***Decries renewed attack on Benue, Plateau communities 

*** Urges F to meet its commitments to protect Nigerian communities

**”UK issues travel warning alert to citizens in 11 states

By Eze Nnadi (with agency report)

As the Nigerian government insists that the terrorist attacks across the country cut across the various religious and ethnic groups , and not targeted at only Christians as the United States of America has claimed, the US has insisted that Nigeria would not be removing ved from it’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC), following the renewed terror attacks across the middle belt and other regions of the country 

This is as the US State Department has called on the federal government to protect Christian communities after last week’s attack at Mangu, Plateau state that left over 24 people were reportedly killed with several missing

The Department of State noted that the federal government made the commitment to protect Nigerian Christians during it meeting over allegations of Christian genocide 

Also, the US Bureau of African Affairs in a similar post, condemned the latest attack in Plateau State where several locals reportedly lost their lifes 

Supporting the State Department position, a member of the US Congress, Rep. Riley Moore,  insisted that the United States must not remove Nigeria from its Country of Particular Concern, CPC, designation list over alleged persecution of Christians, citing continued violence in the Middle Belt.

Moore, who was among the US congressmen that interfaced with the Nigerian delegation in both the United States of America (USA), and at home in December 2025, made the position known yesterday in a post on his official X handle, while responding to a statement by the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

The lawmaker backed the State Department’s call for the federal government to protect Christian communities after Plateau attack, saying it was a commitment Abuja made.

“We absolutely CANNOT remove the CPC designation from Nigeria while radical Islamic terrorists continue this horrific violence against Christians,” the Congressman wrote.

“@AsstSecStateAF is right. The Nigerian government must meet its commitments to protect innocent Christian communities in Plateau and Benue states 

“The United States is horrified by yet another murderous attack in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, killing dozens of people asleep in their homes in Plateau State.

“This is especially troubling coming on the heels of the recent CPC Working Group meeting. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those missing and killed, and we strongly urge the Nigerian government to meet their commitments to protect Christian communities and to hold perpetrators of violence accountable,” the Bureau said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied any religious targeting in the conflicts, describing them largely as clashes over land, resources and criminality.

Nigeria was first designated as a CPC in 2020 under the International Religious Freedom Act, a tag given to countries deemed to have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom, but was removed from the list in 2021

The Trump administration returned Nigeria to the list last year following the series of terror attacks and killings in Benue, Plateau, Niger and several other states in the country 

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has advised its citizens against all travel to parts of 11 Nigerian states, while it warned against all but essential travel to parts of 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The UK advisory was contained in the latest Nigeria travel advice published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Thursday.

According to the advisory, updated on August 20, 2026, the FCDO advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states in the North-East.

It also warned against all travel to Katsina and Zamfara states in the North-West.

In the South-East and South-South, the UK advised against all travel to riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

The FCDO defined the affected areas as “the river and swamp locations accessible by boat, but not by road.”

The UK government also advised against all but essential travel to Bauchi State in the North-East.

In the North-West, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa and Sokoto states were placed under the same advisory.

The FCDO further listed Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Kwara and Benue states in the North-Central region as areas where it advised against all but essential travel.

The advisory also covered the Federal Capital Territory, including Abuja.

In the South-East and South-South, the UK advised against all but essential travel to Abia State, Anambra State and Imo State, as well as non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.

The FCDO cautioned travellers that “No travel can be guaranteed safe” and urged those planning trips to Nigeria to read its travel advice before travelling.

The UK government also advised travellers to “research your destinations” and “get appropriate travel insurance” if they chose to travel.

It warned that “Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).”

2027: We made mistakes, APC chairman begs aggrieved members, seeks unity

By Adeyemi Johnson (Ibadan)

As political parties mobilise for election campaigns, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, has  apologised to aggrieved members over perceived wrongs during the party’s  primaries

Yilwatda, said on Thursday at the opening of the APC campaign office in Ibadan, Oyo state, that the National Working Committee takes responsibility for all primary election actions having been the body that appointed the election committees

The chairman appealed to aggrieved members who felt hurt, injured, prevented or excluded in any form to forgive the party and remain united ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said, “The responsibility extended beyond Oyo State. The committee that conducted the party’s primaries was constituted by the national leadership and, therefore, any mistake committed by it amounted to a mistake by the party.

“This is not for Oyo State alone. Anywhere anybody made a mistake in a state, it is our mistake because the committee was set up by us and they are representing us.

“If anybody is hurt, if anybody is injured, if anybody is prevented or excluded in any form or the other, we take responsibility. On TV, before Nigerians, we take responsibility for all that has happened. I appeal to everybody that we are sorry.”

The chairman further urged members at polling units, wards and local government areas across the country to regard the matter as an internal family affair.

He noted that Oyo state is in the priority list of the APC, adding that the APC was taking Oyo State seriously because of its strategic importance and large voting population, second only to Lagos.

In his address, the state APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, commended the party’s national chairman for fulfilling his promises to the state within two days.

“The achievements recorded within the period surpassed what the stakeholders had been able to accomplish.”

“The promises made when the national chairman invited the aspirants had now been fulfilled. We cannot thank you enough for what you have come to do. What you have achieved successfully in two days, we have not been able to accomplish,” Alli said.