Author: GANUX

 

A 20-year-old man, Muhammad Salisu, had allegedly killed his father, Salisu Abubakar, with a machete in the Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

 

Confirming the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Dutse, the state capital on Monday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Shi’isu Adam, said the incident occurred around 10 am in Bakin Kasuwa Quarters, Sara District.

 

According to Adam, the suspect attacked his father with a machete, inflicting serious injuries on his shoulder, neck, and chest.

 

“The victim was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu for medical attention, but unfortunately, he was confirmed dead by the medical doctor on call,” he said.

 

The PPRO disclosed that upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer of Sara and his patrol team were mobilised and rushed to the scene, where the victim was evacuated to the hospital.

 

“The corpse was later released to the relatives for burial,” Adam said.

 

However, Adam confirmed that the suspect, Salisu was arrested, and the exhibit (machete) was recovered from him.

In the statement, the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, AT Abdullahi, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Dutse for discreet investigation.

 

“Upon completion of investigation, the suspect would be arraigned in court to face the full weight of the law.

 

“The police command is determined to ensure justice is served in this heinous crime,” the commissioner said.

 

The spokesperson, Adam further clarified that the motive behind the gruesome murder is yet to be ascertained, and the police are investigating the circumstances leading to the incident.

 

He assured the public that the investigation will be thorough and transparent, as he urges anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist with the investigation.

 

“The suspect is currently in police custody, and the police are working to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Adam concluded.

 

President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of two newly appointed Federal Permanent Secretaries to key ministries.

 

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Eno Olotu, Director, Public Relations, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, on Monday in Abuja.

 

Olotu said the move aimed at enhancing governance and promoting effective service delivery.

 

According to him, the permanent secretaries were appointed following a competitive selection process and are expected to bring experience, professionalism, and innovation to their respective roles.

Listing the names of the officials and their postings, Olotu said Mr Rafiu Adeladan was deployed to the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, while Dr Mukhtar Mohammed was deployed to the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy.

 

“The HCSF, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, congratulated the new appointees and urged them to demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and leadership in their new assignments.

 

“She reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring efficient policy implementation across ministries,” he said.

 

NAN

 

The fallout from the defection of Wole Oke, the House of Representatives member for Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, from the Peoples Democratic Party continued on Monday, with former PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr Diran Odeyemi, threatening to initiate his recall.

 

Odeyemi’s response followed comments made by Oke during a radio interview on Rave FM, Osogbo, where the five-term lawmaker said the PDP would struggle to win future elections in the two local governments he represents.

 

Oke also claimed that appointees of Governor Ademola Adeleke from the area lacked the financial strength to prosecute elections successfully.

 

PUNCH Online reported in April that Oke dumped PDP for the All Progressives Congress and in a Sunday PUNCH story on May 4 he declared that he left the party to avoid altercation with Osun governor.

Reacting in a statement, Odeyemi challenged Oke to relinquish the mandate he won under the PDP in the 2023 general elections and recontest under a different party.

 

“We thank him. But on behalf of the PDP leaders of thought, I want to challenge him to resign his current mandate which ends in 2027 today, and ask INEC to conduct fresh election in our Federal Constituency.

 

“He should use that opportunity to test his popularity by seeking reelection on the platform of another political party,” he said.

 

Odeyemi added, “If Wole Oke fails to take up this challenge, I am telling the whole world that the voters in Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency will immediately commence his recall process.

 

“Someone unwilling to go into free and fair primaries was boasting of being so large politically. The coming months will reveal his truth worth to his new friends.”

He also referenced a claim attributed to Oke that Adeleke’s appointees in the constituency earn less than N10 million monthly and, therefore, cannot effectively fund election campaigns.

 

“It was even reported that Wole Oke boasted that all Ademola Adeleke political appointees in the two local government are not earning N10 million in a month, thus they can not come up with the required resources to prosecute election,” Odeyemi said.

 

The former PDP spokesperson further alleged that Oke had long undermined the party.

 

“As for us in PDP, especially in Oriade/Obokun, we have not lost any valuable leader. Rather, we gain more by offloading political liability dragging us back. Oke has been a mole all along in PDP by financing APC, revealing our plans to opposition camps.

 

“We remain strong and committed to returning the State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke to office next year by the grace of God,” he stated.

