A woman alleged to have fired an assault rifle at the luxury Los Angeles home of Rihanna — while the pop superstar was inside — was being held by police on Monday.
Officers in the city said shots were fired towards the mansion in the middle of the day on Sunday by a suspect driving a white Tesla, which had stopped across the street.
Aerial footage after the attack showed bullet holes in a gate at the sprawling property, which Rihanna shares with rapper A$AP Rocky and their three children.
READ ALSO: Singer Rihanna’s LA Mansion Struck By Gunfire
The Los Angeles Police Department said Ivanna Lisette Ortiz was arrested at a shopping complex half an hour after the incident.
Captain Mike Bland told reporters the weapon used was an AR-15-style rifle.
Ortiz was booked on suspicion of attempted murder with bail set at $10.225 million.
Pop superstar Rihanna’s Los Angeles home was hit by gunfire on Sunday after a woman opened fire on the property while the singer was reportedly inside, according to US media.
The shooting erupted after 1:00 pm (2000 GMT) when a suspect fired approximately 10 rounds from a vehicle across the street from the mansion in the Beverly Hills area, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing police.
At least one round pierced a wall of the residence, where Rihanna lives with partner A$AP Rocky and their children, local news station KTLA said. The singer was inside the residence, the reports said.
Rihanna, one of the world’s most popular pop stars, has not publicly commented on the shooting.
Officers said the suspect was a woman in her 30s who allegedly fled the scene before being arrested without incident a short time later. Police recovered a weapon during the arrest, KTLA added.
Investigators are still determining a motive for the attack.
Veteran broadcaster IK Osakioduwa has revealed the boundaries that define his career, including why he refuses to work with alcohol brands and the moment Zenith Bank’s Jim Ovia forced him to drop his “Wild Child” persona.
Despite his early fame, Osakioduwa revealed that an encounter with Zenith Bank CEO Jim Ovia forced a strategic pivot. Ovia was reportedly hesitant to hire a “Wild Child” for a prestigious corporate event, prompting Osakioduwa to use his birth name to secure his place in the high-end market.
Speaking on the With Chude podcast, the media heavyweight revealed that his decades-long career is built on two unshakeable pillars: strict spiritual boundaries and an uncompromising sense of market value.
“God said to me… you’re going to lose business now going forward if you’re trying to push the Wild Child… and that’s the space you need to start to play into,” he shared.
Perhaps most striking is Osakioduwa’s refusal to work with tobacco or alcohol brands, despite these industries being the primary financiers of the entertainment sector. He admitted to turning down multi-million naira deals early in his career to maintain this personal principle.
“We’re never ever going to take money over principle… It’s not a sin to work for alcohol brands… but it was a position I believe God wanted me to take.”
He applied this same “Mercedes-Benz” logic to his pricing, recalling a time he walked away from a 1.8 million naira offer because it fell short of his fee. “You gain more from what you refused than what you give,” he noted, asserting that holding his ground solidified his reputation in the premium market.
From the Radio Studio to Premier Corporate Host
This unwavering confidence was forged over decades in the industry. Long before he was a household name, Osakioduwa spent 18 years at Rhythm 93.7 FM, honing his craft from 2001. As the “Wild Child,” he became a radio staple, hosting flagship programmes like Dance Party with IK and The Morning Drive.
This radio foundation proved the ultimate springboard for his transition to the screen. While he is often linked to the debut of Big Brother Nigeria, his true continental breakthrough arrived with Big Brother Africa, which he hosted for six consecutive seasons from 2009.
The role placed him in over 40 million homes simultaneously, cementing his status as Africa’s most versatile presenter. In the years since, he has dominated the franchise circuit, leading the first two seasons of The Voice Nigeria (2016–2017) and multiple seasons of Nigerian Idol.
The broadcaster credited his late mother, who passed away in 2012, as the architect of his success. He revealed she personally intervened when he nearly quit entertainment to become an accountant.
“My mom grabbed me and said… ‘You see this entertainment is going to work for you.’ She grabbed my chequebook and said ‘You will write millions from this.’”
Osakioduwa also took a moment to pay tribute to Frank Edoho, whom he cited as the “gold standard” of Nigerian MCs. He revealed that Edoho mentored him on pricing early on, encouraging him to double his rates to reflect his true value.
“I’m not dragging anything with Frank,” he concluded, giving the veteran his “flowers” in a rare moment of industry humility.
Pop superstar Britney Spears was released from police custody Thursday morning after being arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated near Los Angeles, according to legal filings and US media reports.
The 44-year-old singer was arrested Wednesday night and booked into custody by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department on suspicion of DUI (driving under the influence), several entertainment news outlets said, citing police sources.
