NIGERIA NEWS
How 130 kidnapped Niger students spent 30 days away from home, classrooms
For about 30 days, 130 students and staff of St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Niger State, lived away from home, family and classrooms after Boko Haram terrorists stormed their school in the early hours of 21 November. The students ranged in age from 6 to 18.
The abduction, one of the largest school kidnappings in recent months, unsettled the authorities and kept security forces on their feet. It revealed a dire security failure in the North-central state, where two jihadi groups have tightened their grip on local communities surrounding the Kainji Lake National Park.
Day 1: The abduction (21 November)
The terrorists under the command of Mallam Sadiku attacked the Catholic boarding school before dawn, rounding up 315 people, including students and staff from their dormitories. While about 50 people escaped, 265 were taken away, according to school officials.
A PREMIUM TIMES and The New Humanitarian investigation revealed how the terrorists moved the students through seven villages for two days, before disappearing into the Kainji forest reserve, where they split the captives.
By morning, the scale of the attack had become clear. Parents, church leaders and local authorities converged in Papiri, as school officials declared 315 people abducted. Subsequently, the school stated that 50 people returned to the community, declaring that 265 had been abducted.
The state authorities had tried to politicise the abduction and blame the school for it. The state governor, Mohammed Bago, stated that the school disregarded the security warning to shut down and avoid an impending attack.
But the school authorities countered his claims.
Days 2–13: Silence and anxiety
For nearly two weeks, there was little public information on the captives’ whereabouts. Families waited anxiously as negotiations and security operations reportedly took place behind the scenes.
One of the parents, Anthony Musa, died three days after the abduction. Although he had sustained injuries from a motorcycle accident, his aged mother, Hannatu, believes her son died of pain and grief.
During this period, conflicting figures continue to emerge from officials, the school management and religious groups, creating confusion over the exact number of those abducted.
Day 14: First breakthrough (7 December)
Fourteen days after the abduction, the Nigerian government secured the release of 100 captives. They were escorted by military personnel and formally handed over to the Niger State government the following day.
A list released at the time showed that 99 were students, while one was a staff member. This offered the first concrete sign of progress and hope to families still waiting.
Days 15–29: Uncertainty over those left behind
After the initial release, attention shifted to the fate of those still in captivity. The school management and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said that 165 people were still being held.
But the more the government made efforts to release the remaining captives, the more tension grew among parents and school management.
One of the parents whose children were abducted that night told PREMIUM TIMES that there was “confusion” about the figures of the remaining captives.
The school invited the parents twice—the first time, only those whose children were still in the forest.
“The school told us that the government disagreed with the list they had provided,” one parent, who asked not to be named, said. “We were then asked to register our names and the names of our children.”
The second invitation had both parents whose children had been released and those still waiting. The school did another head count and asked them to go home.
While this went on, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met with school authorities and assured them that the remaining captives would be freed before Christmas.
Day 30: The final release
On 22 December, about one month after the abduction, another 130 students and staff were released at a location near Nigeria’s border with the Benin Republic.
They were transported through Wawa, Mokwa and Bida en route to Minna, from where they are expected to be reunited with their families.
A presidential spokesperson, Sunday Dare, announced that no victim remained in captivity. Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun also confirmed the release, saying further details would be communicated.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, which owns the school, confirmed the latest release in a statement dated 21 December, and signed by its secretary, Jatau Joseph. It did not disclose the number of captives released.
ALSO READ: UPDATED: Niger governor receives 100 students released by terrorists
But after a final reconciliation and verification exercise, the school proprietor, Bulus Yohanna, confirmed that 230 pupils and staff members were abducted, contrary to the 265 mentioned earlier. He said all the captives were now free.
Mr Yohanna, who doubles as the bishop of Kontagora, explained that the abducted persons comprised 12 staff members, 14 secondary school students, and 204 nursery and primary pupils.
He, however, noted that the discrepancies were neither deliberate nor misleading.
Meanwhile, authorities have not officially named the abductors. The conditions under which the captives were released have also not been disclosed, amidst allegations of prisoner exchanges and ransom payments. In response to these concerns, President Bola Tinubu said, “The rhetoric on how the children were released or what happened to the kidnappers is secondary; the end justifies the means.”
A broader crisis
The Papiri abduction is the latest reminder of Nigeria’s enduring school safety crisis. A decade after the Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped, mass abductions have spread across northern Nigeria.
While some of the Chibok girls (now women) have regained freedom, more than 80 are still unaccounted for.
According to media reports, there have been at least 10 mass abductions, targeting more than 1,700 students in formal and tsangaya [Islamiya] schools since the Chibok abduction.
