President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the procurement of brand-new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for newly upgraded traditional rulers across the Federal Capital Territory.

The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, disclosed this at the weekend in Abuja at the Rainbow Coalition Stakeholders Rally and unveiling of FCT National Assembly candidates, organised by the FCT Stakeholders Assembly at the Old Parade Ground.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Press, Office of the FCT Minister, Rabi Musa Umar.

The rally brought together traditional rulers, the six area council chairmen, leaders of indigenous communities, youth and women groups, and party leaders across divides, including the APC and PDP chairmen in the FCT, who jointly endorsed President Tinubu for a second term in 2027, alongside Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda for FCT Senate, Hon. John Gabaya for Abuja North and Hon. Danladi Chiya for Abuja South Federal Constituencies.

According to the statement, the minister attributed the presidential gesture on SUVs to recognition of the vital roles traditional rulers play in preserving culture and maintaining peace, noting that the President’s approval of the upgrade of traditional stools, which was abandoned for 27 years, underscores his commitment to the FCT.

“Mr President has said that you cannot just answer royal fathers by mouth. You cannot just answer royal fathers by entering Keke Napep. You cannot answer royal fathers by entering Okada. That all of you, by the grace of God, before December, you will go with your SUV cars.

“If there is any traditional institution that needs to be treated well, that needs empowerment, it’s the traditional institution of the Federal Capital Territory”, the statement quoted Wike as saying.

Charging supporters to translate endorsement into votes, the FCT Minister declared a strict grassroots mandate ahead of the January 16, 2027 election.

“Deliver your polling unit, deliver your ward, deliver your local government, deliver your state”, he said.

He warned against claiming victory without grassroots contribution.

“I don’t want to hear: I lost my polling unit, but we won. If you lose your polling unit, don’t say we won because you never contributed to the victory. So, everybody go home, it’s an operation to deliver your polling unit”, Wike stated.

“We shall never make the mistake we made in 2023. When you realise a mistake, you correct it. To God be the glory, come January 2027, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda will be elected because he identifies with you and cares about you”, Wike said, questioning whether the incumbent Senator had ever called constituents for a meeting or moved a bill for FCT.

To empower youth mobilisation for the election, the minister announced President Tinubu’s approval of four buses for FCT youths and fixed November 10 for an interactive session with youths across the six area councils.

He also promised a separate engagement with persons with disabilities, stressing that “disability does not mean you do not have capacity”.

Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected kidnapper while attempting to collect ransom from a female resident in Nasarawa State.

The suspect, identified as Mukaila Iliyasu, was arrested at Akwaba in Eggon Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, during a joint security operation conducted by troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, and DSS personnel.

The arrest followed intelligence reports that Iliyasu had allegedly threatened to abduct a woman unless she paid the sum of ₦200,000.

The Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, made the confirmation in a statement.

According to the statement, DSS operatives alerted the military to the alleged threat on October 29, leading to the deployment of a coordinated operation to track down the suspect and prevent the planned abduction.

To facilitate his arrest, a soldier reportedly went undercover and posed as the individual assigned to deliver the ransom.

The suspect was apprehended while collecting the money, with security operatives recovering ₦200,000 believed to be the ransom demanded from the intended victim.

The military described the operation as a successful intelligence-led intervention that prevented a possible kidnapping and underscored the importance of cooperation among security agencies in tackling criminal activities.

Following his arrest, Iliyasu was handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke and General Officer Commanding 5 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Moses Kolo Gara, praised the troops and DSS operatives for their professionalism, courage and effective coordination.

Gara urged the security personnel to sustain their collaboration and strengthen intelligence sharing to tackle kidnapping and other security threats across their areas of responsibility.

He also emphasised the need for continued inter-agency cooperation to protect lives, safeguard communities and maintain peace in the region.

Terrorists have reportedly attacked a vehicle carrying Nigeria Police officers travelling from Sokoto to Zamfara State for a special duty, killing some of the operatives.

Report says the attack resulted in the death of some of the officers, although the exact number of casualties and whether any personnel survived remained unclear.

A vehicle reportedly used to convey the officers was seen with visible bloodstains.

The bodies of the slain officers were reportedly evacuated from the scene following the attack, the report also said.