News Brief: Gov Alia Orders Crackdown On Killers Of Two Benue Youths Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has condemned the killing of two Igede youths along the Awajir-Oju road, describing the attack as unjustifiable and a threat to the state’s fragile peace. In a statement, the governor also addressed a separate violent incident in Nyifon community, Mbaikyongo Ward, Buruku LGA, allegedly sparked by a boat mishap-related dispute with youths from Mbayaka community. Alia has given security agencies 48 hours to identify and arrest the perpetrators, emphasizing that no group has the right to invade or harm another community. He directed full collaboration between security forces and traditional leaders to restore calm and prevent future clashes. “Benue is achieving security stability, and I will not tolerate any actions that threaten the peace we strive to maintain,” said Alia. Source: Channels Television #Benue #SecurityAlert #HyacinthAlia #IgedeYouth #CommunityClashes #PeaceInBenue

News Brief: Police Arrest Two Sisters, Couple In Abuja Over ‘Fake’ Kidnap Plot The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested two sisters and a married couple for staging a fake kidnapping in Abuja and attempting to extort ₦5 million from their own parents. Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh disclosed that 16-year-old LeadWay Innocent was declared missing by her father after leaving for an exam and not returning. Days later, the family received a ransom demand from an unknown number. Following an investigation, officers tracked the number to a house in Jikwoyi Phase II, where LeadWay was found relaxed and unharmed, with Mrs. Tina Mayowa. Further arrests revealed that LeadWay, her sister Joy Innocent, and Joy’s boyfriend Mr. Mayowa Adedeji (Tina’s husband) all conspired in the staged abduction. All suspects have confessed and remain in custody. They will be charged to court after investigations. The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, condemned the act and urged parents to prioritize emotional engagement and communication with their children. Source: Channels Television #AbujaCrime #FakeKidnap #FCTPolice #FamilyFraud #NigeriaNews #SecurityAlert

News Brief: Governor Nwifuru Lifts Suspension of 81 Government Officials Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has lifted the suspension of 81 government officials, including commissioners, permanent secretaries, and special assistants, who were earlier sanctioned for failing to attend a state event. According to a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, the affected officials—suspended on July 28, 2025—have been directed to resume work immediately. The suspension had affected: The Attorney General 25 commissioners 22 permanent secretaries 14 senior special assistants 24 special assistants During the one-month disciplinary action, the officials were denied salaries and barred from signing official documents. Source: Channels Television #EbonyiState #GovernorNwifuru #SuspensionLifted #GovernmentOfficials #PublicServiceDiscipline

News Brief: Bandits Abduct 20 Women in Fresh Zamfara Attack At least 20 women and girls were abducted by bandits in Moriki town, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Saturday. The victims were reportedly taken while fetching firewood on the outskirts of the town. A local resident, Sufyanu Moriki, confirmed the incident, stating that the attackers have not yet made any ransom demands. The Zamfara State Police Command is yet to officially confirm the abduction, as the Command's spokesperson Yazid Abubakar said he had not been briefed. This latest attack adds to the escalating crisis of banditry in Northwest Nigeria, where violence has displaced thousands and worsened an already dire humanitarian and food insecurity situation. Banditry in the region has evolved from herder-farmer conflicts into well-organized criminal enterprises involving kidnapping, extortion, and illegal taxation of farmers and miners. Just last month, 33 abductees were killed by bandits in Zamfara despite the payment of a $33,700 ransom. The increasing cooperation between bandit groups and jihadist insurgents, including the newly emerged Lakurawa faction, has further destabilized the region. While the Nigerian military continues its operations, including recent airstrikes that reportedly killed 95 armed men in Niger State, limited troop numbers, civilian casualties, and a lack of consistent government presence remain major obstacles. Source: Channels Television #ZamfaraAbduction #BanditryCrisis #NigeriaSecurity #WomenAbducted #NorthwestNigeria

News Brief: Police Arraign Notorious Suspected Assassin ‘Olori Eso’ for Murder in Lagos. The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned Wasiu Akinwande, alias Olori Eso, a suspected hired assassin, at the Ogba Magistrate Court on 11 counts including murder, unlawful possession of arms, and felony. Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin described the 44-year-old as the “most wanted vicious and notorious killer” linked to several high-profile murders across Mushin and surrounding areas in Lagos. Akinwande was finally arrested during a covert operation—“Silence, Speed and Surprise”—by the Command’s Tactical Squad at his hideout in Agbado, Ogun State, after years of evading capture. A raid on his Mushin residence uncovered a large cache of weapons, including: 2 AK-47 rifles 1 K2 Assault rifle 1 Red Ryder rifle 3 pump action rifles 2 locally made pistols 5 magazines 57 live cartridges 70 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition 1 dagger 3 walkie-talkies 9 international passports belonging to others Four families have already identified Akinwande as the killer of their loved ones. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, SCID, is now leading a wider investigation to arrest his accomplices. Lagos Police Commissioner Olohundare Jimoh reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to justice and public safety. #LagosCrime #OloriEso #WasiuAkinwande #LagosPolice #CriminalArrest #Mushin #PoliceRaid

