The police command in Enugu state says it has raided an Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) criminal hideouts in the Akwuke axis of Enugu metropolis.

The police operatives, however, met with resistance from the renegades, who opened fire upon sighting them, but they were subdued by the superior firepower of the police, leading to the neutralisation of two of the renegades.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Sunday that the police conducted the raid on Saturday at about 2:30 a.m.

Mr Ndukwe said that other members of the outlawed group escaped with various gunshot wounds.

He said that one AK-47 rifle, one Sub-Machine Gun (SMG), one stainless Pump-Action Gun (PAG), 27 live and 23 expended rounds of 7.62 mm calibre ammunition were recovered after the raid and gun duel.

According to him, police also recovered five live cartridges and a small blue-coloured Gideon New Testament Bible, probably used to conceal objects suspected to be charms.

“In pursuance of the proactive/crime prevention strategies devised by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, police operatives of Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad carried out an intelligence-guided raid of a suspected IPOB/ESN hideout in Akwuke community in Enugu metropolis.

“A preliminary investigation reveals that the breech number of the recovered AK-47 was wiped off.

“The criminal elements are responsible for several attacks and carting away of police officers rifles, as the rifle’s magazine bore the Nigeria Police Force colour. Further discreet investigations are ongoing,” he said.

The spokesperson noted that the CP while commending the operatives for the feat, reaffirmed the command’s unwavering commitment to rid Enugu State of unrepentant criminals.

He said that the commissioner solicited the continued support of the citizenry while urging them and owners of medical facilities, in particular, to report persons found with gunshot wounds to the nearest police operative or station.

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested Oluwafemi Idris, popularly known as Alfa, for unlawful possession of human parts in the Akoko area of the state.

SP. Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer said this in a statement on Sunday in Akure.

The spokesperson said the police got intel from a reliable source that Alfa kept human parts in his house and intended to use them for ritual purposes.

According to Odunlami-Omisanya, the police swung into action and apprehended the suspect.

“A search was conducted in his house at Akoko and the following human parts were found in his possession, human hands, three kidneys, three hearts, spine, and tongue.

“The suspect claimed he is an Islamic cleric and some of the human parts were supplied by his friend, an Alhaji who is also a cleric, and Samuel Kutelu.

“While he (suspect) supplied Babatunde Kayode (an Oluawo) three human heads. Oluawo and Babatunde Kayode have been arrested.

“Meanwhile, efforts are on to arrest the other cleric who he claimed sourced the human parts for him,” she said.

Pope Francis has called on the faithful to rejoice and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ in spite of the personal and global political crises.

These crises are “boulders of death,” the head of the Catholic Church said at Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Particularly, he mentioned the ruthlessness of hatred and the cruelty of war, which break the longing for world peace, but also selfishness and indifference.

The 87-year-old said Easter would roll away those boulders.

Around 6,000 people attended the celebration to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in St. Peter’s Basilica.

According to the pontiff, Easter should encourage people and give them hope: “This is the power of God: the victory of life over death, the triumph of light over darkness, the rebirth of hope in the midst of the ruins of failure.”

After Holy Week, the Easter Vigil is a cause for joy, he said.

“Sister, brother, may your heart burst into joy on this holy night!” the pontiff said in his homily.

On the night before Easter Sunday, Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his death on the cross.

At the beginning of the celebration, the Easter candle was carried through St. Peter’s Basilica in a procession in complete darkness – the darkness is intended to symbolise life without faith.

The candles of the priests and faithful were then lit from the Easter candle to the cry of “Lumen Christi,” Latin for the “Light of Christ.”

During the celebration, Francis baptized eight adults: four Italians, two South Koreans, a Japanese man and a woman from Albania.

The pontiff performed the ceremony sitting down.

Francis read his sermon himself, but his voice was hoarse.

On Good Friday, he had surprisingly decided not to take part in the Stations of the Cross service in order to preserve his health.

On Sunday, he plans to preside over the Easter Mass and give the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing for to the city and the world.

