Nineteen suspected illegal miners have been arrested and a stolen rifle recovered following an attack on a joint security patrol in Zuzungi Kataeregi village, Niger State.

The arrests came after security operatives were ambushed on Wednesday during a routine patrol around a mining site. In the attack, a police officer was lynched and a patrol vehicle set ablaze.

Confirming the development, the spokesman of the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Police, Wasiu Abiodun, told The PUNCH on Friday that a police officer was killed, his rifle taken, and another officer injured during the incident.

“Report received on 11/2/2026 indicated that some miscreants/illegal miners attacked a joint security team attached to a company; millennium metals in Zuzungi village Kataeregi, while on a routine patrol around the company business premises.

“The miscreants attacked the team, burnt the company’s patrol vehicle and unfortunately, a policeman was lynched to death, his firearm taken away and another was injured.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police immediately deployed reinforcement to the area, and on 12/2/2026 about 19 suspects were arrested and the rifle was recovered.

“All suspects arrested are under investigation in SCID Minna. Further development will be communicated, please,” he said.

Earlier, the State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Siyaka Aniviye, had confirmed the attack, describing it as “criminal, barbaric, and a direct assault on constituted authority and Nigeria’s economic stability”.

He maintained that the corps’ operations in the mining sector are supported by law, noting that mining sites and solid mineral resources are designated as Critical National Assets, and that illegal mining amounts to economic sabotage under Nigerian law.

Detailing the events, Aniviye said: “The joint patrol team, comprising personnel of the NSCDC, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), and local security operatives known as Anti-Drugs Control (ADC), in collaboration with Millennium Metals Mining Company, was on a lawful routine operation aimed at curbing illegal mining activities and preventing the unlawful smuggling of solid minerals from the mining site.

“While intercepting individuals suspected to be illegally smuggling extracted minerals from the mining area, the security team came under heavy attack by armed illegal miners.

“During the incident, the assailants set ablaze one operational Hilux vehicle belonging to the NSCDC security team.

“Regrettably, an officer paid the supreme price in the line of duty.

“His sacrifice in defence of Nigeria’s economic assets and public safety will not be in vain and is deeply mourned,” Aniviye said.

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Thursday vowed to intensify its crackdown on illegal mining, describing the killing of a security officer in Niger State as a “criminal murder” and pledging that those responsible would be tracked down and prosecuted.

Fresh details have emerged over the leadership crisis rocking the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as rival voices within the party publicly restated their positions on its structure and political direction ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

At the centre of the dispute is the status of the state chairman, Sunday Bisi, who has rejected claims that he has been removed from office.

Bisi described the action of a stakeholders’ forum which announced his purported removal as unconstitutional and without effect.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, Bisi maintained that he remains the duly elected chairman of the party in the state and that his tenure remains valid.

“The forum lacks legal powers or mandate to remove or tamper with the elected structures of the party. I remain the chairman,” he said.

He argued that only properly constituted organs of the party, acting within the framework of its constitution, could take decisions affecting elected officials.

Bisi disclosed that the PDP in Osun had not fielded a candidate for the August governorship election and had instead endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for re-election.

“As the PDP has no candidate for the August gubernatorial election, the party has endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for re-election. That is the fact of the situation,” he stated.

While acknowledging tensions within the party, Bisi said most elected officials in the state remained members of the PDP.

“Our elected officials minus the governor and the deputy governor remain in PDP. Our party has no candidate and we have accordingly endorsed Governor Adeleke,” he added.

The chairman also responded to remarks attributed to former governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, describing them as inconsistent with the position of what he termed the mainstream structure of the party in Osun.

“The statement credited to former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola is an open betrayal and a continuation of a failed 2022 plot to stop Governor Adeleke,” Bisi said.

He explained that internal divisions at the national level of the PDP had created uncertainties around the governor’s political future, prompting certain strategic decisions.

“The division within the PDP national leadership threatened the candidacy of our governor. The right thing was done by the governor to seek a platform for re-election. Prince Oyinlola was even the first to make this suggestion,” he said.

Bisi insisted that the core leadership and membership base of the party in Osun remained aligned with the current state executive and its decisions.

“The mainstream of Osun PDP stands by the governor, by our leadership and by our elected mandate as state officers which cannot be truncated by any unelected, illegal and unauthorised group,” he stated.

