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One of the kidnapped teachers of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Michael Oyedokun, has been killed.

Oyedokun was beheaded in a new video allegedly released by bandits on Sunday.

The video obtained on Monday showed that the teacher was gruesomely killed after being tied and forced to speak.

The viral inhumane video has raised fresh concerns over the safety of the remaining victims.

This latest development has thrown the community into mourning as residents, families of the victims and native continue to call on security agencies and the Oyo State Government to intensify rescue operations to secure the release of those still in captivity before being killed.

Confirming the killing of the teacher, Dr Suleimon Olanrewaju, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Seyi Makinde, in a statement on Monday, said the governor extended his condolences to the victim’s family and assured his government would explore both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to rescue others in the kidnappers’ den.

He also added that about six suspects related to the kidnapping incident have been arrested.

He equally sympathised with the family members of the tactical team of soldiers, Amotekun Corps and local vigilantes, who lost their lives in the rescue operation.

According to him, the operatives lost their lives when they ran into Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), planted by the abductors.

He stated that the wounded security personnel were responding positively to treatment and that the government would spare no cost in taking care of them.

He appealed to the victims’ relatives, religious bodies and other interested parties to exercise patience, promising that the government will rescue and reunite the victims with their families.

“So, please, there may not be quick fixes, but we will continue to endeavour to push ourselves to the limit to resolve this quickly.

“What we know right now is that seven teachers in all were abducted. And, unfortunately, we got a video this morning that one of the teachers, I understand, the mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists,” he stated.

Makinde, however, said the government has achieved some success with the operation, with some individuals already arrested in connection with the situation.

“Well, from the information available from the Commissioner of Police, about six individuals have been arrested within the locality.

“Some of them, we believe, are perhaps informants or people running logistics for the terrorists.

“Also, three individuals of interest have been arrested by another security outfit within the state,” he said.

The reports that the gunmen invaded the school on Friday, May 15, and abducted the principal, alongside other teachers and several students.

The attack, which happened some weeks after a failed kidnap attempt that left one traveler dead along the Ibadan-Ijebu road, has renewed concerns over rising insecurity in parts of Oyo State and across Nigeria

Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Jibrin Echocho, has declared his intention to contest the Kogi State governorship election following…

The post Kogi senator, Echocho, declares governorship ambition after APC primary appeared first on Tribune Online.

Industrial pharmacist Henrietta Ukwu says the importation of 70 percent of drugs used in Nigeria is unacceptable and called on the Nigerian government to urgently end the country’s overwhelming dependence on imported medicines.

The pharmacist described the situation as unacceptable, saying the country’s estimated 70 percent reliance on foreign drugs is not only worrisome but unfortunate.

Ukwu raised the concerns during a keynote address at the 29th Annual National Conference of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria, held in Ilorin, Kwara State.

In a statement, she challenged the federal government to aggressively deepen support for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, noting this will help to draw a pathway to national health security.

Speaking on the topic “Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Industry as a Pillar of National Health, Wealth, and Security,” Ukwu insisted that Nigeria cannot continue to rely on foreign nations for medicines and other essential goods.

She urged the federal government to address the problem, saying, “We have incredible expertise and all it takes to move the pharmaceutical industry forward, but we are not fully harnessing the natural resources Nigeria is endowed with.

“Number one is the issue of importation of drugs into this country. How do we do that? By investment

“When investors see that manufacturers are meeting world standards, they will put their money into the industry, and this will boost the production of pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.”

Nigeria’s importation of 70 per cent pharmaceuticals unacceptable – Pharm Ukwu

Peter Obi, a leading presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State, has expressed strong criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his borrowing practices, which he believes are not being used for production or development purposes. Obi’s remarks come in response to the President’s announcement that Nigeria will allocate approximately $11.6 billion for debt servicing. He argues that this trend under Tinubu is evolving from a temporary fiscal responsibility into a long-lasting structural burden that hampers development and increases economic vulnerability.

In a post on his X platform, Obi pointed out, “During a recent foreign visit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu revealed that Nigeria would spend around $11.6 billion on debt servicing—a figure that should alarm anyone invested in the nation’s economic future and long-term growth.”