Thousands of Israelis took to the streets again on Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing religious government.

This comes as there is no sign of a let-up in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza almost six months in.

In Tel Aviv, demonstrators demanded early elections, as well as the release of the remaining hostages held by the Palestinian extremist organisation, Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Protests also took place in other cities, including Jerusalem and Haifa.In Jerusalem, hundreds of protesters broke through a barrier near Netanyahu’s official residence.

Opponents of the government are planning major demonstrations in Jerusalem from Sunday onwards, which are to last for several days.

They also plan to demand the resignation of the government.

A former hostage, whose husband is still being held in Gaza, addressed the demonstration in Tel Aviv, calling on Netanyahu to “Bring them home!”

The woman called on the premier to give the Israeli negotiating team a “broad mandate” in talks on an agreement to release the remaining hostages in return for a ceasefire and a release of Palestinian prisoners.

“Don’t come home without a deal, bring our loved ones back,” she said.

The ongoing Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented massacre committed by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in southern Israel on October 7.

They killed some 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took some 250 more hostage.

Israel responded by targeting densely populated Gaza with massive airstrikes and launching a ground operation in the sealed-off coastal area at the end of October.

More than 32,500 Palestinians are said to have been killed as a result so far, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, due to the very limited amounts of aid reaching the civilian population.

Some 110 hostages were released in exchange for some 400 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails as part of a temporary truce agreement brokered by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt in November.

However, efforts to facilitate another ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages have stalled repeatedly.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) says it has concluded arrangements to conduct the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) internal examinations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This follows the successful accreditation of Nigeria International School, Jeddah, by a delegation led by the minister of state for education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, and the registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi.

A statement signed by the acting director, directorate of information and digital communication of NECO, Azeez Sani, on Saturday, said during the visit, the delegation undertook an assessment of the school facilities.

Mr Sununu in his address, enjoined the staff and students of the school to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria not only in Saudi Arabia but the entire Gulf States Cooperation Council.

He said after a careful assessment of the school’s learning facilities such as the examination halls, classrooms, laboratories, library, curriculum and syllabus and the general security, the school was found worthy of consideration as an International Centre for NECO SSCE Internal.

He said after due assessment, the school was consequently granted full accreditation.

On his part, registrar/chief executive of NECO, Prof. Wushishi, who gave a brief history of the evolution of NECO, explained to the management and staff of the School the importance of school accreditation.

Mr Wushishi said this was to ensure that schools had adequate teaching and learning facilities conducive for examinations.

The delegation was earlier received on arrival at the school by the consular general, Amb. Bello Kazaure and the proprietor of the school, Abdulkadir Maikudi and other staff.

The minister and the NECO registrar also visited the Nigeria House in Jeddah, where they interacted with the consular general and other staff of the consulate.

The National Examination Council has other international examination centres in Togo, Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Niger and the Republic of Gabon.

A private Nigerian airline, Air Peace, has commenced flight from Lagos, Nigeria to London, United Kingdom.

This was made known on Air Peace official X handle at around 8.13 a.m and the airline expressed delight for its achievement and appreciated those who contributed to the success.

The airline previously announced the flight to London during its pre-launch forum in February, aimed at engaging travel agencies and partners involved in the London flight operations.

Air peace wrote, “London service has commenced and we’re delighted to have achieved yet another feat in our drive to continually provide peaceful connectivity across cities. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this launch.”

At the airline’s inaugural flight to London, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anita, was present, among others.

Meanwhile, in November, Air Peace’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, noted that Air Peace had qualified to operate flights to Europe and the United Kingdom after successfully obtaining the Foreign Carrier Operator Permit and Third Country Operator Permit.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said rehabilitating the Third Mainland and Carter bridges in Lagos will cost N21 billion and 25 billion, respectively.

Umahi disclosed this during a Friday tour of key infrastructure projects in Lagos with the National Assembly Joint Committee on Works.

