Nation
THE STATES
Benue
A 32-year-old man, Hamisu Jibrin, has been sentenced to nine
months imprisonment for criminal trespass, office breaking and theft.
Police prosecutor, Michael Ewoh told the court that one
Pastor Andrew Idoko came to ‘A’ Division Police Station and reported that the
convict “criminally trespassed into his church with six plastic chairs.’
’ Idoko said the convict had also scrapped off the name of
L.G.E.A. Primary School, Central Makurdi, on the back of the chairs with a
razor, noting that the convict broke into the office of the head mistress of
the school and carted away students’ and staff chairs and one carton of Social
Studies text books valued at N85,600.
The prosecution said that during investigation, the convict
confessed to the crime, adding that the offence contravened the provisions of
Sections 349, 355 and 287 of the Penal Code.
Gombe
Gombe State Government has increased the budget for free
medical care to pregnant women and children under the age of five, from N19.5
million to N25 million annually.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kennedy Ishaya,
disclosed this in an interview in Gombe.
He said the number of women attending antenatal services had
increased, as people from neighbouring states of Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa
and Taraba are visiting Gombe for antenatal services.
Ishaya said pregnant women who were far from the state
capital would be examined and given longer period to return for further
examination depending on their Expected Date of Delivery (EDD).
The commissioner said government would also provide private
clinics with re-agents for testing and screening for HIV and support them so
that any person attending antenatal in private clinic could afford it.
Kano
Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers have attacked a
company, near Kantin Kwari Textile Market, in Kano metropolis and carted away
huge sums, the police and witnesses said.
The incident happened around 3p.m. on
August 6, shortly after a heavy rainfall, which crippled socio-economic
activities in the commercial city.
An eye witness said six hoodlums in a Honda Civic car
stormed the area with sophisticated weapons. “Shortly after their arrival, they
started shooting in the air and people around the area took to their heels.’’
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP
Rilwanu Dutse, confirmed the incident, saying six robbers stormed the company
around 2.35 p.m. He said the police exchanged fire with the hoodlums. “No life
was lost and nobody was injured during the incident,” he said.
Kebbi
An early morning heavy rainfall on Tuesday rendered many
residents of Birnin Kebbi homeless and caused the death of a 70-year-old woman.
The rains, which lasted from 3.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., also caused the death of
livestock, flooding of major roads and the collapse of residential houses.
The deceased septuagenarian, Hajiya Aishatu Azumi, who lived
in Gandu quarters, was believed to have died as a result of the flooding which
rendered many areas including Bayan Tasha, Bayan Kara, Gesse Badariya and
Aliero quarters inaccessible.
Owners of water pumping machines made brisk business
rendering services to many shop owners whose premises were flooded, while many
roads were turned into one way traffic due to the floods.
Kogi
Unknown gunmen on
have invaded the Deeper Life Church at Otite area in Okene, killing 20
worshippers and wounding many others.
The Commander of the Joint Military Task Force in Lokoja,
Lt-Col. Gabriel Olorunyomi, confirmed the incident.
He said 15 worshippers died instantly in the attack while
others died on the way to the hospital.
The commander said that many injured persons were rushed to
hospitals in Lokoja, a distance of 40 minutes drive from Okene.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has advised Nigerian
Muslims performing this year’s lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia to be good
ambassadors of the country.
Ahmed gave the advice in Ilorin in a message signed by his Chief Press
Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahaab Oba. The governor also urged them to pray
fervently for Nigeria to overcome its prevailing security and other challenges
for the preservation of its pride in the international community. Ahmed urged all Muslims and Nigerians at
large to use the holy month of Ramadan to “benchmark the spirit of good
neighbourliness and practises in their individual and national lives.”
Lagos
The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union
(RATTAWU) has called on the National Assembly to review the law on radio and television
licence fees.
RATTAWU President, Mr Yemisi Bamgbose, said in Lagos that
the fees should be collected by the radio and television stations only.
The tax law in Lagos permits the local government councils
to collect telecommunications fees, including those of radio and television.
The law authorises all local government councils (along with their local
government development authorities or any other administrative unit established
by law at that level) to collect radio and television licence fees. Lagos State
Local Government Approved Levies for Collection Law, 2010, took effect from
July 12, 2010.
