A new study by the Edelman Trust Barometer, released in Lagos on Wednesday, reveals widespread discontent among Nigerians, with 70% accusing the government of deliberately misleading citizens. The report also highlights growing resentment toward the wealthy, with 74% blaming the rich for exacerbating the country’s economic struggles.

The annual survey, which measures public trust in government, businesses, NGOs, and media, found that 62% of Nigerians believe the wealthy evade fair taxation, while 52% now support aggressive activism to drive systemic change.

A Crisis of Trust and Grievance

Marking its 25th anniversary, the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer—titled “Trust and the Crisis of Grievance”—surveyed over 33,000 people across 28 countries, including 1,150 Nigerians. Wandile Cindi, Senior Strategist at Edelman Africa, presented the findings, noting that Nigeria’s overall trust index rose slightly from 61 (2024) to 65 (2025). However, economic anxiety and job insecurity continue to fuel public frustration.

“There’s been a sharp increase in fears over automation and job losses,” Cindi said. “Even employers, once highly trusted, are losing public confidence.”

Government institutions remain the least trusted, scoring -46 in competence and -31 in ethics. Meanwhile, NGOs and businesses saw marginal trust improvements.

Global Trends vs. Nigerian Optimism

Globally, China, Indonesia, and the UAE top the trust rankings, while the UK, Germany, and Japan lag. Despite Nigeria’s challenges, 50% of citizens remain hopeful about the future—a higher optimism rate than many developed nations.

Yet, concerns over discrimination have surged, with 75% of Nigerians fearing prejudice—a 9% increase from 2024. This sentiment cuts across income levels, particularly affecting high earners.

A Call for Leadership and Reform

Cindi emphasized that restoring trust requires tangible action. “Institutions must act ethically and deliver results,” he said. “Businesses have a critical role in job creation, skills training, and fighting misinformation.”

He urged cross-sector collaboration, warning: “Grievance grows when people feel abandoned. Rebuilding trust must be a national priority.”

As Nigeria grapples with economic hardship and inequality, the report underscores an urgent need for accountability and reform to address deepening public disillusionment.

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has lost its appeal in a London court, cementing a $380 million compensation ruling in favor of oil trading firm Taleveras over a failed gas supply agreement.

The Court of Appeal of England and Wales on Wednesday affirmed the decision of a lower court, which had ruled that NLNG must indemnify Taleveras for payments the company was required to make to Vitol SA and Glencore Energy UK following a disrupted supply contract.

The case centered around a 2020 agreement in which NLNG—a joint venture between Nigeria’s state oil firm NNPC, Eni, Shell, and TotalEnergies—was to supply Taleveras with natural gas. However, between 2020 and 2021, NLNG failed to deliver 19 cargoes, leading Taleveras, which had already resold the gas to Vitol and Glencore, to miss out on significant profits—especially after gas prices surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

An arbitral tribunal under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law awarded $24 million to Taleveras in January 2023 for lost profits and directed NLNG to indemnify the company for liabilities arising from related arbitrations with Vitol and Glencore. In December 2023, the Vitol arbitration tribunal awarded $233.3 million in damages against Taleveras.

NLNG challenged the indemnity directive in January 2024, arguing that the tribunal’s decision was dependent on a provision—paragraph 607—in the analysis section of the original arbitral award. The company maintained that the indemnity was subject to endorsement by the Vitol and Glencore arbitral tribunals, which it said was not granted in the dispositive section of the award.

Taleveras countered that the indemnity was unconditional and pointed to a final addendum and supplementary award issued by the Vitol tribunal, which explicitly confirmed that the damages awarded fell under the scope of NLNG’s indemnity.

NLNG further contended that the Vitol arbitrators had no jurisdiction to issue the addendum, arguing that the arbitration proceedings had already concluded.

In July 2024, High Court Judge Pelling KC ruled against NLNG, finding that the indemnity was not contingent on any further declaration from the Vitol or Glencore tribunals. He granted Taleveras the right to enforce the indemnity.

On appeal, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s decision. Lord Justice Phillips, leading a three-judge panel, dismissed NLNG’s claim that the High Court had misinterpreted the arbitral award. He clarified that the disputed paragraph 607 did not contradict the dispositive section, which clearly set out binding orders.

“It is perhaps unfortunate that the tribunal used the words ‘further orders’ in paragraph 607 of its analysis section, but that loose wording does not come close… to undermining the clear structure of the Award,” Phillips said.

The appeal was unanimously dismissed, leaving NLNG legally obligated to pay the full compensation to Taleveras.

