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Category: News

  • 2Baba: I wish I could correct my past mistakes

    2Baba: I wish I could correct my past mistakes

    Afrobeats singer, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has admitted that he made some mistakes in his past, both in his career and personal life.

    In a recent interview on the Mic On podcast, the music legend expressed regret over certain decisions, stating, “There are so many things I wish I could rewind and do better. As a human being, there are times when you are overwhelmed.”

    Read Also: Wizkid, Fela comparison ‘ridiculous’ – 2Baba

    2Baba attributed some of his mistakes to being overwhelmed and making poor decisions, adding that his “thick-skin is weaker now.”

    He also addressed an alleged altercation with his wife, Natasha Osawaru, in London, taking responsibility for his actions. “I was angry that day. It was an unfortunate incident,” he said.

  • Obi Cubana urges youths to cash on Tinubu’s programmes for future power transfer

    Obi Cubana urges youths to cash on Tinubu’s programmes for future power transfer

    The South-East Coordinator of the City Boy Movement (CBM), Chief Obi Cubana, has urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s youth-focused programmes and policies as a pathway to future leadership and power transfer.

    He said the president has shown a strong commitment to youth development, expressing confidence that political leadership would, in time, pass to the younger generation after the current administration.

    Cubana spoke in Abuja shortly after he was formally decorated as South-East Coordinator of the City Boy Movement by the group’s Director-General, Mr Francis Oluwatosin Shoga.

    The entrepreneur and socialite called on young Nigerians to engage in issue-based politics that would prepare them for leadership responsibilities at the national level.

    “At some point, power will be handed over, and there is no other group to hand it over to than the youth,” Cubana said, urging young people to begin positioning themselves for higher responsibilities.

    Read Also: Elui praises Seyi Tinubu for appointing Obi Cubana to City Boy Movement role

    He added that under President Tinubu, a “wind of change” was sweeping through Nigeria’s political space, describing it as a positive development that should be embraced with focus and resilience by the youth.

    Cubana further urged young people and his supporters to remain steadfast, avoid distractions and commit themselves to constructive engagement, stressing that discipline and consistency were essential to long-term success.

    Earlier, while formally welcoming Cubana, the Director-General of the City Boy Movement, Mr Shoga, noted the large turnout of supporters at the event, describing it as evidence of the movement’s growing momentum.

    “We are proud to have you as a leader in the South-East, and we believe a lot of things are going to change,” Shoga said.

    He explained that the movement is focused on reshaping the political consciousness of young Nigerians, stressing that active participation is key to changing the national narrative.

    “If you are not involved, you can’t change the story,” he said.

    Shoga explained that the Movement is working towards grooming young business leaders and professionals for key political positions ahead of the 2027 general elections, including governorship, legislative, and ministerial roles.

    Handing over the South East leadership responsibilities of the group to Cubana, the DG said the new coordinator has a big task ahead of him, stressing that he could not afford to disappoint the Movement. 

    Shoga then called for unity and increased youth participation in politics, as other speakers at the event urged young Ni gerians to organise, engage constructively, and prepare to play decisive roles in shaping the country’s future.

  • Police in Enugu recover truck snatched from Delta

    Police in Enugu recover truck snatched from Delta

    The Police Command in Enugu State has recovered a truck reportedly snatched at gunpoint in Delta, while intensifying manhunt for fleeing suspects.

    This is contained in a statement by the Command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on Friday in Enugu.

    Ndukwe said that operatives of the Command attached to Awgu Division, in the early hours of Jan. 31, recovered a Sinotruk truck along Ndeagbor Road, Awgu community, in Awgu Local Government Area.

    “The recovery followed the operatives’ swift response to an intelligence report that the truck had been snatched at gunpoint from its driver at Ugwuashi-Uku, Delta State, on Jan. 29.

    “On sighting the operatives, the criminal elements abandoned the truck and fled into a nearby forest.

    Read Also: Police arrest eight suspects in bush combing operation in Kogi

    “A manhunt for the suspects is ongoing, while the owner of the vehicle has been identified and investigations have commenced,” he said.