Sheriff records showed Spears had been released at 6:07 a.m local time and a court appearance had been set for May 4.
“This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable. Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law,” a representative for Spears said in a statement to entertainment outlet Deadline.
“Hopefully, this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life.”
Spears had phenomenal early music success with late 1990s hits like “…Baby One More Time” but has largely stepped back from music in recent years.
In her 2023 memoir “The Woman in Me,” Spears insisted she never did hard drugs and that she did not have a drinking problem, but admitted that she was taking Adderall, the ADHD medication.
Following a public breakdown in 2007, Spears was placed under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears, who controlled her money and her personal life, even as she continued to perform high-profile concerts.
The conservatorship was dissolved by a Los Angeles court in 2021, after a groundswell of public support to “Free Britney.”
At the age of 10, when most children were discovering playgrounds and cartoons, Abidemi Praise Omowarola discovered something more enduring: a pencil and a quiet refuge in art.
READ ALSO: How Abidemi Praise Sketched Her Way Into The Record Books
She began drawing not for fame or applause but for survival. The young girl used sketches as a form of emotional release after witnessing domestic violence in her home.
“I didn’t know it was called art therapy at the time,” she said in an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, explaining how she would retreat into a world of scribbles and broken lines to process the turmoil around her.
Years later, that coping mechanism transformed into a historic triumph. Abidemi recently set a Guinness World Record for the longest marathon drawing portraits, standing and sketching for an extraordinary 90 hours. During the endurance test, she completed 15 detailed portraits of figures ranging from Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to King Charles III, as well as religious leader David Oyedepo and football icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
Preparation for the feat was as demanding as the record itself. Abidemi trained physically, even visiting the gym at midnight to build the stamina required to remain standing and focused for nearly four days.
Her attempt was not merely about endurance. It marked a personal renaissance. After relocating to the United Kingdom and taking on jobs that distanced her from art, she saw the record attempt as her “launch back” into the creative world.
Today, the same mother who once encouraged her to pursue medicine or law now sits proudly beside her easel as her greatest supporter.
And for Abidemi, the record is already opening doors.
“I might not get money for it, but I am able to knock on doors, and the doors are opened because I am a Guinness World Record holder,” she said.
Her triumph is emblematic of a larger phenomenon sweeping across Nigeria: a generation of young dreamers rewriting the limits of possibility.
Chessboard Of Dreams
Few stories capture the power of determination like that of Tunde Onakoya, the chess champion and founder of the nonprofit Chess in Slums Africa.
In New York’s Times Square, Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya has surpassed the previous 56-hour chess marathon record.
Raised in modest circumstances by a mother who worked as a cleaner, Onakoya first learned chess in a barber’s shop before going on to study computer science at Yaba College of Technology. His journey has since transformed the lives of hundreds of disadvantaged children through scholarships and educational support.
In April 2025, Onakoya set the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, playing for 64 consecutive hours in Times Square, New York, alongside chess master Shawn Martinez.
The marathon shattered the previous record of 61 hours held by two Norwegian players. But the Lagos-born chess advocate made it clear that his motivation extended beyond the thrill of breaking records.
“We’re not just doing this for ourselves—we’re doing it for a million dreams,” he said.
The record attempt doubled as a fundraising campaign to build the largest free preschool in Africa for homeless children.
“It is possible to do great things from a small place,” Onakoya wrote while celebrating the feat.
The Nigerian government hailed his accomplishment as a powerful symbol of national pride.
“I received Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, at my residence today, where he also presented his World Record for the longest Chess Marathon. Tunde’s journey, from the streets of Lagos to uplifting underserved children and breaking world records, reflects the resilience and brilliance of Nigeria’s youth,” President Bola Tinubu said as he received him at the State House in June 2025.
Onakoya visited Tinubu at the State House in Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima described the achievement as a reflection of the “excellence and resilience that distinguishes Nigerians both locally and internationally.” Meanwhile, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, said the record attempt was “a strong testimony to how greatness can come from anywhere.”
Canvas Without Limits
Nigeria’s surge in global recognition is not confined to endurance feats. It is also visible in the creativity of its youngest talents.
READ ALSO: Autistic Teen Sets Guinness World Record For Largest Canvas Painting
In 2025, 15-year-old Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke achieved the Guinness World Record for the largest painting on canvas by an individual, unveiling a breathtaking artwork measuring 12,303 square metres in Abuja.
The teenage artist, who is autistic, titled the monumental work “Impossible is a Myth”. The painting—unveiled on World Autism Awareness Day—symbolises hope and possibility for people on the autism spectrum.
