The Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has called for former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to be questioned over his claim that the Federal Government is paying bandits.

Baba-Ahmed, who spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, faulted the response of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, which dismissed El-Rufai’s allegation as baseless.

“If the so-called office of the National Security Adviser would take this statement with levity, then Nuhu Ribadu was never a policeman; he is not a qualified lawyer; he should not be in that office,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He insisted that El-Rufai’s claim was too serious to be brushed aside. “Nasir should be writing some statements to the police, to the courts,” he added.

On Sunday, El-Rufai had alleged that both the Federal Government and Kaduna State were paying monthly allowances to bandits and providing them with food under what he described as a “kiss-the-bandits” policy. He maintained that such an approach was only empowering criminals.

The NSA and Kaduna State Government have both denied the claim, but Baba-Ahmed argued that the denial was insufficient. “That is not a reaction. Are people understanding the gravity of this statement?” he asked.

The LP chieftain said any declaration of such magnitude amounted to a national policy, which, if true, would require open government communication. “A national policy is the official position of a government; an official declaration that this is what we shall be constitutionally doing,” he said. “Was such a thing held? Why did Nasir say it?”

El-Rufai, a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has in recent weeks been vocal about insecurity in Nigeria, drawing strong reactions from both government officials and opposition figures.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has hailed the return of former Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, to the All Progressives Congress, describing it as a positive development and a major boost for the ruling party in Lagos.

Speaker Obasa, who hosted Jandor on Tuesday at his official residence in Ikeja GRA, expressed excitement over his return to the APC, describing it as the only political platform that truly reflects the aspirations of Lagosians, and indeed, Nigerians.

“We are happy to have you back. This is a very good move,” Obasa said, assuring Jandor of full reintegration and collaboration in the party’s collective pursuit of good governance. The Speaker further praised Jandor for his courage and conviction, stressing that the APC’s inclusive structure provides the right platform for unity and development.

Responding, Jandor, who returned officially to the APC fold in March, thanked Obasa for the warm reception and pledged his commitment to working with the APC for the benefit of Lagos State and Nigeria because, “It is only through unity of purpose, shared sacrifice, and responsible leadership that we can secure a brighter and more prosperous future for every Nigerian.

He also lauded President Bola Tinubu’s recent tax reforms, saying, “Though demanding, the President’s reforms are courageous steps toward re-engineering our economy and laying a firm foundation for progress and prosperity.”

The United Kingdom has warned international students whose visas have expired to leave the country or risk deportation.

The Home Office, in a new enforcement campaign, said it has begun sending direct text and email messages to students, marking the first time such a measure is being applied.

According to the BBC, about 10,000 students whose visas are due to expire have already received the messages, while tens of thousands more will be contacted in the coming months.

The message from the Home Office reads: “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”

The agency also warned that asylum claims considered “lacking merit” would be swiftly rejected.

Data released by the Home Office showed that between July 2024 and June 2025, a total of 41,100 asylum claims were lodged by people who had entered the UK legally on visas, with students making up the largest share.

Figures indicated that international students filed 16,000 asylum claims in 2024, almost six times the number recorded in 2020. Although the number has since dropped by about 10 percent, the British government said it expects a further reduction.

The department noted that asylum claims by skilled worker visa holders have decreased within the same period.

Earlier this year, the UK government reduced the period foreign graduates can remain in the country after completing their studies, cutting it from two years to 18 months.