The Nigeria Police Force has deployed extra security personnel, including rapid response teams, across all Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centres nationwide ahead of the 2026 JAMB exams scheduled to begin on April 16, 2026.

In a statement, the police dismissed circulating rumours of insecurity threats at certain examination centres, particularly in a North Central state, describing them as unfounded. The Force said it has put in place both overt and covert security measures to ensure a safe and hitch-free examination process for candidates.

“Extra security has been deployed at examination centres nationwide, both overtly and covertly, to prevent any untoward incidents,” the police said. This includes increased patrols, perimeter checks, surveillance, and rapid response teams stationed at strategic locations.

The police spokesperson reassured candidates, parents, and the general public of adequate protection throughout the examination period and urged them to remain calm and go about their activities without fear.

The proactive deployment is part of broader efforts to guarantee the safety and orderliness of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres where millions of candidates are expected to sit for the 2026 UTME conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Candidates have also been advised to avoid fake websites and other scams targeting UTME registration and preparation.

The police called on all stakeholders to support the measures and report any suspicious activities to the nearest security agency.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, in the ongoing corruption case instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, after arguments on the bail application were heard. El-Rufai, who has been in ICPC custody following his arraignment on a nine-count amended charge bordering on alleged fraud, abuse of office, and violations of the Corrupt Practices Act, among others, is now expected to meet the bail conditions set by the court.

Details of the bail terms, including the amount and any additional conditions such as sureties or restrictions, are yet to be fully disclosed in some reports, though sources indicate it was granted on liberal or specified terms.

Meanwhile, at the parallel proceedings in the Kaduna State High Court presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, the ruling on El-Rufai’s bail application in the same ICPC matter has been reserved and adjourned to April 21, 2026. As a result, El-Rufai remains in ICPC custody regarding the state high court case.

The former governor was arraigned on the amended charges after the ICPC dropped one co-defendant, allowing the trial to proceed against him alone. His legal team, including senior advocates, had argued strongly for bail, describing him as a responsible citizen with no risk of jumping bail.

The development comes amid heavy security presence around the court premises in Kaduna, with significant public interest in the high-profile case involving allegations of financial misconduct during El-Rufai’s administration as governor.

This bail grant by the Federal High Court represents a partial relief for the former governor, even as the substantive trial continues in both courts. Further updates on compliance with bail conditions and the next hearing dates are expected shortly.

In a significant step against entrenched social discrimination, traditional leaders in Oguta, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, have formally abolished the age-long Osu (also referred to as Ohu) outcast system, a cultural practice that has marginalised generations of people through stigma and exclusion.

The abolition was proclaimed on November 3, 2025 (with some reports noting the public declaration on November 2), at the Oguta Civic Centre. Chief Nduka Oduenyi, the Ogana (spokesman/assistant) to the traditional ruler of Oguta, Eze Nnani Eze-Eyiche, made the announcement on behalf of the community’s leaders, elders, youths, and women who gathered for the event.

“This is a historic moment of renewal and unity for the Oguta community,” Oduenyi stated. “The long-standing Ohu caste system — a practice widely regarded as discriminatory and inconsistent with human dignity — no longer exists in Oguta going forward.

”The Osu/Ohu system, deeply rooted in parts of Igbo culture, has historically designated certain individuals and their descendants as outcasts, limiting their social interactions, marriages, and opportunities despite previous legislative efforts at state and regional levels to end it.

The development comes nearly four years after investigative journalist and author Ejiro Umukoro drew fresh national attention to the issue through her novel *Distortion*.

The book, which weaves together themes of mental health, infertility, grief, and systemic discrimination including the Osu caste system, sparked widespread conversations across Nigeria.

Umukoro’s advocacy went beyond the pages of the novel. Through a seven-month nationwide book tour featuring television appearances, radio interviews, and community outreach, she consistently highlighted the lived experiences of those affected by the system, helping to revive dormant discussions on the topic.

This community-led abolition in Oguta is seen by many as a concrete outcome of renewed advocacy efforts, including those by Umukoro and other human rights voices, building on earlier calls for reform. It marks one of the more visible public renunciations of the practice in recent years.

The move has been welcomed by observers as a positive step toward greater social inclusion and equality in the region, though broader eradication across Igbo land would require continued efforts by traditional institutions, government, and civil society.