Category: PM News

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old man, Sada Tambai, in connection with the alleged killing of his 80-year-old father, Adamu Tambai, in Bindawa Local Government Area.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Saturday in Katsina.

According to the statement, the incident happened on Sept. 21 at Mundadu Village, where the victim was found lying motionless outside his residence.

Sadiq-Aliyu said the police were alerted by the District Head of Bindawa, Dan Yusufan Katsina, who reported the discovery involving Adamu Tambai, a former Ward Head of Mundadu.

Following the report, detectives were sent to the community while the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

The PPRO said the attending doctor subsequently pronounced the elderly man dead on arrival.

He added that police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death resulted in the arrest of the deceased’s son.

According to Sadiq-Aliyu, the suspect allegedly admitted during interrogation that he struck his father on the head with a stick.

He said the injuries sustained in the alleged attack were believed to have caused the victim’s death.

The police spokesman said the Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, had ordered that the case be transferred immediately to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

He said the move was intended to facilitate a discreet and comprehensive investigation into the incident.

Sadiq-Aliyu added that the suspect would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of the investigation.

The command expressed sympathy to the deceased’s family and reiterated its commitment to ensuring that justice was served in accordance with the law.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have foiled an attempted infiltration by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and rescued six kidnapped victims in separate operations.

The development was contained in an operational report on significant occurrences between Sept. 26 and 27, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

In the North-East, the report said the troops foiled an attempted terrorist infiltration of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kawuri in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno.

It said the terrorists were sighted advancing towards the base at about 11 p.m. on Sept. 25, but troops engaged them and forced them to retreat towards the Yuwe axis.

According to the report, during exploitation of the terrorists’ withdrawal route on Sept. 26, troops recovered cannabis sativa, tramadol tablets, cigarette butts and a muffler reportedly abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.

‘Also in Borno, several suspected terrorist family members surrendered to troops between Sept. 19 and 25 in Dikwa, Bama and Ngala Local Government Areas.

‘They included women and children who reportedly escaped terrorist enclaves and camps amid factional clashes, internal disagreements and hardship.

‘In Zamfara, troops of 1 Brigade Combat Team 7 responded to suspected terrorist activities in Tsafe Local Government Area at about 1:10 a.m. on Sept. 26.

‘The troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to withdraw towards adjoining farmlands and abandon six kidnapped victims.

‘The rescued victims were taken into military custody for further action, according to the report,’ it said.

In Plateau, the report said the troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) foiled an alleged cattle-rustling operation at Sabon Layi community in Wase Local Government Area.

It added that troops’ intervention forced the suspected terrorists to abandon 57 cattle and flee the area, adding that the recovered cattle were moved to the military base for subsequent handover to their owners.

‘Also in Plateau, troops arrested a suspected kidnapper while allegedly collecting ransom from victims around a forest in Riyom Local Government Area.

‘The suspect was arrested with N1.9 million, which he reportedly claimed was proceeds from the sale of cattle.

‘In Mangu Local Government Area, troops responded to an alleged militia attack on Lawet community, where 12 cattle were killed and another 12 injured.

‘The troops subsequently tracked and recovered several rustled cattle around the Pankshin general area,’ it added.

In Taraba, the report revealed that troops of 6 Brigade Garrison, in conjunction with 6 Military Intelligence Regiment, arrested a suspected drug trafficker at Atoshi Park, Wukari.

It said the suspect was intercepted following a tip-off and allegedly found with 94 wraps of a substance suspected to be cannabis sativa, reportedly destined for Kano.

According to the report, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation Enduring Peace, Maj.-Gen. Maxwell Dangana, held a stakeholders’ meeting in Barkin Ladi, Plateau.

‘The meeting followed a recent attack on Lajam village, which reportedly left six locals dead and others injured.

‘The meeting, attended by local government officials and other stakeholders, was aimed at de-escalating tensions and addressing persistent killings and reprisals in the area.

‘Dangana also visited Operation Enduring Peace Sector 8 headquarters in Mangu to inspect proposed locations for the newly established 236 Tank Battalion.

‘The visit covered proposed sites at Tyop, the National Open University facility at Daika and the NYSC permanent site at Mairana,’ the report said.

The St. Gregory’s College Old Boys Association has honoured a distinguished group of its alumni, including traditional rulers, public officials, business leaders, professionals and other eminent Nigerians, with Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to leadership, excellence and service.

