NSCDC Mobilises 4,000 Personnel to Safeguard FCT Area Council Polls

By: Michael Mike

Ahead of the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has rolled out extensive security arrangements, assuring voters of protection against intimidation, violence and electoral malpractice.

FCT Commandant, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, gave the assurance in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the National Peace Committee, which paid him a courtesy visit to discuss election security preparedness and collaboration.

Odumosu said the Command has concluded strategic briefings and operational planning sessions with divisional officers to ensure watertight security across polling units and vulnerable communities. He disclosed that 4,000 personnel would be deployed throughout the six Area Councils, supported by covert operatives already stationed in identified flashpoints.

He stressed that NSCDC officers have undergone specialised election security training conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), positioning the Corps to respond professionally and decisively to any attempt to disrupt the process.

“Our engagement does not start and end on election day,” Odumosu said. “We are committed to maintaining vigilance before, during and after the polls to ensure that results are declared in an atmosphere free of chaos or violence.”

The Commandant urged residents to participate confidently in the democratic process, assuring them that security agencies are working in synergy to provide a safe and orderly environment. He also cautioned youths against allowing themselves to be recruited by politicians to foment trouble, warning that security operatives would not hesitate to enforce the law against offenders.

Odumosu commended the National Peace Committee for its proactive engagement, describing the visit as timely and reflective of a shared commitment to peaceful elections. He reaffirmed the Command’s readiness to collaborate with civil society organisations, observer groups and other stakeholders to guarantee transparency and public trust in the electoral process.

Speaking earlier, Project Manager of the National Peace Committee, Asabe Ndahi, said the delegation sought to assess the evolving security landscape in the FCT and explore areas of partnership ahead of the elections. She praised the Command’s level of preparedness and expressed confidence in continued cooperation, noting that credible field reports remain critical to the Committee’s peace-building and monitoring efforts.

With security deployments underway and inter-agency coordination strengthened, authorities say all necessary steps are being taken to ensure that voters in the FCT exercise their franchise without fear.

NSCDC Mobilises 4,000 Personnel to Safeguard FCT Area Council Polls

Man killed in Yobe communal clash, two suspects arrested

By: Zagazola Makama

One person has died and two others sustained serious injuries following a violent clash between two groups of youths in Tarmuwa Local Government Area, the Yobe State Police Command reported.

According to sources, the incident occurred on Feb. 12, 2026, at about 10:22 a.m., when Manu Ahmadu, 20, and Ali Isah, 22, of Koromari village, were reportedly rearing their animals in the bush of Kurmari village.

They were attacked by Mas’udu Rabiu, 20, and Abdullahi Abubakar, 23, of the same area, armed with bows, arrows, and sticks, following a prior conflict.

Abdullahi Abubakar allegedly shot Manu Ahmadu in the chest with an arrow and struck Ali Isah on the head and stomach. During the confrontation, Abdullahi Abubakar was injured by an arrow to the stomach, while Mas’udu Rabiu sustained machete cuts on both hands.

The victims were rushed to General Hospital Dapchi for treatment, where Manu Ahmadu was pronounced dead by medical personnel.

The two suspects have been arrested and are currently in police custody.

Man killed in Yobe communal clash, two suspects arrested

Tonlagha: Forged in the Creeks, Bridging Nigeria to the World

•Quiet Power, Citizen Diplomacy and the Promise of Nigeria

By Jude Obioha

In a country where activism often clashes with national cohesion and where loud voices frequently overshadow steady hands, Matthew Tonlagha represents a rare Nigerian archetype. This bridge builder fights fiercely for his people while working tirelessly for the peace, stability and economic future of Nigeria. His journey from the creeks of the Niger Delta to global engagement is not merely a personal success story. It is a powerful narrative of resilience, citizen diplomacy and quiet nation-building.

Tonlagha’s story begins not with privilege but with adversity. Born into a disciplined military family in Delta State, his early life was marked by profound physical challenges after complications from an ill-administered polio vaccine impaired his mobility. For nearly a decade, he depended on his mother’s strength to attend school and navigate daily life. Social stigma, financial hardship and the early loss of his father could have silenced his ambitions. Instead, these experiences forged in him a deep empathy for the vulnerable and an unyielding commitment to service. His eventual recovery and rise stand today as a testament to resilience; a personal struggle transformed into a lifelong mission for collective empowerment.

