Category: PM News

By Christian Ogbonna

A middle-aged man, Mr Lawrence Peter, has been murdered in Amangbala, Ohaisu community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi over while demanding for N1000 claimed as the cost of cleaning a costume to be used for a festival.

An eyewitness and a member of the member, Mr Chukwuemeka Oyim confirmed that Peter was stabbed to death by another villager over demand for the money as the community was celebrating “Iko Ohaisu” festival.

According to him, Peter stormed Ogo Amaokwu-Amangbala chambers around 1 a.m., where preparations for the festival were being made.

He said Peter started harassing everyone inside the chamber, demanding N1, 000 as levy for using the ‘Ogo’ for their costume,” Oyim said.

Oyim said that the suspect claimed he and his associates cleaned the ‘Ogo’.

“When the suspect accosted the deceased, he politely told him that he had no money on him.

“The deceased appeal fell on deaf ears of the suspect, who immediately used a bottle and cut deep into the victim head and ran away.

“The deceased was rushed to the Maranatha Hospital at Afikpo, where he died,” Oyim said.

The spokesperson for the Ebonyi Police Command, SP Joshua Ukandu confirmed the incident.

He said the incident occurred in the early hour of Sunday and the villager who killed Peter and some other suspects are already in police custody.

“We are aware of the incident, and the suspect has been arrested and is in our custody.

“Our men have arrested some persons in the area and investigation has commenced,” Ukandu said.

NAN

Temi Ajibade, wife of singer Mr Eazi, says she has no problem with her husband staying friendly with his ex-girlfriends, as long as boundaries are respected.

Speaking on a recent episode of How Far? With Mr Eazi and Temi Otedola, she explained that she only draws the line when friendly gestures turn into overstepping.

“I’ll have no personal issue with my husband if he is friendly with his exes, especially when the break-up wasn’t messy,” Temi said.

She added that simple acts like wishing an ex a happy birthday or sending a nice message are fine, but monitoring their social media or liking their pictures is where she feels uncomfortable.

“You can be nice to the person like wish them a happy birthday or send a nice text, but when you start liking their pictures online, monitoring their status or uploads, that’s where I get uncomfortable,” she said.

More than 500 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Lagos have benefitted from a series of empowerment initiatives implemented by the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), underscoring the state government’s sustained commitment to improving the socio-economic wellbeing of vulnerable groups.

The milestone was announced on Monday during a special Empowerment Programme held at the Lagos State House of Assembly Pavilion, Alausa, as part of activities marking the 2025 World AIDS Day.

This year’s event, featuring an awareness walk and an empowerment fair, was themed “Overcoming Disruptions; Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response.”

It brought together beneficiaries, community leaders, development partners, civil society organisations, and health professionals in a collective show of solidarity and resilience.

Delivering the keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Chief of Staff, Mr Kadiri Semiu Oluwasanu, commended Lagos State for recording steady progress in reducing new HIV infections.

He attributed the gains to strengthened healthcare systems, consistent government interventions, and sustained grassroots engagement.

He noted that World AIDS Day, observed globally on December 1, is a moment to honour those lost to AIDS-related illnesses, reaffirm support for PLHIV, and recommit to universal access to quality healthcare.

According to him, Lagos will continue to prioritise partnerships with communities, development organisations, and private-sector actors to accelerate progress towards an HIV-free state.

“Sustained collaboration remains essential to ensuring no one is left behind in the HIV response,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, Dr Folakemi Animashaun, emphasised that economic empowerment remains critical to reducing vulnerability and strengthening long-term resilience among PLHIV.

Ashe explained that empowerment helps beneficiaries achieve dignity, independence, and improved quality of life–complementing the clinical services they receive.

Animashaun revealed that the 2025 empowerment package included sewing machines, ovens, deep freezers, gas cookers, hair dryers, sterilizers, and cash grants for elderly beneficiaries.

Ashe described the initiative as part of LSACA’s annual World AIDS Day commitment to equip affected individuals with practical tools needed to build stable livelihoods.

“HIV support must go beyond medication. Empowerment restores hope and enables beneficiaries to contribute meaningfully to society,” she said.

“Today’s programme reflects our dedication to ensuring they not only survive but thrive–socially and economically.”

