The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that the political leaders from Edo and Kano states have ended the tension that emerged following the recent killings in Uromi, Edo State.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, stated on Thursday that both state governments have taken steps to address the issue. He noted that the Edo State leadership had visited Kano to engage with the affected families.

“So at the political level, everything has been resolved. I don’t think there is going to be any issue. Anybody or group causing apprehension or threats, if security agencies are aware, will be investigated,” Kangye said.

On the issue of herdsmen attacks in various parts of the country, including the FCT, Enugu, Benue, Ondo, Zamfara, and Cross River states, Kangye rejected claims that the military had relaxed its efforts.

“The military has not abandoned the war against violent herdsmen, terrorists, and bandits. We have neutralized many of them, and we are continuing the onslaught to get rid of them and their leaders,” he said.

Addressing speculations that Niger Republic may have withdrawn from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Kangye dismissed the reports as unverified.

“MNJTF was established by countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to tackle the myriads of cross-border movement of terrorists and other criminals because what happens in one country affects the others. But if by chance, any of the countries pull out for any reason, it will have implications for others because the synergy of efforts will no longer be there. So efforts must be sustained to make sure this synergy is sustained in the Lake Chad Basin Commission countries,” he explained.

Renowned human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has criticized the Department of State Services (DSS) for its alleged selective enforcement of the law. Sowore questioned the DSS’s priorities, asking why they swiftly arrest individuals who plan protests or criticize the President, while failing to apprehend terrorists transporting guns from the North to the South.

Sowore’s comments come amid the ongoing crisis in Uromi, Edo State.

His statement highlights the perceived double standard in the DSS’s approach to maintaining national security.

This is not Sowore’s first encounter with the DSS. In 2019, he was arrested and detained for calling for a peaceful revolution. The charges against him were eventually struck out in February 2024, after a lengthy court battle.

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Sowore’s criticism of the DSS has sparked a conversation about the agency’s role in maintaining national security, while also respecting human rights and upholding the rule of law.

Rivers State Police have arrested Elijah, a cleric and General Overseer of a Port Harcourt church, over alleged homosexuality.

His arrest follows a leaked video showing him in a compromising situation.

According to the police, he has been charged to court.