The Minister said there is a need to declare an emergency on the two bridges to avert a reconstruction cost of N6 trillion.

He warned of the substantial financial and safety risks posed by continued delays of the rehabilitation works.

“The cost of rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge is estimated at N21 billion.

I want the National Assembly to note that this is the worst of our challenges on these two bridges. The cost of rehabilitation of Carter Bridge is N25 billion”, he stated.

The Nigeria Police Force said it has arrested eight suspects in connection with the murder of its officers on a fact finding mission in Ughelli area of Delta State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

He said the officers on a fact finding mission were on February 23 ambushed while others on a rescue mission were also ambushed, resulting to the death of six police officers.

Adejobi said the arrest followed intensive investigative efforts of police operatives.

According to him, five suspects were initially arrested shortly after the incident while additional three were apprehended at different locations.

He said the arrest of the additional three followed statements and cooperation of those initially arrested five suspects.

Adejobi said the suspects were currently in police custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation.

He said the Nigeria Police Force was committed to ensuring that all those responsible for the murder and other similar crimes were arrested and brought to justice swiftly and decisively.

The police spokesman said the suspects would soon have their day in court, with credible evidence, once investigations were concluded.

He said the Police were deeply saddened by the heinous act of violence against its officers who were diligently performing their duty to protect and serve the community.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen officers during this difficult time.

“We wish to reiterate that killers of our officers in this extant case and many others, have murdered peace and none of them will go unpunished,” he said.

Recall that the officers, who were on duty in Ughelli area of the state, were killed on February 23 and 26, with six others missing.

An Oyo State-based journalist, Mr Tony Babatunde Daniel, was on Saturday harassed and brutalised by some personnel of Department of State Service, DSS, in Ibadan.

The incident occurred at an NNPC petroleum station which is a few meters away from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Secretariat in the Iyaganku area of Ibadan.

Daniel said that he was on queue to purchase petroleum when the incident occurred.

He was later rushed to a nearby hospital by his colleagues at the NUJ Secretariat.

The victim, while narrating his ordeal, described the incident as traumatic.

He added that his car was also damaged by the armed security operatives.

Efforts made by DAILY POST to get a reaction of the DSS were not successful as at the time of filing this report.

The FCT commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Olusola Odumosu, has inaugurated NSCDC’s female strike force to protect Abuja schools.

A statement by the command’s spokesman, Samuel Idoko, on Thursday said the inauguration followed the completion of three days of training for the personnel.

Mr Odumosu said the strike force’s primary responsibility was to ensure the safety of all schools in the territory. He said the training had equipped them with the needed skills and capabilities to carry out their duties.

According to him, the training is a follow-up to the recent meeting of all FSF unit commanders with the commandant general, Ahmed Audi.

Mr Audi had charged them to be up and doing, given the reported cases of kidnapping in some parts of the country.

“The training is imperative to ensure compliance with the CG’s directive on the mandate of securing schools for the safety of students and staff. Cases of abduction in schools must come to an end, that is the primary purpose of this training.

“We need to restore the confidence of the people in our ability to secure schools in the FCT,” the commandant said.

He called on schools in the FCT to register with the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre to be added to the ecosystem.

Mr Odumosu explained that the registration was free and meant to ensure better coordination and quicker and more efficient responses to emergencies.

Mr Odumosu assured us that personnel would be trained and retrained regularly to respond promptly to any security threat.

“We must make schools safe haven once again for children,” he added.

He charged the female strike force with conducting routine patrols and surveillance of schools to prevent threats and attacks.

He also urged the strike force to hold periodic security awareness and enlightenment talks for students and teachers.

Mr Odumosu also directed the operatives to abide by the corps’ standard operating procedures in discharging their duties and avoid overzealous use of force or firearms.

Three students have sued Al-qalam University, Katsina, over registration fees.

The case is before the Katsina High Court.