News Brief: US to Begin $15,000 Visa Bond for Some Visitors. The U.S. State Department has announced a new visa bond pilot program requiring some visitors to deposit up to $15,000 as collateral to discourage visa overstays, a move aligned with President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown. Beginning August 20, applicants for B-1 or B-2 visitor visas from countries with high overstay rates or deficient vetting systems may be asked to pay bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The bond will be refunded if the visa holder complies fully with the visa terms; it will be forfeited if they overstay. “Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond… as a condition of visa issuance,” the notice reads. Impacted travelers will also be required to enter and depart from a list of pre-approved U.S. airports. The 12-month program, targeting certain unspecified countries, is being justified as part of the Trump administration’s push to enforce immigration laws and protect U.S. national security. Critics view it as another restriction on travel, while supporters argue it's a necessary deterrent against abuse of temporary visas. #USVisaBond #TrumpAdministration #VisaOverstay #ImmigrationPolicy #TravelAlert #B1Visa #B2Visa

News Brief: Sowore Faults Rotational Presidency, Says Nigeria Needs Competent Leaders. Former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore has criticised Nigeria’s long-standing tradition of rotational presidency, calling it “senseless” and unfit for a modern democracy. Speaking Tuesday on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, the #RevolutionNow convener said leadership should be based on competence, not region. “If I have a good president in Nigeria who can run this country very well, I don’t care where he comes from,” Sowore declared. He argued that zoning limits opportunities for credible candidates and does not guarantee quality governance. “Zoning the presidency to the worst character in the country is not going to make you get anywhere,” he said. Sowore advocated a merit-based approach, urging Nigerians to assess presidential hopefuls based on qualifications, manifestos, and character—rather than ethnicity or geopolitical background. The debate over rotational presidency has resurfaced as the 2027 elections approach, with pressure mounting from both northern and southern political blocs. President Bola Tinubu, a Southerner, succeeded Northern President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. Now, figures like Atiku Abubakar from the North are pushing to return power to their region. #Sowore #RotationalPresidency #2027Elections #NigerianPolitics #OneNigeria #LeadershipNotZoning

News Brief: APC Will Continue Defeating Opposition, Obidients with Digital Strategy — Tinubu’s Aide. Olusegun Dada, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on New Media, has asserted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will continue to defeat opposition groups, including members of the Obidient movement, through strategic digital media campaigns. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Dada credited the APC’s success in the 2023 presidential election to its focused digital strategy. “We elected a president that people said was unelectable,” he said. “We have beaten them [Obidients] three times, and we will continue to beat them.” He claimed that opposition supporters often avoid criticism and target those who challenge them, while the APC listens to feedback to inform governance. “Our strategy has been to clarify, not be distracted by noise,” Dada said, adding that he has participated in over 40 governorship races across Nigeria, most of which APC won. Dada dismissed the opposition’s tactics as aggressive and repetitive, insisting the ruling party remains focused on promoting its candidates and policies through data-backed narratives and digital communication. #APC #TinubuAide #DigitalStrategy #Obidients #2023Elections #OlusegunDada #NewMedia

News Brief: Tinubu Must Lead on Social Welfare, Not Delegate to Governors — Falana. Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to take direct responsibility for combating poverty in Nigeria, rather than deferring social welfare duties to state governors. In a statement on Sunday, Falana reacted to Tinubu’s recent plea to APC governors to “wet the grass” by addressing grassroots economic hardship. While acknowledging the President’s concern, Falana insisted the Federal Government must move beyond appeals and fully fund existing national welfare programmes. He criticised the 2025 budget allocation of ₦32.7 billion to the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), comparing it unfavorably to the ₦39 billion reportedly spent on the International Conference Centre renovation. “This government cannot justify underfunding welfare while indulging in expensive renovations,” Falana said. He called for a ₦5 trillion investment in the NSIP, which supports youth employment, school feeding, soft loans, and cash transfers for vulnerable households. Falana also called out wasteful spending in the 2025 budget, citing ₦6.93 trillion in padded projects exposed by BudgIT. With ₦11.195 trillion disbursed to states via FAAC in the last year, Falana said resources are available—what’s lacking is political will and prioritization. He also demanded multi-stakeholder oversight for NSIP funds, including civil society and trade unions, to ensure transparency and real impact. #FemiFalana #TinubuAdministration #SocialWelfare #NSIP #NigerianPovertyCrisis #Budget2025

