COVER
Gunmen Whisk Away Pastor, Wife, Others during Church Service in Kogi
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja and Dan Amasingha, Minna
The newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, has been reportedly attacked by bandits whisking away the Pastor, his wife and other members.
The attack occurred yesterday during Sunday service. The community was said to have been thrown into chaos on Sunday morning after armed bandits launched an attack during the church service. According to locals, the attack forced worshippers to run for safety as gunshots echoed through the area. The pastor of the church, popularly known as Orlando, was taken away along with his wife and several other members.Residents described the incident as terrifying, saying the bandits stormed the community unexpectedly and left many people in shock. The exact number of those abducted is yet to be ascertained.Meanwhile the Kogi State government through the Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo has confirmed the development saying that government has intensified surveillance and patrols, and launched a manhunt for the bandits who attacked the Cherubim and Seraphim church in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA of the state.The pastor of the church, his wife and yet to be ascertained members of the church were during today’s service whisked away by the gunmen.The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, when contacted, said, “Yes, I have information to that effect, and I am also aware that the security network, comprising the conventional security agencies and the local security architecture, is currently doing what they should do.”The authorities of Yagba West Local Government Council are working hard with the security agencies to ensure those kidnapped are rescued alive. The perpetrators, too, already know that Kogi will do everything possible to secure every one of its citizens abducted.”The Governor of the State, His Excellency Alh Ahmed Usman Ododo, is coordinating activities, and we will keep the press updated on the operations.”We urge the citizens to be security-conscious and also report suspicious movement and faces to security agencies. When you see something, say something.”Worship Centres in the outskirts should also reconsider worshipping in crime-prone areas for now until the situation gets better.”Christian Worshipers Urge Tinubu, Bago to Rescue Abducted PupilsWorshippers from within the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora on Sunday called on President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly for the safe return of the abducted children and teachers of St. Mary’s Private Catholic church in Papiri Agwarra local government area of Niger state who are still held in captivity.One of the worshippers, a retired teacher, Madam Cecilia Audi, who spoke with our Correspondent after the Sunday Mass called on President Tinubu to act fast and ensure the safe return of the children like they did for those in Kebbi state.According to her “honestly, I pity the Bishop for all the stress and to know that these children and teachers are still in captivity, but God will see him through and bring our children back to us safely.“President Tinubu and Governor Umar Bago do all you can to bring back our children. We are all crying and cannot eat or sleep.”Another parent and worshipper, Tina Okeke who is also the Provincial Catholic Women President and Elizabeth Otti charged women in the state and Nigeria at large to join in the prayers to call for urgent release of those in captivity.Accordingly, they said “we believe in God that these innocent young children will return home and be reunited with their parents.”Okeke then asked “is it an offense to send our children to school or to get our children educated? Mothers all over the world irrespective of religion, tribe or other affiliation are praying along with us.“I call on our dear President and his wife to please act fast, find a way to get these children returned safely to their parents”.While assuring that the prayers said during the service shall be answered, Elizabeth Otti disclosed that, the people now go out in fear, they worship and go to the market in fear.An executive member of the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO), Kontagora Diocese, Emmanuel Anyanwu said ever since the adoption, most parents have not been able to sleep or eat.He then appealed to the federal and state governments including the security agencies to top up their actions. “I have not been myself ever since, as you can see, everyone is devastated but our hopes are high”, he added.In his Homily to mark the First Sunday of Advent at the St. Michael’s Catholic Cathedral, Kontagora, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna prayed for the ‘Return of the pupils, students and teachers who were abducted over a week ago.According to him “what happened to us is very tragic, and unexpected. But those who are supposed to stand up to do their work have started doing so.“As I speak to you now, one of our catechists has four children among those abducted. We cannot hide from reality and the time has come for the truth to be told.Bishop Yohanna, who is also the Proprietor of the School, said for over a week now, 265 children and teachers are not yet accounted for.“We need them back and I believe those who are responsible to secure us are doing their work. Everyone is traumatized but let’s continue to pray”.While thanking everyone for their support and prayers, Bishop Yohanna said “I want to believe that our government is ready and capable to do the right thing for the safe return of the children and teachers”.Suspend All Non-essential Gatherings Now, Bakare Urges FGPastor Tunde Bakare, Serving Overseer, Citadel Global Community Church has urged the Federal Government to suspend all non-essential gatherings in vulnerable areas nationwide, and place them under emergency patrols.Bakare made the call at a State of the Nation news conference titled: “The Darkness before Dawn” held at the Citadel Global Community Church in Lagos on Sunday.The pastor noted that while such measures might appear as militarisation of affected communities, they remained essential and temporary steps of neutralising terrorism in Nigeria.