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Christian leaders warn against politicising insecurity

 CHRISTIAN leaders in Ondo State, yesterday, warned political leaders against politicising the country’s security challenges, insisting that the protection of lives and property should not be subjected to partisan interests. The warning came during the turning of the sod for the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ecumenical Centre in Akure, a project facilitated by the Minister of Interior, Dr Bunmi Tunji-Ojo. Founder of Agape Christian Ministries and Convener of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Bishop Felix Adejumo and the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Rev. Jude Arogundade, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony. They expressed concern over persistent insecurity and killings across the country. Bishop Adejumo said leaders must stop pretending not to know the causes of insecurity and take decisive steps to end the bloodshed. He said: “Our leaders and politicians should not play politics with the security of lives and property in Nigeria. “The blood that is being she...

My experience in kidnapper’s den — Real estate consultant

 A real estate consultant, Mrs Olufunke Adigun, who was kidnapped while on official duty at a poultry farm in Imope near Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, has been released.  Narrating her harrowing experience, the realtor said that after five traumatic days in captivity, the victims were eventually released after an undisclosed amount of money was paid as ransom. She said: “On February 25, 2026, I went in the company of others on an official assignment to inspect a poultry farm at Imope, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State. “At approximately 4:10pm, while returning from the site, others and I who went for the inspection heard gunshots aimed at our vehicle. We got stuck immediately, and within moments, we were accosted by a group of armed men aged between 21 and 30 years. We were forcibly taken and led into the bush, where it became evident that we had been kidnapped.” Speaking further, she said: “We were beaten black and blue, and later during the night, we were allowed to contact our families, a...

Oyo school kidnap: We can’t risk more lives in rescue efforts — Soun

THE Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, has said that security authorities are adopting a cautious approach in responding to the abduction of students and teachers from three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.  Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, he referenced the killing of one of the abducted teachers by the kidnappers amid attempts to track them down, saying that the tragic incident underscored the need for restraint and careful coordination among security agencies. Oba Olaoye, who explained that he was not in the country when the incident happened, said: “We see a lot of comments on social media; people should understand that these terrorists slaughtered one of the teachers on live video. “This is something we have not experienced before; it is what we saw with another group outside of the country. So, that tells us the people we are dealing with. For a teacher to be slaughtered like that, where you have child...

Owo church attack: Court sentences 4 terrorists to death by hanging

*Acquits one for lack of evidence *Justice has been served — Aiyedatiwa *Govs should sign death warrants—Olowo *We’re still nursing wounds, says Bishop Arogundade THE Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced four members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. Those found guilty on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services, DSS, on behalf of the Federal Government were Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25), while the 5th defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged for want of evidence linking him to the attack. Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided, said he was satisfied that the prosecution proved its case against the four convicts beyond a reasonable doubt. He held that the evidence before the court established that they belonged t...

110 Nigerians face deportation as US launches fresh W-Africa immigration crackdown

NO fewer than 110 Nigerians are among 355 West Africans listed for deportation by the the Donald Trump’s administration as Washington intensifies its immigration enforcement under the newly expanded West Africa Operations Watch, WOW, initiative. The list released by the United States Department of Homeland Security, containing mames and photographs of all 355 individuals earmarked for removal, showed that Nigeria topped the country breakdown, follwed by Liberia with 94 nationals, while Ghana and Senegal have 30 and 19 respectively.   Other countries on the list include Cameroon 15, The Gambia 14, Côte d’Ivoire 14, Mauritania 12, Cape Verde 11, Burkina Faso nine, Niger eight, Guinea six, Togo six, Mali five, and one each from Benin and Guinea-Bissau.  While specific individual charges on the current manifest were not specified, historical targets under this enforcement bracket, which falls under the “Worst of the Worst,” include individuals convicted of severe fraud, money...

Voter data leak: Police arrest INEC officer, quiz Wike’s aide

Senior Police sources has confirmed that operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team, IRT, have commenced investigations into the unauthorised database abuse and the leaking of classified national document belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Towards this end, an official of INEC has been arrested while a top aide of the FCT Minister is said to have been interrogated by the operatives over the leaked document. Sources told Vanguard that IRT operatives have detained the INEC official, who is seconded to the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, while investigations is ongoing. The aide of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT minister, was said to have been invited to the Guzape headquarters of the IRT while it was confirmed that the petition written to the Police on the matter emanated from INEC headquarters. The petition alleged criminal conspiracy, leaking of classified documents and conduct capable of breaching public peace amon...

Police recover kidnap victims’ bodies in Edo forest, arrest suspect

THE Edo State police command has recovered the bodies of two kidnapped victims and arrested one of the suspects in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state. According to a statement, yesterday by the state command’s Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, one of the bodies has been identified as that of Favour Nosakhare (66 years), who was abducted by gunmen alongside Emmanuel Osasere (28 years), and Miss Rejoice Otikpere (26 years) on May 9. The PPRO stated that the suspect, who was arrested with a gunshot wound, led operatives to where the decomposing bodies were recovered. The statement read:  “It will be recalled that on May 9, 2026, three women, namely Mrs Favour Nosakhare (66), Mrs. Emmanuel Osasere (28), and Miss Rejoice Otikpere (26), were abducted by kidnappers, who invaded their residence in the Iyowa Community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State and whisked them away into a nearby forest.  “Days after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted ...