Author: Vincent Osuwo

Pope Leo XIV reminded migrants at a reception center on the Spanish island of Tenerife on Friday that “all of us are migrants” on the final day of a weeklong visit to Spain focused on the plight of illegal immigrants. Tenerife is one of the Atlantic Canary Islands that has served as a conduit for tens of thousands of illegal migrants seeking a better life in Europe. The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics is ending his journey with a request for increased assistance to migrants and action against traffickers at a time when immigration remains a contentious political…

US President Donald Trump will host a blood-soaked UFC cage match on the lawn of the White House for the US’s 80th birthday. A massive arena called “The Claw” has been erected on the iconic South Lawn for Sunday’s competition, which will feature 14 Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters. Critics have slammed the unprecedented $60 million “UFC Freedom 250” event as tone-deaf, coming at a time when Trump’s war in Iran has raised the cost of living for average Americans. Trump thinks it’s a terrific way to kick off the 250th anniversary of American independence — not to mention his own…

President Bola Tinubu has announced the renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology. The president stated on Friday that the move was in recognition of the late military officer’s services to Nigeria’s transition to civilian administration. Tinubu announced the decision as part of his Democracy Day address, stating that the name was part of the acknowledgment for the builders of Nigeria’s democratic journey. “Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honor General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership. “In recognition of…

Fellow Nigerians Today, we celebrate not only democracy but also the enduring Nigerian spirit. For 27 unbroken years, since May 29, 1999, Nigerians have chosen their leaders through the ballot, witnessed peaceful transitions of power, and resolved disagreements in courtrooms and legislative chambers—not through violence. We have experienced the longest stretch of civilian rule in our history. Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it. In the coming days, Ekiti and Osun States will hold elections. I urge INEC, security agencies, and all parties to ensure these polls are peaceful…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed 73,463.21 kilograms of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances valued at N2.8bn in Edo State. A public destruction exercise was held in Benin City on Thursday. Cannabis sativa was the most commonly destroyed substance, accounting for 73,210.23 kilogrammes. Other substances destroyed included 246.36 kilograms of psychotropic drugs, including Tramadol (141.81 kg), Diazepam (8.43 kg), and Codeine cough syrup (61.77 kg), as well as 2.66 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3.74 kilograms of cocaine, and 0.22 kilogram. Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (ret.), the NDLEA’s chairman and CEO, spoke at the ceremony and hailed the…

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, the MV Aruna Hulya, of trafficking 31.5 kilogrammes of cocaine into Nigeria, imposing fines and reparations of over $6 million. The conviction came almost six months after National Narcotic Law Enforcement Agency agents arrested the crew and impounded the vessel after discovering the illicit narcotic at Lagos’ Apapa dock. The cocaine was captured by NDLEA agents on January 2, 2026, during a check of the vessel at the GDNL terminal at Apapa Port, when 31.5 kg of cocaine was discovered stowed in Hatch 3 of…

An Edo State High Court in Benin City condemned five people to death by hanging on Wednesday for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of Iyoha Osobase, a legal practitioner. The court, however, released and acquitted one of the accused, Solomon Esuike, due to insufficient evidence. In Charge No. B/CD/136C/22, Justice Efe Ikpomwonba ruled that the prosecution proved its case against five defendants, including Valentine Dibie, beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, the court found the five defendants guilty of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder and sentenced them to varying jail terms and the death penalty by hanging. Justice…

The Senate on Thursday charged security agencies to step up surveillance and enforcement actions against bandits and terrorists who openly display their criminal activities and financial gains on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, amid growing concerns about the brazenness of criminal networks operating online. The resolution was introduced in response to a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents the Kogi West Senatorial District, regarding the rising wave of bandit attacks and terrorist incursions in Kogi West and other parts of the country, as lawmakers confronted the widening security crisis across multiple regions. During deliberations, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of…

Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has written to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde expressing his desire to deploy personnel of his private security outfit to public schools across the state amid growing concerns over insecurity. The decision comes 24 days after children and instructors were abducted during coordinated raids on schools in the state’s Oriire Local Government Area. In a letter dated June 9, 2026, in Ibadan on Thursday, Igboho, through his security outfit, Iru Ekun Private Security Limited, requested details of public schools and their locations across Oyo State to facilitate the proposed security…

The Senate has distanced itself from Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s remarks describing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” claiming that they did not reflect the Red Chamber’s position. The upper legislative body further announced that no Senate committee has the jurisdiction to issue, authorize, or execute an arrest warrant except in strict accordance with the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and with the explicit permission of the Senate president. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate leader, sponsored a motion at plenary that resulted in the resolutions. The clarification came just 24 hours after…