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Sheikh Gumi Denies Negotiating with Bandits for Release of Abducted Kagara Students
Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, who met some of the bandits that kidnapped 27 students of the Government Science Secondary School Kagara in Niger State, and advocated “blanket amnesty” for them, has denied involvement in any negotiations for the release of the kidnapped persons.
Gumi told THISDAY in a telephone interview that he went to Niger State on a peace mission with some leaders of the bandits and had nothing to do with the abductions in the state. He said the meeting with some of the bandits’ leaders had been scheduled before the two kidnapping incidents happened.
Gumi said, “I am not part of any negotiations. We just met some of these militants (in Niger State), trying to dissuade them from their militancy.”
He said during his meeting with the bandits, he asked them about the abduction incidents, and they agreed knowing the group that abducted the passengers in the bus, but said they did not know those who kidnapped students.
He stated, “We asked them (leaders of the bandits) about what happened and they said they know the group that abducted the bus and they said they will intercede and see that they are released. But for the (school) children, they said they didn’t know who did it, because it was too early for them to know.”
From his own observation and what he was told by one of the Fulani elders, Gumi said, “Those groups we met may be having problems with a splinter group.” He said his peace mission had been scheduled more than one week ago.
“This is just a postulation, not confirmed, maybe some splinter groups want to show their rejection of peace, that is why they did it. The people I met with are not the ones who abducted the students, but they said they knew the group that abducted the bus,” he explained.
Asked why he did not attempt to intervene to ensure the release of the students, Gumi said, “We did, the overall commander of the group we met, promised that he would investigate those who abducted the children and get them released.
“You know, you are dealing with groups of militants with warlords, not one, and they have formed an alliance, because they are operating within the same area. So now, the biggest one said let’s sit down and speak peace. There can be some few who did not hear about the call for peace or some splinter groups that don’t want peace.
“We don’t know. We are just postulating, because the incidents happened, when we had scheduled our meeting. We didn’t go there for negotiations. Our mission was before even the incidents. So, we were even surprised when the incidents happened, when we were trying to negotiate, to sit down with them.”
Gumi said his peace mission was targeted at the leaders of the bandits in Zamfara, Katsina and Niger states, stressing, “We were following the big militants to see how to pacify them. We were in Zamfara; we heard there is another one (leader of bandits) in Niger. There are even some still in Zamfara.
“We will go back to them and maybe in Katsina, there is a warlord. We are trying to see if we can pacify them. So, this, the abductions in Niger State, happened as a surprise to us too.”
Reacting to reports that the bandits demanded for N500 million for the release of the students, Gumi said, “That is nonsense! Nonsense! It is just nonsense!”
More facts emerged at the weekend on how a former senior staff of the college managed to escape from the bandits. It was learnt that the bandits first raided the residence of the staff, where he was kidnapped along with one of his wives and five children.
According to findings, the staff had his cloth tied to one of the kidnapped students, when they were being taken into the bush. The bandits were in front and back of the procession, but at a stage the student removed his shirt and took to his heels, giving the staff an opportunity to also escape.
But why the bandits did not shoot the staff and the student has remained a mystery, even though his wife and five children were among the 42 taken hostage by the bandits.
Receiving some state legislators, who paid him a solidarity visit on Saturday, Niger State Governor Mohammed Sani Bello said the kidnapped students and others had not been released but he was confident “they will be released very soon”.
Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Wuse, led the lawmakers, who said they had joined their faiths with those of other citizens of the state to pray for the safe release of all in captives.
Wuse said the Assembly would soon amend the anti-banditry and kidnapping law to include informants, saying the bandits and their informants would face the same punishment.
He also asked that traditional rulers should take record of people settling in their domains and make such information available to the government.
The speaker said, “We are deeply touched, we are deeply worried about the security situation in the state, especially, the abduction of students of the Government Science College, Kagara, and those on board of the NSTA. You need to reinforce your meetings with traditional rulers, because there is influx of strange people into our communities.
“We must also go spiritual this time around and engage both religions to help pray against the current insecurity in the state. It is time to seek God’s intervention.”
Meanwhile, in a video, which has gone virile in the state, a leader of the bandits, Dogo Gide, said they had accepted reconciliation but asked if it was for only Niger State or the whole country.
He also said they had accepted to attend peace meetings on the release of their victims because one of their own, a Fulani man, had assured them that a top cleric was coming to dialogue with them.
In the five minutes, 40 seconds video recorded in Hausa, Gide asked those that came for the negotiation to tell the government to stop aerial bombardment of their people, which had led to many deaths, adding that the government should fulfil all parts of their agreement.
“We don’t want a situation where we will regret attending the meeting and reaching agreement with the people,” Gide said.
In another development, three people were Saturday killed following attacks by bandits on communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The bandits were allegedly aided by some youths in the communities. But one of the persons suspected to have collaborated with the bandits was reportedly lynched to death by a mob.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday, said the police were investigating the possible collusion of some youths with bandits in the communities.
THISDAY
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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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