For the students of St Mary’s, the 30 days in captivity may be over, but the memories remain fresh with them and their families.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has berated the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, over failure to reinstate the Paramount Ruler of Emohua, His Royal Highness, Eze Ohna Sergent Awuse, as Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council.
Naija News recalls that in 2024, Fubara replaced Eze Ohna Awuse, a close ally of Wike, with Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, as the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
However, speaking during a special Christmas visit to his supporters in Emohua Local Government Area, at the palace of His Royal Highness, Ohna Sergent Awuse, who also serves as Chairman of the South-South Traditional Rulers Forum on Sunday, Wike slammed Fubara.
Wike revealed that Awuse had fallen ill and gone into a coma, during which the state government removed him from the chairmanship and appointed a replacement.
He said, “Chief Awuse was the Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council.
“Chief Awuse was sick, and went into coma. Instead of praying to God, how does this man come out of this, the next thing they did, they removed him as Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council.
“Go and reinstate Chief Awuse, go and reinstate him. Up till now, it is difficult.
“You tell me that I’m a fool? I’m a fool?
“Well, there’s always time for wrestling. Do you understand me? You know when wrestling starts. The main people don’t come out at that time.”
…Rejects Attempt To Foist Fake Law on Nigeria
The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the controversial Tax Reform Acts until investigations into allegations of alterations are concluded.
The call was contained in a press statement jointly signed by Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Minority Leader, Hon. Ali Isa J.C,
Minority Whip, Hon. Aliyu Madaki, Deputy Minority Leader
and Hon. George Ozodinobi,
Deputy Minority Whip.
“Consequently, we call on the government to suspend the implementation of the tax laws until investigations are concluded and there is clarity and certainty of the law to be implemented.
“Moreover, Nigerians and the business community are entitled to copies of the laws that they are expected to obey.
“We count on Mr. President’s democratic credentials yo be responsive and responsible and heed to this call”, the caucus stated.
The statement further said, “We have noted with great consternation and an overwhelming sense of disappointment the current storm brewing over the Tax Reform laws that were duly passed by the National Assembly and properly signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“Ordinarily, the controversy will have been dismissed as needless, but the gravity of the cause of the controversy is an issue of great concern to all Nigerians, especially since it borders on the accusations of unlawful alterations to the laws as passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly and subsequently signed by the President.
“We are also aware that this issue has been raised by a member of the House of Representatives during one of our recent plenaries, following which the House inaugurated a high-powered committee to investigate the allegations made by the member that the tax laws have been fraudulently altered, gazetted and the altered copy circulated to the public.
“As such, we want to assure Nigerians that the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, will stand with the entire House to see that the circumstances surrounding this illegality is exposed and the culprits brought to book in the interest of justice for all Nigerians.
“We are aware of the legitimate procedures towards the gazetting of laws, and it starts with the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) transmitting the actual copies of the laws to the relevant federal agency that gazettes all government documents, which means, the National Assembly is always the custodian of the genuine documents of the laws of the federation that have been passed, and, therefore, we will always make sure that it is the truth that prevails in moments of controversy such as this.
“We therefore call on Nigerians to disregard any purported tax laws being circulated without the signature of the CNA and the President and Commander in Chief, such did not originate from the National Assembly, and neither do they reflect the true character of what were actually passed by the Legislature and signed by the President.
“Any attempt to foist fake laws on Nigerians is an attack on the independence and constitutional role of the National Assembly in safeguarding our democracy, and the Caucus will unconditionally protect the independence of the Legislature and our democracy”.
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A credible source has confirmed that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the leader of the gang and another, who kidnapped and murdered a prominent professor of neurology, Ekanem Philip Ephraim in 2023.
The gang leader, Patrick Essien Etim, 23, and his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, were apprehended on Saturday, December 27, at a medical facility in Cross River State while planning to kidnap another medical bigwig.
According to the source, the DSS had been tracking the kidnap ring since Ephraim’s killing in July 2023, when gunmen posing as patients abducted her.
The duo has confessed to the crime, admitting that they killed the professor after collecting multiple ransom payments from her family.
‘It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the Professor. I believe that, with this arrest, her family and loved ones will be able to finally have some peace and the much-needed closure that they deserve, the source said.
The suspects also owned up to kidnapping other victims and vandalising electricity cables, with one Isaac Ekpeyong, who was also arrested by the operatives, according to the sources.
Recall that Professor Ekanem was abducted on 13th July, 2023, by unknown gunmen who posed as patients at her private clinic at Atimbo Road, Calabar.
