The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Army arrests four suspected kidnappers in Edo

    Army arrests four suspected kidnappers in Edo

    Men of the 4 Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army, Benin City, have arrested four suspected kidnappers along the Ahor and Uselu-Nahor axis of Uhunmwonde Local Government Area.

    The suspects were arrested after the Army conducted a “cordon and search operation” in both communities after a series of complaints about kidnapping incidents in the area.

    Operation Officer of the 4 Brigade, Captain Victor Adebanjo Omotosho, said the operation was carried out last Sunday.

    Captain Omotosho listed weapons recovered to include one AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, a pump-action gun, and other items.

    He said a Toyota Camry and a Toyota Highlander Jeep were seized during the operation.

    READ ALSO; Emir of Ilorin condemns Eruku Church attack

    Captain Omotosho said the latest arrests were “a positive development in the collective fight to rid Edo State of criminality.”

    The four suspects, Frank Anthony, Endurance Egwasa, Sunday Alex, and Stanley Osazuwa, denied being involved in kidnapping.

    Anthony said he was sleeping when soldiers stormed the house where he was staying.

  • Inner Wheel Nigeria backs campaign to end violence against women, girls

    Inner Wheel Nigeria backs campaign to end violence against women, girls

    Inner Wheel Nigeria has commenced nationwide mobilisation across its six districts and more than 100 clubs as part of the global “Orange the World: End Violence Against Women and Girls” campaign led by UN Women.

    The mobilisation, which is part of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence from November 25 to December 10, will include walkathons, sensitisation drives, school enlightenment programmes, community outreach, and media advocacy aimed at increasing public awareness and pushing for prevention and accountability.

    According to a statement by the national representative and president Inner Wheel Clubs in Nigeria, Mrs. Funmi Ogunsi, the national activities are designed to to help to create a safer environment for women and girls, noting that violence against women is an injury to all that must stop.

    Through partnerships with human rights groups and community organisations, Inner Wheel clubs will engage both men and women in awareness creation. Ogunsi emphasized that the impunity of offenders, victim-stigmatization, and silence around abuse must end.

    READ ALSO; Emir of Ilorin condemns Eruku Church attack

    She urged individuals, institutions and communities across Nigeria to join the movement, to reinforce the campaign’s core message that no woman or girl should live in fear.

    Ogunsi said the colour orange, used throughout the campaign, symbolises hope and a brighter future free from violence. She added that the campaign aligns with Inner Wheel’s long-standing mission of service, international understanding, and advocacy for fairness and justice.

    Citing national statistics, Ogunsi highlighted the urgency of the campaign. The 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey shows that 31% of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, while the 2021 SARC report revealed that 88% of survivors are female, with young people under 18 making up 80% of cases.

    “These statistics call for grave concern and action from all,” she said.

    “I join UN Women, Inner Wheel and other organizations to call upon individuals, institutions, and communities in Nigeria and across the world to take a stand and join this unity of purpose and strength of service; and together amplify this single, powerful message,” Ogunsi stated.

  • Group deepens gender equity reforms

    Group deepens gender equity reforms

    The Rise Up Together, a global social impact organisation, has launched the empowerment of 25 local civil society leaders to drive gender equity reforms.

    The organisation said the initiative has become imperative as a strategic step toward tackling persistent gaps affecting women, girls, and gender-nonconforming people across Nigeria.

    The beneficiaries were drawn from the Federal Capital Territory, Rivers, Anambra, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States to drive lasting change for women, girls, and gender-nonconforming people. 

    According to Theresa Effa, Rise Up Together’s Nigeria Country Director, the organisation’s 2025 Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator is designed to strengthen advocacy, influence policy outcomes, and expand access to health, education, and economic opportunities in their communities.

    She said Rise Up Together noted that the initiative, supported by Cummins Inc, aligns with its broader commitment to advancing gender equity and justice through leadership development and advocacy, adding that the intensive training programme is aimed at preparing them to drive policy and systems change.

    The organisation said the week-long Accelerator is a globally recognised immersive programme that equips participants with the strategies and resources needed to strengthen health, education, and economic opportunities through improved laws, policies, and programmes.

    READ ALSO; Emir of Ilorin condemns Eruku Church attack

    According to the Country Director, the participants will undergo training in leadership, advocacy, policy change, and movement building, after which they will be eligible to apply for competitive grant funding to implement locally led advocacy projects on economic inclusion, education, healthcare access, and women’s rights.