When contacted, Oke did not provide a direct response but instead shared two videos of ward meetings of the APC held in Ibokun, Odeyemi’s hometown, and Ilare in Obokun Local Government Area. In the videos, PDP members announced their defection to the APC.

 

In one of the videos from Ibokun, a speaker said in Yoruba, “We appreciate you for accepting us into the APC.

 

“In the elections coming in 2026 and 2027, APC will win in all LGAs in Osun and across the country,” drawing a collective “amen” from attendees.

 

Security chiefs in Anambra State on Monday met in a closed-door meeting to strategise and harmonise on security ahead of the scheduled visit of President Bola Tinubu on Thursday.

 

In attendance at the high-level meeting, which lasted for five hours included the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi (retd.).

 

It was gathered that the deliberations focused on reviewing current security intelligence, assessing threat levels and implementing fortified security measures within the capital city and across strategic locations.

 

A statement issued at the end of the meeting by the state police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, indicated that key areas of focus included a joint operational deployment, coordinated patrols, and surveillance strategies to ensure security before, during and after the President’s visit.

 

Ikenga added that the session addressed operational planning, inter-agency coordination, and contingency preparedness, ensuring the development of robust response strategies for various possible scenarios during the presidential visit.

 

The statement read in part, “The Anambra State security chiefs convened today, Monday, May 5, 2025, in a closed-door meeting to strengthen security arrangements ahead of the scheduled visit of the President to Anambra State—popularly known as the Light of the Nation—on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

“The high-level meeting, which lasted for five hours, featured detailed briefings from heads of various security agencies. The deliberations focused on reviewing current security intelligence, assessing threat levels, and implementing fortified security measures within the capital city and across strategic locations.

 

“Key areas of focus included joint operational deployment, coordinated patrols, and surveillance strategies. Additionally, the session addressed operational planning, inter-agency coordination, and contingency preparedness, ensuring the development of robust response strategies for various possible scenarios during the presidential visit.

 

“Agencies in attendance included the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi (Rtd).”

 

According to the police spokesman, the comprehensive security approach reflects the commitment of Anambra State’s security architecture to guaranteeing the safety of the visiting President, dignitaries, and citizens, while sustaining peace and stability across the state.

 

During the official visit, the President is expected to commission a couple of “legacy” projects completed by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo

 

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria has mandated that all influencers and content creators must obtain prior approval before publishing advertisements on any platform.

 

According to CableNG, this directive was issued in a statement on Monday signed by ARCON’s Director-General, Olalekan Fadolapo, who raised concerns about the growing trend of misleading advertisements, particularly across digital media.

 

Fadolapo cited the recent scandal involving the CBEX ponzi scheme as a cautionary tale on the dangers of unchecked advertising content.

 

“Such tragedies show the importance of vetting advertising materials for honesty, transparency, and compliance with ethical standards before dissemination,” the statement read.

 

Reinforcing the council’s stance, Fadolapo emphasized that all stakeholders are expected to ensure advertisements go through ARCON’s vetting and approval process before being released to the public — regardless of the medium.

 

“Advertisements that misrepresent facts, omit critical information, or are designed to exploit vulnerable audiences will not be tolerated,” he added.

ARCON further stressed that social media platforms are not exempt from its oversight, and reiterated that influencers and digital content creators fall under its regulatory scope. They are required to secure approval ahead of publishing promotional content.

 

The council issued a stern warning that individuals or organisations found circulating unapproved advertisements will be investigated and may face sanctions from the advertising offences tribunal.

 

To ensure compliance, Fadolapo disclosed that ARCON has launched a dedicated task force to monitor advertising across all platforms and quickly flag violators.

 

“We urge the public to also support this initiative by reporting any advertisement that appears deceptive or suspicious,” the council stated.

 

PUNCH Online reports that in recent years, Nigeria’s digital advertising space has seen exponential growth, driven by the rise of social media influencers, content creators, music stars, celebrities, and online marketers.

 

However, this boom has also given rise to a surge in scams, misleading, unregulated ads, among others prompting regulatory concerns.

 

Activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has criticised Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, for keeping mute over the arrest of controversial social media critic, Verydarkman, despite mounting public outcry and protests.

 

Adeyanju, in a post shared on X, accused the renowned human rights lawyer of not speaking out against VDM’s detention, despite his history of defending civil liberties.

