The body of Reverend Bala Galadima, an Evangelical Church Winning All Pastor tragically killed by unknown gunmen in Lubo District, Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area, was on Tuesday laid to rest in his hometown, Lano.

The funeral service which took place at ECWA Church Lano, was marked by deep sorrow and emotional tributes, where the community gathered to bid farewell to the late clergyman.

Leading the official government delegation was the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr Manassah Jatau, who conveyed the heartfelt condolences of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the people of the state.

Jatau extended sympathies to the deceased’s immediate family, the Christian community, and the entire Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area.

He urged all to accept the death as an act of God and called for calm, asking the ECWA leadership to avoid quick judgement and speculation or assumptions until the facts were clear.

In his address, Jatau noted that while the killing of a clergyman was a tragic incident, there was no conclusive evidence linking the act to a particular group, religious or tribal.

He recalled similar past incidents where the perpetrators were later found to be members of the same group, tribe or religion.

Jatau further directed the security agencies to leave no stone unturned in apprehending those responsible for the killing and ensure they face justice. He urged leaders to exercise restraint and patience in handling such sensitive matters to prevent the situation from escalating.

“I appeal to you as leaders to be patient, calm and avoid reaching conclusions until the culprits are arrested. You could recall some time ago when a pastor was killed and it was later discovered that the culprits are members of the same church. Just recently, there were killings in Kuri town, Yamaltu -Deba Local Government and the general notion was that it was Fulani herdsmen but it was later discovered that the culprits are not in any way Fulani people,” he added.

The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend Father Joseph Alphonsus Shinga, along with the ECWA Chairman, North-East One, Reverend Isa Uba, and Gombe DCC Chairman, Rev Dr Adamu Dauda, also expressed their condolences and reminded the Christian community to view the incident as part of the challenges faced by believers. They emphasised that such tragedies were a reminder of the need to trust in God’s plan.

The CAN chairman reassured the community that the state government shared in their grief and was committed to ensuring the arrest of the perpetrators. The DCC Chairman expressed gratitude for the prompt response of the government and security agencies following the tragic incident.

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, resolved to investigate what it called unsolicited and illegal linking of National Identification Numbers (NINs) of subscribers to unknown telephone lines by service providers.

Consequently, the House urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to investigate the reports about the trend and take immediate actions against any telecom service provider found to be culpable in the practice.

 

It also asked the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to confirm whether the linking of NINs by telecom service providers was authorised and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

 

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance jointly moved by Hon. Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom) and the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), at plenary.

 

Moving the motion, Umoh expressed concern over the recent reports of telecom service providers linking subscribers’ NINs to unknown phone lines without their consent, thereby exposing them to criminal activities and subjecting legitimate NIN holders to grave risk.

 

He said the action was a clear violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019, which guarantee the right to privacy and protection of personal data of every Nigerian.

 

“Aware that the National Identification Number (NIN) was established to streamline the verification and identification of persons and enhance security in Nigeria.

 

“Also aware that the potential risks and consequences of this unauthorized data linking includes identity theft, financial fraud, and other forms of cybercrime that have become rife in Nigeria lately.

 

“Further aware that innocent citizens have been wrongly implicated in crimes, suffer reputational damage, harassment and legal challenges for crimes they know nothing about,” the lawmaker noted.

 

Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Communications and Interior to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

Unknown gunmen, on Thursday, killed an Imo State-based lawyer, Barr. Chinedu Nwowu in Mgbidi, Oru West local government area of the state.

Eyewitness account revealed that Barr. Nwowu was driving along the Mgbidi Highway when the hoodlums ambushed his vehicle.

“We just saw a vehicle overtake the man’s car dangerously, and right before our eyes, the boys carrying guns jumped out and stopped the man’s car.

“The gunmen dragged him out of the car and shot him severally. Then, they entered their car and drove off. We were lying on the floor for fear of our lives and watching helplessly.

“The incident did not last up to five minutes to enable people rally help from the security operatives,” the eyewitness said.

The source further said that people later came out and rushed the deceased to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Imo State Command, Henry Okoye confirmed the incident, stressing that investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances surrounding the ugly incident.

He said, “The police are pained by this incident. But I can assure you that we will apprehend the hoodlums behind this dastardly act.

“We have already commenced an investigation and will stop at nothing to catch the gang”.

Distraught parents currently facing emotional trauma over the kidnap of their daughter, Abasifreke Joseph, a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member from Utu Abak community in Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom State, have cried out for intervention from governments, corporate organisations and other well meaning Nigerians, to come to her aid.

“Abasifreke, is passing through serious trauma, compounded by other unknown ailments after spending several days with armed – wielding and heavily masked strangers in the forest,” the family said.

LEADERSHIP gathered, Miss. Joseph, cleared and mobilised for the compulsory national service, was kidnapped on January 9, 2025, along Enugu-Kogi road, while returning from Akwa-Ibom, to her place of primary assignment in Kogi State.

Abasifreke, who is a 2024 Batch C1 Corps member serving in Kogi State, the family explained, was a pioneer degree student of the State College of Education (CoE), Afaha Nsit, in Nsit Ibom LGA, following its affiliation to the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State.

The kidnapped victim, who was eventually released after the family had paid heavy ransom to secure her release, is lying critically ill and helpless at the General Hospital, Ukpom Abak, as the parents complained that virtually all their savings had been given to the bandits as ransom to secure her freedom, so there is no money for proper medical attention.

Speaking with journalists by the bedside of the victim after securing her sister’s freedom from the dungeon of the kidnappers in the thick Kogi forest, her elder brother, Victor Joseph, who spoke on behalf of the family, explained that he had to take her immediately to the hospital for check-up.

“The family had borrowed so much and even sold the only landed property to secure her release, and nothing is left to take care of her to recover from the trauma in this hospital.

“We are making a passionate appeal to governments at all levels and other good spirited members of the public to come to the aid of the family to give her proper medical attention,” he lamented.