Category Nigeria News

Gunmen have abducted nine worshippers of Saint John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, Utonkon District of Ado Local Government Area, Benue State.

The victims were reportedly whisked away on Sunday during a vigil in the church premises.



A former councillor representing Ukwuenyo Ward in the Ado local government legislative council, Emmanuel Udah, confirmed the incident on Monday.

In a telephone conversation with Channels Television, Udah described the abduction as “a targeted and planned crime against the Church, when innocent worshippers were at the most sacred ground, a place of worship, a place for peace, and refuge, only to be abducted, while praying, vulnerable and unarmed”.

He explained that people of the area were traumatised by the incident, adding that they no longer feel safe.

Udah, therefore, asked the authorities to beef up security and nip the continuous attacks in Benue State in the bud.

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He lamented what he described as the growing sense of abandonment by government at all levels, even after many such incidents had been reported across communities in Benue.

“The people of Utonkon are living in fear, families are broken, children are traumatised, farmers, traders, worshippers, are all trapped as no one feels safe anymore in our land.

“This incident is not isolated; it reflects a growing pattern of insecurity that rural communities in Benue State continue to endure in silence and neglect. We are raising our voices because silence will kill us all,” the former councillor stated.

While calling on the government to do all it can to rescue the Nine worshippers abducted from Saint John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, Udah urged the Church and international community to rise up in defence of the persecuted.

“Religious bodies, civil society organizations, human-rights groups, and the international community should speak out and stand with us.

“We are not asking for sympathy alone. We are asking for attention, protection, and justice. Let the world know that Utonkon matters,” he added.

Confirming the abduction, spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, said nine worshippers were abducted.

The Senate, on Monday, said any agency benefiting from service-wide votes without proper accountability would no longer be tolerated.

This is according to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, who warned that the 2026 budget would mark a decisive break from past spending practices.

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Speaking at a one-day public hearing on the 2026 Appropriation Bill, Senator Olamilekan stated that every expenditure item would be subjected to strict scrutiny to determine how public funds are utilised.

He called on ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to cooperate fully with oversight institutions to promote transparency, efficiency and fiscal discipline across government.

The lawmaker also declared that the National Assembly will no longer extend the implementation of federal budgets beyond December 31, insisting that delays undermine fiscal planning and accountability.

Olamilekan equally highlighted the electricity sector as a major drain on public finances, underpinning the urgent need for comprehensive reforms, including unbundling of the power sector.

He noted that electricity subsidies, which run into several trillions of naira annually, must be addressed to free up revenue for national development.

Heavy Debt-Servicing 

He further expressed concern that government revenue remains inadequate to fund the proposed 2026 budget, which carries a deficit of ₦25.1 trillion.

According to him, budgeting without sufficient revenue raises serious questions about fiscal sustainability.

Responding to comments by a economic consultant, Mr. Adetilewa Adebayo, who warned that Nigeria’s estimated $3 trillion economic potential is being eroded by weak leadership and unsustainable borrowing, Senator Olamilekan noted that continued borrowing had become unavoidable due to heavy debt-servicing obligations inherited from previous administrations, including the military era.

Again, he said that high debt-to-revenue ratios were not unique to Nigeria, explaining that government revenues come in irregular inflows rather than bulk sums.

“If we project ₦5 trillion in a month, we may only realise ₦1 trillion, but the government must go on,” he stated.

The senator further stated that Nigeria must continue to service its debts to avoid a downgrade by international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), warning that failure to meet financial obligations would damage the country’s credibility.

“Our debt service is a problem; we are servicing debt from previous administrations, even from the military era. We have no choice but continue to pay.

“An attempt by us to fail to meet any financial obligations, our rating will drop both in the World Bank and the IMF, and that’s not good for the country. We must try and free up so much of our revenue to address the deficit challenges confronting us,” Olamilekan added.

Former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has returned to court in London, as prosecutors continue presenting evidence in a high-profile corruption and bribery trial with international implications.

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The Crown alleges Alison-Madueke received cash and luxury benefits in exchange for influence over oil and gas contracts.

But she denies the claims.

On Monday, jurors heard testimony from a luxury furnishings retailer and a former housekeeper, as prosecutors sought to show how high-end purchases and property use were allegedly routed through intermediaries.

The 65-year-old is accused of multiple bribery counts stemming from a years-long investigation.

The alleged offences occurred between 2011 and 2015, when she was Nigeria’s oil minister but maintained a UK address.

The UK National Crime Agency (NCA), which targets international and serious and organised crime, accused her of receiving the bribes in Britain.

Alison-Madueke is accused of accepting “financial or other advantages” from individuals linked to the Atlantic Energy and SPOG Petrochemical groups.

