The Nasarawa State Police Command has rescued the traditional ruler of Dari, Emmanuel Omanji, abducted in his palace in Dari, Kokona Local Government Area of the state, on May 28.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, made this known in a statement issued in Lafia, the state capital, on Tuesday.
“The command is pleased to report that the Sangarin Dari, who was abducted on May 28, was successfully rescued unhurt,” he said.
Nansel said that the traditional ruler was rescued at about 11 pm on Monday, June 2.
“The rescue operation took place in the Panwasa Mountains, Mada Station, following sustained pressure from the command’s Search and Rescue Team,” he added.
The police spokesperson said that Omanji was taken to the hospital for medical attention immediately after the rescue and has since been reunited with his family.
“Efforts are ongoing by our operatives to apprehend the fleeing suspects involved in the abduction,” Nansel added.
The command’s spokesperson, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Shetima Jauro-Mohammed, appreciated members of the public for their invaluable support and timely information, which greatly assisted in the rescue operation.
Jauro-Mohammed also commended the efforts and collaboration of other security agencies and local vigilante groups, whose support, he said, was instrumental to the success of this mission.
A former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has dismissed speculations suggesting that he plans to leave the All Progressives Congress.
The former Imo West Senator stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo.
Okorocha also refuted a recent report which claimed that he described the APC as a party desperate to hijack power, saying that the report is a fabrication by his detractors.
Okorocha stated that as a founding member of the ruling party, he could not make such a statement about his party.
He noted that if he had any concerns about the party, he would not express them on social media.
“Almost eight years after leaving office as Executive Governor of Imo State, and several years after serving as Senator representing Imo West, those with a phobia of Rochas Okorocha still cannot sleep with their two eyes closed.
“For days now, they have circulated a fake story on social media, falsely quoting me as saying: ‘APC is no longer a political party but a party desperate to hijack power at all costs. I am at the corner looking at them — Senator Rochas Okorocha.’
“Okorocha would never describe a party that has been in government since 2015, and still counting, as ‘desperate to hijack power.’ What power again?
“Okorocha remains a bonafide, committed member of the APC. He never made the statement being circulated by those envious of his political journey,” the statement reads.
Okorocha stated that he was the only sitting governor from the South-East who joined the APC during its formation, risking his re-election in 2015 at a time when the party had little support in the region.
“Okorocha took a political risk when major South-East leaders doubted the viability of the APC. He was ridiculed for his decision, yet he stayed committed.
“It’s important to recall that, due to his dedication, he was unanimously elected by fellow APC governors as the pioneer Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, which he helped to build into a strong force,” the statement added.
Delta State Government has announced a new date for commencement of the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination, earlier scheduled to begin from June 9 to June 13 for both public and private secondary schools in the state.
A Tuesday statement from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Daniel Akiri, on behalf of the state Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu said, “that the examination would now commence from June 16 to June 20.”
The statement explained that the “shifting of the examination to a new date was occasioned by the Federal Government declaration of public holidays on June 6 and June 9 respectively to mark Eid-ul-Adha and Democracy Day celebration on June 12.”
“We regret the inconveniences the development, especially the change of the earlier date might have caused,” it concluded.
PUNCH Online reports that BECE in Nigeria is an important national exam taken by students at the end of Junior Secondary School (JSS 3), marking the completion of the country’s nine-year Basic Education phase.
It is organised by NECO at the federal level and by individual State Ministries of Education at the state level.
The exam assesses students’ academic readiness to advance to Senior Secondary School (SSS 1) or to pursue vocational education.
It typically covers core subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Basic Science, and serves as a critical gateway in Nigeria’s 9-3-4 education system.
The price of corn in Enugu has risen by 50 per cent, according to a survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday.
The steep increase in the cost of both boiled and roasted corn has put the staple out of reach for many families and corn enthusiasts in the state.
Although the survey indicated that prices may fall in a few months when the majority of corn farmers begin harvesting, this seasonal influx is expected to first cause a temporary increase in supply, followed by a subsequent drop in prices.
Several farmers and sellers who spoke to NAN attributed the price hike to the lack of rainfall, a consequence of climate change. Those currently harvesting their crops also cited the high cost of hiring labourers and the rising prices of other market commodities as contributing factors.
A corn seller, Miss Amarachi Eze, explained that seven pieces of corn she purchased for N1,000 in 2024 are now sold for N2,000, with each piece retailing between N400 and N500, depending on size.
“If you sell all seven at N500, you make N1,500 profit, but if you sell at N400, the profit is N800. This is because I buy directly from the farmers.
“Out of this profit, you pay for transport, charcoal, and paper to serve customers. The cheapest bag of charcoal is now N500. When you add other expenses, it all contributes to the price increase,” she explained.
Another seller, who identified herself as Mama Ejima, noted, “The corn is just coming into season, as many farmers have not started harvesting, so prices will soon drop.
“I bought a small bag containing about 80 pieces for N25,500, which sold for N13,000 last year.”
