A northern-based peace advocacy group, the Northern Alliance for Peace and Security, has commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Nigerian Armed Forces for what it described as sustained successes in ongoing military operations against banditry, terrorism and kidnapping across parts of the country.

The group said the recent rescue of hundreds of abducted persons and the neutralisation of scores of armed criminals reflect the military’s renewed offensive against violent groups operating in different regions of Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the National President of the group, Mallam Danladi Abutu, said the recent gains demonstrated the commitment of the Armed Forces under the leadership of the CDS to improving security and restoring public confidence.

His remarks come amid intensified military operations against terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups, particularly in the North-East and North-West, where insecurity has continued to claim lives, displace communities and disrupt economic activities. Kidnapping for ransom has also spread to other parts of the country in recent years, prompting renewed calls for stronger security measures.

Among the recent operations cited by the group was the rescue of 14 of the 15 worshippers abducted during a night vigil at a church in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on April 28, 2026. The victims regained their freedom on Saturday after spending more than 67 days in captivity and were subsequently taken to the State Teaching Hospital for medical attention.

The group also referenced the rescue of 416 residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, who had been abducted by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists before they were freed by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.

Similarly, it noted the rescue of 11 women who were kidnapped while fishing in Dille community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, describing the operation as another indication of the military’s determination to protect vulnerable communities.

Abutu said the recent operations should reassure Nigerians that the security forces remain committed to defeating criminal elements across the country.

“These gains mirror the commitment of the CDS and his men to make Nigeria safe for all. What we have witnessed in the past few weeks is an indication of the battle readiness of our gallant troops to make life difficult for these terrorist elements.

“The security situation is of a huge concern to every well-meaning Nigerians. We must join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that the war against banditry is successfully prosecuted.

“What the Federal Government has done through the gallant troops is a message to the terrorists that they can never win this war. They will lose because every Nigerian deserves to live and work in peace everywhere he or she chooses to live in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” he added.

Abutu also appealed to Nigerians to support ongoing security operations by volunteering credible intelligence to security agencies, arguing that community cooperation remains vital to defeating criminal networks.

He particularly condemned attacks on schools and the abduction of students, describing such acts as an assault on the country’s future.

“Why do you think they are attacking schools and abducting our children? Education is the bedrock of any society desirous of growth and progress. We must not allow the enemies of our beloved country to continue their evil enterprise. We may not be armed but volunteering information to security agencies is a sign of patriotism,” Abutu added.

Nigeria has continued to battle multiple security challenges, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central, as well as rising incidents of kidnapping in several parts of the country. In response, the Armed Forces have sustained coordinated land and air operations targeting terrorist enclaves, while also conducting rescue missions for kidnapped victims and clearing operations aimed at restoring normalcy in affected communities. Recent military offensives have led to the rescue of abductees, the recovery of weapons and the dismantling of several criminal hideouts, although security experts maintain that sustained intelligence gathering and stronger community collaboration remain critical to consolidating the gains.

Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has given Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew 72 hours to retract what he describes as false and malicious allegations made during a widely circulated press conference on June 25, 2026.

In a formal cease and desist letter dated July 6, 2026, Gbajabiamila’s solicitors at Pinheiro LP accused Adeyemi of launching “reckless, baseless and malicious” attacks aimed at tarnishing the Chief of Staff’s reputation.

The letter, signed by ‘Kemi Pinheiro OFR, SAN, emphasised that Gbajabiamila “has never at any time met, interacted with, communicated with, or had any form of personal or official dealing whatsoever” with Adeyemi.

The legal team detailed several serious claims made by Adeyemi in his press statement, including allegations that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 percent of the take-off grant for the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, received ₦400 million by proxy, abused his office to intimidate others, participated in fraudulent budgetary processes, and engaged in conduct suggestive of corruption, criminality, and even murder.

“These allegations are not only false but are gravely defamatory,” the letter stated. “They plainly convey to ordinary, reasonable members of society that our client is corrupt, dishonest, criminally culpable, morally bankrupt, unfit for public office, violent, dangerous and undeserving of public trust.”

