Index to Nigerian Newspapers

President Bola Tinubu has dispatched Dr. Abiodun Essiet to Plateau State to foster peace and community harmony following recent violence. Essiet met with local leaders, including Christian clerics and Fulani representatives, and held a town hall in Jos to reinforce community-based peace structures. Her visit, part of a broader effort for inclusive engagement, follows escalating violence in the region and aims to mediate longstanding disputes. Governor Caleb Mutfwang has also called for unity and forgiveness among citizens during a Thanksgiving service, emphasizing the need for collaboration to enhance security and stability in Plateau State. Additionally, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has distanced itself from violence, asserting its role as a lawful trade association committed to non-violence and socio-economic representation.

Troops of Operation Safe Haven, on Monday, said they arrested a total of 73 kidnappers, including bandits who have been terrorising various communities in Plateau and Kaduna states. The spokesman for the military task force, Captain Oya James, disclosed this in a statement in Jos on Monday. He said that several of the criminals were neutralised during the operations which lasted for about one week. The military spokesman added that "Within the week, four bandits were neutralised, 73 suspects arrested with arms and ammunition, 37 suspected kidnappers arrested, four victims rescued from kidnappers, two cattle rustlers arrested, four suspects arrested for illicit drugs peddling, five attacks on vulnerable communities were deterred and 28 distress calls were promptly responded to."

Governors Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State and Ademola Adeleke of Osun State presented their 2026 budget proposals to their respective Houses of Assembly. Mutfwang proposed a budget of N914.86 billion, termed "Budget of Consolidation and Sustainability 2.0," allocating N341 billion for recurrent expenditure and N573 billion for capital projects, emphasizing socio-economic development and transparency. He urged for prompt approval to expedite implementation. Conversely, Adeleke's "Budget of Economic Transformation" totals N705 billion, with 45% for recurrent and 55% for capital expenditure. He highlighted past accomplishments in road construction and healthcare initiatives, assuring commitment to completing ongoing projects and diligent financial management.

A 17-year-old student in Plateau State, Elijah Anthony, has been arrested by operatives of the state police command for allegedly killing his neighbour's five -year-old child after collecting N400,000 ransom from the victim's parents . Anthony, who is an SS 3 student of Manret High School in Angul D community, Jos South Local Government Area of the state, was among 39 other suspects paraded for various offences at the police command headquarters in Jos on Thursday. The suspect who expressed regrets over the incident blamed his action on the hardship going in the country. The suspect who expressed regrets over the incident blamed his action on the hardship going in the country. The state Commissioner of Police, Okoro Julius Alawari, who paraded Anthony and 39 other suspects, disclosed that the corpse of the child had been recovered from a swampy place near the uncompleted building where he was dumped by the suspects and handed over to his parents for burial. He said all the 39 suspects would be prosecuted when investigations were concluded.