Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has declared that he would not shield his father if he were found guilty of kidnapping, insisting that anyone convicted of the crime must face the full consequences of the law.

The governor made the statement while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other security threats in the state.

Okpebholo said his position on the crime was uncompromising, stressing that family ties would not influence his response if a relative were implicated and convicted.

He reportedly stated that he would personally sign his father’s death warrant if the older man were convicted of kidnapping, using the example to emphasise that nobody would be above the law under his administration.

The governor’s comments come amid concerns over kidnapping and insecurity in parts of Edo State, where residents have repeatedly called for stronger measures to protect lives and property.

Okpebholo has maintained that his government would continue working with security agencies to confront criminal activities and restore public confidence in the state’s security system.

His administration has also made security a major priority, with commitments to strengthen cooperation among relevant agencies and ensure that those responsible for serious crimes are brought to justice.

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has attributed the recent decline in electricity supply across several parts of the country to maintenance work at power plants, gas supply constraints and damage to critical transmission infrastructure.

Tegbe explained that the challenges had reduced the amount of electricity available on the national grid, forcing operators to introduce load shedding in some areas to manage the shortfall.

In a statement shared on his social media platforms on Friday, November 6, the minister acknowledged the difficulties the outages had caused households and businesses in affected locations, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.

He identified planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station in Lagos, one of Nigeria’s major thermal power plants, as a significant factor behind the reduction in electricity generation. Gas supply difficulties affecting other thermal power stations had further worsened the situation.

The minister also disclosed that the sabotage of key transmission lines had limited the use of alternative routes for delivering electricity to some locations, particularly Lagos.

According to him, the government is working with relevant power sector operators to restore affected generating units in phases, improve gas supply and accelerate repairs to damaged infrastructure.

Tegbe expressed optimism that the first affected generating units would return to service within 48 to 72 hours, adding that electricity supply was expected to improve gradually as the interventions progressed.

The outages have affected electricity consumers in several parts of the country, with residents and businesses facing prolonged periods without public power supply. The situation has increased reliance on generators, inverters and solar systems, adding to operating costs amid elevated fuel prices.

Meanwhile, the disruptions have triggered a disagreement between the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Ikeja Electric over the causes of recent interruptions recorded on some electricity feeders.

While Ikeja Electric had attributed outages recorded on November 3 and 4 to grid instability, TCN disputed the explanation, blaming inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced hydroelectric generation for the decline in available electricity.

TCN also said most of the interruptions affecting Ikeja Electric’s feeders were linked to load shedding caused by low generation, while others resulted from distribution network issues, maintenance and transmission limitations.

The minister’s assurance comes amid renewed concerns over the reliability of Nigeria’s electricity supply and the persistent challenges facing the power sector.

The Nigerian Navy has deployed newly trained Marine personnel to the Northeast to strengthen ongoing military operations against terrorist groups, particularly around the Baga axis of Borno State.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, disclosed this while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the Chief of Naval Staff’s Retreat at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.

According to Oluyede, the specialised naval personnel received training with support from the United States and have already been integrated into operations in the region. He said the Marines were working alongside troops of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force to contain terrorist activities.

The CDS expressed satisfaction with the performance of the newly deployed personnel, describing their collaboration with other military services as encouraging. He also praised their contribution to efforts aimed at disrupting insurgent activities around Baga.

Oluyede urged Nigerians to support the Armed Forces by providing credible and timely intelligence on suspicious activities in their communities. He stressed that public cooperation remained important to identifying threats and preventing attacks.

The deployment comes as the military intensifies joint operations across the Lake Chad Basin under Operation Hadin Kai, involving land, air and maritime forces. Recent operations in the area have targeted suspected terrorist positions and enclaves in parts of Borno State.

The Nigerian Navy established its Marine unit to strengthen its operational capacity across maritime and land environments. The pioneer group, known as the “Bushmen,” comprised 328 personnel who completed six months of intensive training supported by the US Special Forces before their induction in February 2026.