Category: PM News

The viral story of an alleged missing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Adewebi Opeoluwa, serving in Osogbo, Osun State, has turned out to be a hoax.

A Nigerian identified simply as Mr. Adetunji hurriedly published a missing person notice on his Facebook page on 24 September, declaring Opeoluwa missing and appealing to the public for information about her whereabouts.

‘We wish to inform the general public about the disappearance of Miss Adewebi Opeyemi, a serving NYSC corps member at St. James’s Grammar School, Ayetoro, Osogbo, Osun State.

‘She has been incommunicado since Sunday, September 20, and all efforts to establish contact with her have so far been unsuccessful.

‘We appeal to anyone who may have seen her or has any useful information about her whereabouts to please contact any of the following immediately:

?? Mrs. Adewebi (Mum): 08131623098

?? Mr. Adetunji: 08037824277

‘Please share this announcement widely. Your repost or sharing may help us reach someone with information that could assist in locating her.

‘Any information, no matter how small, may be very important. Please help us find Adewebi Opeyemi,’ the notice said.

However, when the news reached the Osun Directorate of the NYSC, an investigation was quickly launched, and Opeoluwa was tracked down to Ado Ekiti, where she had gone on a personal visit.

On realising the panic and anxiety her irresponsible abandonment of duty post and sudden disappearance had caused, she took to her Facebook page on Monday to dispel the missing person narrative and apologise for her misdeed.

Opeoluwa’s public notice of retraction is reproduced below:

PUBLIC NOTICE AND RETRACTION

RE: Correction Regarding My Missing Person Report

I, Adewebi Opeoluwa, serving at St. James’s Grammar School, wish to clarify and correct prior communications regarding my missing person report that was posted online on 24 September 2026, specifically by Amiloaded media, which stated that I had been missing since 20 September 2026.

I wish to state categorically that I was not missing, nor was I kidnapped. It was because my mother was unable to reach me for some days that warranted her raising an alarm, which was amplified by the media outfit.

I wish to state that I am safe, accounted for, and not in any danger. The initial report was made in good faith by the media outfit to appease my mother, who was very scared at not hearing from me.

I sincerely apologise for any alarm, distress, or confusion the post may have caused the entire NYSC community in Osun State, starting from my state coordinator, my PPA, my friends, and colleagues. Once again, I am really sorry for all the problems I have put everyone through.

Yours sincerely,

Adewebi Opeoluwa

28 September 2026

When Opeoluwa was brought before the NYSC Osun Coordinator, Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, and journalists at the Scheme’s Secretariat in Osogbo on Monday afternoon, she could not offer any genuine explanation for what she went to do in Ado Ekiti when she was supposed to be at her duty post in Osogbo. She, however, regretted her indiscretions and appealed for forgiveness.

Kubiangha responded that Opeoluwa’s case would be forwarded to the NYSC disciplinary committee for necessary punitive action.

He promised that the Scheme would continue to sensitize corps members to understand that being on the fast lane or trying to pursue money or fame in the wrong way is destructive.

‘It is unethical for an individual to claim to have been kidnapped or missing when you are not.

‘You are exposing your parents to untold hardship. You have gone viral for the wrong reason.

‘This is why our Director General has been warning corps members against using social media negatively.

‘This matter will be pursued to a logical conclusion. We will follow it up with the disciplinary committee so that it will act as a deterrent to other would-be erring corps members.

‘We will really talk to the corps members in this new orientation programme,’ Kubiangha said.

He asked parents to create enough time for their children and to inculcate the right values in them.

Two principals of St. James’s Grammar School, Ayetoro, were also at the NYSC Secretariat to follow up on the case.

Opeoluwa was initially deployed to Nasarawa State before he was reposted to Osun State based on health ground.

Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued 41 travellers who were reportedly abducted after their commercial vehicle broke down along a major highway in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The travellers, including seven children, were intercepted by armed bandits who took advantage of the vehicle’s mechanical fault to attack the stranded passengers and attempt to move them away from the highway.

According to a statement on the operation, the commercial vehicle was travelling from Senegal to Kano State when it developed a mechanical problem along the highway.

The occupants were reportedly left vulnerable as they waited for assistance. The armed group then moved in and attempted to take the passengers into the surrounding area.

However, troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, responded after receiving actionable intelligence about the incident.

