Category: PM News

A senior leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) who was allegedly planning massive terrorists attack in Southern Nigeria, Abdussamad Ohida, has been killed alongside his foot solders in a forest in Owo town, Ondo State.

Ohida was killed at the weekend in an operation conducted by a combined team of troops of the Nigerian Army, Department of Department of State Services (DSS) personnel and officers of Western Nigeria Security Network aka Amotekun, according to security sources.

The sources said Ohida who was also known as Anwar was plotting massive terrorist attacks in some southern states before he was killed.

He was reportedly killed alongside many members of the terrorist organization by the security forces who led a surprise attack on their forest hideout.

The eliminated ISWAP leader previously served as deputy to ISWAP Central Nigeria leader Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais.

Ikrimah was arrested by the DSS in 2023.

After Ikrimah’s arrest, Ohida reportedly assumed leadership of ISWAP activities across parts of North central and southern parts of the country, where he subsequently played a key role in the planning, coordination and execution of terrorist operations.

The DSS gathered intelligence on the plan by Ohida to attack to attack innocent persons during the forthcoming Yuletide through the interrogation of Abu Uwais, according to the sources

‘The plan was to attack civilians during the festive period and ultimately disrupt the 2027 general elections. This Intelligence was corroborated by intelligence partners from the United Kingdom, who supported the elimination operation,’ offered one of the sources.

The source also revealed that Ohida masterminded the 31st December 2025, invasion of Ipele Divisional Police Station, Owo, Ondo State during which AK-47 rifles were stolen before the police station was destroyed with an explosive.

The source also linked him to the 28 July 2022 Suleja-Zuba Road, Niger State military checkpoint attack in which several soldiers, officers and civilians were killed.

Ohida was also linked to the July 11, 2022, attack on Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja; the 23rd April, 2022 attack on Ogaminana Police Station, Adavi LGA, Kogi State, which resulted in the death of five police officers, and the February 7, 2022, attack on Okene Area Command police station.

‘The terrorist planned and executed the 24th December, 2020 attack on a Naval checkpoint in Okene, Kogi State, which resulted in the death of two naval officers, not to mention the several attacks he launched across parts of the country,’ he added.

‘We may not immediately realize it, but the elimination of Abdussamad Ohida represents a significant disruption to ISWAP’s leadership structure, operational network and expansion efforts in central and southern Nigeria.

‘Ohida’s elimination, coming a few months after after the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki, is a very big blow to ISWAP’s efforts to expand its operational presence in Nigeria, and underscores the growing efficiency of our security services,’ the source declared.

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping gang accused of abducting a resident and holding him captive for three days in Port Harcourt.

The suspects were arrested following an intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU, at a waterfront hideout in the Borikiri area of the state capital.

The command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.

According to the statement, the victim, identified as Hassan, was abducted on September 6, 2026, around the vicinity of Fidelity Bank, Garrison, Port Harcourt.

He was subsequently taken to Igbugulu Waterside, Borikiri, where he was held for three days before his relatives reportedly paid N10.3 million in ransom for his release.

The statement said the police received information about the abduction on September 7 and immediately commenced an operation to locate the kidnappers.

It read, ‘The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate involved in the abduction of one Mr Hassan, who is a resident of Rivers State.

‘On 7th September 2026, at about 1000hrs, the Command received credible information regarding the kidnapping of the victim, who was abducted on 6th September 2026 in the vicinity of Fidelity Bank, Garrison, Port Harcourt.

‘The victim was reportedly taken to Igbugulu Waterside, Borikiri, Port Harcourt, where he was held captive for three days before he was released following the payment of ?10.3 million ransom by his relatives.

‘Upon receipt of the information, operatives of the Command Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU-AKU) immediately swung into action and commenced intelligence-led operations, which resulted in the arrest of two suspected members of the syndicate.’p

The police identified the suspects as 24-year-old Victor Ifeanyi, also known as ‘Big Boby’, from Aguleri Community, Otuocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, and 36-year-old Aniekan Okon Michael, also known as ‘Duff Man’, from Ikot Ukpor, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Agabe said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects had confessed to alleged involvement in the kidnapping.