Taleveras, founded in 2004 by Nigerian businessman Igho Charles Sanomi, is based in Dubai and has long been active in global energy trading.

Hamas says it is ready to release all remaining hostages for an end to Gaza war

Hamas wants a comprehensive deal to end the war in Gaza and swap all Israeli hostages for Palestinians jailed in Israel, a senior official from the Palestinian militant group said, rejecting Israel's offer of an interim truce.

In a televised speech, Khalil Al-Hayya, the group's Gaza chief who leads its negotiating team, said the group would no longer agree to interim deals, adopting a position that Israel is unlikely to accept and potentially further delaying an end to the devastating attacks that restarted in recent weeks.

Instead, Hayya said Hamas was ready to immediately engage in "comprehensive package negotiations" to release all remaining hostages in its custody in return for an end to the Gaza war, the release of Palestinians jailed by Israel, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

"Netanyahu and his government use partial agreements as a cover for their political agenda, which is based on continuing the war of extermination and starvation, even if the price is sacrificing all his prisoners (hostages)," said Hayya, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We will not be part of passing this policy."

Egyptian mediators have been working to revive the January ceasefire agreement that halted fighting in Gaza before it broke down last month, but there has been little sign of progress with both Israel and Hamas blaming each other.

"Hamas’s comments demonstrate they are not interested in peace but perpetual violence. The terms made by the Trump Administration have not changed: release the hostages or face hell," said National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt.

The latest round of talks on Monday in Cairo to restore the ceasefire and free Israeli hostages ended with no apparent breakthrough, Palestinian and Egyptian sources said.

Israel had proposed a 45-day truce in Gaza to allow hostage releases and potentially begin indirect talks to end the war. Hamas has already rejected one of its conditions - that it lay down its arms. In his speech, Hayya accused Israel of offering a counterproposal with "impossible conditions."

Hamas released 38 hostages under a ceasefire that began on January 19. In March, Israel's military resumed its ground and aerial offensive on Gaza, abandoning the ceasefire after Hamas rejected proposals to extend the truce without ending the war.

Israeli officials say that the offensive will continue until the remaining 59 hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarized. Hamas insists it will free hostages only as part of a deal to end the war and has rejected demands to lay down its arms.

ISRAELI STRIKES

On Tuesday, the armed wing of Hamas armed said the group had lost contact with militants holding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander after the Israeli army attacked their hideout. Alexander is a New Jersey native and a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli army.

The armed wing later released a video warning hostages' families that their "children will return in black coffins with their bodies torn apart from shrapnel from your army."

Israeli military strikes killed at least 32 Palestinians, including women and children, across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, local health authorities said.

One of those strikes killed six people and wounded several others at a UN-run school in Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hamas command center.

The war was triggered by Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Zelenskiy accuses China of supplying Russia with weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia, the first time he has openly accused Beijing of direct military assistance for Moscow.

The Ukrainian leader said at a press conference that his government also had intelligence that China was producing weapons on Russian territory and that he would be able to provide more details next week.

China, which has the world's second-largest economy, has had close economic relations with Russia during Moscow's three-year war in Ukraine. But it has sought to project an image of neutrality and denies any involvement in the war.

For Kyiv, direct Chinese supplies of weaponry for Russia would mark a major departure from that position.

"We finally have information that China is supplying weapons to the Russian Federation," Zelenskiy said in Kyiv, referring specifically to "artillery," without specifying if he meant shells, artillery systems or both.

"We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on the territory of Russia," Zelenskiy said, without elaborating.

There was no immediate public comment from China and Reuters was not immediately able to seek comment from officials in China, as Zelenskiy's remarks were made during the late evening in Beijing.

In comments last week about the war, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: "I would like to reiterate that China is not the initiator of the Ukrainian crisis, nor is China a participating party. We are a firm supporter and active promoter of a peaceful settlement of the crisis."

Zelenskiy's allegation comes as President Donald Trump is pressing for peace, having upended previous U.S. policy by directly engaging with Russia and at one point cutting military aid to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader said he had spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping during the war and asked him directly about the possibility of Beijing supplying arms to Russia.

"He gave me his word that weapons would not be sold and sent to Russia," he said.

STRAINED TIES

Russia has benefited from military aid from Iran and North Korea. Tehran has supplied long-range drones used to attack far from the front, while Pyongyang has supplied vast amounts of artillery shells, missiles and troops, Ukrainian officials say.

The fighting in Ukraine has long developed into a war of attrition in which both sides try to out-gun and out-kill each other by bringing greater numbers of troops and weapons to bear, making foreign military supplies vital.

