Just In Archives - Page 2 of 6

JUST IN: Troops Rescue Six Kogi Kidnap Victims

December 2, 2025 by admin

Troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army have rescued six kidnapped victims from bandits in the Ejiba and Saminaka forests in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi. This is contained in a statement released by the Brigade’s spokesperson, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, on Tuesday in Lokoja. Abdullahi said that the operation was part of the Nigerian Army’s ongoing efforts to curb banditry and kidnapping in the region. He explained that the operation, involving coordinated air and ground offensives with support from the Nigeria Police helicopter, led to the interception of the victims. According to him, the victims were confirmed to have been abandoned by the bandits due to the sustained pressure from the military. “Five of the rescued individuals have been reunited with their families in Egbe and Ejiba communities, while the sixth is receiving medical attention,” he said. The Brigade reassured the public and the people of Kogi that the Army remained committed to safeguarding lives and property across the state. “Troops will continue to intensify operations, dominate the forests, identify hideouts, and deny criminals the freedom of action,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that bandits had on Sunday attacked a Cherubim and Seraphin church during service in Ejiba Community, kidnapped the pastor and several worshipers. NAN

JUST IN: Atiku Officially Joins ADC, Registers With Party in Adamawa

November 24, 2025 by admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State, signalling a major development in Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections. The registration took place on Monday, following Atiku’s announcement to ADC supporters and stakeholders in Adamawa over the weekend. Abdul Rasheeth, an aide to the former vice president, had confirmed the development in a statement obtained by PUNCH Online. Videos and photos from the event showed Atiku’s convoy arriving in the town to the cheers of supporters, who beat drums, sang, and carried placards with his image. Atiku waved and greeted well-wishers from his vehicle as he received his ADC membership card. In a brief X (Formerly Twitter) post on his handle shorty after his registration, Atiku wrote,” It’s official. -AA” This move formalises Atiku’s association with the coalition party, which he had previously endorsed in July as a platform for opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Babachir Lawal, to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Until now, Atiku and other opposition leaders had delayed their formal registration with the ADC. The former vice president’s registration is expected to strengthen the party’s profile and consolidate the opposition ahead of the next general election.

JUST IN: Kano Rep Jibrin Rejoins APC, Backs Tinubu’s 2027 Bid

November 10, 2025 by admin

The lawmaker representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has announced his return to the All Progressives Congress and declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. Jibrin, who had left the APC in May 2022, made the announcement during a political gathering in his hometown, Kofa, Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State on Sunday. Announcing his defection on his Facebook page on Monday, Jibrin said his supporters had unanimously resolved to abandon the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement to align with the APC. He wrote, “Today, in a show of solidarity, I was warmly received by thousands of my constituents in my hometown of Kofa, Bebeji, Kano. “The gathering resolved to leave the NNPP/Kwankwasiyya, join the APC, and endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for a second term in office. “From the beginning, almost 2,000 scholars from my constituency have prayed special prayers for the President and sought peace, development, and progress for Kiru/Bebeji, Kano, and Nigeria altogether.” Jibrin’s return to the APC comes barely two months after he resigned from the NNPP, following his expulsion over alleged anti-party activities and non-payment of membership dues. Reacting to his suspension at the time, Jibrin described the action as “shocking and unjustified,” insisting that an interview he granted in both English and Hausa, which the party cited as the basis for his suspension, did not warrant such a “heavy penalty.” He faulted the NNPP for violating the principles of fair hearing and due process, saying he was expelled without an opportunity to defend himself. The federal lawmaker said that he had accepted the decision in good faith and would not challenge it in court. On claims that he defaulted in the payment of his membership dues, the lawmaker maintained that he had never neglected his obligations. Taking a swipe at the party’s leadership style, the former Director-General of the Tinubu Support Groups accused the NNPP of failing to value its members. Jibrin, however, thanked the NNPP for the support he enjoyed during his stay, and called on his supporters to join him in his “new journey,” while maintaining peaceful ties with those who choose to remain in the party. Jibrin’s return marks a significant boost for the APC in Kano, especially as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

JUST IN: Police Declare Sowore Wanted Over Planned Protest in Lagos

November 3, 2025 by admin

The Lagos State Police Command has declared activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, wanted for allegedly plotting to instigate public unrest and obstruct major roads in the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, made this known on Monday while briefing journalists at the Iyana-Oworo section of the Third Mainland Bridge. Jimoh said that Sowore, who leads the “Take It Back Movement,” ignored earlier warnings from the police not to mobilise protests over the recent demolition of houses in the Oworonshoki area. “We are closing in on Sowore and others involved in coordinating activities intended to disrupt public peace. “Sowore should surrender at the nearest police station or face arrest wherever he is found,” he said. He cautioned that anyone attempting to cause disturbances or block public roads would “face the full weight of the law.” According to the commissioner, intelligence reports indicated that Sowore and his associates were planning simultaneous demonstrations at strategic locations such as the Third Mainland Bridge, Lekki Tollgate, and Freedom Park. Describing the alleged plan as “criminal,” Jimoh warned that it could cause severe traffic disruptions and endanger lives. “It is only someone who needs examination that would attempt to block such a vital route used by thousands daily,” he added. The police chief revealed that 13 suspects connected to the planned protest had already been arrested, while Sowore allegedly fled. He said investigations were ongoing to uncover the sponsors and collaborators behind the plan. Jimoh disclosed that police officers had been deployed across major highways and bridges, where temporary roadblocks and diversions had been mounted. “The Third Mainland Bridge was not designed to hold stationary weight. Any gathering on it could pose structural risks,” he stated. Addressing concerns over the recent demolitions in parts of Lagos, particularly Oworonshoki, Jimoh maintained that affected residents had been compensated. “The government compensated those affected, and the media witnessed it. There is no justification to provoke a crisis under the guise of protest,” he said. He urged residents to go about their normal activities without fear, assuring that the police and other security agencies were on top of the situation. “We are not sleeping. We will apprehend, investigate, and prosecute anyone attempting to undermine public safety in Lagos,” Jimoh declared. The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to enforcing the law without fear or favour, emphasising that “freedom of expression must not turn into public nuisance or risk lives.” Sowore had threatened to stage a protest against the demolition of houses in Oworoshoki following the controversy surrounding the demolitions. Sowore made this known shortly after he was granted bail in Abuja alongside Nnamdi Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor; Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu; and other protesters. But the commissioner cautioned Sowore against mobilising protests over the demolitions. He said that the command had made massive deployments across the city to forestall any planned demonstrations that could lead to public disorder. Jimoh emphasised that the command would not tolerate any attempt to block major highways or disrupt the peace currently being enjoyed in Lagos.

JUST IN: Tinubu Decorates New Service Chiefs

October 30, 2025 by admin

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday decorated the new service chiefs with their respective ranks at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The ceremony, which began shortly after 2pm saw the President perform the decoration alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima and the spouses of the decorated officers, each dressed in their respective service uniforms. Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff; and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas and Chief of Naval Staff. The Senate had, on Wednesday, confirmed the four nominees after a two-hour closed-door screening session where they were grilled on strategies to strengthen national security and improve coordination among the armed forces. Tinubu had earlier written the red chamber, seeking an expedited confirmation process “to ensure continuity in the nation’s security leadership.” Our correspondent observed that the ceremony was attended by senior government officials, lawmakers family members of the service chiefs and top officers from the various arms of the military. The President, Vice President and the officers’ spouses took turns pinning the new ranks on each of the decorated chiefs. The decoration came barely one week after the Presidency announced a sweeping reshuffle in the military hierarchy. In the statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, it said the shake-up was part of efforts to inject new direction into the nation’s defence architecture. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General E. A. P. Undiendeye, retained his position. Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, later told our correspondent that the changes were not connected to recent rumours of a coup plot, saying, “The President acted within his authority as Commander-in-Chief. Service chiefs can be hired and fired by the President.” On Monday, Tinubu had met privately with the new service chiefs at the Villa. They arrived in a black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van escorted by a green Toyota Land Cruiser, and the session lasted about 40 minutes. Presidency sources said the President charged them to take decisive action against insurgents and bandits, particularly in the North. Last Friday’s reshuffle followed an October 19 report alleging that some officers were plotting to overthrow the government — a claim later dismissed by the Defence Headquarters as “false and mischievous.” The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, said the alleged arrests linked to a coup were “issues of indiscipline” within the ranks, describing the report as “intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.”