    Ndukwe said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had encouraged members of the public to promptly report incidents of crime to the police.

    The spokesman also reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to the continued protection of lives and property across the state.

    (NAN) 

  • INEC can’t choose leadership for PDP – Turaki

    INEC can’t choose leadership for PDP – Turaki

     The Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot choose a leadership for the party.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, stated this while reacting to the INEC quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, attended by the Abdulraman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC).

    “We are aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission invited the leaders of political parties to a meeting today (Thursday).

    “We are also aware that INEC extended the invitation to some former members of our party who are purporting to lead a so-called National Caretaker Committee, to represent our party, whereas there is no such provision in our constitution.

    “This action, though ordinarily vexatious and capable of causing widespread breach of peace, will be met with all possible legal response.

    Read Also: PDP State chairmen back Turaki-led faction

    “Though not unexpected of this current INEC leadership, but it is expected that an impartial umpire would have taken notice of the pendency of the matters in the Court of Appeal.

    “This include the judgment which they are relying upon, which, when decided, will effectively affect the subject under consideration; and exercised restraint, therefrom.

    “We can assure that INEC will not choose a leadership for our party,” Ememobong said.

    He urged all PDP members to remain calm and hopeful that soonest, the Court of Appeal would hear and determine all the cases concerning the leadership of the party.

    “We assure that the rebirth movement of our party, under the able leadership of Tanimu Turaki, SAN, is steady and secure.

    “It will ultimately surmount all these challenges, to present a stronger and more united party to Nigerians, as a credible alternative to the ruling party,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Police arrest eight suspects in bush combing operation in Kogi

    Police arrest eight suspects in bush combing operation in Kogi

    The Police Command in Kogi says eight suspected criminals have been arrested in a joint bush combing operation by security operatives in the state.

    A statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Saliu Afusat, on Friday in Lokoja, said that the operation was a resolve to deny criminal elements any safe haven in Kogi.

    She said that the coordinated bush-combing operations across various parts of the state were carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, local hunters, and vigilante groups.

    Afusat said that in the course of the operation, eight suspects were arrested at different points for questioning in connection with suspected criminal activities.

    “Preliminary investigations indicate that some of the suspects are believed to be informants aiding kidnapping syndicates operating within the area.

    “The suspects are currently in custody, and thorough investigations are ongoing, after which appropriate legal action will be taken based on the outcome of investigations,” she said.

    According to her, the operation forms part of continuous, intelligence-led security measures routinely conducted across different locations in Kogi to proactively detect, disrupt, and dismantle criminal networks.

    Read Also: Police arrest seven over cryptocurrency fraud

    She explained that the exercise involved thorough combing of identified forested and remote areas suspected to be vulnerable to criminal exploitation.

    Afusat added, “Ground operations were effectively complemented with aerial surveillance, providing enhanced situational awareness, tracking of suspicious movements, and the identification of concealed criminal hideouts.

    “In line with this strategy, discovered bandit camps and hideouts were neutralised to prevent reuse and deny criminal elements any operational comfort.”

    She quoted the state police commissioner, Mr Naziru Kankarofi, as assuring the good people of Kogi of the command’s firm control of the security situation and its unwavering resolve to protect lives and property.

    Kankarofi urged members of the public to remain calm, law-abiding, and vigilant, and to promptly report any suspicious activity through the command’s Control Room emergency lines: 07038329084 and 08152195982.

    (NAN)

  • Troops smash kidnappers’ camps, apprehend 13 suspects in Edo

    Troops smash kidnappers’ camps, apprehend 13 suspects in Edo

    Troops of the Nigerian Army have dismantled kidnappers’ hideouts in Edo North Senatorial District, apprehended 13 suspects and recovered arms, drugs and other incriminating items.

    This is contained in a statement on Friday by the acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu.

    Anyanwu said the operation, carried out on Feb. 4 by troops of 4 Brigade in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Edo State Security Corps, targeted Osara, Auchi and Okpella communities in Etsako West Local Government Area.