Ties between China and Ukraine are already strained after Zelenskiy made public this month its capture of two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia.

He said last week that Ukraine had information about 155 Chinese citizens fighting for the Russian military against Kyiv's forces.

Zelenskiy said at that time that Russia was recruiting Chinese nationals via social media and that Beijing officials were aware of that. He added that Ukraine was trying to assess whether the recruits were receiving instructions from Beijing.

A week ago, China reaffirmed its support for peace efforts in Ukraine and said relevant parties should avoid "irresponsible remarks," in an apparent jab at Zelenskiy's comment about Chinese citizens fighting there for Russia.

Two U.S. officials familiar with American intelligence and a former Western intelligence official told Reuters last week they believed the Chinese citizens were mercenaries who did not appear to have a direct link to China's government.

China and Russia declared a "no limits" strategic partnership days before Russian President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russia threatens response if Ukraine uses German Taurus missiles

Moscow would consider any strikes by Kiev on Russian targets using German-supplied Taurus missiles as direct participation by Berlin in the Ukraine conflict, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has warned.

Her comments come after incoming German chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated that he would be open to supplying Kiev with long-range Taurus cruise missiles. The weapon has a 500km strike range, meaning they could be used to attack targets deep inside Russian territory.

Germany’s current acting chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly refused Kiev’s requests for the missiles, citing fears of an escalation of the conflict.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Zakharova said that even if the missiles would be transferred to Ukraine, they would still be controlled by Germany, meaning that Berlin would be directly participating in the conflict.

”Since live firing these cruise missiles is impossible without the direct assistance of Bundeswehr servicemen, a strike on any Russian facilities, critical transport infrastructure... all this will be regarded as direct German participation in military operations,” Zakharova said.

Earlier this week, in an interview with German media, Merz stated that he could supply Taurus missiles to Kiev and avoid direct intervention in the conflict itself. Ukraine’s forces should use the missiles to destroy the most “important land connection between Russia and Crimea,” Merz suggested, apparently referring to the Crimean Bridge.

In response, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev branded the incoming chancellor a Nazi trying to follow in the footsteps of his father who had served in Hitler’s Wehrmacht. “Think twice, Nazi,” Medvedev wrote on X.

Russia’s ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechaev, has also warned that while the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine would not alter the battlefield situation, they could lead to an escalation of the conflict and provoke Moscow to take retaliatory measures.

Throughout the Ukraine conflict, Moscow has repeatedly condemned Western military aid shipments to Ukraine, claimed that they only lead to more bloodshed, and hinder any peace process.

Reuters/RT

It’s understandable if you have not paid attention. I can’t help noticing because minding other people’s business is a part of my job description. On Tuesday, the newspapers reported a spat between the children of two leading politicians, Mohammed Abubakar and Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed.

Mohammed and Shamsudeen are the children of Atiku and Bala. Atiku was Nigeria’s vice president, and Bala is the Bauchi State governor and chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum.

Both are ranking members of the main opposition, PDP, a party making as much effort to find its way as it is desperate to lose it. The tweetstorm between the children of these leaders has only piled on the party’s misery, and what lies ahead doesn’t look pretty, especially after the PDP governors’ meeting in Ibadan.

Back story

The fight between both sons is the political equivalent in the music industry of the bitter sibling rivalry between Peter and Jude Okoye, siblings now dragging themselves publicly over royalty from their once famous band, P-Square. If PDP had any royalty left, it squandered it on the insatiable appetite of its leaders, who have eaten the present and future of the party.

Atiku’s son is accusing Governor Mohammed of stabbing his father in the back when he ran for the presidency in 2023. The governor’s son responded that nobody plays as dirty as Atiku, whom he accused of undermining his father’s bid for a second term in Bauchi.

The tweet rage has sparked discussions about how far the children of politicians in power should go to fight publicly for or against their parents’ political interests and whether or not such brawls hinder or help their parents’ political fortunes.

In another life, it would have been considered poor breeding for teenagers or young adults to insert themselves in a fight between adults.

For example, despite the fight-to-the-finish between MKO Abiola and military president General Ibrahim Babangida, who cancelled the 1993 presidential election won by Abiola, their children stayed mainly out of the fray. The equivalence of social media has changed all that.

Born to rage

The pervasiveness of social media and its popularity, especially among teenagers and young adults, has increased the sense of agency among these groups and amplified their voices, however strident and deeply worrying they may get sometimes.

From the blogger and daughter of the famous Ibadan politician Kemi Olunloyo, who recently declared on her blog that she would have nothing to do with her family again after her father died, to Bashir, an unabashedly vile tweep and the son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, there is an emerging activism among the children of politicians. It’s a cross between rebellion and the search for identity or the process of becoming.