The applicants, Hauwa’u Sani-Barda, Rabi’atu Sani-Barda and Hafsat Sani-Barda, were admitted in 2018 and 2019 and graduated in 2022 and 2023.

However, they claimed that the university refused to mobilise them for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) because they had not settled all fees due to the institution.

The applicants’ counsel, Muhammad Mukhtar-Lawal, told the court that his clients filed an ex parte motion in pursuance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Mr Mukhtar-Lawal said the application sought the leave of the court to apply for judicial review.

After the counsel’s submission, the judge, Abbas Bawale, said the applicants should have filed a motion on notice.

However, Mr Bawale granted the applicants a leave order to apply for judicial review by mandamus.

He said that processes would be served on the university after that, enabling the court to hear the case.

The police commissioner in Niger, Shawulu Ebenezer, has presented cheques of N44 million to families of deceased cops who lost their lives in active duties between 2022 and 2023.

Mr Ebenezer presented the cheques on Thursday in Minna on behalf of the inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun.

He said the families were invited to collect the cheques under the force’s Group Life Assurance Scheme, and the gesture was to provide a token to their next of kin.

“Unfortunately, sometimes, in the course of duty, some personnel paid the supreme price. I pray that the families find solace and comfort in the Lord,” he said.

He noted that the token was intended to reduce the families’ suffering and advised them to use the money judiciously to improve their families’ living conditions.

The police commissioner said the Group Life Assurance Scheme was in addition to other benefits within the police force for the families and admonished them to utilise the token wisely for a better standard of living.

Similarly, the police chief presented NYSC commendation letters to 17 personnel of the command deployed as the police team to ensure orderliness and security at the just concluded 2024 Batch A, Stream 1 orientation course.

The personnel presented with the letters were Shuaibu Abdulkadir, Istifanus Yakubu, Mafuyai Yak, Nasiru Danlami, Sule Rahman, Mustapha Ndagi, Salihu Mohammed and Magret John, etc.

The police command in Bauchi has arrested a 20-year-old man, Rabiu Adamu, for strangling a kidnapped boy.

SP Ahmed Wakil, the command’s spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the incident occurred at Magaman Gumau, Toro LGA.

Mr Wakil said the command had arrested a kidnap and murder suspect of 12-year-old Christopher Bala in Magaman Gumau.

“The victim, who was abducted while on an errand, is the biological son of a police officer, ASP Bala Yarima, of Gumau Division, Bauchi state police command.

“Upon receiving the report, detectives from the Toro Division immediately responded to initiate a rescue operation and apprehended the perpetrator of the act.

“Preliminary investigations, which identified 20-year-old Magama Gumau resident Rabiu Adamu as the prime suspect, revealed alarming details of extortion and blood relationship between the suspect, victim, and victim’s family,” the police command said.

The suspect eventually confessed to the kidnap and tragic murder of young Christopher and also admitted to having extorted N200,000 as ransom from the victim’s father, according to the police.

“He admitted he feared that the murdered Christopher recognised him, and so he went ahead to strangle him and buried the body in a shallow grave at Bazale village hill,” Mr Wakil said.

Mr Wakil said the command had exhumed the victim’s remains, and a postmortem was conducted at the General Hospital Toro, which confirmed the cause of death as strangulation.

He said the case had been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department for a comprehensive investigation, following a directive from police commissioner Auwal Musa.

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has revealed plans to place a bounty on those declared wanted over the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community, Delta State.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Buba Edward said the military was fully committed to apprehending all individuals who have been declared wanted.

In a statement, Edward said: “We will do whatever it takes to get these people, even if it means we place a bounty on them, we will do that.”

On March 14, the troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuama Community, were ambushed and killed by some irate youths.

The deceased soldiers were buried at the Military Cemetery in Abuja on Wednesday.

Shortly after their burial, the Military declared eight people, including a woman, wanted.

The suspects include: Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbo (a.k.a Amagben), Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Clement Ikolo Ogenerukeywe, Reuben Baru, and Igoli Ebi.

