The House of Representatives has passed the State Police Bill, marking a significant step in ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security framework and address growing insecurity across the country.

The bill was approved during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.

According to Abbas, 288 lawmakers voted in favour of the proposal, while four members voted against it. The decision came a day after members of the House devoted their sitting to debating the merits and implications of the bill.

Lawmakers conducted the vote through a show of hands after the Speaker explained that the electronic voting system was not operational.

The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture by creating an additional layer of policing at the state level. It also outlines constitutional safeguards, operational guidelines, oversight structures, and a clear division of responsibilities between federal and state policing authorities.

Before the vote, the House released the final draft of several Constitution Alteration Bills, including the proposal aimed at providing a constitutional foundation for the establishment of state police.

In a statement, House spokesperson Akintunde Rotimi said the bills represent the outcome of months of extensive legislative work carried out by the House Committee on Constitution Review.

According to the statement, the committee reviewed numerous constitutional amendment proposals submitted by lawmakers, government agencies, professional associations, civil society groups, traditional institutions, and members of the public.

The process also included broad stakeholder consultations through zonal and national public hearings, expert sessions, town hall meetings, and engagement forums held across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to ensure widespread public participation.

The passage of the bill comes amid increasing concerns over insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and violent crimes affecting several parts of the country.

Supporters of state police argue that decentralising policing powers could improve intelligence gathering, response times, and local security management, while critics have raised concerns about possible abuse by state governments.

Meanwhile, the Senate of Nigeria has already passed the State Police Bill through second reading.

However, the upper chamber deferred further debate and referred the proposal to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review for additional consideration.

Speaking during plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said lawmakers would vote on the bill during a subsequent sitting as deliberations continue.

If eventually approved by both chambers and incorporated into the Constitution, the legislation could mark one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s policing structure since the return to democratic rule.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the operating permit of a private jet company and grounded one of its aircraft following an unsafe landing incident near Asaba Airport in Delta State.

According to aviation authorities, the aircraft reportedly landed on a public roadway close to the airport after deviating from approved landing procedures, raising significant safety concerns for both passengers and residents in the area.

The NCAA described the incident as a serious breach of aviation safety regulations, stressing that such actions pose risks to lives and property.

Following the development, the regulator suspended the operator’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC) pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the landing.

The authority noted that aviation safety standards are in place to prevent accidents and ensure the orderly operation of Nigeria’s airspace, adding that strict compliance is non-negotiable for all licensed operators.

Preliminary findings indicate that the aircraft touched down near the perimeter of Asaba International Airport, prompting emergency response teams and aviation inspectors to immediately secure the area and assess any potential risks or damage.

Although no casualties were recorded, officials said the incident had the potential to result in a major disaster if it had not been swiftly brought under control.

The NCAA said the pilot’s actions were immediately flagged by aviation authorities, leading to the suspension of the operator’s licence and the grounding of the aircraft involved.

The regulator further emphasized that it would not tolerate violations of established operational procedures and warned that additional sanctions could be imposed depending on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

The authority also reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing strict adherence to aviation safety regulations across the country and ensuring that all operators maintain the highest standards of safety and professionalism.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the ongoing property dispute involving Iyabo Obasanjo and other parties to July 9, 2026, for further hearing.

The matter, which came up before Justice Mohammed Umar on Wednesday, could not proceed as scheduled and was subsequently postponed for further mention.

The case, listed as number eight on the court’s cause list, had initially been fixed for hearing but was delayed due to procedural issues.

According to court records, the suit had earlier been reassigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo, who previously handled the matter before it was returned for continuation.

The case has experienced several delays in the past, including occasions when legal representatives for both the plaintiffs and defendants were absent from court proceedings.

The suit was filed by ABB Electrical Systems Limited and Ambassador Yohana Margif against Senator Iyabo Obasanjo and other defendants over the ownership of a disputed property in Abuja.

The property at the centre of the dispute is located at Plot 4254, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja, and covers approximately 1.67 hectares of land.

Other defendants named in the case include former senator Philip Aduda and several other parties.

The matter previously came before Justice Ekwo, who declined to grant an ex-parte injunction requested by the plaintiffs. Instead, he ordered that all defendants be formally notified of the proceedings.

The plaintiffs are seeking a court order restraining the defendants from trespassing on, altering, or interfering with the property, which they claim belongs to them under a statutory Right of Occupancy issued in 2006.

They argue that any interference with the land could result in irreparable damage and constitute a miscarriage of justice.

