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The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has inspected highways and dismantled illegal roadblocks across the state.

In a video circulating on social media, Adepoju was seen stopping at a checkpoint where officers had blocked a highway, causing traffic delays under the pretext of inspecting trucks.

“Why are you blocking the road? You didn’t hear when the commissioner of police said no police officer should block the road anymore for any reason? What’s your name? What’s your rank?” Adepoju asked the officers.

The inspection took place on Monday along the East-West Road in Emohua Local Government Area and the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Adepoju said the exercise followed a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, ordering police commands to end illegal roadblocks, stop extortion of motorists and ensure officers on duty maintain proper conduct.

He said officers found without name tags, wearing improper uniforms or blocking roads without approval would have their details recorded and be referred to their commanders for disciplinary action.

The CP added that unauthorised checkpoints along the Imo boundary had reduced compared with previous months, while roadblocks encountered during the inspection were immediately removed.

“We have directed that nobody should block the road. Officers should position themselves strategically and carry out stop-and-search operations without obstructing traffic. So far, compliance has been encouraging,” Adepoju said.

Adepoju said he would continue inspecting police operations across the state, warning that officers who violate the directive would face punishment.

He urged residents to cooperate with officers during patrols and report any police personnel involved in misconduct or attempts to collect illegal payments through official complaint channels, including the Police Public Relations Office and police control room.

Rivers CP Dismantles Illegal Roadblocks, Officers Face Sanctions is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A growing practice among traders at the Ilepo area along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway has raised concerns over the risk of a potential fire outbreak.

Traders at the Ilepo food market have increasingly relied on flickering kerosene lanterns and other open-flame lamps to display food items and other commodities in the early hours of the day.

Most mornings, the traders bring their wares to the edge of the expressway, often occupying the first lane inward Iyana-Ipaja, for motorists travelling from Abule-Egba, while illuminating their goods with open-flame lanterns.

THE WHISTLER observed that the situation persists until late mid-morning before normal traffic flow is restored.

Given the proximity of the lanterns to moving vehicles and the traffic usually experienced in the area during the early hours, as commercial buses drop passengers, there are fears that the practice could trigger a major fire incident if authorities fail to intervene.

The concerns come amid rising fire incidents in Lagos State.

No fewer than 133 lives and property valued at N19.72bn were lost to fire outbreaks in Lagos in 2025.

The figure represents an increase from 2024, when 91 lives and property worth N19.52bn were lost to fire incidents across the state.

The statistics were contained in the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service’s 2025 Activity Report, unveiled during the 2026 Staff Engagement programme themed, “People, Preparedness and Service Delivery: Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service,” held in Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the report, the agency received 2,617 emergency calls during the period under review, including 645 false alarms. It recorded 1,685 fire incidents and rescued 473 victims alive, while property valued at N118.32bn was saved.

Efforts by THE WHISTLER to obtain comments from the spokesperson of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), Ajayi Lukman, were unsuccessful.

Lagos Traders Risk Fire Outbreak Over Use Of Open-Flame Lanterns is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The United States Mission in Nigeria has urged Nigerians traveling to the US to strictly comply with immigration laws and adhere to

The post ‘Honour your visa terms,’ US warns Nigerians against overstays appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Abia State government has ordered that all private and commercial motorcycles operating in the state be registered with unique numbers.

It also directed that all motorcycles confiscated after the recent ban in Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia metropolises, pay a fine of N50,000 each to the State government, within thirty days from the day the bikes were impounded.

The State’s Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu disclosed this on Tuesday in Umuahia while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting presided by Governor Alex Otti.

According to the Commissioner, any impounded motorcycle not retrieved by its owner after thirty days would be forfeited to the Abia State government.

He disclosed that all motorcycle operators in approved areas of the state must have unique registration numbers and reflective vests representing the local governments they ply.

Kanu explained that the ban on Okada was not taken to impose economic hardship on poor citizens but applied in the overriding interests of Abia people.

The Commissioner made it clear that there was no going back on the ban imposed on commercial motorcycle activities in Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia metropolises.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, raised concerns that tricycle operators who were banned in some South East and South South States are now moving their operations to Abia State, thereby constituting security threats to Abia environment.

Ekeoma said there is a need to protect Abia people from any security threat that may arise from unregulated transport operations.

