Ex-President Jonathan, Others Trapped in Guinea-Bissau as Military Announces Coup African leaders were on election observer mission ECOWAS says poll was peaceful, decries arrest of electoral officials
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Former President Goodluck
Jonathan of Nigeria and exPresident of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, were
among top dignitaries held up in Guinea-Bissau yesterday after the military in the West
African country announced that they had taken over power. Although THISDAY
confirmed that the African leaders were safe in their hotel rooms as of last night, flights
in and out of the country had Continued on page 5
Audited Financial Report Shows NNPC Pledged over N9trn in Crude-backed Deals... Page 6 Thursday, Monday, November January27, 6, 2025 Vol Vol29. 30.No No10865. 11190. Price: N400
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Insecurity: 17 Southern Governors Meet, Agree to Create Zonal Security Fund Seek incorporation of traditional rulers into state security councils To recalibrate communication devices for inter-state cooperation
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Southern Governors’
Forum (SGF) and the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC)
yesterday met to fashion out implementable plans to push back terrorists from having a
foothold in the region. At the meeting which was held at the Governor’s
Residence, Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, the sub-national leaders resolved to set up a zonal
security fund to support security operations and Continued on page 5
Tinubu Declares National Security Emergency, Talks Tough on Crime
Orders army, police to recruit more men Directs DSS to promptly deploy forest guards to flush out terrorists Pledges to rescue remaining Catholic school students abducted in Niger Charges N'Assembly to review laws that'll allow willing states to establish state police Asks herders to surrender illegal arms, end open grazing saying ranching is path forward See story on page 5
SOUTHERN GOVERNORS’ FORUM AND SOUTHERN NIGERIA TRADITIONAL RULERS COUNCIL MEETING... L-R: Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Dr. Peter Odey, representing the governor; Deputy Governor of Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi, representing the governor; Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Bayo Lawal, representing the governor; Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Francis Nwifuru; Vice Chairman, Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor, Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo; Chairman, Southern Governors’ Forum and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara; Enugu State Governor, Mr. Peter Mbah; Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Abia State Governor, Mr. Alex Otti; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Umo Eno; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Biodun Oyebanji; and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, representing the governor, during the Southern Governors’ Forum and Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council meeting held in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, yesterday