The more you look

Does it make sense? Is it always an indication of parental values or a measure of the family’s stand on political issues? Neither Atiku Abubakar nor Bala Mohammed has weighed in yet. Even though their children’s public fight feels like a scene from “Sons of the Caliphate”, nothing they said was false. Perhaps, it was how and the speed of the venom that raised eyebrows.

Before the 2023 elections, when Atiku’s protégé and prominent traditional title holder in Bauchi, Bello Kirfi, fell out with Bala, the latter (with former Speaker Yakubu Dogara) openly worked against Bala’s reelection. During the presidential primaries in Port Harcourt, Bala ran against Atiku.

The proxy war between Atiku’s man, Kirfi, and Bala almost cost the governor his reelection, an offence the governor will not forgive. He was saved by the skin of his teeth and the support of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the G5, after which Mohammed stripped Kirfi of his traditional title.

Rise of social media

Older adults who are used to nuanced, conservative methods of airing their grievances may be embarrassed, even offended, by the tweet brawl between Mohammed and Shamsudeen. Still, in the last two decades, we have seen that social media, the playground for teenagers and young adults, has also become a legitimate sphere of politics – and in the current Trumpoverse, it’s even a tool of diplomacy, thanks to US President Donald Trump.

But should blog posts, often typically lacking in depth and context, become the measure of what is truly important and enduring? Do they represent more than what they are – random outbursts of fleeting thoughts from entitled or angry tribes? Or do they teach us something we need to pay attention to?

Price of feuds

Some years ago, Bobby Goodlatte took a stand on Twitter against his father, Bob, a Republican, whom he accused of “political grandstanding” that led to the sacking of an FBI agent Bobby described as “a patriot.” For that reason, he sided with a Democrat running against his father and used social media to mobilise votes for him.

We don’t even need to go far. In 2017, Moremi, daughter of Babafemi Ojudu, the former Special Adviser (PoliticalMatters) to President Muhammadu Buhari, attacked the government, her father’s employer. Although she later apologised to her father, her action raised questions about who she was speaking for. Yet everyone knows it’s a generation that wears its emotions on its sleeve.

Who pays?

Seyi, son of President Bola Tinubu, who uses the handle @STinubu, last tweeted in May 2023. But his activities offline, which invariably become rich social media harvests, have generated no less interest than that of the more social-media active children of other politicians. Do these children's actions, especially online, carry any significant political risk for their parents?

The answer is, sometimes. A 2020 media psychology study said, “When people believe they are not alone in their cause, it encourages them to take action. For the children of well-known or newsworthy parents in the contentious political arena, their actions also become newsworthy by virtue of proximity to their parents and the unceasing demand for news content that will attract audience attention.”

The potential impact of such feuds could range from damage to political image to loss of credibility arising from a perception of lack of parental authority and a house divided against itself.

High-profile family disputes or squabbles amongst the children of political heavyweights can amplify the controversy and undermine the politician’s agenda. An example is the spectacular case of Bukola and Gbemisola in the Saraki dynasty. In cases where such children are viewed as potential successors, it could haunt them and fracture support.

“Sins” of the children

Even when children are old enough to answer their own names, in largely conservative societies, the “sins” of the children may weigh heavily on how their parents are perceived.

The tweet by Bashir El-Rufai, for example, that the killings in Southern Kaduna would continue until the attacks on Fulani herdsmen ceased was considered inflammatory and insensitive. It was also deemed a reflection of his father’s politics as governor for eight years.

Seyi Tinubu’s offline comment that his father is the greatest president in Nigeria’s history raised a firestorm on social media. Whatever the cost of his comment, he is unlikely to be deterred, and his actions will continue to enrich social media content in the days ahead.

As we move closer to 2027, the actions of the children of newsworthy politicians will be a valuable lens by which we try to view and understand the political space. We’ll wait to see how much this currency will shape the future.

** Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the book Writing for Media and Monetising It.

While white rice is still the most popular among consumers, brown rice is often praised for its nutritional benefits.

A new study, however, raises concerns about brown rice containing a higher level of arsenic than white rice.

The study was led by Michigan State University and published in the journal Risk Analysis.

Rice traditionally has its inedible outer hull removed. Brown rice gets its color from the bran and germ layer of rice, according to Healthline.

White rice is the same grain with the hull, bran layer and cereal germ removed — leaving only the soft, white interior.

The bran layer and cereal germ are what make brown rice nutritionally superior to white rice, because these layers are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals.