His feat earned him accolades from several quarters. Photo: X@https://x.com/officialABAT
Nigeria’s Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, praised the feat, saying the young artist had demonstrated that “creative expression knows no barriers.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also celebrated the achievement in a message to the teenager.
“You are Brave, Audacious, and Tenacious,” the president wrote. “Congratulations on your recognition. Your story has made history, and Nigeria is proud of you.”
His feat earned him accolades from several quarters. Photo: X@https://x.com/officialABAT
The record-breaking canvas, unveiled at Eagle Square, drew dignitaries, diplomats, and advocates for autism inclusion, underscoring the global resonance of the young artist’s achievement.
‘Cooking Up’ History
Another name synonymous with Nigeria’s Guinness World Record surge is Hilda Baci, the chef whose culinary endurance sparked a nationwide fascination with record-breaking attempts.
Hilda Baci (L) dances as she stands next to a giant pot during an attempt to break the world record for the largest pot of Jollof rice,, on September 12, 2025. (Photo by OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP
Baci first captured global attention in 2023 with a 93-hour cooking marathon, a feat that ignited what many now call Nigeria’s “GWR era.”
Two years later, she added another extraordinary milestone: preparing 8,780 kilograms of Nigerian-style jollof rice, earning recognition for the largest serving of jollof rice—and simultaneously the largest serving of rice overall.
“I was shocked and happy at the same time, completely caught off guard,” Baci said after learning the single attempt had earned her two record titles.
Chef Hilda Baci displaying her second Guinness World Plaque on November 6, 2025. Credit: Hilda Baci/Instagram
Reflecting on her culinary path, she once told Channels Television that cooking seemed woven into every phase of her career.
“Cooking still pretty much shines out the best, and I would say it’s what God wants me to do,” she said.
Nigeria’s Global Moment
From art studios to chessboards, kitchens to colossal canvases, Nigeria’s new generation of record-breakers is reshaping how the world sees the country.
These feats do more than secure plaques. They broadcast a narrative of creativity, resilience, and audacity.
READ ALSO: IN PICTURES: Hilda Baci Takes A Shot At New Guinness World Record
Each record tells a deeper story: of children who found healing in art, of young leaders transforming poverty into purpose, and of dreamers determined to place Nigeria firmly on the world stage.
In the process, these young Nigerians have proven something profound—that greatness often begins with a small spark of possibility.
Angélique Kidjo has announced the release of her forthcoming album, ‘Hope!!’ an anticipated project that features Nigerian music stars Davido, Ayra Starr, and highlife duo The Cavemen.
The five-time Grammy-winning singer revealed the project in a post shared on her Instagram page on Wednesday, describing the album as a deeply personal work that has been five years in the making.
In the announcement, Kidjo disclosed that the 14-track album is dedicated to her late mother, Yvonne, who passed away five years ago, and said the project reflects the message of hope she received from her.
Writing on Instagram, the Beninese musician said, “5 years in the making: my new album HOPE!! Dedicated to my mother, Yvonne, is coming out on April 24th.
“She is the one who taught me that every dream I had could be accomplished, that HOPE for a better future is what makes us human. She left us 5 years ago, but her message resonates to this very day.
“I put my whole heart into this album, and I’m so GRATEFUL to all the great artists who have contributed their genius to the album: @pharrell, @ayrastarr, @nilerodgers, @quavohuncho, @iamshizzi, @davido, @pagny_officiel, @dadju, @fallyipupa01, @imcharliewilson, @iza, @pjmorton, @philippesaisse, @diamondplatnumz, @the.cavemen, @sowetogospelchoirlive, @smauricegrey, @sowetogospelchoirlive, @shungudzo, and @dianewarren, always by my side.
“I can’t wait for you to hear it! #hope. Pre-order HOPE!! now at the link in bio!”
READ ALSO: ‘Peaky Blinders’ Stars Hit Brum Red Carpet For Movie Premiere
Beyond the Nigerian stars, the album also boasts an extensive list of international collaborators, including American music icons Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Quavo, and Charlie Wilson.
Other artists featured on the project include French singers Florent Pagny and Dadju, Congolese star Fally Ipupa, Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz, Brazilian artiste IZA, and American musician PJ Morton. South Africa’s renowned Soweto Gospel Choir also appears on the album.
The collaboration with Davido continues a growing musical relationship between the two artistes.
Kidjo previously worked with the Nigerian singer on the track “Joy,” while Davido also featured the legendary vocalist on “Na Money” from his 2023 album, Timeless.
Hope!! is scheduled for release on April 24, 2026, and marks Kidjo’s 19th studio album.
The project follows her critically acclaimed 2021 album ‘Mother Nature,’ which earned her a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album.
