Engr. Sani Jimoh, the father of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who soldiers allegedly shot dead in Abuja, says his son wanted to join the Nigerian Army.

Reports say that 24-year-old Jamiu was killed in his room in Dakwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, just weeks before he was supposed to finish his mandatory national service.

The father, who was at the scene of the incident on Monday, said that his son had always wanted to join the military.

“My son wanted to join the Nigerian Army, so I asked them to make his wish come true by enlisting one of his younger brothers. He said, “And there is definitely a need for compensation.”

He also said that the family was looking for justice and help after the terrible event.

Jimoh also talked about how his son died, using an eyewitness account from inside the house.

He said, “A little girl who lived with us said she heard my son ask, ‘Who is there, who is there?’ before they shot at his room.”

The story has made people even more worried about what happened that led to the deadly shooting.

The Nigerian Army confirmed that an investigation into the incident was still going on in response to the news.

Our press release said that the investigation is still going on. “Once the investigation is over, you will be updated,” said Lt. Olawuyi Odunola, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the Guards Brigade, in a conversation with one of our reporters.

The killing has made people very angry, and the family of the victim is asking for justice and fair compensation.

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Aisha Yesufu, an activist, has spoken out against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after it made a statement about a fake X account that was supposedly linked to its chairman, Joash Amupitan.

Yesufu responded on her verified X account on Tuesday, saying that this makes her worried about the credibility of the electoral body before future elections.

“This more than anything shows that Joash Amupitan’s INEC can’t be trusted to run a fair, free, and credible election.” “Amupitan has made himself a tool to be used by this desperate need to deny something that is so obvious,” she wrote.

Reports say that her comments come at a time when there is still a lot of public debate over INEC’s clarification about the fake social media account that was supposedly linked to its chairman.

Remember that INEC said on Monday that a fake X account was used in a planned effort to frame Amupitan after a forensic investigation found no link between him and the viral posts that were attributed to his name.

The commission said that the investigation, which was done with the help of independent cybersecurity experts, found that the account @joashamupitan and the post “Victory is sure” were both made up of digital manipulation and impersonation.

The post 2027: Aisha Yesufu Says Amupitan “Can’t Be Trusted” appeared first on TheNigerian.

The International Society for Civil Rights and Rule of Law, also known as Intersociety, has spoken out against Nigeria being left out of Pope Leo’s visit to some African countries.

The group called the development a major mistake.

In a statement, Intersociety said they were sad that the visit did not include the “Super Catholic/Christian States: Congo DRC, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya.”

The statement was signed by Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Head of the Department of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law; Engr. Ekene Bede Umeagu, Head of the Department of International Freedom of Religion and Worship; and Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, Head of the Department of Campaign and Publicity.

It said that the development brings to light other important missing points and changes, such as “demanding the appointment of four Cardinal-Electors for Uganda and Kenya (two each), two each for Cameroon, Angola, and Tanzania; and three each for Congo DRC and Nigeria to encourage, strengthen, and save Africa’s largest but severely threatened Catholicism and Christianity.”

The rights group said they hoped that Pope Leo’s message of world peace would not mean “peace of the Christian graveyard, Jews, and other peaceful religions and religious minorities, especially in the hands of global Islamic Jihadists who have promised to keep targeting Christians and Jews until they convert or are hacked to death.”

It stressed that “more concrete reforms are very strongly and urgently needed to strategically and strongly reposition the Mother Church as the common umbrella and ‘General Overseer of the global Christendom.'”

“Charity Must Begin at Home Reforms” are some of the changes that need to be made. For example, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin, needs to sit up or resign, just like Archbishop Claudio Dalla Zuanna of Mozambique’s Archdiocese of Beira did on April 10, 2026, and Archbishop Pascalis Bruno Sukur did when he turned down an early 2026 appointment by Pope Leo XIV as a cardinal and chose to stay in his role as Bishop of Bogor in Indonesia.

