Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Dr Charles Omole, the author of ‘From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, has alleged that government and security officials made a huge amounts of money from kidnapping under Buhari’s administration.

Omole alleged this on Thursday during an interview on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo.

He claimed that government and security officials turned the insecurity into a kidnapping industry complex.

According to him, “Monetisation of insecurity was rampant under Buhari’s administration. There’s no doubt about that.

“Insecurity became more profitable. To make the government to pay, the kidnappers had to cause maximum embarrassment to the government.

“The kidnappers go to a village and kidnap 100 children, whose parents are peasants. They don’t expect the poor parents to pay, but the government.

“This started happening under Buhari’s administration. For example, it was a situation where government and security officials would ask Buhari to pay 500 million naira to get the kidnapped children released, and he would approve it.

“Maybe the children were actually released based on 50 or 100 million naira. The remaining 400 million is pocketed by people.

“The point is, there were people within the system benefiting from it. So if you were benefiting from it, then the more kidnapping that happens, the better for you. That’s the problem.”

Kidnapping: Govt, security officials made money under Buhari – Charles Omole alleges

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping the possibility of transporting and storing Iran’s enriched uranium in Russia, the Kremlin said on Thursday, as both leaders wrapped up their summit in Beijing.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin raised the proposal during talks with Xi on Wednesday, adding that Moscow remains open to helping de-escalate tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.

Russia first proposed storing Iran’s enriched uranium in June 2025 and has repeated the offer several times since, presenting it as a possible step to ease concerns among key global powers over Tehran’s nuclear activities.

Moscow previously handled Iran’s low-enriched uranium under the 2015 nuclear deal, which Putin has cited as evidence that Russia has the infrastructure and experience to manage such an arrangement.

Peskov said Russia remains in contact with all interested parties and is prepared to continue diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions over Iran.

The United States, however, has said transferring Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia is not part of its plans, with Washington instead pushing for the full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear programme under any future agreement.

Iran currently holds an estimated 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, according to international estimates, a level that with further processing could potentially be used to produce weapons-grade material.

There was no immediate response from Chinese officials or Tehran following Thursday’s announcement.

Putin Proposes Storing Iran Uranium In Russia To Xi is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has emerged victorious in the All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Assembly primary election for Apapa Constituency I.

Meranda secured 2,926 votes to defeat three other aspirants in the primary election conducted on Wednesday.

The exercise took place at Ijora Oloye Nursery and Primary School in Ijora and was reportedly peaceful despite the large turnout of delegates, party members, and supporters.

Delegates and party agents arrived at the venue from about 9:00 a.m., while operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, provided security throughout the exercise.

The APC ticket was contested by four aspirants, including Meranda, Esan Adedotun, Mike Egbayelo, and Elizabeth Toluwalope.

Meranda arrived at the venue shortly before the commencement of voting and was received by cheering supporters.

“I thank you all for the support; it is massive,” she said while addressing party members.

Speaking after the exercise, the APC youth leader in Ijora, Adams Aremu, described the outcome as a reflection of Meranda’s popularity and grassroots acceptance within the constituency.

He stated that several projects and empowerment initiatives executed by the lawmaker across different wards contributed to the support she received during the primary.

Another APC official, Joseph Layode, said party members and residents had expressed satisfaction with her performance through their votes.

According to him, Meranda’s political profile within the state continues to rise, adding that she could eventually become Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

A delegate, Folasade Ojomo, also backed Meranda’s return, saying continuity would benefit the constituency.

In a separate result announced from an earlier exercise conducted across the five wards in Apapa Constituency I, Meranda reportedly polled 6,062 votes, while her closest challenger, Ayo Vaughan, secured 1,385 votes.

Reacting to her victory in a statement issued on Thursday, the deputy speaker dedicated the win to APC members and supporters across the constituency.

“To the leaders of our great party, the dedicated delegates, my political family, and the good people of Apapa Constituency I, I express my deepest gratitude for the overwhelming show of love, trust, and confidence reposed in me at the just concluded APC primaries,” she said.

“This victory is not mine alone; it belongs to every person who believes in our shared vision of progress, unity, and purposeful representation. Your support humbles me and strengthens my resolve to continue serving with diligence, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to the growth and development of our constituency.”

Meranda also assured constituents of her continued commitment to their welfare and development.

“I do not take this renewed mandate for granted, and by the grace of God, I will continue to work tirelessly for the peace, progress, and prosperity of our people,” she added.

