Category: Nigerian Tribune

Troops of 65 Battalion, Nigerian Army, have rescued two kidnap victims, Mr Kelvin Okafor and Mr Alex Anato, following their abduction at a farm in Igbonla, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.

According to an official operational report made to our correspondent at the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja on Saturday, the victims were reportedly abducted on Friday, 4 September 2026, and were rescued in a coordinated operation involving operatives of the Nigerian Police, local vigilantes and other security agencies.

The report explained that the rescue operation was launched following credible information on the abduction of the victims while they were working on the farm.

According to it, ‘acting swiftly on the intelligence, the joint security team mobilised to the area and closed in on the kidnappers’ location.

‘On sighting the advancing troops and other security personnel, the kidnappers abandoned their captives and fled into the surrounding forest.

‘The joint team immediately pursued the fleeing criminals, resulting in the neutralisation of one of the kidnappers, while two others escaped deeper into the forest.’

It further added that the two victims were rescued unhurt and subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for necessary medical assessment, debriefing and further action, while the remains of the neutralised kidnapper were also handed over to the Police for appropriate action.

It reaffirmed that the Nigerian Army remained resolute in the protection of lives and property. In collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders, troops will continue to sustain aggressive and intelligence-led operations to deny criminal elements freedom of action and enhance the safety and security of communities across the country.

The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has urged the Federal Government to address outstanding payments for completed projects awarded to local contractors.

The association made the call on Saturday in Abuja at the burial of one of its members, Alhaji Mohammed Inusa, who it said died after battling an illness for about three months.

Mr Jackson Nwosu, National President of AICAN, said the deceased had completed projects worth billions of naira but was still owed more than N1 billion.

Nwosu alleged that the outstanding payment had made it difficult for the contractor to access funds needed for medical treatment.

He said the deceased required surgery which, according to him, could have been funded if part of the money owed him had been paid.

‘We are here to bury one of our members that died. He had been suffering from this illness for about three months,’ Nwosu said.

He said the association had been concerned about the financial difficulties faced by local contractors who were unable to recover funds invested in government projects.

Nwosu appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise payment of verified debts owed to indigenous contractors to prevent further hardship in the sector.

He also questioned why, according to him, foreign contractors were sometimes paid upfront while local contractors struggled to recover money invested in completed projects.

Similarly, Mr Rotimi Raheem, National Publicity Secretary of AICAN, said the association had lost several members in different parts of the country.

Raheem said the deceased had outstanding payments running into billions of naira but was unable to access sufficient funds for his treatment.

He said the association contributed some money toward the contractor’s medical expenses but could not raise enough because many members were also experiencing financial difficulties.

‘Two weeks ago, with the little we had, we gave it to him,’ Raheem said.

He said the association was concerned about the impact of delayed payments on contractors and called for urgent intervention by the Federal Government.

According to him, some contractors had not been paid for projects completed over the past two years because such projects allegedly lacked cash backing.

He said the situation was not peculiar to Abuja but affected indigenous contractors across the country.

Raheem urged the government to ensure that verified obligations to local contractors were settled, saying this would enable them to recover investments and continue contributing to national infrastructure development.

He said the association remained committed to engaging relevant authorities on the issue of outstanding payments to indigenous contractors.

Nuhu Inusa, son of the deceased contractor, said his father’s health began to deteriorate about three months before his death.

He attributed the worsening condition partly to the delay in payment for work his father had executed as a contractor.

According to him, the family had made efforts to draw the attention of relevant authorities to the situation and sought assistance from their representative, but without success.

‘Had the money been paid on time, I believe, though I am not God, that he might still have been alive by now,’ he said.

Inusa said his father eventually died from a tumour in his spine.

The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), Oyo State Command, has urged young people to shun cultism and criminal activities, assuring vulnerable children that they remain valued members of society with a future worth protecting.

The POCACOV State Coordinator, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ayishat Mary Eriaremhien, made the call on Saturday, September 5, during a World Charity Day outreach to children at the Juvenile Correctional Institution and Child Care Unit in Sango, Ibadan.

Eriaremhien said the outreach was aimed not only at providing material support but also at giving vulnerable children a sense of belonging, love and hope for a better future.

She said the police initiative, carried out on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, was intended to demonstrate that society had not forgotten children facing difficult circumstances.

