Category Nigeria News

A traditional ruler in Rivers State, Nwachukwu Nnam Obi III of Ogbaland, has urged Rivers people to rediscover the bonds that unite them as Africans, even amid political disagreements, stressing that internal understanding and mutual respect remain the foundation for lasting peace.

At a virtually during a peace Town Hall Meeting in Port Harcourt on Friday, the monarch from Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the State said what has united the state, like in many other African communities, is not just the laws of the nation, but internal knowledge of personal understandings.

He lamented the public deterioration of political disagreements into personal attacks, particularly against elders, and described the situation as a shameful departure from the state’s values.

While acknowledging concerns over the legality of the emergency rule declared in Rivers State, King Nnam Obi III thanked President Bola Tinubu for the decision, saying it may compel those unwilling to listen to embrace dialogue.

“If emergency rule is the way to bring peace, there is no problem”, he stated.

]READ ALSO] 2027: Replacing Tinubu With Jonathan Not Solution, Nigeria Needs System Overhaul – Activist, Farotimi

On the August 30 local government elections, the monarch admitted that the current process might fall short of ideal democratic standards but maintained that it could mark the beginning of restoring democratic governance.

He cautioned that despite the heavy burdens Rivers State has carried, the people must not allow internal conflict to destroy the state.

“Sometimes, you play the fool to be wise”, he remarked, adding that no one who understands the extent of the state’s losses should oppose peace efforts.

Earlier, the convener of the Rivers Peace Initiative, one of the groups that organised the Town Hall Meeting, Obinna Egbogidi, stressed the need for sustained dialogue.

He said Rivers people can disagree without becoming enemies, cautioning that “No ambition is worth the blood of any Rivers man”.

Also, Chidi Halliday, the Commissioner in charge of Administration and Legal Matters at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), defended the commission’s handling of the election process so far.

The Edo State Police Command has disclosed that it has uncovered and dismantled a criminal syndicate involving a serving police officer and civilians engaged in acts of extortion, brutality, and robbery against innocent citizens in Benin City.

A communique signed by the Edo state Command Public Relations Officer,  CSP Moses Joel Yamu, said his men acted on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, after a series of complaints

”On 15th August 2025, operatives of the Ugbowo Surveillance Team successfully intercepted the suspects with a silver Colored Toyota Yaris and other incriminating items.”

”A serving Police Inspector, later identified as Ojo Oloruntobi, was arrested alongside three civilian accomplices, namely Charles Onah, Joseph Ohis and Enoma Agho, who had been collaborating with him to terrorise residents of the city through acts of extortion and harassment,” the statement read

Yamu also said the indicted officer will not be spared from any punishment, while also issuing a warning to men of the Force to desist from criminal activities

”The Edo State Police Command strongly condemns this shameful and criminal conduct. The arrested officer and his collaborators will face the full wrath of the law. CP Monday Agbonika has made it clear that there will be no hiding place for rogue elements within the Force, reiterating the Command’s zero tolerance for corruption, abuse of office, and unprofessional conduct.”

”The Command further issues a stern warning to all officers: any policeman found engaging in misconduct, extortion, brutality, or any form of corrupt practice will be swiftly dismissed, arrested, and prosecuted in line with the laws of the land.”

”The Command calls on members of the public—particularly the victim in the viral video—to come forward and assist investigators with credible information to ensure justice is served.”

A devastating flash flood has destroyed two bridges, several houses, and farms in the Dandi and Suru local government areas of Kebbi State.

The flood, which occurred on Thursday, led to the collapse of two bridges, one in Fana township and another linking the Dakingari-Kyangakwai road.

Several houses and vast farmlands were also submerged across the affected communities.

READ ALSO: Flooding: Tinubu Approves ₦16.7bn For Immediate Reconstruction Of Mokwa Bridge

The Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Umar Tafida, extended the government’s condolences to the victims in Fana, Aljannare, and Kampani villages in Dandi, Suru, and Argungu LGAs.

He also presented relief materials and financial support worth ₦70 million to help alleviate their suffering.

During a sympathy visit to the affected areas on Saturday, the deputy governor assured residents of the government’s continued support and announced plans for the reconstruction of the collapsed bridges.

He disclosed that the state government donated ₦50 million and 600 bags of rice to victims in Fana, Maigwaza, and Tungar Beddi in Dandi LGA; ₦10 million and 250 bags of rice to Aljannare in the Suru LGA; and another ₦10 million and 250 bags of rice to victims in Kampani village, Argungu LGA.

Senator Tafida prayed for Allah’s protection against future disasters and urged residents to accept the tragedy as an act of God.

He also advised those living in flood-prone, riverine areas to relocate to higher ground for their safety.

In their separate remarks, the Chairman of Dandi, Mansur Isah, and the member representing Dandi constituency, Sulaiman Abubakar, expressed gratitude to the state government for its swift response.

