Category: PM News

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his Imo State counterpart, Senator Hope Uzodimma, have renewed calls for constitutional recognition of Nigeria’s traditional rulers, describing them as vital partners in governance and national stability.

The two governors spoke in Lagos during the meeting of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), attended by 10 governors, royal fathers, and dignitaries from across the country.

Themed ‘The Traditional Institution: The Imperative of Its Inclusion in the Effective and Efficient Governance in Nigeria,’ the meeting focused on redefining the relevance of traditional leadership in the modern democratic structure.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Uzodimma said traditional rulers remain the most enduring link between government and the grassroots and deserve constitutional recognition for their crucial roles in conflict mediation, peacebuilding, and cultural preservation.

‘Our royal fathers are still doing the work; what they need is formal recognition by law,’ Uzodimma said.

He urged the National Assembly to emulate countries like Ghana and South Africa that have constitutionally entrenched traditional institutions.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his remarks, described traditional rulers as the custodians of culture and moral authority, noting that no government can thrive without their cooperation.

‘Long before modern governance took shape, our traditional rulers were the bedrock of stability and justice,’ he said.

He called on monarchs to remain impartial and united, adding that democracy now provides an opportunity to restore their institutional relevance weakened by years of military rule.

Sanwo-Olu observed the relevance of traditional institutions diminished during the military incursion in societal politics, dealing a blow to the traditional institutions.

He said the military rule significantly eroded the laudable roles traditional rulers had played in shaping the nation and its cherished traditions.

‘With the restoration of democracy in the country since 1999, our traditional rulers are gradually asserting themselves back into national consciousness. But we are not yet there. I advise that our traditional rulers continue to push for more constitutionally-backed relevance.

‘This is the right thing to do, and we promise to support this push because we believe we need to tap from the experience and wisdom of our traditional rulers to make more progress.

‘This meeting presents a unique chance to push for clarity; not for the sake of prestige, but for practical reasons. When traditional leaders are clearly woven into our governance framework, their authority can become a valuable asset for fostering peace, resolving conflicts and driving community development.

As our nation grapples with complex social, economic, and security issues, it is crucial that we tap into the wisdom and influence of our royal fathers in a coordinated and structured way,’ he said.

Sanwo-Olu encouraged the monarchs to continue to be steadfast pillars of integrity, fairness, and unity. The Governor said the communities looked to the traditional institutions not just as cultural symbols, but as moral guides.

Voices of traditional leaders, Sanwo-Olu said, hold significant power when calling for peace, equity and progress, adding that their actions touch hearts and shape futures.

‘Let us collaborate to ensure that our traditional institutions stay impartial, inclusive, and in sync with the broader vision of a just and thriving Nigeria,’ Lagos State Governor said.

Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the NCTRN, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, commended President Tinubu for his commitment to national unity and urged traditional rulers to sustain their efforts in promoting peace and security across the country.

The event drew an array of royal fathers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade; Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu (represented); and Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi. Governors from Ekiti, Edo, Cross River, Kogi, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Yobe States also attended.

Police operatives have rescue two victims from a notorious four-man one-chance robbery and kidnapping gang in the Federal Capital Territory.

Four members of the gang identified as Solomon Tanko, Samuel Audu, Chigozie Joseph and Emmanuel Chidiebere as well as their operational vehicles and weapons were also recovered,

SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command said in a statement in Abuja.

Adeh said the operation followed a distress received by the Command on 8th October 2025, at about 10:09 p.m. at Life Camp Police Station by a victim who was in distress, alleging that she had been abducted by suspected criminals who demanded a ransom of ?1,000,000 for her release.

The Police spokesperson said after the receipt of the report, police operatives from Life Camp Division immediately swung into action and the deployment of digital and tactical intelligence the suspects were arrested at Dape Village after a near-deadly confrontation with the police on 9th October 2025, at about 4:30 a.m.

‘Two victims were rescued during the operation. However, one of them, who sustained multiple stab wounds inflicted by the suspects, was promptly rushed to Gwarinpa General Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.

Adeh added that further investigation revealed that the suspects have been involved in a series of one-chance robberies around the Bannex and Kado areas, using a vehicle with tinted windows to deceive unsuspecting passengers.

She said the suspects also revealed that they had picked and robbed six victims, both men and women, before their arrest.

The Police spokesperson listed exhibits recovered from the suspects to include 15 international passports, two sharp daggers, two cutlasses, bloodstained documents, four mobile phones, two hammers, and three biros.

‘The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,’ she said.

Adeh also quoted FCT Commissioner of Police as commending the swift response of the Life Camp Divisional Police Officers.

The Commissioner also urged residents to always trust the police and report incidents promptly for quick intervention.

The General Manager of Kano Pillars Football Club, Ahmed Musa has condemned the behaviour of the team’s fans following their 1-1 draw with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3sc) in a Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, match on Sunday.

Fans of Kano Pillars had invaded the pitch and attacked the match officials, players and other fans after a dramatic equalizer by 3SC in the 94th minute of the match played at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

The fans invaded the pitch after moments after the final whistle forcing the officials and players of 3SC to flee.