What the study shows

Researchers conducted an extensive literature review on the nutritional aspects of brown and white rice, focusing on the level of arsenic exposure for each.

They drew from the "What We Eat in America" database — from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Joint Institute of Food Science and Applied Nutrition — to determine how much rice the average American consumes, according to a news release.

Researchers found the rice bran that comprises the tan layer of brown rice has a much higher concentration of inorganic arsenic than the white part of the rice.

"Rice bran and brown rice are shown to have a higher arsenic content and inorganic arsenic concentration than the grain endosperm of white rice," researchers wrote in the study.

Their analysis revealed that with rice grown in the U.S., the proportion of the more toxic, inorganic arsenic in brown rice was 48%, compared to 33% in white rice.

Sherry Coleman Collins, a food allergy dietitian and expert from the Atlanta metropolitan area, was not involved in the study but said it highlights the importance of eating a diverse diet. 

"We know that arsenic and other naturally occurring toxins and man-contributed pollutants are in the soil and that these can and do make their way into our food supply," she told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

"For this reason, eating a variety of foods — with adequate amounts of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals and fiber — is essential to reducing exposure to potentially harmful substances." 

Why it matters

"This research is important because it acknowledges the importance of considering food safety along with nutrition when consumers make choices about food," said senior study author Felicia Wu, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor and University Distinguished Professor at MSU's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, in the press release.

There are several forms of arsenic in rice, both organic and inorganic. Inorganic arsenic is a known human carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancer, researchers noted.

Arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s crust, according to the World Health Organization, and is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land.

"It is highly toxic in its inorganic form," the site says.

Rice, which is very porous, can absorb a lot of inorganic arsenic from the flooded fields in which it grows, dietitian Devon Wagner wrote on Ohio State University's Health & Discovery page.

"Rice can soak up more arsenic than any other food crop," Wagner stated.

When the brown rice soaks up this inorganic arsenic, it becomes highly concentrated in that tan layer — which means that those consuming it may have higher exposure to the carcinogen.

Who is most affected?

Children under age 5 consume the most rice per unit of body weight, according to the study. 

Children ages 6 to 24 months consume a higher level of brown rice, which could lead to a heightened exposure to arsenic, per the study.

"These elevated consumptive levels are additionally concerning, because rice consumption statistics often underestimate consumption by the very young," the researchers warned.

The daily intake of inorganic arsenic among young children even exceeds previously considered safe levels, according to this research.

Adults don't face this same high risk, researchers said, as they are not as affected by the differences in arsenic exposure, especially those who are ages 60 and over.

Collins confirmed that children are at higher risk, as their smaller size makes it more likely that the small amounts of arsenic would be acutely dangerous. 

"There are a lot of infant and toddler foods that include brown rice, including cereals, puffs and puréed vegetables that are mixed with brown rice," she told Fox News Digital. 

"Theoretically and based on this data, those foods may expose babies and young children to higher levels of arsenic — however, the FDA does have guidance for manufacturers requiring them to maintain inorganic arsenic at or below 100 μg/kg or 100 ppb." 

Diversifying the diet of babies and people of all ages can be protective, she added.

What to do about it

"The concentrated amount of inorganic arsenic found within the rice bran in analysis challenges a common narrative of rice bran as a health product'superfood' because of its increased nutrients and high fiber," the researchers stated.

The findings, however, should not be regarded as evidence that brown rice is unhealthy — nor should people stop consuming it, according to Wu.

The study emphasized the importance of considering food safety concerns while balancing the nutritional benefits.

Those wondering whether to change their rice consumption should consult a health professional to understand the costs and benefits of switching.

"We concluded with a discussion of the need for more research into the potential trade-offs and relative arsenic exposure risks associated with brown versus white rice," the researchers concluded.

Collins agreed that people should continue to eat brown rice for the health benefits — including fiber, magnesium and B vitamins — but should also eat quinoa, farro, buckwheat, barley and other grains. 

"White rice is not a bad choice either, and it has lower levels of arsenic," she noted. "I tend to encourage people to choose whole grains (white rice has had the bran and germ removed, meaning it has less fiber and lower levels of vitamins and minerals), but it's completely OK to also enjoy white rice."

Fox News Digital reached out to several rice manufacturers requesting comment.

Fox News

No fewer than 144 persons have been killed by herdsmen in the two north central states of Plateau and Benue states in the last two weeks, as the blood-letting continued late Tuesday, with the killing of at least 13 persons, while scores of others sustained injuries, with over 50 houses razed.

Recall that within the period, 104 persons, comprising 52 in Bassa local government area and another 52 in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State, were killed by the marauding herdsmen, while at least 40 were also killed in Benue State.

