Fubara: Nigeria Needs God-Fearing Leaders to Tackle Corruption, Drive National Progress

By: Michael Mike

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said Nigeria’s quest for sustainable development and good governance depends largely on the emergence of leaders guided by the fear of God, arguing that the country’s socio-economic challenges stem from a deficit of integrity and moral leadership.

The governor made the remarks on Thursday at the Government House in Port Harcourt while receiving the World President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Erton Köhler, alongside his wife, Andriene Marques Köhler, their daughter, Mariana Marques Köhler, and other senior church officials.

Fubara said leaders who are conscious of their accountability before God would be less inclined to abuse public trust, noting that the absence of such values has fuelled corruption, inequality, poverty and rising criminality across the country.

“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God,” the governor said. “If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God. But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line, and that is what has brought us to where we are today.”

He praised the Seventh-day Adventist Church for its long-standing investment in education, describing its schools and universities as critical platforms for nurturing competent and morally upright future leaders.

According to the governor, the church’s commitment to education demonstrates that religion should extend beyond preaching and denominational identity to making tangible contributions to national development through human capital development.

Fubara noted that by establishing and sustaining educational institutions, the church has continued to support Nigeria’s efforts to produce graduates equipped with knowledge, character and leadership values.

“We need the right people being in the right place, prepared properly with good minds. That is what we need, not just in Nigeria but around the whole world,” he said.

The governor also linked many of the country’s security and economic challenges to weak social welfare systems, stressing that citizens are less likely to resort to crime when they have access to quality education, affordable healthcare, decent wages and opportunities for a secure future.

He advocated a system where average-income earners can educate their children, access quality healthcare and own homes after years of productive service, insisting that such conditions would significantly reduce insecurity and other social vices.

Fubara thanked the church delegation for visiting Rivers State and for praying for the state, assuring them of his administration’s continued support for their activities.

Speaking earlier, Köhler said he was in Nigeria for a major church conference that would bring together thousands of Seventh-day Adventist ministers for leadership and empowerment training aimed at strengthening their pastoral work and service to society.

He expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded his delegation by the Rivers State Government, describing the visit as one that would remain memorable.

The church leader also highlighted the global reach of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, revealing that it has more than 24 million members and over 182,000 places of worship spread across 212 countries and territories worldwide.

Fubara: Nigeria Needs God-Fearing Leaders to Tackle Corruption, Drive National Progress

Troops Prevent Fulani Reprisal attack after Rustling of Livestock by Suspected Local Militia in Mangu in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have repelled suspected Fulani Bandits during a rapid response operation following reports of sporadic gunfire around Banasu High Ground in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 1:52 p.m. on July 2, when troops of Sector 8, Sub-Sector 81, deployed at Gyambwas, received reports of intermittent shootings around the Banasu High Ground.

Security sources said that the planned attack was in response to previous attack on hardees and rustling of their livestock by Militia men in Mangu.

Acting swiftly on the distress report, the troops moved to the area and engaged the armed criminals in a firefight.

According to the sources, the superior firepower of the troops forced the assailants to abandon their mission and retreat towards the surrounding high ground.

No casualties were reported among the troops during the encounter.

Security sources said the troops have sustained surveillance and monitoring of the area, while efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent any further attacks.

The operation forms part of ongoing security efforts by Operation Enduring Peace to prevent any armed militia activities and enhance security across Plateau State.

Troops Prevent Fulani Reprisal attack after Rustling of Livestock by Suspected Local Militia in Mangu in Plateau

Troops Clear Zamfara Highway of Explosive Threats, Recover Police Vehicle Damaged by IED

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the 1 Brigade have successfully cleared the Bagega–Anka major supply route in Zamfara State of explosive threats, restoring safe movement along the road after a comprehensive route scanning operation.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out at about 9:30 a.m. on July 2 by troops of the brigade in conjunction with a Quick Response Force (QRF) and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.

According to the sources, the troops conducted a thorough route scanning exercise along the Bagega–Anka Main Supply Route (MSR) in Anka Local Government Area to detect and neutralise any improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or other explosive hazards.

At the conclusion of the operation, the route was confirmed free of explosive threats and was subsequently reopened to vehicular traffic.

During the exercise, the troops also recovered a Nigeria Police Counter-Terrorism/Counter-Strike (NP CSK) vehicle that had recently struck an improvised explosive device along the same route.

The operation was completed without incident, and no casualties were recorded among the troops.

Security sources said the route clearance forms part of sustained counter-insurgency and counter-banditry efforts aimed at ensuring the safety of motorists, security personnel and residents travelling along strategic roads in Zamfara State.

They added that troops will continue aggressive route clearance patrols and surveillance operations to deny criminal elements the opportunity to emplace explosive devices on major highways within the theatre of operations.

Troops Clear Zamfara Highway of Explosive Threats, Recover Police Vehicle Damaged by IED