BREAKING Archives - Citybuzz News

BREAKING: America’s Russell Shatters Tobi Amusan’s World Record

September 11, 2026August 27, 2026 by admin

Olympic champion Masai Russell has shattered Nigerian hurdler Tobi Amusan’s world record in the women’s 100m hurdles, bringing an end to Amusan’s four-year reign as the event’s record holder. Russell ran a stunning 12.09 seconds at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday, taking three hundredths of a second off Amusan’s previous world record of 12.12 seconds. The American finished ahead of Amusan, who placed second in 12.23 seconds. Before Russell’s record-breaking performance, Amusan had held the world record with a time of 12.12 seconds, which she ran in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA. The Nigerian went on to win the final in a time of 12.06 seconds, but the winning time didn’t stand as a world record over exccessive tailwind. Russell had come close to breaking the record earlier this year when she ran 12.14 seconds at the Xiamen Diamond League in May, making her the second-fastest woman ever in the event at the time. The 12.09 run in Zurich now sees Russell become the first woman to go faster than Amusan’s mark.

BREAKING: Veteran Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ is Dead

August 23, 2026 by admin

Nollywood Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Dies After Battling Stage-Four Cancer His daughter, Kira Hassan, confirmed his death in an emotional Instagram Live video on Sunday, saying, “My daddy is dead. I can’t believe it.” The development was also announced by popular TV platform, Emiralty Africa, which posted, “Ogogo is dead!!! We feel sad to announce the death of star filmmaker, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Ogogo.” Ogogo’s death came only hours after Kira had spoken publicly about the challenges surrounding her father’s illness and accused some individuals of attempting to profit from the family’s difficult situation. During an emotional TikTok Live session on Saturday, she alleged that some people had approached the family with financial demands while offering assistance with the actor’s treatment. “My father is a good father. Some people are even trying to make money with us in this whole situation. Fear God. This one will come and bring solution, N800k, N5m, 11,000 dollars, N18,000 dollars. Do you want to make us broke? We are not billionaires,” she said. Kira explained that the family was focused on getting appropriate medical care for Ogogo and could not afford the financial demands allegedly being placed before them. She also disclosed that the situation was taking a toll on her personally. “I want to check my BP, I am not okay too,” she said. The actor’s illness had also deeply affected members of his family, including his brother, whom Kira described as her “big daddy”. According to her, members of the family regularly used a group chat to discuss Ogogo’s condition, where she recently saw a message indicating the extent of her uncle’s fear over the actor’s health. “That was the video my big daddy saw and on the group chat, where we always have our discussion about daddy’s health, I saw my cousin wrote something like, my big daddy was asking ‘Is Taiye going to die?’” she said. Kira said the bond between Ogogo and his brother was particularly strong and that the actor’s illness had been painful for the entire family. “My big daddy and my daddy, we are the children, we don’t even know who they love more. We don’t even know if it is we who are being or themselves. It is too much. My big daddy loves my daddy too much,” she said. She further expressed concern about the effect of Ogogo’s condition on her uncle. “I am sure my big daddy is not okay, he is not fine. He is not fine. I don’t know,” Kira said. ‘I don’t know how I will see the world again’ Kira had also revealed that she stepped away from social media because seeing images of her father while he battled cancer was becoming increasingly difficult for her. Reflecting on the possibility of losing Ogogo, she said she struggled to imagine how life would continue without him. “I don’t know how I will feel. I don’t even know how I will see the world again. If anything happens to my daddy… Please don’t think I am here to ask for sympathy or anything,” she said. Kira said she had initially gone online to “cool off”, but eventually became emotional because of the close relationship she shared with her father. “I am so connected to my daddy. Nothing can be okay, ever. He just want the best for everybody. He just want everybody to be okay,” she said.