    The organization highlighted past successes of its Nigerian alumni, citing the example of Nsini Udonta, who joined the programme in 2018 and used the training and grant support to expand her work with Project Alert on Violence Against Women.

    Her intervention, according to the organization, contributed to protecting an estimated 4.5 million women and girls from gender-based violence through fast-tracked domestic violence cases in Lagos.

    Rise Up Together said Nsini’s work reflects the ripple effect of its leadership model, which aims to turn dedicated advocates into drivers of long-term policy and social transformation.

    “I became a Rise Up Leader because I want to do more, I want to see changes in policies and practices to actually improve women’s rights,” Nsini said.

    Dr. Nawani Aboki, Executive Director of the Center for Women, Youth and Community Action and one of the facilitators of the 2025 Accelerator, said the programme is designed to enhance the capacity of leaders to influence policy and expand community access to critical services.

    “The energy, creativity, and dedication I’ve seen from Nigerian leaders is truly inspiring – they are poised to lead change that will be felt for generations.

    “During the Accelerator, we will work alongside these leaders to strengthen their advocacy skills and leadership capacity so they can influence policy, expand access to education and health care, and create economic opportunities that truly uplift our local communities,” Aboki said.

    Rise Up Together stated that since 2009, it has built a global network of more than 800 leaders across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the United States, collectively contributing to over 218 new and improved laws and policies benefiting more than 172 million people worldwide.

  • Fight onboard plane: VDM, Mr Jollof risk jail, says NCAA

    Fight onboard plane: VDM, Mr Jollof risk jail, says NCAA

    Social media activist, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, aka Mr Jollof, may face criminal prosecution following their clash aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight on Monday.

    There was chaos on the Asaba-Lagos flight after what started as an argument between the two turned into a fight.

    According to a viral video, crew members and passengers rushed to intervene when the two men exchanged blows.

    Verydarkman posted a video on his Facebook page claiming he had dealt with Mr Jollof during the altercation.

    His post reads, “I don chop Jollof father for inside the plane. He bit me, man, wey de bite,” insisting that he confronted the comedian.

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has condemned the act, noting that the duo would be sanctioned.

    Read Also: VDM, Mr. Jollof handed over to security after clash aboard plane

    In a post on X, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, stated that the conduct of the two influencers aviation violates safety rules.

    “There is no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full strength of the law,” he wrote, adding that it was “even more shameful” given that the pair often preach responsible conduct to millions of followers.

    He said the airline was expected to formally report the matter to the NCAA, after which legal and regulatory actions would follow.

    “There is no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full strength of the law,” the spokesperson tweeted.

    He also highlighted the responsibility of the influencers, saying: “It is even more shameful when one considers both of them partners in educating their millions of followers to avoid unruly behaviour.”

    The spokesperson noted that the airline should report the incident to the NCAA, and legal action would follow.

    “The actions of both men put the safety of all other passengers and the crew at risk. It also put the safety of the aircraft at risk,” he stated.

    He stressed the regulator’s commitment to passenger education, stating, “The NCAA has exerted a lot of energy and resources in educating passengers about the dangers of unruly behaviour and its consequences. In this case, no matter what led to the fracas, there is no excuse that makes it acceptable.”

    Investigation, however, indicated that Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Act, 2022, criminalises such action.

    Under Section 84, acts of violence on board an aircraft that could endanger its safety attract a minimum fine of N2 million or up to five years’ imprisonment, or both.

    Section 85 also reads that, “Whoever, while onboard an aircraft, interferes with a crew member and such interference impedes the performance of the crew member’s duties, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not more than N200,000 or imprisonment for a term of at least two months or both.”

    While the NCAA assesses the situation, VDM and Mr Jollof are likely to pay the fine or face jail terms.

    Meanwhile, United Nigeria Airlines claimed it had handed the duo over to airport security after its crew intervened and deboarded them to maintain safety and order.

    This was made known in a statement on the airline’s official X account on Monday.

    The statement read:  “United Nigeria Airlines confirms that an altercation occurred between two passengers, identified as Martins Vincent Otse ‘VeryDarkman’ and Freedom Okpetoritse Atsepoyi ‘Mr. Jollof’, during the boarding of Flight UN0523 at Asaba International Airport on the morning of 17 November 2025.”

    “In full compliance with global aviation safety protocols, our crew responded immediately and professionally to de-escalate the situation. Both passengers were deboarded without delay to ensure the safety, comfort, and security of all other passengers and crew members. They were subsequently handed over to airport security for further investigation.”

    Reaffirming its safety policies, the carrier added that it placed the highest priority on safety and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any conduct that threatens the security or well-being of passengers or crew.

