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The eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane, is a delicate part of the ear that plays a crucial role in hearing and protecting the middle ear from infection. While most people associate eardrum damage with loud blasts or major accidents, the truth is that everyday situations can put this sensitive membrane at risk.

Here are five common scenarios that can lead to eardrum injury if not handled carefully:

1. Sudden Slaps or Blows to the Ear

A sharp slap directly on the ear can create instant pressure changes, leading to trauma. This may cause echoing, pain, or, in severe cases, a perforation of the eardrum. Children and siblings often play roughly, but such actions can have lasting ear consequences.

2. Inserting Objects into the Ear

Many people use cotton swabs, keys, or even hairpins to ‘clean’ their ears. Instead of cleaning, these objects can push wax deeper or pierce the eardrum. Earwax is self-cleaning, and using the wrong tools increases the risk of accidental injury.

3. Exposure to Loud Sounds or Explosions

Concerts, fireworks, gunshots, and even headphones at maximum volume can damage the eardrum over time. A sudden loud blast can cause immediate rupture, while prolonged exposure weakens the membrane.

4. Air Pressure Changes

Flying, scuba diving, or even a rapid elevator ride can cause barotrauma pressure-related stress on the eardrum. When the pressure difference between the inner and outer ear is too high, the membrane can stretch or tear.

5. Untreated Ear Infections

Ear infections often cause fluid buildup and pressure in the middle ear. If left untreated, this pressure can burst the eardrum, leading to pain, discharge, and temporary hearing loss.

The order given by a Kano State Magistrate Court to the State Hisbah Board to facilitate the wedding arrangement between Kano-based social media content creator, Idris Mai Wushirya, and his dwarf partner, Basira ‘Yar Guda, has collapsed after the Kano State Hisbah Board announced the cancellation of the entire process.

It will be recalled that a Kano State Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate Halima Wali had given an order to the State Hisbah Board to facilitate the marriage process between the two TikTokers, Idris Mai Wushirya and Basira ‘Yar Guda, who were known for posting obscene content and acting romantically, within a 60-day ultimatum.

It was also recalled that Idris and Basira were brought before Magistrate Halima two weeks ago and accused of producing and posting obscene content online.

Some of the videos reportedly featured romantic acts between Mai Wushirya and ‘Yar Guda, which the Censorship Board noted violated the moral and religious codes guiding public conduct in the state.

Magistrate Halima Wali gave the order following a series of viral videos in which the two TikTokers acted romantically, which were considered indecent by the Kano State Films and Video Censorship Board.

However, in the latest development, the Hisbah Board said that the alleged romantic relationship between the two TikTokers, which was originally referred to the board for formalisation, was found to be a pretentious arrangement staged by the offenders to evade legal consequences for their previous actions.

According to the Deputy Commander of the Hisbah Board, Dr Mujahedeen Aminuddeen, the agency confirmed the development, stating that the decision to cancel the proposed wedding followed the outcome of an investigation that revealed the insincerity of both parties.

He noted that both social media personalities had submitted blood samples to confirm their medical compatibility, but the process was halted to avoid further complications.

He added that the case would now be returned to court if the matter is not reconciled.

The Hisbah Board stated: ‘After our investigation, we discovered that the proposed marriage was not based on mutual understanding but rather an attempt to evade legal consequences. Therefore, the board resolved to cancel the wedding to prevent future conflict.’

The Jigawa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the endorsement of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, as the consensus candidate for the national chairmanship of the party, describing the decision as being against the interest of the North.

This was disclosed by the state PDP chairman, Dr Babandi Ibrahim Gumel, during a Hausa-language political programme on Sawaba Radio, a private station monitored in the state. The chairman faulted the decision, saying, ‘It is against the interest of the North West stakeholders.’

According to the Jigawa State PDP chairman, the recent endorsement of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, by the northern caucus of the PDP as the consensus candidate for the national chairman position ahead of the party’s Ibadan national conference did not follow due consultation or process.

He reiterated that ‘the endorsement is against the interest of the North West stakeholders.’

Dr Gumel maintained that the northern PDP caucus, during its meeting last Monday, resolved that the position of National Chairman should be zoned to the North West and therefore directed stakeholders in the zone to present a suitable candidate for the post.