“Exclusion of Africa’s Five Super Catholic States from Pope’s Maiden Visit: We have noticed a major flaw in the Holy Father’s African visit, which only included Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. It did not include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, which together have an estimated 141 million Catholics, as well as Ethiopia, Africa’s third largest Christian state with 77 million.

“Out of the four countries that were chosen for the pope’s visit, only Angola has a large Catholic population of about 10 million, compared to 9 million in Cameroon and 1.4 million in Equatorial Guinea.

“Our careful study of the current patterns and trends of genocidal attacks by Islamic jihadists against Christians in Africa has clearly indicated that except Cameroon, Catholics and general Christian population face less jihadist threats and attacks in Angola and Equatorial Guinea than the five major Catholic countries of Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya and allied others like Ethiopia.

Based on the records we have, there are only 4,200 Catholics in Algeria, which has a Cardinal, out of an estimated 100,000 Christians in the country. Algeria is the largest landmass country in Africa, covering 2.382 million square kilometers.

“Algeria is only consoled and included in the papal visit because it is the birthplace of Saint Augustine, a biblical figure.

“We don’t hold any grudges against the four African countries that were chosen, but the Pope should have gone to the five African countries that are most threatened and attacked.”

The five African Super Catholic States that were affected were Congo DRC (with an estimated 55 million Catholics and 115 million Christians), Nigeria (with 30 million to 35 million Catholics and 113 million Christians), Tanzania (with 19 million Catholics and 31 million Christians), Uganda (with 18 million Catholics and 30 million Christians), and Kenya (with 18 million Catholics and 40 million Christians). This adds up to 141 million Catholics and 329 million Christians. Ethiopia, which is one of Africa’s oldest Christian countries, also has an estimated 77 million Christians.

These six African countries should have been scheduled as “First Among Equals” on Pope Leo XIV’s first visit to Africa. This is especially true because the Holy Father’s visit is very important and needed to encourage and strengthen the Christian faith in dangerous places like Nigeria, Congo DRC, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. If extreme care is not taken, their large Catholic and other Christian populations will be wiped out by local Islamic jihadists linked to ISIS and ISIL in the next 50 to 100 years. Their future generations will not have any traces of Christianity or Christian names in their family trees.

“Another important point that was missing was the uneven appointment of Catholic Cardinals in Africa, especially in countries with a lot of Catholics. These countries have been having trouble because they don’t have enough “Cardinal-Electors,” or people under 80 who can vote in papal conclaves and other cardinal decisions.

“We hereby call for the appointment of two new Cardinal-Electors for Nigeria, specifically to be appointed from the country’s North-East, especially among Catholic Dioceses in Taraba State, as well as from among Catholic Dioceses in Benue State.

“Based on what we’ve found recently, there are very brave and strong Catholic Bishops in the area who have stood their ground against the attacks of the Jihadist Fulani and their allies Boko Haram and Fulani Bandits. These attacks have killed thousands of members of their Catholic Faith and destroyed hundreds of churches, especially since 2015.

Bishop Anagbe was killed in March 2025 for speaking out against the US. Fulani Jihadists burned down his village and killed dozens of his family members. In Wukari Diocese, more than 90,000 Catholics have had to flee, and hundreds have been killed. Dozens of church parishes have been burned down or looted from 2024 until this date of April 2026. The same thing has happened in Makurdi Diocese, where hundreds have been killed and dozens of parishes have been burned down or looted.

“There are 60 Catholic dioceses in Nigeria, 59 of which are full-fledged and one is a suffragan. The suffragan is in Ibadan, Oyo State. 27 of the dioceses are currently dying and 17 are only 17 inches away from being empty.”

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A well-known physician from Anambra, Mr. Chidozie Nwangwu, commonly known as Akwa Okuko, was given a two-year prison sentence.

Agunechemba Security organization agents detained Nwangwu in February 2025 on charges that he had assisted in kidnapping and money rituals, among other things.

