Families and relations wept profusely as the remains of Adesiyan Adegboye, one of the victims of the bandit attacks on Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area…
The post Tears as victim of Oriire bandit attack buried in Ogbomoso appeared first on Tribune Online.
Media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu has opened up about his past struggle with smoking addiction, revealing that he smoked heavily for 13 years before eventually quitting.
Ebuka made the revelation during a recent episode of the ‘MENtality’ podcast alongside singer Banky W and social media health influencer Aproko Doctor.
According to Ebuka, he began smoking while in JSS3 and gradually became heavily addicted to cigarettes.
“I started smoking in JSS3. I smoked for 13 years. By the time I entered university, I was smoking two packs a day. I was a heavy smoker,” he said.
The media personality explained that he was eventually able to overcome the addiction after making conscious and deliberate efforts to quit.
Also speaking during the conversation, Banky W disclosed that he once struggled with pornography addiction while attempting to avoid promiscuity.
He explained that he mistakenly believed turning to pornography would help him stay away from moving from one woman to another.
“I was trying to battle pornography and decided that instead of moving from woman to woman, I should just be watching pornography,” he stated.
Ebuka noted that many people often fall into another form of addiction while trying to escape a previous unhealthy habit.
On his part, Aproko Doctor explained that many addictions are rooted in people’s attempts to escape emotional pain or seek temporary pleasure.
“Human beings have two ambitions. The first is to avoid pain. The second is to chase pleasure. A lot of drug use comes because a lot of people are trying to avoid pain,” he said.
The trio stressed the importance of self-awareness, self-discovery, and discipline in overcoming negative addictions and maintaining health.
I Started Smoking In JSS 3, Says Ebuka is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
A businessman, Abibu Yakubu, has filed a petition against his ex-wife at the Upper Area Court 1, Karu, over alleged refusal to leave his house after divorce.
Yakubu is also seeking custody of his four children.
He filed the case against his estranged wife, Shuwadatu Mohammed, on October 13, 2025.
According to the particulars of claim, Yakubu, who resides at Orange Market, Mararaba, Karu LGA, said the respondent is his ex-wife and also resides at the same address.
He averred that the respondent does not respect him and his parents and often insults them.
He said that the marriage is blessed with four children aged 22, 19, and a six-year-old twins.
Mr Yakubu alleged that he divorced his wife about five years ago but she refused to vacate his house.
He claimed she said she would not leave until she killed him.
He further alleged that the respondent occupied his house and threatened his life, adding that he no longer sleeps with eyes closed.
He prayed the court to hold the respondent responsible if anything happens to him.
The petitioner also asked the court for a redissolution of the marriage and custody of the four children.
The Judge, Mohammed Yakubu, after hearing the matter, adjourned the case until June 3, for continued hearing
(NAN)
No fewer than 200 internally displaced persons (IDPs), mostly women, benefited from a community dialogue and psychosocial support programme organised by the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria in collaboration with United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) at Guiwa IDP Camp in Sokoto State.
The intervention, held under the project titled, “Building Community Resilience: Supporting Women’s Role in Conflict Prevention and Mediation,” targeted conflict-affected women and vulnerable families displaced by insecurity across the North-West.
Speaking during the event, Project Lead of CARITAS Nigeria, Jude Akwo, said the initiative was aimed at strengthening women-led peacebuilding efforts and promoting community resilience against insecurity and violent extremism.
Akwo said that the programme forms part of the UNICRI-funded project, “Assessing and Addressing the Nexus between Organized Crime and Terrorism in Africa.”
According to him, the initiative is part of broader efforts to address the links between organised crime, terrorism and community vulnerabilities while strengthening inclusive peacebuilding mechanisms in conflict-affected communities.
“Women constituted about 70 per cent of the participants of this dialogue because of the incredible role they play in peacebuilding.”
While speaking Mahmoud Malami Sadik, a consultant with CARITAS Nigeria, disclosed that findings from field research conducted in Sokoto and Zamfara states showed that women remain the worst-hit victims of banditry and displacement.
“We discovered that women are the major category of people affected. Many have lost their husbands and are now widows, while some were raped.”
Sadik noted that the research covered Wurno and Goronyo Local Government Areas of Sokoto State, where interviews were conducted with IDPs, community leaders, security experts and other stakeholders.
