Author: Olóyè Gbenga

Kwami community in Gombe State was thrown into mourning on Sunday night after suspected kidnappers attacked the area, killing a resident identified as Adamu Commander during a failed abduction attempt. According to eyewitnesses, locals had mobilised swiftly after learning of the intruders’ presence, attempting to resist the assault before the armed men could carry out their mission. Despite their efforts, the gunmen reportedly overpowered the community. Tragically, Commander was captured amid the confrontation and killed in cold blood. Sources revealed that the assailants slit his throat before fleeing into the night. The victim, regarded as a respected member of the…

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appealed to the Nigeria Police Force to remain neutral as preparations intensify for the 2026 governorship election in the state. In a statement issued on Monday in Osogbo, the State Chairman of the PDP, Sunday Bisi, commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Commissioner of Police for their professionalism. However, he expressed concern over what the party described as a disturbing pattern of arrests and detentions of its members in recent weeks. According to the PDP, the trend raises suspicions of collusion between the All Progressives Congress…

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has criticised Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for maintaining silence on the conviction of Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-born Finnish separatist leader. New Daily Prime earlier reported that 40-year-old Ekpa was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland for terrorism-related offences, aggravated tax fraud, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, and violations of the Lawyers Act. The court also ordered that he remain in custody. According to the judgment, Ekpa sought to promote the independence of the Biafra region in Nigeria’s South-East through unlawful means between August 2021…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, cautioning against any attempt to bring former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, back into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, Wike described such a move as “suicidal” for the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections. Governor Mohammed, who also serves as Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, had earlier suggested in an interview on Channels Television that the party was considering Obi and former President Goodluck Jonathan as potential presidential…

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said that although President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms have ushered in tough times for citizens and businesses, they remain necessary to reposition the country’s economy. Chairman of MAN in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, Dr Adoga Inalegwu, made this known at the weekend during a familiarisation visit to member companies in Calabar. According to him, Tinubu has taken bold steps that many past administrations had shied away from, especially in tax and foreign exchange reforms. “I think President Bola Tinubu’s policies are necessary and tough decisions that Nigeria needs presently. This is…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Monday dismissed former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s prediction that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would lose the 2027 presidential election. Speaking during his monthly media chat, Wike described El-Rufai’s calculation as “flawed and wrong”, insisting that Tinubu would secure re-election. “El-Rufai is my friend, but he failed in this mathematics. He goofed; since he knows Tinubu will come third, he should also provide who will be first and second,” Wike said. “I will place a bet if El-Rufai agrees, if Tinubu doesn’t win the 2027 election securely.” El-Rufai, while…

The Federal Government has commended Finland following the conviction of Simon Ekpa, the self-styled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Government in Exile, who was on Monday sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by the Päijät-Häme District Court for terrorism offences. In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described the ruling as a “watershed moment” for victims of violence in Nigeria’s South-East and a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between both countries. Idris said Ekpa’s activities had incited violence and fuelled terror across several communities, leading to loss of…

A civil society group championing good governance in Oyo State, the Concerned Youths Movement (CYM), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding an investigation into members of the Oyo State House of Assembly over the approval of a ₦300 billion loan for Governor Seyi Makinde. News of the Assembly’s approval surfaced last week and has since sparked widespread controversy. In a statement, Hon. Ibraheem Shittu, who represents Saki West State Constituency, confirmed that the lawmakers had indeed given the nod for the loan. However, CYM, in a communique signed by its Chairman, Pastor Tayo Adigun, and Secretary,…

A District Court in Finland has sentenced Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Government in Exile, to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences. Ekpa, who has been a controversial figure in Nigeria’s South-East, was arrested on 21 November 2024 by Finnish authorities following a lengthy investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The probe centred on allegations that he used social media platforms to incite terrorism and promote violence, activities believed to have fuelled unrest across parts of south-eastern Nigeria. The Päijät-Häme District Court found him guilty of “public incitement to commit…

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has strongly refuted claims made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that the Office of the NSA coordinated ransom payments and incentives to bandits. In a statement released on Monday and signed by Zakari Mijinyawa, Adviser in the Office of the NSA, Ribadu described El-Rufai’s comments as “baseless” and “contrary to verifiable facts.” El-Rufai, during a recent interview on Channels Television, had accused the NSA of adopting a policy that involved financially engaging with criminal groups, a statement that has since sparked widespread criticism. “The attention of the Office of the…