society
Banditry: Christian clerics, others call for arrest of Bafarawa, Yerima over killings in north West
*Banditry: Christian clerics, others call for arrest of Bafarawa, Yerima over killings in north West
A group of inter-faith religious leaders from northern Nigeria, styling themselves as the Concerned Northern Inter-Faith Clergy for Peace, has urgently called on President Bola Tinubu to order the immediate arrest and prosecution of former governors Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State and Ahmed Sani Yerima of Zamfara State.
The clerics led by Bishop Sunday Bawa in a press conference in Abuja alleged that the two ex-governors bear responsibility for laying the foundations of the rampant banditry terrorising the North-West region.
The appeal, issued in a strongly worded statement during the Yuletide season, references a widely circulated video released earlier this month by notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji.
In the video, Turji accused Bafarawa and Yerima of seizing and selling vast grazing reserves designated for herders and arming vigilante groups, known as Yan Banga, which he claimed targeted and killed Fulani communities.
These actions, Turji alleged, sparked ethnic tensions and cycles of reprisal attacks that escalated into the current wave of kidnappings, massacres, and cattle rustling.
“Even though Turji is a confessed terrorist… we cannot ignore his words,” the clergy said in statement signed by Imam Sheikh Yusuf Sarki, Bishop Pius Dauda and 10 others.
The group emphasised that the allegations point to deep-rooted issues of land dispossession and armed vigilantism that allowed criminal gangs to evolve into the “monsters” now plaguing the region.
The inter-faith body, comprising imams, pastors, bishops, and other spiritual leaders, expressed solidarity with bereaved families who have also petitioned President Tinubu for an investigation into the claims.
These families, many of whom have lost loved ones to bandit attacks, described the president as their “last hope” for justice after local efforts yielded no results.
Bawa highlighted the devastating toll of banditry, describing it as an “unfolding genocide.”
They cited figures indicating over 13,485 deaths from banditry between 2010 and May 2023, with at least 2,266 killed in the first half of 2025 alone—surpassing the total for all of 2024.
Reports from bodies like Amnesty International and the National Human Rights Commission document thousands kidnapped, injured, or displaced, while economic losses run into trillions of naira due to disrupted farming, trade, and ransoms.
The statement criticised responses from Bafarawa and Yerima as “empty echoes” and denials, noting that the former governors claimed no significant banditry existed when they left office in 2007 and questioned the timing of the accusations.
“Time heals no guilt,” the clerics retorted, arguing that evasion only fuels suspicion and impunity.
In a direct Yuletide appeal to President Tinubu, the group urged him to “immediately direct the arrest and prosecution” of the two former governors for “alleged acts that laid the foundations of this terror.”
They further called for a transparent, independent probe—possibly with international oversight—into the allegations, alongside measures to address root causes like poverty and land disputes.
Civil Society Situation Room Rates NNPC GCEO High on Performance
***Lauds Reforms on Transparency, Improved Crude Production
The Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency in the Extractive Industry (CCSTEI) has highly commended the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, for his transformative leadership in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja. the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Agabi Emanuel praised Ojulari’s bold reforms that have enhanced transparency, boosted operational efficiency, and driven significant improvements in crude oil production.
The CCSTEI highlighted that since Ojulari’s appointment in April 2025, NNPC Ltd has shifted from longstanding perceptions of opacity and inefficiency to a more commercially driven and accountable entity.
Key achievements noted include the consistent publication of monthly performance reports, which have fostered real-time stakeholder oversight.
Financially, the coalition applauded the company’s 2024 audited results, which showed a record revenue of ₦45.1 trillion and a profit after tax of ₦5.4 trillion – marking a 64% year-on-year growth in profit.
On the production front, the group celebrated the milestone reached by NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), the company’s upstream subsidiary, which hit a daily crude oil output of 355,000 barrels on December 1, 2025 – the highest in 36 years.
This contributed to an average daily production increase of 52%, from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023 to 312,000 barrels per day in 2025.
The statement also acknowledged ongoing investments in gas infrastructure, including progress on projects like the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline, Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS), and Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) pipeline, aimed at achieving ambitious targets of 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion by 2030.
While recognizing persistent challenges such as lingering public skepticism, oil theft, and global energy transitions, the CCSTEI called for continued support for Ojulari’s leadership.
