Category: PM News

The Lagos State Government has disbursed the sum of N1.08 billion in accrued pension rights to 648 retirees across the state’s public service, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare and financial security of former civil servants.

Speaking at the 115th Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation Ceremony on Friday held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, the Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, said said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the release of ?1,081,535,589.42 to retirees drawn from the Mainstream Civil Service, Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), and other state government parastatals.

He described the approval as another demonstration of the administration’s commitment to rewarding public servants who had devoted years of meritorious service to the development of Lagos State.

The Head of Service commended the Governor for consistently prioritising the welfare of retirees, noting that the regular funding of pension obligations underscored the state’s determination to honour its commitments.

He also praised the Director-General of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Mr. Babalola Obilana, and the commission’s staff for their dedication to ensuring the timely processing of retirement benefits.

According to Agoro, LASPEC’s regular sensitisation programmes and retirement documentation seminars have continued to improve pension administration and better prepare officers for life after retirement.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Obilana described the presentation of retirement bond certificates as more than a routine exercise, saying it was a celebration of the dedication, sacrifice and invaluable contributions of retirees to the growth and transformation of Lagos State.

He said the Contributory Pension Scheme had continued to guarantee the financial security of retired public servants, adding that Lagos remained a leading example of efficient, transparent and well-managed pension administration in Nigeria despite prevailing economic challenges.

Obilana disclosed that the 648 retirees receiving bond certificates were entitled to ?1,081,535,589.42, representing their accrued pension rights for services rendered before the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme in 2007.

He attributed the success of the state’s pension administration to the collaborative efforts of LASPEC, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), Annuity Service Providers (ASPs), Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as other strategic partners working to ensure seamless processing and payment of retirement benefits.

The LASPEC boss said the commission would continue to strengthen stakeholder engagement, promote financial literacy among public servants and embrace innovation to improve service delivery and ensure the pension system remained responsive to emerging realities and global best practices.

Tunde Ayeni, a prominent businessman and former Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, (now Polaris Bank Limited) was re-arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Apo on charges of fraud by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday,

Ayeni was first arraigned on May 4, 2026, re-arraigned on June 22, 2026, and Thursday’s re-arraignment makes it the third time he is taking his plea in court, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the Commission said in a statement on Thursday.

The EFCC re-arraigned him on amended 18-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of funds to the tune of N15.6 billion on Thursday.

In one of the charges, EFCC alleged that Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc (now Polaris Bank Limited) on 20th November 2014 at Abuja committed criminal breach of trust by dishonestly transferring over N3 billion depositors’ funds to Misa Limited’s account No:1011295717, domiciled with Zenith Bank.

The anti-graft agency said the businessman’s action was in violation of his contract with the defunct Skye Bank Plc and an offence contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 312 of same Act.

In the count nine of the charges, EFCC also alleged that Tunde Ayeni as the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc (now Polaris Bank Limited) on 2nd of December 2014 committed criminal breach of trust by dishonestly misappropriating over N5 billion.

According to EFCC, Ayeni directed the transfer of the funds to Greenwich Registrar’s account No:0003490559 domiciled with Union Bank.

The anti-graft agency said his action was in in violation of his contract with the defunct Skye Bank Plc and an offence contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 312 of same Act.’

The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read to him, following which prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN, told the court that his team was ready to proceed with the trial and that the First Prosecution Witness was in court.

The plea for the immediate commencement of trial, was however, opposed by the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, who argued that the prosecution had not filed the summary of the witness’s statements.

The prosecution counsel, in response, disclosed that the summary of the witness’s statements was filed alongside the second amended charge.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie in resolving the matter, held that the prosecution had complied with the necessary requirements.

He subsequently adjourned the matter till, July 20, 22, and 23, 2026, for continuation of trial.

Aloy Ejimakor, lawyer to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has said that many young people from the South-East do not join the Nigerian Army because they do not trust the military, not because they lack courage.

Ejimakor made the statement on Thursday while reacting to comments by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.

The army chief had expressed concern over the low number of South-East youths joining the military during a passing-out parade at the Nigerian Army Recruits Training Depot in Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State.

According to Ejimakor, many Igbo youths feel excluded from the country’s security leadership and believe the military has often been used against people from the South-East during times of crisis.

He said the hesitation to join the armed forces is linked to what many see as long-standing marginalisation and a lack of trust in the institution.

Ejimakor referred to the killings of Igbos during the 1967 crisis in Northern Nigeria and said memories of such events remain painful. He also mentioned more recent incidents involving people suspected of having links to IPOB, including events in Nkpor, Aba, Obigbo and Port Harcourt.

