PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT TINUBU CHARGES MILITARY TO END INSECURITY, SAYS NIGERIA WILL NOT SURRENDER TO TERRORISTS  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the Nigerian military to intensify efforts to end terrorism and banditry in the country and has promised to prioritise their welfare. Addressing troops of the 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Katsina on Friday, President Tinubu described the current security challenges as a defining moment in the nation's history. He urged the military to remain resolute in defending Nigeria's sovereignty and restoring peace to every corner of the country. The President began his two-day visit to  Katsina State on Friday by inaugurating a 24km Dual-Carriage Way and Katsina Agricultural Mechanised Centre.  "My dear soldiers, this is a defining moment in our history. The threats of terrorism, banditry, and insurgency have persisted for too long. Nigerians are counting on us and you to end this menace and reclaim ev...

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE   IGNORE ARMCHAIR CRITICS; YOUR RESULTS WILL SPEAK FOR YOU, PRESIDENT TINUBU TELLS GOVERNORS   President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on governors across Nigeria to remain focused on delivering tangible results that improve the lives of their people, urging them to disregard armchair critics who merely seek to distract from the work at hand.   During a two-day visit to Katsina, the President told the governors that the accurate measure of leadership is a positive, visible impact.   "Let the people be at the heart of your programmes. Your hard work and concrete achievements will answer any criticism. Ignore distractions—your results will speak for you," the President said.   The President commissioned a 24 km road, which Governor Dikko Umar Radda completed within 18 months. The President also commissioned the Katsina Agricultural Mechanized Centre.   The road commissioned was the Eastern Bypass, which stretched from Dutsin-ma R...

 Freedom Of Speech Isn’t Free, Shehu Sani Advises Nigerians  *** “Freedom of speech is not free. Always keep some money to pay your lawyer in case you are sued over what you say or posted on your social media account.  “Even the lawyers who agree to give you free service will ask for money to fuel their cars and have some lunch after the court session. And if you fall into the hands of a SAN, you are on your own.  “We have been taken to Court many times for our opinions and we know the cost of legal representation. Just make sure that among your friends you have a good lawyer.” -Senator Shehu Sani, May 2025

 2027: Buhari, Malami, Others Not Leaving APC -Governor Sule *** Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has dispel insinuations that former President, Muhammadu Buhari; former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and others may leave the All Progressives Congress, APC, before the 2027 general election. This is in reaction to speculations that members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, bloc, were threatening to leave the APC for allegedly being sidelined by the current administration. Mr Sule stated this on Friday in Lafia at the grand reception in honour of the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Dr. Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, by the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Nasarawa State chapter. The governor, while commending the achievements of the APC administration under President Bola Tinubu, noted that those trying to divide the ranks of the party have failed. “There is nothing like taking CPC away. Our father, former Pr...

 VeryDarkMan arrested by police in Abuja. Nigerian social media personality and influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been arrested by the Nigerian police in Abuja. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the arrest on his X account on Friday, May 2. The arrest took place in a Nigerian bank in Abuja. The police are yet to officially comment on the arrest.

 OGUN BEGINS RECRUITMENT OF NEW TRACE OPERATIVES Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has approved the recruitment of new operatives into the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, (TRACE), as part of plan to boost the Agency’s operational capacity. In a release from the office of the TRACE Commander General/Chief Executive, Cdr. Dr. 'Seni Ogunyemi, disclosed that, the recruitment exercise was aimed at increasing the Agency's human capacity to further enhance its operational response in emergency situations across the State. It therefore enjoined interested candidates to apply and submit their application form free of charge via the official website: ogunstatetraceagency.com , the application window would be open from Friday, May 2 to Friday, May 16, 2025. The Agency would be seeking for disciplined, honest, dedicated and service oriented individuals, who would be passionate about public safety and willing to make a career in traffic management in the State.