She added that the suspects disclosed that the gang had six members and used a white mini-bus, popularly known as a Keke bus, during the operation.

‘The Command has intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate and bring them to justice,’ the spokesperson added.

The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, urged residents to provide the police with credible information that could assist in identifying and arresting suspected criminals.

Adepoju assured members of the public that information supplied to the police would be treated confidentially.

He also said the command would continue to use intelligence-led operations to dismantle kidnapping syndicates and other criminal networks in the state, while urging residents to remain calm and support security agencies.

Another killing in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, in a suspected cult clash, barely two days after two persons were murdered in the town, has intensified widespread panic.

The latest incident occurred on Sunday morning at Ita-Olokan area of Osogbo, where a man identified as Taoheed Ojoiku was reportedly killed during a clash between rival cult groups.

The clash, which occurred around 9:30am, caused panic in the area as residents scampered for safety.

It was gathered that Ojoiku sustained severe injuries during the attack and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was later confirmed dead by medical personnel.

Although details surrounding the attack were still sketchy as of press time, sources said it may not be unconnected with the killing of two persons at Owo Eba area of Ilesa Garage, Osogbo, on Friday.

On Friday afternoon, suspected cultists had attacked the Owo Eba area, killing two persons, including a man popularly known as Small Rugged, while four others sustained gunshot injuries.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers invaded the area in broad daylight and opened fire before fleeing, leaving residents, motorists and traders in panic. The incident forced many shop owners to shut their businesses while some residents stayed indoors for fear of reprisal.

Confirming the Friday attack, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said two persons were killed on the spot, with one identified as Small Rugged, while the identity of the other victim was yet to be ascertained.

Ojelabi said four other persons who sustained gunshot injuries were rescued by police operatives and taken to hospital for treatment.

He added that the Commissioner of Police had deployed tactical teams to the affected areas with a mandate to arrest those behind the attacks, noting that investigation was ongoing.

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, under the auspices of the Middle-Belt Pan Nigerian Forum, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Nigeria’s security agencies for what it described as decisive and proactive action against terror.

The commendation follows a statement by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, which praised Nigeria’s response to recent attacks in the Middle Belt and called for sustained protection of communities in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State.

In a post on its official X account, the Bureau said: ‘The United States commends Nigeria’s strong response to the latest attacks from Fulani militant groups. We will continue to work with the Nigerian government to protect Christians in the Middle Belt. We urge Nigeria to continue the momentum and defend the Barkin Ladi communities in particular.’

Reacting, the Forum said the acknowledgement from Washington is evidence that the efforts of the Tinubu administration, coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser, are beginning to yield results.

Convener of the Forum, Dr. Danladi Ceceko Dangana, said the battle against terror is not yet won, but that victory is in sight. He urged Nigerians to rally round the government and the security agencies so that the country can be made safe for every citizen.

He called on the Armed Forces, the Police and other security agencies to sustain decisive operations against bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram, warning that the American commendation must not be treated as a final stamp that the war has been won.

‘This commendation is welcome, but it is not a certificate of completion,’ Dr. Dangana said.

‘More work remains if every part of Nigeria is to be safe, and if every person, regardless of religion or ethnicity, is to live and work anywhere in this country without the fear of being attacked or killed by terrorists.’

The Forum singled out Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for commendation, citing his role in building synergy among the security agencies and his diplomatic engagement with the United States. It said that engagement has helped keep US-Nigeria relations from being strained, despite Washington’s stated concern over the killing of Christians in Nigeria.

According to the Coalition, the National Security Adviser is backing his promise and commitment to a safer country for Christians with concrete action, not rhetoric.

Dr. Dangana said the Middle-Belt Pan Nigerian Forum will continue to partner with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the security agencies until the fight against terror is won.

