*Moremi Ojudu Visits Affected Oyo Families, Reaffirms Support for Safe Return of Victims*

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-West), Moremi Ojudu, on Monday visited families affected by the recent abduction incident in Oyo State, assuring them that their concerns have been heard and that efforts towards securing the safe return of the victims remain a priority.

The visit formed part of ongoing engagements by the Presidential Community Engagement Office (South-West) to assess the situation, interact directly with affected families, and convey the concern of the Federal Government over the unfortunate incident.

Prior to the visit, Moremi also met with officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oyo State Command, to receive updates and engage relevant stakeholders on developments surrounding the case.

Speaking during her interaction with the families, Moremi expressed sympathy for the parents and relatives affected by the abduction, acknowledging the emotional burden they have endured since the incident.

“Meeting the families and listening to their experiences was deeply moving. Behind every report are parents and loved ones living through uncertainty and pain. Our thoughts remain with them, and we continue to hope and pray for the safe return of those still in captivity,” she said.

She assured the families that their concerns would continue to receive attention and that the government remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at resolving the situation.

Several family members and community representatives used the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns, while calling for sustained efforts towards securing the release of the victims and improving security within affected communities.

Moremi noted that community engagement remains an important part of ensuring that the voices of citizens are heard, particularly during periods of difficulty and uncertainty.

“The families deserve to know that they are not alone. Their concerns matter, and it is important that we continue to listen, engage, and support them during this difficult period,” she said.

She also commended security agencies for their ongoing efforts and called for continued cooperation and support for all lawful measures aimed at ensuring the safe return of the abducted victims.

The visit concluded with prayers for the affected families and renewed hope for the safe reunion of the victims with their loved ones.

Signed:
Media Department
Presidential Community Engagement Office (South-West)

Kendrick Brothers, Mike Bamiloye, Kingdom Story Company, Speaks At AICFF 2026

… Calls Christian Creatives to Reclaim Storytelling Through Excellence, Identity, and Kingdom Influence

Abuja, Nigeria — June 6, 2026

The maiden edition of the Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) 2026 successfully concluded after four impactful days of film screenings, masterclasses, panel discussions, networking, and strategic industry conversations held from June 3–6, 2026 at Silverbird Cinemas, Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria.

Convened under the theme “God’s Creative Army,” the festival brought together filmmakers, actors, producers, church leaders, distributors, creatives, media practitioners, and Christian storytellers from across Africa and beyond in what many participants described as a defining moment for faith-based storytelling on the continent.

The festival opened with registrations and networking sessions before transitioning into the official opening ceremony led by AICFF Convener and Festival Director, Bright Wonder Obinna Obasi, who charged Christian creatives to embrace both spiritual consecration and creative excellence in their storytelling assignments.

One of the major highlights of the opening ceremony was a series of goodwill messages from globally respected faith-film leaders, including:
Alex & Stephen Kendrick (The Kendrick Brothers)
Paul Sirmons, President of the International Christian Visual Media (ICVM)
Phillip Telpher, Founder of the Christian Worldview Film Festival (CWVFF)
Tim Shields, President of CONTENT Media Conference
The opening ceremony also featured powerful keynote addresses, including:
Daddy Mike Bamiloye on “Identity & Kingdom Storytelling”
Dr. Felix Oisamoje, Regional Director of Christian Broadcast Network (CBN), on the festival theme “God’s Creative Army”

A keynote presentation delivered by Teniola Zara King on behalf of Kunle Falodun, Co-Founder/CEO of A House of Faith, on “The State of Faith-Based Filmmaking in Africa”
The opening day concluded with a screening of the festival’s opening film, “Where The River Divides,” followed by a high-level panel session themed:
“The Church & Culture: Reclaiming Storytelling for the Kingdom”
Featuring:
Rex Nwakamma
Matrid Nwanja Nyagah
Jennifer Keltner
Teniola Zara King
Bright Wonder Obasi
Days Two and Three of the festival featured a rich blend of:
Film screenings
Filmmaking & acting masterclasses
Industry conversations
Distribution and business sessions
Panel discussions included:

“Story VS Sermon: Making Faith-Based Films That Truly Connect”
“How Films Get Bought: Inside The Mind of Distributors”
“Beyond Passion: The Business of Generating Revenue from Faith Films”
“Africa To The World: Building A Global Pipeline for African Faith-Based Films”

Guest speakers and panelists included:
Moses Babatope
Chris Odeh
Joshua Carpenter
Rex Nwakamma
Kunle Falodun
Hakeem Kae-Kazim Condotti
Bright Wonder Obasi
And several other notable industry voices
The final day of the festival focused strongly on collaboration, sustainability, and the future of Kingdom storytelling in Africa.

