The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has ordered the removal of the Niger State Commandant of the corps and directed a full-scale, transparent and unhindered investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of illegal miners in the custody of the Niger State Command.

The heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation have also been invited for thorough investigation.

DAILY POST recalls that over 30 arrested illegal miners in the custody of the Niger State Command died mysteriously.

Assistant Commandant of Corps, Babawale Afolabi, National Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, in a statement on Friday morning, said the order followed a directive by the Minister of Interior, Tunji Ojo.

Afolabi added that the CG had directed a new Commandant to proceed to Niger State and assume immediate command of the State Command.

The CG assured the Minister of Interior that no stone would be left unturned in the investigation process, adding that any officer or personnel found to have acted contrary to the law, established procedures or professional standards would face appropriate administrative, disciplinary and, where applicable, criminal sanctions in accordance with extant laws and regulations.

“The NSCDC remains committed to upholding the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of every person in its custody and will continue to ensure that the enforcement of its statutory mandate, including the fight against illegal mining and the protection of Nigeria’s critical national assets, is carried out in accordance with the law and established professional standards,” the statement said.

Former federal lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye, has expressed disappointment over a petition calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to reopen and investigate alleged financial crimes involving the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, during his tenure as Nigeria’s Vice President.

DAILY POST reports that a former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, recently petitioned the anti-graft agency to reopen the case within 14 days.

The petitioner vowed that if, at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum, the commission refuses or neglects to act, he would instruct his lawyers to take legal action against the EFCC.

In the petition, Agbonayinma alleged that sometime between 2005 and 2006, the EFCC investigated and made a report on allegations of grand corruption involving Atiku, who was then the sitting Vice President.

The petition was signed on behalf of Agbonayinma by the Principal Counsel, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN, of Sagitarian Law Firm.

Reacting, Dino Melaye, in a video clip posted on his official X handle, described the move as shameful, stating that the petition was thrown out more than 10 years ago.

He said, “It is very shameful that an unstable character like E.J. will be writing a petition to the EFCC against Atiku Abubakar to resurrect the dead.

“A petition that was thrown out over 10 years ago is what he is trying to resurrect. What is the integrity of the commercial petitioner?

“He left APC in an elaborate press conference in Edo. Within one month, he left APC, went to ADC and then NDC, and now back to APC.

“Is that a stable character? Is that a man who can pen a petition? Of course, he is myopic and disorganised.”

Chairman of the National Policy Dialogue, Abdulrahaman Musa-Ododo, has defended the Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, for rejecting the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.

He said the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led Progressive Governors Forum did the right thing by stating its position on the Rainbow Coalition, adding that the issue was not about one person but an institution.

Wike and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are currently at daggers drawn over the Rainbow Coalition, which has produced over 100 candidates for the senatorial election and many more for other elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The APC governors had recently distanced themselves from the coalition, a move that further laid bare the rift between Wike and Uzodinma ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

For Musa-Ododo, who spoke on Arise News, Uzodinma and his colleagues have taken the right decision and should maintain their stance on the coalition.

He said, “So, what is the essence of your coalition if it’s coming to whittle down the very foundation on which a party stood? So, that is why we have to interrogate it.

“We must not pursue power for power’s sake. You see, we pursue power for power, but without thinking that wisdom must direct power, principle must guide politics, and we must focus knowledge on national development.

“This is the best way to go about it. Because PGF is an institution. It’s an established institution of the APC. They did the right thing constitutionally.

“They met and issued a communiqué that this is their stand. So, it’s enough. That is the best way to do it. This is not one personality against another personality. No. It’s against an institution, an established, formidable one, which Mr Hope Uzodinma is leading.”

The Senator representing Ogun Central and Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, has charged students in the state to embrace education and courage, saying it remains the only passport to development.

Salisu frowned at the growing notion among youths that education is a scam, noting that it has produced great men and women in society, especially in Ogun State.

He said his passion for education was shaped by his parents’ counsel 46 years ago, noting that shortly after his mother’s death, he realised that education was the only way to be part of society.

The lawmaker spoke on Wednesday at the annual SAS Omoyayi Educational Support Programme held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, with the theme, “Investing in Education, Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders.”

Reaffirming his commitment to promoting education, digital literacy and ICT skills, Salisu urged the students to see themselves as future senators, saying they now have better schools and enough examples to inspire them.

“You must focus on your education. Whenever you’re convinced that you’re doing the right thing, don’t be afraid to be different. Keep on doing it. The only passport to development, to be part of society, is education,” he said.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration to improving the quality of education in the state.

Arigbabu urged the senator to continue to support learners to excel, stressing that education is the best empowerment anyone can receive.

Also speaking, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, likened the gesture to planting, saying its value would only be appreciated when the children become great in the future.

He noted that empowering people with education gives them 95 percent of what they need in life and urged the students to make good use of the opportunity and reciprocate when they become successful.

Meanwhile, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Noah Sewakanu, urged the students to make judicious use of the materials distributed, adding that they must study hard and remain good ambassadors of the state to become great in future.

The Kano State Government has warned fruit sellers and citrus dealers against using chemicals or other substances to artificially ripen fruits or make them more attractive to consumers.

The warning was issued by the Kano State Consumer Protection Council (KCPC) during an inspection of fruit markets across the state.

The inspection was carried out to check how fruits were being stored and sold before they reached consumers.

Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Dr Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, said the agency would continue to protect consumers and take action against practices that could endanger public health.

Ibrahim said the council had received information that some chemicals could be used to improve the appearance of fruits or speed up their ripening to attract buyers.

He warned sellers against such practices and said the council would continue to carry out regular inspections of fruit markets.

The Executive Secretary said appropriate action would be taken whenever the council discovered fruits or substances considered harmful to consumers.

“We urge fruit sellers and dealers to comply with safety regulations and avoid any practice that could put the health of consumers at risk.”

Responding, the Chairman of the Fruit Sellers and Citrus Dealers Association, Alhaji Safiyanu Abdullahi C.K., said the association was educating its members on the need to follow relevant regulations.

He said members were being encouraged to avoid practices that could harm consumers.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has visited Plateau State following recent deadly attacks in parts of the state.

He assured residents that the police would intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible.

Disu arrived in the state on Wednesday and paid a condolence visit to the Plateau State Government over the recent killings.

The visit followed the killing of nine passengers travelling in a commercial bus at Dungus Junction, Kuru, in Jos South Local Government Area, as well as separate attacks in Vodni community in Pushit District of Mangu LGA and Tahoos community in Riyom LGA.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that he never promised President Bola Tinubu that he would join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Wike explained that he only promised to support Tinubu’s reelection bid.

The minister, who spoke on Arise Television’s Prime Time show, on Tuesday night, said, “I told them I would support the President right from the start.

“I never told Mr. President I will join APC. Go and ask him. If I want to join APC, it’s not people like Hope who will tell me to join APC.

“In fact, he is lucky I’m not in APC because I wouldn’t put up with that kind of nonsense he’s doing in APC.”

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, InterSociety, has threatened to pursue international sanctions, including possible travel restrictions to Europe and the Americas, against six Nigerian governors whom it accused of promoting political intolerance and undermining opposition activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

The organisation named Anambra Governor Charles Soludo, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Monday Okpebholo of Edo; Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Peter Mbah of Enugu and Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

In a statement issued in Enugu on Tuesday, InterSociety alleged that the governors and their loyalists had been involved in political exclusion, intimidation of opposition figures, abuse of state power and the shrinking of civic space.

It described the development as an emerging “axis of political intolerance” across parts of the South-East, South-South and North-Central, particularly against the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.