He lamented the poor living conditions in many IDP settlements, revealing that some displaced women still face abuse and insecurity even after fleeing violent attacks.
“Some of them are living in uncompleted buildings without proper security. Some places do not even have perimeter fences, while others lack basic sanitary facilities such as toilets and access to potable water,” he added.
He stressed that the project seeks to transform women from victims of conflict into agents of peace and mediation within their communities.
“We want to turn the narrative from women being just victims to becoming agents of peace. As mothers, daughters and wives, they have critical roles to play in conflict prevention and mediation.”
Highlights of the event was a psychosocial support session facilitated by Fauziyya Sani, a certified psychosocial specialist, who provided guidance on trauma management, emotional wellbeing and resilience-building.
Also speaking, Abdulkareem M. Lawali, representing the Special Adviser to the Governor of Sokoto State on Resident Communities and IDPs, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting programmes aimed at improving the welfare of displaced persons and promoting sustainable peace.
He commended CARITAS Nigeria and its partners for implementing interventions that address both the humanitarian and social dimensions of displacement.
Participants expressed appreciation to CARITAS Nigeria and UNICRI for the intervention, describing the support as timely amid growing humanitarian challenges facing displaced families.
CARITAS, Partners Train Sokoto IDPs On Peacebuilding, Trauma Support is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed has strongly condemned the violent attack carried out against personnel of the Corps by an armed motorist who was later identified as a security operative, during a routine traffic enforcement operation at the RS7.118 Idu Unit Command, Abuja.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Thursday, 21 May 2026, at about 3:20pm, when an enforcement team on routine patrol flagged down a Toyota Carina driver for suspected traffic violation. Rather than comply with lawful directives, the driver refused to stop and proceeded dangerously until he was eventually held up by traffic close to the Command.
Upon approach by the patrol team for routine checks of vehicle and driver documents, the offender became hostile, verbally aggressive, and resisted lawful enforcement procedures.
Despite several tactical and professional attempts by FRSC personnel to de-escalate the situation, the offender escalated the confrontation by physically advancing toward officers and later drawing a pistol, which he fired twice within the vicinity of the Command.
In the face of imminent danger to lives and property, FRSC personnel acted with remarkable restraint, professionalism, and tactical discipline to swiftly disarm the assailant without loss of life. One Marshal sustained minor bruises during the process.
The armed suspect was immediately handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at Life Camp Police Station alongside the firearm, ammunition components, and the vehicle involved. Preliminary identification later revealed the suspect to be a personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS). The matter has since been transferred to the appropriate State Command for further investigation.
The Corps Marshal commends the courage, professionalism, and maturity displayed by its personnel who resisted provocation and ensured that the situation did not degenerate into chaos, despite growing public outrage at the scene.
He further stated unequivocally that no individual, regardless of status, rank, or agency affiliation, is above the law. Security personnel are expected to lead by example through compliance with established traffic regulations and respect for constituted authority.
Firearms and official status must never be used as instruments of intimidation against law enforcement officers carrying out legitimate duties.
The Corps therefore calls on all security agencies to continue strengthening inter-agency cooperation, mutual respect, and operational discipline in the collective interest of national security and public safety.
An aspirant for the 2027 gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State, Senator John James Udoedehe, says the high level of poverty, unemployment and inequality ravaging the state motivated him to join the governorship race.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Thursday, Udoedehe who is running under the platform of African Democratic Congress, ADC, regretted that despite the humongous allocations to the present government, the problems continue to weigh the state down.
He said he is mentally and physically prepared to lift the people by not just creating wealth and employment but bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots, which according to him is very prominent in the state.
“What gives me strength and motivation to do what I’m doing is when I see the level of poverty, inequality unemployment in the state; I know I needed to do something. Any government that fails to answer these questions of poverty, inequality and unemployment has not started. The level of poverty in Akwa ibom is high, you see a man of 35 years having grey hair all over due to hardship.
‘’Check the budget of Akwa Ibom for the past two years weather it is speaking, weather the budget has a voice, not a matter of building blocks. The money Godswill Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel received all together for 16 years is not up to what governor Umo Eno has received for three years yet poverty is still walking in the streets of Akwa Ibom,” he said.
