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By Sam Tyav, Makurdi Crisis is brewing in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, as civil society groups and rights bodies plan a major protest for next week in the wake of the alleged murder of a female undergraduate by the police on Friday, May 16. As tension rose over the matter, the new Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Emenari Ifeanyi, ordered investigation into the death. The deceased was identified as Emmanuella Ahenjir, a student of Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State who was shot at Wurukum, in Makurdi. However, a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue…

By Sam Tyav, Makurdi Disturbed by incessant attacks and killings of residents of Tyoshin, Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, the Forum of Tyoshin Academics (FoTA) has strongly condemned the incidents. The group called for an end to the killings and also demanded justice for the recent assault on a food vendor by a Nigerian soldier, identified as Private Emmanuel Christopher. In a statement signed by the forum's National President, Professor Patrick Ukase, and National Publicity Secretary, Professor John Ajai, FoTA demanded prompt, transparent, and independent investigation into Miss Dooshima Grace Kwaghngule’s assault, monitored by civil society…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has strengthened its collaboration with the British High Commission in the fight against organised immigration fraud through a specialised training on document forgery. The training, organised by the Home Office International Operations of the British Deputy High Commission, held on Thursday, 15 May, 2025, for the two Directorates in Lagos, at 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.  The training was designed to enhance the capacity of EFCC officers in detecting forgeries and preventing document-related fraud. The Zonal Director, Lagos Directorate 1, CE Michael Nzekwe, who hosted the training,  expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration between…

*Firm Confirms Clamping Done, Spill Clean-up Underway Nigerian oil firm Renaissance Energy has halted production into the country's Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), a major oil artery transporting crude from onshore oilfields to the Bonny export terminal, following an operational incident, the firm said today, May 16. An environmental rights group said yesterday (Thursday) that the pipeline burst on May 6 and spilled oil into the local B-Dere community in Ogoniland, the second such incident affecting the pipeline in two months. Nigerian oil consortium Renaissance Group, which now owns Shell's former onshore subsidiary that operates the pipeline, "immediately isolated the pipeline…

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly arrested Fred Ajudua, a Lagos-based socialite and businessman, in connection with an alleged $1.43 million fraud. The arrest took place in Abuja on Tuesday, following a Supreme Court order issued on Friday, May 5, 2025, which revoked his bail and directed that he be remanded in the Correctional Service. A highly placed source at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja who spoke in confidence, informed Vanguard of the development. “Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Lagos-based socialite and businessman Fred Ajudua, pending his re-arraignment for an alleged $1.43…

The 450,000 barrels per day (bpd ) Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), a major oil artery transporting crude from onshore oilfields to the Bonny export terminal, burst and spilled oil into the local B-Dere community in Ogoniland, Rivers State, an environmental rights group said on Thursday, May 15. This is the second incident affecting the Trans Niger Pipeline in two months. In March, the pipeline was shut after a blast that caused a fire. Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nnimmo Bassey, said the spill, which occurred on May 6, was yet to be stopped, adding that the slow response…

*Accuses President Of Lacking Political Will, Insensitivity By our reporter Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flagbearer in the 2023 presidential poll and former Vice President (VP) Atiku Abubakar has tutored the government of President Bola Tinubu on how the administration of then President Olusegun Obasanjo decisively fought insecurity. Abubakar, popularly known as Atiku, was VP under Obasanjo. Their administration ran from 1999-2007. His accusation came amid several assurances by the Federal Government, from time to time, that it was on top of the nation's security situation. Addressing a delegation of stakeholders from Kogi East Senatorial Zone, led by former Kogi…

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has expressed deep concern over the comments made by National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, during his condolence visit, in April, to Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, in the wake of attacks by armed herdsmen, which left scores dead, several displaced and properties destroyed. The visit was directed by President Bola Tinubu following a 'black Friday' of murder of over 70 persons by suspected killer herdsmen. MBF is a regional socio-political group in Nigeria that seeks to promote the interests of the people of the Middle Belt region, an…

By our reporter In a dramatic turn of events, armed men who abducted the Ward 5 Chairman, Mr Nelson Adepoyigi, of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ose Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, South-West Nigeria, and grabbed the N5 million ransom paid for his release, have equally held onto two persons sent to deliver the ransom to them. In a classic case of greed, the abductors, obviously having tasted the aroma of the successful ransom-taking, apparently developed a bigger appetite and are now demanding the sum of N30 million as additional ransom to free the trio. Both captured ransom…

By Felix Durumbah, Abuja Crises-ridden opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to lose its main power base, the South-East, except the party's national leaders urgently hearken to zonal chieftains of the country's once unshakable ruling party. At stake is the lingering matter of who occupies the seat of National Secretary at the party's Abuja national headquarters. The position is zoned to the South-East. The 'warring' PDP leaders include Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, who is the Leader of the party in the zone; Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party and former Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara; National Vice-Chairman…