POCACOV brought essential supplies to the centre as part of efforts to support the vulnerable children and urged the youths among them to avoid crime and secret cults, warning that involvement in such activities could lead to imprisonment and untimely death.

Eriaremhien therefore urged the children to resist negative influences and avoid activities that could jeopardise their future.

The POCACOV coordinator also appealed to parents to take greater responsibility for the upbringing of their children, stressing the need to monitor their activities, friendships and social interactions to prevent them from being lured into cultism and other vices.

She said parents should regard their children as valuable assets and remain vigilant about the people and environments influencing them, noting that effective parental guidance could play a major role in preventing youth involvement in crime.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, the Head of the Institution, Mrs. Adebisi Sonuga, expressed appreciation to the police for their continued support and protection of the facility.

She described the command as a dependable partner that had consistently responded whenever the home required assistance.

Sonuga urged members of the public to remember vulnerable children and regularly visit care facilities to share love and joy with them, particularly during personal celebrations such as birthdays.

She, however, disclosed that the institution was facing persistent challenges relating to logistics and funding, appealing to individuals, corporate organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians to support the home with financial and material donations.

The institution’s head also raised concern over child abandonment, urging parents who could no longer cater for their children to hand them over to registered private or government-owned care homes instead of abandoning them in dangerous circumstances.

The POCACOV State Chairman, Dr. Abraham Adeoye, said the outreach was part of activities to mark World Charity Day in line with a nationwide directive from the Inspector-General of Police, aimed at extending goodwill to vulnerable groups across the country.

Adeoye, who presented relief items donated through the generosity of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Ayodeji Abimbola, also called on government, philanthropists, political leaders and public-spirited Nigerians to support the facility.

He stressed the need for structured educational and vocational programmes that would equip the children with skills and opportunities capable of securing a productive future for them.

Unlike her elderly siblings, my one month old baby is yet to shed any tears while crying. Kindly let me know if she is okay.

Lizzy (by SMS)

There are several medical conditions that are associated with decreased tear production or collection. Infants can become dehydrated when they are unable to feed well or are losing body fluids due to an illness. The first sign of dehydration is a reduced number of wet (urine) diapers. If ongoing fluid losses are not replaced, dry lips and an absence of tears while crying may be evident.

Sunken eyes, lethargy, or increased irritability are signs of severe dehydration that require emergency medical treatment. It is common for newborns to have a temporary obstruction of the duct that drains tears from the eyes into the nose. In most cases, the lacrimal duct is blocked by a membrane at birth that takes a few days to open. In other cases, there is a problem with the duct itself, usually due to immature development. This causes pooling of tears at the inner corner of the eye. At times, a white mucous may form that can be easily wiped away.

This differs from the kind of mucous that forms during an eye infection which is typically yellow or green. When the lacrimal gland fails to develop during fetal life, this can result in the absence of tears. This very rare occurrence can be an isolated finding or one component of another genetic disorder. Because of there is no lubrication from tears, the eye is prone to dryness and inflammation.

Other common causes of childhood dry eye are medications such as for acne or allergies and contact lens use. Some studies have shown that environmental allergens and pollutants can alter the amount of mucous or fatty acids in tears Most babies produce tears.

Look closely the next time your baby cries. If the eyes appear dry and irritated, contact your pediatrician. There are medical conditions associated with a lack of or a reduced amount of tears, but they are very rare. If you are concerned that something may not be right about your baby’s eyes, it is best to have them checked by a doctor.

A woman, Omoladun, has brought a divorce suit against her husband, Tijani, at Grade A Customary Court, sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, on the account of lack of care, physical assault and domestic violence.

Omoladun stated that Tijani apart from constantly neglecting her and their children, hardly stayed at home.

Omoladun explained that she daily bore the responsibility of feeding their children, inculcating morals in them, and meeting other needs.

She further said that on the few occasions the defendant was at home, he refused that she had peace of mind.

She stated that they were either arguing or quarrelling over an issue, adding that he would end up descending on her with punches.

According to Omoladun, Tijani later left home for four years not leaving a clue about his whereabouts.

The plaintiff told the court that she was later informed that the defendant had taken a new wife who bore him a child.

Omoladun added that Tijani later returned home, and also went back to his old ways of assaulting her physically.

Omoladun told the court she had reached the end of her tether and thus prayed the court to dissolve their union.

