The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has established a specialised Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, in all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory as part of fresh efforts to tackle rising insecurity across the country. The directive, which takes effect from May 2, 2026, is aimed at strengthening rapid response to serious crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, and cult-related violence. According to police authorities, the new unit will operate as an intelligence-driven strike force, designed to respond swiftly to violent incidents while improving coordination among commands nationwide. According to Nigeria Newsdesk, a senior police official explained that the move is part of ongoing reforms to reposition the force for better efficiency and professionalism. As part of the restructuring, existing non-specialised tactical teams at state levels are to be disbanded and absorbed into the new unit. “The unit is designed to serve as a specialised and rapid response force against violent crime nationwide,” the source said. In implementation of the directive, selected commanders have been invited to Abuja for operational briefings, while in Bayelsa State, CSP Chris Nwaogbo has been appointed to head the unit. The IGP also ordered the upgrade of police forensic laboratories and digital intelligence systems, including improvements to the national criminal database to support investigations with modern technology. In addition, the Police Mobile Force is to be refocused strictly on riot control and violent crime response, with personnel withdrawn from non-core duties such as VIP escort. The IGP warned officers attached to the new unit to operate strictly within the law, stressing the need for professionalism and respect for human rights at all times. The development is said to be essential amid growing concerns over insecurity in various parts of the country, with the police leadership pushing reforms aimed at restoring public confidence and improving safety.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has shared a personal and humorous anecdote about a “rapture scare” he experienced, using the story to warn couples against the danger of going to bed with unresolved conflicts. Addressing congregants during the May 2026 Holy Ghost Service at Redemption City, the octogenarian cleric emphasised that the uncertainty of the timing of the rapture should be a primary motivation for maintaining peace within the home. Recounting an incident during a trip to the United States, Adeboye described the moment he woke up in the middle of the night and could not find his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye, on the bed. “I woke up, looked to my side, and my wife wasn’t there. I thought she had gone to the toilet,” he said. After checking the ensuite toilet and another one in the sitting room, only to find them empty, he said panic began to set in. He continued, “I went to the sitting room because there’s another toilet there. The toilet there was empty, so I used it. Then I came back, and my wife was still not in bed. Ah, what is she doing? So I went to the toilet in the bedroom, and she was not there. “I went back to the living room, and I checked the door. The door was locked from the inside. Ah.” “I sat on the bed, and I was trembling,” the cleric confessed. “In the cold air-conditioned room, I was sweating. Oh, God, you mean she’s gone, and I’m left behind. Almighty God, what have I done? Why have you left me behind?” he said. According to him, the scare lasted until the Holy Spirit reminded him that his wife had not actually accompanied him on that trip to America. “Thank God for the Holy Spirit. When all of a sudden I remember on that particular trip, she didn’t come with me,” he said. While the story drew laughter from the congregation, Adeboye used the anecdote to drive home a point about marital reconciliation. He cited the biblical prophecy that during the rapture, “two shall be in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.” “That is one of the reasons why I don’t go to bed with any unresolved issue between my wife and me,” he explained. “I don’t want God to come and take her away and leave me on the bed.” Adeboye, who has been married since 1967, told the audience that he remains on a “honeymoon” because “under no circumstance will I go to bed without settling with my wife.” “The sun must not go down on your wrath,” the cleric warned couples. “Ask members of my family,” he concluded. “They will tell you the last prayer I pray every night is: ‘Lord, if you return before tomorrow morning, don’t leave us behind.`” THENEWSCREDIT reported earlier that Adeboye had shared a set of marital guidelines for young men and women, warning that marrying for beauty alone or ignoring practical foundations could lead to a “deep trap.” He was also reported to have stated that Nigeria’s next president, ahead of the 2027 general elections, has already been determined by God, and that divine will ultimately prevail.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has shared a set of marital guidelines for young women, emphasising financial stability and the suitor’s character over religious performance. In an address during the May edition of the Holy Ghost Service, the cleric emphasised that spiritual discernment and domestic competence must outweigh physical attraction and social status. “No matter how religious the brother may be, or how well he prays in tongues, ask him: ‘Have you a job?