President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police, marking a significant step toward restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture.

The proposed legislation aims to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework for state-controlled policing across the federation.

The move follows repeated calls by the President for constitutional reforms that would allow states to play a greater role in securing their territories amid rising security challenges.

Earlier in February, Tinubu urged the National Assembly to consider constitutional amendments to enable state police, describing the reform as necessary to address terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes across the country.

During his Democracy Day address, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to defeating insecurity, declaring that terrorists, bandits and their sponsors would face the full weight of the law.

He also stated that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the last year, while noting a decline in terrorism-related deaths compared to previous years.

However, he acknowledged that the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in parts of Oyo and Borno States remains a painful reminder of Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.

The state police proposal has gained momentum in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly advancing constitutional amendment processes aimed at decentralising policing powers.

The Senate is expected to reconvene for an emergency plenary session as lawmakers move to deliberate on the bill, which is regarded as one of the most far-reaching security reform proposals in the country’s democratic history.

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The Edo State Government has ordered the immediate closure of three secondary schools in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area following intelligence reports of a planned kidnapping attack targeting students.

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the Edo State Ministry of Education and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Enodolomwanyi Otamere.

The affected schools are Ososo Grammar School, Ososo Comprehensive High School and Makeke Secondary School.

The closure followed a security alert from the Department of State Services (DSS), which reportedly uncovered plans by suspected bandits to carry out a mass abduction of schoolchildren in Edo North Senatorial District.

According to intelligence reports, the DSS intercepted communications between two suspected bandits who allegedly discussed shifting their focus to schoolchildren after previous attempts to kidnap wealthy individuals failed to generate the expected financial returns.

The report indicated that the suspects believed abducting students could attract greater government attention and increase their chances of securing substantial ransom payments.

Security concerns heightened after the arrest of a 25-year-old suspect on June 4 while allegedly conducting surveillance around Makeke Secondary School in Makeke community.

Authorities said the suspect’s activities raised fears that preparations for the planned operation may already have been underway.

In response, the DSS advised security agencies and government authorities to strengthen protection around schools and educational institutions, particularly in vulnerable communities across Edo North.

The agency also recommended increased deployment of security personnel, enhanced collaboration among security agencies, local vigilantes and hunters, as well as intensified surveillance and patrol operations.

Explaining the government’s decision, Otamere said the Ministry of Education received credible intelligence and security advisories indicating threats to the safety of students, teachers and surrounding communities.

“The Ministry of Education has received intelligence reports and advisories from relevant security agencies regarding credible threats to the safety of students, staff and school communities in some parts of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area,” he stated.

He noted that all academic and non-academic activities in the affected schools have been suspended indefinitely as a precautionary measure to safeguard lives and property.

The permanent secretary, however, clarified that candidates participating in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) would continue to access their examination centres under strict security arrangements.

According to him, security agencies and community stakeholders have been mobilised to ensure the safety of candidates during the examination period.

Otamere directed principals of the affected schools to ensure the orderly release of students to their parents and guardians, secure school facilities and maintain communication with relevant authorities.

He also appealed to parents and residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as efforts continue to neutralise the threat and restore normal academic activities in the affected communities.

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Armed bandits have attacked Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing three persons, including a vice principal and a six-year-old child.

The attack occurred at about 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday and sparked panic among residents while raising fresh concerns over insecurity in the area.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Command said a large group of armed bandits riding on about 40 motorcycles stormed the community and invaded the school with the suspected intention of abducting students and residents.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Afusat, the command said the Divisional Police Officer of Kabba ‘A’ Division immediately mobilised a joint security response after receiving distress calls from the community.

According to the statement, personnel from the police division, the Police Mobile Force, tactical teams, military personnel and local vigilantes participated in the operation.

The police said security operatives engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to retreat into nearby bushes.

“The combined security operatives engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel, forcing the criminals to flee into the surrounding bush,” the statement said.

The command noted that preliminary investigations had not established any successful mass abduction of students or residents, adding that ongoing assessments were being conducted to determine the full circumstances surrounding the attack.

Police, however, confirmed that three persons lost their lives during the incident.

The victims were identified as Mr. Ganiyu Anifowose, Vice Principal of UBE Secondary/Primary School, Iluke; Mr. Sunday Jacob Alhassan, aged 70; and six-year-old Sunday Ayele.

The command further disclosed that one of the attackers was neutralised during the exchange of gunfire, while a member of the joint security team sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.

Following the attack, the Commissioner of Police ordered sustained bush-combing operations and intensified confidence-building patrols across the affected communities.

The police said joint security operatives have continued intensive operations aimed at apprehending fleeing suspects and preventing further attacks in the area.

Residents were urged to remain calm and support security agencies with credible information that could aid ongoing investigations and security operations.

The command assured the public that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.

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The United States military has confirmed the deployment of a small team of troops to Nigeria to support efforts against Boko Haram, banditry and other terrorist threats, marking the first official acknowledgement of US forces on Nigerian soil since recent American airstrikes.

