Corps said it had obtained a court order to seal the shops of merchants linked to the purchase of the stolen aluminium cables.

The NSCDC also said its intelligence operations led to the arrest of a four-man syndicate allegedly involved in stealing Toyota vehicles across the FCT and neighbouring states.

The suspects were identified as Adamu Yusuf, Hassan Bukar, Adamu Musa, also known as Yellow, and Abdulsalam Isa, alias Kada.

In another operation, operatives arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery gang identified as Nuhu Ndam, Ponbin Lamkur, Yilcwat Sohdan and Ganpyal Dul.

The Corps said an AK-47 rifle, 16 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and N70,000 cash were recovered from the suspects.

The NSCDC also reported a breakthrough in a human trafficking investigation following the recovery of Micaiah Nana, the last of 16 children allegedly trafficked by Archibong Anderson on January 15, 2026.

According to the Corps, the people who allegedly bought the child have been arrested and are assisting with the investigation.

Other suspects arrested included Bilyaminu Musa and Abba Yusuf, who were allegedly involved in power cable vandalism in Abuja city centre.

Another suspect, Theophilus Oche Oboii, was arrested over the alleged theft of 15 tractor batteries from the National Agricultural Seeds Council in Kwali. The batteries were reportedly sold for N20,000 each.

“Items recovered during the operations included a stolen Toyota Camry with registration number YAB 163 EE, cut armoured electrical cables, 15 tractor batteries, master keys, cutting tools, knives and a stolen travel bag containing clothes,” he added.

Afolabi said the NSCDC would continue to go after criminal networks involved in the theft and destruction of critical infrastructure.

The Institute of Security Nigeria, ISN, has condemned the reported imposition of a N50 million levy and demand for 100 livestock by non-state actors at Talata Mafara Market in Zamfara State.

In a statement signed by its Deputy President and Chief Executive, Barrister Adebayo Akinade, the institute described the development as an “act of war against the Nigerian state and its people.”

The ISN said the reported seven-day ultimatum issued to traders and residents required urgent government intervention, describing the situation as a national emergency.

It said the continued activities of terrorists, bandits and kidnappers were destroying lives, livelihoods, farms and markets while creating a parallel criminal economy capable of undermining national security and economic stability.

The institute called on the Federal and Zamfara State governments to treat banditry levies and market invasions as terrorism and economic sabotage, backed by coordinated security operations.

It also called for a state-led security coordination framework linking federal security agencies, state security outfits and vetted community guards.

The ISN urged the government to equip frontline states, including Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna and Plateau, with tactical mobility assets, drones, night-vision equipment and attack helicopters.

The institute further advocated intelligence-led policing, including efforts to infiltrate criminal logistics networks and dismantle structures involved in the collection of levies and cattle rustling.

It also recommended the reintroduction of regulated livestock markets and the establishment of rapid-response mechanisms supported by air patrols.

The ISN urged communities to strengthen early-warning systems and establish local peace and security forums involving traditional rulers, farmers, market unions and faith-based organisations.

It also called on citizens to reject ransom and levy payments and report suspected criminal activities to security agencies.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has said that it is not part of the G-100 coalition ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

The National Chairman of the party, Agbo Major, made the declaration on Sunday while responding to questions in an interview on Arise Television.

He said the party nominated its presidential candidate but had to step down due to logistical and administrative challenges.

He said the absence of a presidential candidate for the NNPP reflected its ongoing consultations and understanding with other parties.

“We are still reviewing all available options. The party will meet very soon to take a definitive position on our next steps.

“The NNPP is not part of the G-100 coalition. For the first time they are giving this. We look at this as an experiment. Let’s see if it works.

“For us as a party, we haven’t been around the tough for a very long time. We we are afraid looking at the class of the people that are trying to come together. The issues will be who steps down for the other,” he said.

The National Leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has insisted that no one can stop the party from participating in the 2027 general elections, despite what it described as repeated attacks on its members.

The party made the declaration in a statement issued late Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, while reacting to an alleged attack on its members during a peaceful grassroots meeting in Obuoffia Ward, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The NDC condemned the incident, describing it as an unprovoked attack, and said intimidation would not stop its political activities.

“No one can prevent the NDC from exercising its right to democratic participation in the 2027 general elections,” the statement said.

It also alleged that its members had faced similar attacks in other parts of the South-East, including Imo State, and blamed security agencies for failing to respond effectively to such incidents.

The NDC further accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu of being unsettled by the party’s growing support, although it did not provide evidence for the claim.