 Abia State Governor Promises Compensation for Dismissed Non-Indigene Civil Servants Abia State Governor Alex Otti has pledged to compensate non-indigene civil servants who were unjustly dismissed by a previous administration due to their state of origin. Speaking at the Workers’ Day celebration held at Umuahia Township Stadium on Thursday, Otti condemned the arbitrary sackings, emphasizing that such discriminatory actions do not reflect the values of Abia State. “We are in discussions to properly compensate those who were unfairly dismissed for reasons tied to their origins, despite their significant contributions to the state’s growth,” Otti stated. “Abia will always be a welcoming home for all hardworking individuals, free from discrimination driven by base sentiments or political considerations.” Governor Otti also highlighted his administration’s efforts to improve workers’ welfare, including the restoration of power and water at the Abia State Secretariat and Nnamdi Azikiwe S...

 COUPLE WHOSE WEDDING WAS CANCELLED BY ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH FINALLY WEDS IN ANOTHER CHURCH 2nd May, 2025      A young couple, Mr Michael Obinna and Mrs. Rebecca Obinna, whose wedding was abruptly cancelled by Assemblies of God Church, Okpu 2 in Aba, eventually tied the knot in another church the same day—bringing an emotional and dramatic chapter in their love story to a triumphant close. The couple, who had been making preparations for months, faced repeated setbacks and unexpected requirements from their local church leadership, culminating in the shocking decision to cancel their wedding ceremony on the morning of April 20, 2025. In a detailed account shared by the bride, Rebecca, the issues began when her fiancé—who was a new convert in the Assemblies of God Church—attempted to get approval from the church leadership to conduct the wedding. Despite following the church’s instructions, meeting their physical and material requirements, and even participating in...

  Two Men Shot Dead in Thekwane South, Mpumalanga Two men were shot and killed by unknown suspects in Thekwane South, Mpumalanga, earlier today. The incident is reported to have occurred around 12:00 midday. When police arrived at the scene, they found a Toyota Yaris with its engine still running. Inside were the bodies of two men, aged 51 and 45, both from KaBhokweni. Police have confirmed the victims’ ages and hometown but say their identities cannot be released at this stage. While police have not confirmed any links, some community members claim the vehicle matches the description of a Toyota Yaris that has allegedly been involved in a string of criminal activities in the area.  According to these residents, the car has reportedly been used to pick up hitchhikers, who were then robbed and dumped in Thekwane South. Police investigations are ongoing.

 EFCC  Arrests Three Suspects Behind Q-net Scam Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have nabbed three suspected fraudsters linked with Q-net scam in the country. The suspects, Olaniyan Joshua, Oyetunde Julius Akano, and Victor Oluwale who are currently undergoing interrogation in the Commission, were arrested on Wednesday, May 1, 2025, in Abuja. Operating under the name, Mighty Infinity Millionaire Limited, the trio falsely claimed to be representatives of Q-net, a global e-commerce and direct selling company. While Q-net has since denied any link with the suspects and their activities, investigations further revealed that the suspects were equally running a fraudulent university training in pavilions and under trees, offering fake Bachelor of Science degrees in Medicine, Nursing, Cybersecurity, Computer Studies, and Geology, among others with a false claim of affiliation with Quest International University, Malaysia. Student victims were charged ...

 Press Release NIGERIA VALIDATES 2025 VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW REPORT ON SDGs, PROMISES TO LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND **As the nation leads Africa SDGs implementation The Chief of Staff to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has stated that Nigeria is the only African Country to present the Voluntary National Review (VNR) twice at the High Level Political Forum in 2017 and 2020 and would be presenting the third report in July, 2025. Gbajabiamila stated this at the National validation workshop on Nigeria’s 2025 Voluntary National Review Report on SDGs, held recently in Abuja. While declaring the workshop open, the Chief of Staff stated that the SDGs’ principle aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Tinubu’s administration, to improve the quality of life of Nigerians using the 17 sustainable development  goals.  Gbajabiamila calls for more sensitization of the public on importance and benefits of achieving the SDGs, as he commended the Senior Special Assistant...