Obi emphasised that borrowing is not inherently negative if managed wisely and directed toward productive investments. He cited examples of countries like Japan, the UK, the US, the UAE, Singapore, and Indonesia, which, despite being heavily indebted, allocate their borrowed funds toward education, healthcare, infrastructure, and innovation—areas that yield long-term economic benefits and enhance repayment capabilities. 

Consequently, these countries manage their debt levels more effectively, as the obligations are connected to tangible productivity.

In contrast, Nigeria’s borrowing history has largely been geared toward consumption, with few sustainable developmental results that would validate the existing levels of debt.

It is also crucial to note that a significant portion of the debt currently being serviced was accrued during the Tinubu administration itself, which continues to engage in substantial borrowing. The administration’s recent external borrowing includes roughly $6 billion—$5 billion from First Abu Dhabi Bank in the UAE and $1 billion from UK Export Finance via Citibank London—along with an additional $1.25 billion being considered from the World Bank and $516 million arranged through Deutsche Bank. 

This raises the total known external loan commitments to about $7.8 billion. Additionally, domestic borrowing through monthly bond issuances continues to increase the overall debt.

In light of this, Nigeria’s 2026 budget allocates ₦2.46 trillion for health, ₦2.56 trillion for education, and ₦865 billion for poverty alleviation, totalling approximately ₦5.885 trillion for these essential sectors. In comparison, debt servicing—estimated at $11.6 billion (roughly ₦17–₦18 trillion based on exchange rate assumptions)—is nearly three times greater than the combined allocations for health, education, and social protection. This discrepancy underscores a concerning fiscal reality where debt obligations increasingly limit funding for human capital development and poverty alleviation.

Furthermore, even within the limited funding for these sectors, full release of the funds is not guaranteed, and a substantial portion may be subject to misallocation.

The primary concern, ultimately, lies not in the act of borrowing itself, but in whether the borrowed funds are being transformed into measurable productivity, inclusive growth, and enhanced living standards. 

Without such a conversion, debt servicing shifts from being a temporary fiscal obligation to a long-term structural burden that stifles development and exacerbates economic vulnerability.

Ifeanyi Okowa, the immediate past Governor of Delta State, has scored 4,462 votes to defeat serving Senator, Ned Nwoko, who got only three votes in the ongoing All Progressives Congress, APC senatorial primary in Ward 9, Okpanam, Delta North.

Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor, Ossai Ovie Success, who posted the result on his Facebook page, said the exercise was successful.

According to him, the Ward result indicates a clear victory for Okowa and a “strong statement from the party faithful”.

DAILY POST reports that the ruling party is currently conducting its senatorial primary election across the country.

There are indications that some serving Senators seeking re-election may not return to the upper legislative chamber.

APC senatorial primary: Ned Nwoko loses with 3 votes as Okowa garners 4,462 in Ward 9

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, on Monday said Nigeria is expanding its port capacity…

The post Nigeria expanding port capacity to lead regional trade — Oyetola appeared first on Tribune Online.

Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal will leave the club at the end of this season after two spells at the Santiago Bernabeu, covering 23 years.

Carvajal, 34, who has made 450 appearances for Madrid, scoring 14 goals, will be out of contract when his current deal expires at the end of June.

The Madrid-born right-back is a club legend and one of the most decorated players in history with 27 titles to his name.

Carvajal joined the club’s academy in 2002 and made his first-team debut in 2013 following a season at Bayer Leverkusen, which prompted Madrid to activate a buy-back clause to re-sign him.

He went on to lift the Champions League six times, one of only five players to do so, and is the only player to start in all six finals that he won.

With Los Blancos he won La Liga on four occasions and the Copa del Rey twice, as well as six Club World Cups, five Uefa Super Cups and four Spanish Super Cups.

He has been a mainstay of the Spanish national team since 2014, earning 51 caps while helping Spain win the Nations League in 2023 and the 2024 European Championship.

Carvajal was included in the FIFPro 2024 World XI, won The Best Fifa Men’s World XI award in 2024, and was named the best player of the 2024 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, in which he scored the opening goal.

The defender has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, suffering a cruciate ligament tear in October 2024 and then another serious knee injury a year later.

Injury and the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer have limited him to 892 minutes in La Liga this season.