Her kidnapping sparked statewide protests by the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). The medical association had embarked on an indefinite strike, which crippled the health sector for over a week, in a bid to prevail on the government to rescue the Professor.
“This huge breakthrough underscores the commitment of the DSS in reverting to covertness in its operations and restoring public safety across the country,” declared the source.
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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that President Bola Tinubu must complete eight years in office, insisting that political agreements reached ahead of the 2023 elections must be respected, particularly in Rivers State.
Wike made the statement on Sunday during his Christmas visits to Emohua and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of Rivers State, where he cautioned those he described as “emergency singers” of the slogan “On your mandate, we shall stand” to honour existing political commitments.
According to the former Rivers State governor, sudden public displays of loyalty to President Tinubu cannot erase past political realities.
READ ALSO:
“For us here, agreement is agreement. You can be singing ‘on your mandate we shall stand’ today, which is fine, but we have been supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since 2023. Your new slogans will not help you,” Wike said.
He stressed that political loyalty should be demonstrated during difficult times, not after victory has been secured.
“You take stands when things are tough, not when food is ready. When it mattered most, we stood on his mandate,” he added.
Addressing the Ikwerre people, Wike recalled that they took significant political risks to support Tinubu when the outcome of the 2023 presidential election was still uncertain.
“In 2023, when people did not know that Mr. President would emerge, those of us from Ikwerre understood that politics is about risk. If you look at the votes that helped him win in Rivers State, they came particularly from Ikwerre,” he said.
Wike further argued that power should remain in the South for a full eight-year tenure, irrespective of party affiliation.
“The South must complete its eight years. Completing the eight years does not matter which party we belong to; we must give Mr. President the support to succeed,” he stated.
He added that discussions about the future of power rotation should only begin after 2031.
“In 2031, after the South has completed its eight years through President Tinubu, then we will know what next,” Wike said.
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The Nigerian Air Force, (NAF, under the auspices of the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Sector 2, has neutralized armed banditry through the execution of two high-impact precision Air Interdiction (AI) missions.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, said in a statement that the armed bandits met their Waterloo following credible, multi-source intelligence at Turba Hill and Kachalla Dogo Sule’s Camp, both in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The statement said the first strike targeted Turba Hill, a confirmed bandit hideout, adding that persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance revealed significant human activity and an operational zinc-roofed structure assessed to be central to the enclave’s activities.
Post-strike battle damage assessment confirmed the complete destruction of the structure and the neutralization of several bandits.
“The second AI mission was conducted at Kachalla Dogo Sule’s Camp, a notorious bandit stronghold identified as a key IED manufacturing and operational hub. Intelligence had linked the camp to the planning and execution of recent IED attacks along the Dan Sadau–Magami axis,” the statement said.
It added that the precision strike successfully engaged multiple active structures within the enclave, triggering intense fires that destroyed the facilities and neutralized several bandits, effectively crippling the group’s IED production and deployment capability.
The operations, according to the statement, reaffirm the Nigerian Air Force’s unwavering commitment, working in close coordination with other components of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to deny criminal elements safe havens, degrade their combat effectiveness, and support ongoing joint efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North-West and the nation at large.
A significant political realignment appears to be unfolding in Kano State as reports emerged that Governor Abba Yusuf may be planning to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This move could signal a major split from his longtime political godfather, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is considered the leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
While the governor has yet to issue an official statement regarding his next move, PREMIUM TIMES understand that high-level consultations are already ongoing. The governor has reportedly been meeting with top government officials and elected representatives to brief them on the transition, convincing them of his intention and reason for aligning with the ruling party. In addition to this, he had dispatched some of his aides to the grassroots, meeting NNPP members to prepare the party’s base for the upcoming shift.
A testament to this was the meeting between Abdullahi Rogo, the director general of the Protocol Directorate at the Kano State Government House, and NNPP stakeholders from the Rogo Local Government Area. At the meeting, Mr Rogo outlined the justifications for the move to the APC.
Speaking on the resolutions reached during the meeting, Mr Rogo said, “We have consulted with the NNPP stakeholders in Rogo, and we are in agreement that the leadership of the Kwankwasiyya movement—specifically Rabiu Kwankwaso and Governor Abba Yusuf—should lead us back to the APC. We believe that Kwankwaso’s presidential ambitions can only be realised on the APC platform. Our decision is rooted in the best interests and future prosperity of Kano State.”
Mr Kwankwaso contested the 2023 presidential election on the NNPC platform but came a distant fourth, behind President Bola Tinubu, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and ex-Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi, respectively. Although Mr Kwankwaso has not signified his interest for future elections, many believe that he will contest for president again, either in 2027 or 2031.
