News
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Leaders and people of Ogoniland have petitioned President Bola Tinubu over alleged attempts by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to undermine the ongoing Federal Government–Ogoni dialogue process aimed at resolving the decades-long Ogoni crisis.
The petition was submitted under the auspices of the Conscience of Ogoni People (COOP), formerly known as the Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, a group of concerned Ogoni stakeholders advocating peace, justice, and sustainable development in Ogoniland.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by COOP’s Leader and Spokesman, Chief Gani Topba, the group expressed strong support for the dialogue and peace process being facilitated by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, describing it as the most credible effort so far to address the long-standing Ogoni question.
COOP alleged that Wike has been engaging in actions intended to frustrate the dialogue, tracing the dispute to unresolved issues from his tenure as Governor of Rivers State.
According to the group, the controversy is linked to a long-standing compensation dispute between the Ejama Ebubu community in Ogoni and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) over environmental damage claims that were decided in favour of the community.
The group stated that the Rivers State Government became deeply involved in the matter during Wike’s administration, a development that has remained contentious and unresolved in public discourse.
COOP further alleged that during the recent visit of the NSA to Ogoniland, political associates of the FCT Minister were instructed to boycott and undermine the engagement. The group claimed that efforts were deliberately made to sabotage the dialogue at the community level.
Raising security concerns, COOP alleged that armed youths recruited from different parts of Rivers State are currently being mobilised and camped around the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters, allegedly to destabilise the peace process.
The group also claimed that Wike is displeased with Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalaiyi Fubara, for cooperating with the NSA to ensure the success of the Ogoni dialogue. According to COOP, local government chairmen in Eleme, Tai, Gokana and Khana LGAs were allegedly directed to recruit armed youths to disrupt the dialogue and frustrate the proposed resumption of oil operations in Ogoniland.
COOP warned that if these alleged actions are not checked, they could pose serious threats to public peace and security in Rivers State and derail the fragile but promising dialogue process.
The group noted that the ongoing engagement has been widely welcomed by Ogoni people as a sincere and inclusive initiative aimed at achieving lasting peace, environmental remediation, economic reintegration of Ogoni communities, and the safe resumption of oil production in Oil Mining Lease (OML) II. They added that a successful outcome would significantly boost national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, energy security and employment.
COOP appealed to President Tinubu to intervene by calling on the FCT Minister to desist from actions capable of reigniting tension in Ogoniland. The group urged the President to protect the dialogue process and mandate relevant security and intelligence agencies to investigate the allegations.
They call on the President to ensure that no individual, regardless of position, undermines national interest for personal or sectional gain, expressing confidence that decisive intervention would help secure peace in Ogoniland and reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to justice, national unity and economic recovery.
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
Troops Intercept Arms Courier, Recover Weapons and Ammunition
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 12 Brigade, in collaboration with operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Hybrid Forces, have intercepted a suspected arms courier vehicle and recovered weapons, ammunition and communication equipment along the Sokoto-Zaria-Kaduna highway.
Security sources disclosed that the operation, conducted on June 21 based on credible intelligence, targeted a vehicle suspected to be conveying arms to Kogi State.
The sources said the suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the security operatives.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, nine magazines, 67 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two Beretta pistols with 9mm ammunition, two Baofeng handheld radios and three camouflage jackets.
According to the sources, the recovered items are currently in the custody of the troops for further investigation and exploitation.
The sources added that efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend the fleeing suspect as well as uncover the network behind the arms movement.
They noted that the operation underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led security efforts aimed at disrupting the movement of illegal arms and ammunition across the country.
Troops Intercept Arms Courier, Recover Weapons and Ammunition
COAS Joins Security Chiefs at Nigeria-UK Defence, Security Dialogue
By: Zagazola Makama
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday joined top Nigerian security leaders at the Fourth Nigeria-United Kingdom Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue in Abuja.
The high-level meeting brought together the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and other senior security stakeholders.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Ribadu and Jonathan Powell, and focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in addressing emerging security challenges and advancing shared strategic interests between both countries.
Participants discussed ways of enhancing collaboration in areas such as defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, capacity building and regional security.
Security officials noted that the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom remained vital to efforts aimed at tackling security threats and promoting stability.
They added that the partnership had continued to support the development of military and security capabilities through training, technical assistance and strategic engagements.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to working with national and international partners to strengthen security, safeguard the country’s sovereignty and contribute to regional peace and stability in line with the Federal Government’s security objectives.
COAS Joins Security Chiefs at Nigeria-UK Defence, Security Dialogue
Alleged Cybercrime: Sowore Sent Back to Kuje Correctional Centre
By: Zagazola Makama
- Court Fixes June 30 To Hear Appeal on Bench Warrant
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered that politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, be sent back to the Kuje Correctional Centre until June 30 when his application for the setting aside the order of bench warrant and revocation of bail application would be considered.
On Monday, Justice Mohammed Umar, revoked the December 2025 bail he granted Sowore “based on self-recognition”, and ordered that the politician be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Before the revocation of the bail, Justice Umar had ordered Sowore to open his defence in a matter of alleged cybercrime brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
At the resumed hearing of the matter, on Wednesday, Sowore’s lawyer, R. O. Adakonye, who stood in for Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, informed the court that the matter was adjourned for hearing of their application to set aside the order of bench warrant and revocation of the bail of the defendant on account of his absence in court on 16th June, 2026.
The prosecution lawyer, A. T. Kehinde ,SAN, however, opposed the application filed by the defence. He told the court have he had filed a counter-affidavit urging the Court to refuse the application to set aside the order of bench warrant and revocation of bail against Sowore.
The judge, thereafter, adjourned the matter to June 30, 2026 for ruling on the application to set aside the order of bench warrant and revocation of bail application.
The defence lawyer begged the court to release Sowore to him, with a promise to bring the politician to court hon June 30. The judge declined the defence lawyer’s request and insisted that Sowore be taken back to Kuje Correctional Centre.
The DSS resorted to prosecuting Sowore for alleged cyber-bullying after several unsuccessful appeals to make him pull down posts he made on his “X” and Facebook accounts in August 2025, calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal.”
Alleged Cybercrime: Sowore Sent Back to Kuje Correctional Centre
Troops Recover Over 2,400 Rustled Livestock After Clash with Terrorists in Zamfara
Troops Intercept Arms Courier, Recover Weapons and Ammunition
COAS Joins Security Chiefs at Nigeria-UK Defence, Security Dialogue
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