From his earliest activism in the Benikrukru community in the Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta State, Tonlagha distinguished himself not only as a protester but also as an intellectual force behind the Niger Delta emancipation struggle. He confronted exploitation and neglect with courage, yet consistently advocated peaceful engagement, negotiation and constructive dialogue. Like many iconic leaders who understood that lasting change requires both firmness and foresight, he pursued justice for the Niger Delta without undermining Nigeria’s unity. This duality—fighting for regional equity while championing national stability—has defined his leadership philosophy.

His grassroots activism evolved into entrepreneurship and indigenous industrial growth through MATON Engineering Nigeria Limited, a company that has become a major employer and a driver of local capacity development. But Tonlagha’s influence extends far beyond boardrooms. As Vice Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, he emerged as a critical private-sector partner in Nigeria’s oil security architecture. The success of efforts to curb oil theft, protect pipelines and restore production levels has had direct implications for national revenue, economic recovery and investor confidence. In a sector long plagued by instability, his role has been central to fostering sustained economic growth.

Yet perhaps the most compelling aspect of Tonlagha’s legacy is his understated philanthropy. He is a quiet humanitarian who has been funding scholarships, supporting widows and orphans, empowering youth through vocational training, and sustaining free feeding programmes without fanfare. His giving is not performative; it is rooted in lived experience and a belief that dignity must accompany assistance. This approach reflects a leader who remembers the pain of exclusion and seeks to build systems that offer opportunity rather than dependence.

Beyond Nigeria’s borders, Tonlagha has emerged as an informal yet effective citizen diplomat. Through international engagements and policy advocacy, he contributes to shaping Nigeria’s global image, strengthening bilateral conversations and promoting economic diplomacy. In an era when official channels alone cannot capture the full spectrum of global influence, individuals like Tonlagha help bridge gaps by advancing national interests while fostering international goodwill. His work underscores a new model of diplomacy in which private citizens complement formal statecraft, thereby reinforcing Nigeria’s strategic standing on the global stage.

What sets Tonlagha apart is not only the breadth of his engagements but the philosophy underpinning them. He embodies a generation of Nigerian leaders who believe that peace in the Niger Delta is complementary to Nigeria’s prosperity and that local development should align with national progress. His early activism against exploitation, including dramatic acts of defiance that drew attention to neglected communities, gradually evolved into a more nuanced strategy; one that combines dialogue, economic empowerment and security collaboration.

As he marked his golden jubilee in 2026, the outpouring of recognition from community leaders, national figures and global stakeholders revealed a man whose impact has long been felt but rarely publicised. Friends and admirers describe him as a peacemaker, a unifier and a patriot whose influence transcends ethnic and political boundaries. Indeed, his ability to convene diverse actors—from grassroots leaders to international partners—demonstrates a rare gift for consensus-building in a nation often divided by competing interests.

Nigeria’s future will depend not only on official institutions but also on citizens willing to shoulder responsibility beyond personal ambition. Tonlagha’s life offers a compelling blueprint: resilience forged through hardship, advocacy grounded in intellect and peace, economic empowerment anchored in indigenous enterprise, and diplomacy driven by patriotism rather than self-promotion. From the creeks of the Niger Delta to the corridors of international engagement, he has quietly shaped conversations on development, security and national cohesion.

In an age hungry for loud heroes, Tonlagha reminds us that the most enduring influence often operates in silence; building bridges where others see barriers, lifting communities where others see divisions, and proving that one individual, driven by empathy and vision, can help align regional emancipation with national unity. His story is not only a tribute to personal triumph but a reflection of the Nigeria that is possible when courage meets compassion and service meets strategy.

Obioha is the Director of Strategy at the Hope Alive Initiative (HAI), a group dedicated to good governance in Nigeria.

Tonlagha: Forged in the Creeks, Bridging Nigeria to the World