The indigenous physician was subsequently taken into custody together with two of his coworkers, Mr. Okocha, also known as Onyeze Jesus, and Mr. Ekene, popularly known as Eke Hit.

Nwangwu entered a guilty plea to the accusations against him, and Justice Jude Obiorah read his judgment on Friday. The three have been on trial while being held under remand in the custody of Agunechemba Security outfit.

After reading the verdict, Justice Obiorah disclosed that the indigenous physician had previously negotiated a plea agreement with the state government and admitted guilt to the charges against him.

Due to the suspect’s demonstrated reasonable remorse, the judge sentenced him to two years in jail on counts three, four, five, six, seven, and eight.

Nevertheless, he dismissed counts one, two, and three of the accusations against him. According to him, Nwangwu’s conviction was supported by the Anambra Homeland Law as well as the criminal law.

“Anyone who claims to have the ability to heal or make someone wealthy through certain magical means, like Okeite, is subject to two years in prison,” he declared.

“Anyone in the state who engages in ezenwanyi or okeite faces a six-year prison sentence.”

He found the local doctors guilty on counts three, four, and eight, and he was given a concurrent two-year prison sentence.

Justice Obiorah further punished the accused N20 million on counts one, five, and eight.

He stated, “The total fine is N60 million, but due to the accused’s remorse, the fine is now waived because the state does not require such money in such a situation.”

Despite his attorney’s request for him to spend in the Agunechemba facility, he will serve the remaining 11 months of his sentence at Awka Correctional Center because he has already spent 13 months in detention. This is due to the Agunechemba facility’s non-correctional status.

But in order to atone for his transgressions, the court issued directives that he must follow. The judge declared that the defendant’s shrine in Oba would be demolished, that he would no longer practice Okeite after his release, and that he would have to publicly condemn it. The statement will be captured on camera.

The judge declared, “He will be appointed ambassador of youth reorientation and will be required to make public statements warning young people against pursuing wealth through supernatural means.”

The post BREAKING: Akwa Okuko, Popular Native Doctor, Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison, Fined N60 Million appeared first on TheNigerian.

Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy, has criticized broadcast journalist Rufai Oseni for allegedly causing anomalies in the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) most recent area council elections.

Oseni reportedly expressed worries over disparities in the All Progressives Congress (APC) election results in a post via 𝕏.
Onanuga responded by accusing Oseni of spreading lies and harboring pathological animosity for the ruling party in an effort to appease the “mob” that follows him.

He supported the accuracy of the result sheet that Oseni had mentioned, saying that it made it obvious how many votes were cast at the polling station and that the APC’s votes added up to the total.

Onanuga went on to support Bola Tinubu’s presidency, emphasizing that he was given authority by God.

“Arise TV should be ashamed of you,” he wrote. You are constantly eager to publish any bullshit, even when it is obvious, since you want to appease the mob that follows you.

“The APC votes were listed on the result sheet that you sought out for your mischievous purposes. It displayed the total number of votes cast at the polling station. Additionally, the total score did not differ from the votes cast for the APC. Since May 2023, when Almighty God handed President Tinubu power, I anticipate that you will no longer harbor a pathological animosity for our party.

The post Onanuga Slams Rufai Oseni: ‘Your Organisation Should Be Ashamed of You’ appeared first on TheNigerian.

After discovering significant amounts of expired food items worth more than N100 million, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) sealed 18 warehouses in Niger State.

During the enforcement action, which was conducted in several locations of Niger State, it was discovered that the impacted warehouses were purportedly keeping and supplying the public with expired goods.

The discovery was characterized by officials as posing a major risk to public health and safety.

The raid was part of NAFDAC’s continuing national crackdown on expired and subpar items, the agency said.

Before the products were put back on the market, the agency observed that some of them had been repackaged or relabeled to hide the fact that they were expired.

