The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Ogun secures conviction of three ritual killers

    Ogun secures conviction of three ritual killers

    The Ogun State Ministry of Justice has secured the conviction of three ritual killers in the Kugba axis of Abeokuta, the state capital. 

    A staty by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the State, Mr. Oluwasina  Ogungbade SAN, identified the convicts as Mustakeem Balogun, Soliudeen Majekodunmi and Lukmon Abdulgafar.

    The three are to face the full wrath of the law owing to their gruesome act of killing a teenager, Sofia Okeowo, for ritual purposes. 

    The government noted that the conviction would curtail, if not completely eradicate, the unwholesome practice of human ritualism in the state. 

    The dastardly act of the convicts which occurred on January 28th 2022, saw Mustakeem Balogun lured 16 year old Sofia to have canal knowledge of her and later strangled her in  preparatory for a premeditated money ritual.

    The Commissioner further stated the current administration’s  determination  not give any room for crime to thrive, promoted the state efforts towards securing the conviction of the three criminals, so as to serve as deterrent to other ritualists

    Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi were sentenced to death by hanging, while Lukmon Abdulgafar received a life sentence.

  • Expert seeks domestication of disability law in Ekiti

    Expert seeks domestication of disability law in Ekiti

    President of the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET), Dr. Cathrine Atteng, has urged Ekiti Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji to urgently establish a special commission for persons with disability and domesticate disability law which former President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law since 2019.

    Atteng made the call at the 36 annual conference of the association which was hosted by Oyebanji, on June 17, at Lady Jibowu Hall, Adoekiti, Ekiti State.

    According to her, creation of the special commission, domestication of the disability law and establishment of rehabilitation centres in each of the three senatorial districts in Ekiti state would help to unleash leadership potential in persons living with disability and make them to be self-reliant in the society.

    The special education expert thanked Oyebanji for being so friendly to persons with special needs by giving them due consideration in his government.

    She also lauded the Governor’s strive in building infrastructure that met the yawning and needs of persons living with disabilities in the state.

    Atteng stated the theme of the 2025 conference: “Transformative Solution and Inclusive Education for Learners with Disabilities” is meant to tailor education to meet individual’s abilities, leveraging on assistive technologies to facilitate learner’s development and curricular that reflected their vast experiences and perspectives.

    Oyebanji was conferred with prestigious special award fellow of NASET at the event, following his positive impact on the lives of individuals living with disabilities, as well as professionals working with them in particular and special education in general.

    The governor was honored alongside with some of its committed members one of whom was Mr Akinbode Olaoye who could not hide his excitement and joy after receiving the fellowship.

    According to NASET’s President, the fellowship was in recognition of Akinbode’s unwavering commitment and dedication  to the service of persons with disabilities in Nigeria and beyond. 

    The awardee over a decade years of extra-ordinary leadership, innovation,  commitment and services to persons with disabilities were spelled out in his teaching and advocacy for persons with visual impairment, continuous support for braille literacy programmes and organisations. 

    Worthy of note was his active participation and contributions to the adaptation of Nigeria’s nine year basic education curriculum for learners with special needs and ongoing on the reform of Yoruba braille codes.

    As a scholar, Akinbode has authored four book chapter and won multimillion naira funded Researches, attended and presented papers in local and international conferences. 

    In response, Akinbode, together with other awardees reaffirmed their commitment to the association and betterment and advocacy of inclusive education in Nigeria.

  • NSITF pays ₦86m compensation to Seplat family, begins monthly support

    NSITF pays ₦86m compensation to Seplat family, begins monthly support

    The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) on Friday presented a lump-sum Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) cheque of ₦86,028, 283.30 to Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited (formerly Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited) at Seplat House, in Lagos.

    The payment will be followed by ₦1,107,667.30 every month for the deceased employee’s spouse until the couple’s only child reaches the age of 21, in line with Section 29 of the Employees’ Compensation Act.

    “Our reforms are cutting processing times and ensuring that bereaved families receive what the law guarantees without delay,” said Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, Managing Director, NSITF. “Today’s payment underlines our mandate to provide real, timely protection for Nigerian workers in high-risk sectors such as oil and gas.”

    Read Also: NSITF pays N31m medical bills of Nestle staff

    Oladotun Isiaka, Managing Director, Seplat Energy, welcomed the Fund’s swift action: “It is reassuring to see a government institution live out its statutory mandate. We contribute about ₦1.7 billion to the Fund each year with the expectation that, should the unexpected occur, families will be compensated quickly. NSITF has met that expectation today.”

