Author: Mayor

No fewer than 46 Ghanaian nationals trafficked into Nigeria have been rescued by operatives of the National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja. The operation, which also led to the arrest of seven suspects linked to human trafficking and cybercrime, was carried out in collaboration with INTERPOL and the Ghana High Commission. Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, attributing the success to two coordinated operations. In the first operation, 31 victims were discovered to have been trafficked from Ghana to Nigeria under the guise of job placements in Europe. Investigations revealed that…

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has dismissed rumours linking him to a vice presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections. Radda clarified his position in a statement released on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula-Mohammed. The clarification was made during an event organised by the Dutsin-Ma Development Forum in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of the state. “I’ve seen posters and messages suggesting I’m pursuing another office. Let me be clear, I sought your mandate to serve as Governor of Katsina State, and that is my only focus. “I am not behind any campaign to contest elsewhere. My…

President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign into law the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Amendment Bill, 2025, recently passed by the National Assembly. The proposed legislation sought to empower the NDLEA to retain a portion of the proceeds recovered from drug-related crimes—a provision that diverges from the existing legal framework. The decision was conveyed to the House of Representatives during Thursday’s plenary session, as read by the Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas. Citing constitutional concerns, President Tinubu referenced Section 58, Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution, and stated that assenting to the bill “was a contravention of the aforementioned…

Suspected bandits have killed eight people and injured one in coordinated attacks on two villages in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the attacks, which occurred Tuesday afternoon in Baidi and Sabiyo villages. According to the command’s spokesman, DSP Ahmed Rufai, the assailants, believed to be Lakurawa bandits, carried out a brutal assault on the farming communities. “Eight persons were confirmed dead, while one injured victim is currently receiving treatment at the hospital,” DSP Rufai said in a WhatsApp message to Punch on Thursday. Eyewitnesses described the bandits as heavily armed and moving…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has officially renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan in honour of the late former governor of the state, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo. The governor made the announcement on Thursday during the state burial ceremony held for the late statesman. According to Makinde, the institution will now be known as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan. He said, “I made the change to honour the former governor.” Dr. Olunloyo, who governed the old Oyo State briefly between October and December 1983, was notably the first indigene of Ibadan to hold that office. He also previously served as the rector…

The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has announced a revenue generation of ₦3.5 billion between January and May 2025. This was disclosed by the Controller of the Command, Dr Benedict Oramalugo, during a working visit by the Zonal Coordinator of NCS, Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General Charles Orbih, to the command. According to Oramalugo, the command also facilitated export consignments totaling 220,300 metric tonnes, with a free-on-board value of ₦47 billion. He further revealed that anti-smuggling operations within the period led to seizures worth ₦889 million, including expired pharmaceuticals, marijuana, and corrosive mercury, which were handed over to…

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has officially reconciled with George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), following a lengthy political rift. The disagreement between the two prominent figures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) began shortly after the 2023 general elections. It was reportedly rooted in a struggle for control over the party’s structure in Benue, leading to internal divisions within the APC in the state. Efforts to mend the strained relationship intensified after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State. The president had visited the state in the aftermath of a deadly…

A fierce transfer race has erupted as Manchester United, Everton, Crystal Palace, and Fulham vie for the signature of Wilfred Ndidi, following the activation of his £9.5 million release clause after Leicester City’s relegation to the Championship. According to talkSPORT, the Nigeria international signed a contract last year containing a clause that allows him to leave for a bargain fee if the club dropped from the top flight. That scenario has now unfolded, putting several clubs on high alert. United are reportedly weighing up a move to bolster Ruben Amorim’s midfield, but face competition from Everton, as well as Crystal…

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is currently embroiled in internal turmoil following conflicting statements regarding the status of its National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting and the reinstatement of Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary. On Wednesday, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party refuted claims made by Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, about the postponement of the upcoming NEC meeting and the resumption of Anyanwu to office. Earlier in the day, Damagum had announced that the 100th NEC meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, had been postponed. He also stated that Anyanwu was to resume his duties as…

A fresh bomb explosion has claimed four lives and injured 10 others on Wednesday in Borno State. The tragic incident occurred around 3:30pm in Komala village, situated along the Maiduguri–Damboa Road, when a Suzuki pick-up truck ran over an improvised explosive device (IED). Confirming the incident to journalists, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, stated that the victims had been evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment. “I confirm that the incident happened. Four persons died and 10 sustained various degrees of injuries. They have been taken to the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri,” he…