BREAKING: Gunshots Reported in Osogbo as Hoodlums Allegedly Attack Adeleke’s Convoy

August 19, 2026 by admin

Suspected hoodlums on Wednesday reportedly attacked the convoy of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke shortly after he left the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, resulting in an exchange of gunfire between the attackers and the governor’s security operatives. The shooting, which lasted for about 12 to 15 minutes, occurred shortly after Adeleke left the palace hall where he had met with the monarch. Adeleke had arrived at the Ataoja’s palace at about 3:15 pm in a motorcade of about 20 vehicles after leaving the Osun State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osogbo, where he received his Certificate of Return following his re-election. An eyewitness, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said Adeleke and his entourage were received by Oyetunji, where the governor reportedly presented his Certificate of Return to the monarch. The eyewitness said trouble started as the meeting was winding down after the monarch had offered prayers. According to her, Adeleke had already left the hall through an exit reserved for the monarch and his wives when the shooting started. She said, “He was already in the bus that brought him and his close aides to the palace when we started hearing heavy gunshots. Those that attacked had come in an unregistered Sienna space bus through the Ita Olokan area of Osogbo. “The shooting lasted for about 12 to 15 minutes before the governor’s convoy eventually left the palace. The governor’s security men and those hoodlums exchanged gunshots. Those hoodlums later fled the scene.” A trader near the palace, identified simply as Munirat, said the assailants might have learnt of Adeleke’s visit and waited for his arrival. She said, “We suspected that those hoodlums heard about Adeleke’s visit and had been waiting for him. They came in a Sienna space bus. They even damaged the main gate to the palace. They shot at the palace main gate, but the security men pushed them back. “We all ran away and left our wares. They also engaged the governor near the Osogbo Central Mosque before they fled towards Ita Olokan along the Osogbo-Ilesa Road.” The incident caused panic in the area as traders and other residents reportedly fled their businesses and sought safety during the shooting. When contacted, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed the attack. Alimi said the governor’s security personnel successfully repelled the assailants and that no casualty was recorded They are hoodlums, and the governor’s security repelled them. They attacked the governor’s convoy at Ataoja’s palace. No casualty,” he said. As of 4:45 pm, when our correspondent left the scene, sporadic gunshots were still being heard around the area, while several business owners had hurriedly shut their shops for fear of being caught in the violence.

BREAKING: INEC Declares Adeleke Winner of Osun Governorship Election

August 16, 2026 by admin

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, was on Sunday declared the winner of the governorship election after securing victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas in Saturday’s poll. The State Returning Officer, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof Joshua Ogunwole, declared the result of the poll at about 7:24 am on Sunday. Adeleke polled a total of 511067 votes to emerge victorious in the contest. Ogunwole subsequently returned the governor to office for another term. The incumbent Osun governor, who contested the poll on the platform of the Accord, defeated his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who won in 11 LG areas of the state. While Adeleke won in Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo, Iwo, Egbedore, Ife North, Ife East, Ife Central, Oriade, Ifelodun, Orolu, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Odo Otin, Boluwaduro, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Osogbo and Ayedire local government areas. Oyebamiji, however, won in Irewole, Isokan, Olorunda, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun and Obokun local government areas. Declaring the results, Ogunwole said, “Accredited voters, 1010684, total votes received by political parties, A, 511067, AA, 2308, AAC, 1458, ADC, 17180, ADP, 2946, APC, 444815, APGA, 1475, APM, 234, APP, 114, BP, 111, NNPP, 118, PRP, 83, SDP, 155, YPP, 534, ZLP, 2482, total valid votes, 985079, rejected votes, 207, total vote cast, 1,005,800.” After agents of the political parties have signed the results of the election, the Returning Officer declared Adeleke of the Accord as the winner of the poll. “That Ademola Nurudeen-Jackson Adeleke having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declare the winner of the August 15 Governorship election and returned elected,” Ogunwole said. The candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the poll, Najeem Salaam, came third in the poll.

