THE VIRGIN TIMES AFRICA

  Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Ibadan on Monday, demanding the immediate rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso. The demonstration, led by members of the Take-It-Back Movement, teachers, students, and concerned residents, disrupted traffic along major routes as participants marched with placards bearing messages such as “Bring Back Our Children” and “Speak Up.” The protesters expressed frustration over the worsening security situation in Oyo State , accusing authorities of not doing enough to protect citizens from kidnappers. They called for stronger security measures around schools and communities, insisting that the continued abduction of students and teachers has heightened fear among residents. The protest comes amid growing outrage over the kidnapping of dozens of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area. The Nigerian Union of Teachers has since declared an indefinite strike, while Governor Seyi Makinde and federal officials cont...

  Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has assured Nigerians of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to making the country safe for all citizens, saying Nigeria will soon overcome its security challenges. Tinubu, who described the cases of kidnappings, banditry and killings in parts of the country as disheartening, said a lot of efforts were ongoing to further secure the country and stamp out criminality, but these efforts could not be divulged publicly. Mrs Tinubu spoke in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, during her engagement with Ekiti State traditional rulers, as part of her one-day working visit to the state. Her comment was in response to the call for a review of the kidnapping law and the fast-tracking of the process to create state police. The First Lady said President Tinubu was committed to the security of the lives and properties of citizens through a stronger internal security plan and building of security alliances with developed nations. She said, “President Tinubu has entered i...

  The Nigeria Union of Teachers has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to withdraw their services from Monday, June 1. The action is in protest against continued abduction of teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area of the state. Recall that on May 15, 2026, gunmen stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota), Community Grammar School, and L.A Primary School (Esiele), all in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting teachers, pupils and students. Those kidnapped include 39 students, seven teachers among which is Mrs. Rachael Alamu, the principal of Community High School, Esinele, while two teachers have been killed. The NUT directive is part of a nationwide action by the union, which also includes solidarity rallies scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026, across all state capitals to demand urgent government intervention and the safe release of abducted school personnel and learners. Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, ...

Suspected terrorists who abducted schoolchildren and teachers from three schools in Esinele, Yamota and Alawusa towns in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have opened communication channels with the state government, Saturday PUNCH can report. Two highly credible sources told our correspondents that the hoodlums refused to speak directly with the families of the victims. “They said they only want to talk to the governor and nobody else. That was the condition they gave for negotiation. So, nobody knows the details and what they are demanding,” a source said. It cannot, however, be confirmed if the negotiation is being done by the governor himself or a representative of the state. ut a top source said the communication channel was a relief. “It is not that security agencies don’t know what to do. But the risks are too high. The relief is that at least now, they are talking,” the source said. The report gathered that the demands of the terrorists were being kept discreet in...

 The decision by some former ministers of President Bola Tinubu to resign from the Federal Executive Council in pursuit of elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections appears to be yielding mixed fortunes, with only two securing party tickets so far. Five former cabinet members stepped down from their positions after the Presidency directed political appointees seeking elective offices to resign before participating in party primaries. Their resignation was in line with the Electoral Act 2026. Among those affected were former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who resigned to contest for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Bauchi State; and former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, who resigned to pursue Kebbi senatorial ticket. Others are former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, who resigned to contest Gombe governorship ticket; former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, pursuing House o...

  Fresh cracks have emerged within Nigeria’s opposition bloc ahead of the 2027 presidential election as major political parties and pressure groups faulted the position of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that no southern candidate can defeat President Bola Tinubu in the next general election. The parties, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Labour Party, Young Progressives Party, Social Democratic Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, as well as both the Kwankwasiyya and Obidient Movements, disagreed with the former vice president over his stand. In separate exclusive interviews, they insisted that the presidency should remain in the South in the interest of fairness, national cohesion and political stability. The disagreement followed a statement issued on Sunday by Atiku’s media aide, Olusola Sanni, warning opposition parties against zoning their presidential tickets to the South.