Security forces quickly mobilised to the location and engaged the armed men, who were reportedly forced to abandon the travellers and flee into nearby farmlands.

All 41 passengers were rescued unharmed.

Those rescued comprised 24 men, 10 women and seven children, according to the military.

The operation prevented what could have developed into a major kidnapping incident along one of the region’s important transport routes, where travellers remain vulnerable to attacks by armed groups.

The rescued passengers are currently receiving necessary assistance from the authorities and are expected to be reunited with their families and relevant transit authorities.

Meanwhile, troops have maintained a security presence in the area in an effort to protect other road users and prevent the attackers from returning.

Security forces are also pursuing the fleeing suspects, according to the military.

The successful rescue comes amid persistent concerns over attacks on highways in parts of north-western Nigeria, where armed groups have targeted motorists, commercial vehicles and communities for ransom.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has approved the award of contracts for the digitisation of the FCT High Courts, with the project expected to commence within two weeks.

Mr Salman Dako, General Counsel and Mandate Secretary, FCT Legal Services Secretariat, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja after the FCT Administration Executive Council meeting chaired by Wike.

Dako said the approval was aimed at transforming the administration of justice in the territory by replacing the existing manual record-keeping system with a modern and automated judicial management platform.

He explained that the digital transformation project would cover 67 courtrooms across the FCT, providing the courts with electronic recording and case management facilities.

‘The scope of this project is the digitalisation of the High Courts in the FCT, including digital transformation and implementation of an electronic court recording and case management system.’

Dako said the initiative would ensure that the High Courts transitioned from handwritten court records to digital documentation and electronic management of cases.

‘Meaning that we are transitioning the High Court from manual recording to digital recording, and electronic case management,’ he said.

He noted that the FCT judiciary had, over the years, faced challenges associated with handwritten court notes, manual filing procedures and the physical tracking of cases, which could contribute to delays in the administration of justice.

Dako explained that the newly approved contract was designed to address those challenges by introducing technology-driven processes capable of improving the speed, accessibility and organisation of judicial records.

‘Transitioning to digital court management will resolve the persistent challenges linked to manual documentation and handwritten records,’ he said.

He added that the system would also enable legal practitioners and litigants to embrace electronic case filing, thereby reducing dependence on physical documents and manual procedures.

‘I believe that this will be a very great improvement for us. Some judicial divisions have already started this outside the FCT, so I think this is the future and it is time we go along this route,’ Dako said.

He further disclosed that the contract period was two weeks, after which progress on the implementation of the digitalisation programme was expected to become visible,

He added that the initiative was expected to set a new benchmark for judicial efficiency and court administration in the nation’s capital.

The Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg has called for justice over the death of three nationals in separate incidents across South Africa.

Their death was reported to have occurred between Sept. 18 and Sept. 21, amid renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians in the country.

Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg, Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, calling on South African authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

She also urged the authorities to ensure that anyone found responsible for the passing of the Nigerian nationals, namely; Kenechukwu Igwemmadu, Olaniyi Olatunde and Christian Nnaemeka, faces the law.

She added that Igwemmadu died on Sept. 18 after jumping from a building while attempting to escape alleged police harassment and brutality at the Kenlin Court on Douglas Street, Bloemfontein.

She noted that two days later, Olatunde, a Nigerian security guard, was allegedly shot by unidentified South African, following an argument over a cup belonging to Spanata Bar and Grills Night Club in Mamelodi East, Pretoria.

Olatunde suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to Mamelodi Hospital, where he died on Sept. 21.

The alleged shooter was reported to have returned to the club and threatened witnesses before leaving the scene.

Meanwhile, Nnaemeka was reported to have died on Sept. 21, following alleged encounter with South African politician and investigative content creator, Xolani Khumalo, and members of his Sizok’thola team in Primrose, Ekurhuleni.

The Consul-General said Nnaemeka was reported to have been assaulted and tortured during the encounter before attempting to escape.

Okey-Uche said ‘he (Nnaemeka) was reported to have collapsed from his injuries and exhaustion, and later pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.’

She recounted that on Feb. 9, there was reported death of another Nigerian, Emeka Uzor, who was shot during encounter with Khumalo’s reality television crew in Windsor East, Randburg, saying no arrests has been made.

‘The recent deaths raise concerns about the treatment and security of Nigerians, and other Africans in South Africa, amid xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, threats and other forms of ill-treatment.

