From Abel Zwanke, Lafia

The Middle Belt Forum has said it will support a southern presidential candidate in the 2027 election who demonstrates competence and commitment to peace, inclusion, restructuring and the socio-economic development of the region.

A member of the Forum, Akor-Abagi, stated this in an interview, saying the Middle Belt would approach the 2027 election based on concrete policy commitments rather than as a fixed electoral bloc.

He said the Forum’s recent engagement with Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was a consultation and not an endorsement. According to him, the discussion focused on restructuring, state policing and treating insecurity in the Middle Belt as a national security priority.

Akor-Abagi said the Forum would assess candidates based on policies and actions, particularly their plans to address insecurity, protect farmlands, support displaced persons and improve infrastructure.

He identified state and community policing, justice for victims, compensation, protection of ancestral lands, equitable federal appointments and constitutional reforms as key areas of concern.

On power rotation, he said the Forum still believed in fairness and rotation but would prioritise competence and commitment to restructuring in 2027. “Yes, the principle of rotation and fairness still matters to us. But in 2027, the focus is shifting to competence plus commitment to restructuring,” he said. He added that, in his view, the presidency should return to the Middle Belt in 2031.

Akor-Abagi said candidates seeking the region’s support should publish policies with clear budgets and timelines and engage affected communities beyond election periods.

*Arrested in tactical uniform, with fake pistol, allegedly extorting motorists

The Department of State Services (DSS) late on Wednesday in Abuja arrested a man identified as Moferewa Maiye, discovered to be impersonating a personnel of the Service.

Maiye, who claimed to hail from Agbajojun Village, Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State, was trailed and arrested by DSS officers in his hideout around the NITEL Junction, along Adetokunbo Ademola Way, Wuse II, Abuja.

At the time of his arrest, Maiye was in DSS tactical uniform and armed with a fake pistol.

According to a security source, the Secret police acted on credible intelligence that Maiye was using the uniform and the fake weapon to intimidate commuters and motorists, extorting money from them.

During interrogation, added the source, the suspect reportedly claimed that his brother was a DSS personnel who died years ago.

He identified the brother as Monday Maiye, stressing that the DSS kit in his possession was his late brother’s.

The suspect is currently being interrogated as security operatives, the source stated, adding that the Service was investigating how he came about the DSS uniform and kit.

“Investigators are also trying to establish how long the suspect has been involved in similar acts of impersonation and extortion.

“The arrest underscores growing concerns by the Service over the activities of individuals who impersonate security personnel to intimidate members of the public and commit criminality,” the source declared.

At least 24 bandits were killed on Tuesday after soldiers of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), Katsina Community Watch Corps foiled an attempt to mass-kidnap persons in Gidan Bawa village, Kandarawa Ward, Bakori Local Government Area of the state.

According to a security source, the operation followed sustained intelligence which uncovered plans by about 40 gunmen loyal to notorious bandit kingpin, Isiya Kwashen Garwa, to invade the village and abduct many residents, especially women and children.

The plot, sources said, was intended to replicate the mass abduction of residents of Woro community in Kwara State, ostensibly to embarrass the government.

Acting swiftly on the intelligence, DSS operatives mobilised the Community Watch Corps, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) from Guga camp, and ambushed the bandits.

The source disclosed that the joint security operatives neutralised 24 bandits and rescued the abducted villagers.

Security operatives also recovered 19 stolen cattle from the community during the raid.

The source added that there were ongoing efforts to track down the fleeing bandits.