Nationwide darkness hit Nigeria as the national grid collapsed for the fourth time in 2024 amid the Easter holidays.

According to sources from electricity distribution companies in Nigeria, the grid collapsed around 4:30 pm on Thursday.

Kunle Olubiyo, the president of Nigerian Consumer Protection Network confirmed the grid collapse.

The power went off around 4:30 pm on Thursday in Apo, Dawaki, and Utako.

The implication is that millions of homes and businesses centrally managed by Osogbo, Osun State, are without power from the national grid.

As of the time of filing this report, Discos said their feeders were rendered inactive, resulting in widespread blackouts nationwide.

As of 6 pm, the Azura Power Plant was the sole facility contributing to the grid, albeit with a modest output of 54 megawatts.

Major power generation plants such as Egbin, Afam, Geregu, Ibom Power, Jebba, Kainji, Odukpani, and Olorunsogo, among others, remained dormant, further exacerbating the electricity deficit nationwide.

The grid’s output, which stood at 2984 megawatts as of 4 pm, plunged to zero within an hour, with all 21 plants connected to the grid ceasing operations by 5 pm.

The grid had collapsed on February 4, 2024.

Nigeria’s national grid, managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, collapsed 46 times between 2017 and 2023.

Nigeria’s power sector has been challenged for decades.

The situation has exacerbated since January 2024.

The Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, said it has deployed 2,000 of its personnel to ensure a peaceful Easter celebration across the state.

The Command said undercover operatives were also deployed and placed in very sensitive locations to provide timely and actionable intelligence that would help contain the activities of miscreants in the state during the Easter celebration.

CC Jamilu A. Indabawa, the Corps Commandant for Katsina, disclosed the ‘Easter Operational Order’ to newsmen at the Command’s Headquarters in Katsina.

Indabawa tasked the deployed unit heads with the need to ensure watertight security in the state through effective coordination and deployment of the assigned personnel.

He also tasked the deployed personnel to be very vigilant, diligent, and professional, harping on the need for synergy with other security agencies in ensuring safety and security in the state.

While extending felicitation to Christian faithful in the state, Indabawa enjoined the general public to report any suspicious movement of persons or items to the nearest NSCDC office.

The rescued Kuriga Students have been united with their families at a reception at Katuru Road in the State Capital, by the Kaduna State Government.

The rescued students and their families expressed gratitude to the governor for giving their quest for freedom relentless attention and effort.

Represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Abdulkadir Meyere, Governor Uba Sani expressed the administration’s determination to ensure the freed pupils study up to university and urged the parents to remain steadfast in prayers for their children’s safety.

Idris Abdullahi ( Madakin Kuriga), the representative of the Kuriga community, expressed gratitude to the Governor of the State for “giving his all, to freeing our children and consistently consoling us in moments of tensions, until formal handing over of our children”.

He also hailed the government for paying sufficient attention to the royal fathers of the community through continued strategic meetings and a series of needed support, including palliatives and prayed that the Kuriga kidnapped students should be the last of such a very tragic incident.

He also extended gratitude to Governor Uba Sani, for not resting until their children breathed the air of freedom and commended his steadfastness and the cooperation of President Bola Tinubu, the NSA – Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa and other service chiefs for their professional execution towards ensuring the release of the children.

The Commissioner for Social Welfare, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, on her part, expressed joy over the release of the pupils and noted that Governor Uba Sani’s wish to take the freed pupils to Aso Rock Villa shortly would be great.

Representative of the male students, Suleman Lawal, said it was with utmost joy that they recall the efforts of the President, service chiefs and the governor for their release.

On her part, a representative of the female students, Aisha Muhammad, expressed happiness with the fatherly role the government officials played tirelessly to ensure they returned home unharmed.

The handing over of the 137 students to their parents by the State government came about 48 hours after the psycho-social process as directed by Governor Uba Sani, to determine the risk of trauma and physical health challenges, if any, amongst the freed victims ahead of the handover.