    “After all standard procedures were completed, the flight departed safely while the passengers involved in the altercation were still with the authorities,” the statement added.

    The airline further assured travellers of its continued commitment to high operational standards, adding: “We remain firmly committed to providing a safe, respectful, and secure travel experience across our network.”

    The clash is believed to be an extension of weeks-long online hostilities between the two personalities.

    Incidents of unruly behaviour, especially physical clashes, have become a spectacle in the aviation sector in the last few months. This has also become a source of concern to passengers and stakeholders who demand decisive action to forestall recurrence.

    It would be recalled that renowned Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, was caught up in an altercation which occurred on Monday, August 5, 2025, during boarding procedures for a ValueJet Airlines flight (Flight VK 201) headed to Lagos.

    In a related development,  Ms. Comfort Emmanson was on August 10, 2025, removed from an Ibom Air flight from Lagos to Uyo after refusing to turn off her phone as instructed by crew members.

    The situation escalated when she became physically aggressive, striking a flight attendant, and had to be restrained and escorted off the aircraft at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

  • Life imprisonment for man who defiled minor

    Life imprisonment for man who defiled minor

    An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a printer, Emmanuel Lakehinde, to life imprisonment for conspiring and defiling his 11-year-old neighbour’s daughter (name withheld) in the bathroom.

    Justice Rahman Oshodi sentenced Lakehinde on the two-count charge of defilement and conspiracy brought against him by the state.

    The convict was initially arraigned alongside one Sesan Oluwole before a Magistrates’ Court, sometime in 2015.

    The second defendant, Oluwole, however, ran away after he was granted bail.

    The first defendant, Lakehinde, thereafter appeared alone in court on July 14, 2022 for arraignment during which he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Justice Oshodi, in his judgment, held that the court was satisfied that the prosecution proved the charge against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.

    According to him, the charge of defilement, which is punishable with life imprisonment, reflects the gravity with which the law views the sexual violation of children, who

    are among the most vulnerable members of our society and who are entitled to protection from predatory conduct by adults.

    Read Also: Okpebholo takes EU ambassadors to monarch

    The judge said the convict exploited his proximity to the survivor who was living in the same compound where he worked to commit the dastardly and heinous crime.

    He therefore held: “You breached the trust that should exist between adults and children.

    “The survivor, whom the prosecution observed during sentencing, is present in court today with her grandfather and was only 11 years old at the time you committed this heinous offence.’’

    “According to the prosecution, the survivor  and her family rejected your request for a plea bargain, reasonably so, because your actions have caused irreparable harm to her, and the trauma resulting from your conduct will stay with her for the rest of her life.

    “While I have considered all matters presented on your behalf, I must weigh these factors against the importance of protecting children, punishing offenders, deterring others from similar offences and sending a firm message that the sexual exploitation of children will not be tolerated in our society.”

    The judge consequently convicted Lakehinde, of the two-count charge and sentenced him to life imprisonment for defilement and10 years jail term for conspiracy.

    The judge, however, said that the sentencing should run concurrently.

    The court also ordered that the convict’s name be entered into the Sex Offenders Register of Lagos State in accordance with sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021.

    During the trial, state lead counsel,  Babajide Boye, called three witnesses; the survivor, her grandfather and a medical officer who gave testimonies and exhibits which were admitted into evidence.

    The convict, however, had testified as a sole witness for defence.

    The prosecution, in one of the counts, submitted that the defendant (with one other still at large) unlawfully had sexual intercourse with an 11-year-old girl on December 12, 2013 on Sanusi Street, Somolu, Lagos.

    According to the prosecution, the offences contravene sections 137 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

  • Army confirms death of soldier attacked by slain madman in Lagos

    Army confirms death of soldier attacked by slain madman in Lagos

    The Nigerian Army yesterday confirmed the death of a soldier who was attacked by a mentally unstable man in the Imota area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

    The attacker, the army said, was killed by other soldiers  who intervened at the scene.

    In a statement, the spokesman for the 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lt.-Col. Musa Yahaya, said the incident occurred around 4pm on November 16.

    According to Yahaya, the mentally unstable man hit the soldier with a log on his head while the personnel were trying to calm a chaotic situation.

    Read Also: Okpebholo takes EU ambassadors to monarch

    “The attacker struck him on the head with a log, inflicting severe injuries. Other soldiers at the scene immediately intervened, neutralised the assailant and recovered the soldier’s weapon.

