Author: Safiu Kehinde

Safiu Kehinde Leaked Video of embattled former Ooni of Ife’s wife, Naomi Silekunola, urging Ibadan residents to come early at the ill-fated children’s funfair has surfaced online. The video emerged on X following denial by the queen’s mother that her daughter urged people to come early to the venue of the tragic event which claimed over 35 lives after stampede ensued. Queen Naomi’s mother had in an interview with popular Nigerian social media influencer, Daddy Freeze, dismissed the claims that her daughter promised to share the relief materials for the funfair on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis. As against…

Safiu Kehinde Nigeria’s Home-based Eagles have sealed a spot in the 2025 African Nations Cup (CHAN) following 3-1 aggregate win against Ghana. Following goalless draw at the first leg, the Home-based Eagles hosted the Black Stallions at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state, on Saturday. With barely 20 minutes into the game, the Nigerian team broke the deadlock with thrice in six minutes through Sodiq Ismail’s brilliant goal in the 19th minutes. The Remo Stars defender, beat Ghana’s offside trap to meet a through ball which he slotted under goalkeeper Benjamin Asare for the 1-0 lead. The Eagles…

Safiu Kehinde Oyo State Police Command has on Saturday paraded 55 suspected armed robbers and one-chance syndicates arrested across the state. The Command disclosed in a post on its official X handle. According to the post, some of the paraded suspects were nabbed over alleged Cultism involvement, hijacking, and other related vices. More details later…

Safiu Kehinde Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu , has hailed the much-anticipated Lagos Shopping Festival (LSF), which ended at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, at 4am on Thursday. The Governor, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, was full of praise for the event organisers, Chain Reactions Africa Ltd. He commended the Public Relations Consulting Firm for giving Lagos State another pillar upon which a solid festival economy is being erected. Sanwo-Olu noted that the state is building a festival economy with the 3-day shopping festival serving as a…

By Bamidele Johnson Videos of Isaac Kearney, the disadvantaged six-year old Liverpool fan, remind me of a story written for The NEWS by Funsho Arogundade well over a decade ago. It was based on the account of a fairly famous figure on the entertainment circuit at the time. The man, father to a son with Down’s Syndrome, said he took the child to an office, where the front desk officer cruelly and foolishly asked who brought a demon in. Naturally distraught, the man couldn’t do whatever business he went for and had to leave the office because of the naked…

Agency Report Traditional rulers and residents of border communities in Sokoto and Kebbi states have refuted claims by Nigerien leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, that Nigeria is host to French military base and training camps. Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited border communities in the states on Friday report that there was no evidence of the claim. Tchiani in a Christmas Day interview had claimed that Nigeria had provided a base for French soldiers near Lake Chad. He also claimed training camps had been established for terrorists in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, all aimed at destabilising Niger. Findings…

Safiu Kehinde Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has on Friday, assented to the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N750.2 billion as passed by the state House of Assembly. In a speech at the brief event held at Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, Otti said that the budget underscores the commitment of his administration to transform the state’s trajectory in achieving infrastructure development. He described the allocation of 82 per cent of the 2025 budget to capital expenditures and 18 per cent to recurrent expenditure as “a strategic move to address the critical infrastructure needs of the state. “Our…

Safiu Kehinde Plateau State Police Command have recorded the arrest of 859 suspects as well as the recovery 27 arms and 115 ammunition in the state in 2024. This was disclosed by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, at a news conference in Jos on Friday. Adesina equally said that the command rescued 46 kidnapped victims during the period under review. “Similarly, we charged 415 suspects to court after investigation in the period under review. “Overtime, we have put in place a series of strategies to prevent crime and ensure the security of all lives and properties within the…

Safiu Kehinde The Nigerian Police Force has raised alarm over the unprofessional conducts of its officers who fraudulent use the Inspector-General of Police’s name and office to perpetrate illegal activities and intimidate victims. This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Force spokeperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi. The misconduct which persist despite warnings of disciplinary actions, according to Adejobi, undermined standards and reputation of the Nigeria Police Force. The FPPRO disclosed that erring officers often use the antics to discourage victims from reporting to higher authorities. He, however, urged members of the public to report any misconduct by Police…

Safiu Kehinde A group of aggrieved youths have on Friday protested over alleged assault and land grabbing activities by the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, Ifechukwude Okonjo, in Delta state. The protesters from the Ubulu-Okiti community in Aniocha South Local Government stormed the Government House, Asaba, in their numbers with various placards agitating over the activities of land grabbers in their communities. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Youth President of Ubulu-Okiti community, Ifechukwude Nwabuebo, accused the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom’s monarch, Ifechukude Okonjo and his brother, Prince Onyema of selling other family land in their community. Nwabuebo disclosed how the monarch allegedly…