Earlier at a separate stakeholders’ meeting held in Osogbo, Prince Oyinlola had maintained that the PDP remained a viable political force in the state despite the reported defection of Governor Adeleke to the Accord Party.

According to him, the meeting was convened to clarify developments within the party at both national and state levels.

“There have been some confusing narratives being pushed out about the status of PDP, especially in Osun State, and what we have done today is to narrate situations as they are to our members, so that the entire wards and local governments in Osun will know exactly where PDP stands today in Osun State,” Oyinlola said.

Responding to suggestions that the PDP structure in the state had been collapsed into the Accord Party to facilitate Adeleke’s re-election, Oyinlola dismissed the claim.

“PDP is a party that has its tentacles in all the nooks and crannies of this country. It is not in our own time that we will allow it to die,” he said.

He added that the party remained open to future developments, stating: “We are holding on to PDP. If tomorrow, our governor decides to come back and be with his family in PDP, he is most welcome, but for now, PDP is standing in Osun State strongly.”

Lagos State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has cautioned residents against sharing images or personal details from their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, with political groups or unauthorised individuals.

The warning was issued in a statement on Thursday by the party’s Directorate of Communication, signed by its spokesperson, Oluwasegun Adekayero.

Adekayero said the party became concerned after noticing a circulating message allegedly requesting Lagos residents, particularly those on the mainland, to submit clear photographs of their PVCs via WhatsApp for political mobilisation purposes.

Describing the development as dangerous, he warned that such requests pose serious risks to voter privacy and the integrity of the democratic process.

“ADC considers it necessary, in the interest of public safety and democratic integrity, to caution Lagosians against sharing sensitive personal information with partisan groups,” Adekayero said.

He stressed that the PVC is a confidential electoral document issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and should be handled with utmost care.

“The Permanent Voter Card is a personal and confidential document that contains sensitive data which must be protected at all times,” he stated.

“Indiscriminate collection of PVC images through informal channels raises serious concerns about data privacy, voter protection and the possible misuse of citizens’ personal information,” he added.

Adekayero noted that political mobilisation should be carried out in a lawful and transparent manner that respects the rights of citizens.

“Political participation should build trust and confidence, not fear, coercion or undue pressure,” he said.

He advised residents to safeguard their PVCs and avoid transmitting copies through unsecured digital platforms, while urging the public to report any suspicious requests for voter information to the appropriate authorities.

Reaffirming the party’s stance, Adekayero said the ADC remains committed to issue-based politics and credible democratic engagement.

“We will continue to prioritise civic education, policy dialogue and lawful grassroots mobilisation, rather than the collection of private voter data,” he said, adding that democracy thrives only when citizens are informed, protected and respected.

The Accountant-General of Cross River State, Dr Glory Effiong has confirmed that as many as 1000 civil servants have not been paid their January 2026 salaries.

She attributed the delay to the failure of permanent secretaries to submit updated nominal rolls.

She disclosed that over 14,000 out of about 15,000 workers have received their salaries.

Effiong said the verification process was necessary to curb absenteeism and ensure that only active workers received pay, adding that salaries were processed once verified nominal rolls were submitted.

A notice at the Accountant-General’s Office has directed workers to channel salary enquiries through their respective permanent secretaries.

Despite the explanation, civil servants raised alarm that the figure is far more than what the AG mentioned.

They have alleged selective payment across ministries, departments and agencies.

Many affected workers claimed that more than 70 per cent of the state workforce, including senior officials and local government personnel, were yet to receive their pay as of mid-February, worsening economic hardship.

A few complained that they were yet to receive December salary.

A ministry director, Ikpi Adie, alleged that while some political appointees and selected staff had been paid, workers in key ministries such as Health, Agriculture and Education remained unpaid.

He said the delay had left many unable to meet basic needs, including school fees and household expenses.

Ikpi also faulted the directive requiring ministries to submit updated nominal rolls after partial payments had already been made, describing the situation as unprecedented and blaming inefficiencies in salary administration at the Accountant-General’s Office.

Another civil servant, Cecilia Offiong expressed frustration over the delay, noting that workers had not received salaries since December 2025.

She criticised the government’s public engagements, saying workers were struggling to survive while still being owed.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Gregory Olayi, confirmed that the union had received complaints and was engaging the government to resolve the matter.