JUST IN: Senate Confirms Bernard Doro as Minister

October 30, 2025 by admin

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Dr Bernard Doro as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Doro’s screening, which lasted less than 30 minutes, saw lawmakers express confidence in his experience and leadership capacity. The Plateau-born technocrat, who becomes the third minister from his state in the current administration, pledged to promote fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s humanitarian interventions. “I will create a humanitarian ecosystem that is inclusive, guided by impartiality and independence,” Doro assured senators during the session. Satisfied with his credentials and vision, the lawmakers asked him to take a bow and leave, confirming his nomination without objection. Tinubu had earlier written to the Senate requesting Doro’s confirmation in line with Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the letter at plenary and referred it to the Committee of the Whole for immediate action. Doro’s nomination came after the elevation of his predecessor, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who now serves as the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had earlier described Doro as a highly qualified professional with over 20 years of experience spanning clinical practice, pharmaceutical management, and strategic leadership roles in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Born on January 23, 1969, in Kwall, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Doro holds degrees in Pharmacy and Law, an MBA in IT-driven business strategy, and a Master’s in Advanced Clinical Practice. “He is an Independent Prescriber and Advanced Clinical Practitioner with NHS frontline experience across urgent care, walk-in centres, GP practices, and hospital settings,” Onanuga noted. With Thursday’s confirmation, Doro is expected to be sworn in as a member of the Federal Executive Council at the next meeting.

JUST IN: NLC Begins Meeting with ASUU, Other Unions Over Strike

October 20, 2025 by admin

The Nigeria Labour Congress has commenced a meeting with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics among others over the ongoing strike in universities and other concerns raised by workers in tertiary institutions nationwide. The meeting is currently holding at the NLC national headquarters in Abuja. Recall that the NLC in a letter invited all union leaders across various tertiary institutions of learning nationwide to a meeting to find lasting solutions to issues stemmed from failed negotiations with the Federal Government. Nigerian higher education system has been faced with chronic instability, the latest leading to closure of universities nationwide due to the ongoing strike by ASUU. Recall that ASUU National President Professor Chris Piwuna announced the strike at a press briefing at the University of Abuja on Sunday, following the expiry of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government on September 28. The union cited unresolved issues relating to staff welfare, infrastructure, salary arrears, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement. Negotiations in recent weeks failed to avert industrial action. Education Minister Tunji Alausa said two weeks ago that talks had reached a final phase, noting the government had released N50bn for earned academic allowances and allocated N150bn in the 2025 budget for a needs assessment to be disbursed in three instalments. However, ASUU rejected these measures as insufficient. The union is demanding full implementation of the 2009 agreement, release of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries, sustainable funding for universities, protection against victimisation, payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears, and release of withheld deductions for cooperatives and union contributions. The NLC emphasised its full solidarity with ASUU and other tertiary education unions, calling for robust participation from all union leaders. It also highlighted the principle of a converse stance, “No Pay, No Work”, urging the government to honour collective agreements and respect the rights of workers. The emergency meeting is expected to chart the next steps for industrial action and explore strategies to safeguard the welfare of university staff, as well as the quality and continuity of public tertiary education in Nigeria.

