Category: PM News

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (JTF-OPEP), have rescued two kidnapped victims in Bassa and Kanam Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau.

Capt. Polycarp Oteh, the Media Officer of the operation, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Jos.

He said that the victims were rescued following an operation conducted as part of deliberate efforts aimed at denying terrorists elements freedom of action across Plateau.

Oteh explained that the operation recorded appreciable successes owing to the support from residents and community leaders.

‘At about 9:00a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25, troops of our Sector 3, deployed within Bassa LGA, acting on a credible information on the move to kidnap one Mr Ndubuisi Onuigbo, initiated search and rescue operation leading to the successful rescue of the victim. Similarly, in the early hours of Wednesday, Aug. 26, troops of our Sector 2, deployed in Kukawa Community, Kanam LGA, during a patrol encountered suspected terrorists elements along the route. Troops aggressively pursued the terrorists leading to the immediate rescue of a kidnapped victim, Malam Sambo Abdullahi, who was abandoned by the fleeing terrorists. The rescued victims have been successfully debriefed and reunited with their families,’ he said.

Oteh said that Maj.-Gen. Maxwell Dangana, the Commander of JTF-OPEP, who commended the troops for the feat, promised sustained aggressive operation against criminal elements in the state.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has offered whistleblowers up to five per cent of recovered assets for credible information that can help the commission recover Nigerian assets allegedly taken abroad.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, while speaking at the 43rd International Symposium on Economic Crime in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Olukoyede urged anyone with useful information about money or other assets allegedly stolen from Nigeria and hidden in foreign countries to come forward.

He said the reward would range between 2.5 per cent and five per cent of the assets recovered as a way of encouraging people to provide information.

The EFCC chairman said the reward could make whistleblowers wealthy if their information leads to the recovery of large assets.

Olukoyede also disclosed that the EFCC had recovered and forfeited cash and assets worth more than $500 million to the Nigerian government since he became chairman of the commission less than three years ago.

He said the recoveries were made possible through investigations, support from the courts and credible information provided to the commission.

Olukoyede also spoke about Nigeria’s use of non-conviction-based asset forfeiture. The process allows authorities to recover assets suspected to be proceeds of crime without waiting for a criminal conviction.

He listed some of the major recoveries made by the EFCC, including an aircraft, a university, estates and houses allegedly linked to proceeds of crime.

According to him, 752 housing units linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, had been recovered.

He also said investigations into former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, led to the identification of 57 properties.

Olukoyede said 48 of the 57 properties had so far been forfeited.

The Cambridge symposium brings together economic crime and anti-corruption experts from different parts of the world. Olukoyede delivered his presentation on the third day of the weeklong event.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Dotun Oladipo, former Political Editor of The Punch newspaper and Publisher of The Eagle Online.

He described his passing as a painful loss to Nigeria’s media industry and the country.

Oladipo died at the age of 56.

In a condolence message issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu acknowledged Oladipo’s significant contributions to Nigerian journalism, particularly his years of political reporting and his efforts to provide credible information to the public through both traditional and digital media platforms.

The President said Oladipo’s career reflected the important role journalists play in strengthening democracy by keeping citizens informed, holding public officials accountable and creating platforms for robust public discourse.

Tinubu also recalled Oladipo’s passion for journalism and his contribution to the growth of digital media through The Eagle Online, which he established after his years of service at The Punch.

The President described the late journalist as a committed professional who devoted a significant part of his life to informing Nigerians and contributing to the development of the country’s democracy.

Tinubu extended his condolences to Oladipo’s family, colleagues in the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and his friends, while praying for the repose of his soul.

‘Dotun Oladipo’s death at the age of 56 is a painful loss to the Nigerian media community and to our nation. He was a committed journalist who devoted significant years of his life to informing the public and contributing to the development of our democracy,’ the President said.

He added that Oladipo’s contributions to political journalism and the digital media industry would remain remembered.

President Tinubu prayed that Almighty God would grant the deceased eternal rest and give his family and loved ones the strength to cope with the loss.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has dismissed a viral claim alleging that nearly all young people living around Nyanya, Mararaba, Karu and neighbouring communities had sold their kidneys for money.

The alarming claim circulated on social media after a Facebook user, Labran Abu Labco, alleged that police authorities had confirmed widespread kidney sales among youths in the affected areas.

