Author: Opalim Lifted

Human rights organisations Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International have condemned the reported use of teargas against peaceful protesters during the June 12 Democracy Day demonstration in Abuja, calling for an independent investigation into the incident involving activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore. According to both organisations, Sowore reportedly collapsed and was taken to hospital after being exposed to teargas allegedly fired by security operatives during the protest at Unity Fountain. In a statement, SERAP described the reported targeting of peaceful demonstrators and the use of force against citizens exercising their…

Promise Dikko, the winner of Miss UNIJOS 2024, is grieving the loss of her fiancé, whom she said was killed by bandits just months before their planned wedding. In a Facebook post on Thursday, the UNIJOS student  disclosed that her betrothed was fatally attacked by bandits. She shared a photo of the couple together, in which her late fiancé is dressed in ceremonial military attire. Describing him as “my hero,” Promise said she has now become another victim of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity crisis. Although she did not specify when the incident occurred, she added that they were supposed to wed…

Ariana Grande, the US pop superstar, has demanded that the administration of Donald Trump cease using her music to promote its immigration enforcement policies. The demand follows the release of a video on the White House’s social media platform that featured her hit song, Bye. The video showed officers from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arresting individuals identified as alleged undocumented migrants. The footage included scenes of handcuffing, detainee transport, and processing at detention centres. The clip was set to a soundbite from Grande’s track “Bye,” with an on-screen caption reading: “Bye-bye… President Trump has delivered the most secure…

Human rights activist and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has reportedly collapsed and was subsequently taken to a hospital following a confrontation with the Nigeria police during a Democracy Day protest at Unity Fountain in Abuja. Witnesses at the scene alleged that Sowore collapsed after police operatives moved to disperse protesters gathered to demonstrate against insecurity, economic hardship, and what they described as poor governance. The protest, which attracted scores of activists and civil society groups, was disrupted after security personnel deployed tear gas canisters in an apparent attempt to break up the gathering.…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has revealed that criminal groups masquerading as a federal government task force stole about nine kilometres of pipelines across its network in 2025. According to a statement issued by NNPC spokesperson Andy Odeh, the national oil company recorded 19 cases of pipeline theft during the year, with the stolen infrastructure traced to the Enugu-Makurdi-Yola corridor and parts of the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline. The disclosure followed a joint inspection of a vandalised section of the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) crude oil pipeline in Pai community, located in the Kwali Area Council…

President Bola Tinubu has warned terrorists, kidnappers, and sponsors of insecurity to surrender or face elimination. He added that “no mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.” Speaking in a televised broadcast to mark the 2026 Democracy Day celebration on Friday, the president said the government’s window for surrender would not remain open indefinitely. On the recent abduction of children and tutors in Oyo and Borno states, Tinubu said the country remains hopeful that they will return safely. He said this was why his administration declared an emergency on security and approved the recruitment…

An independent investigative panel established by the Federal Government has uncovered widespread inmate malnutrition, alleged corruption in prison feeding contracts, and institutional practices contributing to overcrowding in correctional facilities across Nigeria. In its final report submitted to Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on June 3, 2026, the panel recommended an immediate increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates from N750 to N3,000. The report, obtained through the Ministry of Interior’s website, followed a nationwide investigation launched in September 2024 to examine allegations of corruption and human rights abuses within the Nigerian Correctional Service. As part of its work, the panel…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is reportedly set to choose former Transport Minister Chibuike Amaechi as his running mate on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election. The development follows weeks of negotiations within the opposition coalition and, if confirmed, would create an Atiku-Amaechi (“AA”) ticket designed to balance the North-East and South-South geopolitical zones. The move comes after the departure of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the ADC to the rival NDC platform, where both politicians are reportedly preparing a joint ticket for…

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to remain committed to the country’s progress, even in the face of criticism, challenges, and differing opinions about governance. Tinubu stated that constructive criticism is not only welcome but necessary for leadership and national development, noting that accountability and public scrutiny are essential parts of a functioning democracy. However, he cautioned that such criticism should not translate into despair or loss of confidence in the Nigerian project. According to him, citizens have every right to question government actions, challenge policies, and demand better performance but must continue to believe in the possibility of a…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced five men to 25 years imprisonment each for their roles in supporting terrorists linked to the November 2025 attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church in Papiri, Niger State. Justice Binta Nyako handed down the sentence on Thursday after the defendants pleaded guilty to four terrorism-related charges brought against them by the Department of State Services (DSS). The convicts — Yusuf Muhammad (also known as Bature), Goni Ibrahim Bindi (Goni Mutuwa), Sani Tukur (Danladi), Mubarak Ibrahim and Musa Alhaji Adamu (Gado Banufe) — were arrested by DSS operatives on May 31, 2026. Two…