Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Monday morning

‎Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers;

1. A high-powered Federal Government delegation on Sunday visited Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State following the abduction of pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School. The delegation informed community leaders that their request for the establishment of a military base in the area would be conveyed to the President for consideration and approval.

2. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 3 for hearing in a suit filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe, seeking to stop David Mark and others from parading themselves as leaders of the African Democratic Congress, ADC. Hearing notices have since been issued and served on lawyers to the parties in the suit.

3. Alfa Iliasu, a prominent cleric in Ilesha-Baruba, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, has been hacked to death. Community leaders confirmed that the cleric, who was widely respected across Baruten and neighbouring communities, was killed under controversial circumstances.

4. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State and ordered the deployment of a specialised security team to intensify efforts to rescue pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of the state. The decision, according to the president is to improve surveillance and security in forested areas frequently exploited by criminal elements.

5. The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to commence an indefinite strike from Monday, June 1, 2026, over the continued abduction of teachers and pupils in the state. The directive is intended to press home demands for urgent government action to secure the safe release of the victims, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

6. Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the attack on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Secretariat in Bauchi, which led to the vandalisation of property and disruption of political activities. The suspects were arrested following an incident that occurred on May 24, 2026, during a political gathering linked to a governorship declaration event organised by a faction of the PDP in the state.

7. Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday held a closed-door meeting with his former rival, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, at his residence in Lagos as part of ongoing reconciliation efforts within the party. Sources according to Channelstv, said the meeting is connected to attempts to unite aggrieved aspirants following the party’s recently concluded presidential primary ahead of the 2027 general election.

8. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that he has endorsed any governorship candidate for the 2027 Rivers State election, including the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Hon. Ogundu Kingsley Chinda. The former Rivers State governor said no final decision had been taken on the governorship ticket, stressing that aspirants would still have the opportunity to contest and prove their popularity.

9. Two people were killed, and about 10 houses were burnt in Ilesha Baruba, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Saturday, after a violent clash involving an Islamic scholar triggered mob attacks in the community. The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday by its spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, describing it as mob violence, arson and extrajudicial killings.

10. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arraigned 15 Chinese nationals and nine Nigerians before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged illegal lithium mining in Nasarawa State. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, Federal High Court, Abuja, following their arrest on May 16, 2026, in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.