Isah informed the deputy governor that one person lost their life in the disaster, while many homes were destroyed and hundreds of farms submerged.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Suru council, Muhammad Suru, thanked the government under the leadership of Governor Nasir Idris for the timely intervention and pledged unwavering support.

During a similar visit to the Kamfani IDP camp in Argungu, the deputy governor reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the victims and announced an additional donation of ₦10 million and 250 bags of rice.

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inspected the headquarters of Fresh FM, Ibadan, after parts of the radio station were destroyed by fire on Friday.

The governor, who arrived at the station at about 7:30 pm, expressed his sympathy to the Chairman of the Radio Station, Olayinka Ayefele, and the management.

He noted that the incident, though sad, had become a wake-up call to the state government on emergency management and fire response, saying that he would sit with the headship of the Oyo State Fire Service with a view to rejigging the service for a more effective service delivery.

READ ALSO: Oyo Govt, Fresh FM Disagree Over Music House Demolition

Governor Makinde, who appreciated God that no life was lost to the inferno, promised that the state government would support the station towards ensuring that it does not stay off-air for long, as it had shown that it was vital in providing information to residents of the state.

“What has happened here is a wake-up call for us as far as response time is concerned. I believe if we had taken Oyo State Fire Agency to the level that we want it to be, this damage would not have been to this extent.

“I would be sitting with the chairman of that agency to see what we can do. We have a fire station here around Scout Camp. If it had been equipped to the level that they could handle this, they would have been here before the people at the secretariat came.

“Those are things that I have seen that we have to work on. To the chairman and management of Fresh FM, I want to encourage you all. First, if you have this kind of situation, we have to be thankful to God that we didn’t lose any life.

“In terms of moving forward, I believe myself and the state government will give support to them. They are very vital to informing our people. We won’t let the station close for an extended period of time. So, I give them that assurance,” the governor stated.

In his response, Ayefele thanked Makinde for the visit to the station, and appreciated all the fans of the radio station, including the first responders.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately cancel the by-election for Shanono/Bagwai constituency and the Ghari constituency re-run election in Kano State.

The party said the exercise was marred by widespread “extreme” violence and election disruption by armed thugs across several polling units in Shanono/Bagwai and Ghari constituencies.

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, the party said that verifiable reports from the Shanono and Bagwai local government areas and Ghari constituency showed that voters fled polling areas.

READ ALSO: By-Election: Ogun PDP Chair, INEC Officials Arrested For Alleged Vote Buying

It also said that security agents deployed to the areas for the elections were overwhelmed by the violence, making the prospects of a credible election impossible.

The statement partly read, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately cancel the bye-elections for Shanono/Bagwai constituency and the Ghari constituency rerun election in Kano state due to widespread extreme violence and election disruption by armed thugs across several polling units in Shanono and Bagwai and Ghari constituencies.

“Proceeding with the Shanono/Bagwai Kano State Constituency bye-election and Ghari rerun election in the atmosphere of utter brigandage and outright violent voter intimidation will be against the democratic dictates of free, fair, and peaceful election, and set a dangerous precedent for undesirable and unacceptable electoral heist.”

The Nigeria Police on Saturday announced the arrest of 288 suspected thugs during the re-run election for Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency and Bagwai/Shanono State Constituency.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, disclosed this to newsmen in the Shanono Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the thugs carrying dangerous weapons were suspected to have been deployed to disrupt the election process, but were apprehended by the police.

The Federal Government on Saturday inaugurated the Committee on Collective Bargaining for the Health Sector, signaling the official commencement of negotiations with major health sector unions, in line with articles 1 and 2 of the Guidelines on Collective Bargaining Agreement Machinery.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, who led the inauguration, stated that the effort of the government was aimed at building a fair and sustainable framework for the health sector’s workforce.

“The convocation of this committee is a milestone towards building a fair and sustainable framework for our health workforce.

READ ALSO: Ultimatum: Nigeria’s Healthcare Risks Shutdown If Govt Ignores Doctors’ Demands — NMA

“Health workers are central to our mission of delivering quality healthcare, and it is our duty to ensure that their needs are addressed with sincerity, transparency, and mutual respect,” Pate was quoted as saying in a statement by the Head, Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun.

The high-level inauguration ceremony, held in Abuja, had in attendance the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, and the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako.

Others were senior officials from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and the Budget Office of the Federation, amongst others.

The negotiations will involve structured engagements with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), among others, focusing on remuneration, working conditions, professional development, and welfare of health workers.

In his remarks, Dingyadi said collective bargaining was a proven pathway to industrial peace and sectoral stability.

“Through this process, we intend to find common ground that ensures the welfare of our health workers while protecting the public’s access to uninterrupted, quality healthcare,” the minister said.

On the significance of the committee, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, said, “This is a critical step in our broader health sector reform agenda. By listening to the voices of our health professionals, we are not just negotiating terms — we are shaping the future of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.”