Ebonyi State governor Francis Nwifuru says he has sent a bill to the state House of Assembly that would make kidnapping punishable by death by hanging, with no other option.

Where he said it

Nwifuru made the announcement over the weekend at the funeral of HRH Eze Francis Igwe, the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike autonomous community in Ikwo Local Government Area. The monarch, the father of a former deputy governor of the state, Eric Igwe, was abducted on Sunday, 1 March 2026, while travelling to church, and was reportedly killed by his captors the next day.

What he said

The governor said the bill was meant to deter anyone planning a kidnapping, whether for money or for political reasons. He said he would not delay in carrying out any court judgment against those arrested over the monarch's killing, and that the murder must be the last of its kind in Ikwo and across the state. He also expressed concern about what he described as a moral decline among young people and urged them to turn away from crime.

Tributes

Former governors Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi and former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim paid tribute to the late monarch, describing him as a peacemaker, educationist and good administrator who brought projects such as the Folk Technical College to his community. His eldest son said his father's last wish was for Governor Nwifuru to win a second term.

Background

Several Nigerian states already have laws that allow the death penalty for kidnapping, but executions are rare because governors must sign death warrants. Human rights groups oppose the death penalty, while supporters argue it is needed to deter a crime that has spread across the country.

What happens next

The bill must be passed by the House of Assembly and signed by the governor before it becomes law.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says two people investigated for suspected Ebola virus disease in Adamawa State have tested negative.

What happened

NCDC Director-General Jide Idris said the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre received a report in the early hours of 30 October 2026 after two people in Yola developed symptoms that needed further investigation. The two were isolated, public health measures were started and samples were collected. Idris said the samples came back negative for Ebola after two rounds of testing.

Nigeria's only case

Idris said the case confirmed earlier in the Federal Capital Territory remained the only laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria. That patient had recently travelled to Uganda and was later evacuated to Switzerland for treatment, while dozens of contacts were monitored. He praised the Adamawa Commissioner for Health and the state response team for acting quickly, and said the NCDC would keep supporting the state.

Advice to the public

The NCDC urged people to stay calm, avoid spreading unverified claims and rely on official channels for updates. Anyone with fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, especially after possible exposure, should seek medical help immediately, tell health workers about any travel or contact with sick people, and avoid self-medication.

Background

The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May and has recorded more than 10,000 confirmed cases and close to 5,000 deaths, mostly in the DR Congo. Africa CDC has warned that the continent is not winning the fight, and African health ministers have agreed to strengthen border surveillance.

Some poor households have reportedly started receiving payments under the federal government's Household Prosperity and Empowerment (HoPE) Cash Transfer Programme, according to reports at the weekend.

What has been reported

Several beneficiaries said they received text messages showing that ₦25,000 had been paid into their accounts through microfinance banks and payment providers. Under the programme, eligible households are expected to receive ₦25,000 a month for three months, a total of ₦75,000 per household. The money is meant to help families with food, transport and other basic needs.

What is not yet clear

The government has not confirmed how many households have been paid or whether payments have started nationwide. Reports say payment dates may differ from one beneficiary to another, and that not every eligible household will be paid at the same time.

Beware of scams

Beneficiaries are being advised to confirm any payment alert with their bank or payment provider through official customer service channels, and not to share passwords, PINs or other private details with anyone. People are also warned to ignore offers of registration for a fee, as the programme does not charge people to enrol.

Background

The government has run several cash transfer schemes since the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023, aimed at cushioning the effect of rising prices on the poorest households. A separate scheme offering ₦50,000 a month to some vulnerable Nigerians was announced recently. Critics have questioned how beneficiaries are selected and whether payments reach the right people, while the government says it uses the national social register.

What it means

For families who receive the money, the payments offer some relief, but many Nigerians say the amounts are small compared with the cost of living.

The chairman of Zaki Local Government Area in Bauchi State, Masud Aliyu Umar, has died in a road accident, barely three months after he took office.

What happened

The crash happened on the evening of Sunday, 1 November 2026, at Konkiyal village in Darazo Local Government Area, according to reports. Umar was returning to Zaki after attending a stakeholders' meeting of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Bauchi, the state capital. Details of how the accident happened and whether anyone else was hurt have not been made public.

Who he was

Umar was elected chairman on 17 August 2026, along with the chairmen of the other 19 local government areas in the state. Before that, he served as director-general of the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), where he was credited with leading the state's disaster response and humanitarian work.

Governor's tribute

Governor Bala Mohammed described the death as a devastating loss to the state. In a statement issued through his media aide, Mukhtar Gidado, he described Umar as a dedicated public servant, a committed grassroots politician and a compassionate leader. He said that despite his short time as chairman, Umar had shown strong commitment to empowering young people and women and to development in Zaki. The governor sent condolences to the family, the people of Zaki, the Katagum Emirate Council and the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria.

Funeral

The governor said funeral prayers would be held on Monday, 2 November, at 2pm at the palace of the District Head of Mur Mur in Zaki Local Government Area.

Background

Road accidents remain one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria, and many involve officials travelling at night on poor roads.