BREAKING: Lionel Messi’s Father, Jorge, Dies at 68

August 8, 2026 by admin

Jorge Messi, the father and longtime representative of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68, according to MARCA, which cited Argentine news outlet Infobae. An independent check by PUNCH Online on Infobae and multiple other media sources disclosed that Jorge died at about 10 pm on Friday at a sanatorium in Rosario, Argentina, following a prolonged illness. Jorge, who was married to Celia Cuccittini and had four children, Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias, and Maria Sol, played a major role in his son’s rise from a young player at Newell’s Old Boys to one of football’s biggest stars. He was particularly instrumental in securing medical treatment for Lionel when the youngster required growth hormone therapy. After efforts to secure the treatment in Argentina proved unsuccessful, Jorge helped arrange his son’s move to Barcelona at the age of 13. He later stayed with Lionel in Spain during the early and difficult stages of his European adventure while the rest of the family remained in Rosario. Recalling that period in a 2007 interview, Lionel said his father had asked whether he wanted to continue pursuing his dream in Spain or return home. “My old man was always by my side. We lived through many bad moments,” Messi recalled. He added, “My old man asked me, what do you want to do, do you want to continue or shall we go back? I wanted to continue and he stayed with me.” That decision became a defining moment in the footballer’s career as Messi went on to establish himself at Barcelona and eventually become one of the most decorated players in football history. Jorge also became a key figure in managing his son’s affairs away from the pitch, including negotiations with major global brands. Despite his prominent role in Messi’s career, Jorge largely avoided the spotlight and gave only a handful of interviews over the years. In one of those interviews, he delivered an emotional message to his son as Lionel was beginning to emerge as a global football star. “You know very well that we have gone through many good and not-so-good moments,” Jorge said. He added that those difficult experiences had helped strengthen the family and told his son that, beyond being a great footballer, he believed Lionel was “an excellent person”. Jorge’s health had attracted attention during the 2026 World Cup after Lionel became emotional following Argentina’s opening match. After scoring a hat-trick, Messi was asked about his reaction and said, “It is for a reason completely unrelated to sport. I had some difficult, complicated days.” Asked later about the family situation, Messi said, “The truth is, more than anything, because of the family.” The Messi family subsequently said Jorge was “under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favourably within the condition he presents”. Jorge was trained as a chemical technician and began working at Acindar, an Argentine steel company, in the 1980s, eventually becoming a manager. He had also pursued football as a youngster, playing as a midfielder in Newell’s youth system before leaving the sport after being called up for military service. His death marks the loss of a figure who remained largely behind the scenes but was central to the development and management of Lionel Messi’s extraordinary career.

BREAKING: Tinubu Directs EFCC to Lift Freeze on Osun State Accounts

August 6, 2026 by admin

President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to urgently return to court and seek the reversal of the order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government. The President said the directive was necessary to protect public confidence in the democratic process, noting that the state was only days away from its governorship election. Tinubu, in a statement issued by the State House on Thursday, said he was not opposed to the EFCC’s exercise of its statutory powers but expressed concern over the timing of the action. “It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government. “I must state that I feel deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action,” the President said. The EFCC had obtained the order as part of its investigation into alleged financial infractions involving the Osun State Government. The commission had earlier defended the move, insisting that its actions were within the law and that it had the authority to place restrictions on accounts suspected to be linked to financial crimes. The anti-graft agency also stated that it could freeze accounts for 72 hours without a court order before seeking judicial approval for further restrictions. Tinubu, however, said actions taken by federal institutions were often attributed to him as President, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of them. “This is so because every action taken by an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action,” he stated. The President said since assuming office, he had maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies should operate independently without interference. “Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference,” Tinubu said. He added that he had deliberately avoided directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or other investigative agencies because of his belief in strong democratic institutions. “I have therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law,” he said. Tinubu noted that although he was yet to be fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to seek the court order, the timing of the action required his intervention. “While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene,” the President said. He said the proximity of the election made it necessary to avoid actions that could undermine confidence in the electoral process. “Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election,” Tinubu added. The President said his directive was issued in the overriding public interest and to preserve the integrity of the democratic process. “Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process,” he said. Tinubu subsequently ordered the commission to discontinue the action against the state government. “Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard,” the statement read. The development comes amid a dispute between the Osun State Government and the EFCC over the freezing of the state’s accounts. The state government had dismissed the commission’s claims of financial misconduct, denying allegations of misappropriation of N11bn and accusing the EFCC of attempting to justify its action. The EFCC had insisted that its investigation was not politically motivated and that its mandate was to investigate and prosecute suspected cases of financial crimes. The directive by the President came ahead of the Osun governorship election, which has heightened scrutiny of actions by government institutions and their possible impact on the electoral process.

BREAKING: 176 Abducted Victims Regain Freedom in Kwara

August 5, 2026 by admin

The Kwara State Government announced on Wednesday that the victims abducted during the February 3, 2026, attack on the Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area have been released and have regained their freedom. The development was announced on Wednesday in a post on the official Facebook page of the Kwara State Government, months after 176 victims were abducted. The government wrote, “Alihamdulillaah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, security forces, and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful!” The victims were kidnapped when suspected Boko Haram-linked extremists invaded the rural communities of Woro and Nuku on motorcycles, launching a coordinated assault that reportedly lasted several hours. The attack, regarded as one of the deadliest in Kwara State’s history, reportedly claimed more than 200 lives, left several others injured, destroyed homes and businesses, and forced many residents to flee. Local vigilantes who attempted to repel the attackers were reportedly overwhelmed, with some allegedly trapped and burnt inside their office. Further details on the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release were not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.

