Monday, July 20, 2026

Widespread abductions, killings sponsored to rubbish Tinubu’s achievements, Akpabio says

“Be very vigilant and be careful about people trying to kidnap for ransom. They are kidnapping in order to give the impression that Nigeria is not safe,” He said.

• June 9, 2026
Godswill Akpabio
Godswill Akpabio (Credit: Godswill Akpabio)

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday claimed that mass abductions and widespread killings are being sponsored to undermine the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s government. 

Mr Akpabio made the remark at the commissioning of road projects to mark President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary in Abuja on Tuesday.

“If you realise what is happening recently, when they realised that they can’t talk about projects, performance, good laws, transformation in the petroleum industry, subsidy removal that have been promised Nigerians for decades, they can no longer talk about the highrises in Abuja such as the NRS building, they resorted to paying young people and recruiting them to cause mayhem in the country,” he said.

The Senate President also claimed that terrorists and bandits were kidnapping people to make the country appear unsafe.

He said, “Be very vigilant and be careful about people trying to kidnap for ransom. They are kidnapping in order to give the impression that Nigeria is not safe.

“Our men and women in uniform have done tremendously well, but many people will not know, and that is why I keep saying that the devil you see today, you will soon see them no more. Elections will come and go, elections will never be our end, we will see the end of elections; it will never see our end.”

Mr Akpabio’s statement comes amid the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State. The victims are still in captivity.

On May 15, suspected terrorists stormed Esienle and Yawota, communities in the Oriire Local Government area of Oyo State, abducting 46 schoolchildren and their teachers.

Similarly, in Borno State, about 40 students were abducted and are still in captivity.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Wang Jibing (Global Times)

World

Food delivery rider wins China’s Lu Xun Literature Prize in poetry

A 56-year-old Chinese food courier, Wang Jibing, has been named the winner of China’s Lu Xun Literature Prize in poetry.

Portable and TerryG

Showbiz

Portable challenges Terry G to boxing match

Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, has challenged veteran artiste Terry G to a boxing match, saying the bout would revive Terry G’s career.

Southern Water

Economy

UK govt fines Southern Water £7 million for sewage pollution

The prosecution came almost exactly five years after Southern Water received a record £90 million fine for nearly 7,000 illegal sewage discharges.

Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch

World

Andy Burnham is people pleaser, doesn’t want scrutiny: Kemi Badenoch

The leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has described the prospective prime minister as a “people pleaser”.

UNICAL students

Education

UniCal reaffirms ban on wild post-exam celebrations, warns students

The University of Calabar has reiterated its ban on wild post-examination celebrations and other acts that could disrupt peace on campus.

Nigerian Governors Forum

Politics

Governors urged to embrace non-custodial prison sentences

Mr Enobore, a former spokesman for the Nigeria Correctional Service, gave the charge in an interview on Monday in Abuja.