It recommended further enhancements in public engagement, third-party audits, anti-corruption measures, local content development, and alignment with energy transition goals.
Concluding the appraisal, Dr. Emanuel stated: “Bashir Bayo Ojulari and his team for restoring confidence in NNPC Limited after many challenging years.
“You have proven that visionary leadership, coupled with accountability and performance excellence, can redefine an institution for the better. We charge you to soldier on undeterred.
“The Nigerian people are watching, and with your continued resolve, NNPC Limited will not only drive economic prosperity but also serve as a beacon of transparent governance in Africa.”
Gospel music star Oladimeji Image releases a new single track song, ‘BAMISE’.
Oladimeji, popularly known as Image, has unveiled his latest single, BAMISE, which is generating significant buzz across the internet like tiktok, Instagram, X etc.
The Osun State-born prominent gospel musician and award-winning artist, who has played a vital role in the growth and development of the Nigerian gospel industry, is back with a fiery new track that follows the success of his trending symbolic thanksgiving on how God has brought him from nothing to something and given him a new song for unending testimonies
BAMISE’s single track song is a captivating exhibition of his unique sound and lyrical prowess. Music aficionados are already vibing to the energetic lyrics and the meaningful message the song conveys worldwide, and it has found resonance even among fans in Nigeria and the diaspora
BAMISE is rapidly capturing the attention of gospel music enthusiasts and creatives, establishing itself as a must-stream anthem that is now available across major music platforms like Spotify, Apple music, Boom play, Audiomack, YouTube, and many others.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1NbXgn8Emg/
On Friday, December 19, 2025, Oladimeji, popularly known as Image, will officially release his highly anticipated thanksgiving expression single track song, BAMISE, featuring Magdalene, as gospel music lovers and fans across the country and worldwide anticipate the project’s release, which promises to uplift spirits both within and outside the gospel music scene.
The single-track song BAMISE features a notable and beautiful woman known as Magdalene, with the track providing a mix of powerful, true-life storytelling of Image, and infectious rhythms
BAMISE remains a single-track song and one of the standout tracks from Image’s top 2025 project, ushering Christians and downtrodden individuals into the new year 2026 with hope when all seems lost in their endeavors. Please enjoy BAMISE.
*Atlantis Empire Crowns Philanthropic Leader as Queen of Sedonia Kingdom
In a grand gesture of recognition, the United Kingdom of Atlantis, Empire Worldwide Incorporated (ANEWI) has appointed *Her Royal Majesty Queen Amb. Cletus Chikaodi Leaticia* as the sovereign Queen of Sedonia Kingdom. The esteemed title was conferred in a ceremony held today, December 17, 2025, underscoring her tireless dedication to humanitarian causes and societal progress.
According to the official announcement, Queen Leaticia’s unwavering efforts and impactful contributions to uplifting communities across the realm earned her this prestigious honor. The gold-embossed, red-seal-adorned certificate—bearing the initials “AE” of the Atlantis Empire and a unique ID (068/2025)—solidifies the legitimacy of her royal position within the United Kingdom of Atlantis Nations and Empire Worldwide.
Key Highlights of the Royal Appointment:
– *A Noble Title:* Queen of Sedonia Kingdom, a testament to her selfless service.
– *Recipient:* HRM Queen Amb. Cletus Chikaodi Leaticia, a beacon of hope and aid.
– *Sovereign Backing:* The appointment comes from ANEWI, a pillar of the Atlantis global family.
– *Why:* Celebrated philanthropy, leadership, and a legacy of helping others.
– *Imperial Endorsement:* Signed by:
– Emperor Nobilis Solomon Wining, ruler of the United Kingdom of Atlantis and Empire Worldwide.
– HRM Nobilisa Prof. Sriwan Kingjun, Empress of Attica and Empire Worldwide.
– *Symbolic Step:* Strengthens unity and shared values among the Atlantis-affiliated nations.
“This recognition highlights our collective pursuit of compassion and progress,” the Empire affirmed. By crowning Queen Leaticia, ANEWI spotlights the power of altruism and fortifies the bonds of the Atlantis community.
The Royal Family of UKA is set to host a stately investiture, celebrating her reign and continued mission to empower and transform.
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