Ashe added that the intervention aligns with Lagos State’s broader vision of eliminating stigma and discrimination, while fostering inclusion and equal opportunities for all residents.

The awareness walk, held earlier in the day, drew hundreds of participants from various sectors, amplifying messages on prevention, treatment adherence, stigma reduction, and sustained community support.

With the successes recorded through the empowerment programme and the 2025 World AIDS Day activities, LSACA reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s resolve to work closely with partners and communities to accelerate the journey toward an HIV-free generation.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has congratulated Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri on being nominated as ambassadors by President Bola Tinubu. The congratulatory message was circulated to the media on Sunday, 30th November, 2025 by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola. The message read: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu released a second list of ambassador nominees which included Chief Femi Fani Kayode and Reno Omokri. “The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) hereby heartily congratulates the duo. Theirs are well deserved nominations as they both share common attributes: fearlessness, objectivity and patriotism. They are proud sons of Nigeria who are eminently qualified for the job. “We are particularly happy for them because they have both distinguished themselves as reliable and genuine Christian team players who are ready to provide places at the table for all regardless of faith. We have no doubt that they will represent Nigeria adequately.”

By Oboh Linus

The Police said 39 suspected trafficked victims allegedly lured into Nigeria by a Malian national identified as Abdullahi Berter have been rescued from Orange Market, Mararaba in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The trafficked persons who are foreign nationals, who speak only French and Arabic, were reportedly sighted, about a week earlier, at Orange Market, Mararaba were rescued on Nov. 30, at about 10:40 hours.

The rescued persons where 33 males and 7 females, all Malian nationals except one person from the Ivory Coast, were rescued from a bungalow at Orange Market, Mararaba, Karu LGA,” Mohammed-Jauro said.

This was revealed by CP Shetima Mohammed-Jauro, Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State, at a press briefing on the achievements of the command on Monday in Lafia.

He said that preliminary investigation revealed that Berter lured the victims to Nigeria under the pretext of securing job for them in France.

The commissioner further said that the suspect illegally transported his victims from Mali to Orange Market, Mararaba, and held them captive in a bungalow.

He (Berter) instructed to invite more persons into Nigeria for an undisclosed operation.

“Based on credible intelligence, I immediately directed the Divisional Police Officer, Mararaba ‘A’ Division to move to the scene for prompt action.

“A team of police detectives was immediately mobilised to the location, where 33 males and 7 females, all Malian nationals except one person from the Ivory Coast, were rescued from a bungalow at Orange Market, Mararaba, Karu LGA,” Mohammed-Jauro said.

He further said that Berter, who initially fled upon learning of the presence of security operatives was however arrested following an intensive manhunt.

“All rescued victims will be formally handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and necessary action in line with the law,” the commissioner said.

He said that the command also arrested one Abubakar Adamu, a suspected kidnapper, and recovered a firearm and ammunition at Kertyo Village, Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

“During interrogation, the suspect led detectives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit to his Ruga in Adudu, where a search was conducted.

“The following items were recovered: 1 AK-47 rifle, 2 Magazines and 11 rounds of live 7.62x39mm ammunition,” he said.

Mohammed-Jauro assured the people of Nasarawa State that the safety of lives and property remains the command’s highest priority.

He said that the command would continue to put criminals on the run, dismantle trafficking and criminal networks. (NAN)

Resident doctors under the Federal Capital Territory Administration have suspended their month-long indefinite strike but warned they’ll be back on the streets if the government fails to act within four weeks.

President of ARD-FCTA, Dr. George Ebong, confirmed the suspension in a message on Monday, saying the decision followed the approval of their key demands by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The doctors, who work across 14 district and general hospitals under the FCTA, downed tools on November 1 to demand better welfare, improved working conditions and fair remuneration, a move that crippled services and stretched the remaining health workers across Abuja.

“We have suspended the strike for four weeks with the hope that the approvals from Mr Minister will be implemented,” Dr. Ebong said.

But the union warned that if the FCTA fails to honour its commitments, they will resume the industrial action without hesitation.

Former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has urged the Federal Government to decentralise the Nigeria Police Force and allow states to recruit 5, 000 personnel as part of measures to tackle insecurity in Nigeria.