“The suspension of mass gatherings and increased emergency patrols measures must be taken to prevent further mass kidnappings.”He lamented that terrorists have intensified their attacks on Nigerians from the moment the U.S President, Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over allegations of a government-tolerated killing of Christians.Bakare noted that years of leadership failure to confront the nation’s underlying crises finally came to a head.According to him, to position Nigeria strategically in the shifting global order, an integrated approach is required, one that would involve a critical review of our governance structure, security architecture and geo-economic strategy.Bakare said it is the failure of state institutions over the years that transformed a local revolt into a vicious terrorist movement and other unresolved grievances.According to Bakare, at the 2014 National Conference, the progressives were convinced that Nigeria does not need the creation of additional states.”We strongly believed that what was needed was the consolidation of states into geopolitical zones, rather than the further balkanisation of non-viable states.“However, for the sake of trustful give-and-take, and in the spirit of equity, we, at the Committee for Political Structure and Forms of Government, aligned with our Committee Chairman, elder statesman, retired Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, and advocated an additional state for the South East.“Concessions such as these will lay the groundwork for genuine integration and inclusion in the South South, which includes Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers. Years of environmental degradation and resource control disputes led to militancy.”The pastor also reiterated the call for restructuring Nigeria to ensure cohesion and unity.“While we acknowledge ongoing efforts of President Bola Tinubu to swiftly address the situation—from the declaration of emergency on security to mass recruitment into the police force—we urge him to rise up to the occasion and restructure Nigeria.Bakare also suggested that the Federal government should render an apology and compensation to victims of terrorism nationwide.“This would entail opening a Victims and Survivors Register and the President would tender an apology on behalf of the Nigerian state to communities across the nation, calling each community by name, and, possibly, some of the families most gruesomely hit in the attacks.”On the issue of state police, Bakare said that the President must not leave the process to state governors or the Governors’ Fora of the various zones.“A nationally driven approach to devolution of policing powers will ensure that the right checks and balances are put in place to prevent subnational executive overreach.”He said the one-year National Youth Service Corps should be replaced with a two-year scheme, the first year of which would be deployed toward military training and deployment.The pastor called for standardisation of the nation’s Identity Management System with a view to answering the question, “Who is a Nigerian?”He also recommended a constitutional referendum to give Nigerians a say on ongoing reforms, such that Nigerians would have the opportunity to determine how they intended to be governed.Bakare pointed out that by directing that police officers be withdrawn from elite protection to actual policing duties, President Tinubu has already taken a step in the direction of one of our earlier recommendations“To Nigerians across the nation, let us not despair. Let us instead hold fast to our conviction regarding the destiny of our nation, rest assured that our story will soon change for the better,” he added.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has launched DAWN: DBN Action for Women in Nigeria, unveiled its Impact Report and presented MSME Data Assets at the seventh edition of Annual Lecture held in Abuja.
DBN, in a statement on Thursday, said while delivering a welcome address, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the central challenge was no longer reforms themselves but ensuring benefits reach businesses at end of the chain.
He asked how to make sure benefits reach traders in Onitsha, fabricator in Aba, farmer in Kebbi and young founder in Yaba, noting that MSMEs accounted for about half of Nigeria’s GDP and more than eight in every ten jobs, adding that when reform works for MSMEs it works for most Nigerians.
He explained that reform becomes prosperity only when entrepreneurs can act on it whether through long tenor loans to buy equipment, banks willing to take risk or skills and records needed to grow.
He said working through Participating Financial Institutions DBN provides longer term funding, partial credit guarantees through subsidiary Impact Credit Guarantee Limited and capacity building including Entrepreneurship Training Programme.
He disclosed that as at December 2025 DBN had disbursed a cumulative N1.4 trillion to MSMEs through 84 Participating Financial Institutions creating about 1.6 million jobs nationwide.
Under the new five year strategy, the Bank aims to reach more than two million MSMEs with deliberate targets for women led businesses, youth led businesses and underserved states.
On DAWN, Okpanachi said finance alone had not enabled enough women-led businesses to scale.
He said initiative brings together financing, guarantees and credit support, technical assistance, outcome linked grants and market linkages delivered through banks, microfinance institutions, fintechs, aggregators, cooperatives and direct channels.
Its priority sectors are agriculture and exports, healthcare, arts and creatives, technology and green business.
He said DAWN is about moving gender focused lending beyond intention and turning access into opportunity.
On the sidelines of the lecture DBN and African Development Bank held a signing ceremony of AfDB DBN 61 million United States dollars Gender Line of Credit development that reinforces Bank commitment to women led enterprises.
Okpanachi urged Participating Financial Institutions to extend lending into sectors and states where access to finance has been limited, policymakers and regulators to measure reform by what changes for business at end of chain and MSMEs to formalise, keep good records and use support now available.
The Vice President as Special Guest of Honour was represented by Dr Fred Iklaga Senior Technical Adviser in the Office of Special Adviser to the President on Economy.
