Category: Nigeria

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NDLEA arrests female drug kingpin, intercepts 23.50kg cocaine in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a female drug kingpin with 23.50 kilograms of cocaine recovered from her children’s room in Lagos.

This is contained in a statement by Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the arrest came 20 months after a cocaine trafficking cartel led by a couple was smashed in Lagos and Ogun states by operatives of the NDLEA.

He recalled that multi-billion-naira worth of the illicit drug was recovered from the cartel.

Babafemi said that the newly arrested suspect was another leader of the syndicate who had gone underground since May 2024 and had been nabbed in her Lagos home.

He said that the couple earlier arrested were nabbed on May 25, 2024 by operatives of a special operations unit of NDLEA at Ibiye, along Lagos-Badagry expressway.

According to him, they were nabbed while attempting to cross the land border to deliver the consignment in Ghana.
He said that at the point of their arrest, 42 blocks of cocaine weighing 47.5 kilograms were found on them.

Babafemi said that a swift follow-up operation in their residence at OPIC extension, Petedo Road, Agbara, Ogun State, led to the recovery of an additional eight blocks of the same drug weighing 10kg.

“This brings the total weight of the consignment seized from the couple to 57.5 kilograms.

“Determined to rein in every member of the syndicate, the NDLEA operatives continued with follow-up intelligence and surveillance on the trans-border drug trafficking organisation until a 39-year-old female stash keeper was identified as a key member of the DTO,” he said.

Babafemi said that as a result, she was trailed to her Surulere, Lagos residence on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

“A thorough search of her home led to the discovery of blocks of cocaine weighing 23.50 kilograms concealed in a black suitcase recovered from her children’s room.

“She admitted ownership of the drug consignment worth over N5billion in street value, “he said.

Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, who commended the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, MMIA, and Seme commands for the arrests, seizures, and their dexterity.

Marwa enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to remain extra vigilant during the festive season. (Guardian)

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Tinubu congratulates Ekiti gov on 58th birthday

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on his 58th birthday, celebrated on December 21, 2025.

The President commended Oyebanji’s stewardship and commitment to the development of Ekiti State over the years.

In a statement dated Saturday, released via the State House website on Sunday and signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu highlighted the governor’s service as Secretary to the Committee on the Creation of Ekiti and his various public service roles thereafter.

“Oyebanji was Special Adviser to the state’s first civilian governor, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, and later became his Chief of Staff.

“He was Commissioner for Integration and Intergovernmental Affairs during the first-term administration of the immediate-past governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and later served as Secretary to the State Government.

“Oyebanji was elected Ekiti governor in 2022. He has already secured the All Progressives Congress’ nomination to contest for a second term in office in 2026,” the statement read.

Tinubu particularly acknowledged the state’s infrastructural growth under Oyebanji, with special focus on the agricultural and aviation sectors.

He congratulated the governor on the completion of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Airport in Ado-Ekiti and the successful inauguration of flights.

He wished the governor many more years and continued impactful governance in the state.

PUNCH Online reports that Oyebanji was born on December 21, 1967, in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Ekiti State. (Punch)

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Tinubu renames Federal University of Medical Sciences, Azare

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consented to the renaming of the Federal University of Medical Sciences, Azare, in honour of the late Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, to preserve his legacy and lifelong service to faith and education.

The decision was announced on Saturday during the President’s condolence visit to the family of the cleric in Bauchi State, where he described the passing of the revered Tijjaniyya leader as a great loss to the nation.

Tinubu arrived in Bauchi at about 4:10 p.m. through the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport and was received with a Guard of Honour by the Nigerian Air Force.

He was accompanied by several top officials, including Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, his son Seyi Tinubu, and other members of the federal delegation.

At the airport, the President was welcomed by Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; and Senator Shehu Buba, among others.

Addressing mourners at the late scholar’s mosque, Tinubu said the renaming of the institution was in recognition of Sheikh Dahiru’s enduring contributions to religious scholarship, education, humility and service to humanity. He offered prayers for Allah’s mercy upon the cleric and asked that he be granted Jannatul Firdaus, while also seeking strength for his family and the people of Bauchi State.