Bamgbose wondered why the councils should collect radio and
television licence fees when they had no input in broadcasting. “It is the duty
of radio and television stations to collect licence fees, just as the water
corporation and PHCN are entitled to collect water and electricity bills
respectively, he said.
Nasarawa
A traditional ruler in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Halilu Usman,
on Monday urged members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria
(ALGON) to prudently manage resources at their disposal.
Usman made the call in Udege Development Area when ALGON
members in the state paid him a courtesy visit in his palace.
He said for the country to develop, all political office
holders must be prudent in the management of resources at their disposal, and
advised ALGON members to be prudent and patriotic in the discharge of their
duties.
The traditional ruler also advised the ALGON members on the
need to uphold transparency and accountability in their duties.
Niger
The Chairman, Bida Local Government in Niger, Sheikh
Mustapha Umaru-Edota has donated assorted grains worth more than N3 million to
the people for the Ramadan fasting. He said that the gesture was to ease the
Ramadan fasting for the people.
Umaru-Edota said: “Things are really bad now, poverty is
biting harder , and I want to see that my people observe the fasting with
ease.’’
He said that the measures were taken to ensure that the
grains were evenly distributed to the people, and urged the beneficiaries to
make the best use of the foodstuff.
He urged the Muslim faithful to use the Ramadan period to
pray for an end to the killing of innocent lives in parts of the country.
Ogun
Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji
Yusuf Olaniyonu has confirmed that there
were cases of fraud and sharp practices in Ogun State Internal Revenue Service
(OGIRS).
The commissioner, who made this known in a statement made
available to newsmen in Abeokuta, however, denied the allegation of involvement
of Mr Femi Allen in the fraud.
He said that Allen, who is the senior special assistant
(SSA) to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on taxation, was never involved in the
alleged fraud as reported in some newspapers on Monday.
“As a result of his role in uncovering the scam, which is
believed to have gone undiscovered for years, the SSA has been given the task
to supervise audit and head count of various companies in the state.’’
Ondo
The Traditional Ruler of Arigigi-Akoko in Akoko North-West
Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, has urged Governor
Olusegun Mimiko, to remain committed to his administration’s programmes.
Olanipekun, who gave the advice in a statement in
Arigidi-Akoko, said that the government had done well in community development
and advised the administration not to relent on the efforts.
The ruler appealed to the government to provide transformers
for the community, adding that electricity supply to the town was epileptic.
He appealed to the governor and the Commissioner for
Community Development and Co-operative Services, Mr Clement Faboyede, to come
to the rescue of his people by providing the community with transformers.
Osun
The Osun Government has donated five Armoured Personnel
Carriers (APC) to the state’s police command to fight crime.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who announced the donation at the
inauguration of a joint security outfit tagged: Swift Action Squad (SAS)
has in Osogbo, also inaugurated 25
Toyota Hilux vans, 500 body armours and several crash helmets.
He said the donation was necessary to ensure that the state
became crime-free and no longer a safe place for criminals, especially armed
robbers. The General Officer Commanding, Second Mechanised Division, Ibadan,
Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Abubakar, and the Assistant Inspector General of Police,
Zone 11, Mr Orubebe Ebikeme, lauded Aregbesola for the donations.
Sokoto
Sokoto State Government
handed over a modern Outside Broadcast (OB) van and eight Peugeot 307
cars worth N173.5 million to its media organisations to aid their operations.
The van and three cars were given to the state radio
station, while the state television station and newspaper company got three and
two cars, respectively.
Governor Aliyu Wamakko handed over the van and the vehicles
to the Commissioner for Information, Malam Nasiru Danladi, and said the
facilities should be used in ensuring full media coverage of the state.
The governor said the government would award contracts soon
for the purchase of new digital transmitters for the state radio and television
stations.
Taraba
Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba has donated N2 million to
Yagai Academy, Jalingo, to enable it to stock its digital library.
Suntai made the donation
in Jalingo at the inauguration of a digital library built and donated to
the school by the Medical Director, Specialist Hospital, Jalingo, Prof. Zakari
Ahmed.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Amb.