Mr Rogo stated that the movement remains loyal to the Kwankwasiyya ideology. He also issued a stern warning to supporters on how to conduct themselves during the electioneering period.
“I appeal to our supporters, as we transition to the APC, there must be no room for insults or name-calling. Anyone who engages in such behaviour is not a true member of our movement,” Mr Rogo added.
While Mr Rogo appears to want both Governor Yusuf and Mr Kwankwaso to join the APC, that was not the case at a similar political gathering in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area. At that meeting, one of Mr Kwankwaso’s top loyalists, who is also the state chairperson of the NNPP, Hashim Dungurawa, was absent, despite being from the local government. The meeting was organised by the governor’s media aide, Sanusi Bature.
Mr Bature shared a short clip of the meeting on Facebook. He said it was a stakeholders’ meeting of all the top NNPC members in Dawakin Tofa, but queried Mr Dungurawa’s absence. Insiders said the meeting was part of the governor’s directives to engage the leadership and supporters of the NNPP at the grassroots ahead of the planned defection.
Mr Bature’s concern over Mr Dungurawa’s absence from the meeting suggests that the governor and Mr Kwankwaso do not have a united position on the planned defection.
The Daily Nigerian reported that Mr Yusuf had been scheming behind the scenes to garner the support of members of the National Assembly, State House of Assembly, and local government chairpersons for his alleged plan to join the APC.
The newspaper stated that it believes NNPP members in the House of Assembly, including Speaker Jibrin Falgore, have endorsed the governor’s planned defection.
The protracted, silent disagreements
The disagreement between Messrs Yusuf and Kwankwaso reached a breaking point last year, November, when the governor reportedly rejected Mr Kwankwaso’s requests to replace several top government officials. Insiders said the tension eased only after the governor’s mother intervened.
The rift was first signalled by Mr Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan. In a subtle Facebook post written in Hausa. Mr Hassan suggested a transition in leadership, stating, “The exit of a military commander does not mean the barracks have ended.”
Further evidence of the fallout came from Aliyu Madaki, the lawmaker representing the Dala Federal Constituency. After dumping the Kwankwasiyya movement, Mr Madaki claimed that Mr Kwankwaso—feeling betrayed by the governor’s recent actions—plans to replace Governor Yusuf with his deputy, Aminu Abdulsalam, in the 2027 election.
According to Mr Madaki, the relationship soured further after Governor Yusuf distanced himself from two major controversies linked to the Kwankwaso family, including the mass purchase of drugs in the state. The governor ordered an investigation into a contract awarded to Musa Kwankwaso, the younger brother of the NNPC leader.
The deal allegedly involved the unauthorised deduction of ₦10 million from each of the state’s 44 local government areas to supply medicines. Governor Yusuf denied authorising these deductions.
Also, in October 2024, the governor directed the State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission to investigate the state’s foreign scholarship scheme. Although ₦4.6 billion was approved to send 1,001 postgraduate students abroad, investigators found that only 418 students actually departed, despite a substantial portion of the funds being released.
The anti-corruption probe led to the interrogation of senior officials in the Ministry of Higher Education regarding the release of massive funds without executive approval. Following the investigation, ₦700 million was reportedly refunded to the state government. Consequently, the Commissioner for Higher Education and ally of Mr Kwankwaso, Yusuf Kofar Mata, was redeployed.
READ ALSO: NNPP nominates children of deceased lawmakers for Kano Assembly by-elections
In an effort to manage the fallout, Governor Yusuf also sacked the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Baffa Bichi. Mr Bichi was accused of sponsoring a political movement urging the governor to sever ties with the Kwankwasiyya leader.
Officials React
When contacted, Mr Bature, the spokesperson to the Kano State Governor, confirmed a growing rift among members of the NNPP within the state. However, he declined to comment on speculations regarding the governor’s potential defection to the APC.
“There is an internal crisis within the NNPP in Kano, but I have not been authorised to speak on whether the governor is defecting to the APC,” Mr Bature told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday morning.
Efforts to reach Saifullahi Hassan, the spokesperson for Mr Kwankwaso, were unsuccessful. Mr Hassan did not respond to multiple phone calls or text messages seeking clarification on the matter at the time of this report.
By Mercy Aikoye
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has expressed disappointment over the controversy surrounding the Tax Reform laws. The laws were passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Caucus noted that allegations of unlawful alterations to the laws have raised concerns among Nigerians. “We are aware that this issue has been raised by a member of the House of Representatives,” said Hon. O.K Chinda, Minority Leader.