  Senate reverses principal offices rule as Oshiomhole slams Akpabio The Senate on Thursday rescinded controversial amendments to its Standing Orders 2026 following concerns by lawmakers that some of the provisions were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution. The reversal came barely days after the upper chamber amended portions of its rules, a move that had triggered controversy and sharp exchanges among senators. It, however, drew sharp rebuke from the senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, as he called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to resign from office. The amendments had come amid growing interest by outgoing governors and political heavyweights, many of whom are positioning to enter the Senate in 2027 to contest for top leadership roles such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President. No fewer than 10 governors and several former governors are already angling to secure senatorial tickets, leveraging their influence over party structures to emer...

 The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, recovering a stolen motorcycle from them. The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued Thursday. According to the statement, “On 4th May, 2026, operatives attached to Ningi Division arrested Moh’d Sani, aged 25 years, and Sani Lawan, aged 20 years, both males from Badungu Village, Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State. “At the time of arrest, a red Boxer motorcycle was recovered in their possession.” Habib explained that further investigation linked the suspects to an earlier robbery incident in Ningi Local Government Area.

  ABUJA  The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, escalated, yesterday as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the faction aligned with Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, traded fierce words over control of the party ahead of 2027. Wike threw an open challenge to the Kabiru Turaki-led camp, daring it to prove its claim to leadership by opening a party secretariat and bank account in Abuja, and vowing to shut any such move. Speaking during a media chat, the former Rivers governor accused the rival bloc of fraud, defiance of court rulings and deliberate deception. “When will people stop being fraudulent? You cannot disobey court judgments and then turn around to deceive Nigerians that you have a legitimate structure. That is not how democracy works,” he said. He insisted the group lacked legal standing to run PDP affairs and challenged it to demonstrate otherwise. “If they are sure they are the authentic leadership of the PDP, let them ope...

  The Sokoto State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria has distanced itself from a recent call made by one of its members advocating for Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko’s nomination as the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections. In a statement issued in Sokoto on Sunday, the State Chairman of ALGON and Executive Chairman of Tambuwal Local Government Area, Alhaji Abba Shehu Tambuwal, clarified that the call was the personal opinion of Alhaji Abdullahi Yarima, the Secretary of the Association and Chairman of Kebbe Local Government Area. “Our dear colleague, who also serves as our scribe, merely expressed his individual opinion,” the statement clarified. “While he is entitled to his views like every other citizen, it must be clearly stated that he was acting on his own.” ALGON emphasised that Senator Wamakko, who currently represents Sokoto North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, has not declared ...

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 OWA OBOKUN ENDORSES IJESALAND DEVELOPMENT FUND AS ICDA SUPPORTS YOUNG FAMERS WITH ABOUT 9 MILLION NAIRA IN GRANT  Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, the Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, has endorsed the proposed Ijesaland Development Fund as initiator. The Ijesaland Community Development Assembly supported trainees of the Leventis Foundation Agricultural School with about 9 million naira in grants. Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup gave the endorsement when the chairman of the ICDA, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, led members on a courtesy visit to him. The Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland expressed delight with the interventions of the ICDA in all the sectors, which, according to him, were in tandem with the dreams of the Ijesa progenitors. He urged all the people who had been making generous donations towards the development of Ijesaland not to relent in their efforts.   Earlier, the Asiwaju of Ijesaland had told the Owa Obokun how a small number of Ijesa patriots had...

 No fewer than 22 oil and gas workers died in the line of duty between January and December 2024, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, an agency of the Federal Government, has said. The NUPRC reported a total of 22 fatalities and 31 operational incidents in the country’s upstream oil and gas sector last year, according to a report sighted by our correspondent. This sobering statistic underscores the persistent safety challenges confronting Nigeria’s oil operations, despite regulatory reforms and enhanced safety oversight introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act. The report indicated the NUPRC accredited 150 waste management companies to mitigate environmental impact. It also issued 183 waste discharge permits and granted 67 approvals for Environmental Impact Assessments and Management Plans. NUPRC also confirmed the successful resolution of six environmental and safety violation cases in 2024 and said it was progressing with digital platforms like HostComply to...

