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Mr Idris disclosed the figures on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while responding to concerns raised by United States lawmakers over Nigeria’s human rights and security records.

The comments followed a hearing by the US House Subcommittee on Africa, which queried Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern amid allegations of widespread attacks on Christian communities.

At the hearing, Rep. Bill Huizenga accused the Nigerian government of failing to confront what he described as persistent and targeted killings.

But the minister rejected suggestions that the government was downplaying the crisis, insisting that security forces have recorded “significant progress” in ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

“Sometimes we forget some of the successes recorded in the fight against bandits, criminals and jihadists,” he said.

“From May 2023 to date, over 13,500 of these criminals have been neutralised. Over 17,000 have been apprehended, many of whom have already been prosecuted and sentenced.”

Mr Idris said President Tinubu remains “deeply saddened” by the killings across the country, stressing that no Nigerian should lose their life on account of faith or location.

“We don’t need a situation where anybody is killed, whether Christian or Muslim. It’s not good for our country,” he said.

The minister, however, dismissed claims of religious genocide, arguing that violence affects both Christian and Muslim communities.

“Are people being killed? Yes. Is it a good thing? No. Is the government doing something about it? Quite a lot,” he said.

“But there is no religious genocide in Nigeria. Christians are being killed in some parts, just as Muslims are being killed. It is a sad reality, but that characterisation is not correct.”

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on counts one, two, four, five, and six; 20 years on count three with no option of fine; and five years on count seven, also without an option of fine.

Speaking to reporters after the ruling, Ejimakor confirmed that Kanu would pursue the appeal.

“We are heading to appeal,” he said.

Recall that Justice Omotosho sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty after appeals to temper justice with mercy.

He delivered the judgment on Thursday after an hour-long ruling in which Kanu was convicted on all terrorism charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government.

According to the judge, the convict received life imprisonment on counts one, two, four, five, and six, which carry the death penalty.

He also issued sentences on counts three and seven, which he ruled would run concurrently.

Justice Omotosho held that Kanu’s threats of violence, killings, and the declaration of sit-at-home orders in the South-East constituted acts of terrorism.

In a statement on Friday, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, insisted that Kanu “committed no offence known to Nigerian law,” arguing that his activities amounted solely to self-determination, a right protected under international conventions.

Powerful criticised the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, accusing the judge of failing to apply Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that no person shall be convicted of a criminal offence unless it is clearly defined in a written law.

The statement read in part, “The IPOB wishes to inform the global community, diplomatic missions, international media, and lovers of freedom that we shall, in the coming days and weeks, lay bare the fundamental defects, contradictions, and illegalities that define the recent ruling issued by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no gun, no grenade, no GPMG, no explosive, and no attack plan was ever found on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. None. No witness—civilian or military—ever testified at any point that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu committed any offence known to Nigerian or international law. This is an undeniable fact.”

The group argued that the Federal Government was criminalising self-determination, which it said is guaranteed under Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

“Self-determination is a protected right, not a crime. Agitation is not terrorism, and requesting a referendum is not a weapon,” the statement stressed.

IPOB further claimed that insecurity in the South-East worsened while Kanu was in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), insisting that violence recorded during that period could not be attributed to him.

“It was Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was attacked by the Nigerian military during Operation Python Dance. It was IPOB family members who were massacred at Nkpor, Aba, Onitsha, Emene, and other locations. Not one government officer or soldier has been held accountable for these atrocities. Yet the same system now seeks to convict the victim,” it added.

The group also challenged the legal foundation of the conviction, describing the ruling as “unconstitutional” and alleging that the court relied on repealed provisions.

According to IPOB, “Justice Omotosho has demonstrated, sadly, that he either cannot interpret or refuses to interpret simple English contained in Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution.”

It posed several questions to the judge, including what written law was used to convict Kanu, whether that law remains in force, and why binding decisions of appellate courts were ignored.

IPOB said it intends to issue a comprehensive response to the judgment in the coming days and will continue to engage international organisations on what it described as judicial and human-rights violations. The group also reiterated its call for a United Nations–supervised referendum. Leadership

Details of the abduction remain sketchy, but sources said that many students were taken during a raid on the school.

A source from one of the Catholic churches in Niger State confirmed the incident, noting that the school was still compiling its records.

“Yes, it is true, but I am not in a position to give details. The church will issue an official statement later in the day,” he said.

When contacted, the Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said he would provide details later.