According to the party, the alleged attacks would only strengthen its resolve to mobilise supporters across the country.

“If the goal of those sponsoring these attacks is to instill fear in the hearts of the people, they have failed woefully. This cowardly act will only strengthen our resolve to canvass and mobilise for the party and its candidates,” the statement said.

The party called on security agencies to immediately investigate the alleged attack in Enugu and bring those responsible, as well as their alleged sponsors, to justice.

The Katsina State Hisbah Board has arrested a woman in Dutsinma area for allegedly selling cannabis.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Publicity Officer of the Dutsinma Hisbah Division, C. I. H. Byareema.

According to the statement, the woman was arrested on Saturday, September 12, 2026, by Hisbah operatives working under the command of Dutsinma Hisbah Commander, Malam Shafi’u Ibrahim following intelligence gathered by officers.

During questioning, the woman allegedly said her husband’s younger brother supplied the cannabis, which she sold to make money for food.

The Hisbah Board said it was continuing with its investigation and would take appropriate action based on its findings.

Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has argued that the country is not as corrupt as many people around the world believe.

According to him, global corruption rankings do not fully reflect Nigeria’s culture and realities.

Omokri made the remarks on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

He said the country’s corruption perception rating had improved under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, abut insisted that global organisations often judge Nigeria using standards that do not consider local cultural practices.

“Nigeria is not as corrupt as the world thinks it is because the metrics they are using to gauge corruption are global metrics and they do not take into account the particular culture of Nigeria,” he said.

Omokri pointed to the tradition of showing appreciation to public officials who perform their duties well.

He said that while such gestures could be seen as corruption by organisations like Transparency International, they had long existed in Nigeria even before colonial rule.

“When a public official does the job very well in this country, people show appreciation. Transparency International sees that as corruption, but it is not corruption,” he said.

Omokri said Nigeria should stop allowing foreign organisations to define its image and instead tell its own story.

“We have to write our own story. If we allow these people to continue writing our stories, they will always see us as people who are poor and backward,” he said.

He also highlighted Lagos State’s economic growth, saying its Gross Domestic Product had grown significantly under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

According to him, Lagos had grown from a GDP of less than $100 billion six years ago to about $259 billion in purchasing power parity terms, while income levels had also increased.

Omokri further challenged claims that Nigeria was unsafe, citing the annual Detty December festivities in Lagos.

“Every year, 1.2 million tourists go to Lagos for Detty December. That is the biggest single tourism event in Africa, and not one person has been killed or injured,” he said.

The State Coordinator of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, RAAMP, Benue State, Mr Stephen Numbeve, has said no amount of media spectacle, political rhetoric or what he described as “moonlight tales” can erase the achievements recorded by the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

Numbeve made the assertion in a statement on Monday, saying the Alia administration had placed Benue State on a new trajectory of development through strategic investments in infrastructure, education, industrialisation and workers’ welfare.

According to him, the transformation under the administration was not merely a subject of political narratives but was visible in communities across the state.

He said major road projects were connecting cities and opening up rural communities, while investments in rural infrastructure were improving access for farmers and strengthening economic activities across the state.

“His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia, has placed Benue State on the global map. World-class roads now connect our cities, while rural communities are linked as never before. New industries are rising, and old ones are being revived,” Numbeve said.

He also highlighted developments in the education sector, particularly the construction and renovation of school facilities and the recruitment of thousands of teachers.

Numbeve said the recruitment of 9,700 qualified teachers represented a significant investment in the future of Benue children, stressing that education remained one of the most important foundations for sustainable development.

He further identified the regular payment of salaries and pensions as another area where the administration had, according to him, provided considerable relief to workers and retirees.

The RAAMP coordinator maintained that such interventions were more meaningful to ordinary citizens than political narratives circulated on social media.

“Media performances are open to all, but the truth is that the majority of Benue voters are not swayed by what trends online. They judge by what they see with their own eyes—the roads, the schools and the payment of salaries and pensions—not by twisted narratives crafted for the cameras,” he stated.

Numbeve therefore urged the people of Benue to pay attention to tangible development and continuity in governance rather than allowing political distractions to overshadow the progress recorded in the state.

He argued that Benue could not afford to abandon what he described as the foundation for sustainable development for the sake of political alternatives whose promises might not necessarily translate into improved living conditions.

Numbeve expressed confidence that the people would continue to assess the Alia administration based on its performance and impact on their daily lives.

“Benue cannot afford to let this progress slip away for the sake of any other option,” he concluded.