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Train Attack – Terrorists Threaten Government Warns That Abductees May Be Killed

In a newly released video, attackers of the Abuja-Kaduna bound train have threatened the Nigerian government, describing the train attack as child’s play compared to what they are capable of.

The 80-seconds clip that quickly went viral after it surfaced on Twitter showed four of the attackers with masked faces dressed in military camouflage and heavily armed standing behind what looked like an armored tank.

The video is suspected to have been recorded shortly after the release of the Bank of Agriculture Managing Director, Alwan Ali-Hassan who was one of the passengers on the ill-fated train.

Ali-Hassan also appears in the video and is dressed in a white kaftan flanked by two of the terrorists on each side. The video begins with one who appears to be their leader making Islamic prayers in Arabic and Hausa before going on to claim responsibility for the train attack, adding that they had decided to release Ali-Hassan in honor of the season of Ramadan and because he is aged and had been begging for his release.

“We are the ones who kidnapped the people on the train. We decided to release this man (Ali-Hassan) because of the honor of the month of Ramadan and because he is old. He has been pleading since we kidnapped him,” the terrorist said in the video.

With a terrified look, Ali-Hassan in what seemed to be a forced speech spoke in Hausa saying;

“I would like to let you know that these people’s pitied me and allowed me to go because of my age. But I have left many people behind in a condition that they need help. The government should contact the leaders of this group and negotiate their release because they are in a situation that need immediate help.”

On the contrary, Ali-Hassan is believed to have been released after his family whom the attackers contacted sent a ransom in order to regain the MD’s freedom. The amount has not been disclosed but is suspected to be to the tune of hundreds of millions of naira.

An employee of the BOA, as well as a family source, confirmed the MD’s release and return to his home in Kaduna.

The terrorists ended their speech by asking that the government give them what they want and that the attack had nothing to do with money but a demand that the government is aware of. They also threaten to kill their abductees should the government fail to heed their demand.

“Government should hasten to meet us before we turn this place into an abattoir because killing these people is nothing to us. It’s not about money. We can’t do this for money. The government knows what we want,” he said.

Other families with kidnapped victims have revealed to the media that the terrorists have been in contact with them and are demanding huge sums ranging between 5 and 100 million naira. The families have also said that the terrorists have warned them against involving security agencies. Reports say that the affected families have begun the process of raising funds to ransom their loved ones.

Analyzing the video, Bulama Burkati, a Senior Conflict Analyst at the Tony Blair Institute who posted the clip on Twitter said that early evidence suggests that the terrorists are from the Boko Haram group of terrorists. Some are of the belief that the terrorist’s demand from the government might be a prisoner swap.

train attack

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Ex-AGF Malami, who is on trial for ₦8.7 billion fraud, emerges ADC governorship candidate in Kebbi state

Former AGF Abubakar Malami emerges as ADC governorship candidate in Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 election amid ongoing controversy over alleged ₦8.7 billion fraud claims.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has emerged as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate for Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 general election, despite ongoing corruption allegations linked to an alleged ₦8.7 billion fraud case.

Malami, who recently dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the African Democratic Congress, was affirmed as the party’s consensus candidate during consultations held by ADC stakeholders in Kebbi State.

The development was announced in a statement released on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka.

In the statement, Malami expressed appreciation to party leaders and supporters for backing his ambition ahead of the 2027 governorship race.

I sincerely appreciate the confidence and support shown by leaders, stakeholders, and supporters of the African Democratic Congress in Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Malami said.

The former AGF also confirmed that the party agreed on candidates for key elective positions in the state through consensus arrangements.

According to the statement, “ADC Governorship Candidate for Kebbi State — Dr Abubakar Malami SAN,” while retired Major General Aminu Bande emerged as the party’s senatorial candidate for Kebbi Central.

The party also picked retired Deputy Comptroller General Ibrahim Muhammad Mera for Kebbi North Senatorial District and Garba Danjuma Limi for Kebbi South.