 PRESS RELEASE  NIGERIA CHAMPIONS AFRICAN POSITION ON ASSET RECOVERY AT UN FfD4 IN SEVILLE As the world grapples with the challenges of sustainable development, the Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite has highlighted the significant impact of illicit financial flows and financial crime on sustainable development in Nigeria and across Africa Addressing key stakeholders on Safeguarding Sustainable Development Finance by Addressing Illicit Financial Flows and Fighting Financial Crimes at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite underscored Nigeria's commitment to addressing these challenges. She stated that recent estimates informs that Africa loses $88.6 billion annually to illicit financial flows, with Nigeria accounting for approximately 20% of these losses, noting that these outflows hinder the country's ability to provid...

  Seyi Tinubu Denies Allegations of Attacking NANS President, Labels Claims as Fabricated Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has refuted allegations that he attacked the reputation of Atiku Abubakar Isah, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). In an Instagram post on Friday, Seyi described the accusations as “completely fictional” and expressed shock at what he called lies aimed at tarnishing his image. Seyi clarified that he has never met or spoken with Isah, nor visited any location or collaborated with thugs as alleged. “All these allegations made by Atiku Isah are completely fictional,” he stated, dismissing the claims outright. The controversy stems from a press conference held by Isah on Wednesday, where he accused Seyi Tinubu and Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, of offering him a N100 million bribe to promote President Tinubu’s administration. Isah claimed he rejected the offer due to the president’s alleged under...

  Lagos Court Sentences BRT Driver to Death for Murder of Fashion Designer Bamise Ayanwola A Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square has sentenced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver Andrew Ominikoron to death by hanging for the murder of 22-year-old fashion designer Oluwabamise Ayanwola. The ruling was delivered on Thursday by Justice Serifat Sonaike following a trial that drew significant public attention. In a judgment lasting over two and a half hours, Justice Sonaike declared that the Lagos State Government, as the prosecution, had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Ominikoron was responsible for Ayanwola’s death. Pronouncing the sentence, the judge stated, “For the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy upon you.”

 2027 Polls: LP not part of any coalition — Abure Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party (LP) has dissociated itself from coalition talks. There have been talks by major opposition parties to form a strong coalition that will defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle. While Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been holding talks with some opposition figures, Abure distanced his party from such a plan. Briefing journalists after the party’s NEC meeting in Abuja, Abure noted that LP under his leadership would not surrender its leadership under any guise. “NEC declared that the Party is not and will not be part of any coalition towards the 2027 General Election. The party will rather continue to rebuild, reposition, re-strategise, reconcile, strengthen, drive its programs and policies, win more members towards winning the 2027 General Elections,” a communiqu...

 NEW WINGS, NEW RESPONSIBILITIES: CAS URGES NEW PILOTS TO SERVE THE NATION WITH UTMOST DEDICATION The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has urged 35 newly graduated Nigerian Air Force pilots to see their achievements not just as personal victories, but as commitments to national defense. Speaking at the graduation of Basic Transport Flying Course 5 and Ab-initio Student Pilot Course 49 on 2 May 2025 at 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna, the CAS declared: “Earning your flying qualification is not just a personal achievement, it is a national responsibility.” He emphasized that these young aviators now carry the hopes of millions and play a critical role in the security of our nation. With a focus on upgrading training standards, enhancing fleet capability, and evolving modern doctrines, the CAS reaffirmed the NAF's mission to remain a technologically advanced, resilient, and professional force. The 401 FTS was lauded for its over 40 years of excellence ...

 Breaking- A shocking and nearly UNBELIEVABLE story is emerging.  A Florida man has been arrested after a woman saved herself from a completely unimaginable ordeal.  At approximately 5:20 p.m. on Monday, April 28th, the Washington County Sheriff's Department (FL.) received a disturbing call. A man called 911 to report a woman who was badly beaten had flagged him down from the side of the road. When first responders arrived on scene they found a woman who had suffered a severe beating. The victim was still in handcuffs with duct tape around her neck. As police began to question her, the full extent of what this unnamed victim had endured; and the remarkable bravery she displayed while saving herself, became apparent. According to the victim, the beginning of the traumatic experience began Sunday when 40-year-old David Gipson showed up at her home. She said Gipson claimed her husband and brother-in-law owed him money.  Gipson then began to take items from around the ho...