The House has inaugurated a high-powered committee to investigate the allegations. The Minority Caucus assured Nigerians that it will stand with the House to expose any illegality and bring culprits to book.
The Caucus explained that legitimate procedures for gazetting laws involve the Clerk to the National Assembly transmitting actual copies of the laws to relevant federal agencies. “The National Assembly is always the custodian of the genuine documents of the laws of the federation,” said Hon. O.K Chinda.
The Minority Caucus called on the government to suspend the implementation of the tax laws until investigations are concluded. “Nigerians and the business community are entitled to copies of the laws that they are expected to comply with,” said Hon. Ali Isa J.C, Minority Whip.
The Caucus vowed to protect the independence of the Legislature and democracy. “Any attempt to foist fake laws on Nigerians is an attack on the independence and constitutional role of the National Assembly,” said Hon. O.K Chinda.
The Minority Caucus urged Nigerians to disregard any purported tax laws being circulated without the signature of the Clerk to the National Assembly and the President. “Such laws did not originate from the National Assembly and do not reflect the true character of what was passed,” said Rep. Aliyu Madaki, Deputy Minority Leader.
The Caucus called for clarity and certainty of the law to be implemented. “We want to assure Nigerians that we will stand with the entire House to see that the circumstances surrounding this illegality are exposed,” said Hon. O.K Chinda.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has suggested that the political rivalry between him and Governor Siminalyi Fubara of Rivers State is far from over.
Wike stated that “all can never be well in politics,” noting that a recent comment by Fubara may indicate ongoing tension between them.
The Minister made the remarks on Monday while fielding questions during his monthly media parley in Abuja.
Recall that Fubara, while declaring for the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that some people were still doing “corner, corner” while supporting President Bola Tinubu.
The governor appeared to be referring to the FCT Minister, who has remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite working under the ruling APC.
Responding to questions about the matter, Wike said he was not aware of anyone “following President Tinubu and doing ‘corner, corner’.”
He insisted that his support for Tinubu is open and well known to all Nigerians, denying that he is acting secretly.
Wike said: “I don’t know who is following Tinubu and doing ‘corner, corner.’ How could that be when the whole of Nigeria knows that I have stated openly that this is what I will do? Even when governors of the PDP accused me of working for Tinubu, my position was clear.
“If I were doing ‘corner, corner,’ so many people would not have supported Tinubu. The council chairmen wouldn’t have gone.
“I’ve always stated this: why most people don’t trust politicians is that they don’t keep their word, which is very wrong. I don’t want to be that kind of politician. I want to be a politician that, once I say something, you can rely on it. Everybody knows that once I state what I will do, I will do it.
“No, no, it’s not well. It’s not about everything being well; in politics, all can never be well.
“People are always economical with the truth. The governor cannot claim that I have not intervened between him, the speaker, and the leadership of the House. He cannot say I have not engaged with the elders, even when he was present.
“So, regarding this issue of ‘corner, corner’, who? Everybody knows my stand. Everybody knows that my position is not hidden.”
NIGERIA NEWS
Hospital Worker Who Witnessed Dunsin Oyekan’s Wife’s Death Shares What Singer Did After Painful Loss
- A hospital worker who attended to Dunsin Oyekan’s wife on the night she died has shared details about what happened
- The anaesthetic technician shared what she saw Dunsin do when his wife was in a critical condition, and their brief conversation
- She shared the unusual thing the singer did while escorting his wife’s body to the mortuary, moving people to tears
A Nigerian woman who worked at the hospital where the wife of popular singer, Dunsin Oyekan, died has recounted what happened on that night.
Salome Daniel told Legit.ng that she worked with National Hospital Abuja as an anaesthetic technician and was on duty when Dunsin’s wife, Adedoyin, took her last breath.
Hospital Worker Who Witnessed Dunsin Oyekan’s Wife’s Death Shares What Singer Did After Painful Loss
Source: UGC
Dunsin lost his wife in May 2019 to health-related issues and had spoken about how he dealt with the loss after six years.
Nurse shares details of Dunsin Oyekan’s wife’s death
Read also
Moment Pastor Chris Okafor’s wife hugged him after his public apology to Doris Ogala trends
A recent TikTok post by @lighttv11 shared the inspirational story behind Dunsin and the loss of his wife.