Also, the Chief Security Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on security matters, Navy Commander Mac Donald Ubah, Rtd, said the state government was being proactive to ensure that some ugly security situation happening in some states of the federation are not experienced in Abia.

Security: Abia govt orders registration of private, commercial motorcycles within state

The Department of State Services (DSS) has closed its case against the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his ongoing trial over the alleged wiretapping of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The prosecution closed its case before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, following the presentation of its witnesses and evidence.

At the resumed hearing, counsel for the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution would not be calling any further witnesses, prompting the formal closure of its case.

Following the development, El-Rufai’s defence lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), told the court that the defence would file a no-case submission, contending that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient evidence to warrant his client entering a defence.

The defence sought two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution requested another two weeks to respond.

The secret police is prosecuting the former governor on an amended five-count charge bordering on the unlawful interception of communications and breach of national security.

According to the charges, the former Kaduna State governor had claimed on Arise Television during a live interview in February that he had intercepted a telephone conversation involving Ribadu, which allegedly revealed plans by security operatives to arrest him, an offence the agency said was contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

During the proceedings, Erokoro also applied for a variation of the bail conditions earlier granted to the former governor, describing them as stringent and difficult to fulfil.

He argued that the conditions requiring Level 17 civil servants with properties in Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro districts to stand as sureties, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council, were onerous.

The prosecution, however, opposed the application, insisting that public officers who met the conditions existed and urging the court to reject the request.

Ruling on the application, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined to vary the bail conditions, holding that there were civil servants who owned properties in the designated areas and could serve as sureties.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until September 22 for the filing of the no-case submission and continuation of proceedings.

DSS Closes Case In El-Rufai’s Trial is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Kebbi Police Command has confirmed the death of eight persons in a violent clash between farmers and herders in Gulma Town, Argungu Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s spokesman, SP Bashir Usman, disclosed this in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

According to him, the victims comprised one farmer and seven herders, while five persons, including a woman, were rescued by security operatives during the unrest.

Usman said the incident occurred at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday when a herder, identified as Yaron Buba-Dogo, allegedly allowed his cattle to stray into the farmland of one Alhaji Aminu Ala, destroying crops.

He explained that a confrontation ensued between the two men, during which the farmer was allegedly stabbed in the neck and died on the spot.

“The development triggered outrage among some residents, who mobilised and attacked the herder, killing him and setting his body ablaze.

“The mob thereafter launched further attacks on members of the affected community.

“In spite of efforts by security personnel to restore order, four additional persons were killed and their bodies burnt beyond recognition.

“Two more corpses were later recovered from a farmland on the outskirts of Gulma Town,” he said.

The police spokesman added that operatives successfully rescued five persons trapped during the violence and evacuated them to the Argungu Divisional Police Headquarters for protection.

He said a joint security team comprising the police and other security agencies had since been deployed to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

According to him, the state government has also imposed a curfew on the affected community as part of measures to restore peace and prevent a recurrence of the violence.

Usman said normalcy was gradually returning to the area, with security personnel maintaining intensive patrols and surveillance operations.

He further disclosed that investigations had commenced to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killings and destruction.

The image maker quoted the Commissioner of Police in the state, Umar Hadejia, urging residents to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, assuring that all those found culpable would be brought to justice.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state and appealed to members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information capable of preventing further violence.

Farmer-Herder Clash: Kebbi Police Confirm 8 Deaths, Rescue 5 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

High humidity is one of the most overlooked challenges in broiler production. While many poultry farmers focus on feed quality, vaccination schedules, and stocking density,

The post Poultry: How to manage broiler house ventilation metrics during high humidity appeared first on Tribune Online.

Several state governments across Nigeria have tightened or completely stopped graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary, and junior secondary schools, as part of efforts to curb rising costs and regulate school-related celebrations.

The post FULL LIST: States that have banned school graduation parties over insecurity appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed a clash between farmers and herders in Gluma Town, located in the Arugungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The incident resulted in the deaths of eight individuals: one farmer and seven herders. According to a press statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Birnin-Kebbi, […]

The post Farmer-herder clash: Eight killed in Kebbi village appeared first on Tribune Online.

Nigeria remains one of the world’s largest producers of yams and cassava, yet many farmers still lose potential income by selling their harvests as raw produce.

The post Processing non-perishable foods: Value-addition tracks for yam, cassava producers appeared first on Tribune Online.