Nigerian youths on Sunday staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly, calling for justice for victims of an alleged sexual assault incident said to have occurred during a fertility festival in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The demonstrators, operating under the banner of the “End The Rape Culture” campaign, expressed outrage over reports and videos circulating online, which allegedly showed victims crying out and pleading for help during the incident.

Speaking during the protest, the Executive Director of Hacey Health Initiative, Rhoda Robinson, described the situation as deeply disturbing, stressing that the issue goes beyond headlines and reflects a broader societal problem.

“It is heartbreaking. I keep asking myself, what if it were me? This is a stark reminder that rape culture still exists,” she said.

Robinson recalled that when the campaign was launched alongside Sunshine Rosman and other advocates, there were claims that rape culture was no longer prevalent in Nigeria.

She, however, questioned that assertion, noting that survivors were often silenced, blamed and denied justice.

“How can anyone say rape culture does not exist when victims are still being silenced and justice remains elusive?” She asked.

She cited data indicating that a significant number of women and girls in Nigeria experience sexual violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and societal pressure.

According to her, even reported cases rarely result in justice for survivors.

Robinson also referenced the widely reported case of Ochanya, a young girl who was repeatedly abused by close relatives and later died from complications related to vesicovaginal fistula and trauma. She said the case underscores the persistent vulnerability of many girls across the country.

According to her, Ochanya’s experience is not an isolated case, as many victims continue to suffer in silence.

“The reality is harsh: victims are blamed, families suppress the truth, and systems fail to protect. Women and girls continue to face oppression, and this must change. We need stronger safeguards, effective laws, and justice that is consistent, not selective. No one should be forced to endure such suffering in silence,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, visited the affected area alongside senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, as part of efforts to address the situation.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday arrived in Lagos to brief President Bola Tinubu on the prevailing security situation in Maiduguri, Borno State.

His visit comes shortly after a presidential directive that took him to the Borno State capital for an on-the-spot assessment following a series of bomb explosions in the city.

During the trip, the Vice President met with victims, bereaved families, community leaders, and relevant authorities as part of a condolence visit aimed at evaluating the impact of the attacks.

He is expected to present his findings and observations to the President.

Maiduguri was recently shaken by multiple explosions suspected to have been carried out by Boko Haram insurgents, leading to casualties and injuries.

Following the briefing, Shettima is also expected to lead a delegation of serving governors on a courtesy visit to the President later in the day.

The meeting will serve as an opportunity to extend Eid-el-Fitr greetings to the President, while also providing a platform for discussions on enhancing collaboration between different levels of government to tackle emerging security challenges and improve rapid response strategies nationwide.

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has clarified the report making the rounds over the alleged disbanding of all police units and squads in state commands.

In a statement by Police Spokesperson Anthony Placid, IGP Disu described the claim of disbanding units nationwide as misleading.

According to IGP Disu, the police under his leadership only directed the reduction of the tactical teams at the zonal and state command levels to a maximum of five and at the area command and divisional levels to a maximum of three to avoid proliferation and duplication.

“This report is a misrepresentation of the IGP’s directives. The IGP, a grassroots officer with a profound network across Nigerian society, is aware of public concerns about police tactical teams’ operations and the creation of multiple teams by Commissioners of Police and Heads of formations, with attendant backlash.

“Having held command positions nationwide and witnessed tactical teams in action, the IGP values their contribution to crime-fighting.

.”He is, however, uncomfortable with their proliferation, which drains Police Divisions and Posts of required manpower and brings issues that affect the Force’s integrity because of the excesses of the poorly supervised teams.

“To address these issues, the IGP directed the reduction of the tactical teams at the Zonal and State Command levels to a maximum of five and at the Area Command and Divisional levels to a maximum of three.

“This can be achieved by merging or disbanding teams, at the heads of formations’ discretion. The teams referred to exclude state government-created outfits like Lagos’ Rapid Response Squad, Oyo’s SRS, Bayelsa’s Operation DOO-AKPOR, and other similar outfits across the country. The IGP expects this move to free personnel for police stations, reducing complaints about tactical team excesses.