She added that she had no corn selling for N200, with prices now ranging from N300 to N500. “At this time last year, corn was everywhere,” she said.
A farmer, Mr John Oroke, blamed the increase on delayed rainfall due to climate change, emphasising that fertiliser applied without sufficient rain can damage the crop.
He noted that corn requires constant rainfall for a good yield, but the current rainfall pattern in Enugu is inadequate for corn farming.
Another farmer, Mr Emmanuel Okafor, highlighted the high cost of hiring farm labourers. He also lamented that extreme heat and erratic rainfall had damaged his crops, and that part of his farm was destroyed by herders and their cattle.
“I am calling on the government to assist Enugu farmers with irrigation for year-round corn farming and to address the issue of conflicts between farmers and herders,” he appealed.
A buyer, Mrs Ogechukwu Nweke, expressed her frustration at the soaring cost of goods, including corn.
“But what can we do? We have to buy it. I am appealing to the government to support farmers to increase their yield,” she said.
The Kano State Government has expressed readiness to deepen its partnership with the European Union in the areas of education, renewable energy, and other sectors critical to human development.
Governor Abba Yusuf stated this on Tuesday when he received the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot, at the Government House in Kano.
A statement on Tuesday b the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, quoted Yusuf as appreciating the EU for selecting Kano as the host of the first-ever Study in Europe Fair on the African continent. He described the gesture as a sign of the union’s confidence in the state’s potential.
The governor said, “We are optimistic that with stronger collaboration, we can improve our educational sector and also tackle the challenge of power supply to boost industrial growth and economic development.”
He noted that his administration had recorded significant achievements in various sectors over the last two years, and called for EU support in the implementation of the state’s development blueprint.
In his remarks, Mignot said the visit was aimed at exploring areas of collaboration with the state government, especially in education, the digital economy, and youth development.
He added that his delegation would visit some completed and ongoing EU-funded digital economy projects in the state and engage with relevant stakeholders on youth-focused initiatives.
A human rights lawyer and counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on President Bola Tinubu to stop the monthly media chat of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing it as wasteful and extravagant.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, Ejimofor said the media chat serves no purpose except to waste public funds and give the minister the opportunity to grandstand on national issues.
He expressed concern over the huge allocation of hundreds of millions of naira each month to finance the FCT minister’s media appearances.
He said it is lamentable and unconscionable, coming in the face of millions of Nigerians battling record inflation, stagnant wages, and deepening poverty, describing it as an exercise that offers little substance and reeks of misplaced priorities.
The statement read in part, “As millions of Nigerians battle record inflation, stagnant wages, and deepening poverty, it is unconscionable that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly spends hundreds of millions of naira monthly on an ostentatious media chat – an exercise that offers little substance and reeks of misplaced priorities.
“Framed as a public engagement, this monthly spectacle is anything but a tone-deaf misuse of public funds – especially in a country where many survive on less than $2 a day, and access to basic healthcare, education, and shelter remains a daily struggle.
“To illustrate the waste: The cost of one media edition could fund emergency relief and shelter for thousands displaced by the recent floods in Niger State. It could refurbish crumbling primary schools, equip rural clinics, or sustain nutrition programs in IDP camps for several months.
“The optics are disheartening. The implications are worse. Nigerians are not asking for a televised circus – Nigerians are crying out for competent governance, prudent spending, and people-centred leadership.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must take urgent action: call the FCT Minister to order, halt this wasteful spending, and redirect focus to service delivery. This is not a time for flamboyance and fanfare. It is a moment that demands humility, responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to the public good. Nigeria deserves better. The time to act is now.”
Novak Djokovic eased into a record-breaking 19th Roland Garros quarter-final with a comfortable straight-sets victory over Cameron Norrie on Monday.
The three-time French Open champion will renew his rivalry with third seed Alexander Zverev in the last eight on Wednesday after seeing off Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
His tally of 19 quarter-final appearances at Roland Garros is the record for a single Grand Slam tournament.
“I feel good. I know I can play better. But 12 sets played, 12 sets won, it’s been solid so far,” said the 38-year-old after his 100th French Open win.
“It’s great, but victory number 101 would be better. I’m very honoured… But I need to continue now.”
Djokovic holds an 8-5 winning record in his head-to-head with German Zverev, but retired injured from their last meeting in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.
“He’s 10 years younger. He calls himself a veteran of the game. What should I call myself, then?,” Djokovic said of his next opponent.
Britain’s Norrie, a former top-10 player now ranked 81st, has lost all six of his career matches against Djokovic.
The sixth-seeded Djokovic showed no ill-effects from a “complicated” trip back to his hotel on Sunday night after attending Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League title celebrations at the Parc des Princes.
PSG forward Ousmane Dembele presented the trophy to the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier ahead of Djokovic’s match.
“They (security) were suggesting us at one point not to go back at all, to maybe find a place to sleep somewhere around here for a night, because at that point it was already past midnight and some gas bombs and cars under fire and stuff happening on the street that was really dangerous,” Djokovic said.
