By Laide Akinboade Abuja

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Tuesday, has condemned in the strongest terms a disturbing video circulating on social media in which a young man leads a group of boys in chants calling for AK-47 rifles to attack Christians in Enugu and Jos during Sunday worship.

The CAN boss lamented that the threat is chilling and unacceptable and therefore demand for urgent action and decisive action over the threats in the video

The statement reads in part, “The threats are chilling and utterly unacceptable.

No Nigerian should have to fear for their life because of their faith or face the prospect of violence simply for gathering to worship God. Such threats must not be dismissed as mere chants or treated as harmless displays of youthful exuberance. They demand urgent attention and decisive action.

“On behalf of CAN, I condemn this apparent incitement to religious violence. We are particularly alarmed by the apparent involvement of children and young persons in chants threatening the killing of innocent worshippers. The possibility that young people are being exposed to or encouraged to embrace such hatred raises serious concerns that must not be ignored.

“We call on the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to launch an urgent and thorough investigation to establish when and where the video was recorded, identify those involved and determine who organised or facilitated the activity. Anyone found culpable must be held accountable in accordance with the law.

“We also urge the authorities to assess any credible security risks arising from the threats and take appropriate measures to protect Christian communities and places of worship in Enugu, Jos and elsewhere. Nigerians must be able to attend religious services without fear of attack or intimidation.

“We note the reported disavowal of the video by the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS). We recognise the importance of establishing the facts before drawing conclusions about institutional involvement. However, the denial of responsibility by any organisation cannot replace an independent investigation into the identities of those involved, the origin of the video and the circumstances surrounding the chants”.

He also urged the relevant government agency to identify those involved, “Beyond identifying those directly involved, the investigation should establish whether any individuals or groups encouraged, financed or facilitated the threats. Those responsible must face the full consequences of the law, without favour or discrimination.

“Religious leaders across Nigeria also have a responsibility to reject, unequivocally, any teaching, slogan or activity that promotes hatred or violence against people of another faith. Young people should be raised to respect human life and the dignity of others, not taught to regard fellow citizens as enemies to be eliminated because of their religious beliefs.

“Nigeria has endured too much violence, bloodshed and distrust to treat threats of this nature lightly. Allowing such conduct to go unchallenged would send a dangerous message that threats against citizens on religious grounds can be made without consequence. The government must demonstrate, through concrete action, that such intimidation will not be tolerated”.

He urged Christians to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding while the authorities investigate the matter. We must not allow provocation to draw innocent people into retaliatory actions that could deepen divisions or endanger lives.

“CAN stands for justice, religious freedom and peaceful coexistence. We will continue to speak out against every threat to the lives and rights of Christians and other Nigerians, while insisting that every citizen, regardless of religious affiliation, is entitled to equal protection under the law.

“The government must act swiftly, investigate thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable. The safety of Nigerians and the freedom to worship must never be negotiable”.

Poverty: Households Spend 120 Per Cent  Income on Food, Says Oyedele 

By Tambaya Julius

Some Nigerian households spend up to 120 per cent of their income on food, forcing them to borrow or rely on relatives to survive, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed.

Speaking at Chatham House in London, Oyedele cited a government survey showing that food expenses in some households exceed their total earnings, underscoring the severity of Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis.

“Up to 120 per cent of household income is spent on food. Like, how do you spend 120 per cent of your income? You borrow food before the end of the month,” he said.

He noted that Nigeria’s poverty rate remained above 50 per cent despite an unemployment rate of about five per cent, warning that having a job does not necessarily mean a person can afford basic necessities.

The situation, he said, reflects the growing number of working Nigerians trapped in poverty.

“That tells you something. As a policymaker, you don’t sit back and say we don’t have unemployment. You have working poor,” he stated.

Oyedele attributed rising food prices to structural challenges in agriculture, including low yields, seasonal farming, post-harvest losses, inadequate storage facilities, high transportation costs and insecurity in farming communities.

He noted that post-harvest losses could reach 60 per cent for tomatoes in some cases, worsening food supply shortages and putting further pressure on prices.

Food inflation stood at 19.6 per cent in September, with food prices declining more slowly than headline inflation.

“Macroeconomic stability means little to a mother who still cannot afford food,” he added.

To address the problem, the Federal Government is investing in agricultural technology, irrigation, storage infrastructure and financing for smallholder farmers to boost production and reduce food losses.

The government’s cash transfer programme has also reached more than 10 million households, with digital payments and National Identification Number (NIN) verification introduced to minimise leakages.

Oyedele said agriculture and non-tradable services, which employ 81.4 per cent of working Nigerians, were being prioritised to increase incomes, improve living standards and reduce dependence on government cash assistance.

By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

A Federal Government investigative panel has described the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State as preventable, recommending ₦1.

4 billion in compensation for affected families and survivors.

The panel’s chairman, Jonathan Kure, a former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), made this known on Tuesday while presenting the committee’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.

Kure said the committee recommended compensation for the families of 33 victims and 44 survivors affected by the incident.

He disclosed that the deceased, including 14 minors, had been held under inhumane conditions that contributed to the avoidable loss of lives.

The panel also recommended the dismissal of the Niger State NSCDC commandant and other officers found to have been directly involved in the detention of the suspected miners and the circumstances leading to their deaths.

Beyond sanctions against the affected officers, the committee called for institutional reforms within the corps to strengthen leadership, improve accountability and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

Receiving the report, Tunji-Ojo assured that the Federal Government would act on the recommendations to ensure justice for the victims and their families.

The minister also ordered the immediate suspension of officers accused of cleaning up the detention facility in an alleged attempt to destroy evidence connected to the incident.

The deaths occurred on September 17, 2026, while the suspected miners were being held at the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna.

The victims were among several individuals arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State.

The panel’s findings have raised fresh concerns about the treatment of detainees, the conduct of security personnel and the need for stronger safeguards to ensure accountability within the corps.