Barely a week after a Nigerian hairstylist, Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, was caught in India with drugs worth over N1.8bn, another Nigerian national, identified as Chikuwuma, has been arrested for a similar offence. According to a report by India Today on Tuesday, the suspect was apprehended by operatives of Bengaluru’s Central Crime Branch during a raid, with narcotics valued at approximately Rs 1.2 crore (N214m). “The accused, identified as Chikuwuma, was caught by the police during an attempt to distribute narcotics within the Avalahalli area of northern Bengaluru,” the report stated. The report disclosed that the arrest was part of a broader operation by the CCB’s Narcotics Wing, which resulted in the seizure of MDMA and crystal substances.

Gun-like object’ in Adefarasin’s video is a prohibited stun gun – Police The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday clarified that the object resembling a firearm, seen in a viral video with Pastor Paul Adefarasin, is not a lethal weapon but a stun gun, classified as prohibited anti-riot equipment. The clarification was made via a statement posted on the command’s official X handle (formerly Twitter). The statement followed growing public concern over footage showing the House on the Rock founder wielding a gun-like object while driving an unregistered vehicle. According to the police, Adefarasin voluntarily turned himself in and has been cooperative with the ongoing investigation. He was interrogated and gave a cautionary statement to investigators. Adefarasin has since been granted administrative bail, and the authorities assured the public that the outcome of the investigation will be made public upon conclusion. The statement said, “Pastor Paul Adefarasin, who turned himself in toda...

Looja Clement Adesuyi Haastrup of Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House has been elected as the  Owa Obokun Ajimoko III and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland.  He defeated nine other candidates in a free and fair selection process held at the Ilesa West Local Government Secretariat along the Ilesa-Oshogbo motorway.  The kingmakers  included six Iwora mefa mamely Obaala, High chief Ibitoye,  Ogboni Ipole, Oba Omokehinde Oyeleye, Ogboni Ijebu-jesa, Oba Olufemi Agunsoye ( Elegboro), Ogboni Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro, Ogboni Ilesa High Chief Saka Fapohunda, Oba Odo of Ilesa High Chief  James Busuyi,  and seven agba Ijesa , Risawe of Ilesa. High Chief Adefioye  Adedeji, Lejoka of Ilesa, High Chief Omoniyi Ojo, Lejofi, High Chief Adebusoye Onigbogi, Arapate of Ilesa, High Chief Oluwagbemiga Fadunsin Igbarool , Loro of Ilesa, High Chief Lekan Folorunso , Odole of Ulesa ,High Chief Bola Orolugbagbe and Mr Abimbola Aluko ( warrant officer representing the Saloro of ilesa...

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  Results have started coming in from the polling units in the Edo State governorship election as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are locked in a tight contest. SaharaReporters at the polling units in Oredo Ward saw that the APC and the PDP are closely following each other while the Labour Party appears to be taking a distant third. Here are polling unit results so far; Results in Oredo Ward 11 Ogbelaka/Nekpenekpen Results for Polling unit 5 Total registered voters – 697 APC – 26 PDP – 58 LP – 7 Results for Polling unit 6 Total registered voters – 560 Scores according to parties: APC – 46 PDP – 50 LP – 14 Results for Polling unit 7 Total registered voters – 821 Scores according to parties: APC – 38 PDP – 44 LP – 9 Polling unit 8: Total registered voters – 643 APC – 56 PDP – 35 LP – 4 from earlier report a socio-political organisation, YIAGA, condemned vote-buying in parts of Edo State in the ongoing governorship election. According ...

  The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of two political thugs during an overnight raid across several locations in Edo State. T he operation, aimed at preventing electoral violence, was confirmed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday. According to Adejobi, the suspects—Edwin Obanor, 43, and Audu Tajudeen, 41—were apprehended in separate incidents. Obanor, believed to be a leader of an armed group, was arrested around 9 p.m. at Oredo Ward 4, while Tajudeen, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Ugbogbo Quarters, Igara Akoko, was arrested in the Igara Akoko area. The police, acting on a tip-off about plans to incite violence during the election, recovered three cut-to-size locally fabricated pistols from Obanor and one locally made gun from Tajudeen. “This is a significant breakthrough in our efforts to curb electoral violence,” Adejobi said, highlighting the police...