Author: The Whistler Newspaper

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have released 416 women and children abducted from the Ngoshe community in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The development was confirmed on Sunday by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), Samaila Kaigama, who said the captives regained their freedom on June 6 following sustained engagement and advocacy efforts by the group.

Speaking with journalists, Kaigama said BOSYA played a key role in facilitating discussions that led to the release of the victims.

“We have secured the release of all the 416 women and children abducted from Ngoshe. They were released on June 6,” he said.

“We are delighted and thankful that our persistent efforts, continuous appeals, and extensive discussions have yielded positive results.”

Kaigama urged the federal government, the Borno State Government, and relevant local authorities to conduct proper screening and profiling of the released captives to ensure their welfare and security.

BOSYA had previously served as an intermediary between the abductors and the affected families. In April, the group disclosed that it had maintained communication with the insurgents after the victims were displayed in captivity.

The abduction followed a Boko Haram attack on March 4, during which insurgents reportedly overran a military base in Ngoshe, set operational vehicles ablaze, forced security personnel to retreat, killed an unspecified number of people, and abducted scores of residents.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, were unsuccessful, as calls made to his phone were not answered at the time of filing this report.

Boko Haram Frees 416 Abducted Women, Children In Borno is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The rising cost of cooking gas is forcing many households and businesses in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to switch to charcoal and firewood.

The post FCT residents turn to firewood, charcoal as cooking gas prices hit N2,000/kg appeared first on Tribune Online.

Famous Nollywood comic actor, Nkem Owoh, popularly called Osuofia, has described his adventure into acting as “an accident”.

The veteran explained that he wanted to remain a scriptwriter but his colleagues, who noticed his comedy skills behind the scenes pressurized him into acting.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Selah Meditate podcast, Owoh said, “My coming in front of the camera was an accident. I was a scriptwriter behind the scenes and people started telling me to start performing in front of the camera.

“I remember ATV created a 7-minute programme for me to do stand-up comedy in the 80s. They told me to come in front of the camera because I was making people laugh behind the camera. With much pressure, I came in front of the camera. And I saw that what I was doing people were buying it so that was how my acting career began.”

On the downside of his career, Owoh said being famous robbed him of his freedom.

“Fame took away my freedom. A lot of people want to be celebrities, they only know the benefits but not the downsides. When you become famous you can’t do a lot of the things you were doing freely before. You become restricted in a lot of ways,” he explained.

‘I was forced into acting’ – Nkem Owoh

At least 12 people were injured in a shooting near a community festival in the US state of Ohio, prompting a police search for…

The post Gunmen shoot 12 people near Ohio festival in US appeared first on Tribune Online.

Lottery organisers said the winning ticket matched all six numbers in the draw, while urging players across the country to…

The post Lucky Lotto player scoops £12m jackpot in UK appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Israeli military on Sunday said it had killed Sakr Abu Karim, a Hamas Nukhba cell commander, in a recent operation.

In a statement posted on X, the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, alleged that Abu Karim was among the leaders involved in the infiltration of the Kisufim area during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

The military claimed that throughout the ongoing war, Abu Karim planned and carried out attacks against Israeli troops.

According to the IDF, Abu Karim had recently been involved in efforts to rebuild Hamas’ military capabilities and was allegedly storing a large cache of weapons at his residence.

The Israeli military also said that another Hamas operative who served as a communications specialist was killed in the same strike.

IDF wrote: “ELIMINATED: Sakr Abu Karim, a Hamas Nukhba cell commander who was among the leaders of the infiltration into the Kisufim area during the October 7 massacre.

“Throughout the war Abu Karim advanced and executed attacks against IDF troops, and recently violated the ceasefire by attempting to rebuild Hamas’ forces and keeping a large weapons cache in his home.

“An additional Hamas terrorist who served as a communications operative was also eliminated in the strike.”

Hamas had not immediately commented on the Israeli claims as of the time of filing this report.

Israeli military eliminates Hamas commander, Abu Karim

Veteran Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, has reacted to the current trend of some producers casting actors based on social-media fame rather talent. 