Investigations are still on to determine who is responsible, but authorities have confirmed that the warehouses have been sealed. NAFDAC further cautioned that under current standards, those found guilty would be subject to severe legal repercussions.

The organization reaffirmed its dedication to protecting Nigerians’ health by advising customers to be watchful, verify product expiration dates before making a purchase, and report questionable items to the appropriate authorities.

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Peter Ameh, a former chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, or IPAC, claims that President Bola Tinubu misled regarding election-related issues in Nigeria.
Ameh stated that there is nothing flawed with Nigeria’s voting system in an interview that aired on Trust TV Thursday.

He was responding to the President signing the contentious Electoral Amendment Act into law.

According to reports, the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 was signed into law by President Tinubu on Wednesday.

The former head of IPAC voiced his opinion, saying, “Our voting system is not flawed.Regarding glitches, Tinubu lied.

“I believe the president is acting as though he is speaking on behalf of INEC. Section 133 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution (as amended) established INEC as an autonomous agency.

“INEC Commissioners and Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan are exercising their authority under Section (151)1C. They are self-sufficient. They can even communicate directly with resources.

They claim to be capable of doing so. that they successfully conducted transmission in every election, including the Anambra one. Never once have they voiced any complaints. Actually, the National Assembly has been presented with this change by INEC’s important stakeholders.

“So how do you claim that we lack the infrastructure necessary to address this issue? I am fully aware that the president is lying when he says that it isn’t true.

They ought to state that the APC government is unpopular with the majority of the populace and the people of this country. Additionally, they fear the election that would reflect the interests of the electorate. They fear that the people’s vote will be taken into consideration. Out of all this, that’s all I can see. Nothing else exists.

The post Electoral Act: Former IPAC Chair Ameh Says Tinubu Lied About Election Glitches appeared first on TheNigerian.

Dave Umahi, the minister of works, is allegedly giving President Bola Tinubu false hope that the South East zone will support his reelection campaign, according to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Enugu State chapter.

The party challenged Umahi to provide specific examples of the changes that have occurred in the South East since Tinubu assumed office in a press release signed by Comrade Adolphus Ude, the National Coordinator of ADC Like-Minds, on Monday.

The party’s response followed Umahi’s declaration that the South-East geopolitical zone will mobilize 90% of the vote in favor of Tinubu winning the February 20, 2027, presidential election.

The ADC was incensed, though, that Umahi was deceiving the president instead of being honest with him.

“The South-East geopolitical zone will rally 90 percent support for President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 20, 2027 presidential election,” the statement adds, attracting the attention of Enugu ADC to a statement made by Works Minister Dave Umahi. Umahi claimed, among other unguarded remarks, that the South East had not yet produced the president. He added that it would be bad for the area if Tinubu wasn’t supported.

We are aware that Umahi’s specialty is sycophancy, therefore we are neither shocked or alarmed by his statements. He publicly stated the other day that he had accumulated more wealth in less than three years as a Minister than he had in eight years as Governor. We have no ill will toward him.

Indeed, we assume that his belief that he can mortgage 90 percent of the South-East votes to his principal in 2027 is likely the result of his joy at the money he has gained as a minister. It will be detrimental to the President if he takes the advice of someone who is drunk on money too seriously.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and other prominent Igbo political personalities have re-aligned with the ADC, making the South-East a “no go area” for the APC. The ADC is expected to dominate the South-East polls in 2027, just as the Labour Party did in 2023.

“Umahi is providing the president the incorrect impression that the South East will strongly back his reelection. Following his Minister’s advice will put Tinubu in a fool’s paradise.

In addition, Enugu ADC highlighted that Tinubu received less than 10% of the vote in 2023 and lost badly in each of the five South East states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

According to the party, Tinubu was unable to secure up to 13 percent of the votes in his state during the most recent presidential election, despite Dave Umahi’s bluster as the governor of Ebonyi State at the time.

It said that nothing has occurred under the Tinubu administration that would ensure a change of fortune for the South-East’s ruling party in the upcoming elections in 2027.