However, 3SC have confirmed that some of their players were injured in the attack by the irate fans.

‘What transpired against Shooting Stars is heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable. It does not represent the true values, identity, or the proud history of Kano Pillars. This club has always stood for community, passion, and respect, values that must never be overshadowed by violence or indiscipline.

‘As a club with deep roots and loyal supporters, we are expected to set an example of fairness and honour on and off the pitch. Sadly, today, we fell far short of that standard,’ Musa said in reaction to the incident in a statement posted on his social media platforms.

Ahmed, a former captain of Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, described the behavior of the Kano Pillars fans as ‘unfortunate, painful, and disgraceful’ while offering his apology to the ‘players, coaches, officials, and supporters of Shooting Stars Sports Club, to the match referees and league officials who were caught in this terrible situation, to the Nigeria Premier Football League board and its partners at GTI, to the league organisers, and to every football fan across Nigeria and beyond who watched these scenes with anger, shock, and disappointment.’

‘I know how painful it must have been to witness something so damaging to our game, and I am deeply, deeply sorry.

‘Violence has no place in football. It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and goes against everything this beautiful sport stands for. Football is meant to unite, to inspire, to bring joy. When it turns into scenes of chaos and harm, we must not pretend it away, we must confront it head-on.

‘I assure everyone that Kano Pillars FC will work closely with the relevant authorities to identify those responsible for this shameful act, and they will face the full consequences of their actions.

‘We understand that apologies alone are not enough. Words must be followed by action. We would take a huge step internally to ensure that something like this never happens again.

He also cautioned fans of the club against violence.

‘To our loyal fans, I want to speak directly to you. Kano Pillars is a proud club with a rich legacy, and you are the heartbeat of this club. But true support is shown not through violence, but through respect, passion, and discipline.

‘This must be a turning point for us. We must remind the world that our love for this club can be powerful without being destructive, that our passion can lift its image, not stain it.

‘Once again, on behalf of Kano Pillars Football Club, I offer my most heartfelt and unreserved apology to everyone affected. To the NPFL, to Shooting Stars, to the referees, to the fans of Nigerian football, and to anyone who believes in the spirit of the game, we are sorry. I am sorry.

‘We take full responsibility and will do everything necessary to restore trust, respect, and the true spirit of football in Kano and across Nigeria.’

The continued captivity of two teenage seminarians and a Chinese expatriate months after their abduction has continued to generate concern in Edo State.

It will be recalled that three junior seminarians were abducted from the Catholic Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary School in Ivianokpodi, Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area, on 9 July 2025.

One of them, however, secured his freedom about a month later after his parents allegedly raised an undisclosed sum for his release.

The other two are still being held by their abductors, reportedly due to the Catholic Church’s refusal to pay for their release.

The Chinese expatriate was abducted on 5 September at BUA Cement Company after the kidnappers killed eight NSCDC operatives assigned to him and injured four others.

As of today, the seminarians have spent three months and eight days in captivity, while the expatriate has been held for one month and six days.

Commenting on the two cases, the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims and to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

‘From the time of the kidnapping of the three seminarians, we deployed officers into the bush and successfully rescued one of them, but two are yet to be rescued,’ he said.

He added that on several occasions they were close to encountering the kidnappers but were held back as the criminals used their victims as human shields.

Agbonika further noted that the police were also working on the case of the expatriate, revealing that they had obtained valuable information and were using technology to trace his whereabouts.

‘We have made a lot of progress in that case. We are making progress, and very soon, they will be released.

‘I think we have a fair idea of where the expatriate is being held. Even though I can’t divulge all the information, we are making progress,’ he said.

Argentina’s U20 team marched into the semi-final of the FIFA U20 World Cup after a composed 2-0 victory over Mexico in a heated quarter-final clash that ended with two late red cards for the Mexicans.

From the outset, Argentina looked sharper and more organised, taking control of possession and dictating the tempo.

Maher Carrizo opened the scoring in the ninth minute, reacting quickest to a rebound inside the box and smashing the ball into the top corner to give Argentina an early lead.

Mexico, who lost Alexei Dominguez to injury within the opening ten minutes, attempted to regroup and control the game through short passes and long spells of possession. However, they struggled to penetrate Argentina’s disciplined defence.

Argentina doubled their advantage in the 56th minute when Juan Villalba’s clever pass found Mateo Silvetti, who cut inside and fired low into the left corner past Emmanuel Ochoa.

As the match drew to a close, tempers flared. Referee Jalal Jayed was kept busy, issuing multiple yellow cards before showing red to Diego Ochoa in the 92nd minute and Tahiel Jimenez in the 98th minute. Even Mexico’s coach Eduardo Arce and Argentina’s Diego Placente were cautioned in the closing stages.

Despite Mexico’s late pressure, including a brilliant save from Santino Barbi to deny Yael Padilla’s header, Argentina remained in control and saw out the win with calm professionalism.

With the victory, Argentina advanced to the U20 World Cup semi-final.

