Author: Safiu Kehinde

Safiu Kehinde It was a moment of joy at the Olowookere household as they received the news of Segun Olowookere’s release after 10 years on death row over Theft of fowl at a poultry farm. NPO reported that Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, had on Thursday granted pardon to Segun and 52 other convicts. Unaware of the development, the father of the boy, Olanrenwaju Olowookere, screamed for joy while speaking with NPO Reports correspondent in a telephone conversation. Speaking on behalf of the family, Niyi Olowookere, brother to the boy’s father, expressed the family’s delight in having Segun back after…

Safiu Kehinde Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has exercised prerogative of mercy towards Segun Olowookere and 52 other convicts serving various convictions within the Nigerian Correctional Service. This was contained in a letter of commutation issued on Thursday by the spokesperson to the governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed. The letter dated December 24th, 2024 and which has since been received and acknowledged by the relevant prison authorities read as follows: “WHEREAS: the inmates whose names are set out in the schedule to this order have been convicted to various terms of imprisonment to wit. (i) Simple offences and have served substantial…

Safiu Kehinde Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the Nigerian Air Force airstrike on Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Sokoto state while warning the Armed Force of planting seeds of further division and anger in the region. Atiku gave the warning while reacting to the tragic incident in post on his official X handle on Thursday. According to reports, the incident, which occurred around 7am on Wednesday at the two communities located in Silame Local Government Area (LGA), claimed the lives of 10 civilians and left many others injured. Condemning the devastating airstrike, Atiku questioned the Nigerian…

Safiu Kehinde The Federal Capital Territory Police have arrested some officials of the Holy Trinity Catholic church, Abuja, over the stampede that killed 10 people during the distribution of food items there at the weekend. This is coming under the heels of the Muslim Rights Concern’s (MURIC) demand for the arrest of those behind the event and a similar one in Okija, Anambra State, where 22 persons were confirmed dead in a billionaire businessman’s house. The Islamic activist group had demanded that organisers of a similar tragic charity event in Ibadan, Oyo State, who were taken to court and remanded…

Safiu Kehinde Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu, widow of later former Ondo governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has slammed his successor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over one-year memorial lecture organized in honour of the deceased governor. The former Ondo first lady had in a post on her official X handle on Thursday accused Aiyedatiwa of organizing the memorial lecture under false pretext and for publicity stunt. She held that the event is not for her late husband, labelling it as an insidious propaganda carried too far. Betty further accused Aiyedatiwa of rubbishing Akeredolu’s legacy while claiming that purported memorial is an alleged attempt siphon money under the…

Safiu Kehinde The Democratic Front (TDF) has lauded the $5 billion final Investment Decision (FID) by Shell on the Bonga North Deep Offshore field, stating that is yet another proof of the investment-friendly mindset and pro-business approach to governance by the Tinubu administration. This was contained in a statement signed by the group’s Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary Chief Wale Adedayo. The group noted that the development showed that International Oil Companies (IOCs) still found Nigeria attractive for investment. It further stated that the investment also extends to the field’s potential volume of 350 million barrels of crude oil.…

Syria’s new rebel-led authorities say supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad have killed 14 interior ministry troops in an “ambush” in the west of the country. They say 10 other troops were wounded in the fighting on Tuesday near the Mediterranean port of Tartous, a stronghold of Assad’s minority Alawite Muslim sect. Reports say the security forces were ambushed as they tried to arrest a former officer in connection to his role at the notorious Saydnaya prison, close to the capital, Damascus. Just over two weeks ago, Assad’s presidency fell to rebel forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham…

Safiu Kehinde The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has lauded the bravery, sacrifice, and dedication of the Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI troops during a Christmas luncheon in Maiduguri. Oluyede, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the Army Director of Public Relations, Maj. Gen Onyeka Nwachukwu, praised the troop for their role in combating terrorists and extremists groups threatening the nation’s peace and security. Highlighting the significance of the Christmas luncheon, the COAS emphasized that these events foster camaraderie and offer a semblance of home to troops stationed far from their families during…

Safiu Kehinde The Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO) office in Lagos was, on Wednesday night, gutted by fire. The fire which broke out at the office located near Cappa Bus Stop in Oshodi was still being battled by Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) as of 4 a.m. on Boxing Day with property worth millions of naira already damaged. According to reports, eyewitnesses described the scene as harrowing, with flames tearing through the structure, leaving destruction in their wake. “It was a heartbreaking sight. “The fire seemed uncontrollable at first, but…

Safiu Kehinde The All Progressives Congress (APC) has felicitated with Nigerians over the Christmas season. It, however, charged them- especially Christians, to seize the opportunity to pray for peace, unity and progress in the country in the year ahead. This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka. Morka up noted that Christmas, a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, symbolises the fulfillment of age-old divine prophecy and God’s boundless love for mankind. Morka said that the period exemplified compassion, patience, unity, mercy, and wholesome sacrifice, virtues that Christian faithful…