    He said the clearance exercise, codenamed Operation IGBO DANU 1, led to the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers and drug peddlers.

    “Items recovered included a pump-action gun, live cartridges, a locally made pistol, a POS machine, cutlasses, mobile phones, a digital camera, codeine syrup, weighing scales, substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, tramadol and ice, as well as ₦87,550 cash.

    “In a related operation, the troops also combed Aviele Forest, a known criminal corridor in the area, arresting five additional suspects and recovering two motorcycles, phones and a power bank.

    “The suspects and recovered exhibits were handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution,” he said.

    Read Also: DHQ confirms deployment of U.S. troops under bilateral agreement

    Speaking on the operations, the Commander, 4 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, commended the synergy among the security agencies, warning that Edo State would remain hostile to kidnappers and other criminal elements.

    Balogun reaffirmed the Brigade’s commitment to protecting lives and property, while appreciating the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Maj.-Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife, for his strategic guidance and support. (NAN)

  • Coalition of northern groups condemns deadly attacks in Kwara, Katsina

    Coalition of northern groups condemns deadly attacks in Kwara, Katsina

    • …calls for urgent security reforms

    The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has condemned the deadly terrorist attacks carried out between 3 and 4 February 2026 in Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State.

    The Coalition also condemned another grave attack in Katsina State, where over 20 people were killed by suspected bandits in Doma community, Tafoki Ward of Faskari Local Government Area.

    In a statement issued on Friday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the CNG said credible reports from local authorities and community sources indicate that scores of residents were killed in the Kwara attacks, with casualty figures running into over 100, while many others sustained serious injuries.

    According to the statement, homes, shops and farmlands were destroyed during the attacks, forcing survivors, mostly women, children and the elderly, to flee their communities in fear for their lives.

    Charanchi said: “The attackers reportedly stormed the community in a coordinated assault, unleashing violence on residents, destroying homes, and forcing survivors to flee, once again exposing the persistent vulnerability of rural communities to armed criminal groups.

    “The Coalition extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those brutally murdered in this senseless attack. We also express our heartfelt sympathy to the injured and to all residents who have been displaced and traumatised by this act of terror. 

    “The pain, grief and insecurity inflicted on these communities are unacceptable and must not be normalised. The people and communities, like all Nigerians, have the fundamental right to live in safety and dignity. 

    “The scale and brutality of this attack highlight the growing threat of terrorism and banditry spreading, and expose the dangerous gaps in the country’s security architecture, particularly in rural and border communities”.

    The CNG calls on the Federal Government to ensure speedy widespread recruitment and training of the Forest Guards to complement security forces across the frontline areas. 

    Read Also: Terrorists ‘killed Kwara villagers for refusing strange belief’

    The Coalition finally called on Nigerians to remain united, resilient and peaceful in the face of provocation, while urging leaders at all levels to rise to the gravity of the moment.

    He stressed that the protection of citizens remains the primary responsibility of the government.

    Charanchi said: “We welcome the approach as we believe those guards that would be drawn from the communities would be instrumental in combating terrorists and bandits in every nooks and crannies of our communities.

    “While the Coalition acknowledges the sacrifices and efforts of security personnel on the front lines, the persistence of such deadly attacks shows that current responses remain inadequate. 

    “There is an urgent need for a more decisive, intelligence-driven and people-centred security strategy that prioritises the protection of lives over reactive damage control.

    “The CNG therefore renews its call on the Federal Government and the Kwara State Government to take immediate and concrete steps to secure vulnerable communities, strengthen intelligence gathering, improve early warning systems, and ensure visible security presence in high-risk areas”.

    He urge the authorities to provide timely relief, medical care and other support for victims and displaced families, while ensuring that those responsible for this atrocity are swiftly identified and brought to justice.

    “Beyond immediate security measures, this tragedy underscores the need to confront the deeper drivers of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, social exclusion and governance failures that allow violent groups to thrive,“ the added.

