Headlines
Reps Call Out Buhari over Pastor to Be Executed by Boko Haram Thursday
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to rescue Pastor Bulus Yikura, who has been in the custody of Boko Haram for over two months and is billed for execution by the insurgents on Thursday.
The call by the House followed the unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved at the plenary on Tuesday by the lawmaker representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in Borno State, Mr Ahmad Jaha.
Adopting the motion, the House resolved to “intimate the Federal Government to do everything possible to secure the release of the victim before the deadline.”
It also urged the government to come to the aid of families who lost their members and those whose houses were burnt and food items carted away, to alleviate their suffering.
Moving the motion, Jaha said, “The House is worried by the continuous closing of the one-week period given by the insurgents, which expires on Thursday, March 4, 2021. The House is concerned that at the expiration of the deadline, anything can happen to Pastor Bullus Yikura.”
The Abubakar Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram had on February 24, 2021, issued a one-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to secure the release of Yikura, who was abducted in December 2020.
The insurgents raided Pemi community, about 20 kilometres from Chibok, in Borno State on December 24, 2020, during which the cleric was taken away.
The pastor, in the two videos of him released by the sect in December 2020 and January 2021 pleaded with the President Muhammadu Buhari, the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum; and church leaders to rescue him.
In the third video said to have been released on February 24, 2021, the insurgents gave a one-week ultimatum to the government or have him killed.
Yikura, who spoke in Hausa and identified himself as a worshipper at the EYN LCC in Hausa, said the countdown to his execution started on February 24 and ends on March 4.
Boko Haram in January 2020 killed the District Chairman of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, Michika, Adamawa State, Revd Lawan Andimi.
In another development, the House, also on Tuesday adopted a motion of urgent public importance on bandits’ attacks on Amarawa village in the Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency in Sokoto State.
The House appealed to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the National Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials to the affected victims in the village to ease their difficult condition of living.
The motion was jointly sponsored by Messrs Abdullahi Salame, Saidu Bargaja, Shehu Kakale and Abubakar Ahmad.
The Punch
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has once again condemned the local government crisis that erupted in Osun State on Monday, resulting in the loss of six lives.
In a statement issued via his verified X handle on Tuesday, the former VP described the chaos as a brutal display of lawlessness, political brigandage, and subversion of democracy.
“Nigerians bore witness to a chilling display of lawlessness yesterday, as the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress exposed the depths of its desperation to retain power at all costs — through sheer political brigandage and the subversion of democracy,” Atiku wrote.
He stated that the APC’s actions in Osun State were an assault on Nigeria’s democracy and must be condemned.
“In Osun State, the APC orchestrated a full-scale assault on the democratic process, attempting to hijack the local government elections through brute force.
“Armed thugs and mercenaries, operating under the party’s protection, launched an audacious bid to seize control of all 30 local government area council secretariats. And yet, the so-called national leadership of the APC and the presidency watched in complicit silence,” Atiku stated.
He argued that had it not been for the fearless resistance of the Osun people — who stood their ground against the APC’s rampaging foot soldiers — democracy in the state would have been trampled under the boots of political marauders acting at the behest of their party’s overlords.
He said Osun State would never bow to anti-democratic forces, as the people have shown beyond doubt that they will not allow their electoral rights to be stolen, no matter the level of intimidation.
Atiku further urged the security agencies deployed for Saturday’s elections to uphold their constitutional duty with professionalism by “refusing to be used as enforcers of the APC’s criminal agenda” because the world is watching.
He warned that these are dangerous times and that the APC has “abandoned any pretence of democratic legitimacy, resorting instead to brute force in its bid to cling to power,” despite resistance from the people.
“We commend the brave citizens of Osun for standing up to the tyranny that sought to break them. Their resilience is a beacon of hope in the face of unrelenting oppression,” Atiku stated.
He added, “Tinubu’s APC has left no doubt — it will stop at nothing to subvert democracy and impose itself against the will of the people. But Nigerians must resist. The time-honoured warning remains true: eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
He further warned, “President Bola A. Tinubu and his dwindling band of enablers must cease their reckless acts of political sabotage — not just in Osun or Lagos, but across Nigeria.
“The people demand governance, not chaos. Nigerians will not sit idly while their democracy is hijacked by a power-drunk regime intent on setting the country on fire.”
The 2025 edition of the annual 42km 2024 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has been once again dominated by East African runners from Kenya and Ethiopia.
Kenya’s Edwin Kibet on Saturday emerged winner in the men category, clocking a time of 2:14:06 to win the $50,000 price money.
Kibet came third last year behind his compatriot Bernard Sang who won it with a time of 02:16:49 and another Kenyan Cheprot who came second.
It is Kibet’s second win in the competition following his first victory in the 2023 edition.
In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Guta Meseret Hirpa emerged victorious clocking a time of 2:37:04 for her first win in the competition.
First Nigerian to finish the race, Nyango Gyang Boyi, made history by finishing in the to 10 positions.
He finished the race in 8th place, clocking a time 2:25:41.58 which will earn him a prize award of $4,000. As the first Nigerian to finish the race, Boyi also won the N2million top prize in the Nigerian category.
The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was also one of the participants in this year’s Lagos City Marathon.
The 42km race commenced at Western Avenue, in front of the National Stadium Surulere, and finished in front of Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island.
This year’s edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon had thousands of runners competing for the top prize.
The annual event was to a gold label by the World Athletics in 2023 less than eight years after its first edition.
The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has refused to make further comments on circumstances surrounding the denial of visas to some senior Nigerian military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, citing privacy policies.
The Authorities however, acknowledged social media reports of the situation.
Musa and some military officials were denied visas to attend an event in Canada honouring war veterans, a situation the CDS revealed during an event in Abuja on Thursday.
Responding on Friday, via its social media handle, the Canadian High Commission stated, “The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel by senior officials. However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to comment on the status of visa applications of specific individuals.”
