National News
Benue Killings: President Tinubu Asked to be Audacious in Seeking Solution

Benue Killings: President Tinubu Asked to be Audacious in Seeking Solution
By: Michael Mike
President Bola Tinubu has been asked to be audacious in the battle to end insecurity and incessant attacks and killings in parts of the country.
Reacting to recent Benue killings which left scores dead, an hostile environment journalist and Chairman, Northern Christian Youth Professionals, Isaac Abrak in a letter to President Bola Tinubu, copy of which was made available journalists, said: “But we cannot afford to fold our arms in despair. We must act differently. We must try something new, even if it has never been attempted anywhere in the world. For the sake of our people—our children, our farmers, our security personnel—we must do something bold to stop this carnage.”
Abrak, while stating that “many of those who will oppose this letter are not the ones burying loved ones or watching their communities burn. They analyze from afar, removed from the pain. But real solutions come from those who feel the loss, from the hearts of those closest to the suffering. The Forest Guard must be led not by theories, data sheets, or “Harvard-trained analysts” alone—but by those who bleed when our villages bleed,” said: “I write this letter with a heavy heart. As someone who has spent most of my life reporting from hostile zones across our region, it has become painfully clear that the cycle of killings in our beloved country—particularly in the Middle Belt, as seen again in Benue—is unrelenting.
“Despite the gallant efforts of our military, police, and other security agencies, the attacks persist. Each time our forces strike a blow against the perpetrators, they appear to retreat briefly—only to re-emerge with even greater violence, targeting our most vulnerable: poor, innocent rural dwellers.”
Abrak said: “Mr. President, you understand this urgency. That is why you honored your campaign promise by approving the establishment of the Armed Forest Guard —a groundbreaking initiative that has all the potentials to be the game-changer we desperately need.
“We believe that this Forest Guard has the potential to work—100 percent. Why? Because history in Nigeria has already shown us the way.
“When you introduced LASMA and LAWMA in Lagos, you transformed the so-called “Area Boys”—once a nuisance on our streets—into contributors to order and cleanliness. When CJTF was established in Borno, the same young men once targeted by Boko Haram were mobilized to protect their communities, and they became a vital force in pushing the terrorists back.”
He said: “Mr. President, after 16 years of reporting from conflict zones, I can say with conviction that those responsible for these killings are not strangers—they are often part of the very communities we are trying to protect. Whether they are Fulani, Tiv, or from any other ethnic group, they are either complicit or, at the very least, enabling the violence.
“That is why the Forest Guard must be community-driven. Carefully selected young men and women—hunters, ex-servicemen, with deep roots and love for their communities—should be recruited to defend their forests. If implemented with sincerity, this initiative will succeed just like LASMA, LAWMA, and CJTF did.
“Of course, there will be critics—there always are. Many will see only the challenges and not the possibilities. But you have shown time and again that real leadership is about confronting problems, not running from them. I was in Lagos and witnessed firsthand how you stood firm in the face of criticism to birth innovations that have since transformed lives.”
National News
Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel

Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Army troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe have intercepted a truck loaded with suspected vandalised iron railway sleepers and arrested eight suspects, including five personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), during a targeted operation in Katarko area of Gujba Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the operation, which took place on July 8 at about 4:00 p.m., followed credible intelligence about the movement of vandalised railway materials.