Emmanuel Njiwah, the governor, urged the students to make judicious use of the
library.
Chairman, Taraba Investment and Property Company and
Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Ahmed Yusuf, also donated N500,000 to the
project.
He commended the Proprietress of the school , Hajiya Jamilla
Abubakar, for doing the state proud by
putting up such a standard school.
Bikers were among prominent dignitaries who recently attended the burial ceremony of late Mrs. Nimi Obata Grant Offor (née Lawson) in Omagwa Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The burial service, held at the St. Martin’s Anglican Church field, attracted a large turnout of religious leaders, business executives, political figures, celebrities, bikers’ groups, traditional rulers and community members from different parts of Nigeria. Also present were the Bishop of the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta, Most Rev. Blessing Enyindah, and popular businessman and socialite, Obi Cubana, among other notable personalities.
The remains of Mrs Grant Offor, a respected professional, philanthropist and devout Christian, were laid to rest amid an elaborate and well-coordinated funeral ceremony that reflected her wide-reaching influence and the high regard in which she was held by family, associates and the larger community.
The ceremony drew public attention due to its unique logistics, as two helicopters were deployed. An air ambulance helicopter conveyed the casket to the church field, while another helicopter transported members of the deceased’s family from Abonnema to Omagwa Community.
Dignitaries and mourners gathered in large numbers to pay their final respects.
In an emotional tribute, High Chief Engr. Grant Offor, described his late wife as everything to him, stating that her passing had created a deep void in his life and in the lives of their children. He disclosed that he committed his time, resources and efforts in a bid to save her life, adding that if money or human effort alone could prevent death, she would still be alive.
Mrs. Nimi Obata Grant Offor was born on May 4, 1978, at the Ibiso Maternity Clinic, Port Harcourt, and passed away on November 15, 2025, after a prolonged illness that lasted nearly three years. She was born a twin and grew up in a family noted for service and leadership. Her father, the late Engr. Benoni Lawson, served as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), while her mother, Mrs. Irene Lawson, is a nurse.
She attended Port Harcourt Primary School and International Secondary School (ISS) before proceeding to the University of Science and Technology (UST), Port Harcourt, and later the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, where she studied Accountancy and graduated with honours. She was widely known during her academic years for her discipline, focus and reserved lifestyle.
After completing her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, Mrs. Grant Offor began her professional career in the banking sector, including service with the defunct All States Trust Bank, and later worked in other professional capacities. She earned a reputation for integrity, diligence and ethical conduct.
She was married to Engr. Grant Offor for over 20 years, a union blessed with three children. As a wife and mother, she was described as deeply devoted to her family, instilling values of faith, patience, kindness and discipline. Her home was known among close associates as one built on prayer, love and godly counsel.
A committed Christian, Mrs. Grant Offor was known for her strong faith and love for gospel music, particularly songs of healing and deliverance. Even while receiving specialist medical care in the United Kingdom, she reportedly remained steadfast in her belief, trusting in God until her final moments.
Adding to the show of solidarity, the President of the Rivers State Chapter of the Pantas Female Bikers Group, Mr. White Timano, disclosed that High Chief Engr. Grant Offor is a major sponsor of Uyo Micah’s Carnival, one of the group’s major events. He said bikers and supporters travelled from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta States to commiserate with the family and show support during the period of mourning.
Mr. Timano described death as inevitable and encouraged the family to remain strong, stressing that only God grants the grace required to endure such painful loss.
The church field was tastefully decorated, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere. The burial ceremony featured hymns, live music, scriptural exhortations, eulogies and tributes celebrating the life and legacy of Mrs. Nimi Obata Grant Offor. Messages from notable personalities highlighted her contributions to family life, philanthropy, professional service and community development.
On behalf of the family, High Chief Engr. Grant Offor expressed appreciation to all who stood by them throughout the period of mourning, thanking guests for their prayers, presence and support.
The burial ceremony stood as a testament to the enduring legacy of Mrs. Nimi Obata Grant Offor, whose life of service, faith and quiet generosity left a lasting impact on many across Rivers State, the Niger Delta and beyond.