Malami said the ADC was focused on delivering “purposeful leadership, good governance, justice, security, and sustainable development for Kebbi State and Nigeria as a whole.”

He further stated that “together, with unity and determination, we shall build a more prosperous future for generations to come.”

News

Governor Alex Otti unveils ₦1.3bn water projects in Abia

Abia State Governor Alex Otti flags off ₦1.3 billion Ubakala and Ariaria water scheme rehabilitation projects to improve access to clean water across Abia. Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has officially flagged off the rehabilitation of the Ubakala Water Scheme and Ariaria Water Scheme in Aba, projects valued at ₦1.3 billion, as part of activities marking his administration’s third anniversary in office.

Speaking during the ceremony held at Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Government Area on Sunday, Otti said the projects are aimed at improving access to clean and safe water across Abia State, stressing that potable water remains one of the most important needs of the people.

The governor appreciated humanitarian organisation Mercy Corps for supporting the state government on the projects, noting that the intervention would make a major impact on residents once completed.

I want to thank them for this support and their resilience. N1.3 Billion is a lot of money and we cannot take it for granted. As we flag it off, we will assume that we have flagged-off the two projects. So, when we return here again, it will be for commissioning the water scheme,” Otti said.

He explained that both the Ubakala and Ariaria water schemes would be completed and commissioned together, adding that his administration considers water supply a top priority because of its direct connection to public health and economic development.

“Water is so critical to life and a lot of people have passed on because of unsafe water.”

“That is why this government has taken it as a critical project, one of her critical projects, to ensure that we have potable water across the State,” the governor added.

Otti also revealed that the Aba Regional Water Project has already reached about 95 per cent completion, another indication of the government’s push to revive water infrastructure in the commercial city.

The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, said the projects are part of the broader Abia Integrated WASH Accelerated Programme earlier launched by the governor to improve water, sanitation and hygiene services across the state.

According to him, the projects had faced repeated delays in the past due to security and funding issues.

“This is the third time that the flag-off of these projects has been planned.

“The first time, we had a date, the financier was on their way to this place, and along Anambra, they were kidnapped. As you know, this project was initially financed by USAID through the Mercy Corps. The second one was in January last year.

Business

Nigeria remains the World Bank’s third-largest borrower with $18.5bn

Nigeria remains the World Bank’s third-largest borrower, with $18.5bn in debt exposure, as fresh data show the country’s reliance on concessional loans continues to rise amid economic reforms and infrastructure funding needs.

Nigeria has remained the third-largest borrower from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), with the country’s debt exposure now standing at $18.5 billion as of March 31, 2026.

Fresh figures contained in the IDA’s March 2026 financial statements showed that Nigeria’s exposure dropped slightly from the $18.7 billion recorded in December 2025, representing a decline of about $200 million within three months.

Even with the slight quarterly drop, Nigeria’s debt to the World Bank has continued to rise on a yearly basis. The latest figure is about $1.2 billion higher than the $17.3 billion exposure recorded in March 2025, showing a 6.9 per cent increase over one year.

The new ranking places Nigeria behind Bangladesh and Pakistan among countries with the highest borrowing from the World Bank’s concessional lending arm. According to the report, Bangladesh remained the largest borrower with $22.7 billion exposure, while Pakistan followed with $19.2 billion. Nigeria came third with $18.5 billion.

Nigeria alone accounts for around eight per cent of the institution’s total loan portfolio and roughly 13.3 per cent of the combined exposure of the IDA’s ten largest borrowers.

The report further showed that the 10 largest borrowing countries account for about 60 per cent of the World Bank’s concessional lending exposure globally.

Nigeria’s rising exposure highlights the country’s growing dependence on multilateral financing to support infrastructure projects, social programmes, economic reforms and budget support amid ongoing fiscal pressures.

The Federal Government is also in talks with the World Bank for another fresh loan facility valued at $1.25 billion. If approved, total World Bank loan approvals secured by Nigeria since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 could rise to around $10.6 billion.