The court is expected to continue hearing the matter when proceedings resume on July 9.

Armed bandits on Wednesday invaded Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing three people, including a vice principal and a six-year-old child.

The attack, which occurred around 10:00 a.m., left the community in shock and renewed concerns about security around schools and rural communities in the state.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Command said a large group of heavily armed bandits, riding on approximately 40 motorcycles, stormed the school and surrounding area in what appeared to be an attempt to abduct students and residents.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Afusat, the Command disclosed that the Divisional Police Officer of Kabba ‘A’ Division swiftly mobilised a joint security team after receiving distress calls.

The response team included personnel from the police division, the Police Mobile Force, tactical units, military personnel, and local vigilante groups already operating within the area.

According to the police, the security operatives engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to retreat into nearby bushes.

“The combined security operatives engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel, forcing the criminals to flee into the surrounding bush.

“Preliminary findings indicate that there is presently no conclusive evidence of a successful mass abduction of students or other residents,” the statement said.

Despite the intervention, the police confirmed that three people lost their lives during the attack.

The victims were identified as Mr. Ganiyu Anifowose, Vice Principal of UBE Secondary/Primary School, Iluke; Mr. Sunday Jacob Alhassan, aged 70; and six-year-old Sunday Ayele.

The Command also revealed that one of the suspected bandits was killed during the exchange of gunfire, while a member of the joint security team sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.

Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police ordered intensified bush-combing operations and increased confidence-building patrols across the affected area.

Security agencies have continued extensive operations aimed at tracking down the fleeing suspects and preventing further attacks.

The police urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid ongoing investigations and rescue efforts.

“Further developments will be communicated as investigations and operations progress,” the statement added.

The Federal Government has announced that the first group of Nigerian nationals being evacuated from South Africa following rising xenophobic attacks is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed that the evacuees would depart from Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday night.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the first batch of Nigerian nationals that will be evacuated from the Republic of South Africa due to Xenophobic attacks will depart the Oliver Thambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, and the expected time of arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos is 5.00 am on Thursday morning,” the statement read in part.

According to the ministry, the evacuation operation will be carried out by Air Peace, with the Federal Government covering all associated costs.

“The evacuation operation will be undertaken by Air Peace Airlines. The Federal Government of Nigeria has fully funded the evacuation exercise; consequently, all affected Nigerians will be repatriated at no cost to them.”

Ebienfa assured Nigerians that adequate arrangements had been made by relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to receive and support the returnees upon arrival.

“Upon arrival, the evacuees will undergo documentation and profiling procedures and will receive the appropriate assistance and support before being reunited with their families,” he added.

The evacuation follows heightened tensions in South Africa after a citizen-led group campaigning against irregular migration reportedly issued an ultimatum directing undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country by June 30.

Several African countries have already begun repatriating their citizens. While Ghana and Mozambique have evacuated hundreds of nationals, Nigeria and Malawi have also announced plans to bring their citizens home.

Nigeria had earlier revealed plans to repatriate more than 1,000 citizens from South Africa as concerns over xenophobic attacks continue to grow.

Providing an update on the numbers involved, Ebienfa said, “Total figure not out yet. We are expecting over a 1,000 persons.”

In preparation for the evacuation, Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria said it successfully negotiated waivers with South African authorities to allow Nigerians facing immigration-related issues to return home voluntarily instead of being detained.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, recently disclosed that Nigeria is considering possible retaliatory measures in response to the treatment of Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.

When asked if the government was exploring such options, she said:

“Well, that is a situation that we are considering. This is up to our legislature.”

“This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government, but it’s not off the table.”

South Africa, once regarded as Africa’s most industrialised economy, has long attracted migrants seeking employment and economic opportunities. However, with unemployment remaining above 30 percent, the country has witnessed repeated waves of anti-immigrant protests and violence over the years.

The latest tensions have reignited discussions across the continent about migration, xenophobia and the challenges facing African integration despite long-standing pan-African ideals.

The recent ultimatum issued by an anti-immigration group has raised fears of renewed violence, recalling previous xenophobic attacks that claimed dozens of lives.

Last month, Ghana repatriated approximately 300 citizens, marking the first phase of a broader exercise expected to involve around 800 Ghanaian nationals.

South African authorities have maintained that while immigration laws will be enforced, citizens should refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

According to official statistics, more than three million foreign nationals currently reside in South Africa, representing about 5.1 percent of the country’s population. Over 63 percent of them are from member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).