  • Sokoto APC dismisses ADC threat, predicts landslide victory in 2027

    Sokoto APC dismisses ADC threat, predicts landslide victory in 2027

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State has described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a recycled political coalition that lacks the capacity to challenge the ruling party’s dominance in the state.

    The APC said the ADC, regardless of the platform under which it operates, cannot wrest power from the party in the caliphate, insisting that the coalition would suffer a landslide defeat in future elections.

    The state APC Chairman, Isah Sadik Achida, made the remarks on Thursday during an all-inclusive stakeholders’ meeting of party stalwarts and members in Tambuwal Local Government Area, Sokoto State.

    The session was organised by the Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto Youths Contact, Mobilisation and Enlightenment Ambassadors as part of efforts to deepen the APC’s Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Achida said individuals regrouping under the ADC were well-known political actors who had failed to deliver meaningful results to the people of Sokoto State, describing them as figures who had already exhausted their political relevance.

    He maintained that the APC remains united, resilient and firmly positioned to retain power in the state, adding that no rebranded opposition alliance could undermine its growing support base.

    READ ALSO: The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    “We all know them. They failed to deliver after 8 years. 

    “They have nothing new to present but rather than to further destroy the state”, he pointed out.

    Achida added, “I leave the space for Sokoto people to judge with every honesty”, explaining that Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has for the first time in the political history of the state, done beyond what his predecessor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal did even in his home local government.

    “The current APC governor has done a lot to the local government with visionary leadership of its leader, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko in the provision of infrastructure and other basic facilities for the benefit of the people.

    “He gave them the required priority in terms of appointments and governance”, he said urging members and all stakeholders to be steadfast and more united to fly the party’s flag for victory”, noting that the party knew how best to manage and keep it house attractive and resilient.

    A party stalwart and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Aminu Dikko Tambuwal, who also spoke on behalf of Alhaji Umaru Nagwari Tambuwal, said Tambuwal town has benefited significantly across nearly all sectors since the inception of the current APC administration.

    He commended the party’s youth and women wings for their dedication, describing their commitment to unity, brotherhood and perseverance as critical to the APC’s success in the area.

    Tambuwal also highlighted the inclusive leadership style of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, whom he described as a unifying force and a key political pillar whose strategic leadership produced a resilient governor in Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, credited with repositioning Sokoto State.

    “We are proud of the quality of governance in Sokoto State today. The people of Tambuwal Local Government have every reason to appreciate the governor for identifying with us in several areas of development and governance. This marks a clear departure from what we experienced under someone we regarded as our own, who completed his tenure without tangible impact,” he said.

    He cited several empowerment and development initiatives that, according to him, have enabled many residents to become self-reliant through various trades.

    Meanwhile, the Renewed Hope Agenda continues to gain momentum across the caliphate, with its action plans being rapidly implemented at the grassroots. 

    Local government coordinators, also known as ambassadors, were said to be driving the initiative’s expansion, particularly following the mass defection of opposition Peoples Democratic Party leaders and members from wards across Tambuwal Local Government Area to the ruling APC.

  • Sanwo-Olu unveils Lagos financial hub blueprint

    Sanwo-Olu unveils Lagos financial hub blueprint

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to establishing Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC).

    He urged stakeholders across public and private sectors to sustain collaboration toward positioning Lagos as a global financial hub.

    Speaking at the unveiling of LIFC Phase 1 report held at Lagos State House, Marina, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who chairs the Lagos LIFCC, described the initiative as a strategic economic reform designed to strengthen Nigeria’s global competitiveness and position Lagos as a leading international financial hub.

    The governor said the project, conceived about two years ago, was designed to attract international capital, deepen financial markets and create sustainable economic opportunities for the country.

    He said the initiative was anchored on long-term vision and strong institutional backing, noting that its success would depend on sustained stakeholder support and policy continuity.

    Sanwo-Olu added: “For me, it is all about leadership and confidence. If you can dream it and envision it, then you can achieve it. The foundation we are laying today is for the future of our economy, our children and generations to come. This is not just about Lagos; it is about building an economic legacy that will transform Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.”

