By Eric Elezuo

The common refrain and slogan across the nation is ‘Nigeria is bleeding’, and as the days turn into weeks and months, the wound gets larger. Then from bleeding, the blood is now flowing.

Across all strata of endeavours, all the regions and not a few communities, insecurity of the highest order has enveloped on a very large scale, a nation that once thrive in brotherliness, interstate movements without fear, and camaraderie. The fear of the unknown has completely eclipsed social life, excursions, traveling within the country, and funnily enough staying in your own house. In the Nigeria of today, nowhere is safe anymore; not event the comfort of one’s home; not even the sacredness of holy places; not even the respected academic environment. Terrorists and bandits attack anywhere and from anywhere. And with impunity.

In the Nigeria of today, everyone leaves in fear. No one knows who the next target is as terrorists, bandits, Fulani herdsmen and other miscreants have overran the nooks and crannies of the Nigerian existence, prompting the question, where’s Nigeria’s chief security officer? And the answer that he must wake up and face squarely the insecurity challenges that is fast tearing the nation to shreds.

With the 2027 election fast approaching, the Nigerian administrative apparatchnik led by President Bola Tinubu, appears to have completely lost focus of the security of the people. The country is been thoroughly run down by activities of terrorists, who are no longer hiding their nefarious and heinous activities as they boldly put on air the victims abducted and process of execution. This daring moves are a challenge to the government and security agencies, yet no criminal is in custody yet and victims are still unaccounted for with most of them cruelly deleted, and bodies mangled.

It is worthy of note that while the nation is still gambling with the rescue efforts for the teachers and pupils kidnapped from Oyo communities schools about 12 days ago, suspected bandits have reportedly struck again, invading the Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, early on Monday morning, setting the Emir’s palace ablaze and abducting several residents, including women and children.

Reports gathered from Channels Television say that the attack occurred late at night when the heavily armed assailants stormed the community, firing sporadically.

The medium, quoting sources in the area, stressed that the gunmen attacked the palace during the invasion, setting parts of the royal residence on fire before whisking away multiple victims.

Residents said the attackers operated for hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community.

Another local source described the incident as terrifying, noting that villagers were caught unaware as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.

Sources say Security forces have launched immediate rescue operations to free victims of the Yashikira abduction, which occurred on Sunday night.

Military and police operatives have established a cordon in the area as part of the efforts to rescue about 10 persons who were reportedly taken from the community in an overnight attack on the palace of the Emir of Yashikira.

The attackers also sought to raid the local police stations but were reportedly repelled.

As at press time, the police were yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

The invasion is one development too many this 2026 alone, and has been a recurring decimal in the Tinubu-led administration.  This is taking for granted that the incident is following the heels of bandits, who on Saturday night invaded a prayer ground at Ori-Oke Ajaiye, on the outskirts of Ikiran village in Ekiti Local Government Area of the same Kwara State, killing three worshippers and abducting 15 others during a vigil.

The stories and tales of woe are inexhaustible. There’s no morning and no evening where Nigerians are not presented with gory narratives of one abduction and killing or another, creating fear and apprehension among the populace. The general notion is hinged on Tinubu’s control loss of the fabrics of the nation including the economy, power and every other mention-able sector.

It is worthy of note that like every other failure still staring Nigerians in the face, Tinubu also inherited insecurity. However, three years into his administration, and consequent upon available indices, the Nigerian leader seems to have tripled the effects of insecurity. This is counting the boldness with which the insurgents operate, the magnitude of each operation, the casualties involved, the deliberate bloodletting and the huge ransom paid in exchange. The circle has continually continued, and there seems to be no hiding place for Nigerians, especially the vulnerable masses.

On May 17, 2026, the world woke to the chilling news of the killing and beheading of the school teachers, abducted from Oyo communities. He was Michael Oyedokun.

Oyedokun was one of the teachers abducted from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire Local Council of Oyo State, a few days before his gruesome killing.

The killing threw residents of the area into mourning and heightened fears over worsening insecurity in the state, and the nation at large, which the government of President Bola Tinubu has found a herculean to handle.