 

“Our revered leader and mentor, Femi Falana SAN yet to condemn the arrest of VDM. Interesting times indeed!” Adeyanju wrote.

 

The arrest of VDM has sparked widespread reactions across the country, particularly on social media, where several celebrities, influencers, and activists have called for his immediate release.

Some supporters have also taken to the streets of Abuja in protest.

 

Drawing comparisons with past incidents under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Adeyanju recalled how he had spoken out for a critic who had once incited attacks against him.

 

“When the boy that lead people to attack me under Buhari became a victim under the same Buhari and was arrested, I was the first person to condemn it,” he added.

 

VDM’s continued detention has remained a trending issue, with supporters accusing the authorities of using state power to silence dissenting voices.

 

The Nigerian Postal Service has announced a series of bold reforms aimed at repositioning the organisation as a modern, innovative, and digitally driven postal institution.

 

In a statement release by its Director of Corporate Communications, Franklin Alao, on Monday, NIPOST said the reforms, operating under the theme “Change of Renewed Hope Berths at NIPOST Shores,” were part of efforts to align the agency with global best practices, meet the needs of Nigeria’s growing digital economy, and support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

 

The postal agency stated that at the core of the transformation was a commitment to innovation, accountability, value, and service excellence.

 

It assured Nigerians of a revitalised postal service that delivers superior service and embraces digital change.

 

NIPOST expressed appreciation to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, for his support and leadership.

 

It also commended the Chairman of the NIPOST Board, Barrister Isaac Kekemeke, for his strategic foresight, and the Postmaster General/Chief Executive Officer, Tola Odeyemi, for her efforts in championing institutional reforms, improving staff welfare and driving capacity development.

As part of the new initiatives, NIPOST said it would implement a performance-based reward and recognition system to encourage excellence among staff, alongside strict disciplinary measures to uphold integrity.

 

A major feature of the reforms is the transition to a fully cashless system.

 

Beginning from July 1, 2025, NIPOST said all post office counters nationwide would no longer accept cash payments for services, adding that customers would be required to use approved electronic channels for all transactions.

 

The statement read, “A major highlight of the reform package is the transition to a fully cashless system. Beginning July 1, 2025, all Post Office counters nationwide will no longer accept cash payments for their services. Customers will be required to use approved electronic channels for all transactions.”

 

NIPOST described the move as a critical part of its modernisation efforts aimed at ensuring safer, faster, and more transparent service delivery.

 

The agency added that through the reforms, it aimed to reposition itself as a dynamic, technology-driven player at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation, with a renewed mission of “Connecting Nigeria, Delivering Solutions, and Improving Lives.”

 

A 26-year-old man, David Isaiah, who kidnapped and killed a commercial sex worker, Comfort James, with herbicide, was in Monday sentenced to death by hanging by an Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division.

 

Isaiah was charged with conspiracy, kidnapping and murder alongside his friend, Saviour Daniel, who died during the pendency of the court trial.

 

He was tried and convicted on three count bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping and murder.

 

While he was condemned to death for murder, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment for kidnapping and 21 21-year jail term for conspiracy.

 

The charge read, “The defendant and Saviour Daniel, who died during the pendency of the case on 6th of February, 2024 in Ado Ekiti, did conspire to kidnap and murder one Comfort James, a commercial sex worker.”

 

The prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola, had told the court that the offences committed by the defendant, who was arraigned on 18th April, 2024, “are contrary to sections 280, 279 (a) and 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021”.

 

In his testimony before the court, the Director of Afrika Brothel, Irona, Ado Ekiti said, “I was called by other commercial sex workers in the brothel, that they had not seen the victims (sex workers) since the previous day.

 

“The missing sex worker was said to have called to inform her colleagues that she had been kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding N100,000 ransom.

“I reported the matter at the police station and the Civil Defence office. Their telephone lines were tracked and later arrested. They took Civil Defence Officers to where they killed and dumped the dead body of the sex worker.”

 

The prosecutor, Odetola, called six witnesses and tendered defendants’ statements, pictures of the deceased, a warrant to bury the corpse, a pair of slippers, SIM cards and herbicide as exhibits.

