Category: PM News

The Lagos State Government has begun the controlled removal of shanties and other unauthorised structures built beneath high-tension electricity lines in Ikola, Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area.

The intervention followed a deadly communal clash in the area in which four adult males were killed, while several others sustained injuries.

The operation is being led by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), working alongside the Lagos State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

LASEMA said the exercise was necessary because the structures were located within the statutory right-of-way of high-voltage transmission lines, creating serious risks for people living and trading in the area.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the recent violence between members of the Hausa and Yoruba communities had drawn attention to wider security and environmental problems in Ikola.

He said the unrest had also highlighted the ‘grave danger’ created by the extensive informal settlements situated directly beneath the electricity lines.

According to him, the settlements violated national and international safety standards and left residents vulnerable to electrocution, fires and possible structural collapse.

Following the clash, relevant government agencies were deployed to the community to restore safety and protect lives and property.

Oke-Osanyintolu said LASEMA, supported by police and RRS personnel, subsequently commenced a coordinated intervention after residents affected by the exercise were given sufficient time to leave the area and remove their belongings.

‘The operation was preceded by adequate notice to affected residents. Communities were granted ample time to safely evacuate and recover personal belongings before the commencement of any demolition activity,’ the statement read.

He said the process reflected the state’s policy of enforcing planning and safety regulations while taking into consideration the welfare of residents affected by such actions.

Heavy recovery equipment has been deployed by LASEMA to dismantle and clear structures located within the designated power-line corridor.

‘All officers and personnel involved in the operation are safe, and the situation remains calm and under control,’ the government said.

The Permanent Secretary also dismissed any suggestion that the exercise was directed against a particular ethnic group or community.

He said the government was responding to a hazardous situation that affected everyone living within the power-line corridor.

‘This intervention is therefore not targeted at any ethnic group or community, but at a dangerous structural reality that threatens everyone living in its path,’ he said.

While acknowledging residents’ need for shelter and livelihoods, the government said those concerns must be weighed against the obligation to prevent deaths and other avoidable disasters.

Oke-Osanyintolu stressed that development could not be regarded as sustainable when it exposed residents to preventable dangers.

The demolition exercise comes two days after the deadly violence in Ikola.

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested three suspected terrorist collaborators, recovered weapons and ammunition, and destroyed terrorist enclaves in Kaduna and Katsina states.

The military disclosed that the operations were conducted on August 27 and 28, 2026, as part of sustained efforts to disrupt terrorist networks and deny them operational footholds across the region.

In Kaduna State, troops of Sector 1, acting on intelligence, arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator on August 27. The suspect was reportedly found carrying two locally fabricated guns and 13 rounds of ammunition concealed in a bag.

During preliminary questioning, the suspect allegedly revealed that he had been assigned to deliver the weapons and ammunition to another individual.

Based on the information obtained, troops launched a follow-up operation and arrested two additional suspects allegedly linked to the movement of the weapons.

The three suspects, alongside the recovered arms, ammunition and other items, are undergoing further investigation, according to the military.

In Katsina State, troops of Sector 2, working with other security agencies, carried out a clearance operation on August 28 targeting terrorist enclaves around Maharba and Karaduwa in Matazu Local Government Area.

The operation resulted in the destruction of the identified enclaves and structures allegedly being used by terrorists to facilitate their activities.

Troops also targeted an enclave linked to notorious terrorist leader Kachalla Muhammadu Filani, whose group has reportedly terrorised communities in Matazu and Musawa local government areas.

The military said Filani narrowly escaped as troops advanced on the enclave.

During a subsequent search of the area, troops recovered an RPG-7 tube, a motorcycle, mobile phones and other items believed to have been abandoned by the terrorists.

Security forces subsequently conducted further fighting patrols across the area to consolidate the operation and prevent the terrorists from regrouping or regaining freedom of movement.

The latest operations, the Joint Task Force said, form part of its broader intelligence-led campaign to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt the movement of arms and logistics and destroy hideouts used to sustain criminal activities in the North-West.

Operation FANSAN YAMMA said it remained committed to coordinated military and inter-agency operations aimed at degrading terrorist capabilities and creating conditions for lasting peace and security in affected communities.

Lagos socialite, Afolabi Kazeem, popularly known as KC Luxury, has sued the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over his arrest and continued detention.

KC Luxury is demanding N190 million in damages from the anti-drug agency. He is also asking the Federal High Court to grant him bail while challenging his continued detention.

KC Luxury was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on August 13, 2026.

He was reportedly preparing to travel to Paris when he was arrested.

The arrest came after the NDLEA seized 184.5kg of cocaine linked to a courier company in Lagos.