The post read:
“Dunsin Oyekan’s story is truly inspiring. He and his late wife, Adedoyin, had a beautiful marriage that spanned six years before she passed away in 2019, leaving behind two children. Despite his immense loss, Dunsin Oyekan continues to minister with a smile on stage, showcasing his remarkable strength and faith. “RIP Adedoyin Oyekan. Your legacy lives on through your husband’s ministry and the children you left behind. Dunsin Oyekan has spoken publicly about how he coped with his grief, revealing that he channelled his pain into worship and found solace in God’s presence. He’s a testament to the power of faith and resilience.”
In the comments, @salomenchock shared details of what happened on the night that Dunsin lost his wife.
She wrote:
“To think that I saw her take her last breath, a night I would never forget, I didn’t know much about him then,it was my first time seeing him that closely. 
Read also
Mohbad’s widow Wunmi clears air on rumours about her welcoming 2nd child : “Liam is my one and only”
“I remember how when I come out of the ICU to probably get something for her critical care response, I’ll see him praying, and the moment he sees me, he would rush to me, look at me in the eye and ask, “what is happening?”and I would look back and say to him, “you cannot pray and panic at the same time” and he would node and say “that’s true”.“I still remember just like yesterday how when her body was being taken to the morgue, he accompanied her beautifully playing the guitar and said she loved him playing the guitar.“It was beautiful and emotional, one thing I can say is that he loved that woman, rest on precious daughter of God.”
In a chat with Legit.ng, Salome shared how she was called to attend to Dunsin’s wife when her case got critical.
“I work with National Hospital Abuja as an Anaesthetic Technician. My work mostly covers Theatre and ICU and of course anywhere there’s need for critical care. “I was called to attend to Dunsi’s wife when her case got critical and she was brought into our ICU, I can’t remember the date, but she died like 3 hours after.”
Hospital Worker Who Witnessed Dunsin Oyekan’s Wife’s Death Shares What Singer Did After Painful Loss
Source: Instagram
Reactions trail woman’s account of Dunsin Oyekan’s wife’s death
@Oby Onoh said:
“This is a beautiful testimony of love till death do us part. Thanks for sharing. It so consoling at this point in my life.”
Read also
Lady pays visit to her late husband’s graveside: “I went to talk to him”
@Babyturban.co said:
“Thanks for sharing.”
@Oluwa Shola said:
“He’s still unmarried after 6yrs of her demise, that alone shows he loves her and still grief
@seybabe said:
May her soul continue to rest in peace.”
In a related story, a widow shared the last promise her husband made to their daughter and why he was buried in their living room.
Lady shares sister’s last video before dying
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a heartbroken lady shared the last video her sister made before she died, after giving birth to her child.
Many were moved to tears after hearing the dying woman’s last words as her sister said she died on her daughter’s birthday.
Source: Legit.ng
A touching video making the rounds on social media has captured the emotional moment a young man broke down in tears while watching his elder sister get married.
Video captures emotional last-born refusing to let go of sister during wedding
The clip, which was shared with the caption “POV: Last born watching his big sister get married”, shows the visibly emotional brother struggling to hold back tears as his sister embraces him.
Social media users noted that last-born children often develop strong emotional bonds with their older siblings, especially sisters who take on caregiving roles at home.
The clip has continued to trend, drawing thousands of reactions as Nigerians shared jokes, personal experiences, and emotional takes on the bond between siblings and the reality of “losing” a sister to marriage.
Social media reactions
Reactions poured in on X (formerly Twitter), with users interpreting the young man’s tears in different ways, from humour to heartfelt admiration for the sibling bond on display.
@Wemimoja commented: “My own brother no go cry for me never nah me know wetin I use him eye see.”
@SaintLavrentd0n commented: “Werey don know the chores wey go befall am for house.”
@clucluxclan commented: “Honestly I thought he was the husband. I expected to see a lil kid holding her leg or something. Agbaya.”
@Honor_Abimbola commented: “He knows that his full work go start for house soon.”
@afro_dany9 commented: “U sef be man naso u dey treat other people sisters.”
@arakunriniiyelola commented: “The sister is definitely a good sister. He can’t imagine living without her. Beautiful.”
Watch the video below…
Last born no wan let her sister go. Aww this is cute 🥹 pic.twitter.com/snmkbC6oEi
— TENIOLA (@Teeniiola) December 29, 2025
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may struggle to remain politically relevant by 2027 if its leadership fails to correct what he described as persistent internal mistakes.
Speaking during a media chat on Monday in Port Harcourt, Wike said the wave of defections rocking the opposition party was a consequence of poor and selfish leadership, stressing that leadership remains central to the survival of any political organisation.
When asked if he still considered himself a committed PDP member and whether the party could bounce back from the mass defections, Wike said, “There is nothing that is impossible once you are committed to carrying out due process.”