She further pleaded for their children’s custody, and also entreated the court to rule that her husband be made responsible for their children’s upkeep, giving feeding, education and health care priority.

She further sought an order restraining the defendant from threatening and encroaching on her private life.

Tijani agreed that their union be dissolved.

He claimed that the milk of kindness seem to have run dry in his wife.

Tijani gave an instance of when his wife burnt the buttocks of their seven- year-old son with hot knife for stealing meat in the pot.

He added that she was careless and that the foot of another child of theirs got caught in a bicycle spoke when she was taking him out.

According to him, the foot has remain permanently deformed.

Omoladun, in her testimony, said, ‘My husband and I started living together shortly after we met.

‘We did not have a wedding ceremony, neither did he pay my bride price.

‘My husband is irresponsible and therefore made a mess of our union.

‘He hardly ever stayed at home and therefore failed to develop a bonding with me and our children.

‘He was in the habit of leaving home for weeks without leaving a clue about his whereabouts.

‘We never enjoyed his attention and affection.

‘He daily failed in his responsibilities towards us as head of the home and breadwinner.

‘he never fed or inculcate in them the right values.

‘I work hard every day to ensure that our children are well fed.

‘My husband is cruel.

‘The few times he was home he would refuse that I had rest of mind.

‘He was in the habit of raising argument over trivial issues and would end up descending on me with punches.

‘He once deserted home for four years without contacting us.

‘I was later informed that he had married another woman who bore him a child.

‘He finally returned home without giving any explanation on where he had been.

‘He went back to his old ways of assaulting me physically, and even became worse.

‘I got fed up with his maltreatment of me and instructed him to stop paying the rent.

‘I also insisted he never returned to the residence.

‘I further warned him to desist from harassing and threatening me.

‘My lord, my husband has pushed me to the wall, which was why I came to court.

‘I pray that our union be dissolved.

‘I also plead for our children’s custody, because he has never been there.

‘I, further appeal that the court direct my husband to be responsible for our children’s upkeep, giving feeding, education and health service priority.

‘I, in addition request an order restraining him from harassing, threatening, and interfering with my privacy.’

Tijani responded, ‘I am also through with our marriage.

‘My wife is wicked, and the milk of human kindness seems to have run dry in her.

‘She has no affection for our children.

‘She put hot knife on the buttocks of one of our children which resulted in a deep wound because he stole a piece of meat in the pot.

‘She is also careless.

‘Another child of ours got his foot trapped in a bicycle spoke when she was taking him out.

‘Our child’s foot remains deformed till date.’

The court president, Mrs O.E Owoseni, delivering her judgment stated that there was no marriage to be dissolved because no customary rites were carried out.

She also stated that the pride price was not paid.

Owoseni granted the plaintiff custody of their children.

She further mandated the defendant to be responsible for their upkeep.

Owoseni gave an order restricting the defendant from harassing, threatening and encroaching on the plaintiff’s privacy.

There is something beautifully unapologetic about natural hair.

It does not always fall into place. It may shrink after a wash, stretch in one direction today and another tomorrow, or demand patience before revealing its full beauty. Yet, in its coils, curls, kinks and textures, natural hair carries a beauty that does not need to be forced into a particular shape before it can be appreciated.

For many Nigerian women, natural hair is more than a hairstyle. It is a celebration of what grows naturally from the scalp, a reminder that beauty does not have to look one particular way.

For years, straight hair was often presented as the standard of neatness and elegance. A girl could sit between her mother’s knees or in a salon chair, waiting for her hair to be transformed into something smoother, longer or easier to manage. The experience became almost a rite of passage.

But today, more women are learning to look at their natural hair differently.

They are discovering that the coils they once struggled to understand can be beautiful. The volume they once tried to reduce can become a crown. The texture they once considered difficult can become a form of self-expression.

There is beauty in an afro standing boldly against the wind. There is beauty in carefully defined curls, chunky twists, cornrows, locs and neatly styled coils. There is beauty in the versatility of hair that can become something different without losing what it naturally is.

Natural hair also tells a story of patience.

It teaches its wearer to understand her own texture, to learn what products work, to appreciate the different stages of growth and to accept that not every day will be a perfect hair day.

Sometimes, beauty is found in the process of learning to care for what you have rather than constantly wishing it were something else.

