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Ibiyeomie Calls for Collective Fight Against Invasion of Schools, Abduction of Students
By Eric Elezuo
The Presiding Pastor of renowned Christian denomination, Salvation Ministries, with headquarters in Port Harcourt, Pastor David ibiyeomie, has called for collective efforts to fight incessant invasion of schools and kidnapping of students.
The global Evangelist made his observation on Sunday while delivering his sermon during the fourth service.
Ibiyeomie said the scourge of kidnapping which he called ‘monster’, has gradually eaten into the fabric of Nigeria’s social life, and must be collectively fought to bring an end to it.
“This is a monster. Do not say it is happening in the North; it is a Nigerian problem, and everybody must arise irrespective of religion or tribe to fight it, he said.
He noted that those who are perpetrating the crime are humans, not spirits, and they live in communities among everyone.
He alluded to the fact that the kidnapping has turned to business as it is obvious that ‘something’ is exchanged for the return of the students, each time they were abducted.
The renowned pastor, who has touched the lives not a few in the society, said it was nonchalant attitude of the leaders that made the problem escalate, adding that no one paid a heed when it was happening in the south south region, and now, it has spread nationwide.
Admitting that the first kidnapping took place in Rivers State, he called on every Nigerian to rise, and join to end invasion of schools and kidnapping of innocent students.
Only on Friday, bandits invaded the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State, abducting hundreds of students. While it was reported that 172 students and 8 staff were immediately rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army, 39 others were successfully kidnapped, and taken to the forest.
In April 2014, about 279 students were abducted from a secondary school in Chibok. While some of the girls were rescued, some of them have not been heard of till date.
On February 19, 2018, 110 schoolgirls aged between 11 and19 years old were kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorist group from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi in Bulabulin, Yunusari Local Government area of Yobe State. About 106 were release later which the remaining were unaccounted for including Leah Sharibu, who was held for refusing to denounce his Christian faith.
Again on December 11, 2020, over 300 pupils were kidnapped from a boys’ secondary boarding school on the outskirts of Kankara, Katsina State, by a gang of gunmen on motorcycles.
On February 17, 2021, a school pupil was killed and 27 others were abducted by armed men at around 3am from their school in Kagara, Niger State, Nigeria. Three members of the school’s staff and 12 of their relatives were also abducted. They were later released.
The spare of kidnapping of school children has reached alarming proportion.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for an independent, transparent, and comprehensive investigation into the academic and professional credentials of all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), beginning with President Bola Tinubu himself.
Atiku’s call comes in the wake of the recent resignation of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over an alleged certificate scandal.
Following the controversy surrounding the authenticity of his academic qualifications, Nnaji tendered his resignation on Tuesday. He, however, maintains that his resignation is not an admission of guilt.
Reacting to the development in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Atiku said the resignation of the former minister has “once again brought to light the deep moral crisis at the heart of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.”
The former Vice President also questioned Tinubu’s own credentials, alleging that they have been the subject of controversy for decades. He, therefore, called for a thorough investigation into the credentials of all FEC members, starting with the President.
“This episode is not isolated. It is a reflection of a pattern — a rot that begins from the very top. The man who occupies the office of President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has for decades been enmeshed in controversies surrounding his identity, age, and academic records.
“From the Chicago State University saga to multiple contradictory claims under oath, the world has seen ample evidence that Nigeria today is led by a man who himself has been unable to credibly defend the authenticity of his own certificates.
“When a man of questionable identity leads a country, deception becomes the standard of governance. Tinubu’s personal history of alleged forgery and perjury has effectively institutionalized falsehood in public service.
“It is, therefore, unsurprising that his ministers and aides have taken after his example — falsifying documents, inflating records, and desecrating the moral foundation of our nation.
“I, therefore, call for an independent, transparent, and comprehensive investigation into the academic and professional credentials of all members of the Federal Executive Council, beginning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself. Nigerians deserve to know the truth about those who preside over their lives and resources.
“Tuesday’s resignation of Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, has once again brought to light the deep moral crisis at the heart of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
“What should ordinarily be a matter of national shame is now being disguised as a ‘voluntary resignation’ — an attempt to whitewash yet another scandal that typifies the forgery-ridden character of this government,” Atiku said.
He condemned President Tinubu’s decision to allow Nnaji an honourable resignation rather than a dismissal.
“Let the truth be told: Uche Nnaji should not have been allowed the courtesy of resignation. He should have been summarily dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification.
“By permitting him to quietly exit through the back door, the Tinubu administration has once again demonstrated that it is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants.”
Atiku also berated the Department of State Services (DSS), questioning how Nnaji’s alleged certificate scandal escaped detection during the screening process prior to his appointment.
“What makes this even more embarrassing is that the same Department of State Services (DSS), which screened out Mallam Nasir El-Rufai for alleged ‘security concerns’, is the very agency that cleared this same character, Uche Nnaji.
“The DSS truly deserves our flowers for this national disgrace. Their failure of due diligence has made Nigeria an object of ridicule before the world and raises the question: how many more such individuals are occupying sensitive positions in this government?”
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, accepted Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s departure as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the expiration of his second term in office.
Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission for an initial term of five years.
The appointment, which was renewed in 2020, has now expired due to the passage of time.
President Tinubu thanked Professor Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure.
In recognition of Yakubu’s dedicated service to the nation, President Tinubu has bestowed on him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
President Tinubu also directed that Professor Yakubu should hand over to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will direct the affairs of the Commission until the completion of the process to appoint a successor.
In the letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the commission since 2015.
The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has resigned his position following allegations of certificate forgery levelled against him.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the resignation in a statement on Tuesday, saying the President has accepted the Minister’s decision to step down.
He added that “President Tinubu appointed Nnaji in August 2023. He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria.”
Onanuga further quoted the former Minister as saying he had “been a target of blackmail by political opponents.”
“President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours,” the statement added.