Following his arrest, the NDLEA accused KC Luxury of being involved in a drug trafficking cartel and alleged that he was attempting to leave the country.

The chairman of the NDLEA said KC Luxury did not voluntarily submit himself to the agency but was arrested while attempting to travel out of Nigeria on a business-class flight to Paris.

However, KC Luxury has challenged his continued detention in court and is seeking his release on bail.

He is also asking the court to award him N190 million as compensation over what he considers unlawful arrest and detention.

The case is now before the Federal High Court, where the court is expected to consider his request for bail and the claims against the NDLEA.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has appealed to well-wishers that rather than celebrate his impending 60th birthday with elaborate events or paid advertisements, they should channel their goodwill into prayers for Nigeria and for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Shettima specifically called for prayers for the success of the administration’s economic reforms, lasting solutions to the nation’s security challenges, greater national unity, and the peace and prosperity of all Nigerians.

The Vice-President said this while urging his well-wishers to refrain from placing congratulatory advertisements in newspapers or airing celebratory messages on radio, television and digital platforms on his 60th birthday.

Shettima made the appeal on Saturday in a statement issued by Mr Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications.

Shettima will turn 60 on September 2.

He explained that the decision to keep the milestone low-key reflects his conviction that public attention should remain focused on the serious work of national development rather than on personal celebrations.

‘To ensure absolute propriety, I respectfully appeal that there should be no public birthday celebrations, congratulatory gatherings or goodwill advertorials across print, broadcast and digital media platforms,’ he said.

Shettima insisted that the occasion should serve less as a celebration of a personal milestone and more as an opportunity for reflection, gratitude and renewed commitment to the service of the country.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has declared that it does not need a coalition with other opposition parties to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 general elections.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Abdullahi explained that the ADC initially sought to build a broad-based opposition coalition to make the task of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the APC easier.

He said the party’s position changed after Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso left the coalition for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

According to him, the ADC now believes it can win the 2027 election independently, although it remains open to cooperation with other opposition parties in areas that could strengthen the electoral process.

‘The ADC doesn’t need a coalition to win this 2027 election,’ Abdullahi said.

‘When we started building this coalition, we started on the assumption that if we were able to build a broad-based coalition, it would make our job of beating the APC easier.

‘If we are able to build the kind of coalition that we started, maybe to make our job easier, then we don’t need that coalition to win the election.’

The ADC spokesman said opposition parties were still holding discussions on possible areas of cooperation ahead of the elections.

He noted that the discussions were not primarily centred on producing a single presidential candidate but on strengthening the opposition’s ability to protect its votes.

‘We are still having conversations among ourselves, opposition political parties, and there are different areas. You’ve heard about the G-100 mobilising everybody, still trying to bring everybody together.

‘But the conversation is not about how to produce a single presidential candidate but predominantly about what areas of cooperation are possible,’ he said.

Abdullahi identified election monitoring and vote protection as key areas where opposition parties could work together.

‘For example, if we are able to develop a common protocol for election monitoring and for policing our votes, that is major,’ he added.

The Cross River State Police Command has launched an investigation into the death of a 29-year-old Bolt driver, Emmanuel Effiong Ita, whose body was found inside his Honda City vehicle in Calabar.

Ita’s body was discovered along the Target-Udy King axis of the state capital on Friday, in circumstances the police described as suspicious.

The deceased, a resident of Ikot Effanga Mkpa, Calabar, was reportedly found inside his vehicle before his remains were taken by his family to the general hospital mortuary.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Calabar on Friday.

Eitokpah said the command received information about the incident and immediately deployed personnel to the scene, but the deceased had already been taken to the mortuary by his family.

He said a preliminary examination at the mortuary revealed an injury on Ita’s chest.

According to the police spokesman, the command has recovered the vehicle and is preserving relevant evidence for forensic examination as investigators work to determine what led to the driver’s death.

‘The Command has commenced a preliminary investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding his death. His vehicle has been recovered, while relevant evidence is being preserved for further forensic and investigative examination,’ Eitokpah said.

He added that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a discreet and comprehensive investigation.

The police urged members of the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information while the investigation continues.

Eitokpah assured that the command would work to establish the facts surrounding the death and ensure that anyone found responsible is brought to justice.

Prince Adedipe Dauda Ewenla, a Southwest ex-officio member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has dismissed reports linking him to any alliance between the PDP and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), or to the political faction associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Ewenla, in a public disclaimer issued on Saturday, said he remained a committed member of the PDP and had no affiliation with what he described as a ‘PDP-APC extension,’ APM or any political arrangement outside what he considers the authentic leadership and principles of the PDP.

He said recent rumours suggesting that he was planning to join or support the Wike-aligned faction were unfounded.

‘I have never, and will never in my life, support or join any PDP-APC extension or any political platform that is working against the genuine interest, constitution and principles of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party,’ Ewenla said.

He maintained that his political allegiance remained with the PDP, adding that he had consistently criticised the activities of members of the party’s faction who had declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

Ewenla said he regarded such activities as contrary to the PDP’s constitution and principles, stressing that he had openly maintained his opposition to them.

‘I am a PDP man, and my political interest remains with the Peoples Democratic Party,’ he said.

The PDP chieftain also challenged individuals circulating claims that he had met with leaders or representatives of the Wike-aligned group to produce evidence of such meetings.

According to him, different versions of the rumour had alleged that he met members of the group, either personally or alongside his Local Government Chairman, Hon. Shodiya Isiaka.

He said another version claimed that his Local Government Woman Leader, Chief Mrs. Mojisola Kariola, either accompanied him to such a meeting or attended on his behalf.

‘These are serious allegations. Therefore, I challenge anybody making these claims to produce their evidence and present it to the general public,’ he said.

Ewenla urged those making the allegations to provide photographs, videos, messages, recordings, documents or other credible evidence to support their claims.

He further stated that he had recently spoken with his political leader, Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, whom he said had expressed opposition to any APM alliance at the state level.

‘Three days ago, I spoke with my leader, Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, and he made his position very clear and confidently stated that he is not interested in any APM alliance,’ Ewenla said.

He added that George, according to his account of their conversation, maintained that anyone in Lagos claiming to have established an alliance with APM was not acting on his behalf.

Ewenla said any future alliance involving the PDP and another political platform should, in his view, come through the national leadership of the party.

Reaffirming his position, Ewenla said he had neither joined the Wike-aligned faction nor authorised anyone to negotiate a political arrangement with APM or any other party on his behalf.

‘I am not in any form of PDP-APM alliance. I am not part of any PDP-APC arrangement or PDP-APC extension. I have not joined the Wike faction,’ he said.

He also denied authorising any individual to represent him at meetings with the group or to negotiate a political alliance on his behalf.

Ewenla identified himself as a bonafide PDP member and Southwest ex-officio, adding that his political identity was not determined by social media reports or speculation.

‘My loyalty and political identity are not determined by rumours, social media speculation or political propaganda,’ he said.

He urged party members and the public to assess his political position based on his public statements and actions rather than unverified reports.

The PDP chieftain also warned against involving the names of Shodiya Isiaka and Mojisola Kariola in what he described as unsubstantiated claims about his political activities.

‘If there is credible evidence, let it be presented openly and I will answer for it. But if there is no evidence, then those circulating these false claims should have the courage and integrity to withdraw them,’ he said.

Ewenla concluded by reiterating his commitment to the PDP and its leadership, saying he would continue to speak against actions he considered contrary to the party’s constitution and interests.

Two Nigerians wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, over sextortion schemes that led to death of teenagers have been extradited to the United States of America, U.S. by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The two suspects identified as Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle were extradited by the EFCC on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency said in a statement on Friday.

According to him, the Olawale and Festus Adekunle were extradited to face prosecution for allegedly sexually extorting two teenage boys in the U.S., resulting in their deaths.

The EFCC spokesperson said Olawale and Adekunle were identified in separate investigations by the FBI, in sextortion schemes targeting male minors, particularly those between the ages of 13 and 17, leading to the deaths of two minors.

He said the schemes involved the use of Child Sexual Abuse Material, CSAM, to extort victims for money through various means, including money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.

‘The FBI investigations linked the activities of the alleged perpetrators to two separate cases involving American minors, who died by suicide after being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion,’ he said.

According to the statement, in one of the cases, a 13-year-old male victim received a direct message on Instagram from a subject who suggested an exchange of nude photographs.

Investigations by the FBI revealed that the subject subsequently threatened to disseminate the minor’s photographs to his Instagram contacts and demanded money from him.

It was further revealed that communications reportedly continued despite the minor indicating that he intended to take his own life.

The FBI subsequently developed actionable intelligence identifying individuals allegedly involved in the scheme and requested the assistance of the EFCC in identifying, investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators under applicable Nigerian laws.

Following investigations by the Commission, Adekunle was arrested and brought before the Commission.

In a similar vein, the FBI also sought the extradition of Olawale over a seven-count charge, including ‘sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, enticement and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, interstate threatening communications, sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, and distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography.’

Consequently, the Commission initiated extradition proceedings against Olawale at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024, before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, following a request by the FBI.