“Dani Carvajal is a legend and a symbol of Real Madrid and its academy,” Madrid club president Florentino Perez said., external

“Carvajal has always exemplified the values of Real Madrid. This is and will always be his home.”

Madrid, who will finish the season trophyless for the second year in a row, will pay tribute to Carvajal during their final La Liga match of the season against Athletic Club at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, 23 May.

Dani Carvajal’s departure from Real Madrid will be an emotional one for supporters, even if it does not come as a complete surprise.

Since breaking into the first team in 2013, he has grown from an academy graduate into a leader and a symbol of the club’s relentless winning mentality.

While he rarely commanded the spotlight in the way Madrid’s attacking superstars have, his consistency and reliability made him one of the most important players of the last decade, and his departure will symbolise a new era.

At his peak, Carvajal was widely regarded as one of the most complete right-backs in world football due to his rare balance of defensive aggression and attacking intelligence.

Under managers such as Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, he became fundamental to Madrid’s tactical structure, providing width, supporting midfield build-up play, and helping the team transition seamlessly between defence and attack.

Carvajal also played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s dominance in the Champions League.

He delivered in high-pressure moments and his performance in the 2024 Champions League final, where he scored and was named man of the match, stands out as one of the defining moments of his career.

Beyond his tactical importance, Carvajal became one of the emotional leaders of the dressing room.

As iconic figures such as Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric gradually moved on, he emerged as a leader, eventually captaining the side.

His mentality during difficult periods was especially valuable over the last two seasons, as Real Madrid endured managerial instability and failed to secure major silverware.

Although injuries and physical decline affected him in the latter stages of his career, Madrid often looked vulnerable whenever Carvajal was absent, underlining how difficult he was to replace.

The arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool last summer signalled the beginning of a transition, with the England defender eventually becoming the preferred option at right-back under Alvaro Arbeloa.

Even so, the reception Carvajal continues to receive every time he steps onto the pitch is proof of the immense respect and affection supporters still have for him.

His legacy at Real Madrid is secure and he will leave as one of the greatest right-backs in the club’s history and a player who helped define one of its most successful eras.

BBC

Carvajal To Leave Real Madrid After 23 Years is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A civil society organisation, Lygel Youths & Leadership Initiative, has called on the Ogun State Government to prioritize healthcare and infrastructure development as part of efforts to improve living conditions across the state.

The group made the call in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Lekan Oladapo, where it expressed concerns over the condition of healthcare facilities, local government administration and infrastructure in several parts of Ogun State.

According to the organisation, access to quality healthcare remains a major challenge in many communities, despite ongoing renovation efforts by the government.

The group noted that many Primary Healthcare Centres, PHCs, across the state still lack adequate facilities and manpower needed to effectively serve residents.

“We challenge this administration to show the people one major, newly constructed and fully functional state hospital built from the ground up in the last seven years,” the statement read.

The organisation further argued that healthcare delivery at the grassroots level has continued to suffer due to challenges affecting local government administration.

It also raised concerns over the state of infrastructure in border and industrial communities, particularly within the Agbara-Atan-Lusada corridor, describing the condition of roads in some areas as a major setback to economic activities and investment opportunities.

According to the group, Ogun State’s strategic proximity to Lagos should ordinarily position it for greater industrial and infrastructural growth.

The statement urged the state government to adopt a more strategic approach towards border town development and public infrastructure planning.

The organisation also called for improved transparency and accountability in the execution of public projects, stressing that citizens deserve easier access to information concerning government spending and procurement processes.

It maintained that strengthening healthcare, infrastructure, and grassroots governance would significantly improve public confidence and accelerate development across the state.

The group further appealed to relevant authorities and oversight agencies to ensure proper monitoring of public funds and development projects in Ogun State.

Ogun: Group urges government to prioritize healthcare, infrastructure challenges

The Anglican Bishop incharge of Ikeduru Diocese, Rt Rev. Emmanuel Maduwike, has advised the Federal Government against any deliberate attempt or unconscious effort to recruit repentant Boko Haram members into the Nigerian Army.

The Bishop noted that the country is currently facing the worst security situation in the history of her nationhood, noting that what used to be a rumour appears to be true at the moment, with the manifest leaking of military intelligence to Boko Haram insurgents and bandits, whom he maintained have allegedly killed several high-ranking army officers in Northern Nigeria with ease.