Lagos Deputy Speaker Meranda wins APC primary in Apapa Constituency I

The Senator representing Abia South senatorial district, Enyinaya Abaribe, has said that the Labour Party, LP, is prepared to sweep all the contestable positions in Abia in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

Abaribe stated this during the Labour Party screening of aspirants at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja on Thursday, adding that Abia, which is being controlled by the labour party, has shown capacity through the provision of mass-oriented developmental projects.

Abaribe led the delegation of Abia aspirants who came for the screening exercise and highlighted that the State Governor has given the people a desired representation and dividend of democracy. 

He said, “We are here to be screened as the constitution requires, and we trust the judgment of the screening committee whose job is to select ably qualified candidates. 

“Abia State is for the Labour Party and the ,Labour Party is Abia State. And having said this I would state here that the party will win all elections beginning from Governorship to Senatorial, House of Representatives and the State Assembly.”

Also speaking, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, the member representing the Abia North and South federal constituency, expressed confidence that the party will come out on top in the election.

Ikwechegh said no one procured form to run against him in Aba South and North Federal constituency because “we have performed well and also because of the way that our party tends to conduct their political activities.”

He added, “You can see that the Labour Party is on the rise. You can see that Abia is on the rise. So I’m confident that on the 30th, when the primaries will eventually be conducted, that we are going to emerge victorious since it’s very apparent that no one else has procured the nomination form to run against us.”

On what he thinks about some heavyweights that seem to be dropping out of the race, especially through the use of consensus by political parties, he said, “The truth is that I am not a member of the APC. I’ve never been a member of the APC. There was a time before I joined the Labour Party that it was speculated that I was going to join the APC, and that the president had induced me to join the APC. That is not true. 

“There are so many people in the National Assembly that I never thought in my lifetime would lose in the APC primaries but they have. 

“So I want to just say we are the Labour Party and we are continuing with our Labour Party activities. Now, for consensus, most governors don’t actually have anything to do with the consensus arrangement. It is the stakeholders within the local government, the constituencies, and the senatorial districts. Of course, the governor would definitely have a say, but not the final say.

“Stakeholders will recommend somebody and say this is who we want, and then the governor will oblige.”

On his own, the Deputy Chairman, House of Reps committee on Federal Capital Territory, FCT Judiciary, Ibe Okwara Osonwa, said the party has decided to use consensus because it does not want rancour and crisis within its folds.

He said, “As a state, we do not want rancour. Nobody is blind to see what is happening across the country with our ruling party and seeing the confusion that exists. 

“But the magnanimity and the statesmanship of our governor and his thoughts that peace must prevail, unity must prevail, interaction of the people must prevail. 

“So, all stakeholders were brought together. We discussed each area and we agreed that, oh yeah, this person, that person, that person, will serve the best interest of the people. And that’s how we worked it.”

2027: Labour Party will sweep Abia State – Senator Abaribe vows

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has denied allegations that he is working for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, insisting that he is not aligned with the President politically. Kwankwaso, who was the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, dismissed […]

The post Kwankwaso reacts to allegations of working for Tinubu’s re-election appeared first on Tribune Online.

A High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced 33-year-old Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson to d+ath for the m¥rder of his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga.

Nelson was convicted on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, after the court found him guilty on a two-count charge bordering on m¥rder and st£aling.

The convict, said to be an usher in a new-generation church in Uyo, reportedly k+lled Effanga, a makeup artist, before fleeing with her phone.

According to reports, the incident happened around 7am on February 6, 2025, which was also Nelson’s birthday.

He had allegedly visited Effanga at her residence on Aka Road, Uyo, to use her phone to upload his birthday photos on social media. However, things reportedly turned v+olent after a struggle over the phone.

Nelson was said to have sl+mmed the deceased’s head against the wall before str@ngling her to d+ath. He then escaped with her phone after committing the crime.

Two days later, on February 8, 2025, security operatives tracked him to a church on Nsikak Eduok Avenue during a night vigil programme around 2am.

During interrogation, Nelson reportedly confessed to the crime.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ekpo Ntekim sentenced him to d+ath by h@nging or l£thal injection for the m¥rder charge, noting that the p¥nishment for st£aling was already covered by the main sentence.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transformative reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency, strengthening internal security….

The post FG commits to reforms, results-driven governance in public service appeared first on Tribune Online.

Operatives of the Command Anti-Vice Squad (CAVS), Sector 2, Ughelli, have successfully rescued a three-year-old kidnapped child and arrested one Kelvin Ogaga in connection with the abduction. 

The arrest followed a complaint received on May 18 from the father of the victim, who reported that his three-year-old daughter had been abducted by the suspect, a commercial motorcyclist who was entrusted with taking the child on daily school runs. 