The post further alleged that an individual operating from Mararaba was buying human kidneys from young residents.

But the FCT Police Command on Wednesday said no such report had ever been received or confirmed by the command.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the purported confirmation attributed to the police was false.

The command has ‘neither received nor confirmed any report of such nature,’ Adeh said.

She added that ‘no statement or communication to that effect has emanated from the Command.’

Police consequently urged residents to disregard the viral publication, warning against the circulation of unverified claims capable of creating fear and panic.

The command, however, said allegations involving human organ trafficking should be treated seriously and encouraged anyone with credible information to approach the nearest police station.

It urged members of the public with information concerning suspected organ trafficking or other security threats to promptly report to law-enforcement authorities.

The police clarification comes amid growing circulation of the claim online, particularly among residents of communities along the Abuja-Nasarawa corridor.

Mr Kunle Ajayi, Deputy National Secretary, African Action Congress (AAC), has explained how the party would win the presidential and governorship elections in Lagos State against the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.

Ajayi in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday said the party will embark on robust grassroots campaigns to achieve the feat.

He said that the party had mapped out strategies aimed at taking its message directly to the electorate and mobilising support across the state and the country.

‘In terms of strategies, we have plenty of them, many of which we will only explore amazingly,’ he said.

He said that the AAC would prioritise direct engagement with residents through door-to-door, house-to-house and street-to-street campaigns to explain its manifesto, policies and programmes to the people.

‘What matters in our campaign is that we will speak with the people door-to-door, house-to-house and street-to-street.

‘We will let the people know what we stand for, our manifesto and what we have for them,’ Ajayi said.

The deputy national secretary said that the party would use its campaign to adequately inform Lagos residents with its plans for the state.

He urged the electorate to critically assess its vision ahead of the election.

‘We will let the Lagos State people know our antecedents and what we will do when we win.

‘We want the people to understand clearly the kind of government we intend to provide,’ he said.

Ajayi said that the AAC’s campaign would not be restricted to major cities, adding that the party would reach communities across Lagos and other parts of the country to mobilise support for its candidates.

‘As a party, we will go to the nooks and crannies of every state and region of Nigeria to explain to the people what we have in stock for them,’ he said.

He said that the party was committed to ensuring that Nigerians played a central role in determining the direction of governance, noting that its campaign would be people-oriented.

‘We will hand over our campaigns to the people, just as we will hand the government over to them,’ Ajayi said.

According to him, the party’s grassroots strategy will provide an opportunity for voters to interact directly with its candidates and understand their plans for addressing challenges confronting the country.

‘We want the people to hear directly from us, understand our plans and participate actively in the process of choosing the kind of leadership they desire,’ he said.

Ajayi urged Nigerians, particularly Lagos residents, to participate actively in the 2027 general elections and vote based on the programmes, competence and antecedents of candidates.

‘Our message is simple: the people must be at the centre of governance, and our campaign will continue to reflect that commitment,’ he said.

He expressed confidence that sustained engagement with the electorate would strengthen the AAC’s chances of winning Lagos and contributing significantly to the party’s presidential victory in 2027.

Members of transnational vehicle snatchers allegedly involved in trafficking stolen vehicles across Nigeria’s borders for sale in neigbouring countries have been arrested by police in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The ????command also recovered a stolen Lexus SUV car.

This is contained in a statement on Wednesday in Ibadan, by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ayanlade Olayinka.

Olayinka said the arrest was made possible following a successful intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

He explained that one of the arrested suspects already in police custody in connection with an armed robbery case, had during interrogation disclosed his knowledge of the activities of a criminal gang specialising in receiving and conveying stolen vehicles to neigbouring countries.

‘Following this lead, operatives allowed the suspect to operate his mobile phone under controlled circumstances, during which members of the syndicate forwarded to him pictures of a vehicle they were about to steal.

‘They instructed him to make proper arrangements for its reception, preparation and movement across the border for sale in a neigbouring country.

‘Coincidentally, on Monday, the command received actionable information from the Police Command in Kwara, requesting assistance in intercepting a Lexus RX 350 SUV, 2017 model.

‘According to the Kwara command, the vehicle had been stolen from a woman at gunpoint at her residence in Ilorin, alongside other valuables,’ he said.