In Benue, three persons were killed on April 3 when a Benue Links bus was ambushed at Ikobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area, LGA, while on April 10, two farmers were murdered by the marauders in Gwer West LGA.

Same day, three persons were killed at Mbasombo community also in Gwer East LGA, while the latest attack on Otobi Akpa in Otukpo LGA and the boundary with Nasarawa State claimed the lives of at least 13 persons, with several others declared missing.

Aside from the killings in the north central states, Boko Haram insurgents also on Tuesday, attacked Adamawa communities in Hong local government area, killing seven persons, while scores of others are still missing.

The latest killings in Benue on Tuesday evening, came as Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State yesterday announced prohibition of night grazing, transportation of cattle by vehicles after 7:00 pm, and restriction of the use of motorcycles from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am across the state until further notice, as part of measures to ward off the marauding herdsmen.

The attack on Otobi Akpa community started at about 6:00pm from the popular Otobi junction when over 20 armed herdsmen in a commando style, shot sporadically at anybody they sighted.
They also set ablaze no fewer than 50 houses.

Unfortunately most the of the vigilantes who could have stopped them from entering the main town to perpetrate their mission, had moved to Adim village of Akpa to attend a burial.

The terrifying sounds of gunshots created palpable fear as many took to their heels, while others who were curious to know what was happening ran into the herdsmen who opened fire on them, killing at least 13 persons in the process, while many escaped with gunshot wounds.

Some other victims were butchered with cutlasses, with their brains scattered around the scenes they were killed.
Investigation revealed that the killer herdsmen invaded Otobi Akpa and other Akpa communities to resist the law against open grazing which stopped them from grazing their cattle in the area.

One of the elders of the community, Adikwu Ogbe, who lamented the attack, recalled that Otobi Akpa community was one of the most peaceful communities in Idoma land, noting that in the past, the community had lived peacefully with Fulani herders until recently when they (herders) started bearing sophisticated arms and threatening the locals.

Recall that about three weeks ago, a security guard with Otukpo dam was shot and dismembered by herdsmen who enter Otobi village and shot sporadically in a night attack.

At the time of filing this report, many residents were seen fleeing the community, while search for those missing was in progress.

There was also no sign of security presence in the affected areas.

Benue State Deputy Governor, Samuel Ode, in company of heavily armed security operatives, yesterday visited the area to sympathise with many of the residents who are currently taking refuge at the Federal Government College, Otobi.

He appealed to them to remain calm, assuring that measures were being put in place to end further attack by the killers herdsmen.

Meanwhile, the community has become a ghost town as virtually everyone has fled the area for fear of another attack.

7 killed, many more missing as Boko Haram insurgents attack Adamawa community

While the herders are running riot in Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa states, Boko Haram insurgents in the early hours of yesterday, launched an attack on Adamawa communities in Hong local government, killing seven persons, while scores of others have been declared missing.

The attack, which is the fourth this year, occurred in the quiet communities of Banga and Larh and some adjoining villages in Hong LGA.

At least seven persons were confirmed dead, including a vigilante, killed by detonated explosives.

The assault also saw a police van shattered by the explosives, though its occupants miraculously escaped unharmed.
The attack in Banga claimed three lives, including two men shot dead by insurgents and a woman who fell and died during the stampede in nearby Larh.

According to locals, the attackers came in their large numbers and started shooting sporadically in all directions in the community .

“In the twinkle of an eye, the entire communities were deserted as people scampered in different directions for their lives,” Ma’am Yakub, an eyewitness told Vanguard.

He said in the ensuring confusion, many people got missing as their whereabouts are unknown.

The attack became more dreadful following the tragic loss of a vigilante in Banga, who was killed when a bomb detonated during efforts to secure the area.

“It’s heartbreaking that we are losing our people to these monsters, and now, even those protecting us are now the targets,’’ said a community leader who requested anonymity.

Local sources noted that the insurgents often plant such devices to deter security operatives from pursuing them, a strategy that had repeatedly disrupted response efforts.

The chairman of Hong local government council, Mr Waang Inuwa, who confirmed the attack, called for more military presence in the communities .

The attack on Banga and Larh underscores the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram in North-Eastern Nigeria, despite claims by authorities that the group had been significantly weakened.

“We feel abandoned. These attacks keep happening, and we’re left to fend for ourselves,” another community leader lamented .

Mutfwang prohibits night grazing, transportation of cattle

To restore calm and strengthen vigilance in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang yesterday announced the prohibition of night grazing, transportation of cattle by vehicle after 7:00 pm, and the use of motorcycles restricted from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am across the state until further notice.