JUST IN: Imisi Emerges Winner of Big Brother Naija Season 10

October 5, 2025 by admin

Imisi Ayanwale on Sunday emerged as the winner of Big Brother Naija Season 10, taking home N80 million in cash as part of the N150 million grand prize, after an exciting finale that wrapped up months of drama, laughter, and unforgettable moments. She won with 42.8% of the votes, followed by Dede with 15.94%, Koyin with 15.23%, Sultana with 7.94%, Kola with 5.48%, Jason Jae with 4.84%, Mensan with 3.54%, Isabella with 3.07%, and Kaybobo with 1.72%. The humorous and outspoken housemate, who enjoyed massive support from her loyal fanbase known as “Ijoba 606,” beat strong contenders including Dede, who finished as first runner-up, as well as Koyin, Kola, Isabella, and Kaybobo. Known for her witty remarks and playful personality, Imisi became a fan favourite for her comic timing, authenticity, and ability to lighten tense moments in the house. Her humour, coupled with her resilience during tough tasks, made her one of the most relatable contestants this season. This comes after Koyin was shockingly evicted, and Dede and Imisi were instructed to leave the house for the stage. According to the tradition of the show, the lights were turned off in the house after their exit, an emotional moment for fans who had followed the housemates’ journey for weeks. This edition of Big Brother Naija has been one of the most engaging yet, featuring unexpected twists, emotional evictions, and viral highlights that dominated social conversations for weeks. With her win, Imisi joins the ranks of previous champions like Mercy Eke, Laycon, Whitemoney, Phyna, Ilebaye, among others. All remembered for their unique imprint on the Big Brother legacy.

‎JUST IN: Makinde Presents Instruments Of Office To Ladoja As 44th Olubadan(PHOTOS) ‎

September 26, 2025 by admin

‎IBADAN – History was made on Friday at the ancient Mapo Hall in Ibadan as Governor Seyi Makinde officially presented the staff and instruments of office to former Governor of Oyo State, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. ‎The installation of Oba Ladoja’s installation and coronation held at the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan. ‎The epoch-making coronation ceremony, attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond, had President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in attendance. ‎Speaking while presenting the staff of office, Governor Makinde described Oba Ladoja’s ascension as “a fulfillment of destiny and a continuation of Ibadan’s proud cultural heritage.” ‎He noted that the installation of the new monarch was not just a traditional exercise but also a unifying moment for the people of Ibadanland. ‎Details shortly… ‎

Just In: Awujale Of Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Adetona Dies At 91

July 13, 2025 by admin

The monarch passed away on Sunday, just hours after the announcement of the death of Muhammadu Buhari, his longtime friend and former president. A statement by Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun state, described the monarch’s passing as a monumental loss not only to Ijebuland but to Nigeria as a whole. Abiodun described the coincidence as “double sadness”, noting the deep friendship between the two elder statesmen. “Oba Adetona joined his ancestors today at the age of 91, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that has significantly shaped Ijebuland, Ogun State and Nigeria in general,” the statement reads. Abiodun praised the monarch’s “transformative reign”, which was marked by progressive leadership, the elevation of Ijebuland’s status, and the global prominence of the Ojude Oba festival. “Throughout his reign, he was a beacon of unity, cultural preservation, and progressive development. His dedication to the welfare of his people was evident in his efforts to foster educational advancements, healthcare improvements, and economic growth within the state and Nigeria,” Abiodun said. Adetona ascended the throne on April 2, 1960, and reigned for over 64 years, making him one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in Nigerian history. His friendship with Buhari dated back to the 1980s and was cemented under extraordinary circumstances. In 1983, just before Buhari’s military coup, Olabisi Onabanjo, then Ogun state governor, had already signed a formal order deposing Adetona. The removal was scheduled to take effect on January 2, 1984. But the coup of December 31, 1983 — which toppled Nigeria’s civilian government — halted the plan. The close timing of the attempted deposition and the coup became a pivotal moment in the monarch’s life. Buhari’s intervention, though not targeted at the deposition, inadvertently preserved Adetona’s reign. In the years that followed, the Awujale and Buhari developed a quiet but enduring friendship built on mutual respect. Adetona went on to become a towering moral voice within Nigeria’s traditional institution. He was known for his bluntness, refusal to grovel before power, and his insistence that traditional rulers must speak truth to authority. His leadership helped entrench Ijebuland’s reputation as a beacon of culture, commerce, and political influence.