Although the Judge refused the application during proceedings on June 10, 2024, the ruling was subsequently appealed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

On July 7, 2026, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, in Appeal No. CA/LAG/CV/721/2024, set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, thereby paving the way for Olawale’s extradition to the U.S.

Oyewale said the extradition of Olawale and Adekunle underscored the continued collaboration between the EFCC and the FBI in tackling transnational financial crimes, particularly internet-enabled crimes involving the exploitation of minors and sextortion.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf, describing his death as a profound loss to Niger State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dr Yusuf, aged 66, passed away on Friday, August 28, 2026, after a brief illness.

The President extended his heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Niger State, particularly the people of Wushishi Local Government Area, as well as the deceased’s family, friends, associates and colleagues who mourn this painful loss.

President Tinubu described Dr Yusuf as a distinguished son of Niger State, a consummate public servant, and a patriot who devoted much of his life to serving his community, his state, and the nation.

The President noted Dr Yusuf’s long record of public service, which included his tenure as Executive Chairman of Wushishi Local Government Area, service in the political and administrative affairs of Niger State, membership of the Board of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and his appointment as Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Governor of Niger State.

‘Dr Aminu Yusuf was a loyal public servant, a patriot and a distinguished son of Niger State whose life was defined by service and commitment to the common good.

‘His passing is a painful loss, not only to his family and the people of Niger State, but also to the National Population Commission and the entire nation.

‘Although his tenure as Chairman of the NPC was brief, he brought to the office a clear vision and an earnest commitment to strengthening the Commission and ensuring that Nigeria has the reliable demographic data required for sound planning and development.

‘We shall remember him for his service, his dedication and his contributions to our nation,’ the President said.

President Tinubu urged the leadership and staff of the National Population Commission to preserve the legacy of their late Chairman by remaining committed to the reforms and institutional strengthening he championed in the service of Nigeria.

‘I pray that Almighty Allah will forgive his shortcomings, grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus and give his family, colleagues and loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,’ the President added.

Cabbilicious Foods, a premium catering company founded and led by Executive Chef, Nutritionist and Food Safety Professional Blessing Bashorun, is strengthening its presence in Nigeria’s corporate and institutional catering market.

The company, which initially built its reputation around private events and weddings, has expanded its operations to serve corporate organisations, government institutions, financial institutions and development organisations.

The expansion reflects the company’s growing capacity to handle the demands of clients requiring high-volume catering services while maintaining consistent standards in food quality, presentation and professional service.

Unlike one-off private events, corporate and institutional catering often involves larger volumes, tighter timelines and recurring engagements, requiring caterers to maintain consistent standards across multiple assignments.

Bashorun, who is also the Founder and CEO of Cabbilicious Culinary School, has positioned food safety, nutrition, consistency and professional service at the centre of the company’s operations.

Her professional training in food safety and nutrition, combined with advanced event management studies at Lagos Business School, has influenced the systems and standards adopted by Cabbilicious Foods as it expands into the corporate and institutional market.

‘Reliability is built when a client knows the quality they received today is the same quality they can expect the next time they work with you,’ Bashorun said.

‘For us, that means paying attention to every part of the process and making sure our standards do not change, regardless of the size of the engagement,’ she added.

Catering for Diverse Institutions

Cabbilicious Foods offers a range of African, Continental and Oriental cuisine, allowing the company to cater to clients with different tastes, event formats and institutional requirements.

The company’s clientele cuts across different sectors, from formal events organised by financial institutions to large-scale gatherings involving government and development organisations.

According to the company, its expansion into the corporate and institutional segment reflects the changing expectations within Nigeria’s catering industry, where organisations with recurring and high-volume catering needs increasingly require service providers capable of demonstrating consistency, reliability and professional standards.

‘For us, growth in this segment is not just about serving more clients. It is about building systems that allow us to maintain quality, professionalism, and trust as the business expands,’ Bashorun said.

From One-Off Events to Recurring Engagements

The company’s growing corporate footprint has also resulted in relationships with some institutional clients developing from one-off engagements into recurring assignments.

Cabbilicious Foods said the transition reflects the confidence clients place in a service provider that consistently meets agreed standards and delivers reliably.

For Bashorun, the development is consistent with the company’s original objective of building a catering business whose reputation extends beyond the quality of its food to include reliability, professionalism and trust.

As demand for corporate and institutional catering continues to grow, Cabbilicious Foods is positioning itself to serve organisations that require dependable catering services while maintaining its focus on food quality, safety and customer experience.

With its expanding institutional clientele and emphasis on structured operations, the company is seeking to establish itself as a dependable player in Nigeria’s premium catering industry.