News

By our reporter In a twist, lawyer and and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, has dropped criminal defamation charges against his colleague and human rights activist, Dele Farotimi. At a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, South-West Nigeria, on Sunday evening, January 26, which was attended by several prominent traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the announcement came to light. Farotimi’s book, 'Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System', where he allegedly accused Babalola of undermining the Nigerian judiciary, was the trigger for the conflict, with Babalola consequently undertaking a…

By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu In yet another pace-setting move, Enugu State Government has approved the State Climate Policy and Action Plan (ESCPAP), making it the first subnational government in Nigeria to adopt a long-term climate strategy that incorporates emissions modeling, micro-energy audits, and extensive stakeholder engagement. Also, the State Executive Council (SEC) has approved the Enugu State Off-Grid Electrification (OGE) Policy Strategy Plan to expand electricity access to unserved and underserved communities, leveraging distributed renewable energy solutions to drive economic growth and improve public service delivery. The approvals were announced by Secretary to State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, at…

By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the 2026 election in Ekiti State, Otunba Peter Obafemi, has consoled Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on the demise of his elder brother, Engr. Sunday Makinde, who passed on at 65. Obafemi, in a statement signed by OPO Media Vanguard and made available to journalists, said he was saddened by the death of the elder Makinde, whom he described as “a peaceful, humble, God-fearing and exceptionally patriotic Nigerian, who played essential roles in the development of Oyo State." He added: "Particularly, he was a pillar of support to…

By Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu About a week after a petrol tanker explosion claimed about 100 lives along Dikko-Maje road, Suleja Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, North-Central Nigeria, another tanker explosion,this time in Enugu State, South-East Nigeria, has taken at least 18 lives. Official figures, however, say 11 persons were killed even as scores of others were injured and battling for their very lives in different hospitals to which they were conveyed, some unconscious. Reports said on Saturday morning, January 25, a petrol-laden tanker fell on the Enugu-Onitsha federal highway in Ugwu Onyeama axis, spilling its product which subsequently…

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Bandits in their numbers have reportedly abducted 22 residents in separate fresh attacks in Kugauta community of Kusheka, Kumana Chiefdom, and Kitanda community of Geshere, also in Kumana Chiefdom, Kauru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State. A resident and trainee pastor in the area, Emmanuel Johnson, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with journalists on Saturday, January 25. He said the assailants invaded the two communities in separate attacks on Friday (the previous day) about 10:30pm and kidnapped 22 locals, mostly women and children. The resident explained that 12 locals were kidnapped in Kitanda…

By our reporter In a dramatic turn of events, Kano State Government has dismissed the claim by the State Police Command that suspected terrorists were plotting a massive bloodfest by attacking huge gatherings in key locations in the heavily-populated North-Western State. The government said the claim was a fake alarm and an attempt to disrupt a 39-year-old, annual religious festival in the state, the National Tijanniya Maulud. The festival is being organized and led by the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II,whose reinstatement to the ancient throne on May 23, 2024 following his appointment by the state government, which is…

By our reporter Suspected terrorists are planning to attack large gatherings of people in key areas of Kano, North-West Nigeria, police have alerted. This was contained in a public alert issued on Friday, January 24, by the State Police Command. According to the police, the plot came to light following intelligence gathered by the combined ferreting of both the police and sister security agencies. In a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Superintendent of Police (SP) Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the police called on residents of the heavily-populated state to avoid crowded places for precaution sake. Kiyawa said:…

By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu Enugu State Police Command said it has arrested three male suspects for alleged armed robbery and cultism, in separate operations within the state. The Command's operatives also recovered three firearms, eight live cartridges and other exhibits. The Command's spokesman, Superintendent of Police (SP) Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement in Enugu on Friday, January 24, said that the achievements were part of the 2025 proactive, community-driven, and results-oriented policing strategy introduced by the State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu. Ndukwe said that in one of the operations, police operatives from Oji River Police Division arrested…

By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu The South East Zone of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rose from a meeting at Government House, Enugu, South-East Nigeria, with a resolution approving the zoning of national and zonal offices allocated to the zone. The party in the zone also restated its support for Hon. S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye as PDP National Secretary. It maintained that South-East PDP remained one big, united party capable of handling any issues arising in the zone, warning external troublemakers to steer clear of its affairs in the region. These were made known in a communique read at the end of a meeting…

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Harder times have befallen primary school teachers in Kaduna state due to what they claimed is their non-receipt yet of the N70, 000 national minimum wage. In an open letter to President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, dated Thursday, January 24, 2025, and made available to journalists in Kaduna,they decried the attitude of government in not giving them their legitimate due. "We, the primary school teachers of Kaduna State, humbly write to bring to your attention the ongoing hardship we face due to the non-implementation of the new minimum wage in our state. "Despite the Federal Government's progressive…