Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has called on President Bola Tinubu for urgent federal support to curb escalating banditry in Alkaleri Local Government Area, warning that continued attacks could shatter more than ten years of relative calm in the state.

The governor made the appeal after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He described how armed groups operating from forest corridors have intensified sporadic raids, overwhelming local security outfits and displacing communities.

“These attacks are becoming more frequent and brazen,” Mohammed stated. “They are disrupting the peace we have enjoyed for over a decade and forcing many residents to abandon their homes and farmlands.”

The governor said he presented a comprehensive security report detailing the incidents to the president, who in response directed the immediate reinforcement of security operations in the affected areas.

Mohammed also used the occasion to dismiss widespread speculation that his visit to Abuja was linked to alleged plans to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I remain firmly in the PDP,” he declared. “This meeting was strictly about the security and welfare of Bauchi people, nothing more.”

The development comes amid growing concerns over banditry and kidnapping in parts of northern Nigeria, where state governments have repeatedly sought enhanced military and intelligence support from the federal government to restore stability in rural communities.

The Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday called on President Bola Tinubu to sack Hussaini Magaji, the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), over what the lawmakers described as his persistent refusal to honour invitations to appear before the panel.

The committee made the recommendation citing Magaji’s repeated absence from its sessions, where he was expected to provide explanations on the commission’s revenue profile and operational performance since he took over the office.

The lawmakers noted that despite several summons, the CAC boss has consistently failed to show up in person.

Sani Musa, the Committee Chairman, announced the resolution during a budget defence session attended by Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, who appeared before the panel to present their proposals for the 2026 fiscal year.

Other chief executives under the committee’s supervision, including representatives of the Nigeria Revenue Service, the Tax Ombudsman Office, the Nigerian Customs Service and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation were present at the hearing.

However, the CAC Registrar-General did not attend and instead delegated a subordinate officer to represent the commission.

The recommendation for Magaji’s removal was moved by Orji Kalu, representing Abia North.

The former Abia State governor expressed frustration over what he described as the registrar-general’s consistent disregard for the committee’s invitations.

Kalu argued that if cabinet ministers, who occupy higher constitutional offices, could respond to legislative summons, there was no justification for the CAC chief to repeatedly decline appearances.

“This man is not above the law,” Kalu said during the session.

“The ministers of finance and budget are here because we invited them. Yet this registrar-general believes he is bigger than the Senate. That cannot continue.”

He further said that since his return to the Senate, the CAC head had never personally appeared before the committee, often citing official engagements or foreign trips as reasons for his absence.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has been conferred with the title, Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom, by Olu of Warri Ogiame Atunwatse III.

Busola Kukoyi, SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said that the title was conferred on the First Lady during her homecoming to Warri Kingdom in Delta State where she was received by the paramount ruler of the Kingdom, Olu of Warri Ogiame Atunwatse III.

“The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atunwatse III in his remarks urged everyone that by doing away with past hurts and grievances, there would be peace, progress and prosperity.

The monarch stated that the entire kingdom is proud of the First Lady of Nigeria.

He said:

“We are proud of who you are, who you have become.

Our women know how to take very good care of their husbands. Thank you for being a very good example to our girls and women”.

The First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu whose mother hails from Warri in Delta State was conferred with the traditional title of Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom alias Ugbone meaning the Light of God.

In Picture: L-R Former Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, First Lady of Delta State Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atunwatse III, First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori during Senator Tinubu’s conferment with the title,Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom by the Olu of Warri Kingdom on Thursday 26th February 2026.

In her remarks, Senator Oluremi Tinubu called for more unity across the nation among citizens

The First Lady specifically appealed to the people of the kingdom to come together, irrespective of their differences.“the bible tells us in Psalm 133 verse 1 to 3 that it is pleasant to dwell together in unity, for there is where God commanded blessings”.

She assured the people who turned out in their numbers of continued support and commitment of government, noting that the state governor had been doing a good job so far in the State.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu once again, on behalf of the Renewed Hope Initiative RHI donated a sum of fifty million naira to 1000 women petty traders.

Earlier, the State Governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori explained that the First Lady who had visited the state three times, and twice when he was still in another political party and now when he had crossed over to APC, had shown tremendous love and sincerity in the care of Nigerians by this.“

She has a large heart and those visits where she flagged off the women petty traders empowerment and the launch of the free to shine campaign encouraged me to make up my mind.

May God continue to empower you to continue to put smiles on the faces of more Nigerians.”