Category Nigeria News

The Ondo State Police Command has launched an investigation into Wednesday’s attack on a church in Ondo State, where five worshippers were abducted.

Appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Thursday, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, said the identities of the perpetrators and their motive would be revealed after investigations are concluded.

“Investigation is ongoing on the perpetrator so by the time we conclude our investigation, we will be able to come out with the identity and the motive behind the attack of the church,” Lawal said.

Armed men reportedly stormed the church, a branch of the Celestial Church of Christ, at about 1:00 a.m. while a service was ongoing and abducted the worshippers, taking them to an unknown destination.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Storm Ondo Church, Abduct Five Worshippers

The police commissioner disclosed that residents have been advised against organising religious activities at night.

“Ondo State Command has advised the good people of Ondo State that for this period, religious activities should be shifted to daytime, not nighttime. That incident at Owo — that church was attacked at about 2 a.m. in the middle of the night — and that’s contrary to the advice we give,” the commissioner said.



He acknowledged that there is freedom of worship but noted that the current security situation does not support night services.

“We are not saying people should not worship, of course you have freedom of worship, but then the situation on ground does not encourage us to start carrying out our worship in the middle of the night and more so in an isolated area. If you want to do such a thing, inform the police so I’d be able to provide police for the worshippers,” he said.

Following the abduction on Wednesday, residents staged a protest to demand government action.

Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic And Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, has said it will be difficult to prosecute singer and songwriter Simisola Kosoko, better known as Simi, for alleged assault without a victim showing up. 

Simi recently made headlines and faced backlash after her old tweets from 2012 about minors resurfaced online.

Netizens had raised concerns over the sensitivity of her tweets, which she posted at the time she was working at her mother’s daycare. Many interpreted them as sexualizing minors, calling for her prosecution.

Reacting to the development, Vivour-Adeniyi said while the DSVA has a duty investigate the matter, prosecuting the singer might be “very difficult”.

“The truth of the matter is that it’s going to be very difficult to prosecute the lady without a survivor being present, a victim of whatever it is, whether it’s sexual abuse, rape, defilement, or sexual assault by provocation,” she said on Thursday’s edition of the breakfast show.

“It’s to start the process, encourage anybody who has allegedly been sexually assaulted by Simi to please come forward and ensure that their statement is taken, and then we know where we are going on the matter,” the DSVA scribe said.



According to her, the task force on safeguarding and child protection has been briefed on the matter.

READ ALSO: Alleged Sexual Assault: TikToker Mirabel In ICU, Investigations Ongoing — Police

“The task force that comprises top-level representatives, relevant government offices, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, basically all the relevant institutions of government.

“They assist with the responsibility of ensuring safety and protection of children, especially the child’s centered institutions,” Vivour-Adeniyi added.

However, she stated that the singer’s mother’s daycare might not be visited because it is unclear if it still exists.

Tweet Controversy

Following controversy and backlash from her old tweet, the singer reacted in a statement on her X handle, saying, “I haven’t been on Twitter today – but someone brought a few of my old tweets to my attention, and I can’t address them.

“14 years ago, I was 23, so I was definitely not a child. I’m not here to make excuses because I don’t have anything to make excuses for. What I can’t let anyone do is twist my story to fit false narratives.”

I haven’t been on twitter today – but someone brought a few of my old tweets to my attention and I can’t not address it.

14 years ago, I was 23, so I was definitely not a child. I’m not here to make excuses because I don’t have anything to make excuses for. What I can’t let…

According to her, she lived and helped out at her mom’s daycare in 2012, while she was hustling for her music career.

“I tweeted everything that happened in my life, as we all did at the time. Kids can be mischievous. If a child did something I found funny, I tweeted about it.

“Kids are cute and lovable. I want to hug, kiss, and cuddle them. I tweet about it. Nothing I tweeted was from perversion,” Simi explained.

The move followed Simi’s comment in an alleged rape case by a TikTok influencer, Mirabel.

Suspected Lakurawa terrorists have attacked a mosque in Dadinkowa community, Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing six worshippers and injuring three others in what security authorities described as a reprisal attack following a failed ambush on a military convoy.

The gunmen stormed the mosque on Wednesday evening while worshippers were observing prayers and opened fire indiscriminately.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kebbi State, Bashir Usman, said the attack was carried out in retaliation for an earlier confrontation with troops of the Nigerian Army.

“The attack was a reprisal by suspected Lakurawa terrorist elements following a failed ambush on troops attached to the 8 Division,” he said.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Storm Ondo Church, Abduct Five Worshippers

According to him, the chain of events began on February 24, when the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division, and Commander, Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Bemgha Koughna, came under attack while travelling to visit frontline troops deployed in the state.