When authorities ordered families and children to leave parts of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, 34-year-old mother of two, Angela Bolonz, was shocked.

Kramatorsk, located in the Donetsk region, has long symbolized Ukrainian resistance. The city fought off pro-Russian separatists in 2014 and has resisted Russian forces since the 2022 invasion.

Now, with Russian troops only about 20 kilometers away and launching frequent drone attacks, residents like Angela are facing the painful reality that their home may no longer be safe.

‘When the evacuation was announced, people started leaving,’ Angela said quietly, standing beside her packed bags.

Russia now controls nearly 80 percent of the Donetsk region and has been slowly advancing toward Kramatorsk for months, hoping to capture it.

Angela decided to leave with her two daughters, aged five and ten, after drones began flying near their home, setting cars on fire. On October 5, a drone using an optical fiber guide struck a car in the city center – the first such attack in Kramatorsk.

While the city center remained relatively calm, fear was growing on the outskirts.

On the road to nearby Druzhkivka, about ten kilometers south, cars drove quickly under anti-drone netting. Soldiers worked to repair an armored vehicle damaged by a drone strike.

Rising Drone Warfare

At a local medical center for wounded soldiers, doctors were struggling to keep up. One injured man cracked jokes to hide his pain as a doctor removed shrapnel from his wound.

Another soldier, Yuriy, smiled weakly as he said, ‘We were returning from our position when a drone hit us. It’s hard – very hard.’

A 34-year-old doctor named Sergiy explained that most injuries now come from FPV (first-person-view) drones. ‘One soldier’s leg wound was so bad it completely decayed,’ he said while smoking a cigarette.

Because drones can now fly farther, the front line has turned into what some call the ‘lethal zone’ – a 20-kilometer-wide area where danger is constant.

Russia has increased its drone attacks ahead of winter, before cold weather makes drone batteries less effective.

According to one Ukrainian soldier, troop movements have become more dangerous than staying in battle. Soldiers now travel only on foot, in short segments, and wear special coverings to hide from drones’ heat cameras.

Russian saboteurs, sometimes disguised as Ukrainian soldiers or civilians, have also planted traps beyond the front line

Nigerian influencer and entrepreneur Ola of Lagos, has reacted to the demolition of his newly erected car showroom by the Lagos State Government.

Ola, on his Instagram, story maintained a positive attitude despite the financial loss, stating that he is working on building a new showroom.

‘New Showroom coming soon.Bigger and better insha Allah. We’re still active! We’ve been before our physical showroom and we’d always be.

Ola also expressed his appreciation to his fans and community for their support. He assured them that he is fine.

‘Omo these calls/messages much thank yall tho I’m good. I promise I’m smiling atm self. Been chesting loses for long. Loses that will comfortably get me a bedrooms apartment in Ikoyi. Man will just reason all, smile, thank God, come online to drop motivation, show love then keep going. All is well ooo haha.’, he added.

The Federal Government on Sunday night warned that it may enforce the no-work-no-pay policy against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) if they proceed with their planned strike.

This was contained in a statement issued by Folasade Boriowo, spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education, who accused ASUU of being uncooperative despite several government efforts to prevent the strike.

According to the statement, the government said it has continued to prioritise the welfare of university staff and the stability of the academic calendar under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The statement read partly, ‘Dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path to resolving disagreements, and government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.’

However, the ministry warned that the no-work-no-pay policy remains an existing labour law in Nigeria and would be applied if academic activities are disrupted.

‘While the government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources,’ the statement added.

The ministry also assured students, parents, and the general public of its commitment to maintaining industrial peace in tertiary institutions.

It further appealed to all academic unions to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation, noting that the ongoing education reform agenda aims to improve teaching and research conditions, promote institutional autonomy, and ensure universities operate in a climate of respect and productivity.

Meanwhile, ASUU has declared a total and comprehensive warning strike starting Monday, October 13.

Nigerian influencer and entrepreneur Laura Ikeji-Kanu, has claimed that ladies without jobs now earn more than ladies with jobs in Nigeria.

Laura, on her Instagram page, claimed that the society rewards beauty over talent and hard work. She added that young girls no longer work hard to get financial rewards.

‘We are in a country where girls who do not work earn more than girls who work hard, all because they are beautiful. Girls who are fine make so much money. Please, if you see any hardworking girls, always try to support them, no matter what,’ she wrote.

Laura’s statement quickly sparked reactions from users with some debating the relevance of hard work in today’s society.

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 8 game between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars ended in chaos on Sunday after fans invaded the pitch at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, PM News can authoritatively confirm.

Trouble started when Shooting Stars scored a 94th-minute equalizer, making the game 1-1.

Angry Kano Pillars supporters stormed the field, chasing the referee and some players. Security personnel struggled to control the situation as panic spread around the stadium.

Fan violence and pitch invasion have been a recurring problem in the NPFL. Kano Pillars have previously been fined and ordered to play behind closed doors over similar incidents.

Football stakeholders are now calling for stronger security measures and fan education campaigns to stop such behaviour and protect the image of the Nigerian league.