The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said that state governors and local government chairmen, rather than the Federal Government, should be held responsible for kidnappings occurring in their domains.

Bwala made the assertion on Wednesday during his appearance on The Morayo Afolabi-Brown Show, where he was grilled on the Federal Government’s response to the ongoing abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State and the broader insecurity challenges across the country.

“Every kidnapping and abduction that takes place in any state of Nigeria, hold that governor responsible. All the kidnappings have taken place in local government,” he said.

The presidential aide pointed to the federal Save the School Initiative, under which funds were provided to states for perimeter fencing, early warning systems, and other security measures in schools. He challenged citizens to demand accountability from their governors on the utilisation of the money.

“There was this thing called the Save the School Initiative, in which monies were given to states to create perimeter fencing, early warning signs and all of those checks in schools. Ask your governor where that money went to,” Bwala said.

He further alleged that many local governments are not receiving funds directly allocated to them. Citing Oyo State as an example, he noted: “In three local governments in Oyo, I said this local government has 600 million coming here every month, and that’s how it is across Nigeria.”

Bwala argued that if such funds were released directly to local government chairmen, they could be deployed for maternal healthcare, basic education, local security through vigilantes, and welfare for the elderly.

The presidential spokesman criticised what he described as a passive culture among Nigerians, urging citizens to take greater responsibility for demanding accountability at the grassroots level.

“It’s only in Nigeria that citizens wait for manna to come from heaven. In all other countries of the world, citizens take their destinies in their hands,” he said.

Bwala explained that the current constitutional framework limits the President’s direct control over state governors. “The unfortunate part of the democracy we are practising today is that it does not place the President as a head boy or prefect of the governors,” he noted.

He contrasted this with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s approach, saying President Tinubu, as a democrat, would not resort to extra-constitutional measures and could only urge governors to act responsibly.

Bwala called on Nigerians to organise town hall meetings at the local government level and engage the media to demand transparency on funds that are not being remitted to local authorities. He emphasised that sustained public pressure would be more effective than isolated complaints.

Responding to questions about the Oyo schoolchildren and teachers who have spent over 50 days in captivity, Bwala said the Federal Government’s primary concern remains their safe and unharmed release.

“The number one responsibility of government in a hostage-taking situation is to rescue them and rescue them alive. If you use force carelessly, you may end up jeopardising the lives of the people that are kidnapped,” he explained.

Tragedy struck in Kogi State as a 22-year-old teacher at Brains Minds Nursery and Primary School, Ugbamaka-Igah, in Olamaboro Local Government Area, Maryam Usman, allegedly died after being assaulted by the father of one of her pupils over disciplinary action taken against the child.

The incident reportedly began on June 17, when the late teacher disciplined a pupil for misconduct in school.

During the process, the pupil allegedly fell and sustained an arm injury.

Following the incident, the pupil’s father, identified as Ishaq Abdullahi, allegedly stormed Maryam’s residence with two other individuals and assaulted her.

Sources said she was attacked again later the same day while on her way to the mosque.

According to the deceased’s brother, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Maryam was assaulted again on June 18 by additional individuals, leaving her severely injured and unconscious.

“She was taken to a clinic and later transferred to a hospital in Okpo, but her condition continued to deteriorate. Sadly, she died on June 25, 2026, at about 5:00 a.m.,” he said.

He called on the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure justice.

“We believe the repeated assaults contributed to her death and we want those responsible to be brought to justice,” he added.

A community elder, Drisu, disclosed that the deceased had family ties with the family of the disciplined pupil, noting that several meetings had been held between both families in an effort to resolve the matter.

He further revealed that, angered by Maryam’s death, members of her family allegedly invaded and vandalised the residence of the pupil’s father.

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing.

Responding to enquiries, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said preliminary investigations showed that on June 18, 2026, Abdullahi Ishaq, accompanied by two women, went to Brains Minds Nursery and Primary School in Ugbamaka and assaulted Maryam Usman for disciplining a pupil.

“The victim sustained serious injuries and was initially treated at a hospital in Ugbamaka before being referred to Iko-Ojo Hospital, Okpo, for further medical attention. She, however, passed away on June 25, 2026,” the police spokesperson said.

Afusat added that police operatives visited the scene and the deceased’s residence, where necessary documentation was carried out.

“Arrangements are ongoing to convey the corpse to the General Hospital, Ankpa, for medical examination and autopsy. The suspects fled before the arrival of the police, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend them. Upon their arrest, the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a discreet and comprehensive investigation,” the statement added.

The management of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has suspended two students with immediate effect over allegations of cyberbullying the institution’s suspended Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, James Iyanuoluwa Adio.

The suspension was announced in a statement published on the university’s official news portal on Friday and attributed to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Tajudeen Opoola, who is currently serving as the Acting Vice-Chancellor.

The affected students, Alao Iyanuoluwa Odunayo and Olawale Abiodun Samuel, were accused of conspiring to cyberbully Adio by allegedly posting details of his private affairs online after he failed to meet their financial demands.

According to the university management, the actions of the students amounted to misconduct capable of bringing the institution into disrepute.

The statement noted that investigations into the allegations were still ongoing but directed the students to proceed on suspension pending the outcome of the probe.

The management reiterated its commitment to maintaining discipline and safeguarding the institution’s reputation, stressing that it would not tolerate any behaviour capable of tarnishing the university’s image.

The development comes days after Adio himself was suspended by the university alongside the Deputy Director of Students’ Affairs over allegations of extortion.

Adio was accused of indirect involvement in the unlawful collection of ₦1,000 from newly admitted students for practical sessions, with authorities claiming that about ₦700,000 linked to the exercise was traced to his personal bank account.

Following his suspension, an explicit video allegedly involving the student leader surfaced online and circulated widely on social media, attracting reactions from members of the public and prompting the intervention of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).