The awards were presented at a grand gathering in Lagos on Saturday, September 26, 2026, celebrating the achievements and enduring legacy of distinguished Old boys.

Among those honoured was His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, CON, Abisogun II, the Oniru of Iruland, a member of the 1982-1987 set of St. Gregory’s College. The Oniru, who has continued to distinguish himself in traditional leadership and public service, expressed his appreciation to the St. Gregory’s College family and the Old Boys Association for the recognition.

Also honoured were Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso, CON, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, whose recognition highlighted their respective contributions to public service and national development. IGP Disu, who completed his secondary education at St. Gregory’s College in 1985, was recognised for a career spanning more than three decades in the Nigeria Police Force. (Punch Newspapers)

Other distinguished awardees included HRM Oba Mobadenle Obalade Oyekan, the Onilado of Ilado; HRM Oba Abdulsemiu Orimadegun Kasali, the Adegboruwa of Igbogbo; Chief Anthony Asuquo Ani, CON; Prince Francis Oluwole Ademola Awogboro (VQB); Dr Abimbola Ogunkelu, MD, FACA, FWACP, FNCS; Sir Steve Omojafor; Dr Charles Hammond; Hon. Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, CFR; Dr John Abebe, Emeritus President; Ms. Bennedikter China Molokai, DF.CIoD; Prof. Nelson Oyesiku; Adetunji Adetokunbo Oyebanji; Mr Philip Chukwuemeka Ikeazor; Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo; Mr Ayodele Hamzat Subair, Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service; Segun Julius Agbaje; Prince Abimbola Olashore, B.Eng., MBA, MNSE, FCA, FCIT, FCIB, FIOD, MCIS; Mr Agoro Shuaheeb Olabode, Head of Service, Lagos State; Rev. Dr Sola Idowu; and Professor Wale Sulaiman, MD., PhD., FRCS (C), CON.

The recognition underscored the enduring influence of St. Gregory’s College in producing men who have gone on to make significant contributions across public service, traditional institutions, business, law, medicine, finance, security, academia and other spheres of national life.

For the Oniru, the honour carried particular significance as a recognition from an institution that played an important role in shaping his formative years. His appreciation of the values of discipline, responsibility, excellence and service instilled at St. Gregory’s reflects the enduring bond between the College and its Old Boys.

The ceremony also provided an opportunity for members of the St. Gregory’s College family to celebrate the achievements of its distinguished alumni while reaffirming the institution’s long-standing tradition of nurturing men committed to excellence and service.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards therefore served not only as a celebration of individual accomplishments, but also as a testament to the enduring legacy of St. Gregory’s College and the impact of its alumni across generations.

Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Spokespersons Digest, has won the Grand Prix, the highest honour at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards, held at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, Greece.

The Nigerian public relations firm earned the top global distinction for its campaign, ‘AI for Crisis Communication: From Study to Strategy,’ which the international jury described as representing the highest standards of public relations practice in 2026.

IPRA President Esther Cobbah said the Grand Prix capped IMPR’s outstanding performance at this year’s ceremony, where the company also won two Golden World Awards in the AI in Crisis Management and Publication categories.

The award-winning initiative began as a research project led by IMPR’s Chief Executive Officer, Yushau A. Shuaib, after he withdrew from the Senior Executive Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). The research was conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), with support from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The project examined the rising threats of AI-driven misinformation, deepfakes, and digital information disorder, and translated its findings into a strategic communication framework to strengthen Nigeria’s crisis-response capabilities.

Its recommendations informed the inaugural National Symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication, which convened security agencies, government institutions, media organisations, civil society groups and technology experts.

The symposium laid the foundation for the proposed Crisis Communication Hub (CCHub) – a 24-hour, AI-enabled platform designed for social listening, deepfake detection, misinformation monitoring and coordinated crisis communication.

The Grand Prix was received on IMPR’s behalf by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who led the Nigerian delegation to Athens. Adeniyi was also honoured with a special award for his contributions to transparent communication, stakeholder engagement and the promotion of international best practices in public relations.

In his acceptance message, IMPR CEO Yushau Shuaib described the Grand Prix as a historic achievement for the company and a landmark moment for Nigeria’s public relations industry.