Speaking in a recent episode of the Selah Meditate podcast, the thespian said the trend is isn’t a threat to talented actors.

He argued that social media-fame can never replace real talent.

“I don’t think social-media fame is replacing real talent. It can’t. There is no way social media-fame can replace real talent,” he stated.

DAILY POST reports that a cross section of Nigerian actors including Shine Rosman, Bolaji Ogunmola, and Osereme Inegbenebor, recently accused Nollywood filmmakers of favouring beauty, social media popularity, physical endowment and even complexion over real talent in separate interviews. 

Despite the repeated allegations, Nollywood filmmakers haven’t done much in addressing it.

Social media-fame can’t replace real talent – Nkem Owoh

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike has urged Nigerian youths to embrace leadership as a platform for service rather than personal enrichment.
Speaking at the 36th Convocation of the University of Port Harcourt, Wike told graduating students that Nigeria’s future depends on leaders who prioritise public interest above personal gain.

“Leadership is service. It is not an avenue for self-glorification, but a covenant with the people,” he said.

The minister warned that corruption, abuse of office and self-interest have weakened institutions and slowed national development.

He challenged the graduates to become leaders defined by courage, integrity and accountability.

“The true leader does not ask, ‘What do I gain from this office?’ but rather, ‘What do the people gain from my stewardship?’” Wike stated.

According to him, leadership should be measured by the positive impact it has on people’s lives and the institutions it leaves behind.

Future leaders must choose service over power – Wike at UNIPORT lecture

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United star, David Beckham, has named England as the team to win the  2026 FIFA World Cup.

Beckham also named Japan as the dark horses to look out for at the World Cup tournament this time.

Speaking with ABC News, Beckham backed England to win the 2026 World Cup, saying, “I am always going to say England.

“It’s sixty years now since we [England] last won the World Cup, so it is about time that we win [again this year].

“It is never easy. There is always a surprise in a World Cup with either a player or a country that emerges.

“I think the Japanese team has got a really strong team, they could be kind of a secret.”

World Cup 2026: ‘They’ve strong team’ – David Beckham names winners, dark horses

The abductors of a former Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Rabe Abubakar (retd), and his wife have demanded the release of three detained fighters and the return of livestock allegedly seized during security operations as conditions for the couple’s freedom.

The demands were conveyed in a four-minute video released by the kidnappers and obtained by on Saturday.

The video shows the retired military officer and his wife in captivity days after they were abducted in Katsina State.

In the footage, the wife of the former defence spokesman, who spoke in Hausa, appealed to the Katsina State Government, traditional rulers and community leaders across five local government areas to intervene and facilitate release of the detained bandits identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru.

According to her, two of the men were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano State.

She said compliance with the demands would pave the way for their release.

“Our appeal is for the authorities and community leaders to assist in resolving this matter so that we can regain our freedom,” she said.

The retired general, who spoke briefly in the video, urged stakeholders to embrace dialogue and peaceful engagement.

“I appeal for efforts that will promote peace. They have indicated interest in dialogue and peaceful coexistence,” Abubakar said.

It was gathered that a notorious bandit commander, Kachallah Muhammad, who reportedly operates in parts of Katsina State, had contacted the relatives of the retired military officer shortly after the abduction.

The contacts allegedly conveyed demands centred on the release of detained associates rather than a conventional ransom payment.

Abubakar was abducted alongside his wife on May 30 while travelling through Katsina State.

The couple was reportedly travelling with their driver along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area when armed men ambushed their vehicle near Zakin Baure village and whisked them into a nearby forest.

Their driver reportedly escaped despite sustaining gunshot injuries during the attack, while security operatives later recovered the victims’ vehicle, a red Peugeot 504, and moved it to the Matazu Divisional Police Headquarters.

The Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road has become notorious for recurring incidents of kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery, with residents frequently raising concerns over security along the corridor.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Katsina State Government nor security agencies had issued an official statement on the video or the demands made by the abductors.