“In the end we talked. We waited for a bit, and then we decided to go. Then it was fine. In the end we reached the hotel all good, but it was quite noisy with a lot of things happening outside of the hotel…
“At some point it was getting out of hand, but it’s understandable that people are so excited.”
The Serb, hoping to set a new outright record of 25 Grand Slam titles this week, dominated against Norrie from the start.
He broke serve three times in a one-sided opening set before battling through a closer second, crucially saving a break point before holding for a 3-2 lead.
Norrie, playing in the second week in Paris for the first time, mustered little resistance in the third set as Djokovic wrapped up victory on his first match point.
South Koreans began voting Tuesday in a snap presidential election, concluding months of political upheaval following former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial imposition of martial law and subsequent impeachment, AFP reported.
Polling stations opened at 6:00 a.m. local time in districts across the country, including Seoul’s Munrae-dong area, where a small group of elderly voters queued early to cast their ballots.
“We were the first to arrive with the hope our candidate gets elected, and because the presidential election is the most important,” Yu Bun-dol, 80, told AFP, adding she was voting for the conservative People Power Party candidate.
Millions had already voted during the two-day early voting period last week, with more than one-third of registered voters participating, according to the National Election Commission.
The election is widely seen as a referendum on the conservative administration led by Yoon, who was impeached after deploying troops to parliament in a move that drew widespread condemnation.
His downfall has plunged the conservative People Power Party into crisis, as analysts note growing disillusionment among moderates and even core supporters.
Leading the race is liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, who holds a significant lead in most opinion polls.
A recent Gallup survey showed 49 percent of respondents favoring Lee, compared to 35 percent for conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo. Lee’s party already holds a majority in the National Assembly.
The fallout from martial law, which has left South Korea effectively leaderless for the first months of US President Donald Trump’s second term, is the top concern for voters, experts said.
“Polls show the election is largely viewed as a referendum on the previous administration,” Kang Joo-hyun, a political science professor at Sookmyung Women’s University, told AFP.
The conservative bloc has faced additional setbacks, including Kim’s failure to unite with Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok, raising concerns over a divided right-wing vote.
Yoon’s impeachment marked the second time in under a decade that a conservative president has been removed from office, following Park Geun-hye’s ouster in 2017.
The series of scandals has severely damaged the image of conservative leadership in the country.
“Conservative politics was associated with competent governance, but it’s now hard to argue that they remain capable,” said Kang Won-taek, a political science professor at Seoul National University.
Unlike regular elections that allow for a transition period, the winner of this snap vote will take office immediately after the National Election Commission certifies the results. Many South Koreans, weary of months of interim leadership, hope the vote will bring stability.
In Gwangju, a stronghold of liberal sentiment, retired teacher Jung Se-yoon, 65, described the election as a critical moment. “It will take far too long for the country to get back on its feet if we miss this chance,” she said.
Voter turnout is expected to be high, with political observers watching not just for a win, but the margin. “The focus won’t be on whether Lee will win, but on whether he will secure more than 50 percent of the vote,” said Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of the political think tank Valid. “If he does, it would give him a significant boost in momentum to govern as president.”
South Korean presidents serve a single five-year term. The outcome of today’s vote is set to chart the country’s course following one of the most turbulent periods in its democratic history.
Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha has offered guidance to Victor Osimhen as speculation intensifies over the forward’s next move following a record-breaking loan spell at Galatasaray, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Speaking to Turkish broadcaster TRT Spor via Haberler, the former Fenerbahçe playmaker urged Osimhen to consider the emotional and professional satisfaction he has found in Turkey, suggesting that staying at Galatasaray could be a wise decision, even if it means making personal sacrifices.
“Turkey is a great place to play and live football,” Okocha said.
“Sometimes, you may need to make sacrifices when making decisions in football. Osimhen had a great season at Galatasaray. Ultimately, he is happy there. Why shouldn’t he stay with the team? I love Turkey. He loves it too.”
Osimhen, who recently concluded his loan spell from Napoli, scored his 37th goal of the season in Galatasaray’s 2–0 win over İstanbul Başakşehir on Saturday, ending a sensational campaign that saw the Turkish giants claim a league and cup double.
Galatasaray’s head coach Okan Buruk acknowledged that the player’s future remains uncertain, but praised his contribution and expressed hope that he would remain with the club.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray fans have taken matters into their own hands, launching a global #staywithus campaign that included a billboard message in Times Square.
While Osimhen has yet to comment publicly on where he will play next season, his agent has reportedly received a new contract offer from Galatasaray worth €15m per year, a €3m increase on his current earnings, which would make him the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
Asked whether he had any inside knowledge on Osimhen’s next destination, Okocha remained reserved. “I don’t know,” he replied.
“Wherever he decides to go, I wish him the best.”
Okocha, who played for Fenerbahçe between 1996 and 1998, also reflected on his own time in Turkey, calling it “a wonderful two years” and fondly remembering the fans and local cuisine. He concluded his remarks with a nod to his old club, telling fans, “The greatest is Fener.”