    The ₦86 million payout is the largest compensation package issued in Lagos so far this year, surpassing the ₦15.5 million paid to the family of a Medplus employee in June.

    NSITF says it settled 22,350 claims in 2024, crediting its ongoing process overhaul, part of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with reducing turnaround times and expanding coverage.

    The Fund also continues a nationwide ECS compliance campaign across industries including manufacturing, construction, maritime, and healthcare.

    Barr. Faleye called on all employers, especially in high-risk sectors, to comply with ESC guidelines. “Compliance is not a cost,” he said. “It is an investment in workforce welfare and corporate reputation.”

  • BBYDI launches HerSafeSpace Chatbot “Kemi”

    BBYDI launches HerSafeSpace Chatbot “Kemi”

    In a groundbreaking stride toward digital justice and online safety, the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) has launched “Kemi”, a survivor-centered, AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot co-created by survivors to support individuals facing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV).

    The launch event, held at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton in Abuja and supported by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, brought together global development leaders, policymakers, civil society advocates, and youth voices from across West and Central Africa.

    With the theme “Championing Digital Safety for Women and Girls Across West and Central Africa,” the event served not only as a platform to unveil innovative digital tools, but as a powerful reminder of the urgency to address rising online violence through localized, survivor-informed interventions.

    Too many survivors suffer in silence not because they want to, but because the systems meant to protect them are often inaccessible or untrustworthy,” said Nurah Jimoh-Sanni (Esq.), Executive Director of BBYDI, in her opening address.

    “Kemi is different. It listens without judgment, supports without delay, and was co-created by survivors themselves. It reflects our belief that safety online is not a luxury, it is a right.

    The launch of Kemi followed the results of BBYDI’s multi-country survey conducted earlier in 2025 across six countries Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, and Senegal. The survey revealed that 92% of respondents, mostly women, had experienced some form of TFGBV, including cyberbullying, non-consensual image sharing, and doxxing. Alarmingly, less than half ever reported these experiences.

    Survivors cited stigma, fear of blame, and lack of trust in support systems as major barriers to seeking help.

    “This wasn’t just about identifying a problem,” noted Olasupo Abideen Opeyemi, BBYDI’s Global Director, who led the development and launch of Kemi.

    “We held 41 feedback and testing workshops across the region to ensure that the solution we created wasn’t just high-tech, it was high-trust.” From research to real-time support, our approach ensures that no survivor is left behind

    Kemi is available in multiple local languages and guides users through discreet conversations about online abuse, self-help strategies, and available support resources completely confidentially.

    Read Also: BBYDI trains Oyo LG officials on transparency, citizen engagement 

    Alongside Kemi, BBYDI unveiled several new knowledge products designed to strengthen the response ecosystem to TFGBV. These include:

    ·       The Methodological Report on TFGBV Database Development in West and Central Africa

    ·       TFGBV in Nigeria: Mapping Harms, Gaps and Pathways to Justice

    ·       Power and Influence in Addressing TFGBV in Nigeria

    ·       HerSafeSpace: Digital Safety Manual

    ·       Staying Safe With Tao: A Guidebook on Becoming a Digital Champion

    Each resource draws from field data, survivor testimony, and community consultation to equip stakeholders with actionable strategies to prevent and respond to online violence.

    A highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Male Allyship Programme, a strategic platform for involving men and boys in dismantling the structures that sustain online and offline violence.

    The inaugural cohort included leading public figures and advocates such as:

    ·       Jaye Gaskia, Political Analyst

    ·       Noel Alumona, Founder, Boys Champions

    ·       Rotimi Olawale, Executive Director, YouthHubAfrica

    ·       Mac Imoni Amarere, Board Member, ActionAid Nigeria

    ·       Mustapha Sheu, Development Expert

    ·       Hamzat Lawal, CEO, Connected Development

    ·       Hussaini Abdul, Save the Children International

    ·       Olajide Funsho Benjamin, Founder, Disability Not a Barrier Initiative

    ·       Amara Nwankpa, Acting DG, Yar’Adua Foundation

    “The Allyship Programme is about action, not applause,” Nurah Jimoh-Sanni emphasized.

    “We are putting the responsibility on male leaders to be advocates, educators, and defenders of safe digital spaces.”

    Delivering the keynote address, Madam Ketty Regis, Gender Equality Attaché at the French Embassy in Nigeria, praised BBYDI’s work as a “brilliant demonstration of what innovation can achieve when it is rooted in empathy, data, and human rights.”