He further argued that some South-East youths are uncomfortable with the government’s rehabilitation and reintegration of former Boko Haram fighters.

According to him, many are unwilling to serve in a military structure they do not trust alongside former insurgents.

Ejimakor said the low number of recruits from the region should be seen as a form of protest rather than a lack of patriotism.

He maintained that many young people from the South-East do not want to risk their lives under a command they believe does not treat them fairly.

The Army has repeatedly encouraged youths from the region to enlist, noting that South-East states often record some of the lowest recruitment figures in the country. Military authorities have said any recruitment slots not filled in the region are usually reassigned to other parts of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Army has also insisted that its recruitment process is transparent, fair and based on merit. Officials have blamed the low turnout partly on misinformation about military enlistment.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated key provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electoral guidelines for the 2027 general elections.

The appellate court in a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, held that the Youth Party, which instituted the suit against the electoral guidelines, lacked the legal standing to challenge them.

The lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and delivered by Justice Okon Abang, held that the party failed to show how the disputed guidelines affected either its primary election process or the submission of its candidates for the 2027 elections.

The court stated that the Youth Party did not establish any injury arising from the guidelines that would justify bringing the action before the court.

The three-member panel also faulted the earlier decision of Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, who on 20 May declared parts of the guidelines invalid for allegedly conflicting with provisions of the Electoral Act.

According to the appellate court, that ruling amounted to a miscarriage of justice.

Justice Umar had ruled that INEC had neither constitutional nor statutory authority to compel political parties to conduct their primaries within timelines set by the commission.

The trial court also struck down provisions of the commission’s timetable requiring political parties to submit membership registers and candidates’ particulars before the deadlines contained in the Electoral Act, holding that INEC could not lawfully shorten statutory timelines.

INEC challenged the judgment at the Court of Appeal arguing that the trial court failed to determine its preliminary objection that the case was hypothetical and academic, thereby denying it a fair hearing.

The Court of Appeal agreed with the commission, allowed the appeal and set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court.

The decision restores the validity of INEC’s electoral guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has urged African Pentecostal leaders and scholars to develop practical solutions to Nigeria’s insecurity.

Adeboye, represented by his Special Adviser on Administration, Prof. Dele Balogun, stated this on Thursday, while declaring open the International Conference on African Pentecostalism 2026, at the Redemption city on Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The conference, themed ‘African Pentecostalism and the Politics of Insecurity in Nigeria’, attracted participants from within and outside the country.

He described Nigeria as a blessed nation facing a defining moment, but expressed confidence that the country would fulfill its destiny through God’s help and citizens’ cooperation.

The RCCG General Overseer listed kidnapping, insurgency, farmer-herder clashes and communal violence among the nation’s major security challenges requiring urgent collective attention.

Adeboye said African Pentecostalism had continued to play significant roles in Nigeria’s religious, political, economic and social development despite prevailing challenges.

He urged participants to use the conference to critically examine the causes of insecurity and develop practical, implementable solutions rooted in Christian ethics and theology.

According to him, pentecostalism should go beyond preaching peace by promoting actions capable of producing lasting security and national transformation.

Adeboye cautioned participants against treating the conference as merely an academic exercise, urging them to ensure that deliberations translate into policies and practical interventions.

He expressed optimism that the conference would produce robust recommendations capable of strengthening the role of African Pentecostalism in addressing Nigeria’s insecurity.

‘You will agree with me that we are at a defining moment in the history of our nation, Nigeria. By the special grace of God, Nigeria is a blessed country. But whether the enemy is happy or not, as we cooperate with God, I believe that Nigeria will fulfill her divine destiny. Today, Nigeria is confronted with numerous security challenges, including kidnapping, insurgency, farmer-herder conflicts, communal violence, and many other forms of insecurity. Yet, despite these challenges, one major force that has continued to play a pivotal role in the nation’s economic, political, and religious spheres is African Pentecostalism. You will agree with me that African Pentecostalism does not merely preach peace or simply spiritualise every issue. Rather, it seeks to translate faith into practical action so that, in our time, tangible solutions can emerge to address the problem of insecurity,’ he said.

In his remarks , Pastor Sunday Akande, National Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), says African Pentecostalism can provide solutions to Nigeria’s insecurity and governance challenges.

Akande, represented by Dr Josiah Bolarinwa, Assistant Continental Overseer, Research and Development RCCG, urged Nigerians to embrace truth, faith and divine guidance as pathways to freedom, deliverance and national transformation.

He described religion and governance as inseparable in African society, saying pentecostalism promoted spiritual values that could positively influence politics, security and community development.

He said African Pentecostals should actively support community security, encourage members to serve in security agencies and uphold ethical leadership through Christian values and spiritual commitment.