Due to the South-East’s egregious exclusion from the distribution of federal infrastructure, intervention funds, and appointments throughout President Tinubu’s administration, Enugu ADC maintained that the region owes him nothing.

The post ADC Warns Tinubu: Believing Umahi’s Words Is Living in a Fool’s Paradise appeared first on TheNigerian.

During a vigil at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ojije, Utonkon District of Ado Local Government Area, Benue State, at least nine worshippers were kidnapped on Sunday by alleged bandits.

According to local authorities, the attack happened at around two in the morning on Monday while the church was conducting a vigil as part of a 30-day program.

Comrade Jude, the National Publicity Secretary of the Ufia Development Association in the LGA “Around 2 a.m., nine worshipers, including women and youths, were abducted from St. John’s Catholic Church while they were at the vigil,” Onwe told our correspondent.

Sunday Oche, the Chairman of Ado LGA, confirmed the occurrence and bemoaned the church’s failure to call in security personnel in spite of earlier advice.

That’s what we’ve been fighting against. After learning of the tragic kidnapping, I called in all of the security services. “We’re working hard,” Oche stated.

He reminded locals that disregarding such warnings puts individuals in danger and asked them to include security guards in nighttime events. “What worries us is that people disregard the advice to call the police whenever a nighttime event, like a wedding, funeral, or celebration, lasts past 9 p.m.,” he stated.

Udeme Edet, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, responded by stating that tactical teams had been sent to the scene in order to rescue the victims. “Efforts are being made to rescue the worshippers, and security personnel are pursuing the kidnappers,” he continued.

The state has had several violent attacks, notably the June 2025 massacre in Yelwata that took over 200 lives and sparked national and international criticism; the most recent kidnapping underscores the state’s increasing instability.

The post Nine Worshippers Abducted During Night Vigil at Benue Church appeared first on TheNigerian.

Five persons, including an Imam, have been ordered to be placed under detention by an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in relation to the death of a worshipper during morning prayers in the state capital.

Imam of Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque Abdulgafar Sakariyah, 51, was among those remanded in detention together with four other individuals: Kosamotu Hakeem, 50; Fokorunso Mukaila, 57; Sakariyau Hafeez, 45; and Abdulwasiu Olatunji, 29.

After the Osun State Police Command filed an application to remand the suspects for advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the accused were brought before Magistrate A. Daramola on Monday.

The police asked for an order putting the suspects to a detention facility while investigations are completed and legal counsel is gathered in a motion filed ex parte.

Inspector Bashir Sulaiman of the State Criminal Investigation Department’s Homicide Section, SCID, Osogbo, deposed to an affidavit supporting the application.

“The incident occurred on January 30, 2026, at about 6:15am during Subuhi prayers at the central mosque in Osogbo,” the affidavit states.

The deceased, Ahmed Najeem, allegedly entered the mosque and “forcefully collected the microphone from the Imam during the morning prayer,” according to Inspector Sulaiman.

The affidavit also stated that the respondents “beat the Imam to death in an attempt to hit him with the microphone stand.”

The police emphasized that a remand order was necessary in order to legitimately detain the suspects in custody, and they informed the court that the application was filed in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Osun State, 2018.

“There is no other way to remand the respondents in a correctional center pending the outcome of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,” it continued, “unless the application is granted.”

Magistrate Daramola granted the motion after reviewing the application and directed that the five suspects be placed under remand at the Ilesa Correctional Center.

The case was postponed to February 24, 2026, for additional discussion while the DPP issued legal advice.

According to reports, on Friday, January 30, 2026, a group of devotees severely injured Najeem, a vehicle painter.

However, he passed away later that day due to his injuries, which led to chaos as his friends and family stormed the mosque during Friday Juma’at prayers.

The post Court Remands Imam, Four Others Over Death at Osogbo Mosque appeared first on TheNigerian.