    The event also featured a powerful spoken word performance, a short documentary chronicling BBYDI’s interventions, and a vibrant panel discussion on AI, Inclusion, and Allyship, moderated by Halimat Olufade, Programme Director at BBYDI.

    Kemi represents more than a technological milestone, it is a testament to what can happen when the people most affected by a problem are empowered to create the solution.

    “We are not here just to launch a chatbot,” said Olasupo Abideen during his closing remarks.

    “We are here to launch a movement, one where survivors are seen, heard, and supported, and where technology becomes a tool for justice, not harm.”

  • Tinubu is working hard to rebuild Nigerian —Idimogu

    Tinubu is working hard to rebuild Nigerian —Idimogu

    Honourable Jude Chukwuemeka Omobowale Idimogu, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his relentless efforts to rebuild Nigeria, describing him as a leader with a deep understanding of the nation’s challenges.

    Idimogu also showered praises on the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her unwavering support for the President and her numerous humanitarian interventions.

    He cited her recent ₦1 billion donation to victims of attacks and vulnerable persons in Plateau State as a clear example of her compassion and commitment to social welfare.

    Speaking on the state of the nation, Idimogu acknowledged that while it may take time to fully address Nigeria’s problems, President Tinubu is laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth. He noted the visible progress in road infrastructure across the country, pointing to the steady awarding of contracts and construction of both new and existing roads.

    Dismissing the emerging political coalition spearheaded by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Rauf Aregbesola, Nasir El-Rufai, and Peter Obi, Idimogu predicted it would disintegrate before the 2027 general election. He expressed confidence that the alliance lacks the cohesion to unseat Tinubu, asserting that it might win a few legislative seats but cannot produce the next president.

    The APC chieftain, who also serves as Deputy Leader of Ndigbo in APC, Lagos State, urged southern politicians to rally behind Tinubu just as the North did for former President Muhammadu Buhari, emphasising the need for political unity in the South.

    Idimogu concluded that Tinubu’s destiny is tied to the transformation of Nigeria and confidently predicted his return as President in 2027, citing his strategic leadership and growing infrastructural achievements.

    “As a true democrat, Tinubu did his best in supporting and encouraging the last administration, hoping it would get things better. Unfortunately, it did very little because you could only take a horse to the river, but you couldn’t drink the water.

    “Today, he is in the driver’s seat to bring out that Midas touch in him, to correct the wrongs which though cannot be achieved so easily. Let’s allow him to do eight years and see if Nigeria will not flourish, be respected again all over the world and be the envy of every nation.

    “If you have observed what the First Lady is doing, such could only be equated to the days of Late Miriam Babangida, her Better Life for Rural Women initiative. Miriam used the office of the First Lady to touch many lives, support children, youths and the deprived. She used it to conscientize women into politics and leadership.

    “It was during the period of Mrs Babangida that the voice of women in Nigeria became audible and audacious.

    Read Also: Senate to Tinubu: approve N200m compensation for family of toddler killed in NDLEA’s raid

    “We are seeing what the First Lady is doing today by supporting the youth, the needy, deprived people and displaced persons,” Idimogu State

    “The recent donation of ₦1 billion to victims of the recent attacks and less privileged persons in parts of Plateau State is a testament to her untiring efforts to alleviate and give a helping hand to the weak in society.”

    The ex-lawmaker said, “As a mother of the nation, she is so burdened with the challenges of children, youths and mothers, especially the girl child.”

    On the adoption of ADC by Atiku and other members of the coalition, the former lawmaker said it’s their choice, “everyone has the freedom to join any political association to find space and relevance, which I know Asiwaju as a true democrat will never be a stumbling block to.”

    Idimogu said, “APC is a very big party and with Asiwaju as the leader, it will be very hard for any party or even coalition to defeat it in 2027.

     ”Asiwaju is not a pushover. He had said that this is a thirty-year dream of sustained commitment, hard work, followership, resilience and tolerance. It never came so cheap as such; he will never take the trust of Nigerians for granted.

    “We are not unmindful that politics is about interest and that there is no permanent friend or permanent enemy. Let them gather, by the grace of God, they cannot unseat Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is the truth. If such a gang-up could fail in the 2022/2023 election, I don’t see it succeeding now.

    “Tinubu I know, is a master strategist, who knows the success path in politics. He has seen it all. He doesn’t put his hand into what he is not sure of.

