The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has commended Mr. Mele Kyari for providing stability and strategic leadership during his tenure as Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

NDYC, in a statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, dismissed calls by a group called “Concerned Citizens Against Corruption” for Kyari to be probed.

Uwejeyan described the statement as an “orchestrated campaign of calumny” designed to discredit Kyari’s achievements in office.

The NDYC highlighted several achievements during Kyari’s leadership, including the transformation of the NNPCL into a commercially-oriented entity, rehabilitation of refineries through public-private partnerships, combating oil theft through strategic security collaborations, advancing the “Decade of Gas” initiative, attracting international investment, and implementing digital modernization across operations.

According to the youth organization, accusations regarding secretive debt arrangements with third-party companies like Matrix Energy demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of standard petroleum trading practices.

The NDYC maintains that oil lifting contracts and similar agreements are standard industry instruments subject to regulatory oversight.

Uwejeyan urged the Attorney General to disregard what they termed a “sponsored circus” against Kyari, suggesting instead that his leadership should be studied as an exemplary case of corporate transformation and energy sector development.

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, says it is being unfairly accused and blamed for insecurity plaguing Imo State, stressing that emerging information has vindicated its position.

This was contained in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful,

The group referred to a viral video in which an individual, allegedly known as “Gentle Yahoo,” claimed involvement in criminal activities in Imo State.

Sometime in February, Dr. Kunle Adeniji, a national director of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was kidnapped alongside his brother’s family in Abuja.

Despite the kidnappers collecting a ransom, Dr. Adeniji’s life was not spared.

According to reports, Dr. Adeniji was visiting his brother’s residence in the Chikakore area of Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory, when armed gunmen struck.

During the abduction, Dr. Adeniji’s brother’s wife, Esther, was shot and later dumped in a community in Niger State.

The kidnappers demanded a N350 million ransom from Dr. Adeniji’s family.

50 million naira ransom was reportedly paid.

However, in a heartbreaking twist, Dr. Adeniji’s body was found after the ransom was collected, indicating that he was killed by his captors.

The incident has raised concerns about the effectiveness of security measures in the country and the increasing brazenness of kidnappers.

Dr. Adeniji’s brother and son were kidnapped along with him but both survived the ordeal.