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Haj. Safiyya Isa, FTGMF, A+ Hub Lead Push as Plateau Youths Reject Mob Lynching in Jos
Stakeholders, community leaders, and young people in Jos have called for an end to mob lynching, urging adherence to justice, peace, and the rule of law as the only path to a stable society.
The call was the central focus of “Reflection to Action 3.0,” themed “Youth Against Mob Lynching: Choose Justice, Not Violence,” held on April 18, 2026, at A+ Hub, Hillstation Junction. The event was organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Plateau State on Youth Mobilization, led by Hon. Safiyya Isa Muhammad, in collaboration with the Fwinbe Thomas Gofwan Memorial Foundation and A+ Hub.
Participants engaged in extensive discussions on the dangers of jungle justice, stressing the need for sustained youth engagement and community-driven approaches to addressing violence. They emphasized that mob lynching undermines societal order and often leads to the loss of innocent lives.
In her welcome address, Hajiya Safiyya Isa Muhammad warned that any society where the law loses its meaning risks descending into chaos. She condemned mob lynching, stating that no individual has the right to take another person’s life outside legal provisions. According to her, justice must be rooted in due process, fairness, and humanity.
She described Plateau State as a land of peace and diversity, urging citizens to embrace their cultural, religious, and ethnic differences as strengths rather than sources of conflict. Addressing youths, she acknowledged their influence but called on them to act with restraint, promote peace, and uphold justice.
Nenpominyi Gofwan of the Fwinbe Thomas Gofwan Memorial Foundation shared a personal account of loss, revealing that the foundation was established after his younger brother was killed in a mob lynching based on an unverified accusation. He described the incident as a painful example of how quickly lives can be destroyed when due process is ignored, urging greater awareness, empathy, and responsibility among citizens.
Resource person Vivian Abana outlined four principles for peaceful coexistence, truth, fairness, goodwill, and mutual benefit, encouraging participants to reflect on the impact of their actions and words. She highlighted the importance of unity in diversity and cautioned against prejudice and assumptions.
Representing the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, U. C. Erhabo described mob lynching as a violation of human rights and a threat to public safety. He urged citizens to report suspected offenders to law enforcement agencies rather than resorting to violence, noting that such actions only fuel instability.
Grace Goyol, speaking on behalf of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), linked rising cases of mob violence to drug abuse, particularly among youths. She noted that substance abuse often leads to aggression and poor judgment, calling for responsible behavior and collective efforts to curb the trend.
Similarly, George Abi of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) recounted a disturbing encounter with mob violence, describing it as barbaric and ineffective in addressing crime. He stressed that such acts only perpetuate disorder and called for greater compassion and lawful engagement with security agencies.
Delivering an emotional appeal, Guinness World Record holder Victoria Anya Ishaku condemned mob lynching and urged youths to resist retaliation despite feelings of anger and frustration. She emphasized that “speed without direction leads to destruction,” encouraging thoughtful action and commitment to justice.
Usman Yakubu Hassan, a participant described the programme as timely and enlightening, especially amid recurring violence in Jos. He noted that mob-related incidents have persisted for decades, but this initiative uniquely brought together potential victims and perpetrators alongside security agencies. He commended the organizers for fostering dialogue and practical solutions, adding that the series has consistently promoted awareness, understanding, and prevention.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to serve as ambassadors of peace, reject mob violence, and promote justice through lawful means in their communities.
Nigerian youngster Zadok Yohanna made another appearance for Brighton & Hove Albion as the Premier League side secured a convincing 4-0 victory over Norwegian club Tromsø IL in the UEFA Conference League qualifying round.
The highly-rated Nigerian prospect was introduced in the 66th minute, giving him another opportunity to experience European football at senior level.
Read Also: Zadok Yohanna Makes UEFA Conference League Debut for Brighton in Norway | Sports247 Nigeria
The appearance marked Yohanna’s second UEFA Conference League qualifying-round outing for the Seagulls as he continues to gain valuable experience around Brighton’s first team.
Brighton produced a dominant display against Tromsø, scoring four goals to complete a comprehensive victory and secure their place in the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League league phase.
For Yohanna, the latest appearance represents another important milestone in what has been an encouraging rise through European football.
The Nigerian youngster has continued to attract attention with his development, and opportunities such as this are providing him with valuable exposure to the demands and intensity of senior European competition.
Speaking after the match, Yohanna reflected on the experience:
“Every opportunity to play at this level means a lot to me. I’m learning every time I step onto the pitch, and being part of a European campaign with Brighton is something I’m really grateful for. I’ll keep working hard and be ready whenever the team needs me.”
With Brighton now through to the league phase, Yohanna could have further opportunities to gain European experience as the competition progresses.
For the young Nigerian, the journey continues to move in the right direction—from promising prospect to gaining valuable senior exposure on the European stage.
FTSE Russell has confirmed, in a market notice published on Thursday, that Nigeria’s reclassification from Unclassified to Frontier Market status will proceed effective from the open of trading on 21 September.
The decision marks Nigeria’s return to the global Frontier Market universe and represents an important milestone for the country’s capital market.
The announcement follows a process that began in October 2025, when FTSE Russell placed Nigeria on its Watch List for potential reclassification, following improvements in foreign exchange liquidity, capital repatriation and market accessibility.
In April 2026, FTSE Russell subsequently announced Nigeria’s return to Frontier Market status, with an effective date of 21 September.
Following Nigeria’s transition from a T+2 to T+1 settlement cycle on 1 June, FTSE Russell undertook an additional assessment after market participants raised concerns that the new settlement framework could effectively result in a de facto prefunding requirement for international institutional investors.
The review led to an extensive period of engagement between NGX Group, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FTSE Russell and international market participants.
In its reaction, NGX Group said its delegation engaged directly with global custodians and institutional investors in July. The discussions provided an opportunity for NGX Group to present evidence on the operation of the T+1 settlement cycle, address questions raised by international investors and custodians, and outline ongoing efforts to ensure that Nigeria’s market infrastructure remains aligned with evolving international best practice.
Following the assessment, FTSE Russell, supported by feedback from the FTSE Equity Country Classification Advisory Committee, confirmed that “no material settlement, operational or funding issues had been observed since the implementation of the T+1 settlement cycle”. On this basis, the FTSE Russell Index Governance Board confirmed that Nigeria’s reclassification will proceed as scheduled from the market open on Monday, 21 September 2026.
The announcement comes amid broader efforts to strengthen the Nigerian capital market and position it as an increasingly important engine of investment and economic growth.
On 6 August, the NGX Group Board met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to brief him on developments and reforms across the Nigerian capital market and discuss the market’s role in mobilising long-term capital to support Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.
The engagement underscored the importance of continued collaboration between government and the capital-market ecosystem in creating an enabling environment for investment, capital formation and sustainable economic growth.
Nigeria’s return to Frontier Market status provides further international recognition of the progress being made across the market and creates a platform for the next phase of its development.
Commenting on the development, Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NGX Group, said, “This is an important moment for Nigeria’s capital market. But the real significance of returning to Frontier Market status is the opportunity it creates for the next phase of our market’s development.
We have to turn greater international visibility into broader participation, deeper liquidity and more capital for Nigerian businesses. Our ambition is to build a market that is increasingly competitive globally and more relevant to Nigeria’s economic growth. We are encouraged by the continued support of the Federal Government and the commitment of stakeholders across the market as we work towards that ambition.”
The next milestone will be the publication of the FTSE Frontier Index Series annual indicative review files for September 2026, which will reflect Nigeria’s reclassification and are scheduled to begin publication on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. The reclassification will take effect from the market open on Monday, 21 September 2026.
Nigeria’s return to Frontier Market status is expected to enhance the visibility of Nigerian equities within the global investment community and create further opportunities to broaden engagement with international institutional investors and deepen participation in the Nigerian market.
The development follows S&P Dow Jones Indices’ placement of Nigeria on its Watch List for potential reclassification to Frontier Market status as part of its 2027 Country Classification Annual Review, providing a further indication of growing international attention to improvements in Nigeria’s market accessibility.
NGX Group reaffirms its commitment to continued collaboration with the Federal Government, SEC, market operators, investors, global index providers and other stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s position within the international financial ecosystem and ensure that the capital market plays an increasingly important role in sustainable economic growth and capital formation.
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