    “Like he reminded us in 2022, he has been a kingmaker all the while and has decided to be a king this time, you know what that means?”

    Idimogu, the first non-indigene to do a two-term representation outside his state in a House of Assembly in Nigeria, posited that the much the coalition could achieve would be to produce some lawmakers, but not the president. “I have no doubt in the success of Tinubu at the polls come 2027, he is a destiny child. Tinubu will return as President. I pray for him and wish him well. God will do it for him,” Idimogu said.

    “Recall that in December 2021, towards the build-up to the 2023 election, I said it without mincing words that Tinubu was the only candidate prepared for the presidency among all the southern contenders. Asiwaju is a detribalized man who doesn’t see your tribe or religion before he carries you along like he did with people like us.

    “I could recall positing, ‘We are not saying he is coming to solve all the numerous accumulated problems. He is not a magician. It would still take a process and critical thinking, as well as collaborative support, to actualise his agenda of offering good leadership. Let’s pray for him and support him to rebuild Nigeria.” Idimogu stated.

  • NOA, EFCC launch nationwide campaign to tackle cybercrime, promote financial integrity

    NOA, EFCC launch nationwide campaign to tackle cybercrime, promote financial integrity

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are set to roll out a nationwide sensitisation campaign aimed at curbing cybercrime and fostering a culture of financial responsibility among Nigerians.

    The partnership was announced by the NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a public lecture organised by the EFCC in commemoration of the African Union Anti-Corruption Day.

    According to a statement by the NOA Deputy Director of Communications and Media, Mr. Paul Odenyi, the campaign will focus on combating the growing threat of virtual asset scams and investment fraud.

    A Digital Awareness Campaign is expected to be launched across strategically selected states identified by vulnerability indicators such as high youth population, prevalence of fraud, and exposure to digital risks.

    Read Also: Senator Natasha docked on cybercrime charges

    As part of the initiative, NOA will also implement a youth-focused programme designed to promote ethical entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and informed decision-making, particularly among young Nigerians vulnerable to online scams and get-rich-quick schemes.

    Issa-Onilu further highlighted the agency’s broader efforts in crime prevention, including the use of its AI-powered anonymous reporting platform, CLHEEAN, which allows citizens to report criminal activities directly to relevant security agencies.

    EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, reaffirmed the Commission’s strong collaboration with NOA in raising public awareness on anti-corruption efforts and urged Nigerians to support the fight against financial crimes.

    The event drew participation from top officials, including the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr. Emomotimi Agama; the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji; representatives of the Women Society of Nigeria; and various civil society organisations.

  • Experts, stakeholders call for stronger action to address malnutrition, food insecurity

    Experts, stakeholders call for stronger action to address malnutrition, food insecurity

    Nutrition and agriculture experts, civil society leaders, lawmakers, and development partners have called on the Nigerian government at all levels to scale up efforts to combat malnutrition and food insecurity. 

    Speaking in Abuja at the National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security, convened by the House of Representatives, the stakeholders urged targeted policy reforms, enhanced farmer protection, and improved coordination across tiers of government to address worsening hunger and undernutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups.

    The summit, themed “Curbing Malnutrition and Food Insecurity Through Effective Synergies,” drew participation from policymakers, development partners, agriculture and nutrition experts, and civil society groups.

    While the stakeholders acknowledged the progress achieved so far, they emphasised that much more remains to be done, particularly at the State and Local levels, to safeguard farmers, expand access to nutritious food, and scale up sustainable, community-based nutrition initiatives.

    Vice President Kashim Shettima, who declared the summit open, reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling food insecurity, citing initiatives such as the N774 Project and the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security as existing frameworks that could be strengthened to improve nutrition outcomes.

    Represented by Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Shettima acknowledged the contributions of development partners, including the World Bank, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, GAIN, and Nutrition International, particularly their roles in community-based interventions such as the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project. 

    ANRiN is Nigeria’s largest-ever investment in nutrition, which provided essential nutrition services to over 13.7 million women, children, and adolescents across 12 high-burden states between 2019 and 2024. 

    With more than $138 million in World Bank funding, the project used both state systems and performance-based contracts with non-state actors to reach its targets.

    “Malnutrition is depriving about 40 percent of Nigerian children under five of their full physical and cognitive potential. We must continue to act collectively to reverse this trend,” the VP noted.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said the summit was part of a broader move by the National Assembly to strengthen food and nutrition policy through legislation, oversight, and partnership with subnational governments. 

