Nation
Abia To Partner Army In Tackling Insecurity
The Abia State Government has said it is prepared to collaborate with the Nigerian Army toward tackling insecurity in the State and the South-East zone.
Governor Alex Otti said this on Wednesday, when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, visited him in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area (LGA) ot the State.
Otti said the issue of security remained top priority in the rebuilding agenda of the state government.
According to him, the cordial working relationship between the Abia government and Nigerian Army contributed immensely in tackling the security issues in the State, particularly in Lokpanta, Umunneochi Local Goverment Area.
He said the government has launched an inter-agency intervention, known as “Operation Crush”, headed by the Army, adding that the initiative had yielded good result in the fight against insecurity in the State.
Otti further said tthe government had deployed necessary resources to ensure that the initiative would be successful.
He continued that the commitment of the Army to the initiative was very commendable as peace and normalcy had been restored in Abia.
“We have worked together with the military as partners in progress and your men don’t sleep.
“Anytime there is a signal and we call on them, they respond promptly, please, extend our gratitude to them.
“We are very happy with the relationship we have and that anytime they have need, whether infrastructure or vehicle, to the best of our ability, we try to meet the need, irrespective of the economic situation.
“Our people want security because without security, you can’t talk about investment or even sleep with your two eyes closed not to talk of foreign direct investment, which we badly need to develop the State.
“You are very critical to the development of the State, so we will work with you”, he said.
Otti also said Lagbaja’s visit has further strengthened Abia government’s resolve to partner with the Army to secure not just the State but the entire South-East.
Earlier, Lagbaja said that he was on a working visit to Abia as part of his tour of the Army formations and units in the South-East.
He commended the Abia government for the tremendous improvement in the security situation in the State and its immeasurable support toward the successful operations of the Army in the State.
“I also want to appreciate Your Excellency for your personal leadership that has led to tremendous improvement in the security situation in Abia since your assumption of office.
“I am saying this based on the hindsight of my knowledge concerning the State and the challenges I encountered as GOC, 82 Division.
“I also want to pledge the readiness, willingness and availability of the formations and units of 14 Brigade and even other Nigerian assets deployed around this area to support the government of Abia”, Lagbaja said.
He also said the Army would continue to assist the state government in ensuring that the security in Abia would continue to improve in order to provide the enabling environment for economic activities and development to thrive.
He thanked the Governor for the warm and cordial relationship between the Army and the state government.
He said, “I solicit that you continue to impress on the people to support the Nigerian Army, so that together we will deliver on our constitutional responsibility”.
Nation
Nasarawa Varsity Student Commits Suicide

A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Nation
Ogun, Nike Art Gallery Set To Transform Olumo Rock

The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.
Nation
CBEX Resumes Operations Despite SEC Ban, N1.2trn EFCC Probe

Despite the alleged N1.2 trillion digital trading fraud that reportedly affected over 600,000 Nigerians, the embattled Crypto Bridge Exchange trading platform, accused of these acts, has resumed operations, announcing fresh withdrawal options in a move to restore investor confidence.
Two traders on the CBEX platform confirmed to The Tide’s source that the digital trading firm has quietly resumed operations, allowing new users to register, trade, and withdraw profits, despite ongoing investigations by regulatory agencies.
According to the sources, an insurance verification process and an external audit of the company’s financial records are currently underway to ascertain the actual amount lost in the scheme, which collapsed in April.
They added that existing investors, many of whom have been unable to access their funds for weeks, will be able to take out their funds starting from June 25, 2025, when the audit is expected to be concluded by an insurance firm based in the United Kingdom.
This development comes barely weeks after the Securities and Exchange Commission declared the platform illegal, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission confirmed an ongoing investigation into the firm’s operations.
CBEX, a digital investment platform, offered investors 100 per cent profit after 30 days of purported AI trading. The trading platform started operations in 2024 after receiving registration approval from the Corporate Affairs Commission on September 25, 2024, and the EFCC’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering on January 16, 2025.
No fewer than 600,000 Nigerians reportedly invested in the scheme and lost N1.2tn after it collapsed on April 14, 2025.
Miffed by the development, the EFCC declared eight persons wanted for promoting the programme. They include Johnson Oteno, Israel Mbaluka, Joseph Michiro, Serah Michiro, Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, and Seyi Oloyede.
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