The Plateau State government has raised concerns over the presence of troops in certain parts of the state and has called for their replacement. This comes in the wake of the killing of 27 farmers last week in an area that has already seen numerous violent deaths this year.

In a statement, the government requested that mobile police units take the place of the soldiers. The administration, through Chris Kwaja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace and Security, also appealed to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to establish a special board of inquiry to look into the repeated attacks, with particular attention on the “actions and inactions of the military personnel” stationed in those communities.

Additionally, the state urged the federal government to support local efforts like Operation Rainbow in tackling the ongoing security crisis.

Kwaja explained that the new strategy was essential to provide a more efficient and responsive approach to dealing with threats, especially in combating asymmetrical warfare, an area where MOPOL is better equipped.

Bandits also launched another assault in Zamfara State, where over 100 farmers were kidnapped in Jengebe Village, located in Talatan Mafara Local Government Area. The raid happened during the weekend, with the bandits returning on Sunday evening without encountering resistance.

Reports from RFI Hausa Service, monitored yesterday, indicated that nine farmers were killed while working on their farms during the attacks. The outlet cited a statement from the state government, which claimed it had taken immediate action in response.

Ahmad Dan Manga, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, noted that the situation was under control and that a delegation would soon visit the affected area. He added that security has been reinforced with the deployment of soldiers and local vigilantes.

On Sunday night, armed men attacked Dabagi community in Dange-Shuni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing three people and abducting several others. Upon arriving, the attackers opened fire indiscriminately, creating fear among residents before escaping with their captives.

A post shared yesterday by security analyst Bakatsine on X stated: “Bandits attacked Dabagi community in Dange-Shuni LGA of Sokoto State last night. They killed three people and kidnapped an unspecified number of male and female residents.”

A resident who witnessed the event confirmed that the assailants moved freely without resistance, taking the victims into the nearby forest.

He recounted that the attackers came in large groups, began shooting immediately, killed three individuals on the spot, and abducted several men and women.

In another development, the Kaduna State Police Command reported the arrest of Mati Bagiyo, a notorious criminal who had managed to avoid capture for 11 years.

According to Mansur Hassan, the Command’s spokesperson, authorities recovered several weapons from Bagiyo, including one AK-47 rifle, one fabricated AK-47, a pump-action shotgun, two locally made pistols, two AK-47 magazines, two LAR magazines, four AK-47 rounds, 10 pump-action cartridges, 80 pistol rounds, a machete, two torchlights, and a cleaning rod.

Hassan stated that Bagiyo had been a major threat in Kaduna and Katsina states, and is now in custody providing important details to investigators.

Kemi Badenoch, the head of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has stated that she is unable to pass on her Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman.

Speaking on Sunday during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Badenoch attempted to highlight differences between the immigration systems of Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

She argued that Nigerians have an easier path to acquiring British citizenship compared to the difficulty foreigners face in becoming Nigerian citizens.

She said, “It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents, I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”

She added, “Yet loads of Nigerians come to the UK and stay for a relatively free period of time, acquire British citizenship. We need to stop being naive.”

Badenoch’s statement sparked widespread responses from Nigerians, many of whom questioned the accuracy of her comments.

Born in the UK to Yoruba Nigerian parents, Olukemi Adegoke was raised in Nigeria for much of her early years before returning to the UK at the age of 16.

Before relocating to the UK, she attended a private school in Lagos for her primary education, without needing a student visa due to her Nigerian citizenship.

A student visa (R7A) is typically issued to foreign nationals studying in Nigeria. Nigerian citizens are exempt from this requirement.

She later married Hamish Badenoch, a banker from Scotland, and took his surname, becoming known as Kemi Badenoch.

The couple has three children.

Verification

CableCheck reviewed Badenoch’s claims based on the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Under section 25(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, a child born outside Nigeria qualifies as a Nigerian citizen if either parent holds Nigerian citizenship.

This indicates that having one Nigerian parent is enough for a child to be considered a Nigerian citizen by birth. Therefore, Badenoch’s children automatically qualify.

Being a citizen by birth in Nigeria means that a person is granted citizenship from birth, based on their parents’ or grandparents’ Nigerian citizenship, not just their place of birth.

Such citizenship confers all rights under the law, including free entry into Nigeria and protection under the Constitution.

Nigerian law also permits dual citizenship, with specific guidelines.

According to Section 28(1), a person born as a Nigerian citizen may hold citizenship of another country without losing Nigerian citizenship.

However, someone who becomes Nigerian by registration or naturalisation loses Nigerian citizenship if they also acquire or retain another nationality.

Importantly, the Constitution does not make any distinction based on gender when it comes to citizenship by birth.

Gender plays a role only in cases involving foreign spouses.

Section 26(2)(a) of the Constitution provides that “any woman who is or has been married to a citizen of Nigeria” can be granted Nigerian citizenship.

Men who marry Nigerian women are not automatically eligible for citizenship by registration and must instead apply through naturalisation, which has stricter requirements.

This would make it harder for Badenoch’s husband, who is Scottish, to gain Nigerian citizenship automatically. However, this limitation does not apply to their children, who have Nigerian ancestry through their mother and grandparents.

Ashleigh Plumptre: A Case Of Mixed Heritage And Citizenship

Ashleigh Plumptre, 27, is a British-Nigerian professional footballer.

She plays as a central defender for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Premier League and for Nigeria’s women’s national team, the Super Falcons.

Her father, Tim Plumptre, is of Nigerian heritage and hails from Lagos, while her mother is English.

Prior to the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Plumptre chose to represent Nigeria, acknowledging her Nigerian roots over continuing her football career with England.

In a recent interview, Tim Plumptre said he made sure to instill cultural awareness in his daughter by encouraging her to connect with her Nigerian family, including her grandfather Harry Dotun Plumptre.

Ashleigh Plumptre is one of the 24 players representing Nigeria in the ongoing 2025 WAFCON.

Verdict

The claim by Badenoch that she is unable to pass her Nigerian citizenship to her children is incorrect. This would only be true if she had renounced her Nigerian citizenship.

Credit: The Cable

Muhammed Babangida has officially accepted his appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), expressing deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the trust reposed in him.

In a press statement released Monday, Babangida dismissed as false and malicious the reports circulating online suggesting he had rejected the appointment. He described such claims as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and tarnish the image of the Tinubu administration.

“We wish to clarify that Muhammed gratefully accepts the appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture, as announced by the federal government, and extends his sincere appreciation to President Tinubu for the trust and confidence bestowed upon him,” the statement read in part.

It further assured the public that those behind the fake reports would be identified and held accountable.

“We also want to assure the public that those spreading these falsehoods will be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice. We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and fostering unity within our nation,” it added.

The statement concluded with a call for Nigerians to remain discerning and to verify information from credible sources.

Muhammed Babangida’s appointment was among several strategic appointments approved by President Tinubu to strengthen leadership across key government institutions.