Governor Alex Otti has vowed to make Abia inhabitable for criminals and perpetrators of insecurity.
The Governor who made the vow while launching Abia Security Trust Fund Thursday at the International Conference Centre Unuahia, said no inch of Abia soil would be ceded to criminal-minded elements.
He charged Abians and residents to take more than “a passing interest in issues of security around their vicinity” to complement Government’s efforts.
This is as friends and residents of the state including banks, contractors and corporate organisations donated hundreds of millions of Naira to support the Abia security trust fund.
Fund.
Adedeji Adeleke, the father of Music legend, Davido, made the highest individual donation of half a billion Naira; followed by Anambra-born oil magnet, Chief Arthur Eze who announced a donation of N200 million.
With a donation of N100 million, the owner of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma led other donors including contractors and banks who supported the project.
Governor Otti explained that the launch was part of his holistic security strategy focused on prevention of criminal activities
He said:”This luncheon is in line with the provisions of the Abia State Security Trust Fund Law 2024, which empowers the state to set up a specialised framework for mobilising, managing and deploying resources in support of our security infrastructure across the state.
“Insecurity creates economic and social crisis, impoverishes the population, and makes refugees of individuals and families in their homeland.
“To counter the enormous cost of security crisis, all of us are invited to always take more than a passing interest in security issues in our neighborhoods, places of business, and in the larger community
Otti who said his administration had demonstrated prudence in the management of resources assured that every Kobo raised for the project would be judiciously spent.
The Governor recalled that on assumption of office, he made “a firm commitment to recover every inch of Abia territory from the criminals who had carved out some parts of the state for themselves”
He expressed joy that through Operation Crush and other security interventions, Abia is relatively peaceful, assuring that he would not rest on his oars.
Otti commended all those who supported the launch for their generous donations.
In a remark, Minister of State for Labour Nkiruka Onyejeocha, commended Gov Otti for his spirited efforts to tackle insecurity in the state.
She also commended Otti’s developmental strides, declaring that she could now proudly say she hails from Abia.
The Minister noted that security should not be politicised, adding that President Bola Ahmed is also fully in support of Gov. Otti’s efforts to keep Abia safe.
Speaking also, former Minister of State for Mines and Steel, DrcUche Ogah lauded Otti’s efforts to re-set the state, adding that “security should be everybody’s business.”
Describing the Security Trust Fund as a laudable project, Ogah said he would handsomely support the project on monthly basis for a period of one year.
Earlier in an address, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Abia State Security Trust Fund, Mr Obiamaraije Stanley, represented by the Vice Chairman, Sir. Johnson Chukwu, said that the Trust Fund “is a public -private partnership initiative designed to mobilize resources from both government and non-governmental stakeholders to enhance the operational capabilities of security agencies within the state.”
“The overall goal is simple: to provide logistics, equipment, communication tools, surveillance infrastructure and other critical support to enable security agencies respond effectively to challenges in real time,” he said
He thanked Governor Otti for not only initiating and supporting the revitalization of the project but for backing the initiative with “unwavering political will, visionary leadership and actionable commitment”.
The Chairman of the occasion, Ide John Udeagbala said “every individual must take responsibility in supporting and complementing the Governor’s efforts towards achieving adequate security.”
He called for vigilance among residents, urging them to promptly volunteer information about suspicious movements in their vicinity.
The Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Ali Isa, on Tuesday, resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, citing internal crisis and alleged undemocratic practices within the party.
In a resignation letter April 14, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of Kindiyo Ward in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State, Isa said his decision takes immediate effect.
He stated that his exit was “compelled by the way and manner some undemocratic forces have hijacked the party for reasons that are contrary to the founding principles and philosophy of the party, which created a factional leadership.”
The lawmaker, who represents Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, said he took the decision after wide consultations with key stakeholders.
“After a series of rigorous consultations with my family, political associates, friends, and relevant stakeholders, I have arrived at the conclusion that the path to my political future, as well as the political future of the great people who gave me their mandate, lies outside the PDP,” he said.
