The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sagbama Branch, Barr. Ogheneochuko J. Sampson, has supported calls for the establishment of special courts to fast-track the prosecution of kidnapping and banditry cases across Nigeria. Speaking with journalists in Yenagoa ahead of the branch’s 2026 Law Week, Sampson described the proposal as a positive step toward addressing insecurity, noting that similar arrangements already exist for electoral matters.

“The idea of special courts for kidnapping and banditry cases is a welcome development and should be replicated across the country,” he said. However, he questioned whether federal and state governments would provide the resources needed to sustain such courts, including funding, judicial personnel, and infrastructure.“The challenge is not just creating the courts.

Governments must be willing to fund them, employ more judges, and provide the necessary facilities,” he added.Sampson also stressed that tackling insecurity requires broader efforts beyond the judiciary, calling for greater accountability in the management of security resources and measures to curb the proliferation of illegal firearms.

Commenting on the justice sector in Bayelsa State, the NBA chairman commended Governor Douye Diri’s administration for investments in judicial infrastructure and road projects, which he said have improved access to justice in several local government areas.

He rated the performance of the state’s judiciary at 80 percent, citing improved court facilities and stronger collaboration between the bench and the bar. The NBA Sagbama Branch’s 2026 Law Week is scheduled to hold from June 21 to June 28 with the theme: “True Justice: The Need for Institutional and Individual Accountability in Safeguarding Democracy.”

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

A retired Brigadier General and former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, has said Nigeria must dismantle the wider networks supporting bandit groups to effectively end insecurity.

Tsiga, who spent nearly two months in captivity after being abducted by bandits, made the statement during an interactive session with journalists in Kaduna. The retired military officer said addressing banditry requires more than negotiations with armed groups, stressing the need to target individuals involved in supplying weapons, logistics and intelligence to criminal networks.

“From what I observed during my time in captivity, we must pursue them aggressively. Negotiations alone may not solve the problem,” he said.Tsiga explained that bandits are not beyond reach, noting that they remain vulnerable to military operations and other security interventions.

He, however, warned that the focus should not only be on armed criminals but also on the support systems that enable their activities.“It is not only the bandits that matter. What about the informers, suppliers and others supporting them? They are also part of the problem,” he said.

Recounting his experience in captivity, Tsiga alleged that bandit leaders maintained contacts with individuals involved in supplying ammunition and other resources. He claimed that during his captivity, he overheard discussions involving the supply of ammunition and alleged that some individuals benefiting from insecurity could frustrate peace efforts.

The retired general urged the government, security agencies and citizens to work together in confronting the financing and logistics networks behind banditry. His comments come amid ongoing national discussions on the best approach to tackling kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes across the country.

The Bayelsa State Government has announced a closing balance of N37.08 billion for May 2026, while reaffirming its commitment to completing ongoing projects and promoting transparency in public finance management.Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, disclosed this during the state’s April-May 2026 transparency briefing held at the Treasury Building in Yenagoa.

She said the briefing was part of the administration’s accountability policy and assured residents that ongoing projects, including the Ekeremor-Agge Road, Nembe-Brass Road, the nine-storey Secretariat Building and the 25,000-capacity Olympic Stadium at Igbogene, remained priorities.

Technical Adviser to the Governor on Treasury and Accounts, Timipere Seipulou, presented the financial details, stating that Bayelsa received a gross FAAC inflow of N42.33 billion in April. The April receipts included N27.27 billion from derivation revenue, N7.48 billion statutory allocation, N6.33 billion VAT and N1.24 billion from non-oil revenue. After deductions, the state recorded a net FAAC inflow of N41.43 billion, while total receipts, including other sources, stood at N44.71 billion.

For May, Seipulou said the state received N52.81 billion gross FAAC allocation, which rose to N63.86 billion after additional receipts.He explained that May expenditure included N13.1 billion in salary-related payments, while recurrent expenditure stood at N6.98 billion and capital expenditure at N20.37 billion.

According to him, Bayelsa ended May with a surplus of N14.93 billion, which, added to the previous balance, brought the closing balance to N37.08 billion carried forward into June. On the Atala Oil Field, Seipulou clarified that the state’s equity participation would generate revenue through declared dividends rather than direct monthly payments.