Author: Opalim Lifted

Veteran musician Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, and his wife, Edo lawmaker Natasha Osawaru, have welcomed a baby boy. Osawaru announced the birth of their child on her Facebook page on Sunday. She wrote, “Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Idibia. We joyfully welcome our bouncy baby boy into the world . May this precious little one bring endless laughter, happiness, and blessings to our beautiful family. “With love, strength, and unforgettable moments as we begin this wonderful new chapter. Welcome, baby boy Idibia.” The birth marks a new chapter in a relationship that has stayed in the public eye…

The federal government has denied reports that it ordered all schools across the country to close because of security concerns. The claim spread online after a rise in mass abductions in the north west and north central regions, including two major incidents last week. The attacks had led the government to approve the temporary closure of forty four Unity Colleges. Niger State also suspended classes in its primary and secondary schools. This created confusion on social media, where some users claimed that every school in the country would shut from 24 November. Boriowo Folasade, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education,…

President Bola Tinubu convened an extended security meeting at the State House with the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and heads of the intelligence community. The gathering followed fresh field reports from parts of the country facing renewed threats. Officials briefed the president throughout the session on current operations and emerging risks. In response, he issued firm directives for security units to act with greater speed and accuracy in the affected regions. The aim is to contain the disturbances, restore order, and safeguard residents. The president reaffirmed his commitment to national…

President Bola Tinubu has announced the rescue of all 38 worshippers seized during a violent raid on a Christ Apostolic Church branch in Eruku, Kwara State. The attack took place on Tuesday evening during a service at Oke Isegun in the border town between Kwara and Kogi. A live stream showed the congregation led by a young pastor before sudden gunfire broke out around the church. People rushed for cover as the shots grew louder and armed men forced their way inside. The assault was reported to have begun shortly after six in the evening. In a message shared on…

Eberechi Eze scored his first senior hat-trick as Arsenal thrashed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League. Spurs boss Thomas Frank picked a five-man defence as he looked to keep things tight at Emirates Stadium, but his side could not contain the league leaders. Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for an utterly dominant Arsenal in the 36th minute, finishing well after a lovely through ball from Mikel Merino. Then Eze, who almost joined Spurs in the summer from Crystal Palace before a late swoop by Arsenal, doubled the hosts’ advantage…

Morgan Rogers scored twice as Aston Villa came from behind to beat Leeds United at Elland Road and pile more pressure on home manager Daniel Farke. Leeds took the lead in chaotic style after just eight minutes. A Sean Longstaff free-kick was played back across goal by Gabriel Gudmundsson and Villa keeper Emi Martinez was outjumped by Anton Stach. Stach’s header was cleared off the line – but deflected in off Leeds striker Lukas Nmecha, with the goal finally awarded after a long check by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Aston Villa needed a response after the break, and found…

All the 38 persons recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke-Isegun in Eruku community of Ekiti Local Government of Kwara have regained freedom. The state government, through the office of the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, disclosed this on Sunday. The statement said the release followed many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives. Ajakaye said, “The governor says this is wholly due to the hands-on approach of President Bola Tinubu, who has personally led the efforts to free the abductees.” He recalled that the president had called…

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Niger state, has released the names of 50 students of St. Mary’s School in the Papiri community of Agwara LGA. On November 21, armed men attacked the school and abducted 315 people, including 303 students and 12 teachers. Earlier, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger state said fifty students abducted from the school have escaped from captivity. The association noted the pupils regained freedom between Friday and Saturday and “quietly reunited with their families”. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Niger state chapter of CAN and Catholic bishop of Kontagora diocese, said the…

Christ Apostolic Church Oke Isegun in Eruku returned to worship on Sunday with a quiet service marked by grief and determination. Only a fraction of the usual congregation gathered inside the blood-stained hall, five days after armed men stormed the church, killed three people, and took thirty-eight others away. The service ran for about an hour, centred on prayers for the safe return of the abducted members and for the repose of the dead. Pastor Bamidele Lawrence urged the congregation to hold firm. He said he believed the captives would be rescued and compared their ordeal to the ancient trials…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has secured a landmark judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja directing President Bola Tinubu to release the long-awaited forensic audit report on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and publish the names of those implicated in the alleged diversion of more than six trillion naira between 2000 and 2019. Justice Gladys Olotu delivered the ruling on 10 November in response to an FOI suit filed by SERAP in 2021. The certified true copy of the judgment was obtained last week. The court held that the audit report and the list of…