Keynote speakers were Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Dr Karl Toriola, and Chairman of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Dr Segun Ogunsanya.
Fireside chat featured Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Abubakar Suleiman, manufacturing and trade entrepreneur Mrs Omoyemi Chukwurah and by video Kola Masha of Babban Gona.
The Secretary to the Government of Federation, represented by Augusta Warren Bekaredebo, said 2026 tax reforms would bring relief to many small businesses expressing optimism that a lot of businesses will be smiling by next year because they will be exempted from tax.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened possible nationwide industrial action following the failure of talks with the Federal Government over workers’ welfare, petrol prices and other outstanding labour demands.
The warning came after a meeting between the government and organised labour at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, ended without an agreement.
The congress has given the Federal Government until Tuesday, October 27, to make meaningful progress on the issues, warning that its relevant organs would decide the next line of action if the next meeting fails to produce concrete commitments.
The NLC has also directed its affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to begin mobilising members for possible nationwide action.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, expressed disappointment over what he described as the government delegation’s lack of preparedness for the negotiations.
According to the congress, organised labour presented its demands in good faith but left the meeting without any concrete commitments from the government.
The demands include a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of agreed tax relief measures and resolution of the terms of settlement involving the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The congress also called for the resolution of issues raised by the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) over peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances.
The NLC said the government delegation lacked the necessary authority to engage meaningfully on the issues presented by labour representatives.
“The meeting between the Federal Government and organised labour, convened at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on 22nd October 2026, has ended without resolution,” the statement said.
It added that the Minister of Labour requested that the meeting be adjourned until October 27 to allow the government to prepare adequately for further discussions.
The preparations, according to the statement, would include bringing relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies to the negotiating table.
The congress said it remained open to dialogue but would not accept continued delays in addressing workers’ concerns.
“We will report back to our organs, and if no meaningful progress is made on Tuesday, the relevant organs of the NLC will decide the next line of action,” it said.
The labour body urged workers and members of the public to remain calm while the negotiations continue, even as it directed its affiliates and allies to prepare for possible industrial action.
“However, we urge all affiliates of NLC and TUC; all state councils and our civil society allies to be alert and start mobilising for a possible action across the nation while we hope that the tenets of our demands are met by the government,” the statement added.
The October 27 meeting is expected to provide another opportunity for both sides to address the outstanding issues and prevent a possible escalation of the dispute.
However, the NLC’s decision to begin mobilisation suggests that tensions could rise if the next round of talks fails to produce meaningful progress.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has barred its personnel from escorting politicians during campaigns for the 2027 general elections.
Zonal Commanding Officer, RS6, ACM Abimbola Owolabi, gave the directive during her maiden visit to the Cross River Command in Calabar on Wednesday.
Owolabi said patrol vehicles and sirens must not be used for political activities or private engagements, including weddings and funeral processions.
She directed officers deployed to campaign venues to focus exclusively on traffic management to prevent congestion and road crashes.
The zonal head warned personnel against leading political convoys or providing escorts for politicians, stressing that official vehicles must not be used for unauthorised purposes.
2027: Don’t Call Benue People Shenanigans, Alia not answerable to you- Ex- Amb, Tarzoor Tells Ortom, Wike.
ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi Ex -Nigeria’s Ambassador to Namibia, Terhemen Tarzoor, has warned the immediate past Governor of Benue State...
DBN Signs $61m Credit Deal With AfDB, Unveils Support Initiative Report
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has launched DAWN: DBN Action for Women in Nigeria,...
NLC Threatens Nationwide Action as Talks With FG Collapse
ShareBy Tambaya Julius, Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened possible nationwide industrial action following the failure of talks...
Top10 Magazine Names Umaru Kwairanga as Man of the Year 2026
ShareAlh. (Dr) Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), has been named as the Top10 Magazine’s Man of...
UK, Nigeria to Deepen Defence, Security Cooperation
ShareThe United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation with Nigeria, with emphasis on military training,...
2027: INEC Steps Up Preparations, Completes Nine Activities
ShareBy Tambaya Julius, Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has completed nine of the 14 activities on its timetable...
2027: Tinubu Accords Benue Security Top Priority, Tompolo Tells Supporters
ShareLeader of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Government Tompolo, has called on the people of Benue state to come out enmasse...
Senate Demands Compulsory Screening of Foreign Arrivals
ShareBy Eze Okechukwu, Abuja The Senate yesterday ordered mandatory health screening for every international passenger arriving Nigeria airports, seaports, land...
Reps Summon Telecom Operators over Poor Network Services
ShareBy Ubong Ukpong, Abuja The House of Representatives on Wednesday, summoned telecommunication operators in the country to appear before it...
Bill to Design, Manufacture, Commercialize Drones Passes Second Reading in Reps
ShareBy Ubong Ukpong, Abuja A bill for an Act to move the nation to developing the capacity to design, manufacture...