The solicitors argued that the publication, which spread rapidly across traditional and social media, had caused significant reputational damage to Gbajabiamila, a seasoned public servant and former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Your defamatory statements… have enjoyed wide readership, no doubt carries with it the imputation of extreme dishonesty, corruption and fraud,” the letter added.

Gbajabiamila’s team demanded that within 72 hours, Adeyemi must cease making or publishing any further defamatory statements, remove all related materials including videos and transcripts from every platform, and issue a full, unequivocal retraction and apology published with equal prominence in at least five national newspapers and on the same platforms where the original claims appeared.

They also required a written undertaking to refrain from future defamatory publications.

The letter warned that failure to comply would prompt immediate legal action, including a criminal complaint for defamation and a civil suit seeking ₦10 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages — to be paid to charities chosen by Gbajabiamila — along with a perpetual injunction and a court order compelling a public apology and retraction.

The demand comes as the controversy surrounding Adeyemi and the alleged ghost agency continues to unfold, with the Presidency maintaining that the entity does not exist and that Adeyemi faces criminal charges bordering on forgery and impersonation at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

*say he has a track record of fraud

Prominent elders and leaders from Ogbomoso have strongly distanced themselves from Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, the man at the center of the ongoing fake presidential agency scandal rocking the nation.

In a statement issued after an emergency meeting and co-signed by Chief Alao Adelabu Adeyinka and Prince Olatubosun Adeniyi, the community representatives described Adeyemi as a serial impostor with a long history of fraudulent activities, emphasizing that he holds no recognized royal title in the ancient town.

The elders, under the aegis of the Ogbomoso Integrity Forum, condemned his actions as a disgrace to the hardworking people of Ogbomoso and called on authorities to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.

This development comes amid growing national outrage over allegations that Adeyemi forged documents to pose as Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

According to police reports and a statement from the Presidency, Adeyemi allegedly operated from an office in Abuja’s Federal Secretariat for over a year, hosted diplomats, secured budget allocations worth billions of naira, and maintained dozens of fraudulent bank accounts.

He was arrested in October 2025 and faces multiple charges including forgery, impersonation, and conspiracy.

The Ogbomoso Integrity Forum denied viral reports linking Adeyemi to Ogbomoso and claims that he had previously interacted with local monarchs.

The statement said: “We, the elders and custodians of Ogbomoso’s rich cultural heritage, unequivocally disown Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew in this shameful fake agency scandal that has brought unnecessary scrutiny to our peaceful community.

“For far too long, individuals like him have hidden behind unverified titles to perpetrate deceit, but we stand firm today to declare that he is not and has never been a recognized prince in any of the ruling houses of Ogbomoso.

“Our royal traditions are sacred and not for impostors to exploit for personal gain. His track record of fraud stretches back years, including previous scams involving fake international youth organizations where he duped unsuspecting Nigerians with promises of summits and appointments.

“We urge the federal authorities to thoroughly investigate all his past dealings and ensure justice is served without fear or favor. Ogbomoso remains a land of honest, God-fearing people committed to national development, and we will not allow one bad apple to tarnish our collective image.”

The Forum highlighted Adeyemi’s history of controversy. “This latest scandal is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern,” added the statement.

“The people of Ogbomoso are known for integrity, industry, and respect for constituted authority, values that Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew has repeatedly undermined through his actions.

“We reject any association with him and his so-called princely status, which has no basis in our traditional chieftaincy system or royal lineages. Such false claims only serve to mock the genuine efforts of our kings and chiefs in promoting peace and progress.

“It is disheartening that someone from our soil would go to such lengths to deceive high government officials, diplomats, and even secure space in the Federal Secretariat with forged letters.

“We call on all indigenes at home and abroad to remain vigilant against fraudsters who drag our name through the mud.

“The current Soun of Ogbomoso and other traditional rulers have always emphasized ethical leadership, and we align fully with efforts to cleanse our community of such elements.”