According to him, ‘Based on this directive, we agreed to hold our meeting on Thursday at about 8:00 p.m. under the chairmanship of the Zamfara State Governor. To our dismay, on Wednesday, those who asked us to go and nominate from the North West went ahead and nominated the candidate of their choice.’

He added, ‘Our leader, Dr Sule Lamido, was not notified about the northern caucus meeting until an hour before it commenced (in the night).’

‘And among those nominated, none of them bought forms to show their interest in becoming the chairman of the party. Our leader was suggested by chieftains of the party at the national level and other national leaders as the right candidate who can revive the party from its slumber.’

According to him, ‘We were denied the opportunity to carry out the task assigned to us, so we are now waiting to see if our resolution will be considered.’

Hon. Babandi noted that their main concern is for the PDP to be led by someone capable of reviving it and overcoming its challenges.

‘We have been in the party for the last 26 years, and we do not want anything that can destabilise the party,’ he said.

The state party chairman stressed that they would do everything possible to ensure that the right person assumes leadership of the party for the unity and progress of both the PDP and the country in general.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has condemned the arrest of Abubakar Isah Mokwa, a postgraduate student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), over an allegation of criticising the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, on social media.

It will be recalled that Mokwa, who is studying Agricultural Economics and Extension, was reportedly picked up by security operatives at his off-campus residence in Lapai and later transferred to the State Police Command headquarters in Minna.

The group also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest and to caution officers against the arbitrary detention of citizens for expressing their opinions in a democratic society.

According to a statement signed by its Executive Director, Y.Z. Ya’u, CITAD said the arrest of a student for expressing his opinion online violates Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of expression and to hold opinions without interference.

However, the police said his arrest was based on allegations of cyberbullying and cyberstalking.

CITAD then described the action as ‘deeply disturbing and unconstitutional,’ insisting that the arrest represents an attempt to criminalise free expression and silence dissenting voices in the state.

The organisation noted that the incident reflects a growing pattern of intolerance towards criticism under Governor Bago’s administration.

It recalled that in August 2025, the Niger State Government suspended Badegi 90.1 FM over alleged criticism of the governor, while journalists including Yakubu Mustapha of Peoples Daily and Mustapha Nasiru Batsari of Voice of America (VOA) have reportedly faced harassment for performing their duties.

CITAD called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mokwa and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the Nigeria Police Force does not continue to serve as an instrument of political oppression.

CITAD further advised Governor Bago to respect the principles of free speech and focus on improving governance and addressing developmental challenges in the state, rather than intimidating journalists and activists.

‘Freedom of expression is the foundation of democracy,’ the statement read. ‘The continued misuse of state power to silence critics and young people undermines democratic governance and civic trust.’

CITAD reaffirmed its commitment to defending digital rights, promoting online safety and ensuring that Nigerians can freely express their opinions without fear of intimidation or persecution.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated the former First Lady of Ogun State, Chief (Mrs) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo, on her 100th birthday celebration, saying that the celebrant deserved all the accolades at this occasion for her immense contributions to governance, humanity and education.

Chief (Mrs) Lucia Onabanjo is the widow of the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, the first civilian Governor of Ogun State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who is the Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum, said this in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser (SW) on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, noting that Mama Onabanjo’s 100 years of God’s grace and benevolence had been a life of impact, especially during her reign as the wife of the first Executive Governor of Ogun State.

The governor, who joined family, friends and the people of Ogun State and Nigerians at large in celebrating the centenary birthday of the former First Lady, described the celebrant as a committed and devoted teacher for over two decades, who impacted and mentored many generations of young Nigerians in Lagos and Zaria.

According to him, the former First Lady served Ogun State passionately as wife of one of the respected political leaders and performing governors of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) during the Second Republic, further describing her as a reliable and committed partner who supported former Governor Onabanjo in ensuring that the dividends of democracy were delivered to people of the state between October 1, 1979, and December 31, 1983.

‘On behalf of my family, the government and the people of Lagos State, I felicitate Chief (Mrs) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo, the widow of the first civilian Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, on her 100th birthday.

‘Mama Onabanjo deserves all the accolades at 100 for her immense contribution to governance, humanity and education. She was a committed and devoted teacher for over two decades. She impacted and mentored many generations of young Nigerians in Lagos and Zaria.