He added that on receipt of the information, the state Commissioner of Police, directed the VCRU commander to immediately mount an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation along the Ibadan-Ilorin expressway in order to arrest the suspect and recover the stolen vehicle.

According to him, the VCRU operatives sighted the stolen Lexus SUV vehicle at about 4:00 a.m., on Monday and attempted to stop it for interrogation.

Olayinka said that the occupants however abandoned the vehicle and fled in different directions into the bush in an attempt to evade arrest.

‘The operatives gave them a hot chase, resulting in the arrest of two suspects, one of whom sustained a bullet wound to his left foot during the operation.

‘A search of the recovered vehicle led to the recovery of valuables belonging to the victim, including four HP laptops, one iPhone 15 Pro Max, a bag containing seven wristwatches and some jewellery,’ he said.

He said that the suspects during interrogatuon confessed to have received the vehicle from the syndicate that stole it in Ilorin.

‘The suspects said that they were conveying the vehicle towards the border, where an ECOWAS document was to be obtained to facilitate its movement across the border for sale in a neigbouring country.

The PPRO quoted the state commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga as commending the operatives for their prompt response, professionalism and effective utilisation of actionable intelligence.

‘The command appreciates the cooperation and intelligence-sharing between the Oyo and Kwara police commands.

‘Sustained inter-state collaboration remains critical to effectively disrupting organised and trans-national criminal activities,’ he said.

One person was killed while three others sustained injuries after a man allegedly opened fire during a recent marriage ceremony, popularly known as a ‘DJ’ event in Kano.

The 34-year-old alleged shooter identified as Rabiu Mukhtar, has also been arrested over the incident.

Mukhtar allegedly used a pump-action gun to shoot four people at the event, Kano Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa said while confirming the incident.

The Kano Police spokesperson said the incident occurred at Tudun Yola on Aug. 16.

He confirmed the arrest of Mukhtar, in connection with the alleged offence.

The Kano police spokesperson further stated that the suspect allegedly used a pump-action gun to shoot four people who sustained injuries.

He added that the police recovered the gun from the suspect’s possession.

Haruna-Kiyawa said the victims were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, for medical treatment.

He identified the victims as Sadiq Abubakar, Umar Rabiu, Muhammad Sadisu and Aliyu Mustapha.

According to him, one of the victims, Aliyu Mustapha, later died in the hospital, while the remaining three are responding to treatment.

The PPRO further revealed that Mukhtar and one other person were apprehended and taken into custody for investigation at the Command Headquarters, Bompai, Kano.

He explained that preliminary information indicated that the incident was triggered by the playing of music that some people did not like.

Haruna-Kiyawa further stated that the suspect told the police he opened fire after he heard that thugs, ‘Yan daba’ were coming to the venue.

He said the suspects would be prosecuted after completion of investigation.

The Federal Government on Wednesday inaugurated 100 Renewed Hope Mass Transit electric buses to provide safer, more affordable and reliable transportation for federal civil servants nationwide.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, disclosed this at the inauguration of the buses in Abuja.

Walson-Jack said the initiative represented a practical demonstration of the federal government commitment to the welfare and well-being of civil servants.

She said 37 of the 100 electric buses had been delivered as the first instalment of the project.

‘For me, it is a dream come true. This inauguration is providentially my parting gift to my dearly beloved federal civil servants,’ she said.

The HCSF, whose tenure ends on Thursday, said she could not have asked for a more fitting way to end her service than to receive and hand over the keys to an initiative that would continue to benefit civil servants after her exit.

She expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his support for the initiative and the transformation of the Federal Civil Service.

She said transportation went beyond moving people from one location to another, noting that daily commuting affected the finances, safety, punctuality and productivity of civil servants.

‘An intervention that makes transportation safer, more reliable and more affordable is therefore not a peripheral welfare gesture; it is an investment in a more productive civil service,’ she said.

Walson-Jack said the buses would ease the financial burden on workers and reduce the risks associated with daily commuting.

According to her, the initiative demonstrates that the Renewed Hope Agenda is being translated into practical interventions that workers can directly experience.

‘The acquisition of the buses is made possible through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.’

She described the intervention as evidence of the administration’s commitment to translating the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible benefits for Nigerians.

She commended the Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, for his support and for undertaking the symbolic handover of the buses.