The President urged Nigerians to remain united and continue praying for peace across the country, stressing the need for collective resilience in difficult times.

Governor Bala Mohammed thanked Tinubu for the honour bestowed on the late cleric and the state, noting that the decision to rename the university reflected the depth of the scholar’s impact on society.

Speaking on behalf of the family, the eldest son of the late cleric, Sheikh Ibrahim Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, expressed gratitude to the President for the visit, prayers and the move to immortalise their father. (TVC)

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Remaining 130 abducted Niger pupils regain freedom

The remaining students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have reportedly regained their freedom.

A security official familiar with the rescue operation confirmed to Premium Times that the latest release accounts for all the remaining victims taken during the 21 November attack on the school.

The exact number of the newly freed abductees could not be independently confirmed at the time of filing this report.

However, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication and spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, confirmed that 130 pupils have regained their freedom.

“Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” he wrote briefly on X on Sunday.

The victims were abducted after gunmen attacked the boarding school, an incident that triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns about the safety of schools nationwide.

The attackers reportedly stormed the boarding school on motorcycles at about 2:00 a.m.

They moved systematically from one dormitory to another before marching their captives into nearby forests.

Days later, the Christian Association of Nigeria disclosed that 50 of the children escaped during the raid, while scores of others were taken away.

Following the abduction, the Federal Government imposed a security cordon around border communities.

President Bola Tinubu deployed ground troops and aerial surveillance across parts of Niger, Kebbi and Kwara states to track the kidnappers.

He also cancelled an official trip to oversee rescue efforts, while authorities ordered the temporary closure of schools across Niger State and some federal institutions in high-risk areas.

On December 8, security agencies secured the release of about 100 abductees, leaving an unspecified number in captivity until the latest breakthrough.

Sources told Premium Times that the freed students and teachers are currently being transported to Minna, the Niger State capital, where they are expected to undergo medical checks and reunite with their families.

However, as of the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Government nor the Niger State Government has issued an official statement on the development. (Punch)

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President reads riot act to Governors, threatens executive order on LG funds

President Bola Tinubu yesterday told the 36 State Governors that he would not hesitate to wield the big stick if they refuse to allow the financial autonomy granted the local government councils by the Supreme Court to work.

This emerged as the Presidency yesterday announced that the President will today depart the nation’s capital, Abuja to visit Borno, Bauchi and Lagos States.

Addressing the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, the President expressed concern that some state governors are not ready to allow the local government autonomy.

He stated specifically that he was ready to issue Executive Order if that would guarantee the financial autonomy of the 774 local government councils across the country in line with the recent judgment of the Supreme Court.

His words: “Now that you have elections at the local government level, you are the invigilators, you elected them and since you elected them, it means you have to let them work. You know them but give them their money and if you don’t do it I can issue the Executive Order because I have the yam and the knife.

“ I am just being very respectful and if  you don’t start to implement it, you will see. The ultimate is our Supreme Court and you have to respect the judgement.”

The President reiterated the determination of his government to see through the issue of state police as well as ending the terrorists reign in the country.

According to him: “I have said we are going for state police and we will do the forest Rangers.  We must defeat the terrorists, we must.”

Tinubu described himself as a symbol of God saying without him he wouldn’t have emerged as President in 2023.

“God brought us here, I am the symbol and without God I won’t be here. If God says you will be here, you will be here.  If you emulate it and pray and listen to yourself because there are moments that you listen to yourself and tell yourself the truth.”

He charged NEC members to be resolute and ensure that the Fourth Republic did not fail while also working on further enlarging the coast of the party to states not controlled by APC Governors.

He added: “We must be resolute that this democracy that we hold in our hands must not fail. To me, we’re larger and taller. To be accommodating, be tolerant, that’s the only way we can grow.  

“If you have a group as big as this, create a space for your neighobour. The rain beating him won’t kill him, it will only drain him. You may need his warmth.

“Be expandable, help. And we can easily rely on the governors. What about the states that we don’t have governors, so we must be vigilant.”  

