Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government over the continued exposure of Nigerians to kidnappers, questioning the impact of savings from fuel subsidy removal on national security.

Atiku disclosed this in a statement on Monday while reacting to the abduction of 20 travellers, including prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, in Imo State.

He described the abduction as “heartbreaking,” noting that although some of the victims had been rescued, others remained in captivity.

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Atiku urged the Federal Government, Imo State Government and security agencies to act with urgency to secure the release of all those still being held.

He also raised concern over more than 70 pupils and students abducted from Mussa and Lassa in Borno State who, according to him, have remained in captivity for months.

“These children must not be forgotten. Their families deserve clear updates, and the public deserves answers,” he said.

The former vice president questioned the government’s handling of insecurity, recalling President Bola Tinubu’s promise that savings from the removal of fuel subsidy would help fund security.

“Yet Nigerians remain exposed to kidnappers on our roads, in our communities and around our schools,” Atiku said.

He said young Nigerians were facing danger at different stages of their lives, from secondary school to university and now while travelling to NYSC camps.

“Young people face danger in secondary school, struggle with unaffordable fees at university, and are now targets on their journeys to NYSC camps. This is a generation being failed at every stage,” he said.

Atiku also criticised the award of what he described as huge pipeline security contracts to politically connected companies, while ordinary Nigerians continue to face criminals.

“The first duty of government is to protect lives,” he stated.

He called for the immediate and safe rescue of every abducted young person and the return of those still unaccounted for.
Atiku also reaffirmed his commitment to building a safer and more affordable Nigeria where young people can create, build and prosper.

“My promise to build a safer and more affordable Nigeria, where young people can create, build and prosper, remains unshakable,” he said.

Chuks Nwanne, general manager of The Guardian’s Abuja operations and former Saturday editor of the newspaper, has passed on.

Eniola Daniel, a senior multimedia reporter at The Guardian, announced Nwanne’s death in an X post on Saturday.

It was gathered that Nwanne died on Saturday after a protracted illness.

Daniel described Nwanne as a “prolific entertainment writer” and his teacher, saying he would be deeply missed.

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A native of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nwanne joined The Guardian in 2008 as an entertainment reporter.

He later became an editorial assistant at The Guardian Life Magazine, the newspaper’s weekly lifestyle publication.

Nwanne also served as assistant editor, entertainment and lifestyle, while overseeing the youth, travel and tourism sections of The Guardian on Saturday.

He held a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, and a master’s degree in communication studies from Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos.

He attended several training programmes and conferences in Nigeria and abroad.

Beyond journalism, Nwanne was the founder and creative director of the Ogbunike Cave Carnival, an annual three-day cultural festival established to promote the Ogbunike Cave, a major tourist attraction in Nigeria.

He was married and had three children.

Daniel expressed condolences to Nwanne’s family, describing his death as a loss to Ogbunike, Anambra, the music and entertainment industry, and journalism.

A road accident, involving a tanker truck conveying petroleum products opposite the Odukpani Local Government Secretariat, Cross River State, ignited a fire, leading to the destruction of several shops and affecting vehicles.

These transpired on Sunday, when the tanker accidentally overturned which led to the fire that spread to nearby shops and buildings.

Fortunately, the tanker driver was rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention.

Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command said that officers from the Odukpani Division were deployed to the scene to secure the area and prevent further harm.

The Command said the Fire Service had also been alerted and was expected to deploy personnel to contain and extinguish the fire.

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As of the time of filing this report, no death has been confirmed.

However, the police said a number of shops and vehicles had been affected by the inferno.

The Command urged residents and motorists to keep away from the immediate area and allow emergency responders unhindered access to the scene.

It also advised members of the public to exercise caution around the area because of the risk posed by the burning petroleum tanker.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said further updates would be released as verified information became available.