Police investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly k!dnapped the child and subsequently demanded ransom of Five hundred  thousand naira (N500,000) from the family. After negotiations, the family paid the demanded ransom to secure the release of the child.

Acting on credible technical intelligence, operatives stormed the suspect’s hideout in Ughelli, where he was arrested. 

Confirming the arrest to newsmen, the command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, said items recovered from the suspect include the sum of N127,000, believed to be part of the ransom money, and other valuables allegedly purchased with proceeds of the crime, and the motorcycle used in committing the offence. Suspect is in custody and investigation is ongoing.

Full Statement 

DELTA STATE POLICE COMMAND ARRESTS SUSPECTED CULTIST, RESCUES KIDNAPPED CHILD; RECOVERS ONE BERETTA PISTOL, ONE LOCALLY MADE CUT-TO-SIZE SINGLE-BARRELLED GUN, ONE CARTRIDGE, AND PART OF RANSOM MONEY

The Delta State Police Command has recorded further operational successes in its sustained fight against cultism and violent crime across the state.

1. ARREST OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER, RESCUE OF KIDNAPPED CHILD, AND RECOVERY OF ₦127,000 PART OF RANSOM MONEY

Operatives of the Command Anti-Vice Squad (CAVS), Sector 2, Ughelli, successfully rescued a three-year-old kidnapped child and arrested one Kelvin Ogaga in connection with the abduction. The arrest followed a complaint received on 18 May 2026 from the father of the victim, who reported that his three-year-old daughter had been abducted by the suspect, a commercial motorcyclist who was entrusted with taking the child on daily school runs. It was gathered that the suspect allegedly kidnapped the child and subsequently demanded ransom of Five hundred  thousand naira (#500,000) from the family. After negotiations, the family paid the demanded ransom to secure the release of the child.

Acting on credible technical intelligence, operatives stormed the suspect’s hideout in Ughelli, where he was arrested. Recovered from him were the sum of ₦127,000, believed to be part of the ransom money, and other valuables allegedly purchased with proceeds of the crime, and the motorcycle used in committing the offence. Suspect is in custody and investigation is ongoing.  

2. RECOVERY OF ONE BERETTA PISTOL DURING STOP SMD SEARCH;

In another operation, the operatives of the Department of Operations’ Buffalo Team, while on routine patrol along the Power Line axis by Bonsaac, sighted a suspicious male carrying a black bag. On sighting the operatives, the suspect took to his heels. The patrol team immediately gave chase, but the suspect escaped and abandoned the bag while fleeing.

A search conducted on the bag led to the recovery of one Beretta pistol and one iPhone. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect and unravel the circumstances surrounding the recovery.

3. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTIST AND RECOVERY OF ONE LOCALLY MADE FIREARM

In a separate operation, operatives of Ozoro Division, while on township patrol along Omovutotu Street, Ozoro, intercepted one suspect identified as Michael Monday, who attempted to flee upon sighting the police patrol team. A search conducted on a black handbag in his possession led to the recovery of one locally made cut-to-size single-barrelled gun and one cartridge.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly belongs to the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, also known as “Aro Bagger.” The suspect is currently in custody, and investigation is ongoing. 

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Yemi Oyeniyi, psc, acipm, mnips, commended the operatives for their swift response and reiterated the Command’s commitment to combating crime and ensuring the safety of residents across the state. The CP also reitirated the importance of Stop and search duty as a form of  proactive policing which has resulted to the recovery of the two firearms. He also urges members of the public to report any suspicious persons or movement within their environment to the Police without delay. 

 

SP. BRIGHT EDAFE, ANIPR, FCIA, FIPMD

POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,

DELTA STATE COMMAND,

ASABA

21st May, 2026

The Lagos State Government has rescued 1,315 vulnerable persons from streets across the state and prosecuted 459 beggars through the Mobile Court…

The post Lagos rescues 1,315 vulnerable persons, prosecutes 459 beggars appeared first on Tribune Online.

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2027 governorship election in the state.

Lawal emerged through a consensus arrangement adopted by the APC as the mode of its primary in the state.

Supporters as well as party members gathered across various wards in the state, where they unanimously endorsed Lawal as the party’s flagbearer for the forthcoming governorship election.

The governor, while addressing reporters after the exercise, expressed appreciation to members of the party for the confidence reposed in him.

He pledged to sustain and expand developmental projects aimed at improving the living conditions of the people of Zamfara State.

His emergence came as his Katsina State counterpart, Governor Dikko Radda, secured the ticket of the party for the governorship election on Thursday.

Both Lawal and Radda are seeking second terms in office on the platform of the APC.

APC Primaries: Zamfara Gov, Lawal emerges consensus candidate