Isa added that his priority remains the welfare and political future of his constituents, noting that they deserve a more viable platform.
“It is my firm belief that the people of my constituency deserve a platform on which their interests and political future will be better guaranteed,” he stated.
He, however, thanked the PDP for the opportunity to serve.
“I wish to sincerely thank the leadership and membership of the party for giving me the platform on which the people of Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency gave me the wonderful opportunity to represent them at the National Assembly. I will ever remain grateful and wish you all the best,” he added.
Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has said Nigeria’s insecurity can be decisively tackled within six months if the federal government shows sufficient commitment.
Ndume made the assertion on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he expressed concern over renewed violence in the North-East.
According to the lawmaker, ending insecurity requires decisive action, improved military capacity and strong political will.
He said, “It is not about complaining. It is not about asking somebody like me, as a senator, to say why these things. I always believe that if the President and the Federal Government of Nigeria are serious about this, we can end this thing (insecurity) in six months.
“All we need is to train our soldiers, equip them, arm them very well, and then motivate them.”
Ndume also decried the continued loss of military personnel, including senior officers, describing the trend as alarming and indicative of deeper operational challenges. He added that the army is not sufficiently equipped and the morale is down.
Our correspondent had reported that Brigadier General Oseni Braimah was killed on April 9, 2026, in a midnight attack by terrorists on the 29 Task Force Brigade Headquarters in Benisheikh, Borno State. Also on Monday, a colonel and six soldiers were killed by Boko Haram insurgents the state.
The senator further blamed the worsening security situation on inconsistent implementation of strategies, urging authorities to match words with action.
“We have to be very serious about this matter; we have to walk the talk,” he said.
On foreign support, Ndume emphasised the need for intelligence, technology and specialised expertise rather than reliance on external forces. He noted that Nigeria lacks adequate drone capacity and called for increased deployment of technology-driven solutions, citing examples from Burkina Faso.
“We have some capable hands on the ground; all they need is equipment, ammunition and motivation. We don’t have enough drones.
“Look at what Burkina Faso is doing; it is technology. We can use it to finish or minimise this within the shortest possible time. If we deploy drones, we have our youths that are specialists and designing it.
“In Borno, if you deploy surveillance cameras, you can see everything that is happening. In these days, you can put up surveillance cameras that can go 100 metres. Once we can escalate our military assets in Borno and everywhere, that will go a long way to reduce our problem.”
Ndume also commended Babagana Zulum for his efforts in stabilising parts of Borno State, noting that the situation would have been worse without his interventions.
“If not for the efforts of Prof Babagana Zulum (the governor) in complementing the efforts of the military in the state, Borno State would have gone down,” he said.
The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President David Mark, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to overturn a decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that removed key party officials from its records.
INEC had, on April 1, deleted the names of Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary from its official website and portal, a move that has deepened the party’s internal crisis.
In a motion filed on April 7 by his counsel, Sulaiman Usman (SAN), Mark urged Justice Emeka Nwite to grant a mandatory injunction compelling INEC to restore the names of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members pending the determination of the substantive suit.
He also asked the court to set aside INEC’s refusal to monitor or attend the ADC’s congresses and convention, arguing that such actions undermine the party’s operations
Specifically, Mark is seeking an order directing INEC to immediately reinstate and maintain the names of himself, Aregbesola, and other members of the National Executive Committee in its official records. He further requested that the court restrain the electoral body from recognising or acting on any rival leadership claims until the case is resolved.
The application follows a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe. Mark’s legal team argued that the appellate court had ordered all parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum”—the last uncontested state of affairs before the dispute began.
According to Usman, as of September 2, 2025, when the suit was instituted, Mark was the duly recognised National Chairman of the party, and the leadership structure in question was already in place.
He added that the plaintiff had resigned from his previous position and no longer held any role within the ADC at the time, insisting that INEC’s actions disrupted an already established leadership order.
The court is expected to determine whether to grant the interim reliefs while the substantive case continues.