The Anglican Bishop gave the advice while preaching a sermon at the 2026 meeting og the Council of Knights, in Ikeduru Diocese.

He remarked that current events in the country point to the fact that alleged Boko Haram members are either direct officers in the nation’s defence architecture or are friends and allies of insurgents to the point of sharing critical military intelligence.

A development he claimed led to the killing of Nigerian soldiers in a well-coordinated attack without mercy.

Bishop Maduwike called for a very objective inquest into reports alleging that Nigeria’s top military brass had on several occasions called operational soldiers, particularly in the Northeast, to retreat or withdraw each time the soldiers closed in on the Boko Haram members.

He criticised alleged bandits’ activities, which he said has driven indigenous people away, mostly in the North, while freely mining gold and other mineral resources in those areas.

He noted that enlisting the so-called repentant terrorists into the Nigerian Army may worsen the security situation in the country.

The Anglican prelate questioned the yardstick used to determine a truly repentant terrorist, and how fully sure they will not return to their old ways.

He pointed out that it is not compulsory to enlist every repentant terrorist in the Army, suggesting other ventures like skill acquisition, education, and other areas of human endeavours could also be considered.

On the theme of the event “Faithfulness in Service” the Bishop enjoined the Knights to show serious commitment and faithfulness to God and humanity each time they were called to serve either in the Church or the public.

He noted that Jesus Christ himself was spiritually and physically useful throughout his earthly ministry, adding that many Christians today show commitment in service because of what they stand to personally gain rather than being selfless.

Anglican bishop warns FG against enlisting repentant Boko Haram members into Nigerian Army 

The Nigerian Academy of Medical Sciences has raised concerns over the recent outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The Academy Rapid Response Committee warned that there might be cross-border transmission into Nigeria.

In a statement on Monday jointly signed by the Committee Chairman, Prof. Obinna Onwujekwe and the Academy President, Emeritus Prof. Osato Giwa-Osagie, the Academy underscored the need for intensified national surveillance and preparedness.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral haemorrhagic disease.

The academy noted the past outbreaks had recorded case fatality rates ranging from 25 to 90 per cent, depending on the strain and response capacity.

“The recurrence of Ebola outbreaks within the African continent underscores the continued vulnerability of all nations to transboundary infectious diseases,” the statement read.

According to the Academy, Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials, infected animals, and the bodies of deceased victims during burial rites.

It further stressed that Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak demonstrated the effectiveness of a coordinated public health response, but warned against complacency.

The Academy pointed out that as of May 16, 2026, the outbreak had recorded eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths in the DRC, as well as two confirmed cases, including one death, in Uganda.

It, however, urged the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, Port Health Services, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, to strengthen border surveillance, particularly at international airports, seaports, and land crossings.

It also highlighted its recommendations to prevent cross-border transmission in the country, enhanced screening of travellers from affected countries, risk-based movement control measures, and improved diagnostic capacity for early detection and confirmation of suspected cases.

The Academy further called for the activation of emergency preparedness systems, including isolation facilities, rapid response teams, and adequate stockpiling of personal protective equipment.

It also advised hospitals and clinics to enforce strict infection prevention and control measures, establish Ebola-specific clinical pathways, and ensure prompt isolation of suspected cases.

The Academy also reiterated the need for robust public risk communication to prevent misinformation, panic, and stigmatisation, urging authorities to disseminate accurate information in major Nigerian languages.

“The Academy stands ready to support the Government of Nigeria, healthcare institutions, and the Nigerian public through scientific guidance, expert consultation, public education, and collaborative response initiatives,” the statement added.

It also encouraged regional collaboration with neighbouring countries and international partners to monitor and contain the outbreak.

THE WHISTLER reported on Friday that Africa’s top public health body confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with at least 65 people dead and hundreds of suspected cases reported in a remote northeastern province.

However, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said it is closely monitoring the confirmed Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Ituri province, DRC, and is working with national authorities and partners to support a rapid, coordinated response.

Ebola: Academy Warns Of Possible Spread Into Nigeria is first published on The Whistler Newspaper