He added, “What has happened to my party is what I have been saying before now, that if things are not done in the right way, this is where we are going to find ourselves. No Nigerian will say they did not know what I said. I have said it several times.”
Wike emphasised that leadership failure was at the heart of the PDP’s current crisis.
“Leadership is very key, leadership in association, leadership in government. If a leader does not take the right decision, this is how it is bound to be,” he said.
Drawing parallels with past challenges, the former Rivers State governor noted that the party had survived similar crises before because its leadership was willing to make necessary changes.
“We have had this kind of issue before. Nothing collapsed because the leadership was committed to see that certain changes were made,” he said.
However, he accused the current leadership of lacking focus and selflessness. “But when you have a leadership that is not focused, a leadership that is selfish, a leadership that does not understand that equality is different from business, you are bound to see what you are seeing today”.
Warning of dire consequences ahead, he said, “If they don’t correct themselves, by 2027 it is likely that the PDP might not make it.”
Wike maintained that the party’s fate depended entirely on its willingness to admit mistakes and reposition itself. “It is not just about taking over government. You have to position yourself. If the leadership is committed and says, ‘Look, we have made a mistake, what do we do to correct ourselves?’ then there is hope,” he said.
His comments come amid fresh accusations from Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who has alleged that Wike’s actions were undermining unity and collaboration within the PDP.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the leader of the gang responsible for the 2023 kidnapping and murder of renowned neurology professor, Ekanem Philip Ephraim.
The gang leader, 23-year-old Patrick Essien Etim, along with his accomplice, 40-year-old Bassey Antiha Asuquo, were apprehended at a medical facility in Cross River State.
A source revealed that the DSS had been tracking the kidnap syndicate since Professor Ephraim’s death in July 2023. The perpetrators, who posed as patients, abducted and later killed her.
Both suspects have confessed, admitting they murdered the professor after receiving multiple ransom payments from her family.
“It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the Professor.
“I believe that, with this arrest, her family can finally find some peace and the closure they deserve,” said a DSS source who preferred to remain anonymous.
The suspects also admitted to kidnapping other individuals and vandalising electricity cables, including another suspect, Isaac Ekpeyong, who was also arrested by DSS operatives, sources confirmed.
Professor Ephraim was abducted on 13 July 2023 by gunmen posing as patients at her private clinic on Atimbo Road, Calabar.
Her kidnapping prompted statewide protests led by the Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), which launched an indefinite strike that paralysed the health sector for over a week in a bid to pressure the government into securing her release.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the registration process for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will commence in the first quarter of 2026.
The disclosure was made in the Board’s latest bulletin, which confirmed that all preparatory processes ahead of the exercise had been concluded.
JAMB said the move was aimed at ensuring a smooth, secure, and well-coordinated registration process nationwide.
What JAMB is saying
In the bulletin, JAMB said it had concluded all accreditation, validation, and security checks for centres, personnel, and other stakeholders involved in the 2026 UTME registration exercise.
The Board explained that extensive preparations had been undertaken to ensure the process is secure, transparent, and largely free of irregularities.
JAMB noted that insights from the post-registration and examination reviews of the 2025 UTME informed a range of technological and operational enhancements now being deployed for the 2026 exercise.
It also issued a strong warning to individuals or groups intending to engage in registration or examination malpractice, stressing that such actions would attract severe legal consequences.
“The management of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has concluded all necessary accreditation, validation, and security checks for centres, personnel, and other stakeholders to be involved in the registration exercise for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME),” the bulletin read in part.
It added, “Consequently, individuals or groups intending to perpetrate registration or examination infractions are warned to stay away from the 2026 UTME registration process, scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2026.”
The Board noted that these measures were designed to strengthen system integrity and prevent attempts at manipulation or malpractice.
More insights
The bulletin also revealed that more than 30 suspects linked to previous registration and examination infractions are currently being prosecuted, with nearly 20 already in correctional custody.
JAMB warned that arrests could occur during or even after the 2026 UTME, as investigations are ongoing and continuous.
The Board further urged the public to steer clear of all JAMB processes unless they are duly registered candidates or accredited stakeholders.
It reassured candidates that application documents for the 2026 UTME would be released early in the year, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the examination system.
What you should know
JAMB’s reassurance for a more transparent 2026 UTME stems from investigations conducted after the 2025 examination. The Board disclosed that 6,458 UTME results from 2025 were found to be linked to suspected high-tech cheating.
- A 23-member special committee set up by JAMB investigated technology-driven malpractice during the 2025 UTME. The committee uncovered 4,251 cases of finger blending, a biometric fraud technique, and 192 instances of AI-assisted impersonation through image morphing.