`” Adeboye said. Citing Genesis 2, he noted that God gave Adam a job before giving him a wife. “Job first, wife later. If he has no job, how is he going to take care of the family? The Bible made it clear that any man who cannot provide for his own home is worse than an infidel.” Why my tenant attacked her daughter with Knife - Lagos Landlord0:00 / 1:01 “If he says I am a contractor, ask him to give you evidence of the contract he had executed before. Otherwise, you will be the contract,” Adeboye added. Warning against “sweet-tongued” men, he quoted Proverbs 29:5 regarding the dangers of flattery. He also humorously recounted his own “bad boy” days before being born again to illustrate how deceptive romantic poetic expressions can be. The cleric concluded by telling women to “pin down” potential suitors on the issue of holiness. He warned that if a man claims to be a child of God but struggles with the commandment “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” the woman should flee. “If he does not believe in holiness, run,” Adeboye said. THENEWSCREDIT reports that while addressing the men during the service, Adeboye warned against being blinded by physical appearance, cautioning that a lack of prayer could lead a man to inadvertently “choose a demon” because of outward beauty. He also urged men not to marry a woman who cannot cook, uses “excessive makeup,” and demands a wedding ceremony that would lead to debt. Adeboye reportedly told church workers that Nigeria’s next president, ahead of the 2027 general elections, has already been determined by God, stressing that the outcome of the election is beyond human influence, and that divine will ultimately prevail.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye, has said that Nigeria’s next president ahead of the 2027 general elections has already been determined by God. Speaking during a workers’ meeting at the Redemption City on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Saturday, Adeboye said the outcome of the election is beyond human influence, insisting that divine will will ultimately prevail. He said, “The next president has already been decided by God who owns the universe. It is not something we can determine by human effort alone. The will of God will be done.” Adeboye cautioned Nigerians against anxiety over political developments, adding that God remains sovereign over the nation’s future. “I never said we should not be involved in politics, but we must understand that God has the final say in the affairs of men,” he said. Adeboye urged citizens to remain prayerful and peaceful as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections. “We should do our part, but we should also keep on praying and trust God. That is what is satisfying to me,” he added. The cleric also reacted to comments credited to activist Omoyele Sowore, who described him, Bishop David Oyedepo and Pastor William Kumuyi as “fathers of Christians in Nigeria.” Adeboye dismissed the description, saying he does not consider himself a father of all Christians in the country. He stressed that leadership of the Christian community in Nigeria rests with the Christian Association of Nigeria, whose president represents Christians nationally. “Sowore said that we are not the fathers of Christians but we are denominational fathers. He is very correct. I don’t want to be father of all Christians in Nigeria. I’m satisfied with being the father of the Redeemed Christian Churh of God. That’s enough assignment for me. “I have never wanted to be the father of all Christians in Nigeria. The CAN President is the father leader of Christians in Nigeria.” Adeboye also addressed claims on social media alleging that the RCCG is an extension of the ruling All Progressives Congress, rejecting the allegation. He added that the church has consistently spoken on national issues affecting citizens, including economic hardship. Nigerian current events The cleric further stated that if the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria were to call for a peaceful protest over governance issues, he would participate, stressing that his position is based on principle rather than politics. “I have protested before during the Goodluck Jonathan administration,” he said. Adeboye also noted that politicians are welcome to attend services at the camp, but emphasised that they would not be allowed to speak or mount the altar for the purpose of campaigning.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday declared a national emergency on insecurity and poverty, describing them as major threats to jobs, productivity, and national stability. Addressing thousands of workers and labour leaders at Eagle Square, the president said decent work cannot thrive in an environment plagued by fear and economic hardship. His remarks aligned with the global May Day theme centred on the Decent Work Agenda championed by the International Labour Organization. Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu acknowledged that insecurity and poverty remain “significant obstacles,” but maintained that his administration is addressing them with urgency. He highlighted the launch of the Community Protection Guards Initiative, which he said has recruited 45,000 young Nigerians to strengthen community security while creating employment opportunities. The president also outlined key interventions under his Renewed Hope Agenda, including expanded cash transfers reaching 15 million vulnerable households and lifting an estimated 7.5 million Nigerians out of poverty. He added that major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline have generated more than 600,000 jobs nationwide. On workers’ welfare, Tinubu said the government has implemented a new national minimum wage, cleared pension arrears, and reintroduced gratuity payments from January 2026. He further noted that over 800,000 informal sector workers have been enrolled in the micro-pension scheme, while