Mimiko made the call on Friday while delivering the Maiden convocation lecture at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the lecture was titled: “Ill-Health and Illiteracy, Siblings’ Alliance Against Development.”

Mimiko said that President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the recruitment of additional 30,000 personnel for the police force might not be adequate for the prevailing security challenges in the country.

“What I think will help tackle the security challenges is the decentralisation of the Nigeria police force and allowing state governors to recruit 5,000 personnel each.

“I believe each state can put up functional police force that can secure their people.

“The governors have the resources to recruit 5,000 personnel that will police the entire states and deal with crime and criminality in their domains, ” he said.

He described the level of insecurity across the country as very unfortunate, noting that it required urgent action by government and all stakeholders to secure lives and property.

U.S. President Donald Trump ignited a political firestorm on Friday after using his Thanksgiving message to make explosive claims about public safety in Minnesota, alleging that “Somalian gangs” were “roving the streets” and accusing Governor Tim Walz of failing to protect residents.

His comments, delivered in a lengthy social media post, drew immediate condemnation from state leaders, civil rights groups and immigration advocates.

In his statement, Trump painted a dire picture of Minnesota, claiming that refugees from Somalia had “taken over” the state and that gang activity linked to the community had left residents “locked in their apartments and houses hoping they will be left alone.”

He offered no evidence to support the assertions, which contradict available crime data and have been rejected repeatedly by Minnesota officials.

The president went on to attack Governor Walz in harsh personal terms, accusing him of being paralysed by “fear” or “incompetence.”

Trump claimed Walz had done “nothing” to address alleged gang activity, suggesting his leadership had allowed the state to fall into disorder.

The governor’s office responded by saying Trump’s remarks were “dangerous, false, and intended to inflame.”

Law enforcement officials in Minnesota have consistently reported that crime trends involving Somali-American communities mirror those of other population groups and do not resemble the large-scale organised criminal networks described in Trump’s post. Community leaders accused the president of “reviving old stereotypes” and targeting a minority group for political gain.

Trump’s attack also revived his long-running feud with Representative Ilhan Omar, whom he criticised using disparaging language.

Omar, a Somali-born lawmaker who has frequently been the focus of Trump’s rhetoric, responded by accusing the president of “spreading lies about immigrants while promoting fear and division.”

While the message was framed as a Thanksgiving greeting, it quickly shifted into a pledge to overhaul U.S. immigration policy if he returns to office.

Trump vowed to pause migration from what he called “Third World countries,” revoke federal benefits for non-citizens, deport those he labelled “public charges,” and pursue what he described as “reverse migration.”

Grammy award-winning Nigerian superstar, Burna Boy, has unexpectedly cancelled two major stops on his No Sign of Weakness U.S. tour.

According to an update on the Ticketmaster website, the Minneapolis concert originally scheduled for November 28, 2025, at The Armory, was cancelled just one day before the event. Another show planned for December 1, 2025, in Chicago has also been pulled down.

Tour organisers have yet to give a clear reason for the cancellations.

However, the development follows intense criticism directed at the singer after a controversial incident in Colorado, where he ordered a couple to be escorted out of his show for sleeping in the front row.

The couple’s removal, met with boos and cheers from the crowd, went viral and triggered widespread debates online, especially after reports emerged that the woman was grieving a personal loss.

Burna Boy later doubled down during an Instagram Live session, saying he only wants fans who “actually bought tickets to see him.”

In the early hours of Friday, the artiste confirmed the cancellations on his Instagram Story, sharing the Ticketmaster link showing the two removed dates while all other shows on the tour remain intact.

Nigerian Disc Jockey Michael Babatunde Adeyinka, popularly known as DJ Tunez, has thrown subtle shade at Afrobeats artist, Burna Boy for giving out coffee at his shows.

The act, which was done as a response to the recent controversy, where Burna Boy sent a sleeping couple out of his show, quickly stirred up reactions from fans and other users.

DJ Tunez on his X handle, reacted with a meme, announcing that no coffee will be served at his show. He added that fans are allowed to sleep during the rave, if they feel like it.

“No coffee will be served at blackout, if you like sleep,” he wrote.

His comment reignited the topic of Burna Boy’s action in Colorado, and his follow up apology.