He disputed claims that the delay was solely due to non-submission of nominal rolls, noting that some workers who complied were still unpaid.

Olayi said labour had given the state government a four-week ultimatum to address the issue, warning that further action would be taken if the concerns were not resolved.

The Chief Judge of Taraba state, Justice Joel Agya, on Thursday signed into law, the Taraba State Area Courts (Civil Procedure) Rules 2026 and the Taraba State District Courts Rule 2026.

Agya, while signing the rules at the Taraba State High Court Complex in Jalingo said the judiciary had extended its reforms to the foundation of the justice delivery system.

He said those instruments were designed to modernise procedure at the High Court and promote consistency, transparency and fairness in sentencing.

“With the signing today of the Taraba State Area Courts (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2026 and the Taraba State District Courts Rules, 2026, we have now extended this reform to the foundation of our justice delivery system, the courts that ware closest to the people.

“Area Courts and District Courts are, for many of our citizens, the first and sometimes the only point of contact with the justice system.

” It is therefore imperative that their procedures be simple, efficient, accessible and responsive to contemporary realities. The new Rules reflect this commitment.

” First, they simplify and modernise the mode of service of processes by expressly providing for service by electronic and digital means.

” This reform recognises present-day communication realities and is aimed at reducing delays, cutting costs, and ensuring that parties are promptly notified of proceedings affecting them.

“Second, the Rules enhance and clarify the provisions relating to Inspectors of Area Courts. Effective supervision and inspection are essential to maintaining standards, promoting accountability, and strengthening public confidence in our lower courts.

“Third, the filing fees payable in the Area Courts and District Courts have been reviewed. This review was undertaken with careful consideration – to ensure sustainability of court operations while remaining mindful of access to justice for the ordinary citizen.

“Fourth, and significantly, the Rules now contain clear and coherent provisions on case management.

“By introducing structured procedures for handling cases, discouraging unnecessary adjournments, and encouraging timely disposition, we seek to foster a culture of efficiency and responsibility within our courts,” he said.

Agya emphasised that the reforms were not merely technical adjustments, but represented a broader vision.

” A judiciary that is modern in outlook, disciplined in process, humane in application, and accessible to all.

” I commend the Rules Committee, judicial officers, court administrators and all stakeholders who contributed to the drafting and refinement of these Rules. Their dedication and expertise have made this reform possible,” he added.

The chief judge further emphasised that the success of the new rules would depend not only on their text but on their faithful implementation.

He urged all judges of the District Courts, all Judges of the Area Courts, court staff, members of the Bar and all justice sector stakeholders to familiarise themselves fully with those provisions and to apply them diligently and in good faith.

According to him, the administration of justice is a sacred trust. Through these reforms, we reaffirm our resolve to deliver justice that is timely, fair, transparent and in tune with the needs of our people.

The University of Abuja has dismissed allegations published by an online news medium accusing its Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hakeem Fawehinmi, and other senior officials of diverting multibillion-naira Nigerian Education Loan Fund grants meant for indigent students.

The online platform, in an exclusive report published on Tuesday, alleged that Fawehinmi, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Simon Kawe, and other officials diverted NELFUND loans, including claims that the funds were placed in interest-yielding accounts and that hundreds of students were shortchanged.

The report claimed that NELFUND disbursed N256,142,500 to the university on January 29, 2026, as institutional fee loans for 2,245 students approved for the 2025/2026 academic session.

It also cited a February 7, 2026, internal memo advising beneficiaries who had yet to pay their fees to do so and apply for reimbursement.

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Acting Director of Information and University Relations, Habib Yakoob, the university described the allegations as unfounded.

“The university categorically states that these claims are false, misleading, and mischievous, as the report lacks any evidence to identify how or where the funds were supposedly diverted,” the statement said.

The institution confirmed receipt of N256,142,500 from NELFUND on January 29, 2026, for 2,245 beneficiaries, but said disbursement was strictly application-based

“It is important to note that disbursement of the NELFUND loan is processed only upon student application,” the statement added.

The management explained that before the funds were received, some students had paid their fees out of concern that they might forfeit the academic session.

“Before the receipt of the NELFUND loan of N256,142,500 on January 29, 2026, for 2,245 beneficiaries in the university, some students had already paid their fees out of concern that they might lose the academic session.