In his welcome address, the Provost of Redeemed Christian Theological College (RCTC), Dr Rotimi Oti, called on scholars and church leaders to provide practical solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges through research and collaboration.

The provost said the gathering was a partnership with the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, and Redeemers University, Ede.

Delivering his keynote address, Prof. Afe Adogame, Princeton Theological Seminary, U.S.A, urged churches and other faith-based organisations to complement prayers with practical actions to address insecurity in Nigeria.

Adogame said that insecurity required the collective efforts of government, religious bodies and citizens. The guest lecturer argued that excessive attention to national security had overshadowed human security, including poverty reduction, job creation, economic empowerment and improved welfare for citizens.

According to him, churches and other religious organisations have focused more on spiritual security while paying insufficient attention to tackling poverty and other socio-economic conditions fueling insecurity.

He maintained that prayer alone would not solve Nigeria’s security challenges, stressing that meaningful change would come through prayer backed by deliberate action and collective responsibility.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to step aside pending the outcome of investigations into the death of 26-year-old Mary Habila, who reportedly died at the minister’s private residence in Ebonyi State.

In a statement on Thursday, Atiku said the move was necessary to ensure public confidence in the investigation, stressing that his call should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt against the minister.

‘I make no pronouncement on anyone’s guilt or innocence,’ Atiku said. ‘Only a credible, independent, and transparent investigation can establish the truth.’

Mary Habila, a native of Nok in Southern Kaduna, reportedly died on June 27, 2026, at Senator Umahi’s private residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State.

Atiku expressed condolences to Habila’s family, describing her death as a tragedy.

‘No family should have to mourn a daughter taken in the prime of her life while also fighting simply to learn the truth of how she died,’ he said.

The former vice president criticised what he described as the Federal Government’s handling of the matter, alleging that there had been insufficient public communication since the incident became known.

According to him, the circumstances surrounding the death have generated public concern, particularly following reports that an autopsy had yet to be conducted and that the investigation remains with the Ebonyi State Police Command.

He also noted that the case first gained public attention following media reports.

Atiku questioned what he described as the silence of key government institutions, including the Presidency, the Federal Executive Council, the Inspector-General of Police and the National Assembly.

He further expressed concern that the minister had continued to perform his official duties while the investigation was ongoing.

According to Atiku, public confidence would be strengthened if the Federal Government ensured that the investigation was independent and transparent.

He therefore called on President Tinubu to direct Umahi to temporarily step aside while investigations continue.

‘This is not a punishment; it is the minimum standard of public accountability in any serious democracy,’ Atiku said. ‘No official under this cloud should preside over a federal ministry as though it were business as usual.’

The former vice president also urged the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Force Headquarters and involve independent forensic experts.

According to him, such a move would help enhance public confidence in the outcome of the investigation.

Atiku further called for what he described as a full, independent and internationally credible autopsy to be conducted without further delay, with the findings made public.

In addition, he urged authorities to ensure that Mary Habila’s family is protected from any form of pressure, intimidation or inducement and granted full access to information relating to the investigation.

PM News reports that Senator Umahi has previously denied wrongdoing and has publicly supported calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mary Habila’s death.

Authorities have not announced any findings regarding the cause of death, and investigations are ongoing.

Below is the full statement by Atiku Abubakar:

I have followed with deep sorrow and mounting concern the reports surrounding the death of Miss Mary Habila, a 26-year-old Nigerian from Nok, Southern Kaduna, who died on June 27, 2026, within the private residence of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State.

First, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Habila family. No family should have to mourn a daughter taken in the prime of her life while also fighting simply to learn the truth of how she died.

But condolences are not enough. Nigerians deserve answers, and it is on this score that the Tinubu administration has failed, comprehensively and disgracefully.

Consider the facts that are not in dispute.

A young woman died in the residence of a serving Federal Minister.

For nearly two weeks, neither the Minister, nor the police, nor any arm of government said a word to the Nigerian people.

It took the courage of Sahara Reporters to bring this death into public view.

Three weeks after her death, no autopsy has been performed.

No cause of death has been established.

The investigation remains domiciled in the very state where the Minister served two terms as Governor and where his influence is beyond question.

And through all of this, silence from the Presidency.

Silence from the Federal Executive Council.

Silence from the Inspector-General of Police.

Silence from the National Assembly.

Not one word.

Not one directive.

Not one gesture to assure Nigerians that the life of Mary Habila matters to this government.