On the capacity of the ADC to win elections in Akwa Ibom, Udoedehe, who was a former national secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, said he brought APC to the state which has now become the ruling party, noting that with full grassroots sensitization and mobilization, the party shall succeed.
Addressing the allegation of being a chronic governorship aspirant, Udoedehe said he only appeared on ballot twice, saying he would not be deterred as he has high hopes of winning in 2027.
He cited the victories of governors Alex Otti of Abia State and Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, who failed multiple times before scaling through in their last attempts.
The guber aspirant also dismissed as baseless and false the insinuations that he was coming out to collect money from the government and chicken out mid-way, while leaving his teaming supporters stranded.
He said he had gone a long way and had been unjustly incarcerated because of his ambition, noting that it would be unwise for him to engage in such act.
‘’I am not coming to contest election because I want to collect money from anyone, I am contented with what I’m blessed with. This is mere blackmail and propaganda. I want Akwa Ibom people to leave joint stock hatred. I have not stolen the Commonwealth of the people.
‘’I have faced many ugly situations because of my people including imprisonment through emergency laws just to implicate me because of fighting for my people. People who are saying such things are sycophants and blackmailers who are busy endorsing Senator Akpabio even when they are not from Akpabio’s senatorial district.
‘’No matter the sentiments, I want Akwa Ibom people to try me in office as their governor. My conviction is that once Akwa Ibom people are enlightened properly, they would take decision in my favour in the 2027 election,” the aspirant said.
2027: Poverty, inequality in Akwa Ibom motivated me join guber race – Udoedehe
Residents of the Igando area of Lagos were thrown into panic after suspected gunmen reportedly shot dead a man identified simply as Golden in a targeted attack carried out in broad daylight.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday in the Fatoki area of Igando, has heightened tension within the community as residents expressed fears over rising insecurity in parts of the state.
According to police sources, the attackers, believed to be two armed men riding on a motorcycle, stormed the neighbourhood and appeared to have specifically targeted the deceased.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the gunmen located Golden and immediately opened fire on him before speeding away from the scene, leaving residents and passersby in shock.
Security operatives who responded to distress calls reportedly arrived at Fatoki Street and found the victim lying in a pool of blood.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention but was later confirmed dead by doctors.
His body has since been deposited at the morgue pending further investigation.
The motive behind the killing remains unclear as of the time of filing this report, while security agencies are said to have commenced efforts to track down the fleeing assailants.
The latest attack has sparked renewed concerns among residents over safety and criminal activities in some parts of Lagos, with many calling for increased security patrols and swift justice for those behind the killing.
Police authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The Lagos State Government says it generated assets worth over ₦3.43 trillion in 2025 through its ongoing valuation exercise, as it intensified efforts to strengthen financial transparency…
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The New Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC), belonging to the 19 Northern state governments, has pledged renewed commitment to transparency and value creation…
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Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were allegedly denied access to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The ADC delegation included the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, and Secretary of the ADC Manifesto and Policy Committee, Salihu Lukman.
The party leaders reportedly visited the ICPC facility in an attempt to see El-Rufai but were denied access. Details surrounding the incident were still unclear as of Friday afternoon.
The development comes days after the ICPC dismissed allegations that El-Rufai was being denied access to food, family members and medical care while in detention.
Speaking at a press conference earlier, ICPC spokesperson, Okor Odey, described the allegations as “false and misleading.”
According to him, visitors are allowed into ICPC detention facilities between 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., adding that El-Rufai’s wife arrived outside the approved visiting hours.
Odey also maintained that authorised visitors, including family members, lawyers and medical personnel, were permitted access under supervision.
However, the El-Rufai family had alleged that the former governor was denied access to his personal doctors despite an earlier court order from the Kaduna High Court granting him unrestricted access to legal representatives and physicians.
The family further claimed that the ICPC’s in-house doctor had recommended additional medical examination before access was allegedly blocked.
“When you see a doctor and you run tests, you are expected to see the doctor back so that he explains what the problem is,” a family member said.
“He was denied access to the doctor,” El-Rufai’s second wife, Hasiat, alleged.
ICPC allegedly denies ADC leaders access to El-Rufai in custody