“Having emphasized accountability and a people-friendly force in his maiden address to Nigerians, the IGP took this step to enhance supervision of existing teams, strengthen police divisions, and remove causes of complaints against the force by members of the public,” the statement read.

A group under the banner of Lagos State Prominent Indigenes has called on the All Progressives Congress to reserve the state’s governorship position for qualified indigenous candidates in the 2027 elections, citing the need for fairness, equity and inclusiveness.

The call was made during a technical committee meeting held on March 18, 2026, where the group also declared its support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.

At the meeting, members further resolved that key leadership positions in Lagos State, including the offices of Governor, Deputy Governor and Speaker of the House of Assembly, should, by 2027, be occupied by indigenes of the state.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the session, and signed by the Convener, Adesunbo Onitiri, the group explained that its position is rooted in the need to promote equity, preserve local identity, and strengthen stakeholder participation in governance.

According to the communiqué, aspirants seeking the governorship must meet clearly defined criteria, including verifiable Lagos ancestry, strong academic and professional credentials, and demonstrable experience in leadership across the public or private sectors.

The group also emphasised the importance of integrity, stating that prospective candidates must have a clean record, free from corruption or criminal allegations.

“They must exhibit sound character, discipline, and exemplary personal conduct, with proven achievements within and beyond Lagos State,” the communiqué stated.

It added that such individuals should demonstrate commitment to societal values, including family responsibility, while also possessing the ability to lead collaboratively with a focus on transformational governance.

The group further indicated its readiness to engage with all eligible aspirants, with the aim of identifying and supporting candidates capable of advancing the collective interests and future development of Lagos State.

The Labour Party (LP) in Benue State has appointed Hon. Ochonu Williams as its new State Chairman, along with an interim executive committee.

Prior to this appointment, Williams served as Chief of Staff to Hon. Chief Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, representing the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency.

In this capacity, he played a key role in legislative coordination, constituency engagement, and administrative leadership within the lawmaker’s office.

The appointment comes under the leadership of the Labour Party’s National Chairman, Dr. Nenadi Usman.

A delegation of the Muslim community in Rivers State, led by Nasir Uhor, has appealed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to facilitate the construction of a central mosque in Port Harcourt, restore the Muslim section of a cemetery to the appropriate council, and allocate land for a mosque at Rivers State University.

The request was made during a courtesy visit to the governor in Port Harcourt on Friday as part of activities marking the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

The delegation comprised Islamic clerics and leaders of the Arewa community in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Uhor expressed appreciation to the governor for his inclusive leadership style and for granting them an audience, while presenting their demands.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with the government. However, we respectfully appeal for the establishment of a central mosque in Port Harcourt, the return of the Muslim cemetery section to the council, and allocation of land for a mosque within Rivers State University,” he said.

Responding, Governor Fubara reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of all residents, irrespective of religious or ethnic background.

He emphasised that everyone residing in Rivers State should be regarded as a stakeholder in its development.

“Anyone who lives, works, and contributes to the growth of Rivers is, in essence, an indigene of the state, regardless of origin,” the governor said.

“Because you have made this place your home, it is the responsibility of government to ensure your safety and protect your interests,” he added.

Fubara also commended the Muslim faithful for their discipline and devotion throughout the Ramadan period.

Addressing concerns around farmer-herder tensions, he noted that the state has maintained relative peace through proactive engagement and coordination with security agencies.

He urged religious leaders to continue promoting peace and responsible conduct among their followers.

“As leaders, you have a duty to guide your people and ensure they conduct themselves in ways that promote harmony in our communities,” he added.

The governor assured the delegation that their requests would be carefully considered and addressed in line with available resources and government priorities.

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), has said Nigeria cannot defeat insecurity by depending only on the military, warning that such an approach could weaken long-term stability.