    “The injured serviceman was rushed to the Ikorodu General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead. He was later buried according to Islamic rites in the presence of the Acting Commanding Officer and other officials of his unit.

    “The Division extended its condolences to the soldier’s family, friends and colleagues, praising his service to the nation,” said the army.

    It added that an investigation has been launched to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident, urging the public to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and avoid spreading unverified information while the probe continues.

  • Lagos CP warns against disruptive activism

    Lagos CP warns against disruptive activism

    • Ikeja Division Gate inaugurated

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, has warned that the Command will not tolerate any form of disruptive activism capable of endangering public peace in the state.

    The warning followed a meeting with an activist, Dr. Segun Awosany, Bernard Onigah and other civic representatives at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja.

    The CP stressed that activism must not be used to justify actions that threaten public order.

    He reaffirmed that Omoyele Sowore remains wanted in Lagos for conduct the Command considers capable of causing chaos.

    He urged Sowore to present himself at any police station, dismissing attempts to engage the police on social media as theatrics that do not address the issues at hand.

    Read Also: Okpebholo takes EU ambassadors to monarch

    Jimoh defended the decision to halt the proposed protest on the Third Mainland Bridge, describing the bridge as critical infrastructure that must be protected from any activity that could compromise safety or economic activity.

    The police boss also inaugurated the new access gate and other facilities at the Ikeja Divisional Headquarters.

    The project is expected to ease movement within the premises and improve operational efficiency, especially as the Division and Area F had previously shared a single entry point.

    He lauded the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Akinwunmi Oke, for conceptualising and delivering the project, adding that the Command remains committed to upgrading infrastructure that supports effective policing across the state.

  • CSOs urge Tinubu to ban fuel importation

    CSOs urge Tinubu to ban fuel importation

    • Issue seven-day ultimatum to energy sector’s saboteurs

    The Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association in Nigeria (BAVCCA) and Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) have called on President Bola Tinubu to ban the importation of petrol to safeguard the nation’s oil sector independence.

    The groups also urged the President to direct that only locally refined products be sold in Nigeria as long as local production exceeds demand.

    The organisations said Dangote Refinery can meet the country’s petroleum needs, urging Nigerians to guard the refinery’s jealousy as it is more of a national asset.

    Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, BAVCCA National President, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere and COCSON National President, Husseini Abubakar also issued a warning to saboteurs of Nigeria’s energy independence.

    They noted that the suspension of the 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel was a direct attack on local refineries.

    The groups alleged that the suspension of the implementation of the policy was being orchestrated by a powerful cartel of fuel importers, oil trading cabals, and their collaborators inside and outside the government who are terrified that their decades-long multi-trillion-naira racket is collapsing before their very eyes.

    “Just when Nigerians should be enjoying the fruits of self-sufficiency, we woke up to the shocking news that the Federal Government has suspended the recently imposed 15% import duty on petroleum products until the first quarter of 2026. This is not policy, this is sabotage disguised as relief.

    “This suspension effectively makes imported fuel cheaper than locally refined fuel, thereby creating an artificial price advantage for importers and rendering modular and large-scale local refineries uncompetitive,” the organisations said.

    Read Also: Okpebholo takes EU ambassadors to monarch

    The groups argued that Dangote Refinery was loading and dispatching more than 104 million litres of refined petroleum products daily, over 57 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Jet fuel 20 million litres and 27 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) totaling 104 million litres of petroleum products.

    They added that the volume exceeds Nigeria’s total national daily consumption of 70–75 million litres.

    “The Dangote Refinery is not Aliko Dangote’s personal property, it is a national asset. We, the people, will defend it with everything we have. Through our platforms, our voices, our protests if necessary, and our votes, we will ensure that no cabal succeeds in turning back the clock on Nigeria’s progress,” the organisations said.

    They urged the government to set up a special task force to investigate and prosecute economic saboteurs in the downstream sector.

    “Fellow Nigerians, the battle for affordable fuel, stable economy, and true independence has entered its final stage. This is not Dangote’s fight alone – it is our fight.

    “We will not relent. We will not surrender. We will win,” the groups said.

  • Police, task force arrest over 31 cult-suspects in Edo, Delta

    Police, task force arrest over 31 cult-suspects in Edo, Delta

    Operatives of the Edo State Special Security Squad codenamed “Operation Flush Out Kidnapping and Cultism” have arrested 31 suspects in Uromi, Esan Northeast Local Government Area.

    The arrests followed violent clashes between rival cult groups in which one person was critically injured.

    Chief Security Officer/Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo, stormed residences occupied by suspected members of the Black Axe and Eiye confraternities.