BREAKING: WAEC releases 2026 WASSCE results

August 5, 2026 by admin

The West African Examinations Council has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School Candidates. WAEC announced the release in a post on its official X handle on Wednesday. “UPDATE: 2026 WASSCE (SC) results have been released. Generate your PIN at http://waec.org and check your results now on http://waecdirect.org,” the examination body stated. Out of 1,950,726 candidates that sat for the examination, 1,200,514 candidates (61.54 per cent) obtained credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. Candidates are required to first generate a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and serial number on the WAEC website (waec.org) before accessing their results on the result-checking portal (waecdirect.org). The process typically involves providing the examination number and National Identification Number (NIN) used during registration, along with contact details for OTP verification. Approximately 1.96 million candidates from more than 24,200 secondary schools across Nigeria sat for the examination, which ran from April 21 to June 19, 2026. While most centres in the cohort used the traditional pen-and-paper format, a significantly larger number of schools than in previous years opted for the computer-based testing (CBT) option. WAEC had earlier indicated that results would be released around 45 days after the final paper. The release comes months after WAEC announced the release of the results of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination for Private Candidates, 2026 First Series. Punch

BREAKING: Tinubu Approves 30%–80% Salary Increase for Armed Forces Personnel

August 4, 2026 by admin

President Bola Tinubu has approved a salary increase ranging from 30 to 80 per cent for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The pay package that will benefit approximately 250,000 personnel and take effect from September 1, 2026, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed in a statement signed Tuesday. Onanuga said the graduated structure of the increase scales inversely with rank, with the highest percentage increases going to the most junior personnel. Under the new arrangement, he said officers above the rank of colonel, Brigadier-Generals, Major-Generals, Lieutenant Generals and Generals, will receive a 30 per cent salary increase. Personnel ranking from colonel down to warrant officer will receive a 50 per cent increase, while those from private to staff sergeant will receive an 80 per cent increase. The pay package will raise the annual salary bill for the armed forces from N660 billion to N924 billion, an increase of N264 billion. The President linked the pay rise directly to the sacrifices personnel continue to make in the fight against banditry, kidnapping and terrorism across parts of the country. He said, “The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation.” Tinubu said troop welfare and military modernisation would remain a standing priority of his administration. “Our administration will continue to prioritise troop welfare and modernise the armed forces by providing the weapons and technological tools needed to discharge their duties,” he said. Tinubu tied the salary increase to his broader philosophy on national security saying, “Our administration believes that no nation can achieve greatness without security. We therefore remain resolute in mobilising all military and law enforcement assets to eliminate security threats and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians,” he said. “I urge our servicemen to take our gesture as a sign of our deep appreciation of the services they render to our fatherland. “Together we shall prevail over the enemies intent on destroying the fabric of our nation,” the President said.

BREAKING: Kidnapped Pupils, Teachers From Orire, Oyo Regains Freedom After Over 56 Days In Captivity

July 10, 2026 by admin

•By ADELEKE MARIA ABUJA – The presidency has announced that pupils and teachers abducted from Orire community school in Oyo state have regained their freedom. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga disclosed the information on his X page, formerly Twitter on Friday. He said, “Finally, the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been freed by their abductors”. Recall that on May 15, 2026, armed bandits linked to a Boko Haram faction had abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers during coordinated morning raids on three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esiele communities of Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State. Their abduction elicited widespread condemnation and protest from cross section of Nigerians, especially the Nigerian Union of Teachers(NUT) which vowed never to return to classrooms until the victims are set free. The victims were said to be held within the expansive 2,500-square-kilometer Old Oyo National Park. While security forces intensified rescue operations and arrested several suspects and local informants, the victims remain in captivity after multiple weeks. The abductors later beheaded one of the teachers in an apparent move to send a warning signal to government. While the rescue efforts persisted, the abductors reportedly demanded for the release of their top commanders in exchange for the freedom of the pupils and teachers. More details later…