On the party’s on-going e registration exercise, he cautioned that the doors must not be shut against the people saying, “If you abuse the trust, we will do it on your behalf.  So we have to do it. We have a reason for the e- registration.”

The President told the National Assembly that the Central Gaming Bill 2025 currently being worked on by them will not receive his assent if passed.

According to him: “This Lotto Bill before the National Assembly if you pass it i won’t say because we are in the same party sign it. I will not assent to it because it is under the residual list of the Executive”. (ThisDay)

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Tinubu arrives Bauchi to condole with Sheikh Dahiru’s family

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday arrived Bauchi to condole government and family members of the renowned Islamic scholar, late Dahiru Usman-Bauchi.

Dahiru, the leader of Tijjaniyya Brotherhood in Nigeria, died on Nov. 27.

Tinubu landed at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport at about 4:10 PM, and greeted with Guard of Honour salute by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

He was accompanied by Gov. Mai Mala-Buni of Yobe, Speaker House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, his son Seyi Tinubu, among others.

Tinubu was received by Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health, Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Sen. Shehu Buba (APC – Bauchi South).

The President is expected to fly to Lagos after the condolence visit to spend the upcoming end-of-year holidays.

Dahiru Bauchi, 98, died on Nov. 27 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBU – TH), Bauchi, and buried on Friday, Nov. 28 in accordance with Islamic rites.

The revered scholar, also a recipient of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), was regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential Islamic scholars and celebrated for his vast knowledge, spiritual guidance and lifelong commitment to Islamic propagation.

Born in 1927 in Gombe, Dahiru Bauchi devoted his life to advancing Islamic education, promoting peaceful coexistence and fostering unity in the country.

His teachings focussing on moral discipline, tolerance and adherence to Islamic principles, earned him mass followership and deep respect within and beyond Nigeria.

He played a significant role in community development, mentorship of young scholars and strengthening of religious understanding. (ThisDay)

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Bayelsa deputy gov’s passing, monumental loss, Fubara mourns

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has condoled with his Bayelsa State counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, over the death of his deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, describing it as a monumental loss.

Fubara, in a statement he personally signed and released on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, said Ewhrudjakpo’s demise is not only a loss to Bayelsa but also to Rivers State.

He described the late deputy governor as a man of rare calibre whose life in the public service was exemplary, adding that he combined intellect with humility.

The statement partly reads, “On behalf of the Government and the people of Rivers State, I extend our deepest condolences to you, my brother Governor Douye Diri and all the people of Bayelsa State over the news of the sudden passing of your Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

The sad news resonates across our borders, leaving us in a state of collective mourning alongside our brothers and sisters in Bayelsa State.

“Senator Ewhrudjakpo was a man of exceptional calibre whose life was a masterclass in public service.
Throughout his distinguished career, he navigated the complexities of governance with a rare blend of intellectual depth and profound humility. Ewhrudjakpo was not merely a political figure; he was a steadfast anchor for your administration and a beacon of hope for his constituents.

“His transition represents a monumental loss that echoes far beyond the walls of the Government House. To his family, he was a devoted pillar; to the state, he was a tireless advocate for progress. The vacuum left by his departure is a testament to the magnitude of the space he occupied in the hearts of those who knew him and the lives he touched through his dedication to duty.

“May you, my brother Governor, find the inner resolve to lead your people through this dark hour. Our prayers remain with the bereaved family and the entire people of Bayelsa State. We pray that the soul of the departed finds eternal repose in the bosom of the Lord, and that those he left behind are granted the fortitude and grace to carry forward his noble legacy.”

Ewhrudjakpo died on Thursday, after he collapsed at the Government House in Yenagoa.

The Peoples Democratic Party, in a statement on Thursday night, by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, announced his death.

The statement read, “The National Working Committee, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, and indeed the entire membership of our great party, especially our faithful members in Bayelsa State, are in profound grief.” (Punch)_

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Osun 2026: Accord faction picks another candidate days after Adeleke’s emergence

Four days after Governor Ademola Adeleke emerged as the governorship candidate of the Accord Party, another faction of the party held its own governorship primary, where a different candidate was produced.