News Brief: Middle Class Reduced to Beggars – Chimamanda Decries Hardship in Nigeria. Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has expressed deep concern over the worsening economic hardship in Nigeria, saying it has pushed many formerly middle-class citizens into poverty and desperation. In an interview on Channels Television’s Amazing Africans, Adichie said the suffering of everyday Nigerians is her biggest worry, not economic indices like the stock market. “People who were formerly kind of securely middle class… are now people who beg and are in need,” she said. The author emphasized that economic strain could lead individuals to take desperate actions they would ordinarily avoid, posing a danger to society. “It’s not to excuse crime,” she noted, “but when life gets very hard, even people who before would not have considered certain things suddenly are willing to.” Adichie also reflected on her journey as a writer, revealing she faced 25 rejections for her debut novel Purple Hibiscus but never considered quitting. “Writing is really what I believe I am here to do… it’s a bit spiritual,” she said. Her remarks come amid ongoing public frustration with Nigeria’s cost of living crisis, worsened by recent economic reforms. #ChimamandaAdichie #NigerianEconomy #CostOfLivingCrisis #MiddleClassStruggles #EconomicHardship

News Brief: Falcons Coaches Deserve Equal Pay as Players – Pastor Adeboye. General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called for better compensation for Nigerian sports coaches, saying they should not earn less than players. Speaking during the RCCG’s monthly Thanksgiving Service in Lagos, Adeboye praised President Bola Tinubu for rewarding the Super Falcons’ historic 10th WAFCON title with $100,000 (naira equivalent) and a three-bedroom apartment for each player. He, however, questioned why the team’s coaches received only $50,000. “I thank the President for the gifts to the Falcons,” Adeboye said. “However, I’m not quite sure I agree that the coaches should get less than the players because, without coaches, the team will not succeed.” The revered cleric, who was once a boxer, reminisced about his own coach’s tough methods in the 1960s and credited those experiences for building his resilience. “A good coach sees your potential and pushes you to be better,” he said. Adeboye’s remarks come amid growing national conversation around fair treatment of sports professionals beyond athletes. #SuperFalcons #PastorAdeboye #WAFCON2025 #EqualPay #SportsDevelopment #NigerianCoaches

News Brief: ₦712bn Lagos Terminal Rebuild Funded by Subsidy Savings – Keyamo. The Nigerian Federal Government will spend ₦712 billion to completely rebuild Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo has confirmed. He defended the project amid public backlash, explaining it will be funded through savings from petrol subsidy removal and exchange rate reforms. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Keyamo described the terminal—originally built over 40 years ago—as “decrepit,” citing leaking roofs, broken carousels, and poor sanitation. He said the current state could push international airlines to abandon Nigerian routes due to safety and insurance concerns. “This is not a budgetary expenditure,” Keyamo said. “It’s part of the Renewed Hope Infrastructural Funding.” The 22-month project will fully demolish and redesign the terminal, aiming to turn Lagos into a continental aviation hub on par with Ethiopia and South Africa. Keyamo also noted that the outdated airport layout has hindered local-to-international flight connections for decades. Critics argue the ₦712bn plan is ill-timed given soaring inflation and widespread hardship caused by recent economic reforms. #LagosAirport #AviationUpgrade #FestusKeyamo #NigeriaInfrastructure #TerminalRebuild

SERAP Gives Niger Governor 48-Hour Ultimatum Over Badeggi FM Shutdown The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Niger State Governor Umaru Bago, demanding the reversal of his administration’s closure of Badeggi FM 90.1 in Minna. Governor Bago had ordered the shutdown, licence revocation, and profiling of the station’s owner, accusing it of unethical broadcasting and incitement. SERAP described the move as unlawful and a threat to press freedom, urging the governor to reinstate the station’s licence and guarantee staff safety. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also condemned the action, calling it an abuse of power and insisting that only the National Broadcasting Commission has the authority to revoke broadcast licences.