small businesses continue to benefit from a N200 billion MSME support fund. He said: “There cannot be decent work where workers fear for their lives, where wages cannot feed a family, or where insecurity disrupts farms, factories, markets, and other economic activities. These hydra-headed challenges, the government notes, have been treated as a national emergency due to their impact on productivity, livelihoods, and the confidence of both workers and employers. “The administration also acknowledged that insecurity and poverty remain major obstacles to building a peaceful Nigeria where citizens can ‘sleep with their eyes closed,’ and to achieving the Decent Work Agenda as envisioned by the International Labour Organization. “It stressed that the agenda is not merely an international framework but a national imperative, aligned with its vision of a country where hard work is rewarded, opportunities are accessible without discrimination, and every citizen can reach their full potential. “Despite the challenges, the government assured that it is not relenting in its efforts. “It said it is confronting the issues through deliberate, coordinated, and sustained actions, backed by targeted policies and the resilience of security personnel, some of whom have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.” Addressing labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, the president called for sustained dialogue and restraint in industrial disputes. “Strike should be the last resort, not the first,” he said, urging collaboration to achieve lasting reforms. Tinubu also commended security forces for their role in safeguarding economic activities, noting that improved safety is directly linked to job creation and national growth. Reaffirming his administration’s commitment, the president said Nigeria remains on track to overcome insecurity and reduce poverty, pledging a future where “decent work is not a privilege for a few, but a reality for all.”

The Anglican Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Ibeabuchi, has warned that the release of repentant terrorists into the society could create more danger in peaceful communities. He also warned that the reintegration could compromise the fight against insecurity and further endanger the lives of Nigerian military officers in the battlefield. The bishop who stated this in his address during the 3rd Session of 11th Synod at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Umuahia, on Friday, expressed doubt that the bandits have actually repented from their dangerous past. “Did the bandits actually repent from their banditry and terrorism? What evidence of repentance can be shown to Nigerians? “Who de-radicalized them and through what process?” Bishop Ibeabuchi asked. The bishop condemned the continued borrowing by the Federal Government at the time it is claiming boom from subsidy removal. He chided the Nigerian Senate for regularly approving loan requests from the President Bola Tinubu-led executive arm of government. He expressed concern that the Federal Government’s claims that Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have been revitalized ended up as a mirage. According to him, the people of the Niger Delta could be supported and monitored to produce quality petroleum products from modular refineries. This, he said, would boost availability and affordability of petroleum products.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned what he described as the weaponization of hunger and poverty through the distribution of food items in Northern Nigeria. His spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, made this known in a statement on Friday, Worker’s Day. Atiku described the recent spectacle involving the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, flagging off the distribution of 100 trucks of rice and N1.2 billion in palliatives to northern states and the FCT as a calculated political performance staged on the altar of mass hardship. He said, “What Nigerians are witnessing today is the tragic normalization of poverty under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Families can no longer afford basic meals, inflation has ravaged household incomes, and millions are being pushed daily into extreme deprivation. “Yet, instead of addressing the structural causes of this crisis, the government has chosen the path of optics—distributing food in carefully choreographed ceremonies while the underlying suffering deepens. “Since 2023, Northern farmers have suffered declining productivity due to the Tinubu administration’s policy failures and its inability to secure farmlands. Vast agricultural belts have been abandoned to insecurity, leaving farmers displaced and food supply chains severely weakened. “Ironically, the same government and its promoters now seek to exploit the resulting hardship by turning food into a campaign tool. What the North truly needs is genuine, sustainable food security policies—not campaign lunch packs wrapped in party insignia. “It is even more troubling that this pattern did not begin today. During Ramadan last year, the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, embarked on a widely publicized distribution of food items across parts of the North—an exercise presented as charity but clearly designed to test the waters of this now entrenched strategy of politicizing hunger. What was then an experiment has now evolved into a full-blown policy of optics over substance. “Let it be said without equivocation: Nigerians are not beggars to be pacified with periodic handouts while their livelihoods collapse.” Recall that Nigeria’s first lady, on Thursday, unveiled an initiative to distribute N1.2 billion worth of rice as palliative to Nigerians.

Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has warned officers and men that the era of professional recklessness and impunity is over. He reminded them that no badge gives them a licence to kill or a uniform a shield from justice. The IGP stated this on Thursday while delivering a keynote address during the passing out of 1,068 retrained police constables at the Police Mobile Force Base, 26 PMF, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He said that an unskilled officer with a gun is a danger to the public, while a skilled and disciplined officer is a true guardian of the people. The IGP lauded the Akwa Ibom Command for pioneering the comprehensive retraining of female police officers in arms handling last year, adding that gender is not a barrier to competence. He reminded officers that Force Order 237 remains binding, stressing that firearms should only be used as a last resort, proportionately, and strictly within the bounds of the law. “Impunity ends now. Any officer who misuses his weapon, who kills a citizen without lawful justification, will be dismissed and prosecuted. Not transferred. Not queried. Not redeployed. No badge is a licence to kill. No uniform is a shield from justice,” Disu said. The IGP further warned against extortion, reporting to duty under the influence of alcohol, and reckless use of firearms. Disu said that any officer caught violating the order would face summary dismissal and criminal prosecution. The IGP charged the newly retrained constables to carry their weapons with pride but restraint, wear their uniforms with dignity, and treat citizens with respect. Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom Command, Baba Azare, disclosed that the retrained personnel included a specially selected cohort for the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU). Azare said they were created in line with the IGP’s directive to serve as a strategic strike force against violent crimes across the state. Azare highlighted key operational successes recorded by the command, including the safe evacuation of explosive devices at the Ikot Ekpene custodial centre and the rescue of kidnapped victims along the Calabar–Oron waterways through seamless inter-agency collaboration. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to community policing, urging residents of Akwa Ibom to continue partnering with the police by providing timely and credible information.

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, invalidated the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, deepening the leadership crisis rocking Nigeria’s main opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a split judgment delivered by a five-member panel of the apex court, three justices held that the appeal filed by a faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), lacked merit and affirmed the concurrent decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal nullifying the convention. Justice Stephen Adah, who delivered the lead judgment in appeal number SC/CV/164/2026, held that the appellants acted in flagrant disobedience of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court restraining them from proceeding with the planned convention pending compliance with earlier directives of the court. “The disobedience of the court order is not disputed,” Justice Adah held, adding that what transpired amounted to “a threat to the administration of justice in Nigeria.” The apex court consequently dismissed both the appeal and cross-appeals and ordered parties to bear their respective costs. The dispute arose from the controversial Ibadan convention organised by the Turaki-led faction of the PDP despite pending court orders and unresolved disputes over congresses conducted in several states. Aggrieved party members had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that the organisers failed to comply with statutory requirements under the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution before proceeding with the convention. The trial court subsequently restrained the party from holding the convention pending compliance with its directives. However, despite the order, the convention went ahead in Ibadan and produced a factional leadership structure, triggering fresh litigation and accusations of forum shopping within the party. In its judgment, the Supreme Court strongly condemned what it described as a deliberate attempt by political actors to undermine judicial authority by securing conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction. Justice Adah said instead of obeying the order of the Federal High Court or pursuing lawful appellate remedies, the appellants allegedly approached another High Court in Ibadan to obtain orders that enabled them to proceed with the convention. “The appellant did not go on appeal but went to another High Court where they secured orders overriding the existing order of the Federal High Court and carried on with the party convention,” the justice said. Olawepo-Hashim urges Tinubu, INEC to shift primaries to September The apex court described the conduct as “an unparalleled abuse of court process” that struck “at the very roots of the administration of justice system.” Justice Adah warned that continued disregard for judicial orders by politicians posed grave dangers to constitutional democracy and the rule of law. “The rule of law is not an ornamentality, revoked, destroyed or discarded in practice. It is the fundamental architecture on which the legitimacy of governance rests,” he stated. He added that once political actors begin to treat lawful judicial processes as optional, “the very essence of constitutional democracy is imperilled.” The court further held that political parties, though voluntary associations, derive their legal existence and authority from the Constitution and must therefore operate within constitutional and judicial limits. Relying on Sections 221, 222 and 229 of the 1999 Constitution, the apex court held that political parties remain constitutional institutions established for the purpose of participating in governance and elections and are therefore bound by lawful court orders. Justice Adah noted that the Federal High Court, being a superior court of record vested with judicial powers under the Constitution, could not be ignored merely because a political party considered its orders inconvenient. The apex court also upheld the findings of the lower courts that abuse of court process had been established following the move by the PDP faction to obtain what was described as a counter-order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan. The Court of Appeal had, in its March 9 judgment, affirmed the earlier decision of the Federal High Court and held that the convention was conducted in violation of subsisting judicial orders and contrary to established legal procedures. Dissatisfied with the appellate court’s decision, the Turaki-led faction proceeded to the Supreme Court, seeking five principal reliefs and one general relief, including orders setting aside the judgments of the lower courts and validating the Ibadan convention. However, the apex court rejected the appeal in its entirety. The Supreme Court had reserved judgment in the appeal after hearing arguments from parties on April 22.

ABUJA – In a major move to fix Nigeria’s perennial electricity crisis, President Bola Tinubu has approved a ₦3.3 trillion payment plan to settle "legacy debts" that have crippled the power sector for over a decade. The Presidency announced the breakthrough on Sunday, noting that the move is part of the Presidential Power Sector Financial Reforms Programme. The debts, which accumulated between February 2015 and March 2025, were finalized following a rigorous verification process to ensure a transparent resolution. The Federal Government has already hit the ground running. According to the State House, 15 power plants have signed settlement agreements totaling ₦2.3 trillion. To back these agreements, the government has raised ₦501 billion. Of this amount, ₦223 billion has already been disbursed to stakeholders within the power value chain, with further payments currently being processed. Olu Arowolo-Verheijen, Special Adviser on Energy to the President, explained that the intervention is designed to do more than just pay off old bills. "This programme is about restoring confidence across the power sector—ensuring gas suppliers are paid and power plants can keep running," she said. "It is part of a broader set of reforms including better metering and service-based tariffs that link what you pay to the quality of electricity you receive." She further emphasized that the administration is prioritizing supply to businesses and small enterprises to drive job creation and economic growth. The government expects this massive liquidity injection to yield immediate benefits for citizens: Payments to gas suppliers and GenCos ensure plants stay operational. A stabilized value chain reduces the frequency of grid collapses and outages. Reliable power is expected to lower production costs for businesses and attract new investments. President Tinubu commended the stakeholders involved in reaching this agreement and confirmed that Series II of the repayment plan is scheduled to begin this quarter. The administration remains optimistic that by clearing these financial hurdles, the power sector will finally move toward a self-sustaining system that provides consistent electricity for homes and industries across the country.