Author: Opalim Lifted

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communications, says foreign interests are fuelling the security crisis in Nigeria. Speaking on The Link Up Podcast, organised by Echoo Room, Bwala listed factors contributing to Nigeria’s security challenges. The presidential spokesperson said terrorism in the Sahel states, which border Nigeria, is a major factor behind the country’s security crisis. Bwala said terrorists operating in the Sahel states attack communities in Nigeria before fleeing across the border. “Nigeria is also a country where there are foreign interests working against the country,” he said. “Many years ago, when Boko Haram started…

Five people have been killed and 21 others injured after a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Andes region of Peru, authorities have confirmed. According to the Geophysics Institute of Peru, the earthquake struck on Saturday night near the town of Chongos Bajo, about 300 kilometres east of the capital, Lima. The tremor originated at a shallow depth of 24 kilometres, increasing its impact on nearby communities. Residents described scenes of devastation as homes collapsed. “The earthquake destroyed our home. Here there are many adobe houses that collapsed,” a resident of Chongos Bajo told N television network. General Luis Vasquez, director…

Residents of Lata Nna community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene over the wave of banditry, kidnappings and violent attacks that have gripped the area for the past two years. In a Save Our Soul (SOS) letter addressed to the president, the Secretary of the Lata-Nna Youth Association, Tauheed Desco, said the community is living in constant fear and can no longer carry out normal daily activities. “Your Excellency, we can no longer go to our farms, we can no longer go to the market, and we can no…

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has unveiled a statue of renowned novelist and literary icon, Chinua Achebe, in his hometown of Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area. The monument, located at Ugwunwasike Roundabout, was unveiled on Saturday, 13 years after the celebrated author’s death, in a ceremony aimed at preserving his enduring legacy. Speaking at the event, Soludo described Achebe as a global symbol of excellence whose impact on literature continues to inspire generations across the world. According to the governor, his administration remains committed to supporting initiatives that preserve Achebe’s legacy while nurturing the next generation of literary talents…

A teacher released after spending 56 days in captivity following the mass abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has described the dramatic circumstances surrounding their release, saying it came unexpectedly after the militants’ commander announced they were free. Speaking during a live interview on 99.3 Nigeria Info FM, school counsellor Mr Olatunde Zachaeus said the militants’ leader appeared unusually cheerful before ordering that the blindfolds and handcuffs of the captives be removed. “The way we were freed was miraculous. One day, their commander came and they were just laughing and smiling. They said…

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have rescued Samuel Okunsebor, a professor at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), who was abducted by kidnappers. Okunsebor, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at NSUK, was abducted on Wednesday at Mile Uku, a boundary community between Lafia and Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area (LGA). Gunmen reportedly attacked the community at about midnight on Wednesday. According to Zagazola Makama, DSS operatives successfully located and rescued the professor at about 3 p.m. on Friday following intelligence-driven operations. The publication reported that the DSS handed the professor over to his family members in…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to immediately withdraw the Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, warning that it could become a tool for restricting social media and undermining freedom of expression. In a letter dated July 18, 2026, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation described the proposed legislation as a “backdoor attempt” to regulate social media and expand government control over online expression. The Bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North), would require social media platforms,…

The Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Bill over provisions that could penalise preaching in commercial vehicles. The church body expressed concern that the amendment would classify preaching alongside hawking and trading in commercial buses, warning that such a provision could undermine constitutionally guaranteed rights. The Senate recently passed amendments to the FRSC Act, introducing tougher sanctions for various traffic offences aimed at improving road safety and compliance. Among the proposed penalties is a ₦100,000 fine for motorists who violate…

The Kebbi State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the ongoing investigation and prosecution of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, are politically motivated and aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a statement jointly signed by the party’s State Chairman, Engr. Sufiyanu Bala, and the Chairman of the ADC Elders Forum in Kebbi State, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Sambawa, the party maintained that while it supports the lawful investigation and prosecution of anyone found wanting, it would not condone what it described as the use of…

The Southern Political Progressives Amalgamation Forum has urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to carefully consider its choice of vice-presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that the decision could significantly influence the party’s electoral prospects against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement jointly signed by Comrades Anga Fidelis, Eniafe Ayomide, and Johnson Iheanacho, the group said the ADC should prioritise a running mate with broad acceptability and proven electoral appeal across the South. The forum was reacting to reports linking former Minister of Transportation and former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, with…