Special highlights included:
A Co-Production Mixer designed to foster partnerships and collaborations among Christian filmmakers
A dedicated session for Church Drama, Film & Media Departments, aimed at helping churches embrace excellence in storytelling ministry while encouraging inter-church collaboration.

The AICFF Pitch-A-Thon, where six selected short screenplay finalists pitched their stories before industry stakeholders
The Pitch-A-Thon winner, Tomisin Faoye, received:
A cash prize of ₦250,000
Mentorship through Gospel Cinema International.

A development opportunity through First Features Project by veteran producer/director Steve Gukas
Another major announcement during the festival was the unveiling of six finalists selected from the Africa Gospel Film Project (AGFP) to begin a mentorship track with Kingdom Story Company, makers of the movies Unsung Hero, Jesus Revolution, I can Only Imagine 1 & 2.
Selected participants include:
Joshua Adeyi
Ayomide Aina
Phillip Oyeleye
Olayinka Ayinde
Temidayo Ayodele
Miracle Ebute
Throughout the festival, a central emphasis remained clear:
Christian creatives must boldly reclaim their identity while pursuing excellence as a spiritual responsibility and industry necessity.

The festival culminated in the highly anticipated AICFF Awards 2026, celebrating excellence across 12 categories.
AICFF 2026 Award Winners
Best Short Film — In Custody
Best Screenplay — Where The River Divides
Best Cinematography — Where The River Divides
Best Directing — Where The River Divides
Best Editing — Forgiving The Nightmare
Best Male Actor — Gadwill Odhiabo Dennis (Where The River Divides)
Best Female Actor — Faith Ohuoba (Confidence)
Best Music/Soundtrack — Where The River Divides
Best Documentary — Lavender Hills
Best Foreign Film — Forgiving The Nightmare
Best Evangelical Film — Where The River Divides
Overall Best Film — Where The River Divides

As the curtains closed on the historic maiden edition, attendees, partners, filmmakers, and creatives left with renewed passion and conviction that Africa’s faith-based storytelling movement is entering a transformative new era.

The Africa International Christian Film Festival now sets its sights on an even bigger and more impactful edition in 2027.

About AICFF

The Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) is a continental platform dedicated to advancing Christian and values-driven storytelling through film, media, training, collaboration, distribution, and industry development across Africa and beyond. It is the gateway for faith-based films into Africa, and the launchpad for African Faith Films to reach the world.

Troops Intensify Offensive in Sokoto Communities, Force Terrorists to Abandon Camps in Kurawa and Tureta Axis

Troops of Headquarters 8 Division and Sector 2 of Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma have sustained offensive operations against terrorist elements in parts of Sokoto State, forcing suspected criminals to abandon their hideouts and disrupting their activities. On June 4, 2026, troops working alongside Operation Keystone personnel, Department of State Services (DSS) operatives and Sokoto State Community Guards conducted a fighting patrol to Kurawa Village, where they cleared the community and surrounding areas of suspected terrorist camps.

During the operation, troops successfully cleared and occupied identified hideouts after suspected terrorists fled on sighting the advancing security forces. The operation was extended to Dangulbi and nearby locations, while aerial surveillance conducted with drones confirmed the absence of terrorist activity within the general area, indicating the effectiveness of ongoing clearance efforts.

In a related operation, troops at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Tureta swiftly responded to reports of suspected terrorist movements around Bimassa Village in Tureta Local Government Area. Upon arrival, locals informed the troops that the suspects had been sighted around the Kuruwa axis allegedly searching for livestock to rustle. The prompt deployment of troops disrupted the criminals’ plans, and the operation was concluded without incident as security forces maintained dominance of the area.