 

The defendant, who spoke in his own defence, told the court that “after having sex with the deceased, we used her number to call her colleagues that she had been kidnapped and demanded a ransom of N100,000.

 

“Her hands and neck were tied all along, but when the ransom was not forthcoming and on realising that she had seen our faces clearly, to avoid being implicated, we poured herbicide in her mouth and she later died, the defendant said as he called no witness.”

 

Delivering his judgment, Justice Olalekan Olatawura said the prosecution had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant conspired with his late friend (Saviour Daniel) to kidnap and murder Comfort James.

 

The judge said, “Consequent upon the foregoing, the defendant is found guilty as charged. Any sympathetic consideration in favour of the defendant cannot, therefore, be justified.

“Consequently, the defendant is sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for conspiracy, life imprisonment for kidnapping and for murder, the judgment of this court upon you is that, you be hanged by the neck until you be dead, may God have mercy on your soul.”

 

Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and continued detention of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, describing it as another sign of growing authoritarianism under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

 

VeryDarkMan’s arrest was confirmed by EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, who stated that the activist was taken into custody following petitions from several individuals on cyberstalking allegations.

 

In a strongly worded statement posted on X (formerly twitter) on Monday, Atiku accused the government of weaponising security agencies to suppress dissent and intimidate critics of the administration.

 

“The arrest and continued detention of social media influencer and outspoken critic, Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is yet another blatant abuse of power by the Tinubu administration,” he wrote.

The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party said the lack of formal charges against Otse was “a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights and a chilling reminder of the growing authoritarianism under this government.”

Atiku said the incident fits a pattern of “relentless assault on the fundamental freedoms of Nigerians, particularly those who dare to speak truth to power or align with the political opposition.”

 

He further accused the Tinubu-led government of applying double standards in its handling of corruption allegations, noting that while opposition figures and critics are hounded, loyalists with serious allegations continue to enjoy immunity.

 

“While security agencies are quick to target dissenters and critics, often in complete disregard of due process, political loyalists with credible allegations of corruption walk free, trading sycophancy for immunity,” Atiku said.

 

He warned against normalising what he described as “state-sponsored repression,” adding, “We must not allow state-sponsored repression to become the defining character of our democracy.”

 

Describing the administration’s actions as disgraceful, Atiku concluded, “The Tinubu administration’s systematic crackdown on opposition voices is nothing short of disgraceful. It is an affront to democratic norms and must be fiercely condemned and resisted.”

 

The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, (rted.) has charged participants of Senior Course 47 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to ensure that their study tour reports provide practical solutions to the pressing security challenges facing the nation.

 

Ibas gave the charge when the Senior Course 47 participants paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.

 

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, Ibas emphasised the significance of their study tour to the state, given the prevailing security threats to lives and property, which necessitated the current administration’s intervention.

 

This was contained in a statement issued by the sole administrator’s media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, and sent to newsmen.

 

The sole administrator stressed the importance of gathering credible intelligence to address insecurity, noting that security challenges negatively impact economic productivity, reduce government revenue, and deter investments.

 

He said, “It disturbs our utmost conviction that those who provide human capital that fuels insecurity in urban and remote areas include, of course, our rural populace.

 

“Hence, any study channeled towards harvesting grassroots intelligence is worth embarking on, as internal security without proper feedback mechanisms will be an illusion to be pursued but cannot be attained”.

He urged the participants to ensure that their interactions with security agencies and other stakeholders, as well as the data collected, go beyond mere academic exercise and translate into practical, actionable strategies for enhancing security operations.

 

Ibas expressed confidence that the study would contribute to both academic scholarship and the broader security framework necessary for a safer and more secure Rivers State.

 

In his address, the Team Leader and Director of Logistics at AFCSC Jaji, Commodore S. O. Abdularaheen, explained that his team is one of nine groups currently on a study tour across selected states in Nigeria.

 

Abdularaheen further said the tour is part of this year’s research on the Nigerian environment as it relates to national security concerns.

 

He said the team is guided by the theme: “Harnessing Grassroots Intelligence for Enhanced Internal Security.”

 

He noted that their findings would be compiled into a research paper for the college, with recommendations expected to be adopted by relevant government agencies and organizations for implementation.

 

The visit underscores Rivers State’s commitment to collaborating with security institutions to develop sustainable solutions to insecurity, fostering a safer and more prosperous society.