‘She served Ogun State passionately as the wife of one of the respected political leaders and performing governors of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) during the Second Republic. She was a reliable and committed partner who supported former Governor Onabanjo in ensuring that the dividends of democracy were delivered to the people of Ogun State between October 1, 1979, and December 31, 1983.

‘As Chief (Mrs) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo celebrates her centenary birthday, I pray that the Almighty God will continue to bless her with good health and peace. She will witness the fruits of her labour across generations,’ the governor prayed.

It is pretty much the voice behind social media captions, website texts, product descriptions, and ad campaigns. And this is where storytelling comes in. Storytelling in brand copy is the art of bringing relatable, people-centred narratives into your messaging so that your audience feels seen, understood, and inspired.

For the longest time, stories have always been powerful because they don’t just inform; they evoke emotions and stay in their memory.

So, how can you master storytelling in brand copy? Let’s look at seven ways this can be done:

1. Know your brand’s story

Your message must be backed with clarity; understand your ‘Why’. You should ask yourself: ‘Why does my brand exist?’ ‘What problem am I solving?’ ‘What change do I want to see?’ When you understand your ‘Why’, you can create real, original stories that reflect your values and easily connect with your audience.

2. Focus on the customer

Your brand may be telling the story, but the customer is always at the centre. Curate your copy around their challenges, dreams and experiences. Let them see not just what you offer, but how their life improves with your product or service; show them.

3. Be relatable

Storytelling in brand copy works best when it feels relatable and human. Ditch the complex words and write like you’re talking to a friend. Make it simple, conversational. It’ll help your audience to see themselves in your message.

4. Build the narrative around emotions

Truth be told, people may forget facts, but they hardly forget how you made them feel. Whether it’s joy, hope, nostalgia, or even relief, tap into emotions that matter to your audience

Emotional resonance is what turns casual readers into loyal fans.

5. Build tension and resolution

Highlight the challenges before the success. A great storyteller follows a journey from a problem, a struggle, and then a resolution. You can use the same method in your business. Explain the pain point your audience faces, then guide them toward how your product or service can solve it.

6. Be consistent

Your brand copy should feel the same, even if someone is reading an Instagram caption, a tweet, a website homepage, or an email. Do you know what consistency does? It builds trust – makes your storytelling believable.

7. Show, don’t just tell

Instead of saying things like, ‘We are creative,’ share a story of how your brand solved a peculiar problem or changed a customer’s life. Guess what makes your copy powerful than mere claims: real-life examples, testimonials, or behind-the-scenes narratives. Use them all to your advantage.

Conclusively, storytelling in brand copy is not about long, dramatic stories. It’s about making your audience feel connected and inspired through simple and original perspectives. When you do this well, your brand’s word becomes an experience people want to be part of.

Five teenagers have been reportedly killed in a boat mishap that occurred on Saturday on the Nafada River in Gombe State.

Tribune Online gathered that the tragic incident occurred when the boat was ferrying passengers across the river on their way to the village market, when the boat capsized, with the passengers.

The victims of the unfortunate incident have been identified as Najib Ibrahim, 18 years, Hauwa’u Jidda Adamu Siddi Dogal, 15 years, Ummati Haruna Baraya, 16 years, Umaira Gidado, 16 years and Amina Jaliya, 15 years.

Meanwhile, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, expressed sadness over the report of the tragic boat mishap.

This was contained in a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General, (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe.

The Governor described the incident as heart-wrenching and painful, especially considering the tender ages of the victims and the grief it has brought upon their families and the entire Nafada community.

He said, ‘This is a very tragic and unfortunate incident that has cut short the lives of promising young people. My heart goes out to their parents, families and the entire Nafada community at this difficult time.

‘The loss of these young souls is not only a tragedy to their immediate families but to all of us as a people.’

He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Nafada Local Government Area, praying Almighty Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and give their families the fortitude to bear the loss.

Inuwa also emphasised the need for strict adherence to safety standards in water transportation, calling on local government councils, community leaders, boat operators, and regulatory agencies to intensify efforts towards ensuring that all safety protocols are observed to prevent future tragedies.

He directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Nafada local government council to provide every possible support to the affected families and work closely with relevant agencies to enhance safety and awareness in riverine communities.

‘On behalf of the government and people of Gombe State, I extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and pray that Allah, in His infinite mercy, forgives their shortcomings and grants them Jannatul Firdaus,’ Inuwa prayed.