‘All lives matter. Allegations must be handled through due process, with suspects presumed innocent and given opportunity to defend themselves in court,’ she said.

The Consul-General, therefore, urged Nigerians to remain calm, law-abiding and security-conscious, while assuring to continue to pursue their interest, welfare and fair treatment.

Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has said he has the capacity to reset Nigeria within four years if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Makinde made the declaration on Monday during the North Central Town Hall meeting of his campaign in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The governor described himself as a ‘re-setter’ and said his proposed agenda would focus on security, education, the economy and the country’s socio-political environment.

According to him, the reset agenda could be achieved within one term of four years.

‘Listen to me very carefully. The reset agenda can be concluded in four years,’ Makinde said.

He cited the example of a former military head of state who, according to him, took major political decisions within a short period, including ending military rule and ushering in democracy.

The Oyo governor said that if elected, his administration would operate a transitional government of national unity aimed at creating a new direction for Nigeria’s development.

‘We can reset this country, reset and give Nigeria a new security architecture. Reset and give Nigeria a new path for education. Reset our economy, utilising data science and logic,’ he said.

Makinde also said effective leadership requires energy and commitment, pointing to his activities in the past 24 hours, which included travelling from Ibadan to Abuja, then making a three-and-a-half-hour journey to Lafia before continuing with engagements until 2am.

He said the 2027 election would ultimately be decided by Nigerians rather than political influence, financial strength or predictions from analysts.

‘This election is not going to be determined by the number of billionaires you have in your corner or how much billion you have to spend. This election will be determined by the people of Nigeria,’ he said.

Makinde thanked Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule and residents of the state for welcoming his campaign team, saying political differences had not affected the hospitality extended to them.

He added that his proposed reset would focus on creating a new direction for Nigeria through reforms in key sectors.

Osun State University (UNIOSUN) has secured a US$60,000 research grant from the US Naval Medical Research Unit 3 (NAMRU-3) to support mosquito surveillance and research activities in selected states across Nigeria.

The University’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, disclosed this in a statement, saying the grant was won by Dr Dapo Adeogun of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, with support from other vector experts in the department.

According to the statement, the project will strengthen mosquito surveillance and generate scientific data to support efforts to control vector-borne diseases in Nigeria.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, congratulated Dr. Adeogun and other members of the research team on the achievement.

Professor Adebooye commended the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology for its commitment to impactful research, noting that the grant would further enhance the University’s research profile and visibility.

He also encouraged members of the University community to continue pursuing competitive local and international research grants.

The latest award adds to UNIOSUN’s growing portfolio of externally funded research projects and underscores the institution’s commitment to research that addresses critical public health and societal challenges.

The University management described the achievement as further evidence of UNIOSUN’s growing profile as a research-driven institution with increasing international visibility.

XEJet Airlines has been cut off from ground handling services by members of the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria over an alleged outstanding debt of about N300 million.

The association said the decision was taken after the airline failed to fulfil payment commitments made to companies providing services to it.

AGHAN President, Olaniyi Adigun, and Vice President, Bashir Ahmed, disclosed the development in a joint statement on Monday.

According to the association, ground handling companies had previously tried to resolve the dispute by engaging the airline and accepting payment arrangements proposed by its management.

It said the efforts did not produce the expected result, prompting the withdrawal of services.

‘We decided to direct our members to withdraw services from XEJet Airlines because it has over time failed to meet up with its payment plans. Our members have made every effort to ensure that the airline complied, but its management has been recalcitrant,’ the statement said.

Adigun said the amount owed by XEJet had accumulated to approximately N300 million.

‘As it stands, the company owes our members about N300 million. Hence, we have instructed our members to withdraw services from the airline and this has been complied with 100 per cent,’ he said.

The dispute has affected the airline’s handling arrangements at the airport, with reports indicating that some passengers’ luggage had to be transferred to another airline as an alternative arrangement.

Ground handling companies provide airlines with a range of essential airport services, including baggage handling, passenger processing and ramp support.

AGHAN said the failure of airlines to settle bills for services already provided was placing additional financial pressure on ground handling companies and threatening their ability to sustain operations.

‘We can’t continue to operate like this. Why are some companies not willing to pay for services rendered to them? This is intentional. It is affecting our members at all cadres,’ the association said.