    Squad Coordinator, Idemudia Noah, said two ringleaders, identified as Gift and Ache, were on the run.

    He said their properties have been sealed pending further investigations.

    Noah said the suspects had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Area Command Headquarters Uromi, for interrogation.

    “Edo State will not serve as a haven for criminals. We are committed to safeguarding our communities and restoring public confidence,” he said.

    Also, the Delta State Police Command has arrested suspected cultists and recovered firearms in Agbor and Warri in separate operations.

    The operations, carried out between November 8 and 16, led to the and the seizure of an abandoned tricycle laden with weapons and mobile devices.

    Read Also: Okpebholo takes EU ambassadors to monarch

    In a statement, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Abaniwonda Olufemi, commended the officers involved for their prompt and coordinated response, maintaining that the crackdown on criminality remained unwavering.”

    The statement, which was signed by Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe said on November 16, surveillance operatives of ‘B’ Division, Warri, spotted a tricyclist riding aggressively against traffic on Arubi Street, off Deco Road, prompting officers to pursue the tricycle, which sped into the First Marine Quarters before being abandoned by the rider and two passengers.

    A search of the abandoned tricycle led to the recovery of two local double-barrelled guns, nine assorted mobile phones, four power banks, and a screwdriver.

    Following the discoveries, ‘B’ Division has intensified stop-and-search across key routes in Warri to prevent further criminal activities.

    Earlier relying on credible intelligence on November 8, operatives attached to the Agbor Division stormed Ojeifo Street by Iduwe, Agbor, where suspected members of the Eiye Confraternity were reportedly assembling.

    According to the Command, two notorious cult members—Agu Nnamdi and Promise Banco—were arrested at the scene.

  • NOA trains 500 Correctional Service officials in Lagos

    NOA trains 500 Correctional Service officials in Lagos

    To boost their service delivery, the National Orientation Agency (NoA) has trained 500 Nigeria Correctional Centre officials in Lagos.

    The programme, held yesterday at the Corrections Training College, Kirikiri, had participants drawn from the commands across the country.

    The trainer, who is the Special Assistant on Intergovernmental Relations, to the Director-General, Sherifat Adegbesan, said the training was based on the Nigerian Identity Project.

    “This is centred around the National Values Charter, which is like a social contract between Nigeria and the citizens. Now, with the Correctional Centre in Kirikiri, the training centre, what we are doing is giving them that orientation, the understanding of what the National Values Charter is about. And this is not just an NOA project, the Federal Executive Council-approved the National Values Charter just last year. And all institutions, military, paramilitary, every Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), have to undergo this training on the Charter, which is part of the Nigerian Identity Project.’’

    She said the officers were expected to carry out their duties with diligence, care, emulating, and embedding the ‘’7 for 7’’ programme, the Nigerian promise and Citizen’s Code in their duties. “When they’re carrying out their duties  daily, they must abide by the National Values Charter because this is what will help us build Nigeria,’’ she added.

    Read Also: Okpebholo takes EU ambassadors to monarch

    She said the training was not just specific to Lagos Correctional Service. “We completed one last week in Kaduna. So, we are going to all their seven training establishments across the Federation. And it’s not just the correctional centre. We’ve had training with EFCC.”

     We’re going to the military, we’re going to the Navy, we’re going everywhere because this is a Federal Government, as a Federal Executive Council, I’ve mandated that this training must carry on. So, Lagos State is the second one. Our next stop is Enugu. And as time goes on, we’re rolling it into the private sector. Even schools have started undergoing this training. And if you will notice, the curriculum has been changed. We now have what we call citizenship studies in the curriculum. This is part of it as well. So we’re catching our youths, and we’re catching the adults, and especially civil servants as well.

     Adegbesan said aside from educating the paramilitaries in the vocational centres, efforts would be made to train inmates as well on the acquisition of vocational skills and ethics.

    She hoped that this would reduce the stigmatisation of ex-convicts to enable them to live well after serving their terms.

    NOA Lagos Director, Dr. Mustapha Tukur, praised the service for playing a major role in role building. He said the training was taken to the centre to enable their officers hone their skills in service delivery.

    The college’s Commandant, Controller of Corrections (CC) Sunday Kolawole Olatunde said the training was  signifiucant as it would afford the trainees the opportunity to get more enlightenment on government’s activities. He advised the trainees to take the training more seriously to enable them to gain from it.

    At the event was the Controller, Peace Keeping,Training and Development, CC Ezinne Onuoha, as well as management staff members of the centre.