Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
No fewer than 20 out of the 127 inmates freed during last week’s attack on Ganye Prison in Adamawa State have returned.
Gunmen attacked about 17 places, including the prison in Ganye, headquarters of Ganye local government, set free 127 prisoners, and killed the senior officer in charge of the prison, Assistant Controller Baba Musa.
Confirming the development in Yola, last Saturday, nm Adamawa State Controller of Prisons, Mr Andrew Barka, who did not give details, said some of the prisoners were re-arrested while some returned on their own.
Also giving update on the incident, the Chairman of Ganye Local Government, Alhaji Mohammed Farouk, said normalcy had returned to the town and business activities had resumed in full.
FCT
The African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) has donated 16 plane-load of relief materials to victims of violent conflict in Mali.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant (Media) to the First Lady, Mr Ayo Osinlu, stated that the aid, which included food items, clothing, drugs, beddings and other essential items, were received at a brief ceremony in the Malian capital, Bamako.
The President of the AFLPM, Dame Patience Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, presented the aid to the First Lady of Mali, Madame Mintou Traore.
She said: “In fulfilment of the resolve of First Ladies of Africa to contribute their quota to checking the wind of violence spreading across Africa, the Mission has taken its peace advocacy to Mali where several insurgent groups have been fighting the Malian government for independence or greater autonomy.
Gombe
The Police in Gombe State have confirmed the killing of two people when gunmen attacked Kumo Police Division in Akko local government area last Friday night.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mohammed Sule, said in Gombe, that the dead were among the attackers.
Sule said the police recovered one AK 47 rifle and two motorcycles from the attackers. “As far as I am concerned, none of my men was killed.
“What I know is that two of the attackers were killed and we recovered one AK 47 rifle and two motorcycles,” he said.
Sule, however, said he was expecting details of the incident since it occurred in the night and he decried the lack of information from the public to enable the police to prevent such attacks.
Some residents of Kumo said they could not sleep in the night because of the exchange of fire between the police and the attackers.
Kaduna
Farmers in Zaria, Kaduna State, last Friday, jubilated as the city recorded its first rainfall of the year. The rain which started at 4.30p.m, lasted for 30 minutes.
A farmer, Malam Musa Dogara, thanked God for His blessings, and said that the rain would encourage farmers to start preparation for the farming season.
“We are happy with this rain and very soon we will get set for clearing of our farmlands as a prerequisite for crop cultivation,” he said.
Another farmer, Mutawakkilu Rafinyashi, also expressed gratitude to God for the rain and prayed for a blissful farming season.
A resident of the town, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Babbangwani said the rain was a source of succour for everyone, especially as it had lowered the temperature and relieved the people of intense heat.
Kano
Kano State Zakkat and Endowment Commission said it disbursed N16.1 million as Zakkat (alms) to 1,794 indigent persons last year.
The Director-General of the commission, Alhaji Sufiyanu Gwagwarwa in Kano last Sunday, that N10 million was given to 1,000 needy persons in the first phase of the programme.
According to him, the sum of N2.5 million was distributed to 250 widows as assistance to enable them start small businesses.
“Each of the beneficiaries was given N10,000 as assistance to ameliorate his sufferings as well as to enable him start a business.
“The whole idea behind giving Zakkat to the poor is to use the money to establish some useful ventures which will make them self-reliant,’’ he said.
He said another N1.5 million was also distributed to another batch of 150 persons in addition to another N1.5 million disbursed to new converts to Islam and stranded travellers as assistance.
The Director- General disclosed that the commission had also offset the medical bills of 44 patients amounting to N435, 000 during the same period.
Kwara
The Federal Government has been urged to invest more in the development of libraries for the country to excel in the education sector.
A lecturer with the Department of Library and Information Science, Kwara State University, Malete, Dr Moses Ibeun, gave the advice in a lecture in Malete, Kwara, last Friday.
Ibeun said in the lecture, organised by the students of Library Science of the university, that the development of libraries as an integral part of educational development in the country had been neglected in favour of social media.
He described the existence of social media as detrimental to the reading culture in the society and reduced the rate at which people patronised the library.
Lagos
A Lagos State lawmaker, Mr Rotimi Olowo, has advised the Federal Government to collaborate with the states, to enhance effectiveness in road construction and maintenance.
Olowo said in Lagos, last Sunday, that the government should explore both human and technical capacity of the states to ensure that the network of road projects fared better.
Olowo, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure in the state House of Assembly, urged the government to delegate more responsibilities to the states in road construction.
“Nigeria is a federating state and if the government should partner with the states, it is going to be a win, win situation. “We want service delivery, there is nothing the government is doing that states cannot do.
Niger
Senator Dahiru Awaisu (PDP- Niger East Senatorial District) last Sunday said he would seek re-election for a third term in 2015 “in spite of the political machinations to stop me’’.
Awaisu told newsmen in Minna during an interactive session that “nothing will deter me from contesting for re-election in 2015.
“I cannot be intimidated by anybody after being in politics for 32 years. There is nothing that I have not seen. “I have been in politics for long and for that I cannot be intimidated by anybody not only in Niger but in this country,’’ he said.
He noted that he had won most of his elective seats as representative of the opposition parties in the state, therefore, he would not be deterred by anybody.
“My people back my move to seek re-election for a third term. I will seek re-election under the PDP, even though Governor Babangida Aliyu, has shown interest in the seat,’’ he said.
Oyo
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an NGO, last Sunday, congratulated Christians in the country on the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In a statement by MURIC’s Director, Prof. Is-haq Akintola, made available to our correspondent in Ibadan, It said that in conformity with the lessons embedded in the Easter celebrations, Christians must endeavour to be tolerant and forgiving of one another, especially with adherents of other religions,” it stated.
“MURIC greets Nigerian Christians on this memorable occasion.
“We urge all Nigerians to demonstrate genuine respect for the manner of worship as well as the culture of other religions,” it stated.
Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, said last Sunday, that a National Qu’ranic Centre would be established in the state.
The sultan stated this at the closing of the 27th National Qu’ranic Recitation Competition in Gusau. He said that the past winners of the competition would be employed to propagate the teachings of the Holy Qu’ran at the centre when constructed.
The sultan said in order to have a decent and peaceful society in the country, there must be justice.
“I urge all the people in charge of justice, both the legal practitioners and village heads, to be just. “We at the top are always ready and will be willing to do anything to solve the problems in this country,’’ he said.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.
Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.
“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.
Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state
He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.
“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.
While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.
He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.
Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.
Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.
The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_
The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.
The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.
Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.
Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.
On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.
In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.
Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.
Amadi Akujobi