The governor in a state-wide broadcast, said the security measures were effective from Wednesday, April 16th.
His words: “I speak to you today (yeterday) not only as your governor but as a fellow son of Plateau who shares in your anguish and feels the weight of the pain inflicted upon our people.

“We are once again confronted by sorrow as heart-wrenching attacks have taken the lives of innocent citizens in our communities.

“In the late hours of Sunday, April 13, the calm of Kimakpa area of Kwall District in Bassa LGA was shattered by violent assaults on Zike village. Innocent men, women, and children were murdered in cold blood.

“Homes were torched, properties ravaged, and entire families were left in agony. These attacks occurred, even as we were still mourning the loss of over 50 lives in Bokkos.

“The scale, frequency and intent of these atrocities are unmistakable. Let us be clear: this is not random violence. This is not an isolated conflict between farmers and herders. What we are witnessing is a systematic and premeditated campaign—one that seeks to displace, destabilise, and instill terror and fear in our people and communities.

“The tragic echoes of Dogo Na Hawa, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and the Christmas Eve massacres in Bokkos remain vivid. The cycle continues, but it must not endure. Enough Is Enough!

‘’As your governor, I stand resolved—Plateau shall not be overrun by fear, nor shall we accept this culture of bloodshed as the new normal. My administration is intensifying efforts to protect our people and enforce the rule of law across all local governments.

“Only days ago, I visited Hurti, Mbar, Manguna, and Daffo to witness, first hand, the devastation left behind by the terrorists. I had earlier stopped at Ruwi, where mourners were brazenly attacked at a wake.

“What I saw moved me profoundly—the suffering of displaced families now crammed into churches and temporary shelters, their lives uprooted overnight.

“But let me reassure you: my government is alive to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, and we are rising to the occasion more determined than ever.

“For far too long, our beloved state has made the headlines for the wrong reasons, thereby casting a shadow over our immense potential and deterring the inflow of much-needed foreign direct and local investments.

“These investments could have been the catalyst for harnessing our abundant natural resources and lifting our people out of poverty. We cannot afford to let this unfortunate reality persist.

‘’Despite this sorrow, the strength and courage of our people continue to inspire me. I extend heartfelt appreciation to the national and state emergency management agencies for their prompt response in providing emergency aid and comfort to survivors.

“I hereby announce the following measures, effective Wednesday, April 16th, night grazing of cattle is strictly prohibited, and transportation of cattle by vehicle is banned after 7:00 pm. The use of motorcycles is restricted from 7:00pm to 6:00am across the state until further notice.

“We are also activating community-based response systems. I urge traditional leaders and youth associations to reactivate local vigilante groups and organize night patrols in coordination with the security agencies. We must protect our communities while upholding the rule of law.”

The governor furthermore mandated the newly inaugurated Inter-Religious Council to begin immediate engagement with all stakeholders to address the deeper issues surrounding these attacks.

“I shall also be appointing a special envoy on peace to lead grassroots consultations and intelligence coordination as a fact-finding committee, comprising respected independent voices, to investigate the root cause of this resurgence in violence and offer actionable recommendations.

Vanguard

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has likened social media to a "terrorist organisation," calling for decisive action against its role in spreading misinformation. His remarks come amid repeated efforts by the Nigerian government, particularly the National Assembly, to impose stricter controls—and even criminal penalties—on social media usage.

Speaking on Tuesday at the seventh executive committee meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in Maiduguri, the Sultan warned that fabricated stories circulating online could worsen Nigeria’s fragile security situation.

"What happened has happened. It can’t come and be through social media. That’s one terrorist organisation…social media. Social media is a terrorist organisation," he declared.

"Somebody will sit in his comfort zone and formulate stories, and you will think it is true. So, social media is a terrorist organisation that we must deal with. Security agencies must deal with this terrorist organisation called social media."

His comments align with previous legislative attempts to regulate online speech. In 2019, the Senate introduced the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill, which sought to criminalize "false" social media posts with fines and jail terms. Though met with public outcry, the bill resurfaced in different forms, including the 2021 Social Media Bill, which proposed stiff penalties for "misinformation."

Critics argue such measures threaten free speech, while supporters, including some lawmakers and now prominent traditional leaders like the Sultan, insist they are necessary to curb unrest.

Abubakar also expressed concern over recent attacks in Plateau State and other states, calling them "worrisome" and demanding urgent attention.

"We are not happy with what is happening either on the Plateau or other places," he said.