In a video reportedly released by the captors on Sunday, May 17, 2026, the gunmen claimed responsibility for the killing of the Maths teacher, sparking panic across the community.

The incident followed a series of coordinated attacks launched by armed men on Friday, May 15, targeting multiple schools within the Ogbomoso axis, including Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele.

During the attacks, the assailants reportedly shot dead a classroom teacher and a commercial motorcyclist who resisted attempts to seize his motorcycle.

The attackers also abducted the school principal, vice-principal, another staff member, and an unspecified number of pupils before fleeing into the forest. Later reports put the number of abductors to 39.

Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier confirmed that seven students were abducted from Community Secondary School, while 18 pupils and seven teachers were kidnapped from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School.

He also confirmed that one person was killed during the attack, a school teacher, Joel Adesiyan. Further reports confirm that a bike rider was also killed, when he refused to let go of his motorcycle.

The incident triggered widespread panic in Ogbomoso and surrounding communities, with many parents rushing to schools to withdraw their children over fears of further attacks.

Some schools were also forced to shut down temporarily following rumours of bandits infiltrating the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, an allegation the institution’s management later dismissed as false.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has announced his withdrawal from the All Progressives Congress governorship primary election in the state.

Fubara made this known in a statement personally signed on Wednesday, saying he would support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate, The Nations reported.

The governor said his decision followed extensive consultations with his family, friends, and political associates.

“After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my family, friends, and associates, I have taken the difficult but necessary decision to withdraw from the APC governorship primaries. I do so with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of our great party,” Fubara said.

Fubara said although the decision was difficult, he remained committed to supporting whoever would emerge as the APC governorship candidate.

According to him, leadership demands sacrifice and personal ambition must sometimes give way to the collective interest of the people.

Meanwhile, the embattled governor expressed appreciation to his supporters for their loyalty, prayers and sacrifices throughout the political process, acknowledging that many would feel disappointed by his withdrawal.

He said his silence in recent weeks was “deliberate and strategic,” adding that it was guided by the higher interest of the state.

Tone Cole, APC chieftain and 2027 governorship aspirant in Rivers State, also announced his withdrawal from the race, saying his decision was, among other reasons, in the interest of the party’s unity.

By Eric Elezuo

The Dele Momodu Leadership Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State came very much alive during the weekend as dignitaries, top government officials, well wishers and the general public turned up in their numbers to celebrate a man, who everyone agreed has contributed immensely to the socio-economic and political advancement of the African continent, Chief Dele Momodu, as he celebrates 66 years. The 2-in-1 occasion featured a down-to-earth lecture and an all-encompassing soiree that kept the guests in jolly good mood throughout the duration.

The venue of the event, the Leadership Centre, was apt as it set the stage for an intellectual discourse geared towards creating a new path for another round of African Renaissance. The lecture, in its third edition, was coming to the Ibadan centre for the first time. The first two were held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island, Lagos. This marks the first time the lecture was leaving; its place of conception.

Located in the serene quarters of the Government Reserve Area of Alalubosa, in Ibadan, the Leadership Centre is a forethought of creativity, reorientation, capacity building, mental and leadership re-engineering as well as intellectual and technology transfer. It was the preferred choice to bring to the front burner, the vexing topic of xenophobia; a malaise that is fast threatening to consume the entire African continent, with an unenviable in South Africa; a country that survived the most ravaging effect of apartheid regime and brutal massacre of the majority black population.

The birthday lecture, anchored by notable journalist and author, Azu Arinze, was predicated upon the fact that if any nation of the world should be fearful of foreign neighbours co-habitabitng with them, it shouldn’t be South Africa. It shouldn’t be any African nation at all.

The lecture had the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof Eghosa Emmanuel Osaghae, as the Guest Lecturer while the former Vice President of Liberia, Mrs. Jewel Howard-Taylor chaired the occasion. In addition, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke featured as the Special of Honour.

Themed Ignorance and the Danger of Xenophobia, the lecture highlighted the reason Pan-Africanism and barefaced Africanism need to be re-integrated into the regions political, economic and social life of the continent in view of barefaced distrust and threat to hurt one another.