Asecurity guard has been reported missing following the demolition of a fence at a property located at No. 19D, Golf Course Layout, Old Government Residential Area (GRA), Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The incident reportedly occurred late Sunday night at the disputed property said to be owned by Ozone Global.
Eyewitnesses revealed that a group of men, some of whom were dressed in what appeared to be naval uniforms, arrived at the premises on motorcycles and allegedly pulled down the fence surrounding the property.
During the incident, a security guard on duty, identified simply as Abubakar, was allegedly taken away by the group to an unknown destination.
A relative of the missing guard, Musa, said efforts to get immediate help, including alerting a nearby police point, proved abortive as the incident had already occurred before any intervention could be made.
“I escaped because I noticed them early, but my brother was taken away. Up till now, we don’t know where he is or how he is doing. We are appealing to the authorities to help locate him,” Musa said.
Meanwhile, one of the intermediaries involved in the land transaction, Mr. Chimezie Bright, alleged that the incident may be connected to an ongoing land dispute over the property.
Bright claimed that the land was purchased by Ozone Global from one late Mr Felix Orie and that documents from the Rivers State Ministry of Lands and Housing indicate that the land was allocated to Mr Orie.
He further alleged that another claimant to the land, Mr. Mac Oruche, had allegedly challenged the ownership and opposed development on the property, despite the matter being the subject of a court case.
According to Bright, tensions over the property had previously resulted in disagreements during attempts to fence the land.
“We carried out due diligence before the purchase, including verification at the Ministry of Lands. However, the dispute has persisted,” he said.
Bright expressed concern over the alleged involvement of uniformed personnel in a civil land dispute and called for a thorough investigation into the incident, particularly the whereabouts of the missing security guard.
As at the time of filing this report, Abubakar’s location had remained unknown.
Efforts to reach Mr. Mac Oruche for his reaction were unsuccessful, while the police are yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The apex socio-cultural and development association of the ancient Ohafia Kingdom, the Ohafia Improvement Union Incorporated (OIU) has formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, expressing grave concern over the arrests of several individuals from the Okon Aku community who were cooperating with a state-constituted Panel of Inquiry investigating the recent communal crisis in the community located in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.
The union also called for the immediate release of those arrested.
In a letter dated February 6, 2026, and received at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, the union described the arrests as troubling and procedurally irregular, noting that the affected individuals had either testified or were preparing to testify before the government-sanctioned panel.
Those reportedly arrested include Udo Ukoha of Ndi Envoke; Okereke John, Udonsi Obin, Eteo Ayo, Idika I. Kalu, and John Ukwakwe of Ndi Owom; and Ukpabi Uche Idika of Ndi Ebin.
While emphasizing that it does not seek to prejudge the legal culpability of any individual, the OIU stressed that the timing, context, and manner of the arrests could undermine the credibility, independence, and integrity of the Panel of Inquiry.
“The arrest of individuals cooperating with an official inquiry poses a serious threat to the fact-finding process, creates fear among potential witnesses, and may discourage public participation,” the union stated, warning that such actions could obstruct efforts to uncover the root causes of the crisis.
The union further noted that panels of inquiry rely heavily on voluntary and truthful cooperation, and any action that instills fear in contributors risks eroding public confidence in the justice system, violating principles of fairness, transparency, and natural justice.
Consequently, the OIU urged the Office of the IGP to immediately review the circumstances surrounding the arrests, suspend any further actions perceived as targeting witnesses, and issue clear directives to guarantee the safety and freedom of all individuals participating in the inquiry.
The President General of Ohafia Improvement Union, Chief Prince Kalu Ikpemini, signed the petition, which was also copied to the Executive Governor of Abia State and the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, Umuahia.
The union reiterated that the Ohafia community desires lasting peace and reconciliation, which can only be achieved through a transparent, fair, and uncoerced investigation into the Okon Aku crisis.
The Okon Aku communal crisis erupted in early January 2026, prompting the Office of the Deputy Governor of Abia State to immediately establish the Panel of Inquiry to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of the conflict, with the aim of preventing future occurrences.
It is against this backdrop that the Ohafia Improvement Union has raised an alarm over the arrests, calling for the immediate release of those detained and emphasizing the need to protect witnesses rather than intimidate them.
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