As debates over social media regulation intensify, the Sultan’s stance adds weight to the government’s push for tighter controls—raising questions about where Nigeria will draw the line between security and civil liberties.

Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of dismantling the foundational pillars of Nigeria’s federal structure and worsening the nation’s social, political, and economic conditions.

In a scathing statement jointly signed by its Leader, Oladipo Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, Afenifere said it is “alarmed at the rate and audacity” with which the Tinubu government is allegedly “destructuring” Nigeria, noting a steady erosion of democratic freedoms, institutional checks, and economic stability.

“Instead of restructuring towards a prosperous and egalitarian federation, Tinubu is destructuring Nigeria with his autocratic attack on the fundamental pillars of democratic federalism,” the statement read.

Afenifere accused the administration of suppressing dissent, pointing to the recent banning of the politically charged song “Tell Your Papa” by rapper Eedris Abdulkareem as evidence of shrinking democratic space. The song was a direct response to controversial remarks made by Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, regarding the country’s situation.

“The ban signals a leadership disconnected from citizens’ realities and inclined more to autocratic control than fostering freedom and creativity,” Afenifere stated, warning that such actions threaten artistic expression and public discourse.

On the economy, the group criticized what it called “ultraliberal policies” like the removal of fuel subsidies and currency floating, blaming them for spiraling inflation, rising unemployment, and eroding purchasing power. According to the group, these policies have compounded the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

“The promise of economic prosperity remains unfulfilled, marooning the majority in hardship. Rather than offer succour, the government is further suffocating the democratic space,” it said.

Afenifere also raised alarm over worsening insecurity, referencing recent data from HumAngle’s Conflict Tracker which reported 1,420 deaths and over 537 kidnappings in the first quarter of 2025 alone. It condemned fresh attacks by bandits and Fulani herdsmen in Plateau, Ondo, Benue, Edo, and Nasarawa states, and renewed calls for the federal government to ban open grazing and adopt ranching as a long-term solution.

In Ondo State, four communities in Akure North LGA were attacked, resulting in the deaths of 20 residents and the abduction of nine surveyors. In Benue State, armed herders reportedly killed three members of the state’s security force, sparking widespread protests and property destruction.

The group reiterated its demand for the establishment of state police, insisting that a single national police force cannot adequately secure a nation as large and diverse as Nigeria.

“Politics aside, best practices tell us that one police hierarchy cannot meet the security demands of a country like ours. Yet, for political reasons, the Tinubu administration continues to resist state policing,” Afenifere said.

The group declared its solidarity with Nigerians facing “insecurity, economic hardship, and suppressed freedoms,” and urged the government to shift from rhetorics to real reform. It called for policies that would stimulate economic growth, protect free speech and assembly, and ensure safety for all citizens.

“We urge the government to implement pragmatic plans geared toward collective safety, equitable development, and freedom for all,” the statement concluded.

Afenifere’s remarks add to the growing voices of concern over Nigeria’s current trajectory under the Tinubu administration, reflecting broader calls for political restructuring, social justice, and inclusive governance.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) distributed N1.578 trillion among the Federal Government, states and Local Government Councils (LGCs) for March, 2025.

A communiqué issued by Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), detailed the revenue sharing at April's FAAC meeting in Abuja.

The N1.578 trillion revenue comprised N931.325 billion in statutory revenue, N593.750 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT), N24.971 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and N28.711 billion from Exchange Difference revenue.

Total gross revenue available in March was N2.411 trillion. After deductions of N85.376 billion for collection costs and N747.180 billion for transfers, interventions, and refunds, the distributable revenue stood at N1.578 trillion.

March's gross statutory revenue reached N1.718 trillion, representing a N65.422 billion increase from February's N1.653 trillion. However, VAT revenue decreased to N637.618 billion from February's N654.456 billion, a reduction of N16.838 billion.

From the total distributed revenue, the Federal Government received N528.696 billion, State Governments received N530.448 billion, and LGCs received N387.002 billion. Additionally, N132.611 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared among oil-producing states as derivation revenue.

The statutory revenue breakdown allocated N422.485 billion to the Federal Government, N214.290 billion to State Governments, and N165.209 billion to LGCs, with oil-producing states receiving N129.341 billion in derivation revenue.

From VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N89.063 billion, State Governments N296.875 billion, and LGCs N207.813 billion.

The EMTL revenue distribution gave N3.746 billion to the Federal Government, N12.485 billion to State Governments, and N8.740 billion to LGCs.

The communiqué noted that Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Companies Income Tax (CIT) increased significantly, while Oil and Gas royalty, EMTL, VAT, Excise Duty, Import Duty, and CET Levies all decreased.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​