Instead, the Minister has been permitted to manage the narrative of a death that occurred under his own roof: issuing statements through his personal aides, deploying his private lawyers to correspond with the police, and continuing his official duties as though nothing has happened, while civil society groups, youth organisations, and the family’s own community cry out for an independent inquiry.

Let me be clear: I make no pronouncement on anyone’s guilt or innocence. That is precisely the point.

Only a credible, independent, and transparent investigation can establish the truth, and it is the refusal of the Federal Government to guarantee such an investigation that constitutes the scandal before us.

A government’s first duty is the protection of life.

Where a life is lost in circumstances touching a high official of state, the burden on government to act transparently is at its heaviest.

President Tinubu’s administration has instead treated this tragedy as an inconvenience to be waited out.

If the death of a young Nigerian woman in a Minister’s residence cannot stir this government to act, then Nigerians must ask: whose life, exactly, does this government value?

I therefore demand the following:

One, President Bola Tinubu must direct the Honourable Minister of Works to step aside immediately, pending the conclusion of investigations. This is not a punishment; it is the minimum standard of public accountability in any serious democracy. No official under this cloud should preside over a federal ministry as though it were business as usual.

Two, the Inspector-General of Police must immediately transfer the investigation from the Ebonyi State Command to Force Headquarters, with the involvement of independent forensic experts. No investigation conducted in the shadow of the Minister’s home-state influence can command public confidence.

Three, a full, independent, and internationally credible autopsy must be conducted without further delay, with the findings made public. The stalemate over the post-mortem, three weeks after this young woman’s death is an indictment of every institution involved.

Four, the family of Mary Habila must be protected from any pressure, inducement, or intimidation, and must be guaranteed unfettered access to the facts of their daughter’s death.

The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court sitting in Awka on Thursday ordered the remand of a 45-year-old bricklayer, Ikenna Muojekwu, for allegedly defiling his 14-year-old daughter.

The defendant, who resides at Nduana village, Aguluzigbo in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra, is facing a charge of defilement.

The prosecutor, Insp Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the offence was committed sometime in March at Nduana village, Aguluzigbo.

Okechukwu said the girl moved in with her father in 2025 after separating from her mother.

She said the girl told police that the defendant, who often returned home drunk, had been sleeping with her until she could no longer bear it and reported the matter to a tenant in the house, who alerted the police.

The prosecutor said a medical examination conducted at the Ntasi Sexual Assault Referral Centre, General Hospital, Enugu-Ukwu, confirmed that the girl had been defiled.

She said the offence contravened Section 3(2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Anambra State, 2017.

Okechukwu prayed the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility, in line with Section 130(2)(a)(b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2022.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs U.E. Onochie, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre.

Onochie adjourned the case until Aug. 12 for further hearing.

Isaac Fayose has delivered a damning verdict on Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the 2027 general election, declaring that the African Democratic Congress and Nigeria Democratic Congress have been pushed back to ‘square zero.’

Fayose, the younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, said the legal crises confronting both parties had severely damaged their preparations for the election.

He spoke on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday while expressing concerns about the growing influence of the courts in Nigeria’s electoral process.

‘Take a look at what they are doing to the opposition: the African Democratic Congress and the Nigeria Democratic Congress. They have taken them to square zero,’ Fayose said.

His comments followed major legal setbacks suffered by both opposition parties.

The Court of Appeal recently upheld a judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the David Mark-led ADC leadership. Premium Times

The NDC has also been battling for survival after a Federal High Court withdrew the legal recognition previously granted to the party, throwing the fate of its 2027 candidates into uncertainty. The Guardian

Fayose predicted that the 2027 presidential contest would eventually become another courtroom battle.

‘We’re looking to 2027, but it will still end up in court. We will have a coronation,’ he claimed.

He accused the judiciary of wielding excessive influence over the emergence of Nigerian presidents, arguing that repeated post-election litigation had weakened public confidence in the democratic process.

Fayose went further by claiming that Nigeria no longer had an effective electoral commission or functioning democracy.

‘There is nothing like INEC or democracy in Nigeria. What we have now is government of the court, by the court and for the court,’ he said.

He also alleged that the judiciary’s involvement in political disputes explained government housing projects for judges. However, he presented no evidence connecting those projects to electoral judgments.

Fayose maintained that Nigeria was increasingly being governed by civilian leaders who behaved like dictators, although they did not wear military uniforms.

The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 40-year-old content creator Ifeanyi Ogbonna, popularly known as Odogwu, for allegedly raping a 20-year-old lady.

The victim, Favour Agbro was reported to have been a nursing student in Asaba who wanted to learn content creation. Ogbonna, the suspect, alleged leverage on this and lured her into his hotel room, where he tormented and raped her.

Favour, before committing suicide, made a video detailing her encounter with Ogbonna.

