News
Kidnappers Of Jonathan’s Cousin Reject N30m Ransom
The kidnapped cousin of President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Inengite Nitabai, may have to spend more days with his abductors as the hoodlums were said to have rejected the N30million ransom offered by his family for his release.
This coming at a time the newly constituted executive of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has constituted a three-man search party to assist security agents locate the whereabouts of the Otuoke chief.
Nitabai, said to be a former lecturer at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, was abducted penultimate Sunday at his Otuoke country home in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State by ten armed men.
The kidnapped chief is the traditional head of the compound from which President Jonathan hails from.
The abductors, it would be recalled, had contacted the victim’s family four days after he was whisked away, demanding a whooping sum of N500million as ransom to set him free.
The Tide gathered that Nitabai’s worried family had offered to pay the kidnappers N30million in order to secure his freedom, but the offer was rejected.
“They (kidnappers) rejected the N30million offer which they described as laughable, coming from a family linked to the President,” the source said.
Also, a security source, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the development, saying, “we are aware that the family is negotiating with the kidnappers and that they are demanding N500million, which the family described as outrageous. They, instead, offered to part with N30million, which the kidnappers were said to have rejected.”
When contacted, the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, denied knowledge of the development but merely said some progress has been made on the incident.
However, the IYC has described the action of the kidnappers as crime which the council would not condone, and urged the family not to negotiate or pay any ransom.
IYC said the three-man committee it set up to work with security agencies to fish out the kidnappers of Inengite Nitabai are making tremendous progress to secure his release.
Spokesman of the IYC, Eric Omare, who disclosed this to newsmen shortly after the inaugural meeting of the council at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, said the identity of the three-man committee would not be disclosed for security reasons as serious progress has been made to free the septuagenarian.
Omare added that the committee has established contact with Nitabai’s captors, assuring that in no distance time, he would be released.
“In consonance with the position of the IYC, we have advised the relevant persons not to offer any ransom in order to effect the release of Mr President’s cousin because if we offer ransom, we are encouraging more kidnapping”, the IYC said.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.