The head of service of the federation also commended the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Joseph Osanipin and his team for their collaboration in ensuring that the buses were developed in line with the objectives of the national automotive policy.

She said staff welfare remained fundamental to public service reform, adding that a supported and motivated workforce would be better positioned to serve the nation with commitment, professionalism and excellence.

The buses

Walson-Jack, urged civil servants to take good care of the buses provided by the government, describing the initiative as valuable assets provided for their benefit

‘My dearly beloved civil servants, treat these buses as your own personal assets. They are assets that have been provided for you all,’ she said.

Earlier, Enoh described the inauguration as a significant milestone in the federal government efforts to improve the welfare of civil servants.

He said the deployment of the electric buses would contribute to easing transportation challenges faced by workers while supporting the government’s broader sustainability and development objectives.

He also said that the buses were part of the administration’s efforts to translate its policies into practical interventions that directly impacted the lives of Nigerians.

He commended Walson-Jack for her contributions to the federal civil service and wished her well as she concluded her tenure as the HCSF.

The minister said the first 37 buses would serve as the initial phase of the 100-bus project, with the remaining buses expected to be deployed as planned.

Veteran journalist and publisher of The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo, has died after he suddenly took ill in Lagos.

The Eagle Online, confirmed the death of the 56-year-old veteran journalist on Wednesday.

The newspaper said Oladipo died on Tuesday.

Also, the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), which he previously led as president confirmed the tragic incident in a statement by Danlami Nmodu, its current president.

GOCOP, announced the death on its platform on Tuesday night.

‘It has just been confirmed that Emeritus President, Mr Dotun Oladipo, died today. May his soul rest in peace. Amen,’ Mr Nmodu said.

The late veteran journalist worked with Nigerian Tribune, Nigerian Compass, The Sun and PUNCH Newspapers before establishing The Eagle Online.

He was also the chief executive officer of Premium Eagle Media Limited as well as the pioneer president of the Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multipurpose Society (IMPCMS)

IMPCMS established to promote collaboration and professional development among media practitioners.

The General Secretary of the Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multipurpose Society, Nkanu Egbe, also confirmed the journalist’s death.

He described his passage as as a major loss to the journalism profession.

‘It is with profound sorrow that I announce the sudden death of our President, Mr Dotun Oladipo, who passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Lagos, at the age of 56,’ Egbe said.

Egbe described Oladipo as a journalist who combined nearly three decades of professional experience with dedicated leadership of the cooperative.

‘Mr Oladipo led our cooperative with dedication, alongside a distinguished journalism career spanning nearly three decades. His passing is a devastating loss not only to IMPCMS but to Nigerian journalism as a whole,’ he added.

In his reaction to his death, African Action Congress 2027 presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore described Oladipo as a ‘complete gentleman, accomplished digital journalist and remarkable human being.’

‘Dotun Oladipo has passed away. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire community of digital journalists in Nigeria. May Dotun Oladipo rest in power!’ Sowore wrote.

Oladipo obtained a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, in 1992.

The Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multipurpose Society said details of his funeral arrangements and other matters concerning his burial would be announced later.

Ogun State All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, Abayomi Hunye, has alleged that some leaders of the party threatened him to abandon his 2027 governorship ambition.

Hunye made the allegation while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he spoke about the controversy surrounding the APC governorship primary that produced Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

According to Hunye, some party leaders insisted that Adeola should be the sole candidate and allegedly mounted pressure on him not to proceed with the contest.

He also claimed that he was excluded from a meeting involving former governors and other influential party figures because of his insistence on remaining in the race.

Hunye questioned the process adopted by the party, asking why he was allowed to purchase a N50 million nomination form and subsequently cleared for screening if a consensus arrangement had already been reached in favour of Adeola.

He argued that the development raised questions about fairness in the conduct of the primary and the treatment of other aspirants who had fulfilled the party’s requirements.

The governorship aspirant also denied claims that he had been parading himself as the APC candidate in Ogun State.

Hunye said he was only challenging the process that produced Adeola and had already approached the court to seek redress.

He vowed to continue pursuing the matter through legal and other appropriate channels, insisting that his grievance was centred on due process and the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the party’s candidate.

The APC has maintained that Adeola remains its recognised governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The party has also said his name and that of his running mate, Kudirat Balogun, have been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.