    READ ALSO: President rallies relief materials to affected Kwara communities

    He said substantial groundwork had been completed through policy engagements, technical partnerships and institutional capacity building, noting that the next phase would focus on implementation and structural reforms.

    The governor hailed the United Kingdom government and TheCityUK for providing technical and financial support, stressing that the development of a credible international financial centre required robust institutional framework and strategic investment partnership.

    Sanwo-Olu emphasised the need to insulate the project from political transitions, revealing that key state and federal institutions were already being integrated into the implementation structure.

    “We have designed a model that involves both state and national institutions so that the project becomes institutional rather than personality-driven. It is about building a sustainable structure that will outlive any administration,” he said.

    He urged stronger synergy between the public and private sectors, noting that risk-sharing and joint investment strategies were critical to achieving the project’s objectives.

    British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, described the initiative as a major economic milestone capable of unlocking domestic and international capital flows into infrastructure development, job creation and economic growth.

    He lauded Lagos State Government and EnterpriseNGR for driving the initiative and strengthening collaboration with federal institutions, saying a well-structured financial centre would benefit the national economy.

    Co-Chairman of LIFCC, Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede, underscored the importance of private sector participation, describing LIFC as a collaborative economic ecosystem that required strong partnerships between government and business institutions.

    He said EnterpriseNGR had championed the initiative by drawing lessons from established global financial centres such as London, New York and Kigali.

  • Soyinka: ignoring history fuels tyranny

    Soyinka: ignoring history fuels tyranny

    Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has said societies that neglect their history and fail to confront injustice, risk descending into tyranny.

    He said cultural identity and historical consciousness were central to justice and national renewal.

    Soyinka, delivering the Centenary Lecture of Yoruba Tennis Club (YTC), Lagos, where he traced the origin of the club to a broader struggle for social liberation, dignity and self-definition among Nigerians, said the organisation that later became Yoruba Tennis Club was conceived not merely as a social platform, but as part of a historical movement to reclaim dignity in the face of oppression.

    The Nobel laureate, who was guest lecturer at the event, described the club’s name as a powerful affirmation of identity, rejecting the notion that embracing Yoruba heritage contradicts global or universal values.

    “What is wrong with being Yoruba?” Soyinka asked, insisting that cultural rootedness does not negate cosmopolitanism.

    According to him, humanity is not built on cultural erasure, but on the recognition, respect and dignity of origins.

    READ ALSO: The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    “The founders of the club understood who they were and what they stood for,” he said.

    Reflecting on Nigeria’s post-independence experience, Soyinka said many leaders were more eager to replace colonial rulers than to dismantle the structures of injustice they inherited.

    He added that the excitement of independence often eclipsed the need for deep reflection on governance, accountability and justice.

    The playwright said his early work, A Dance of the Forests, was deliberately pessimistic, as it was meant to warn against repeating historical errors.

    Contrary to expectations that the play should celebrate independence, Soyinka said he believed the real task of nation-building had only just begun.

    “The future is not merely about liberating ourselves from the past,” he said, adding that genuine progress required remembering, confronting and learning from past mistakes, to avoid reproducing them in new forms.

    He said tyranny did not always arrive abruptly, but often emerged when societies neglected justice, silenced dissent and allowed leaders to step comfortably into the shoes of former oppressors.

    The Chairman of Yoruba Tennis Club, Chief Olawumi Gasper, reaffirmed the club’s commitment to preserving history, culture and intellectual leadership.

    He described the centenary milestone as a testament to the institution’s enduring legacy and sustained role in shaping Nigeria’s cultural and intellectual landscape, noting that the club, founded a century ago, had remained rooted in tradition while engaging contemporary issues.

    He described Soyinka as a man of deep intellectual capacity, cultural depth and moral clarity, noting that the interactive session provided a rare opportunity to engage with wide-ranging discussions on literature, culture, nationhood, humanity, conscience and the enduring role of history in shaping societies.

    Gasper paid tributes to the founding fathers of Yoruba Tennis Club, acknowledging their foresight, sacrifices and commitment to sustaining the institution’s values and traditions.