In his matter-of-factly lecture, delivered extempore, Prof Osaghae went down memory lane to bring to the present reasons behind xenophobic activities, stressing that the continent is frowning at external xenophobia, nations have found 8t difficult to deal with internal xenophobia. He noted that xenophobia does not only thrive among individuals of different nations, but also manifold among those of same nation, only differentiated by tribe, language, and most times class.

Prof Osaghae maintained that until internal differentiation of people is checked, it will be difficult to arrest external xenophobia. He noted that using South Africa as a case study revealed that the practice of xenophobia is an agelong culture among the teibes, where no one of another city/tribe is allowed to established himself in a foreign land.

“Even where it is allowed, the said individual is warned against bringing his family members. He comes alone, and leaves when he has concluded the business that brought him there,” Osaghae explained.

He quoted former Tanzanian President, Julius Nyerere, who said that ‘it took the coming of the Europeans for Africans to know that they are one’ as result of the segregated life they have lived. The notion was that since these people are Europeans, then we are Africans.

He also referred to Marcus Garvey, who initiated Pan-Africanism with his Back to Africa Movement. The idea was you need to be in Africa to be an African. He said that one thing that has stood in the way of self actualization towards realizing that Africans are one, is ignorance. It is the same ignorance that has made it difficult for countries like South Africa to realise and remember the efforts African countries made towards their freedom.

Giving copious examples ranging from entertainment, music and football, the guest lecturer decried ignorance as stepping stone to full blown xenophobia, especially as ot is playing in South Africa.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Mrs Howard-Taylor, noted the unfairness in the wrong treatment of fellow Africans in other countries within the African subregions, saying it is the greatest Africans can do to one another.

According to her, Africans are one, and should see themselves in that light. She condemned xenophobia in South Africa, and any other parts of Africa, pointing out that after what the the rest of Africa did for South Africa during the apartheid era, it is unhealthy to hear of attacks against fellow Africans.

Also speaking, the Governor of Osun State, who was the special Guest of Honour, lauded the birthday boy, Dele Momodu, appreciating for allowing his birthday party to be converted to a medium to educate all Africans.

The governor, who shared same month and year with the celebrant, appealed to all Africans to put the spirit of xenophobia behind them so the continent to forge one strong United States of Africa. He lauded Nigeria however, for being one of the world’s most accommodating people.

In his usual characteristics, the Governor led the guests in praises and exhibited a little of his dancing skills to further establish his sobriquet, the dancing governor, before he led everybody to rendering a happy birthday song for the celebrant.

In his vote of thanks, Chief Momodu appreciated the guests for turning in their number to listen to the lecture, and also celebrate him on his 66th birthday.

With the lecture concluded, the party moved to the open arena of the Centre, where guests were already seated for the mother of all entertainment, and were treated to local and continental cuisines with freeflow of choice beverages even delectable music maker and afro juju crooner, Sir Shina Peters serenaded the guests with hits from his various albums. The charged atmosphere caused guests; old and young to shuffle both feet and body to the classic rhythms of yesteryears and now.

Among dignitaries that attended the event were the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke; Deputy Governor of Osun State, Kola Adewusi, Chairman, Biscon, Prince Olatilo, Wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Aderonke Ogunwusi, Olajumoke Fadeyi, SSA (Lagos Liaison) to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Michael Effiong, MD, MicCom Wires and Cables, Biodun Ponnle, SA to Osun Governor, Seyi Orolugbagbe, Sir Shina Peters, Editor, Ovation International, Eric Elezuo, Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba, Ghana-born International Broadcaster, Natalie Fort, Mayor Akinpelu, Eniafe Momodu and a host of others.

Born on May 16, 1960, Dele Momodu, who was trained by his ‘unlettered’ mum, has come of age in carving a niche for himself, not only in Nigeria, but across the world.

He started the Dele Momodu Leadership Lecture in 2024, when Professor Barth Nnaji spoke need to make energy/power available to citizens to 2025 when as the Guest Lecturer, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, delivered an outstanding expose on making food available to the generality of the population. The first two editions were held at the NIIA in Lagos.

Dele Momodu is happily married to his wife, Bolaji, and they are blessed with four boy-children.