The latest action followed an earlier attempt by AGHAN to compel indebted domestic airlines to address their outstanding bills.

The association had given affected carriers a seven-day window to settle at least 75 per cent of their debts or face withdrawal of ground handling support.

According to AGHAN, the planned action was suspended after some airlines submitted payment proposals and began implementing them.

The association said XEJet, however, failed to meet the terms agreed with its members, leading to the latest sanctions.

The development adds to the financial pressures confronting operators within Nigeria’s aviation industry, where airlines and service providers depend on one another for the uninterrupted movement of passengers and aircraft.

XEJet had not, at the time of the reports, publicly responded to the allegation of indebtedness or the withdrawal of ground handling services.

The Kebbi Caucus of African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the National Assembly has called on the police and Amnesty International to investigate the alleged illegal detention of party members and supporters in the state.

The ?????????caucus made the call at a news conference organised in collaboration with the state party Chairman, Mr Safiyanu Bala, in Abuja on Tuesday.

Speaking on behalf of the caucus, Sen. Garba Maidoki (ADC-Kebbi) said that the circumstances surrounding the arrest raised serious questions about due process in the exercise of police powers and citizens’ fundamental rights.

Maidoki said that the caucus recognised the legitimate responsibility of the police and other law-enforcement agencies to investigate suspected offences.

While stating that ADC did not place any of its members above the law, he, however, argued that political affiliation must never become a substitute for evidence, and that political difference must never become a basis for deprivation of liberty.

According to him, where criminal allegations exist, they should be investigated objectively and dealt with through established legal procedures.

‘We wish to make a respectful but strong appeal to the Judiciary to exercise the highest degree of circumspection, scrutiny independence and fidelity to the law whenever orders affecting the liberty of citizens are sought.

‘We trust that the judiciary will continue to serve as an independent safeguard for the rights of every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation,’ he said.

Maidoki said that a formal complaint concerning the conduct of certain police officers would be submitted to the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Inspector-General of Police.

He urged the authorities to examine the complaints and determine whether any police officer acted contrary to the law, police regulations or professional standards.

The senator stressed the need to investigate alleged political interference, arbitrary detention, unlawful instructions or improper conduct by individual officers.

‘We therefore appeal to the Inspector-General to examine the cases presented to his office and take whatever action is appropriate within his powers.

‘We will also bring the relevant cases to the attention of Amnesty International, particularly with respect to allegations of excessive or arbitrary use of police powers against political opponents and supporters of the opposition.

‘Where citizens are detained or subjected to criminal proceedings in circumstances suggesting that their political activities may have influenced the actions taken against them, such allegations raise legitimate human rights and democratic concerns,’ he said.

Maidoki said that the Kebbi chapter of the party demands an immediate end to any arrest, detention or prosecution undertaken for the purpose of intimidating citizens because of their political affiliation or peaceful political activities.

He said that every ADC member or supporter currently in custody must be treated strictly in accordance with the constitution.

The senator maintained that detainees have the right to know the basis of the arrest, access legal representation and be brought before a competent court.

He called on Kebbi State Government and all relevant authorities to ensure that public institutions were not used to intimidate citizens because of their political affiliations or peaceful political activities.

Maidoki urged members and supporters of the party to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, saying that no provocation should be answered with violence or unlawful retaliation.

‘We therefore call on the relevant institutions to give these concerns the attention they deserve and we urge all parties to ensure that the rights and dignity of every citizen are protected, regardless of political affiliation,’ he said.

Earlier, the Kebbi State chairman of ADC said that issues of alleged illegal detention of innocent citizens should not be treated with kid gloves, as it breached fundamental human rights, due process and the rule of law.

‘Our concern is not about political affiliation. It is about the principles that should govern a democratic society and protect every citizen, regardless of party, status or political persuasion.

‘We have therefore assembled here to present the facts as we understand them, raise the concerns of stakeholders and call the attention of the relevant authorities and the Nigerian public to the matter,’ he said.

An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert and digital literacy advocate, Israel Ihaza, has called for stronger community involvement in protecting telecommunications infrastructure, including incentives for local security personnel, following more than 5,000 fibre-cut incidents recorded across Nigeria in the first six months of 2026.