 An Alabama couple is demanding answers after picking their lifeless daughter up from school and rushing her to the hospital where she would remain in ICU for two days. Mary Singleton said hospital staff said her daughter's BAC (blood alcohol content) was 0.29 when she was brought to the hospital directly from school, and she wants to know how the school let this happen. This all began when she received a call about her daughters condition just 2 minutes before the end of the school day. When she arrived at school she was handed her lifeless daughter by a teacher who stated the child "probably" needed to go to ER. Mary says her daughter was completely limp and slobbering out of her mouth. She rushed her daughter to the hospital where she would spend the next two days ICU. Doctors quickly discovered the 4-year-old girl had ingested a large amount of ethanol and her BAC was 0.29. The young girl was released Wednesday, April 30th. She is thankfully recovering at home. It is ...

 Amotekun member killed A member of Osun State Security Network codenamed Amotekun, Lamidi Abiodun, has been killed in an ambush by gunmen as his other colleague went missing in Iwo town. It was learnt that during the ambush on Wednesday, Alex Sola and a member of the vigilante group went missing. Public Relations Officer of the outfit, Yusuf Abass, said:  “The farmers alerted the Iwo Area Command of Osun Amotekun Corps about an ongoing attack on their farmland. In swift response, a team of Amotekun operatives, in company with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), mobilised to the scene to confront the threat and safeguard lives and property. “Upon arriving at the location, the team was ambushed by a group of armed men allegedly led by a notorious criminal known as Akeem Olofa, who has been a menace in the region.’’ He continued: “During the confrontation, Mr. Abiodun was attacked. Although initial gunfire did not penetrate his body, he was brutally assaulted with a...

 Fire razes three shops, others in Oyo No fewer than three shops were razed by fire in the early hours of Friday in Sango, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The incident, which occurred behind the Fart Oil filling station around 4:30 am, reportedly began after an electrical spark from a plugged-in freezer ignited nearby combustible materials. Investigations by PUNCH Online revealed that three out of a row of ten prefabricated shops were completely engulfed in flames before the arrival of fire service officials. Though no casualties were recorded, goods including freezers, drinks, and other valuables worth several million naira were destroyed in the inferno. When contacted on Friday, the State General Manager of the Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Ibadan. He said, “The emergency was reported at exactly 04:41 hours on the morning of Friday, May 2, 2025, via a telephone call from CSP Adesina, concerning shops on fire behind the Fart Oil Fillin...

 DonJazzy gifts woman N6m for having N67 ‘unhealthy’ account balance Social media was set abuzz on Thursday when Nigerian music stars Michael Ajereh, aka Don Jazzy, and Crown Uzama aka Shallipopi, surprised fans with millions of naira in spontaneous giveaways following viral online interactions. Don Jazzy gifted a woman, Adeyemi Adejoke Abidemi, a total of ₦6 million after noticing that her account balance was “not healthy.” It all started with a trending post on X.com that encouraged users to tag one celebrity to gift them ₦1 million. Adeyemi who tweets as #PopoolaJoke4 tagged #DONJAZZY, writing, “Make I tag #DONJAZZY. I dey always dream about him. Happy new month sir.” The Mavin Records boss replied, “Akant namba,” prompting her to drop her GTBank details. Minutes later, she posted a screenshot showing a ₦1 million credit alert. “Jesuuuuuusssssssss, this is huge,” she wrote. “Thank you so much for your incredible generosity. Receiving 1 million naira is beyond anything I expected...