The Delta State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, confirmed Ogbonna’s arrest via his X handle.

‘The Delta State Police Command has arrested a popular content creator, one Ifeanyi Ogbonna, male, aged 40, also popularly known as Odogwu of Asaba, in connection with the alleged rape of a 20-year-old girl. The suspect invited the victim to Asaba under the guise of teaching her content creation, lured her to his hotel room, and allegedly tortured and rápêd her. The victim, who could not bear the agony, recorded a video of her meeting and then took insecticide; she died while seeking treatment,’ he wrote.

Ogbonna in a now viral video was seen appealing to the victim’s family. He claimed the incident was a ‘terrible mistake’.

‘This is a very terrible mistake. I’m ready to give everything,’ he stated.

A teacher and school counsellor, Mr. Olatunde Olutoye, has shared a chilling account of his 56-day captivity after he was abducted during an attack on his school by armed men who claimed to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Speaking on a morning programme on Naija Info FM Lagos and monitored by PM News Nigeria, Olutoye recounted how a routine school day turned into a nightmare as gunmen stormed the school, forcing students and teachers to flee for their lives.

According to him, despite being unwell on the day of the attack, he chose to report for duty and joined his colleagues in supervising tests for students in Junior Secondary School One to Three.

‘On the fateful day, I went to school even though I was sick. We were conducting tests for JSS1 to JSS3 students alongside other colleagues when we suddenly heard the sound of motorcycles and gunshots,’ he said.

The teacher explained that panic broke out immediately as students and staff members fled in different directions in search of safety.

He said he attempted to escape by jumping through a window but injured himself in the process.

‘I jumped through a window while trying to run, but I landed badly on my left leg, which was already giving me problems. Because of the pain, I could not move fast. I told the children running with me to leave me and save themselves while I hid under some leaves.’

Olutoye said his hiding place was eventually discovered after a student who refused to abandon him was spotted by the attackers.

‘A student saw me and decided not to leave me. Unfortunately, the student was seen by one of the attackers, and that led them to where I was hiding. The man who found me was surprised that I was hiding and immediately grabbed me.’

According to him, the captors assured those abducted that they would not be harmed if they cooperated.

‘They told us to cooperate and promised not to hurt us,’ he recalled.

The teacher said life in captivity was difficult, with the victims surviving on simple meals throughout the seven weeks they spent in the forest.

‘They served us rice with Maggi and salt and sometimes beans. We never tasted pepper throughout the seven weeks we spent there,’ he said.

In one of the more surprising aspects of his experience, Olutoye claimed the captors gave him medication that quickly eased his arthritis.

‘They gave me a drug, and within minutes my arthritis disappeared,’ he said.

He added that while the abductors encouraged them to pray, they warned them against praying loudly.

‘They would ask us to pray, but not loudly.’

The teacher said the armed men mostly spoke Hausa, with occasional Yoruba, and insisted they were neither bandits nor Boko Haram fighters.

‘They told us they were not Boko Haram or bandits. They said they were ISWAP.’

Olutoye revealed that he was the last person captured during the attack on the school.

He also described the harsh conditions they endured, noting that none of the captives was able to wash their clothes throughout the 56 days they spent in captivity.

‘For 56 days, we did not wash our clothes,’ he said.

Recounting their eventual release, Olutoye said the captors later handed them over to motorcycle riders who transported them to another location.

‘After the motorcycle ride, we still trekked for about another hour before we eventually saw officials waiting for us,’ he said.

However, the sight that greeted them initially sparked fresh fears.

‘When we saw the buses, we were afraid again because they had tinted windows and no number plates. The men around them were also speaking Hausa, so we were unsure of who they were.’

He said their fears were allayed when the officials identified themselves as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

‘They asked us to calm down and showed us their DSS identity cards before we agreed to enter the buses. They also called two individuals who confirmed to us that we had truly been rescued and were safe.’

Olutoye also paid tribute to two teachers who lost their lives during the attack, describing them as dedicated colleagues whose deaths remain painful.

‘The two teachers who were killed were my colleagues. I met them in that school. I had wanted to seek a transfer from the school, but they encouraged me to stay,’ he said.

He identified the deceased as Mr. Michael Oyedokun and Deacon Olaleye, both mathematics teachers.

The teacher added that before the attack, he relied on a motorcycle for his daily commute to the school.

Speaking on the period immediately after their release, Olutoye disclosed that they were provided with fresh clothing in Ibadan before being reunited with their families.

‘Our clothes were changed in Ibadan after we regained freedom,’ he said.

Mr Olatunde is one of the freed abducted Orire teachers and students.