News Archives

Schoolchildren, teachers kidnapped in Ekiti, abductors demand N100m ransom

Jan 31, 2024Dec 9, 2025 topnews

N100m ransom has been demanded by the abductors of five pupils of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, and four teachers who were taken away on Monday. The principal of the secondary section of the school, Boje Olanireti, confirmed the ransom demand, in an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday. The abduction epidemic has continued to defy the efforts of the security agencies as cases of kidnappings were being recorded in various parts of the country daily. On Monday, gunmen killed two Ekiti monarchs-the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde…

Lawmaker breaks down in tears during plenary over killing of Ekiti monarchs

Jan 31, 2024Dec 9, 2025 topnews

Akin Rotimi, the spokesman for the House of Representatives and lawmaker representing Ekiti North 1 (Ikole / Oye) Federal Constituency, broke down in tears on the floor of the House over the killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State. Rotimi called the attention of the House to the heinous killings of two monarchs by gunmen. Recall that the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Olusola; and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsola, were killed when they were returning from a meeting in Irele-Ekiti on Monday. But Rotimi,…

35-year-old man remanded for allegedly raping 50-year-old colleague to death

Jan 31, 2024Dec 10, 2025 topnews

James Emmanuel, a 35-year-old man has been remanded in prison custody by an Ondo State Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Akure, on Thursday, for allegedly raping a 55-year-old woman, Mrs Deborah Abiodun, to death. James was arrested by the state police command for allegedly killing the woman who was his co-worker at the Oke-Odu Area, of Akure on January 17, 2024. It was gathered that James, after allegedly raping the woman to death, hit her head with stone and dumped her corpse inside a waste pit. The defendant was later…

Mother of 11 arrested trying to sell sons for N1.8m

Jan 31, 2024Dec 10, 2025 topnews

A 38-year-old woman identified as Chinyere Chukwu, has been arrested for attempting to sell her two sons in Anambra. Chukwu, who hails from Okija in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, was said to have connived with her 17-year-old daughter, identified as Joy, to sell off her two sons “due to the economic hardship in the country.” Chukwu, while being interrogated, explained that she had 11 kids and decided to sell two of them when she could not cater to them. The state Commissioner for Women and Social…

NDLEA declares ex-beauty queen wanted, nabs Brazil returnee

Jan 29, 2024Dec 10, 2025 topnews

The NigeriaDrug Law enforcement Agency, NDLEA has declared ex-beauty queen Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas wanted after she escaped during a raid on her Lekki residence, where cannabis and drug-related items were found. The agency made this known in a statement saying, “An ex-beauty queen, Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas also known as Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye has been declared wanted by the Agency after she escaped from her Lekki, Lagos residence when NDLEA operatives raided her apartment at Oral estate, Lekki on Wednesday 24th January following credible intelligence she deals…

Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso exit ECOWAS

Jan 29, 2024Dec 10, 2025 topnews

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, for the first time since its existence, witnessed an abrupt pull out of three countries at the same time yesterday, as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced their exit. These countries did so on the grounds that after 49 years, the bloc no longer pursues the interests of its people but is influenced by foreign powers. They also criticised ECOWAS over the sanctions imposed on them as part of efforts to reverse the coups in their countries. The joint…

School proprietress abducted in Ogun

Jan 29, 2024Dec 10, 2025 topnews

The proprietress of Excel Group of Schools, a nursery and primary institution in Ogun State, Mrs Helen Odunubi, was allegedly abducted by some suspected kidnappers. It was learnt on Friday that the incident occurred inside the school premises in the Ogunsua Crescent, Ose Baba Odun Matogun area of Agbado in Ogun State, at about 1 pm on Tuesday. A source in the area said that trouble started when two women and two men drove an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Sienna into the school premises and went straight to the school proprietress’…

Woman arrested for allegedly trafficking 42 children

Jan 29, 2024Dec 10, 2025 topnews

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old Alimot Haruna for allegedly smuggling 42 northern children into Lagos without their parents’ consent. It was learnt that Alimot intended to compel all 42 children into child labour and trafficking. It was also learnt that the incident occurred on January 25 at about 5:45 pm. A police source said that the three underage children, two females and one male whose name could not be confirmed, were rescued by detectives while monitoring her movements. The source added that the suspect had been…

Everyone will gradually accept blessings for same-sex couples – Pope

Jan 29, 2024Dec 10, 2025 topnews

Pope Francis has said that those who criticise his decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples will come to understand it over time, except for Africans, whom he referred to as a “special case.” The Pope stated that Africans perceive homosexuality negatively from a cultural perspective in an interview with an Italian newspaper that was published on Monday. “Those who protest vehemently belong to small ideological groups. A special case are Africans: for them homosexuality is something bad from a cultural point of view, they don’t tolerate it. “But in…

Aisha Achimugu’s tax returns demanded after lavish birthday

Jan 29, 2024Dec 10, 2025 topnews

Abuja-based socialite, Aisha Achimugu, has been asked to provide details of her annual tax returns by the FCT-Internal Revenue Service. In a now-deleted post on its official X (formerly Twitter) platform, the FCT-IRS had reached out to the socialite to avail the agency of her tax returns. It said, “The FCT-Internal Revenue Service extends our warmest birthday wishes to you! “May this special day be filled with joy and blessing. Remember to fulfill your tax obligations by filing your annual tax returns.’’ The move by the tax agency came on…