- While these infractions highlighted vulnerabilities in the system, JAMB emphasized that actual malpractice during the exam remained relatively low. In response, the Federal Government approved a three-year ban for candidates caught engaging in examination malpractice.
JAMB has now stated that the lessons learned from these investigations will guide improvements for the 2026 UTME. The Board plans to deploy enhanced technological and operational measures to make the registration and examination process smoother, more secure, and largely free of infractions.
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Some prominent Nigerian politicians who welcomed 2025 with optimism did not live to see the end of the year, as death claimed several influential figures across the country.
While a number of the leaders died early in the year, others passed away towards its close, leaving behind political legacies that stirred national reflection.
Below is a recap of seven notable Nigerian politicians whose deaths shook the nation in 2025.
House of Representatives’ Deputy Chief Whip, Adewunmi Onanuga
The first major political loss of 2025 was Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga, the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives.
Onanuga, who represented Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State, died on January 15, 2025, after a brief illness.
She was re-elected in 2023 and appointed Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Assembly. She died at the age of 60.
Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo
Barely two months into the year, Nigeria lost a respected nationalist and leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
Adebanjo died peacefully at his Lekki residence in Lagos State on February 14, 2025, aged 96.
He was buried on May 3, 2025, at his hometown of Isanya Ogbo, near Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.
Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark
Former Federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, died on February 17, 2025, at the age of 98.
He passed away after a brief illness at a private hospital in Abuja, following breathing complications the previous night.
Clark was buried on May 13, 2025, in Kiagbodo town, Delta State.
Doyin Okupe
Veteran politician and media strategist, Doyin Okupe, died on March 7, 2025, at the age of 72.
Okupe, a former presidential spokesperson to Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, died in Lagos after a prolonged illness.
He was buried on March 28, 2025, in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Former Kwara governor, Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo
Former senator and ex-governor of Kwara State, Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, died on June 25, 2025, aged 84.
Adebayo served as governor during the Second Republic and later as Minister of Communications and Transportation between 2003 and 2006.
He was buried in his hometown in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari
Nigeria’s immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, died in London on July 13, 2025, at the age of 82.
He passed away after a brief illness and was buried on July 15, 2025, in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.
Local and foreign dignitaries, including sitting and former presidents, attended his burial.
Bayelsa Deputy Governor
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, died on December 11, 2025, after slumping in his office.
Governor Douye Diri ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death and declared a three-day mourning period.
He also directed that flags be flown at half-mast across the state.
NIGERIA NEWS
APC Chieftain Hails New Tax Laws, Says Reforms Will Protect Poor Nigerians – THISDAYLIVE
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado-Ekiti
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State and President of the Southwest Professional Forum, Chief Segun Ajibulu, has described the newly introduced federal and state tax laws as long-overdue reforms aimed at promoting fairness, widening the tax net and protecting low-income earners from undue financial burden.
Ajibulu spoke with journalists during a community outreach programme he personally organised for widows and children in Ipao-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the tax reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu, alongside complementary measures by state governments, represent one of the most significant policy shifts in Nigeria’s fiscal management in recent years.
He maintained that the new tax framework would not negatively affect poor Nigerians, stressing that clear exemptions were deliberately built into the laws to shield vulnerable groups.
The former senatorial aspirant in Ekiti State explained that the reforms are designed to improve transparency and ensure that government officials and high-income earners pay their fair share, while closing loopholes that have historically enabled tax evasion.
Ajibulu noted that increased tax compliance, if properly implemented, would enhance government’s capacity to fund social programmes and critical infrastructure, ultimately benefiting ordinary citizens.
He therefore urged Nigerians to take time to understand the new tax rules—particularly as they relate to banking transactions—to avoid misinformation and unnecessary anxiety.
In his words: “This is one of the best things that has happened to this country. The tax law is long overdue.
“There is no way these reforms will affect poor people because anyone earning below N800,000 annually is not taxable. In addition, many essential items and categories of income are exempt.
“For too long, tax evasion has deprived the country of resources needed for development. These reforms are designed to ensure government gets its rightful revenue while promoting accountability.
“People need to understand how the system works. Not all money in the bank is taxable. Gifts are not taxable. Transfers to friends are not taxable. Even money returned after a loan is not taxable. There are clear guidelines.”
Ajibulu disclosed that he spent not less than N30 million on the outreach programme, explaining that the gesture was meant to spread joy during the festive season and had no political, ethnic or tribal undertones.
Items distributed, apart from cash, included clothes, shoes, books for students and foodstuffs, among others.