Signed:

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations

under the auspices of the Middle-Belt Pan Nigerian Forum

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has called on religious and regional leaders to strengthen unity and promote peaceful coexistence as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

Hamzat also urged Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying continuity in governance would help sustain the administration’s development programmes and policies.

He spoke at the formal turbaning of elder statesman, Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi (OON), as the Baba Adinni of Yorubaland, at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

The ceremony, organised by the Council of Islamic Preachers, also featured the installation of Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo as the Iya Adinni of Yorubaland.

Addressing political stakeholders, traditional rulers and religious leaders at the event, Hamzat stressed the importance of regional cohesion to national stability, particularly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the Tinubu administration had established a foundation for development, arguing that retaining the President in office would provide policy continuity and reduce disruptions associated with changes in government.

The deputy governor urged religious leaders to use their positions to promote peace, tolerance and unity, noting that their influence could help foster stability across communities and the country.

Speaking on the conferment of the title on Olusi, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Dr Seyi Bamigbade, described the elder statesman as deserving of the honour.

Bamigbade said the installation formed part of activities marking Olusi’s 90th birthday and recognised his longstanding contributions to community development and peaceful coexistence.

He noted that Olusi had, over the years, promoted peace across communities and maintained relationships spanning political circles and government institutions.

Also speaking, Dr Samuel Mayuwon Ajose commended the Council of Islamic Preachers for selecting Olusi for the traditional Islamic leadership position.

Ajose said the appointment of a widely respected elder statesman would help strengthen religious harmony and social cohesion across Yorubaland.

The ceremony, which celebrated the Islamic heritage and traditions of the Southwest, attracted prominent government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders and political stakeholders.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, served as the Chief Host of the event.

Police operatives have arrested two suspected cultists over alleged murder of their colleague simply identified as Godfrey at Jesse Main Market, Ethiope West LGA of Delta State.

The two suspects were arrested on Thursday by the operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit of the command, Delta Police Command spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Warri.

According to him, the two suspects were arrested based on information gotten from a viral video.

Edafe said the police team stormed the suspected criminals hideout in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area (LGA) and effected the arrest.

‘Following a viral video of some suspected cultists celebrating the murder of another suspected cultist, the police operatives stormed their hideouts and arrested two of them.

‘The duo were arrested in connection with the cult-related killing of a 25-year-old man identified simply as Godfrey at Jesse Main Market, Ethiope West LGA on March 24, 2026.

‘One battle axe, four cutlasses and one hammer were recovered during the operation,’ he said.

The Delta Police Command spokesperson said that preliminary investigation revealed that one of the fleeing suspects was vying for number one position in Aro Bagger confraternity.

Edafe said the suspect, therefore, needed to murder a rival cult member for him to attain the position.

He said that the suspect who was currently at large, connived with the two detained suspects and a friend to the victim, who is also on the run to perpetrate the attack.

Edafe said efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects were on top gear, adding that the arrested culprits were assisting the police with useful information.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound sadness over the crash on Monday morning of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 jet near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.

The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

The President extends his deepest condolences to the family of the 25 passengers and seven crew members involved, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and all officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.

‘This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.’

‘The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.

‘I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate Search and Rescue operation following the accident..

‘ I pray for the repose of the souls of the gallant officers and for Almighty God to grant their families and the Nigerian Air Force the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss.

‘ I assure the Nigerian Air Force of the continued support of our administration as they continue their vital role in securing our nation.

‘I also commend the swift response of first responders and the Ondo State Government at the crash site’, President Tinubu says.

Three scientist, Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have been jointly awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine for groundbreaking work that has transformed ability to control and study brain cells.

The three scientists were honoured for discoveries that paved the way for optogenetics, a revolutionary technique that allows researchers to use light to switch specific nerve cells on and off, the Nobel Committee said on Monday.

The Committee added that the work trio has given scientists an unprecedented tool for investigating how the brain works, including the complex neural processes behind movement, emotions, memory and behaviour.