The confirmation came from General Dagvin R. M. Anderson, Commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), who spoke to journalists during a briefing in Dakar. He said the deployment followed bilateral discussions in which both countries agreed that stronger action was needed to address rising insecurity in West Africa.

According to Anderson, the decision has led to increased cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, including the deployment of a limited US military team with specialised capabilities.

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” he said, without disclosing the size or specific mandate of the force.

The deployment follows airstrikes ordered by former US President Donald Trump in December, which he said targeted Islamic State elements operating in Nigeria. Trump had also warned that further military action could follow.

Reuters had earlier reported that the US military had been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria from neighbouring Ghana since at least late November, suggesting heightened monitoring of militant activity in the region.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (retd.), confirmed that a US team was currently operating in the country but declined to give further operational details.

A former US official familiar with the situation said the American personnel were largely focused on intelligence gathering and providing support that enables Nigerian forces to carry out operations against terrorist-linked groups.

The development comes amid increasing pressure from Washington, following accusations by Trump that Nigeria had failed to adequately protect Christian communities from Islamist militants, particularly in the northwest. The Nigerian government has rejected claims of systematic persecution, maintaining that security forces are targeting armed groups that attack both Christians and Muslims.

Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have intensified attacks in recent months, targeting military convoys and civilian populations. While the northeast remains the historic base of the insurgency, the northwest has emerged as a major hotspot for terrorist violence and banditry.

AFRICOM also disclosed that a recent US-coordinated strike in Sokoto State, carried out in collaboration with Nigerian authorities, killed several Islamic State fighters. The strike, the command said, was part of broader efforts to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups threatening regional stability.

The US military presence highlights growing international concern over Nigeria’s security challenges, as militant violence continues to spread across parts of the country more than 17 years after the Boko Haram insurgency began.

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The federal government has announced plans to involve retired military officers in community policing to reclaim areas previously controlled by terrorists and bandits.

The initiative, titled the “Reclaiming the Ungoverned Space for Economic Benefits Programme (RUSEB-P),” aims to harness the expertise of military veterans to restore security and stimulate economic development.

Minister of Defence Abubakar Badaru disclosed the initiative during a press briefing in Abuja marking the commencement of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

He explained that the programme will involve veterans in reinforcing local security and initiating projects in agriculture, mining, and other sectors to prevent the resurgence of insurgency while revitalizing local economies.

Badaru added that a dedicated committee is finalizing the implementation framework. He also highlighted digital initiatives to support veterans and troops, including a “Thank A Soldier” QR Code for sending messages of appreciation, and plans to review the Nigerian Legion Act, renaming it the Veterans Federation of Nigeria (VFN) to strengthen legal protections and reintegration programmes.

The minister noted that under President Tinubu’s administration, over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralized, more than 17,000 arrested, nearly 10,000 hostages rescued, and 1,900 illegal refining sites destroyed. More than 100,000 Boko Haram and ISWAP combatants and their families have surrendered, enabling displaced communities to return home.

Through these measures, the government seeks to combine security operations with socio-economic interventions, ensuring sustainable peace and development in previously unstable regions.

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He made this assertion while speaking to journalists on Friday after inspecting the ongoing Yangoji-Sukuku Ebo and Kwali Unity Bank rural roads in Kwali area council.

Wike justified the need for rural development, stating that rural dwellers are deserving of good infrastructure as they are part of the FCT.

Wike emphasized that providing such infrastructure would mitigate rural-urban migration and enhance security in these areas.

“Development cannot only be concentrated in the city but we have to take development to rural areas; that alone can mitigate the rural-urban migration,” Wike said.

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He highlighted the importance of infrastructure, especially roads, for farmers to transport their produce to urban centers and for security personnel to access these areas.

Wike expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the projects, noting that they are part of the Renewed Hope Agenda to bring development to both urban and rural areas of the FCT.

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He also praised the efforts of contractors, assuring that the Yangoji-Sukuku Ebo road will be completed before December.

The post Developing Rural Infrastructure Key to Combating Banditry in FCT- Wike appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Angered by the relentless attacks by bandits in the area, residents flooded onto the highway, demanding swift government action to address the security challenges plaguing their community.

Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing events of Wednesday night when armed kidnappers stormed the community, terrorizing residents and abducting several individuals.

The brazen assault, lasting from 11:00 pm to 3:00 am, spurred the community to take to the streets in protest against the audacity of the assailants.

“We were awakened by gunshots as the bandits entered the community, firing indiscriminately and snatching away our neighbors. They operated for hours without any security presence,” shared a resident who witnessed the ordeal.

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The blockade of the highway caused chaos as motorists were stranded, prompting the intervention of security forces to restore order and disperse the protesters.

While some residents fled in fear of further attacks, the state government cautioned against vigilantism, urging residents not to take the law into their own hands.

The Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, condemned the roadblocks and affirmed the government’s commitment to restoring peace and security in the area.

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As tensions ease and traffic resumes on the Kaduna-Abuja Road, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by banditry in the region.

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