Author: Opalim Lifted

Armed bandits have struck again in Niger State, abducting scores of passengers, including two prominent figures, in a brazen highway attack. The ambush occurred recently along the Mokwa–New Bussa road in Mashegu LGA, near the Zugurma–Ibbi axis. Eyewitnesses said the attackers opened fire on police patrol vehicles close to the National Park before targeting at least three commercial buses. Traders returning from the market were among those seized. Notable victims include Alhassan Bawa Niworo, a former chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and Ahmed Mohammed, a commissioner with the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC). Police…

Tottenham avoided a big upset in the Champions League as they fought back from two goals down to rescue a draw at Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt. Spurs, who beat this team home and away on their way to winning the Europa League last season, were second best for large periods and fell behind early in the second half when Jens Petter Hauge curled a strike into the far corner. Things got even better for the hosts when Hauge superbly turned away from Pedro Porro before hammering a strike into the bottom corner to put the home fans in dreamland. But Micky…

Jose Mourinho enjoyed a warm welcome but a disappointing return to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, a first-half own goal gifting Chelsea a 1-0 win over his new Benfica side in the Champions League. A scrappy game was decided in the 18th minute when Chelsea’s Pedro Neto looped the ball to Alejandro Garnacho at the far post and the Argentine stretched to turn it across the face of goal where the unfortunate Richard Rios could only poke it in his own net. Mourinho, who won three league titles in two spells with Chelsea, waved and blew a kiss when the home…

Liverpool suffered their second successive defeat as Galatasaray inflicted a Champions League loss on a thunderous night in Istanbul. Head coach Arne Slot left talisman Mohamed Salah on the bench after Liverpool lost at Crystal Palace, but the Premier League champions failed to fire amid a constant cacophony of noise at RAMS Park. And, to add to Liverpool’s misery, goalkeeper Alisson went off injured in the second half after pulling off a superb save from Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen. Osimhen gave Galatasaray the lead after 16 minutes when French referee Clement Turpin adjudged that Dominik Szoboszlai had fouled Baris Alper…

In August 2025, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a news anchor and producer with Arise Television, put up a post on social media platform X, in which she prayed that Nigeria should never happen to her or her loved ones. One month and 15 days later, Somtochukwu, popularly known as Sommie, was killed in an armed robbery incident at her residence in Abuja. The ‘Nigeria should never happen to me’ expression has become a popular social media parlance that refers to the socio-economic factors daily confronting the average citizen. I pray from the depth of my heart that Nigeria never happens to…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a strong warning to Nigerian investors as fraudsters turn to artificial intelligence to run new financial scams. The regulator revealed that criminals are now using deep fakes, AI-generated content, and fake celebrity endorsements to push unregistered “investment” platforms. Platforms such as CBEX, Silverkuun, and TOFRO were flagged for exploiting AI tools to promise “guaranteed” profits and “zero-risk” trading—claims the SEC described as both false and dangerous. “These platforms are not licensed or regulated, yet they continue to mislead the public with deceptive claims,” the SEC cautioned. Fraudsters increasingly…

The former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, Dame Patience Jonathan, and the wife of former Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, among other dignitaries, graced the wedding ceremony of the son of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. Other dignitaries who attended the church wedding of Dr. Chikamkpa Amaechi and Anita Nwabueze include the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, National Chairman of the African Democratic Party, Senator David Mark, and former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Solomon Lalong. The former Chaplain of Rivers State House Parish, Reverend Father Steve Dedua, joined…

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has demanded the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of workers allegedly sacked by the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The workers were allegedly sacked for joining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). TUC’s Secretary General, Mr Nuhu Toro, made the call in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. Toro described the refinery’s action as anti-worker and unconstitutional. “The dismissal of workers simply for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of association is a gross violation of Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution and Nigeria’s obligations under ILO conventions,” he…

Nigerian businessman, Femi Otedola, has instructed his lawyers to file a N1 billion lawsuit against Umar Sani, a former spokesperson to former Vice President Namadi Sambo. “Because of these deliberate lies and unfounded allegations, I have instructed my lawyers to file a ₦1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani,” Otedola said in a statement. “People must learn that reputations are not to be toyed with for cheap propaganda and also to serve as a deterrent for other mischief makers in the future. I will go to every extent that this is achieved.” Sani accused Otedola, a Nigerian business mogul and…

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the Super Eagles will play two international friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia in the United States during the FIFA window for friendly matches in November 2025. According to NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachón of Eurodata Sport, Nigeria will face Venezuela on Friday, November 14, at the Shell Stadium in Houston, Texas, with kick-off scheduled for 8 p.m. local time. Four days later, on Tuesday, November 18, the Super Eagles will take on Colombia at Citi Field Stadium in Queens, New York, also at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (1 a.m. Wednesday in…