‘After 10 years of participation and multiple wins at the IPRA Golden World Awards, IMPR has, for the first time, been honoured with the Grand Prix – the highest distinction in public relations – in Athens, the historic city where the Code of Athens was adopted in 1965,’ he said.

Shuaib said the winning campaign demonstrates how research-driven public relations can inform institutional reforms and address national challenges.

‘This global recognition is a testament to the trust, collaboration and professionalism of our clients, partners and stakeholders across Nigeria.’

He expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Information, NITDA, CCC, the Nigeria Customs Service, media partners, security agencies and the research team whose contributions supported the initiative.

IMPR’s latest honour builds on its growing international reputation. In 2020, the company was named the world’s most creative public relations agency in the Global Creativity Index published by PRovoke Media.

Among the Nigerian representatives at the Athens ceremony were IMPR Board Chairman Professor Sule Yau Sule; NITDA spokesperson Hajiya Hadiza Umar; and the Managing Director of Emirate Radio and spokesperson to the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona, alongside other dignitaries.

IPRA Secretary-General Philip Sheppard described IMPR’s winning campaign as a pioneering initiative at the intersection of artificial intelligence and public relations.

He announced that the 2026 Grand Prix was awarded to IMPR for its contribution to the emerging application of AI in strategic communication. Sheppard also revealed that the Global Contribution Award, recognising campaigns aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, went to V+O Greece | SEC Newgate for Mastercard’s ReStart employment initiative.

The 2026 IPRA Golden World Awards brought together public relations professionals from more than 50 countries to celebrate outstanding campaigns, innovative communication strategies and global excellence.

For IMPR, the Grand Prix marks the culmination of a decade of participation in the international awards and underscores the growing influence of Nigerian public relations practitioners in research, innovation and strategic communication on the global stage.

President Bola Tinubu has postponed his return to Nigeria following a last-minute change in his travel plans.

Tinubu was expected to return to the country this weekend after spending several weeks in Europe on a working vacation.

However, sources in the presidency told TheCable that the president’s return has now been delayed.

The reason for the sudden change in his travel plans was not immediately known as of Sunday morning.

The president had earlier been expected to return to Nigeria on Sunday, according to sources familiar with his schedule.

Tinubu left Nigeria several weeks ago and has since been in Europe as part of his working vacation. During the period, the president has continued to carry out official duties and hold engagements despite being away from the country.

The latest change means the president will remain outside Nigeria for longer than earlier planned.

There was no immediate information on the new date for Tinubu’s return to the country.

The presidency had also not provided details on the reason for the adjustment to the president’s travel schedule as of the time of filing this report.

More details are expected from the presidency on the president’s new return schedule and his next official engagements.

No fewer than five building materials shops were razed by fire following a gas explosion in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, on Sunday.

An eyewitness said the incident occurred after a car lost control and crashed into a gas vendor’s shop, triggering the explosion.

‘The man was driving his family to church when he lost control after his car developed brake failure and ran into the gas vendor’s shop, causing the explosion.

‘He was actually driving at high speed before attempting to slow down when the brakes failed,’ the eyewitness said.

An official of the Federal Fire Service, Kubwa Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after receiving a distress call.

‘The fire started at about 6:12 a.m. and we received the call at 6:20 a.m. Within five minutes, we were at the scene.

‘As you can see, we deployed up to five trucks to extinguish the fire and bring the situation under control,’ he said.

He added that the coordinated response prevented the fire from spreading to other nearby buildings and businesses.

A visit to the scene by a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent showed smouldering remains and visible traces of the destruction.

NAN reports that personnel of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Police were also at the scene.

Although no casualties had been reported as of the time of filing this report, the incident caused significant damage to property.

NAN also reports that volunteers were also said to have joined efforts to salvage property and prevent the fire from spreading to other shops.

Some residents of Kubwa described the incident as unfortunate and commended the Federal Fire Service for its prompt response in containing the fire.

At least five miners have been killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a mining site in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident occurred around 1pm on Saturday while the victims were carrying out mining activities in the area.

Residents said the attack has thrown the community into mourning, with concerns raised over the safety of people engaging in legitimate economic activities across parts of the state.

Confirming the incident, National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, said five people were killed while two others sustained injuries.

‘It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence,’ Tengwong said.

He called on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect communities and prevent further attacks.

A community member, Simon Mundat, described the incident as devastating, urging authorities to strengthen security in the area.