“The GOC’s convoy, while navigating forested terrain near Mayama Hill, came under heavy gunfire from armed terrorists believed to be members of the Lakurawa group.

“Troops responded with superior firepower, engaged the attackers in a fierce gun duel and neutralised five of them, thereby foiling the ambush,” Usman said.

He added that five worshippers died from gunshot wounds sustained during the mosque attack, while three others suffered varying degrees of injuries and were evacuated to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

However, during the funeral prayers, six victims were brought out for burial.

Nigeria has formally declared its bid for membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2027–2029 term.

In a video statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar announced the country’s candidature, describing the council as an important platform for dialogue, conflict prevention, and international cooperation on human rights.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with the council’s mechanisms, stressing that these instruments are vital for the global promotion and protection of human rights.

Tuggar highlighted plans to finance safe schools and strengthen secure learning environments as part of government efforts to protect children in the face of security challenges.

READ ALSO: FG Faults US Congress’s Comment On ‘Religious Persecution’ In Nigeria

“While no nation is immune, Nigeria’s experiences have only deepened our resolve to protect the right to life and the security of all citizens, especially our children whose right to learn in safety is a sacred priority. To this end, we have accelerated the national plan on financing state schools, providing critical investments to secure learning environment,” he said.

“We’re also strengthening accountability through ongoing reforms and regional and international cooperation to ensure international human rights and humanitarian standards are mainstreamed into all internal security operations with the primary focus of protecting civilians.”

“Nigeria remains resolute in its commitment to freedom of religion and belief. We view the peaceful coexistence of all faith communities as the essential foundation of our national unity.

“Nigeria remains resolute in ensuring a society where every citizen, regardless of creed or tribe, stands protected under the shield of justice.”

The minister also pointed to economic reforms, social investment initiatives, and the country’s expanding digital economy as measures aimed at fostering development and stability.

“Nigeria knows firsthand that the exercise of human rights today is inseparable from environmental protection,” he added.

“Through climate adaptation strategies, Nigeria remains committed to advancing climate action, anchored in human rights and sustainable development for future generations.”

He emphasised that Nigeria understands the responsibilities of council membership and is prepared to work with international partners to promote peace, justice, and sustainable development in Africa and beyond.

Nigeria previously served on the Human Rights Council until 2020 after its re-election for the 2018–2020 term. Elections to the council are held annually, with members serving three-year terms on a rotational basis.

The 2023 presidential candidate and National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has paid a courtesy visit to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

The visit later proceeded into a closed-door meeting at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan.

Although the outcome of the meeting was not disclosed, it may not be unconnected with the evolving political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, as well as efforts to consolidate the longstanding cordial relationship between Kwankwaso and Makinde.

Kwankwaso’s entourage included the NNPP National Chairman, Ajid Ahmed, the National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, and other party leaders.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Kwankwaso said he was in Ibadan primarily to inaugurate the NNPP’s new state office as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s structure and unity in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general election.

He added that his meeting with Makinde went beyond partisan considerations.

“I am here in Ibadan together with the national chairman of our party, NNPP, Dr Ajid Ahmed, and other party officials to open our office here and discuss important issues relating to our party in Oyo State.

“But before proceeding to the party office, I felt it was important to pay a courtesy visit to the governor, who has always been our friend. This visit is more about personal friendship than party politics,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who acknowledged Makinde’s membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noted that he also had deep roots in the PDP before his eventual defection.

He said, “In fact, we formed the PDP in 1998. By 1999, I was elected Governor of Kano State under the PDP and later served as Minister of Defence.”

Operations at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) were disrupted on Wednesday after protesting union members barricaded the agency’s premises in Isolo.

Staff who arrived early to resume duty were forced to remain outside the complex as members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees blocked both the entrance and exit gates.

The protest is in response to NAFDAC’s continued enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages sold in sachets and PET bottles below 200 millilitres.

The union is demanding the immediate unsealing of affected factories and production lines, warning that sustained enforcement of the policy could trigger significant economic consequences across the industry.

READ ALSO: Food And Beverage Workers Protest At NAFDAC Lagos Office Over Sachet Alcohol Ban

Earlier this month, union members also picketed the Lagos NAFDAC office over what they described as the agency’s refusal to comply with an alleged Federal Government directive to suspend enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets.

The union claimed that directives had been issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser, calling for the suspension of enforcement and the reopening of sealed production lines.

However, NAFDAC dismissed the claims, maintaining that it had not received any official instruction from the Federal Government to halt enforcement of the ban on sachet and PET-bottled alcohol.

Meanwhile, police officers were later seen at the NAFDAC Isolo premises.