 FG Gives Foreigners With Expired Visas 3-Month Grace to Exit Nigeria The Federal Government has granted a three-month grace period for foreigners with expired visas to leave Nigeria without penalties, effective until August 1, 2025. The Nigeria Immigration Service announced the move Friday, warning that overstaying beyond the deadline will attract daily fines of $15, up to five-year entry bans, or blacklisting. The NIS also introduced mandatory online landing and exit cards for all inbound and outbound travelers.

 Troops kill five bandit leaders in Zamfara, recover weapons Troops of 1 Brigade have killed five bandit leaders in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The spokesman of 1 Brigade, Captain Suleiman Omale, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. He said the operation was carried out on May 1 after troops on fighting patrol encountered a large number of armed terrorists who had infiltrated Mai Kwanugga village. “The terrorists had been attacking locals and setting houses ablaze before the arrival of troops. Upon contact, the troops decisively engaged the criminals in a fierce gun duel, successfully neutralising terrorists, including five notorious bandit leaders identified as Auta Jijji, Dankali, Sagidi, Kachallah Rijaji, and Kachallah Suza. “Reinforcements from 1 Brigade Quick Response Force (QRF) and 1 Brigade Special Forces (1 BSF) pursued the fleeing terrorists, resulting in the recovery of a cache of weapons,” the statement read. The arms recovered from the...

 ENHANCING SAFETY & SECURITY IN AWKA: POLICE SUSTAIN RAID OPERATIONS, ARREST THREE SUSPECTS, RECOVER ONE LOCALLY MADE REVOLVER PISTOL AND OTHER INCRIMINATING ITEMS IN AN UNCOMPLETED BUILDING AT IYIAGU, AWKA.  _Intensify manhunt on an armed dealer popularly known as Chukwuebuka alias Nwa Onitsha_ In the early hours of 29th April 2025, Police Operatives attached to the B Division of the State Police Command acting on credible information raided an uncompleted building at Iyiagu Estate, Awka. During the operation, three suspects were arrested while one locally made revolver pistol and some substances suspected to be hard drugs were recovered.  The suspects: Paulinus Nkuda, Nwankwo Emmanuel, and Nwadede Godspower, all males, stated that the pistol belonged to one Chukwuebuka, whose second name is unknown but popularly known as Nwa Onitsha who is currently at large. Meanwhile, the suspects and the Case have been transferred to the Anti Kidnapping/Rapid Response Unit of the...

 PRESS RELEASE TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES: NPF CRUSHES TRANS-BORDER KIDNAPPING SYNDICATE. As Operatives Successfully Rescue Kidnapped Ghanaian Nationals. In a resounding victory against crime, particularly transnational crime, the Nigeria Police Force has once again demonstrated its resolve to safeguarding lives and property, dealing a significant blow to organized criminal networks operating across international borders. Following a report filed with the National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja on April 27th, 2025, regarding the kidnap of one Anastasia Arthur aka Baidoo, a 48-year-old Ghanaian national, the Nigeria Police Force, through its Intelligence Response Team (IRT), has successfully rescued 2 kidnapped Ghanaian Nationals and apprehended a key kidnapping syndicate operating across international borders. Initial investigations revealed that Ms. Baidoo’s abduction stemmed from a sophisticated Facebook love scam. Advanced technical analysis provided a lead to a key location connected to ...

 BAUCHI STATE POLICE COMMAND 2nd May, 2025 PRESS RELEASE  The Editors                                                CRIME BULLETIN  CULPABLE HOMICIDE: one arrested in connection with gruesome killing of ex- LG chair. ...as CP Sani Omolori visits the victim's family, direct discreet investigation. On the early morning of 2nd May 2025, at about 0403 hours, the police command received a distress call from a Good Samaritan concerning an incident involving an attack by a group of youths at Fadaman Mada, located behind government girls secondary school Bauchi.   In response, a dedicated team of officers was dispatched to the scene. They found Mr Isa Muhammad Wabi, a 66-year-old former Chairman of Jama'are LGA, in critical condition due to injuries sustained in the attack. He was promptly evacuated to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Ho...