    “Credible estimates place the annual economic cost at approximately $56b, this compels us to move beyond rhetoric to concrete, sustained interventions,” he said.

    Dr. Michael Ojo, Country Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), warned that while Nigeria produces significant quantities of food, the country’s population growth continues to outpace its food production capacity. 

    Read Also: Chief of Army Staff advocates ranching to address food insecurity

    “We produce a lot of food, but our population is growing faster than our food output,” he said. 

    He also identified climate change and insecurity as critical challenges undermining food production and access, noting, “Unfortunately, in recent years, production capacity has reduced because of insecurity and other factors such as climate change.”

    He stressed that Nigeria’s food insecurity crisis goes beyond food quantity, pointing to widespread deficiencies in food quality and nutrition. 

    While urging more subnational action, Ojo said, “It is one thing to produce food, and another to ensure it is nutritious. So, when we talk about malnutrition, we are also talking about food and nutrition insecurity. We are dealing with a double-headed problem. 

    “The federal government can make policy, but the real action lies with the states and local governments.”

    Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, expressed concern about the devastating economic impact of malnutrition. 

    He noted that data from the World Bank and Nutrition International estimates that Nigeria loses about $56 billion annually, representing 12.2 percent of its Gross National Income to malnutrition.

    He said food insecurity is further worsened by post-harvest losses amounting to $2 billion annually, more than the combined nutrition budgets of key federal ministries.

    He added that farmer displacement due to insecurity has further deepened food shortages. 

    “There is a linkage between abandoned farms, rising food costs, malnutrition and hunger. We need to ensure that both federal and state governments prioritise the protection of farmlands to allow displaced farmers to return to their livelihoods,” Okafor said.

    On behalf of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Olufemi Dare, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, called for the immediate adoption of ranching as a national policy, saying open grazing is no longer sustainable. 

    “Even if all security agencies are deployed to the farms, they cannot cover every farmland,” he said, urging the National Assembly to enact legislation banning open grazing and supporting alternatives for herders.

  • NGO empowers women in oil producing communities

    NGO empowers women in oil producing communities

    The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD )is set to empower women from oil producing communities in Anambra, Imò, Akwa Ibom, Abia and Cross River States. 

    The non-governmental organisation revealed this in Uyo  during its two-day programme tagged ‘Livelihood Support Training for Women in Frontline Extractive Communities (WIFE)’.

    The programme  aims  to empower women with the skills and knowledge needed to manage their own cooperatives and improve their livelihoods.

    Executive Director, Centre LSD, Mr. Monday Osasah, said  the training program is designed to support sustainable, women-led solutions in extractive communities.

    In his words  “The training is not just about bringing women together, It is about how to lift women out of poverty and promote economic development in their communities.

    “In many extractive communities across the Niger Delta, women like you face daily challenges such as loss of farmland, polluted water, and fewer ways to earn income. Yet, despite these struggles, women continue to work hard to feed their families, support one another, and build better futures.

    READ ALSO; Russia offers to increase scholarships for Nigerian students 

    “This training is part of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development’s (Centre LSD) effort to support sustainable, women-led solutions. Over the next three days, you will learn how to: Understand and form your own women’s cooperative Keep simple records of savings and loans Manage and grow money through savings and small business ideas, Work with other women to create a strong support system in your community.

    “This manual is your guide. It contains short lessons, stories from women like you, and group activities to help you think, plan, and act. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need an open heart, a clear mind, and the courage to start something new.

    “By the end of this training. you will be equipped to lead a local cooperative, support other women, and take the first step towards a more secure and independent livelihood. you and your group.

    Also speaking, Dr. Vincent Dania, Project Manager for the programme, highlighted the challenges faced by women in extractive communities. “The situation of women in these communities is deplorable and very sad, They are marginalized and vulnerable, and their livelihoods are often affected by pollution and loss of land.”

    He said the programme aims to empower women with the skills and knowledge needed to manage their own cooperatives and access funding from government programs. “We are hoping that what we want to do is to catalyze the process such that the cooperative will have run even after the lifetime of this project,” Dr. Dania said.

    One of the participants, Dr. Happiness, President of River Swimming Cooperative Federation Alliance Limited, expressed her gratitude for the training program. “I’m happy to be here because this training is helping me. I will reach out to more people and help them understand the importance of cooperatives.”