Both companies secured contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or its subsidiaries, according to the prosecution.

The former minister is also said to have received £100,000 ($137,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, a private jet flight to Nigeria and refurbishment work and staff costs at several London properties.

Other counts allege she received school fees for her son, products from high-end shops such as London’s Harrods department store and Louis Vuitton, and further private jet flights.

President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) between 2014 and 2015, Alison-Madueke has been involved in numerous legal cases around the world, including in the United States.

She has been on bail in Britain since she was first arrested in October 2015.

President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria’s diversity remains its greatest strength, stressing that economic growth must reach even the poorest households to ensure national stability and sustainable development.

The President spoke on Monday at the National Economic Council (NEC) Conference on Inclusive Growth and Sustainable National Development, held at the State House, Abuja.

“Nigeria’s diversity is our strength. When states grow, Nigeria grows. When growth reaches the poorest household, national stability is strengthened. When development is sustainable, our children inherit growth,” Tinubu said.

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Describing the task before the nation as demanding but historic, the President said his Renewed Hope Agenda represents a national compact and a promise that the sacrifices of Nigerians would yield a stronger, fairer and more prosperous country.

“The task before us is demanding, but the opportunity is historic. The Renewed Hope Agenda is a national compact, a promise that the sacrifices of Nigerians will lead to a stronger, fairer and more prosperous nation,” he said.

‘Inclusive Growth, Monetary Policy’

Tinubu expressed confidence that the resolutions of the conference would support daily farming, livestock investment, ranch development and diversification of agricultural produce, noting that agricultural modernisation remains central to inclusive growth.

“I promise you here that I will play my part. There are seven zones, and state-of-the-art mechanisation is coming,” the President added.

He said his administration had undertaken bold but necessary reforms since assuming office to stabilise the economy, restore confidence and lay the foundation for long-term growth.

“Since the inception of this administration, we have undertaken bold and necessary reforms to stabilise the economy, restore confidence and lay the foundation for long-term growth.

“These reforms are instruments for delivering prosperity, dignity and opportunity for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said.

The President added that monetary policy reforms introduced by his administration had begun yielding positive results and were receiving international recognition.

“I must say again that the monetary policy we embarked upon has yielded positive results and is being recognised around the world,” he noted.

Tinubu said the Federal Government had recorded notable achievements reflecting its commitment to cooperative federalism and inclusive development, particularly in improving revenue distribution to sub-national governments.

“With this, state and local governments now receive increased and more predictable allocations, improving their capacity to pay salaries, invest in infrastructure and deliver social services,” he said.

The President said his administration had “prioritised infrastructure development across transportation, power, digital connectivity and irrigation as catalysts for inclusive growth, while expanding social investment and human capital programmes targeting vulnerable households, youths, women and small businesses.”

A truck driver has been apprehended following a fatal accident that claimed the life of a cyclist beneath the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Bridge in Ikeja.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday by its Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, signed by Adebayo Taofiq.

According to LASTMA, the accident occurred at the traffic signal corridor inward Airport Road, Ikeja, and involved a DAF articulated truck and a cyclist.

Preliminary findings revealed that both the cyclist and the truck, which was advancing from the Maryland axis, attempted to negotiate the roundabout beneath the bridge at the same time.

In the process, the cyclist reportedly failed to maintain a safe distance from the truck, resulting in a collision.

“The situation escalated disastrously, resulting in the cyclist being violently crushed and succumbing to fatal injuries on the spot,” the statement said.

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LASTMA operatives who were on duty at the location reportedly responded promptly to the incident and intercepted the truck driver, who allegedly attempted to flee the scene.

“Their prompt and decisive action culminated in the immediate apprehension of the truck driver, who had attempted to abscond from the scene to evade culpability,” LASTMA stated, adding that the suspect was handed over to officers of the Ikeja Police Division for investigation and prosecution.

To prevent further accidents and ease traffic flow, officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) were invited to evacuate the remains of the deceased from the road.

Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended condolences to the victim’s family.

“He offered prayers that Almighty God grants the family the fortitude, resilience and divine comfort required to endure the profound grief occasioned by the tragedy,” the statement noted.

Giwa also used the opportunity to caution cyclists and commercial motorbike riders to prioritise safety while using the state’s roads, warning against riding on expressways and major arterial routes.

According to him, “The Lagos State Government has over time, sustained intensive sensitisation initiatives through public jingles and documentary campaigns aimed at enlightening cyclists and other vulnerable road users on the necessity of confining their movements to inner roads, away from highways and high-risk corridors. This safety directive equally applies to skateboard users and other non-motorised conveyances.”