However, the Head of Department, Disaster and Relief, Agwara Local Government, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, confirmed the attack via telephone.

He said the terrorists stormed the school between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., adding that the actual number of abducted students and staff had yet to be determined as authorities continue their assessments.

The incident comes just days after a similar attack in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped, heightening concerns over the deteriorating security situation in educational institutions across the region.

On Thursday, over 50 schools were shut down in Kwara State as a result of rampaging bandits.

President Bola Tinubu had cancelled his trips to South Africa and Angola to coordinate response to insecurity. Daily Trust

Multiple family sources and community leaders confirmed on Thursday that the kidnappers have established contact with relatives of the victims, using the phones of those abducted during the Tuesday evening attack.

The Secretary of the CAC assembly, Josiah Agbabiaka, told The PUNCH that some families had already been reached by the abductors.

“It is true that the bandits have started contacting family members using the victims’ phones to demand ransom.

“From what we were told, they grouped the victims. The first group of 11 people has been asked to pay N100 million each,” Agbabiaka said.

Also confirming the development, the Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, whose four family members were among those abducted, said the kidnappers were reaching out systematically.

“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100 million for each person. They said the victims were grouped and they are calling each group’s relatives,” he told The PUNCH.

Olukotun, who said he was inside the church with five members of his family during the attack, said he managed to escape through a window while others were taken away.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of the town, Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, has appealed for urgent government intervention to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.

The monarch, who commended the swift deployment of military personnel to the community following the visit of the state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, on Wednesday, however, stressed that more needed to be done.

“Last night, soldiers entered our community minutes after the governor visited. Their presence gave us some assurance that the government is responding.

“But we are still appealing that efforts should be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible,” the monarch said.

When contacted by our correspondent, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, declined to comment.

“Kindly speak to the police,” he simply said.

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said that the command had not received any official report of ransom demand.

“We are not aware of any demand for ransom or contact made to the family members of the victims.

“Our tactical teams, alongside the military and other security agencies, are on ground and making concerted efforts to rescue the abducted victims,” she said.

Ejire-Adeyemi added that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, had urged community members and relatives of the abducted persons to provide timely information that could aid the operation.

“The CP assures residents that the police will continue to do everything possible to secure lives and property in Kwara State,” she added.

The attack on the Eruku church is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have rattled communities across Kwara State in recent months.

The recent incidents have heightened fears over the growing reach of banditry in Kwara, a state historically considered one of the safer in the North-Central region. Punch

‎The government’s decision was disclosed by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State wing, on Wednesday.

‎In a circular issued on Wednesday and obtained by Channels Television, the NUT Chairman, Yusuf Agboola, announced the shutdown of schools in Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun, and Ekiti LGAs.
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‎Agboola explained that the union was acting strictly on instructions from the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development after the government raised concerns over fresh security threats in Kwara South.
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‎”Comrade chairmen, this is to inform you and through you, all schools in the above local governments of the instruction to close down all schools with immediate effect until further notice.
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‎”This decision was occasioned by the security challenges ravaging the area and the efforts of the government to control the situation. Treat this information as important and with the urgency it deserves, as it emanated from the ministry,” the circular read.
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‎He assured school heads and teachers that further directives would be communicated as the situation evolves.

Trial judge James Omotosho said he ought to sentence him to death but for his decision to show him mercy.

He therefore sentenced him to life imprisonment for counts 1, 4, 5 and 6, “instead of death sentence”.

He added, “With respect to count 3, he is sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without fine. He is sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for count 7,”

He ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.

The judge also ruled that he should not be allowed to use digital devices and be kept in protective custody.

More details later…

‎Justice James Omotosho has convicted Kanu on all seven counts of terrorism charges brought against him by the Department of State Services.
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‎In his judgment, the judge held that the prosecution presented sufficient and credible evidence to prove its case.
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‎He noted that Kanu failed to enter a defence, instead choosing to rest his case on the prosecution’s evidence—a gamble the court said left it with no option but to convict.
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‎The judge faulted Kanu’s approach to achieve a Biafra nation by employing violence, as a terrorist group.
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‎With sentencing now being awaited, the lead prosecutor Adegboyega Awomolo has urged the court to hand down a death sentence for the defendant. The Senior Advocate says counts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 provides for the maximum penalty owing to the gravity of the offence.
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‎Awomolo expressed shock that rather than show remorse, the defendant has remained ever so unruly. Arise News