News
Tragedy as Former Lawmaker Assassinated by Gunmen (Photo)
A former lawmaker who represented Nasarawa Ward in Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Hon. Godwin Vonga, has been killed by yet-to-be-identified gunmen along the Timshat-Mabudi road.
Vonga, who was also the Magaji of Timshat, was reportedly attacked on Sunday night while returning home after taking his children to Mabudi following the school break.
Sources in the community told Vanguard that the deceased had travelled from Timshat to Mabudi to drop off his children, who had spent the holiday at home, before the attack occurred.
According to the sources, the former councillor was ambushed and killed by unknown assailants while making his way back to Timshat.
A resident of the community, Nanbol Pirfa, said the incident had thrown Timshat and neighbouring communities into mourning, describing the late Vonga as a respected leader and public servant.
“The entire community is in shock. He was well known and respected by many people.
“We pray that those responsible are identified and brought to justice,” Pirfa said.
Although the motive for the killing remains unclear, some residents suspect that the attackers may have been criminals operating along the route.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area, Hon. Nanfa Alhassan Nbin, has condemned the killing, describing it as barbaric, unfortunate and unacceptable.
In a statement signed by his spokesman, Butko Bako Iliya, the chairman expressed shock over the death of the former councillor and traditional title holder, who was reportedly attacked while returning from Mabudi, the headquarters of the local government area.
Nbin sympathised with the family of the deceased, the people of Timshat and the entire Langtang South community, praying for the repose of his soul and for God to grant his loved ones the strength to bear the loss.
The chairman vowed that perpetrators of the crime would be brought to justice, warning criminal elements operating within the local government to desist from such acts or face the full weight of the law.
He also urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could assist ongoing investigations.
Tension and sorrow have gripped the Iluke Bunu community in Kogi State following a deadly bandit attack that reportedly claimed the life of the Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Iluke.
According to reports, the victim, identified as Mr. Gani Anifowose, was brutally killed on Wednesday morning during an attack carried out by armed bandits.
Residents said the community is currently facing heightened security concerns, with fear and panic spreading across the area.
In another disturbing development, reports indicate that students from three neighbouring communities, who were scheduled to sit for the English Language WAEC examination on the same day, were allegedly abducted amid the worsening insecurity in the region.
The incidents have raised fresh concerns over the safety of students, teachers, and residents in vulnerable communities across Kogi State.
A representative of the community association called on security agencies and relevant authorities to urgently intensify efforts to restore peace, secure the affected communities, and ensure the safe return of the abducted victims.
“An hour is gone and no sign of rescue efforts from the security agencies despite placing several calls for help. We urge citizens to remain calm and continue praying for divine intervention, protection, and lasting peace in our communities.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reportedly stepped up its investigation into former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over allegations of certificate forgery.
According to a report by Premium Times, the anti-graft agency has begun efforts to locate the former minister after he allegedly failed to honour several invitations issued in connection with the ongoing investigation.
The publication reported that sources familiar with the matter said the ICPC had invited Nnaji for questioning through different channels, including telephone calls, emails and WhatsApp messages, but he did not appear before investigators.
One of the sources quoted by the newspaper claimed that the commission could declare the former minister wanted if attempts to secure his appearance are unsuccessful.
The latest development is said to be part of an investigation that followed a lengthy inquiry by Premium Times into Nnaji’s academic records and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) documents.
The newspaper had earlier alleged that the former minister submitted forged degree and NYSC certificates during his ministerial screening and confirmation process in 2023.
According to the report, the ICPC has also sought information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as part of its investigation.
Another source cited by Premium Times alleged that Nnaji’s failure to respond to the invitations may be linked to his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.
The newspaper recently reported that the former minister moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and later emerged as its governorship candidate.
Neither Nnaji nor his media aide, Robert Ngwu, had publicly responded to the latest allegations as of the time of filing this report. Premium Times said calls and messages sent to his spokesperson were not answered.
The controversy surrounding the former minister began after investigations into his academic qualifications were published in 2023.
According to the newspaper, Nnaji had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja in a bid to stop the release of his academic records by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
However, Premium Times reported that university authorities later informed the newspaper that although Nnaji was admitted into the institution, he did not graduate or obtain the certificate attributed to him.
The publication also stated that the National Youth Service Corps disowned the discharge certificate allegedly presented by the former minister.
Nnaji eventually resigned from his position shortly after the allegations became public.
The matter has continued to attract public attention, with several lawyers and civil society groups calling for a thorough investigation and, where necessary, prosecution in line with the law.
In a related development, POLITICS NIGERIA also reported earlier this year that an investigative panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Education examined the matter as part of a broader review of the allegations surrounding the former minister’s credentials.
The ICPC has yet to release an official public statement detailing the current status of its investigation
Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior is set to declare a nationwide public holiday across all sectors to mark Democracy Day 2026, potentially granting a one-day break for both private and public sector employees.
The federal government’s announcement regarding Democracy Day will be the only national public holiday observed in Nigeria in June 2026.
Democracy Day commemorates the 1993 presidential election and the nation’s struggle for democratic freedom. June 12, 2026, falls on a Friday.
On June 6, 2018, the late former president Muhammadu Buhari, in a public statement, changed the Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, in honour of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and its winner, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who died in prison.
Abiola was born on August 14, 1937 and passed away under suspicious circumstances on July 7, 1998. A popular Ogun businessman, publisher, and politician of the Egba clan, he is often referred to as MKO Abiola.
He ran for the presidency in 1993 and was widely regarded as the presumed winner of the election, which was annulled by former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida.
Some southwest states had been celebrating June 12 as a public holiday and are holding ceremonies in Abiola’s honour until Buhari officially declared the day as Nigeria’s real democracy day. The former president, on Monday, June 10, 2018, signed the Public Holiday Amendment Bill into law.
The law, according to the former president’s ex-senior special assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, allows a public holiday to be declared on June 12 every year, while May 29 is to be a handing-over date.
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