Ihaza made the call during a radio programme on Radio One 103.5 FM, where he warned that damage to fibre-optic cables was no longer simply a telecommunications industry problem but one capable of affecting banking, businesses, startups and everyday digital services.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) disclosed in August that more than 5,000 fibre-cut incidents occurred in the first half of 2026, largely from road construction, excavation and related civil works.

The Commission has warned that damage to communications infrastructure can disrupt banking, commerce, government services, healthcare, security and emergency communications.

Ihaza said the public needed to understand the wider consequences of damaging telecom infrastructure, noting that many people did not regard fibre cables with the same caution given to electricity infrastructure because they posed no obvious physical danger.

‘But what they don’t understand is that these cables power economies. If some of these cables are down, the financial ecosystem is down, banking generally,’ he said.

He said deliberate vandalism and accidental damage were both contributing to the problem, particularly when construction or excavation work was carried out without adequate knowledge of underground infrastructure.

According to him, stronger surveillance should be introduced around vulnerable telecom infrastructure, including the use of closed-circuit television cameras and increased involvement of security personnel.

‘What the government can do in such cases is that if we can put like CCTVs that actually capture some of these people,’ he said.

He also suggested that local security personnel could be incentivised to monitor vulnerable areas and help identify suspicious activities around telecom infrastructure.

Ihaza urged Nigerians to complement such measures by reporting suspicious activities instead of assuming that damage to telecom infrastructure was somebody else’s concern.

Explaining, ‘Because what we’re seeing currently in Nigeria is, ‘Oh, if there’s an accident, what’s my business? As far as it’s not affecting me.’ Meanwhile, it’s affecting everybody.’

He argued that a damaged fibre cable could have consequences far beyond the immediate location of the incident, particularly in an economy where financial transactions, communications and businesses increasingly depend on connectivity.

The cost of dealing with damaged infrastructure is also being borne by telecommunications operators.

MTN Nigeria’s Chief Technical Officer, Yahaya Ibrahim, said the company budgets about ?7 billion annually for fibre relocation projects arising from road expansion and other incidents, including cases where infrastructure has to be moved or repaired. He described the expenditure as money that could otherwise be deployed to new network infrastructure.

The MTN figure provides an industry perspective on the financial burden created by damage and disruption to telecom infrastructure, beyond the immediate impact experienced by subscribers.

Ihaza also called for clearer identification of underground fibre routes to reduce accidental damage during construction.

‘Just the same way we have labeling for pipelines-‘Oh, this area, there are pipelines here’-I think we need to come up with that as well, where we know, okay, in certain areas we have fibre optic cables, so do not disrupt it,’ he said.

He said construction companies, engineers and other professionals whose activities could affect telecom infrastructure should be better educated about the location and importance of fibre cables.

The expert also advocated appropriate consequences for deliberate or negligent damage to telecom infrastructure, while stressing that prevention should remain a priority.

The NCC has similarly called for stronger coordination between telecommunications operators, contractors, government agencies, regulators and security agencies, and said a joint standing committee involving the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy had been established to develop mechanisms for protecting fibre infrastructure during road works.

Ihaza maintained that protecting telecom infrastructure required collective responsibility because the networks increasingly underpin the daily activities of Nigerians.

‘These cables power economies,’ he said, stressing the need for greater public awareness and participation in protecting the infrastructure that connects individuals, businesses and essential services.

President Bola Tinubu has returned to Lagos after concluding his working vacation in France, where he held a series of engagements, including a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Tinubu arrived at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, around 6.22pm on Tuesday, where Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other dignitaries received him.

His arrival was confirmed by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, who announced on X, ‘Landing. Welcome home Mr President!’

Tinubu had left Abuja on August 30 for the working vacation, spending about a week in London before proceeding to Paris.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President travelled from Paris to Lagos, where he is scheduled to meet political leaders and associates over the coming days.

The statement said the meetings would form part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

‘While in Lagos, President Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections,’ Onanuga said.

The Presidency also said Tinubu’s decision to return to Nigeria through Lagos was partly to honour the memory of the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 1993 presidential election and a prominent figure in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

As part of the Independence Day activities on October 1, Tinubu is expected to attend the premiere of a film celebrating Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.

The President’s return to Nigeria comes after several weeks of engagements outside the country. During his stay in France, he also attended a private dinner with Macron, among other activities.

His Lagos engagements are expected to continue over the next several days before he returns to Abuja.