Author: Opalim Lifted

Two people have been killed and five others injured after violence erupted during the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in Idanre, Ondo State. The bloodshed broke out on Wednesday at Odode-Idanre, headquarters of Idanre Local Government Area, as the ruling party conducted congresses across its 203 wards. The chaos is believed to be linked to tensions from Tuesday’s disruption at the party’s secretariat in Akure, where suspected hoodlums stormed a stakeholders’ meeting and attacked party leaders. Among those targeted was Raphael Adetimehin, younger brother of Ade Adetimehin, the state caretaker chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He reportedly…

At least 37 miners have died in a suspected carbon monoxide leak at an underground mining site in Zurak, Wase LGA of Plateau State, in what is shaping up as a devastating Plateau mining tragedy. The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Tuesday while the miners were carrying out routine operations deep inside the tunnels. According to counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the victims mostly young men aged between 20 and 35 inhaled toxic fumes that suddenly filled the underground shafts. Eyewitnesses said several miners collapsed inside the tunnels before help could reach them. Twenty-five other workers were rushed…

There are managers in football who age and become statesmen of the game. Then there is Jose Mourinho, who appears determined to age into a caricature. For years, Mourinho’s fans have conflated belligerence with brilliance and petulance with personality. The self-described “Special One,” who some critics now dub the “Specious One,” has long cultivated the image of a misunderstood genius, forever persecuted by referees, journalists, governing bodies and, occasionally, reality itself. But there comes a point when the theatre stops being amusing and starts being ugly. By attempting to justify racism while simultaneously shifting blame onto the alleged victim, Mourinho…

Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Group, has predicted that the naira will strengthen to N1,100 per dollar in 2026. Dangote spoke on Tuesday during the launch of the National Industrial Policy 2025 by the federal government. The naira has strengthened in recent weeks, appreciating to N1,335.95 per dollar at the official market and N1,380/$ at the parallel market on Tuesday. Commenting on the development, the billionaire businessman said the country has the potential to generate large-scale consumption, industrial growth, and increased disposable incomes. “I mean, today, if you look at it, Your Excellency, I believe that with the policies…

Terror swept through parts of Niger State again on Tuesday as heavily armed gunmen stormed border communities in Borgu and Agwara, forcing thousands of terrified residents to flee into the Benin Republic. The latest Niger terror attack came barely 24 hours after Governors Umaru Bago of Niger and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State met in Minna to review security in border towns. Eyewitnesses said more than 200 terrorists riding about 70 motorcycles invaded Konkoso in the early hours of Tuesday, their second assault within a week. Homes were set ablaze before the attackers moved towards Segbana, a border town linking…

Lucky Aiyedatiwa has denied allegations that he ordered thugs to attack the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure, Ondo State. The Ondo governor dismissed claims linking him to Tuesday’s violence at the party’s state headquarters, insisting he was attending a birthday ceremony when the attack occurred. Suspected hoodlums stormed the APC secretariat in Akure during a stakeholders’ meeting convened ahead of the ward congresses. Ade Adetimehin, the caretaker chairman of the party in Ondo, was reportedly beaten and had his phone seized during the incident. The disruption forced stakeholders to abandon the meeting. Witnesses said the attackers…

Lawrence Agubuzu, the Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom in Enugu State, has asked Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), or return him to Kenya, where he was arrested before being brought to Nigeria. Agubuzu spoke on Tuesday while delivering a goodwill message at the 2026 National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. The traditional ruler said Kanu’s continued detention is fuelling agitation among youths in the South-East. “Bring this man out. If we don’t want him in Nigeria, return him to…

African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Peter Obi has renewed his call for election reform and criticised President Bola Tinubu over Nigeria’s struggling power sector, accusing the government of failing to meet key promises. In posts shared on Tuesday, Obi said peaceful Nigerians demanding free and fair elections were tear-gassed for exercising their democratic rights. He described the development as evidence of democratic backsliding. The former Anambra state governor called for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results, arguing that transparency is essential to public trust. Comparing Nigeria and India Obi contrasted Nigeria’s electoral process with that of India, which…

Growing desperation among young Africans; Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad is fuelling a dangerous cycle that leaves many vulnerable to exploitation, including alleged recruitment into foreign military conflicts, foreign policy and security experts have warned. Professor of International Relations, Femi Otubanjo, said unfolding reports of Africans, including Nigerians, ending up in military camps in Russia reflect a complex global pattern driven by economic hardship and long-standing international recruitment practices. “It takes two to tango. So, you have to have a partnership for certain things to be achieved,” Otubanjo said, noting that stories of foreign job seekers being redirected into military service…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna State, as Renewed Hope Ambassador and Deputy Director-General for All Progressives Congress (APC) outreach, engagement, and mobilisation. In a statement on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on media and strategy, said Sani’s appointment takes immediate effect. Onanuga said Tinubu appointed Sani to the role because of his outstanding leadership and organisational abilities. “The governor’s responsibilities will include working in close collaboration with the Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and the party hierarchy, particularly the national chairman of the APC,” the statement reads. “The overall objective of…