    Our correspondent reports that the training programme covered topics such as cooperative formation, financial management, and entrepreneurship. Participants are expected to understand how to keep records of savings and loans, manage and grow money through savings and small business ideas, and create a strong support system.

  • Journalist petitions police over harassment by businessman

    Journalist petitions police over harassment by businessman

    A senior journalist, Dr. Mbonu-Amadi Osadebe Chiedozie, has petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade, urging a thorough investigation into alleged threats to his life and continued harassment by a Lagos-based businessman, Kingsley Akamere.

    Dr. Mbonu-Amadi, who is the Arts Editor and Deputy Chairman of the Editorial Board at Vanguard Newspapers, accused Akamere, a solar equipment dealer at Alaba International Market, of refusing to fulfill his obligation to settle his nephew, Chimobi Mbonu, after a four-year apprenticeship.

    He also alleged that the businessman had launched a campaign of intimidation and defamation against both him and Chimobi, adding that he even caused the arrest of his nephew on trumped allegations.

    According to the petition, Chimobi was placed in Akamere’s care in 2021 under the traditional Igbo apprenticeship system. Upon completion of his service in late 2024, instead of receiving the agreed settlement, he was allegedly evicted from Akamere’s home and attempts made to send him back to his village without explanation.

    Disturbed by the development, Dr. Mbonu-Amadi said he intervened and took Chimobi into his care. However, he claimed Akamere began threatening him, boasting of having police officers, soldiers, and street thugs at his disposal to deal with him and his family.

    The journalist detailed how Akamere later showed up at Vanguard’s premises, demanded that he sign an undertaking over Chimobi’s custody, and advised him to “send the boy away” and “give him N5,000” to avoid further problems.

    Read Also: Police summon Iyabo Ojo over alleged cyberbullying

    “It was the most absurd advice I had ever received—an outsider telling me to cast away my own nephew,” he wrote.

    Dr. Mbonu-Amadi further accused Akamere of launching a smear campaign against Chimobi, including circulating a public notice bearing his photograph and warning others not to transact with him, an action he described as defamatory and damaging to the young man’s efforts to make a living.

    The situation escalated on June 25 when Chimobi and two other former apprentices were arrested by the police allegedly on Akamere’s instigation. They were accused of conspiring with a current apprentice to defraud the businessman of N22 million. The journalist, however, claimed that one of the accused, Favour, later sent a voice note confessing that Akamere had instructed him to fabricate the allegations, which he refused to do.

  • NAF kills several bandits in convoy airstrikes

    NAF kills several bandits in convoy airstrikes

    • Troops repel bandits in Kebbi, arrest kingpin in Nasrrawa

    Several terrorists were killed when the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) bombed their convoy near Yarbuga in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    According to NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the strikes were conducted on July 9, based on real-time intelligence indicating the movement of nearly 150 motorcycles, each carrying about two armed terrorists, in the area.

    Ejodame said: “After positive identification confirming the hostile presence, NAF aircraft engaged the convoy with devastating accuracy.”

    He explained that survivors were seen fleeing on foot and on motorcycles as air assets maintained persistent surveillance and executed follow-up strikes, effectively disrupting the enemy’s withdrawal routes.

    According to him, after the airstrikes, ground troops yesterday conducted a follow-up exploit mission to Yarbuga village.

    “At the scene, remains of scores of terrorists and their weapons were found in the area, along with several burnt motorcycles,” Ejodame said.

    Read Also: NAF neutralises scores of terrorists in strikes on logistics base

    Also, the NAF 223 Light Battalion, Zuru, has successfully repelled a  bandits’ attack on Ribah town in Danko/ Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi.

    A statement signed by the Director of Security, Cabinet Office, Abdulrahman Zagga, in Birnin Kebbi, yesterday, said that the attempted assault occurred on Wednesday and involved over 400 bandits seeking to overrun the area.

    ”A fierce gun battle ensued between the troops and the attackers, resulting in the elimination of many of the bandits. While some of the assailants managed to retrieve the corpses of their fallen comrades, others were left behind along with a cache of recovered weapons,” he said.

    Zagga commended the bravery and resilience of the NAF in successfully repelling the attacks, explaining that the superior combat skills and determination of the troops turned the tide in their favour in spite of the threat posed by the large number of bandits initially.

    He also acknowledged the swift intervention of the Nigerian Air Force whose fighter jet provided critical air support, bombing the fleeing bandits and inflicting heavy casualties. Though the gunfire caused initial panic and confusion within the community, the situation has since been brought under control and normalcy fully restored.