UN Women Disowns GADA Fundraising for Women Candidates, Warns Against Misuse of Logo

By: Michael Mike

UN Women Nigeria has disassociated itself from fundraising materials circulated by Gender & Development Action (GADA) in connection with preparations for Nigeria’s forthcoming general elections, saying it neither authorised nor supports the initiative.

The organisation, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, said it became aware of materials associated with GADA that used the UN Women name and the branding and logo of the Women Political Participation (WPP) Working Group while soliciting financial contributions for individual female political candidates.

UN Women Nigeria said it was concerned that the use of its name and WPP Working Group branding alongside the fundraising appeals could create the misleading impression that the United Nations agency or the working group endorsed, sponsored or supported the fundraising initiative and the candidates involved.

“As part of the United Nations system, UN Women is bound by the principles of impartiality, independence and political neutrality,” it said, stressing that the UN and its entities do not endorse, campaign for, support or oppose political parties or individual candidates.

The organisation clarified that neither UN Women nor the WPP Working Group had authorised the use of its name, logo, branding or visual identity for fundraising intended to benefit individual political candidates or electoral campaigns.

It also stated categorically that it does not endorse any political candidate or party, nor does it solicit, sponsor or facilitate fundraising for political candidates or electoral campaigns.

According to the statement, the WPP Working Group similarly does not authorise the use of its branding for political fundraising, while GADA’s fundraising activities in question were neither endorsed, sponsored nor supported by UN Women or the working group.

UN Women Nigeria said it had formally communicated its concerns to GADA and requested the organisation to cease and desist from using the UN Women name, logo, branding or WPP-associated visual identity in connection with political fundraising.

It further requested GADA to remove the relevant materials from its online and offline platforms and issue a clarification stating that neither UN Women nor the WPP Working Group endorsed, sponsored or supported the fundraising initiative.

The agency, however, said it valued its partnerships with organisations working to promote women’s political participation in Nigeria, including GADA and other civil society organisations.

It stressed that such partnerships must operate within the principles of impartiality, independence and political neutrality governing the work of the United Nations.

UN Women said its commitment to women’s political participation remained strong, explaining that its programmes were designed to promote women’s leadership and equal representation in governance through non-partisan and inclusive initiatives that support women across political affiliations.

It added that its work did not constitute an endorsement or support for any individual candidate, political party or electoral campaign.

The organisation said it would continue to work with the government, civil society, women leaders, political stakeholders and other partners to create an enabling environment for all women, regardless of political affiliation, to participate meaningfully and equally in political and public life.

It therefore urged stakeholders to ensure that the UN Women name, logo and WPP Working Group branding were not used in any manner that could imply UN endorsement of political fundraising or electoral campaigning.

UN Women Disowns GADA Fundraising for Women Candidates, Warns Against Misuse of Logo

NSCDC Rescues 15 Trafficked Children, Recovers Stolen Rifles, Busts Telecom Vandalism Syndicate

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has rescued 15 trafficked children, recovered three stolen service rifles and dismantled an inter-state syndicate involved in the vandalism and theft of telecommunications infrastructure across Delta and Kano States.

The breakthroughs were recorded by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) in a series of intelligence-led operations targeting child trafficking, illegal arms diversion, internal corruption and critical infrastructure vandalism.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

He said the operations were conducted in line with the zero-tolerance policy of the Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Audi, towards crime, corruption and the destruction of national assets.

On child trafficking, Afolabi said the squad commenced investigation following a petition over missing children in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Investigations, he said, uncovered a syndicate allegedly led by one Anderson Archibong, who posed as an official of an organisation operating a purported “Back to School Project” under the National Council of Child Rights Advocate.

According to him, Archibong allegedly exploited low-income parents before trafficking their children to buyers across the country.

He said 16 children were fraudulently taken in January 2026 and allegedly sold for ₦2 million each.

“Through intelligence-led operations across transit routes, 15 of the 16 children were successfully rescued in Anambra, Imo, Enugu and other eastern transit corridors,” he said.

Afolabi added that three alleged buyers—Joy Julius, Ngozi and Eze Lazarus—were arrested and had confessed to their involvement, while efforts were ongoing to locate the remaining child.

In a separate investigation into illegal arms diversion, CG’s SIS operatives traced a missing AK-47 rifle to a serving NSCDC officer attached to the CG’s Crack Squad.

The officer, CAII Igah Ameh James, was allegedly found to have stolen an assigned AK-47 rifle, with breach number 02028, abandoned his duty post and transported the weapon to Otukpo, Benue State.

Investigators established that James allegedly sold the rifle to a middleman, Abakpa Simon Anthony, for ₦700,000, while Anthony subsequently sold it to an alleged illicit arms buyer, Sunday Akor, also known as IBB, for ₦800,000.

The rifle and two empty magazines were recovered following the arrest of the suspects.

The Corps also uncovered another arms diversion case at its Adamawa State Command following an armoury inventory audit.

Afolabi said the investigation led to the arrest of ASCI Peter Ardo, a former Head of Armoury, and CCA Boniface Lawyer.

He said investigations revealed that between 2018 and 2024, Ardo allegedly removed two unserviceable G3 service rifles, with breach numbers 10S838 and 69112944, from the armoury and sold them to Lawyer for ₦210,000 and ₦220,000 respectively.

The weapons were subsequently resold to a civilian, while Ardo allegedly altered physical inventory registers to conceal the removals and evade detection during routine checks.

Both officers, he said, were in custody after allegedly making full confessions.

Meanwhile, the CG’s SIS has also dismantled a network allegedly responsible for vandalising telecommunications infrastructure in Delta and Kano States.

Afolabi said operatives arrested Henry Dennis while allegedly vandalising an IHS telecommunications tower site in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, where 12 vandalised telecom panels were recovered.

Further investigation reportedly exposed a wider network allegedly involving a scrap-market owner and financier, Yusuf Musa, who is accused of financing the theft operations and facilitating the resale of stolen telecommunications components.

The Corps said financial tracing uncovered suspicious transactions conducted through digital payment platforms, while efforts were underway to obtain search and arrest warrants for other members of the syndicate who remained at large.

The Commandant General commended the CG’s SIS for what he described as its tactical coordination and operational efficiency.

The NSCDC said internal administrative and disciplinary proceedings against implicated personnel had been concluded, while its Directorate of Legal Services had been directed to commence prosecution of the arrested suspects before courts of competent jurisdiction.

The Corps reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens, safeguarding critical national infrastructure and maintaining integrity and accountability within its ranks.

NSCDC Rescues 15 Trafficked Children, Recovers Stolen Rifles, Busts Telecom Vandalism Syndicate

Troops rescue two abducted victims, recover terrorists’ motorcycles in Katsina

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued two abducted victims and recovered two motorcycles belonging to terrorists during a counter-terrorism operation in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The troops, deployed for counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations in the state, encountered an armed terrorist group while conducting routine security operations in the area.

The troops engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to flee in disarray into the surrounding terrain.

During a subsequent search and clearance operation along the terrorists’ escape route, the troops rescued two male victims who had earlier been abducted along the Dandume–Damari axis.

The troops also recovered two motorcycles reportedly used by the terrorists to conduct their criminal activities.

The rescued victims are currently receiving necessary care and assessment before being reunited with their families.

Troops have maintained a heightened state of vigilance in the general area to safeguard local communities and prevent further attacks and criminal activities along critical transit corridors.

The operation forms part of the ongoing efforts by Operation FANSAN YAMMA to disrupt terrorist and bandit networks and restore lasting peace across the North-West.

Troops rescue two abducted victims, recover terrorists’ motorcycles in Katsina