Author: Vincent Osuwo

Benue State police have reported the deaths of 12 bandits and one police officer, Inspector Terfa Anyiatse, in Buruku Local Government Area. According to a statement made late Wednesday by the state command’s spokesperson, Catherine Anene, members of the Operation Zenda Joint Task Force were on operations around the state when they encountered the gunmen. It read, “On 19/3/2025 at about 0200 hrs, while some of the operatives were on their way to a criminal hideout at Agwabi, Tombo ward, Buruku Local Government Area, they ran into an ambush laid by the bandits who engaged the police in a fierce…

A Chinese teenage football player died after suffering a catastrophic head injury while training in Spain, his club announced Thursday. Guo Jiaxuan went into a coma last month after an accident during a training match between the Beijing men’s U-20 team and Spanish club RC Alcobendas in Madrid. A local hospital pronounced him “brain dead” before transferring him to China, where he was treated at Beijing Tiantan Hospital. Guo, who played for top-tier Beijing Guoan’s U-19 team, died on Wednesday evening, according to a club social media post. “We’ve lost a child who loves football. May Jiaxuan rest in peace!”…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have condemned the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. Weighing in on the political crisis in Rivers State, the trade unions strongly condemned the emergency rule, describing it as “an assault on democracy”. In a national broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and state assembly members. He also proposed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) as the state’s sole administrator. Ibas, who was sworn in on Wednesday at the Aso Villa, will lead the state…

The Federal Government has deployed 10,000 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel to curb further attacks on oil pipelines following the backdrop of the blasts at oil installations in Rivers State between Sunday and Tuesday. Afolabi Babawale, an NSCDC spokesperson, confirmed the deployment of anti-vandal operatives to reporters on Wednesday, saying the operatives were tasked with preserving key infrastructure and avoiding pipeline vandalism, particularly in Rivers State. “The NSCDC hereby warns against destruction and vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure across the Niger Delta, as over 10,000 operatives have been deployed to collaborate with other security agencies…

The governor Ademola Adeleke-led Osun State government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, over their call on President Bola Tinubu to extend emergency rule imposition to Osun. Kolapo Alimi, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Civic Engagement, condemned the request for emergency rule in the state as heartless, self-centred, and illegal. Similarly, Oladele Bamiji, the spokesman for the Osun State PDP, accused Basiru and the APC of seeking to seize power through the backdoor after being rejected by the people in the elections. On…

Air Peace has announced that travelers will enjoy up to ₦600,000 reduction in airfares when they connect from cities across Nigeria to London with one additional piece of luggage. Air Peace announced this in a statement by its Head of Corporate Communications, Dr Ejike Ndiulo, on Wednesday. Ndiulo noted that the promotion is valid until March 31, 2025, with an extended travel duration until April 15, 2025. Air Peace said its London route continues to reinvent international travel by providing seamless connectivity from major domestic cities. The statement reads partly, “As the largest airline in West and Central Africa, Air…

A rainstorm demolished classrooms at Mayigi Community Comprehensive High School in Ilase, Ipokia Local Government, Ogun State, killing Timothy Amosun, a 14-year-old Junior Secondary School Three student, on Wednesday. Five additional students, two teachers, the school food seller, and her seven-month-old kid were all reportedly hurt in the sad incident. Mr Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, confirmed this in a statement to the press on Wednesday. Gov. Abiodun, on the other hand, has termed the terrible news as startling and pathetic, expressing his great sadness over the loss of life and extending his…

The President Donald Trump-led US government has defunded one initiative while leaving another to document alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine. The Trump administration cut funds to Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), which documented the widespread deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. It has also withdrawn from an international group tasked with investigating the officials responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including President Vladimir Putin. These actions came after Trump spoke with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine, deviating from the previous US administration’s strategy of holding Putin accountable for the Russian invasion.…

The Senate suspended its plenary session and moved its discussion on President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State to Thursday, March 20, 2025. The debate was postponed due to a delay in the start of the plenary session on Wednesday, March 19. The debate was due to begin at 3 p.m.; however, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who moved the motion, stepped down, citing Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as modified). The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, PDP, Benue South, seconded the resolution. In his motion, Senator Bamidele raised concern over the security…

The Nigerian Army’s 81 Division has refuted accusations that soldiers invaded an Eko Electric Distribution Company (EKEDC) substation in Badagry after a misunderstanding at Topo Barracks. Lt Col Olabisi Ayeni, the Division’s spokesman, refuted the claims in a statement released on Wednesday in Lagos. Ayeni stated that the assertion was made during an interview with the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors, which aired on Arise Television on Tuesday. He added that the report did not accurately depict the events and appeared to be intended to mislead the public. “During the Arise TV interview, the repeatedly…