‘We are deeply saddened by this attack. We appeal to authorities to strengthen security in the area so that our people can go about their legitimate activities without fear,’ he said.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the attack.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, security operatives working with local hunters reportedly repelled an attack by suspected terrorists on Latok community in Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area of the state.

A resident, Danat Noel, said the attackers invaded the community on Friday but withdrew following a response from security personnel and local hunters.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful as the Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls and messages regarding the incident.

A 25-year-old newlywed businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after allegedly ingesting 72 wraps of cocaine in an attempt to traffic the illicit drug to Portugal.

NDLEA spokesman, Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying Chukwulobelu was intercepted at the airport’s departure hall on Thursday, September 25, while preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal through Addis Ababa.

Babafemi said the suspect was placed under excretion observation after officers detected that he had ingested cocaine. He subsequently expelled all 72 wraps of the Class A illicit drug.

The suspect reportedly told NDLEA operatives that he previously operated a car decoration business at the Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of Lagos before relocating to Portugal in May 2023.

According to Babafemi, Chukwulobelu returned to Nigeria recently and got married on September 13. He allegedly said he became involved in drug trafficking in an attempt to offset expenses incurred during his wedding.

Meanwhile, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, intercepted one of the agency’s largest opioid consignments of the year during a joint examination of three monitored consignments.

The operation, conducted on Tuesday, September 22, resulted in the seizure of 2,550,000 pills of Tramaking 225mg, Tramaking 250mg and Royal Tapentadol 250mg, weighing a combined 1,640.55 kilogrammes.

Babafemi said the consignments were imported from India and Bangladesh through Qatar Airways, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines.

In Bauchi State, NDLEA officers arrested two suspects, Umar Hamidu, 35, and Abdulkarim Salihu, 45, along the Maiduguri bypass with 300 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 262.5kg.

Babafemi said the cannabis was concealed in a false compartment of a truck marked MUB757 YH.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, destroyed two cannabis farms at Eko Camp, Ilushi, on Wednesday, September 23. The farms had a combined estimated yield of 1,360.23kg of cannabis.

Babafemi also disclosed that two women, Odumabo Kehinde, 36, and Obiekwe Chioma, 40, were arrested during a raid on Anifowoshe Street, Mushin, Lagos, on Saturday, September 26, with 3.4kg of skunk.

In a separate operation at Ebute-Ero motor park the same day, NDLEA officers arrested 58-year-old Ugwu Johnson with 5.920kg of skunk, 2,400 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 8,400 tablets of nitrazepam and 40,000 pills of tramadol.

Babafemi said two Togolese nationals, Yinusa Abdulsamad, 35, and Fatai Baba, 33, were also arrested along the Iganna-Ilero road in Iganna, Oyo State, with 305.6kg of skunk.

The suspects allegedly concealed the cannabis in two pickup vans used to move Ghanaian-sourced cannabis into Nigeria through the Oyo axis.

At the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested five suspects and seized 420 cartons of nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, weighing 1,688.4kg.

The suspects were identified as Kingsley John, 40; John Chibuike Okeke, 44; Lamidi Ismaila, 40; Babatunde Samuel, 42; and Afeesu Idowu, 47. Two vehicles allegedly used to transport the consignment from the border into Lagos were also recovered.

Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), as commending officers and men of the MMIA, AIIA, Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Seme and Bauchi Commands for their operations.

Marwa urged NDLEA personnel nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement with prevention, public education and community engagement.

The Anambra State Government has renewed its challenge to former Governor Peter Obi to account for the whereabouts of the ?2.13 billion ecological fund he said was left in a First Bank account when he handed over power in March 2014.

The latest challenge was contained in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026, by the state Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, following Obi’s recent television interview on Arise TV.

Mefor said the government was particularly concerned that Obi did not address the ecological fund during the interview, despite the former governor previously providing the account number, bank and branch where he claimed the money was kept.

Obi had said his administration left more than ?2.13 billion untouched in First Bank account number 2018779464 as funds earmarked for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.

He maintained that the money was separate from the more than ?75 billion in savings he said his administration left behind.

However, Mefor said records obtained from First Bank contradicted the former governor’s description of the account.

According to the commissioner, First Bank, in a letter dated September 16, 2026, identified account number 2018779464 as the Anambra State Government Internally Generated Revenue Consolidated Account, rather than an ecological fund account.