The Nobel Committee said at the heart of the breakthrough are light-sensitive proteins known as light-gated ion channels.

Hegemann and Nagel were instrumental in discovering and characterising these proteins, while Deisseroth later helped transform the findings into a powerful method for controlling the activity of selected neurons using pulses of light.

The breakthrough has opened a new frontier in neuroscience.

Instead of relying mainly on drugs or electrical stimulation, researchers can target particular groups of neurons with remarkable precision. This has enabled scientists to investigate the role individual cells and neural circuits play in both normal brain function and disease.

The implications extend beyond basic research.

Optogenetics has become an important research tool in the study of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including disorders in which abnormal brain-cell activity plays a role.

The Nobel recognition therefore marks not just an achievement in laboratory science, but a major step in humanity’s continuing effort to understand one of the most complex organs in the human body – the brain.

The award places Deisseroth, Hegemann and Nagel among the scientists whose discoveries have fundamentally changed the direction of modern medical research.

Their work demonstrates how a seemingly basic discovery about how cells respond to light can ultimately produce a powerful technology capable of probing the brain with extraordinary precision.

Redeemer’s University, Ede, will graduate a total of 2,471 students at its 18th convocation ceremonies holding from Thursday, 8 October, to Friday, 9 October 2026, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, announced at a pre-convocation press conference on Monday.

Addressing journalists at the university, Professor Akindele said 2,030 students will receive bachelor’s degrees, while 441 will be awarded postgraduate degrees. Of the undergraduate figure, 200 students, representing 10.5 per cent made First Class honours, while 937, or 49.2 per cent, earned Second Class Upper Division. A total of 629 graduated with Second Class Lower Division, 126 with Third Class, and 11 with a Pass degree.

The graduating class has been named the Christ Ambassadors Set. ‘It is a name that carries responsibility,’ the Vice-Chancellor said. ‘We expect these young people to take their knowledge into the world with honesty, competence, and compassion.’

Professor Akindele disclosed that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved ten new full-time undergraduate programmes for commencement in the 2026/2027 academic session. They are Broadcasting, Public Relations, Advertising, Information and Media Studies, Journalism and Media Studies, Film Production, Criminology and Security Studies, Biotechnology, Software Engineering, and Information Systems.

He said the approval followed the NUC’s resource verification exercise, adding that the expansion carries an obligation. ‘Students who enrol must find capable teachers, appropriate facilities, and a curriculum that prepares them for the realities of their chosen fields,’ he stated.

The university, he added, has also received NUC approval to commence Pharmacy, Medicine and Surgery, and Dentistry, and is awaiting the approval of the relevant professional bodies before take-off. The Redeemer’s Health Village at Redemption City will serve as the teaching hospital.

100% Pass Rate

The Vice-Chancellor reported that the university’s physiotherapy and nursing students have maintained a 100 per cent pass rate in all external council examinations for several years, as have its pharmacy students. Some accounting students have also qualified as chartered accountants while still undergraduates.

At the May 2023 diet of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) examinations, eight students qualified as chartered accountants. Five of them will receive their BSc Accounting degrees at this convocation, while the remaining three are still undergraduates – one of whom was only in 200 level when she qualified.

‘I congratulate the students and their teachers. Professional training asks a great deal of both,’ Professor Akindele said.

International Recognition

He announced that the university’s Institute of Genomics and Global Health, led by Professor Christian Happi, received a grant from the Mastercard Foundation to train scholars from across Africa for short courses, MSc, and PhD degrees in genomics. Redeemer’s University is the only Nigerian university to receive the mandate. Last year, the university was also selected as one of the few private universities to provide postgraduate training to TETFund scholars.

Entrepreneurship And Innovation

On entrepreneurship, the Vice-Chancellor said the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development Studies organised an exhibition and trade fair on 14 May 2026, attended by representatives of the Bank of Industry, SMEDAN, the Corporate Affairs Commission, and the Osun State Ministry of Commerce. Students displayed skills ranging from farming, baking, and fashion to web development and digital marketing.