The woman who wears her hair in its natural state should not be considered more confident, more African or more beautiful than the woman who chooses to relax, braid, weave or cover hers. Beauty thrives in choice.

The real victory is not convincing every Nigerian woman to wear her natural hair. It is creating a culture where she can choose how she wants to wear her hair without being made to feel less beautiful because of that choice.

It is the freedom to look at what naturally grows from you and say, ‘This is beautiful too.’

And sometimes, that is all a crown needs, to be recognised as one.

Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it will carry out urgent maintenance work on Saturday at its Katampe Substation in Abuja.

TCN managment said the maintenance at Katampe Substation was necessary to enable its technical crew to seal an oil leakage from a transformer at the 330/132/33 kilovolt substation.

The company disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X handle in Abuja on Saturday.

According to the company, the maintenance exercise is scheduled to commence at 10 am and end at 7 pm on Saturday.

It explained that some electricity circuits would be affected during the maintenance, resulting in temporary disruption of power supply to some areas.

TCN said the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) would be unable to off-take electricity from some feeders serving customers supplied by the affected transformer.

The company apologised to electricity consumers in the affected areas for any inconvenience the temporary interruption might cause. It appealed for their understanding while the maintenance work is being carried out.

When a Zombie Apocalypse breaks out, those who created it are often not able to control it until it spurns completely out of control. This is the reality of the Nigerian agbero system.

Recently, an Asian tourist touring the beautiful, bustling city of Lagos was harassed by a group of men who identified themselves as ‘citizens’ and went on to demand money. Although the foreigner had stood his ground, we cannot ignore the implications this has on our national image, with him ending the video with ‘Do not visit Nigeria.’

We cannot pretend this is the first time this is happening. The Agbero system has increasingly become a menace, especially in Lagos. This entitlement started with good Nigerians ‘showing love’ to people on the street. Slowly, it metamorphosed into becoming institutionalised.

Over the decades, some political figures have leveraged these agberos into the means of achieving their selfish desires. Out-of-school children grew into jobless youths, who became non-state actors used to fulfil ‘government’ desires. Youths became tools for political figures for votes or for attacking their opponents.

With a brazen confidence that can only be powered by something from above, these agberos extort commercial drivers and private motorists, demanding levies with impunity and intimidating their victims, oftentimes leading to violence.

They harass everybody, including social workers, social media influencers, celebrities, among others. Many in these fields have recounted instances of harassment, extortion, and severe intimidation by these agberos. Outdoor shoots are becoming nearly impossible in Lagos, and entertainment content producers are resorting to shortcuts to achieve near-level excellence that will keep investors in.

Recently, a video went viral of agberos attacking VeryDarkMan’s RATEL and its members while they were cleaning a community in Lagos. RATEL’s community service was halted because they did not give the agberos more money. Imagine demanding money before people can clean their communities.

Like the zombie apocalypse concept, where people are denied movement, ordinary citizens, workers, and business owners increasingly feel like prisoners in their own communities and towns.

An average Lagos resident cannot walk freely on the Third Mainland Bridge without feeling anxious and frightened for their safety. Simple everyday actions like parking your car or fixing it when it breaks down in some parts of the city require negotiating with or paying off these agberos to avoid physical harm, robbery, or even destruction of property.

Most of the time, we have seen them come out in their numbers when they spot celebrities’ cars. They would climb on the cars and cling onto them in some cases and create a blockade, while demanding money, despite the presence of armed security personnel.

This is what happens when greed is given an occupation and extortion is institutionalised. Whether in daytime or at night, agberos continue to pose a threat to people and properties, without contributing anything meaningful to society.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State, Tokunbo Wahab, in his reply to an X post showing footage of hooliganism of agberos, had said, ‘…while we fully acknowledge that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety, security, and orderliness of our streets, we must also recognise the role that individual actions play in sustaining these challenges.

‘We therefore urge everyone to desist from activities that may inadvertently encourage lawlessness, insecurity, street begging, and environmental nuisance on our roads…’

But is it really the fault of the citizens? Yes, we cannot deny that Nigerians showing love to street touts has bred the sense of entitlement that now makes them see people as an ATM machine. We cannot overlook what led to the institutionalisation of this system.

The agbero menace in Lagos can only be stopped by the ones who created it. When will the government break its echoing silence and do something drastic about this lingering problem?

The immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr Boss Mustapha, on Saturday said his decision to undertake a library project and donate it to Lutheran University Nigeria (LUN) to mark his 70th birthday was borne out of the need to better the lives of the younger generation.

Dr Mustapha spoke in Demsa, Adamawa State, during the official handover of the library complex.

The former SGF urged young Nigerians to see his life, as the son of a classroom teacher, as a template for building a successful life regardless of their background.

He also advised Nigerian youths to remain determined, reflecting on his life journey as proof that anyone can achieve success regardless of their upbringing.

‘If I, as the son of a classroom teacher, can make it, then you can equally make it regardless of your background,’ he encouraged.

‘I want my life to be a template for the younger generation. Do not allow your background to define your life-use it as a stepping stone.

‘My decision to undertake this project is borne out of the need to better the lives of the generation coming after us.

‘My father was a classroom teacher who rose to become a headmaster at the Government Science School founded by LCCN.’

‘I urge you, the younger generation, to remain determined and use my life journey as proof that anyone can achieve success regardless of their upbringing,’ the former SGF urged.

Nigerian Tribune reports that the facility was named the ‘Wesley Mustapha Library Complex’ by the Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN), Most Revd. Musa Panti Filibus, in honour of the celebrant’s late father, who was a devoted teacher.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, commended Mustapha for choosing to invest in public education rather than personal luxury to mark his 70th birthday.

Also speaking, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, described the library complex as a monument to knowledge that would serve generations of scholars across the state and the country.

In his remarks, the Archbishop of LCCN, Most Revd. Musa Panti Filibus, said the gesture represented an enduring contribution to tertiary education in the North-East region of Nigeria.

The Archbishop urged well-to-do Nigerians, especially those from the North-East, to emulate Boss Mustapha by supporting more developmental projects that would benefit the younger generation.

Workers in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State have pledged their support for the re-election of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare deserves continuity.

The workers made their position known when they received the Kogi State Government’s Workplace Security, Workers’ Welfare and Sustainability Campaign team, led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Onuh Edoka.

The campaign, which focuses on workplace and community security, job protection and workers’ welfare, attracted workers dressed in union uniforms and traditional attire. They welcomed the delegation with solidarity and cultural songs, describing both Governor Ododo and Comrade Edoka as ‘their own.’

Speaking during the engagement, the Chairman of Dekina LGA and the Director of Personnel Management described the visit as a homecoming, saying the people of the area had carefully assessed the administration’s performance and resolved to support its continuity.

The Chairman said the achievements of the Ododo administration were visible in Dekina, particularly in the payment of salaries and attention to workers’ welfare.

‘The achievements of the Ododo administration are visible in Dekina. There is no need for a fresh campaign. The Governor has restored hope to workers and brought smiles to their faces through prompt payment of salaries and genuine attention to welfare,’ he said.

The council officials also commended Edoka for representing the interests of workers, especially those at the local government level, and for taking the government’s message directly to the grassroots.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Dekina Chapter, said the administration’s focus on workers’ welfare represented a departure from the past.

He stressed that sustaining the gains recorded under the present administration required continuity at both the state and federal levels.

‘We need Governor Ododo to continue, and we also need President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue,’ he said.

Also speaking, Comrade Tom Abutu, former State President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and current member of the Kogi State Fiscal Responsibility Commission, described the campaign as a message of hope and consolidation.

Abutu thanked the workers for the warm reception and urged them to remain committed to supporting the Ododo-led administration.

Addressing the gathering, Edoka said the campaign was designed to sensitise workers on workplace and community security while encouraging them to make political choices that would protect their jobs and welfare.

He said the continuity of the Tinubu and Ododo administrations remained the best option for sustaining the progress recorded in workers’ welfare.

‘All options considered, we stand with Gov Ododo. He has shown commitment to workers. He pays salaries as and when due, he implements welfare packages, and he respects the labour community. To protect these gains, we must support his re-election and that of President Tinubu in 2027,’ Edoka declared.

The Dekina engagement is part of the ongoing statewide Workplace Security and Workers’ Welfare Campaign being coordinated by the Office of the Special Adviser on Labour Matters.

The campaign is aimed at sensitising workers on safety, job security and the need to consolidate the achievements of the present administration.

At the event, the workers pledged to mobilise support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections, declaring that Dekina had already made its choice.