The truck, was intercepted while en route to Damaturu. A Hilux vehicle marked NSCDC CD 234 A, believed to be providing escort for the illegal consignment, was also impounded.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the railway materials were vandalised from a section of the tracks around Kukuwa, also in Gujba LGA.
Further findings revealed that the arrested NSCDC officers were allegedly invited by the vandals to provide safe passage in exchange for monetary compensation.
A cash sum of ₦128,500, believed to be proceeds of the illegal escort, was recovered from one of the NSCDC officers. The money was reportedly concealed in his inner clothing.
The suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Damaturu for further investigation. An anti-bomb squad has also been directed to sweep the recovered materials to ensure public safety.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing and all those found culpable will be prosecuted accordingly.
Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel
National News
NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decried the rising incident of human rights violation in the country, stating that last alone over 320,000 cases were reported across the country.
Speaking during the presentation of June 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu said: “In the month of June, we received 327,154 complaints reflecting another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice and a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done.”
He lamented that: “Every month, when we gather to present this human rights dashboard, we are confronted with a sobering reality of the lived realities of those affected by violence, injustice, discrimination, and systemic neglect. These numbers compel us to reflect deeply on our collective responsibility and ask ourselves the difficult question: Are we doing enough? The events of June 2025 demand not just reflection, but an honest and urgent response.”
He said: “Last month, Nigeria witnessed a harrowing surge in violent attacks, with devastating consequences for affected communities and our national conscience. Among the most tragic incidents were the brutal assaults on the Yelewata and Dauda communities in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 200 innocent lives were lost. These were not mere figures on a report; they were fathers, mothers, children, and breadwinners; families torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and futures extinguished in moments of senseless brutality.
“Equally alarming is the rising trend of attacks against law enforcement and local security forces. In Kaduna and Niger States, more than 17 soldiers were killed in coordinated attacks, further destabilizing already fragile regions. Equally distressing was the massacre of over 40 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ruggar Chida, brave individuals who stood on the frontlines to protect their communities, only to pay the ultimate price.
“Their deaths leave a void in local security structures, rendering civilians even more exposed to further violence.”
Ojukwu noted that: “The wave of insecurity plaguing our highways has also intensified. In June alone, more than 50 travellers were abducted along major transit routes in Kogi and Benue States. These are not isolated criminal acts; they represent a direct assault on the fundamental rights to freedom of movement, economic participation, and personal dignity. These abductions inflicts lasting trauma on victims and their families while further eroding public trust in the safety of our roads. This pattern of violence marked by impunity, fear, and systemic failure highlights a grave deficit in protection and accountability.”
He added that: “In the month of June, we received 327,154 complaints reflecting another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice and a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done.
“To the government, we reiterate the need for decisive and coordinated security interventions. To civil society and the media, we urge sustained advocacy and amplification of these issues. To our development partners, we call for strengthened collaboration in addressing the root causes of these issues. This dashboard must not merely serve as a record of tragedies; it must be a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable change.
“Let us never forget; every complaint documented, every statistic recorded in these dashboards represents a Nigerian citizen, a fellow human being seeking justice, safety, and the fulfilment of their basic rights.
“The National Human Rights Commission remains unwavering in its mandate to promote, protect, and enforce human rights across Nigeria. We will forge ahead with purposeful and sustained action.”
NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June
National News
Five months amnesty granted for regularisation of expired visas

Five months amnesty granted for regularisation of expired visas
By:Michael Mike
The federal government has granted five months amnesty for regularisation of expired visas to allow travellers comply with the new visa regime.
A statement at the weekend by the public relations officer of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Akinsola Akinlabi said the amnesty would also reinforce a secure and transparent migration system.
The statement read: “The federal government through the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service, announces an Expired Visa Initiative (Amnesty).
“This initiative provides a unique window for foreigners currently residing in Nigeria with expired immigration status to regularize their stay without facing penalties.”
He disclosed in the statement that the initiative, which commenced on 1st May 2025, would run through to 30th September 2025.
He further announced that the amnesty specifically apply to individuals who have either overstayed their visas or violated their visa conditions.
He gave the categories of those affected as: Foreign nationals with Expired Visa on Arrival (VoA); Holders of Expired Single and Multiple-Entry Visas and; Individuals with an Expired Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), where renewal has exceeded 30 days post-expiration.
Akinlabi urged all affected foreign nationals to promptly regularize their stay through
(https://amnesty.immigration.gov.ng) within the grace period to avoid overstay penalties.
He said, “To ensure the Amnesty application process is seamless, the Nigeria Immigration Service has assembled a support team to assist with Amnesty applications. Contact the support team via email at:amnesty@immigration.gov.ng
“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to facilitating lawful migration, safeguarding National Security, and promoting transparency and efficiency across all immigration processes.
“For further information kindly visit the Nigeria Immigration website www.immigration.gov.ng.”
Five months amnesty granted for regularisation of expired visas
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