He explained that the revised curriculum provides vocational training from 100 level through 400 level, with certification on completion, so that students graduate with both an academic qualification and an entrepreneurship certificate.

Research, Peace, And Host Community

Professor Akindele said the university’s research strength in genomics, global health, water, and environmental science was reflected in its 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings performance. On 21 September, the Adeboye Institute of Peace and Good Governance, with the Directorate of International Relations and Protocol, marked the International Day of Peace with a youth roundtable on dialogue and social cohesion.

He also announced full scholarships for six Ede indigenes, a practice the university has sustained for more than a decade, and thanked the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, and the people of Ede for their goodwill.

Convocation Programme

The convocation activities began on Friday, 2 October, with a meeting between graduating students and the Visitor, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, after the Holy Ghost service at Redemption City, where the students were anointed. A thanksgiving service held on Sunday, 4 October.

On Tuesday, 6 October, the awards and recognition ceremony will hold at 10:00 a.m. in the university auditorium. The convocation lecture holds on Wednesday, 7 October at 11:00 a.m., followed by the convocation play at BOJA Hall at 7:30 p.m., with a second performance the following night.

The first day of the convocation proper, Thursday, 8 October, will cover the faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Built Environment Studies, Computing and Digital Technologies, Engineering and Technology, Management Sciences, and Natural Sciences. Two new projects – the female hostel for the Directorate of Educational Services and Training (DEST) and the new entrepreneurship centre – will be commissioned at 8:30 a.m. that day.

The second day, Friday, 9 October, will cover the faculties of Humanities, Law, and Social Sciences, together with affiliate institutions and the College of Postgraduate Studies.

Message To Graduate

Addressing the graduands, Professor Akindele said: ‘You have worked towards this moment for years. Enjoy it. Thank the people who helped you reach it. Then face the next stage with an open mind. Ask questions, accept corrections, do your work carefully. If you give your word, keep it. When you make a mistake, take responsibility and put it right.’

He thanked the Visitor, Pastor E. A. Adeboye; the Board of Trustees; the Governing Council; parents; academic and non-academic staff; the ceremonial committee led by Professor Adewale Adewuyi; alumni; partners; and the media.

President Bola Tinubu said Nigerian Army has operationalised new formations in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Osun states to to bring troops closer to vulnerable communities and strengthen their ability ability to respond swiftly to security threats.

The ?????????President disclosed this on Sunday in a post on his official X handle, @OfficialABAT, while highlighting measures to strengthen the Armed Forces’ operational capacity and welfare.

Tinubu said the new formations would bring troops closer to vulnerable communities and enhance their ability to respond swiftly when Nigerians are threatened.

‘This week, the Nigerian Army @HQNigerianArmy operationalised new formations in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Osun.

‘Our troops are now closer to vulnerable communities in these areas, strengthening our ability to respond swiftly and decisively when our people are threatened.’

He said the Federal Government was also fast-tracking construction of new barracks and depots in Abuja, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Kogi, with the Osun facility already completed.

‘We are also fast-tracking the construction of new barracks and depots in Abuja, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Kogi, with Osun already completed.

‘As we demand more from our men and women in uniform, we must do more to support them and their families.

‘Every deployment is a sacrifice made by a family too,’ the president stated.

Tinubu stressed that increased responsibilities for servicemen and women must be matched with greater support for them and their families.

He also acknowledged the impact of the recent pay increase for members of the Armed Forces, saying feedback from personnel showed that the adjustment was making a difference.

‘Over the past few days, servicemen and women of the Armed Forces have shared what the recent pay increase means for them and their families.

‘I am glad it is making a difference,’ Tinubu said.

The President reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the Armed Forces have the resources and support needed to protect the country.

‘As our Armed Forces stand watch over Nigeria, my duty as Commander-in-Chief is to ensure they have the resources and support to do their job and that Nigeria stands firmly behind the families waiting for them at home.’

He said the government would continue to support military personnel and their families as they serve the country.