The management of Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, has apologised to passengers following disruptions to its flight operations in Lagos and Abuja airports as a result of an ongoing industrial action by organised labour unions.

The airline said members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, barricaded the entrances to its departure terminals at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, comprising the Alpha and Zulu Terminals and Terminal 2 in Lagos.

The blockade also affected access to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport terminal in Abuja, preventing scheduled flights from departing from both cities.

The statement by the airline’s management reads: “The ongoing industrial action has resulted in the barricading of the entrances to our departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Alpha and Zulu Terminals) and Terminal 2 in Lagos, as well as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Terminal in Abuja.

“The blockade has restricted access to these terminals, preventing the departure of scheduled flights from Lagos and Abuja. Consequently, passengers scheduled to travel across our network have been significantly affected by the disruption to flight operations.

“Air Peace sincerely apologises to all affected and stranded passengers for the disruption and inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond the airline’s control. Passengers scheduled to travel later today are being contacted and provided with relevant updates as the situation evolves.”

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The The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the security agencies to arrest and Islamic cleric, Shiekh Yahya jingir over what the Commission described as inflammatory remarks capable of triggering crisis that could lead to abuse of rights of citizens.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, while condemning the remarks which is circulating on social media, said it was not only divisive and inviting but has potential to compromise peaceful life in communities across the country.

In a statement Tuesday signed by Hajoa Fatimah Mohammed Agwai, Director, Public Affairs and External Linkages,the NHRC boss described the statements as a direct attack on the principles of equality, non-discrimination, and peaceful coexistence guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

“The Commission finds these remarks to be hate speech and incitement to religious hatred and potential violence. At a time when we are preparing for another general election, such utterances are reckless and dangerous. They serve no purpose other than to divide Nigerians along religious lines and set citizens against one another,” the Executive Secretary stated.

“We cannot afford to look away. If we fail to speak and act now, we embolden both Christian and Muslim clerics and other influential persons to make worse statements in the coming months. That path leads only to crisis,” he added.

In view of the foregoing, the Chief Human Rights Officer of Nigeria called on the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services and other relevant authorities to immediately arrest and prosecute Sheikh Yahaya Jingir for hate speech and incitement.

Prosecution must proceed irrespective of status or political affiliation in order to serve as a deterrent to others who may seek to exploit religion for political gain during this election period.

The Learned Silk further called on all religious leaders, traditional rulers, and politicians to refrain from divisive rhetoric. He urged Nigerians to reject identity politics and to hold leaders accountable based on competence, service delivery, and respect for human rights.

“The Commission will continue to monitor compliance and will engage with security agencies, INEC, and civil society to ensure that the 2027 elections are free from hate and violence”, he concluded.

Bandits have demanded the payment of N500,000 from a farmer in a Benue state community before he would be allowed to access his farm to harvest crops.

The farmer, identified as a resident of Mbagena Council Ward in Kastina-Ala local government area, was allegedly targeted by local bandits who have reportedly been terrorising communities in the area and imposing ransom demands on residents.

His son, John James, a 300-level student of Benue State University (BSU), disclosed the development while speaking at a capacity-building workshop on Promoting Safety and Security Rights, Accountability and Access to Justice organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in Makurdi at the weekend.

According to James, his father, who works in the public sector while also engaging in farming, was attacked at his residence about two weeks ago by suspected bandits who demanded N500,000.

James said the attackers initially gave his father three days to produce the money but later extended the deadline to seven days after he explained that he needed to harvest his farm produce before he could raise the ransom.

He said his father had planned to sell some of his crops, including groundnut, beniseed and soyabean, to raise the money demanded by the attackers.

James said, “About two weeks ago, terrorists invaded his compound in the night where he was sleeping alongside my mother after work. They charged him to pay a ransom of N500,000.

“My father pleaded with them because there was nothing at the moment. He had to plead with them for our lives because contacting the security would only worsen the situation.”

The student further narrated that the situation escalated when the attackers returned to the family home and abducted his mother, accusing his father of intentionally delaying the ransom payment.

According to him, the farmer was away attending a burial ceremony around Kastina-Ala town when the gunmen arrived at the residence and took his mother away.

James said his mother was eventually released after one of the abductors reportedly intervened and pleaded for her freedom after seeing her crying and in distress.

“She was freed but not without being tortured. As I talk to you now, my mother is suffering emotionally and physically from the pains she suffered in the course of the torture,” he said.

He disclosed that his father subsequently sought assistance from friends and relatives and was able to raise N200,000, which he handed over to the suspected bandits at about midnight on Thursday.

However, rather than allowing him unrestricted access to his farm, the attackers allegedly told him that he would have to complete the N500,000 ransom before harvesting the rest of his crops.

“When my father returned and handed them the money, they said it was not enough, that he had to complete it to N500,000 before he would be allowed to harvest anything from his farm,” he said.

James said the continued threats had left his father with no choice but to flee the community, while his farm produce remained unharvested.

“They are still threatening my father for the remaining amount, and he is on the run for fear of the unknown. He can’t go back to harvest everything now until he gets all the money,” James added.