Mr Clement Bamigbola emerged as the faction’s governorship candidate for the August 8, 2026, Osun State election.

Recall that the party, under the leadership of Mr Maxwell Mgbudem, on Wednesday held a similar exercise which produced Governor Adeleke as the party’s candidate.

However, a faction of the party rejected him, stating that Maxwell Mgbudem is not a legally backed National Chairman of the party.

In a fresh twist, on Sunday, 300 delegates of the Accord Party across Osun State elected Bamigbola as the factional party candidate during the exercise held at Regina Suite, Osogbo.

He emerged after a voice vote by the delegates and the electoral committee.

Olufemi Ogundare was pronounced elected as the candidate of the party for the 2026 poll.
Meanwhile, Pelumi Olajengbesi, convener of the Imole Grassroots Mobilisation Network and a hopeful for the Obokun/Oriade federal constituency seat, has endorsed Governor Adeleke for a second term in the 2026 Osun governorship election, describing the incumbent as having no formidable opposition.

Speaking on Saturday, the Abuja-based lawyer said Adeleke’s chances of winning the August 8 poll remain intact despite his recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party.

Olajengbesi attributed Adeleke’s electoral strength to his longstanding connection with the people of Osun, which he traced back to the governor’s tenure as senator and his current position.

“As far as I am concerned, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election in the August 8, 2026 governorship poll is a walkover, as there is no serious contender in the race who can compete favourably with Adeleke let alone defeat the incumbent governor,” Olajengbesi said. (Guardian)

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Attempted Coup: Senate approves troops deployment to Benin Republic

The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin in support of efforts to restore peace and stability following last weekend’s attempted coup.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this on Tuesday during plenary after lawmakers considered the request in the Committee of the Whole in line with section 5, Part 11 of the Constitution.

The Senators unanimously voted in favour of the deployment, giving legislative backing for the regional security intervention.

Akpabio described the decision as a step in the right direction, noting that instability in any neighboring state poses a threat to the entire region.

“An injury to one is an injury to all,” the lawmaker said.

He underscored that it is Nigeria’s responsibility to support its Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) partner.

The Senate’s consent letter will be transmitted to President Tinubu immediately.

Tinubu had written to the Senate, seeking their approval for the deployment of troops to the Benin Republic. He said that Nigeria has a historical responsibility to support Benin under the existing Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) security frameworks.

According to the President, the crisis demands “urgent external intervention” to help restore stability and prevent further breakdown of order.

Benin Republic’s attempted coup occurred on Sunday, when some military personnel announced the removal of President Patrice Talon. (Channels)

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Gov Bago receives 100 abducted Niger State schoolchildren after release

Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has received the 100 abducted pupils of the St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, whose release was secured by the Federal Government.

Conveyed in separate buses, the children arrived at the Niger State Government House at about 5:20 pm and were received by Governor Bago and other government officials.

The students were formally handed over to the state government today, Monday 8 of December 2025, by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was represented at the event by Wing Commander Abdullahi Dare.

While handing over the children, Hong disclosed that security agencies had worked tirelessly since the abduction to ensure the safe rescue and return of the students.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the rights and safety of every Nigerian child, stressing that security agencies remain resolute in implementing measures to safeguard lives and property across the country.

Receiving the rescued students, the governor thanked President Bola Tinubu and Ribadu for their swift and coordinated response that led to the successful recovery of the children.

Bago assured parents and the general public that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining students still in captivity, expressing optimism that they would be reunited with their families in due course.

He called for sustained prayers to ensure their safe return and to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the state.

According to the governor, the moment marks a significant milestone in the history of Niger State, noting that he was deeply moved by the tender ages and number of the rescued children.

He added that medical personnel have been directed to conduct comprehensive health assessments on the students to ensure their physical and psychological well-being.

He further disclosed that the state government was collaborating with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), UNICEF, and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen child protection mechanisms and guarantee the safe return of all abducted students.

The Federal Government secured the release of the children on Sunday. (Channels)