They were also hosted to a special Ramadan dinner at the Government House, Kaduna, ahead of the formal reunification with their parents.

The SSG was also joined by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Malam Sani Liman Kila, and commissioners of Internal Security and Human Services, Samuel Aruwan, and Hajiya Rabi Salisu among others.

The Nigerian Army has declared Eight persons wanted in connection with the killing of 17 soldiers in the Okuama community in Delta state.

The Nigerian Army disclosed this in its official X handle on Thursday.

The persons declared wanted include seven men and one woman.

Full list:They are Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono, Prof Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriki, Igoli Ebi (female), Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Clement Ikolo Oghenerukevwe and Reuben Baru.

On Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, together with other dignitaries, laid to rest the 17 military personnel killed in Okuama community in Delta on March 14.

The bodies of two of the workers who went missing when a bridge in Baltimore collapsed after a cargo ship crashed into it have been recovered, authorities said on Wednesday.

A cargo ship rammed into one of the support pillars of the four-lane, 2.5-kilometre-long Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, about 62 kilometres north-east of Washington, around 1:30 am (0530 GMT) on Tuesday morning, causing its collapse.

Maryland State Police’s Roland Butler said that on Wednesday at about 10 am divers located a red pickup truck about 7 metres deep and found the bodies of two victims trapped in the vehicle.

They were identified a 35-year-old Mexico national and a 26-year-old Guatemala national.

Mr Butler also said that authorities would be moving from recovery mode to a salvage operation in a press conference on Wednesday.

“Because of the superstructure surrounding what we believe were the vehicles and the amount of concrete and debris, divers are no longer able to safely navigate and operate around that,” Mr Butler said.

“We have exhausted all search efforts.”On Tuesday the U.S. Coast Guard had said that the active search for survivors would be suspended due to the low-water temperature and adverse conditions.

Six construction workers who went missing when the bridge collapsed were all presumed dead.

Mr Butler confirmed that the victims were from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

Late on Tuesday, Guatemala had said that two of its citizens, aged 26 and 35, had been missing since the accident.

The immigrant organisation Casa announced that one of its members was also missing.

He was a father of three from El Salvador who had been living in Maryland for more than 19 years.

He went to work on Monday and did not return home.

Citing the Mexican consul in Washington, Rafael Laveaga, U.S. media outlet CNN reported that Mexican citizens were also missing.

It is not known how many. (We) know our people are involved,” Laveaga told journalists.

“It was a crew who was repairing parts of the.., I think potholes on the bridge, and they’re the ones who are going to build the bridge again – the Latinos.”

According to Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, eight construction workers were on the bridge repairing potholes at the time of the accident. Two people were rescued.

According to initial findings, there was a problem with the ship’s power supply before the accident.

The crew managed to inform the authorities by distress signal that they had lost control of the ship, the U.S. authorities said.

This apparently enabled officials on land to stop traffic and prevent more cars from reaching the bridge.

The federal government has declared March 29 and April 1 public holidays to mark the Easter celebration.

This was announced in a statement by the permanent secretary of the interior ministry, Aishetu Ndayako, on Wednesday.

Interior minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the declaration on behalf of the federal government.

Mr Tunji-Ojo urged Christians and all Nigerians to emulate the sacrifice and love displayed by Jesus Christ in dying for man’s redemption.

The minister noted that Easter, beyond its religious significance, promoted the values of love, forgiveness, and compassion, which were essential for social cohesion and harmony.

He called on Christians to imbibe these virtues, which could positively impact Nigeria’s socio-economic development by fostering unity, reducing conflicts, and encouraging cooperation among Nigerians.

Mr Tunji-Ojo further urged Nigerians to show acts of charity and generosity to help alleviate the material conditions of the less privileged amongst them.

He said this was in tandem with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He wished Christians at home and abroad a happy and blissful Easter celebration.

The minister also called on Nigerians to support Mr Tinubu’s government in its determination to bring sustainable development and prosperity to all.