According to a post shared on X by security analyst Zagazola Makama, Buratai in a recent interview on Channels Television, advocated for a “whole-of-society approach.”

He argued that the fight against insurgent groups, such as Boko Haram, must involve every sector of the country rather than being treated as a task solely for soldiers.

​Buratai pointed out that while troops have remained consistent in their field operations across various flashpoints, their efforts must be backed by improved governance, economic growth, and social programs from other government institutions and stakeholders.

According to him, although troops have continued operations in affected areas, efforts from government agencies, communities and other sectors are needed through governance, development and social programmes.

The whole country is over-relying on the military,” he said, noting that several agencies and tiers of government have specific responsibilities in tackling insecurity.

The former army chief recalled that Nigeria’s National Security Strategy 2019 had already provided a broad plan that includes economic, social and infrastructure-based solutions.

However, he questioned whether the strategy has been consistently implemented over time.

He pointed out that ending insurgency goes beyond combat, adding that issues such as unemployment, poverty and poor infrastructure contribute to instability.

According to Buratai, the keys to defeating insurgency lie in fixing the root causes of unrest, such as poverty, unemployment, and the lack of basic amenities. He specifically mentioned that the dilapidated state of roads in conflict zones is a major setback for the military.

He explained that poor infrastructure not only slows down the movement of troops but also makes them easy targets for ambush and hidden explosives.

“In some instances, an operation that should take two hours could take up to five hours due to bad roads,” he said, adding that such delays create opportunities for insurgents to plant explosives and stage ambushes.

He noted that improving infrastructure, especially roads, would boost military effectiveness and reduce risks faced by personnel in the field.

Buratai also urged state governments to take stronger steps in addressing the root causes of insecurity by focusing on youth development.

He said engaging young people through job creation, skills training, and economic empowerment is important in preventing their involvement in violent activities.

Speaking on the issue of revealing alleged sponsors of terrorism, Buratai said the priority should be taking action rather than making names public.

“It is not just about naming names; what is important is taking action,” he said, while expressing concern that some individuals linked to insurgency have not yet been prosecuted.

He maintained that tackling insecurity in Nigeria requires continuous cooperation between the military, government bodies and the wider society.

Buratai added that it is still possible for the country to fully adopt the whole-of-society approach in order to achieve lasting peace and stability.

The All Progressives Congress has stepped up preparations for its South-West Zonal Congress, scheduled to hold on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.

In a joint statement, the South-West Zonal Chairman, Isaacs Kekemeke, alongside Zonal Secretary Vincent Bewaji and Zonal Organising Secretary Lateef Ibirogba, urged all accredited delegates to arrive promptly and comply strictly with the guidelines for the exercise.

According to the party leadership, the congress, scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m., is part of a broader nationwide internal restructuring approved by the party’s national leadership, aimed at strengthening its structures ahead of the national convention and future elections.

They explained that the gathering will provide an opportunity to assess the party’s performance in the South-West, enhance unity among stakeholders, and reposition the APC for improved electoral outcomes.

The zonal leadership also outlined the categories of statutory delegates expected at the event in line with Article 12.7 of the party’s constitution.

These include the zonal chairman and former holders of the office, members of the zonal executive committee, serving and past governors from the region, as well as current and former members of the National Assembly.

Others expected are serving and former principal officers of state Houses of Assembly, state party chairmen, members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, National Caucus members, and other statutory delegates to the national convention.

The party assured that adequate security and logistical arrangements have been put in place to manage the expected turnout of delegates and stakeholders, noting that coordination with relevant authorities is ongoing to ensure a smooth and orderly process.

The leadership further stressed that the wide representation of delegates emphasizes the importance of the congress as a convergence point for key political actors, grassroots mobilisers, and institutional stakeholders across the region.

The South-West zone, comprising Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states, remains a strategic stronghold for the ruling party.

The congress is expected to play a crucial role in reinforcing leadership structures, strengthening alliances, and promoting unity within the region ahead of future political contests.