“These students were subsequently advised to submit applications for reimbursement, and their cases are currently being processed,” it stated.

Addressing the allegation of mismanagement, the university maintained that no funds had been diverted or misused.

“Contrary to the claims made by the online medium, no funds have been diverted, hoarded, misused, or used to generate interest, and no student has been shortchanged.

“All unclaimed funds arising from students who have not requested disbursement are securely held in designated accounts and will be promptly released once the appropriate applications are submitted and duly processed,” the statement said.

The university also defended the conduct of the vice-chancellor, who assumed office in December 2025.

“Since assuming office in December 2025, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hakeem Fawehinmi, has served with integrity, employing a student- and staff-centred approach that ensures the interests of students are protected at all times,” the statement said.

It added, “He has handled all NELFUND disbursements with full transparency, in strict accordance with NELFUND regulations, reflecting his personal integrity and dedication to the university.”

The institution urged stakeholders and members of the public to disregard the report, describing it as misleading and intended to cause unnecessary alarm and damage the reputation of its leadership and management.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has said it received with shock reports that the Congress of the United States of America is considering a bill titled The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act, 2026 (H.R. 7457), in which the national leader of the party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was named as the sole individual, alongside the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and a Fulani ethnic militia, to face targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes.

This, according to the reports, is due to his purported responsibility for “severe religious freedom violations.”

Responding to the reports, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed any suggestion that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has been responsible, in any way, for religious freedom violations.

The party said it was curious and regrettable that Kwankwaso would be cited for issues he knew nothing about.

“We see this development as a contrived action against an innocent man who clearly has no relationship with religious fundamentalism in Nigeria.

“His record is in the public domain, both in public office and in private life, and it is advisable for people to investigate such matters properly before reaching such conclusions,” the party said.

Johnson stated that months before the latest development, Kwankwaso had openly reacted when President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious persecution.

In a statement posted on his X handle at the time, Senator Kwankwaso cautioned against what he described as oversimplified characterisations of Nigeria’s internal challenges.

Kwankwaso stated that it was important to emphasise that Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose people face diverse threats from outlaws across the country.

However, in a post shared on X, Rep. Riley Moore of the U.S. Congress stated to Kwankwaso: “Governor, do you care to comment on your own complicity in the death of Christians? You instituted Sharia law. You signed the law that makes so-called blasphemy punishable by death.”

The NNPP said this allegation stemmed from the fact that Kano State, under Kwankwaso’s leadership, brought the Islamic legal code into full effect, joining other northern states such as Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Yobe, Jigawa, and Borno.

“But is this enough to accuse Kwankwaso of severe religious freedom violations? Why were the other state governors who introduced Sharia in their states not accused as well?” the statement asked.

“Is Rep. Moore being fair or selective? Isn’t the U.S. in good relations with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, both Sharia countries? Why is this coming just after our government apparently paid for a consultant in the U.S.? Isn’t it strange that it is Kwankwaso, an opposition leader who has spoken out repeatedly about insecurity under this administration, that the United States now seems to be turning on?”

The party recalled that as governor of Kano State, Senator Kwankwaso ensured that the Boko Haram sect was wiped out of the state, adding that his close relationships with Christian leaders in Kano and across the country attest to his credibility as a national leader and statesman.

“Even when he was pressured to introduce Sharia, he still lost his election because predominantly Muslim voters punished him for supporting a Christian presidential candidate, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Furthermore, in 2023, he ran his presidential campaign with a Christian bishop, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, as his running mate.

“These are the facts which we believe should guide the Congress and its leaders, particularly Reps. Riley Moore and Chris Smith, to carry out a thorough investigation into the credibility of our leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, so that justice is done to his noble name and he is cleared of such undue embarrassment,” Johnson said.

The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Surajudeen Basiru, on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.

Basiru in a statement described the meeting as an opportunity to explore ways to further consolidate the APC’s presence in Kano State.

“I paid a courtesy visit to the Kano State Governor, H.E. Abba Yusuf, at the Kano Governor’s Lodge.

“The visit afforded us the opportunity of discussing how to further strengthen and unify our party, the APC, in Kano State and further the support base of the Governor,” he said.

The visit comes weeks after Governor Yusuf’s high-profile defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, to the APC in late January 2026.