Mefor further claimed that the bank records showed that the account did not have a balance close to ?2 billion as of March 17, 2014, and that ?2.13 billion did not appear as either an inflow or balance during the account’s active period from 2011 to 2018.

The government’s position is consistent with earlier statements by Mefor that certified bank records did not support Obi’s claim about the ecological fund.

Mefor therefore asked Obi to explain where the funds were if they were not held in the First Bank account he identified.

‘Since the money is not in the First Bank account as claimed, where is it? Or is the money actually missing?’ the commissioner asked in the statement.

The latest development is part of a broader dispute between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the financial position of the state when he left office in 2014.

The state government has alleged that Obi’s administration left various financial liabilities, including external obligations, while Obi has rejected the claims and maintained that his administration cleared outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities and did not leave unpaid liabilities for duly executed and certified projects.

On the broader debt controversy, Obi has also challenged the government’s description of $123.77 million in external financing associated with projects implemented during his tenure, saying he neither borrowed from financial institutions nor issued bonds on behalf of Anambra.

Obi had earlier challenged anyone disputing his account of the state’s finances to provide evidence to the contrary, saying he would stop campaigning if his claims were established to be wrong.

Mefor, however, said the state government remained ready to provide information on the financial records at issue, framing the dispute as a matter of public accountability.

The commissioner called on the former governor to address the government’s latest claims and urged him to apologise if the documentary evidence ultimately contradicted his account.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Borno State Chapter, has urged the Federal Government, the state government and security agencies to step up efforts to rescue 78 schoolchildren and other victims who have remained in captivity for more than 100 days.

The appeal was made on Sunday by the state CAN Chairman, Most Reverend John Bakeni, during a prayer session held in Maiduguri as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the association.

Bakeni said the security situation in Borno had made it difficult for the Christian community to celebrate the milestone with the usual festivities, noting that many residents were still grappling with insecurity and economic hardship.

He said, ‘As you know, CAN is 50. Nationwide, there are lots of events and activities that have been lined up, at the end of which all the state chapters have been invited and asked to key into and even the local government, so that we can thank God for bringing us together under one umbrella as a body of Christ.

‘Sadly, even at the national level, but particularly at the state level, our celebration is a sober one. As I said in my address. How do you celebrate when your children are in captivity, when your brothers and sisters are in captivity, when so many communities are being attacked and challenged by insecurity, and when economic hardship is biting hard?’

According to the CAN chairman, the prevailing challenges would not weaken the resolve of the association and its members to pray for the return of peace and security.

‘If you look at it, there is a cloud of uncertainty of hardship and insecurity that hovers over us. But as people of faith, we always give God thanks even in the midst of challenges. We believe that God will answer our prayers,’ he stated.

Bakeni said the prayer session was specifically organised to seek divine intervention on behalf of the country, Borno State and those being held captive.

‘This is why today is a day set aside for basically prayers. We prayed for our nation, our state, and our brothers and sisters who are in captivity. We also prayed for the forthcoming election,’ he noted.

He explained that CAN had also been engaging political and security authorities through advocacy, particularly on the need to secure the release of the abducted victims.

‘In terms of the steps we will be taking, CAN is more of an advocacy group and we have reached out to our leaders both at the national level and state level to do whatever they can to see that our brothers and sisters who are in captivity are set free.’

Bakeni said the prolonged captivity of the children had placed an enormous emotional burden on their families, urging authorities to consider the ordeal from the perspective of the affected parents.

‘These kids have spent over 100 days in captivity. You can imagine what their parents are going through. And the pain, agony, trauma that these people (victims) are going through. For the leaders, we have pleaded with them. We have asked them to do whatever it takes. And you know, the best way to feel this thing is to put yourself in the shoes of any of these parents. If your children is in captivity, what will you do? Therefore, while we pray for them, we also encourage them,’ he said.

The CAN chairman specifically appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify operations aimed at securing the immediate release of those still in captivity.

‘We are using this medium to call on the government, both at the national and state level, all security agencies, and all those who matters in this effort of liberating our children to do whatever they can. It is a responsibility that rest on their shoulders, so let them do something to rescue them because it is long overdue,’ he appealed.

The victims include 42 students and pupils who were abducted on May 16 after suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

Another 36 students and a teacher were reportedly abducted on June 29 when suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, also in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

The two incidents brought the number of abducted students and pupils to 78.