Chimamanda Adichie: Quitting Writing Was Never an Option Despite Rejections Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has revealed that she received 25 rejections for her debut novel, Purple Hibiscus, but never considered giving up on writing. Speaking on Channels Television’s Amazing Africans, Adichie described writing as her spiritual calling and life’s purpose, stating, “Even if I hadn’t been published, I’d still be writing today.” Reflecting on her early struggles as a student writer in the U.S., Adichie said the rejections were humbling but ultimately made her more practical about the publishing process. Purple Hibiscus later launched her international literary career, followed by acclaimed works like Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and Dream Count.

Tinubu Praises D’Tigress for Reaching Fifth Consecutive AfroBasket Final President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, on securing a place in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket—their fifth straight appearance at the tournament’s climax. Following their hard-fought 75–68 comeback victory over Senegal in Saturday’s semi-final in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Tinubu lauded the team’s resilience, discipline, and team spirit. He also praised head coach Rena Wakama, the first female coach of the team, for her inspiring leadership. The win extends Nigeria’s undefeated AfroBasket streak to 28 matches since 2015. The reigning champions will face the winner of South Sudan vs. Mali in the final as they pursue a record fifth consecutive and seventh overall title.

Man Rescued After Nearly 10 Hours Trapped Under Abuja Building Rubble A 27-year-old man, Aliyu Salisu from Niger Republic, was rescued alive after being trapped for nearly 10 hours under the rubble of a collapsed three-storey building in the Lifecamp area of Abuja. The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. on Saturday. Following a distress call, the Lifecamp Divisional Police Officer quickly mobilized a rescue team, secured the site, and coordinated efforts involving the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), FCTA Development Control, and other agencies. Salisu was freed at about 4:00 a.m. on Sunday and taken to Cedar Crest Hospital, Gudu, where he is currently recovering. The FCT Police Commissioner, Ajao Adewale, praised the professionalism of the rescuers and urged the public to remain vigilant and report emergencies promptly.

X Accuses UK Government of Overreach Over Child Safety Law August 1, 2025 – X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, has criticized the UK’s Online Safety Act, calling it an example of government “overreach” that could undermine free speech. In a post via its Global Government Affairs account, X said that while the law’s aim to protect children from harmful content is “laudable,” its broad scope threatens to infringe on public expression rights. X also slammed a new code of conduct and a UK police unit monitoring social media as duplicative and concerning for free speech. The platform has begun implementing age verification tools, including AI-driven age estimation and ID uploads, to comply with new rules in the UK, Ireland, and the EU. Platforms failing to meet standards set by Ofcom face fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue, and could be blocked in the UK. The law has triggered privacy concerns, with critics warning of identity theft risks. In response, UK users have turned to VPNs, pushing VPN apps to the top of Apple’s UK download charts. #OnlineSafetyAct #FreeSpeech #ElonMusk #UKDigitalRegulation

NOA Warns of Fake Naira Syndicate Targeting Akwa Ibom Traders, POS Operators The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has raised an alarm over a surge in counterfeit N1000 notes circulating in parts of Akwa Ibom State, particularly in coastal communities. According to the NOA State Director, Mr. Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, scam syndicates are flooding areas such as Udung Uko, Mbo, Oron, Okobo, and Ibeno with fake notes bearing batch numbers 364232 and 898248, often with blurred portraits and faulty security features. The criminals reportedly target POS operators and local traders during peak market hours to pass off the counterfeits undetected. Residents have been urged to closely examine currency, stay alert, and report suspicious transactions. The NOA also called for greater collaboration with security agencies to track and apprehend the culprits. #FakeNairaAlert #AkwaIbomScam #NOAWarns #StayVigilant

Nursing Mother, Baby Held in Nigerian Prison Months After Protest Arrest The Nigerian Police have continued to detain a nursing mother, Jamila Ibrahim, and her infant daughter at the Suleja Correctional Centre months after their arrest during a peaceful protest linked to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) in Abuja. Jamila was arrested on March 28 at Wuse Market while carrying her one-month-old baby. Family sources say she is not a member of the IMN but had joined the protest voluntarily. Since then, she has reportedly been held without trial or formal charges, with no notification given to her family at the time of arrest. Sources within the Shiite group and her family claim that both mother and child remain in custody in degrading conditions, sparking outrage over the treatment of the infant, who has committed no crime. The protest, part of the 2025 International Quds Day procession, was violently disrupted by the Nigerian Army’s Guard Brigade using live ammunition, leaving several dead and many injured. The IMN has condemned the crackdown, accusing the government of double standards—publicly criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza while attacking pro-Palestine demonstrators at home. So far, 380 protesters, including women and children, are believed to have been arrested, while the full casualty count remains unknown. #JusticeForJamila #FreePalestineProtest #HumanRightsViolation #NigeriaPoliceAbuse