Gunmen have killed the District Head of Gwande in Bokkos Local Government Area, Saf Samuel Alaket, in an ambush attack along the Sha District axis near the border with the Daffo community.
Sources said the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday while the traditional ruler was returning home after attending activities at the popular Tuesday market in Daffo.
It was gathered that he had earlier participated in a traditional council meeting in Bokkos before embarking on his journey back to Gwande.
According to residents, the attackers laid an ambush close to the boundary between Sha District and Daffo, targeting the vehicle conveying the monarch.
He reportedly sustained severe injuries in the attack and was rushed to a nearby clinic for emergency treatment, but later died despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life.
A community member, Mr Aten Pukat, confirmed the incident, describing the killing as a devastating loss to the people of Gwande and the entire Bokkos area.
Pukat said the attack had thrown the traditional council and residents into mourning, adding that the district head was widely respected for his contributions to peace and community development.
He noted that condolences had continued to pour in from traditional institutions, community leaders and sympathisers following the tragic development.
Efforts by newsmen to reach the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful.
With just weeks to the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has shone the spotlight on Nigeria, profiling the country’s men’s and women’s national teams as Africa’s only representatives at the global showpiece.
The feature, published on the IFAF official website under the title “IFAF World Flag 2026 Nation Profile: Nigeria,” celebrates Nigeria’s remarkable rise in international flag football after both the men’s and women’s national teams emerged champions at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championships held in Cairo, Egypt, in 2025.
The profile is accompanied by a celebratory image of Nigerian players proudly displaying their medals and continental trophies, capturing the historic moment that secured the country’s qualification for the world championships.
According to IFAF, Nigeria truly lived up to its reputation as the “Giant of Africa” by sweeping both titles at the continent’s first-ever championship.
The women’s national team claimed the African crown with a convincing 26-12 victory over Morocco, while the men’s team edged host nation Egypt 13-12 in a dramatic final to seal their place in Düsseldorf.
As the only African nation represented in both the men’s and women’s competitions, Nigeria will carry the continent’s hopes when the tournament begins in Germany in August.
The governing body also outlined the enormous challenge awaiting both teams.
Nigeria’s men’s national team has been drawn in a difficult group featuring world number two Austria, Asia champions Japan, and Canada, who finished third at the IFAF Americas Championships. Remarkably, the Nigerian men will face all three opponents for the first time in international competition.
The women’s national team faces an equally daunting assignment, opening its campaign against defending world champions the United States before taking on European bronze medalists Spain and Oceania champions Australia in one of the tournament’s toughest groups.
IFAF also identified two Nigerians expected to play key roles during the championship.
Quarterback Hayes Obinna-Uzoh was named as the player to watch for the men’s national team, while dynamic receiver and rusher Esther Kalu was highlighted as one of the standout performers in the women’s squad.
The world governing body further acknowledged that Düsseldorf 2026 will mark a historic milestone for Nigeria, as both national teams prepare to make their debut at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships.
Nigeria becomes only the second African nation to compete at the global championship, following Cameroon’s historic appearance at the 2024 edition.
The IFAF profile also recognised the coaches leading Nigeria’s campaign, with Ephraim Fagha Faloughi in charge of the men’s national team and Anireju Oritsewehinmi Ayida leading the women’s squad.
The recognition from the world governing body represents another significant moment for Nigerian flag football, reflecting the country’s rapid rise from continental champions to one of the emerging nations to watch on the global stage.
With both national teams already concluding successful domestic preparation matches before departing for further training in Nairobi, Kenya, attention now shifts to Düsseldorf, where Nigeria will seek to justify the confidence shown by IFAF and demonstrate that its dominance in Africa can translate onto the world stage.
For Nigerian players and supporters alike, the official nation profile is more than just a tournament preview—it is international recognition of a journey that has transformed Nigeria into Africa’s standard-bearer in flag football and one of the sport’s fastest-rising forces.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has organized a specialized one-day training program for officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), FCT Command, aimed at strengthening the enforcement of Motor Third-Party Insurance and other compulsory policies across Nigerian roads.
The initiative, held in Abuja, focused on equipping law enforcement officers with advanced skills to fast-track insurance policy verification and eliminate the proliferation of fake insurance certificates.
The training was themed “Building a Culture of Insurance Compliance: Police as Catalysts for Protecting Lives, Property and Enhancing Public Safety.” It was designed to empower officers to promote statutory compliance, verify the authenticity of insurance covers during routine checks, and help deepen public appreciation of insurance benefits.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance/CEO of NAICOM, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, Mr. Ekerete Ola Gam-Ikon underscored the strategic importance of the collaboration between the regulatory body and the NPF.
He noted that effective public safety extends beyond traditional crime prevention to shielding citizens from the severe financial consequences of unforeseen disasters.
“Insurance serves as a vital social and economic safety net, providing protection for individuals, families, businesses, and public institutions against losses arising from accidents, disasters, and other risks,” Mr. Gam-Ikon stated.
He added that the partnership is critical to reducing the high volume of uninsured vehicles on the roads, protecting commuters, curbing the use of counterfeit insurance certificates, and boosting public trust in regulatory institutions. These objectives, he emphasized, directly align with the provisions of the newly enacted Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 and NAICOM’s mandate to deepen market penetration.
The commission highlighted the unique leverage the Nigeria Police Force possesses due to its daily interactions with motorists, business owners, and the public. By strictly enforcing compulsory insurance laws, police officers act as key drivers in reducing accident-related financial hardships and enhancing overall public safety.
During the technical sessions, participants received practical training on:
The core objectives and benefits of compulsory insurance lines.
Standardized digital and manual insurance policy verification procedures.
The foolproof identification of genuine insurance certificates.
The legal framework governing compliance under NIIRA 2025.
The program successfully strengthened the institutional bridge between NAICOM and the NPF, encouraging officers to act not just as law enforcers, but as grassroots advocates for insurance literacy.
Long-Term Commitment
Moving forward, NAICOM reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining close ties with law enforcement and relevant stakeholders to eliminate fake insurance vendors, improve nationwide compliance levels, and position the insurance sector as a meaningful contributor to Nigeria’s economic growth and social stability.
The Commission urged the officers of the FCT Command to champion this cause, fostering an environment where insurance is embraced not merely as a statutory obligation, but as an indispensable tool for safeguarding lives, investments, and livelihoods.
