PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 MAN IN CUSTODY FOR OPERATING ABATTOIR AT HOME An unnamed man has been arrested in Lagos for operating a abattoir at his residence. This followed the action of the state government to seal the public abattoir in Agege. “Following reports from a concerned citizen, our enforcement team has taken immediate action at No. 12, Alfred Williams Street in Iju Station," said the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Monday. "The property owner had illegally converted his residence into an abattoir following the closure of the Oko Oba Abattoir, endangering the entire neighbourhood through unhygienic practices and profiting from this reckless operation. "The suspect is now in custody, and the premises have been sealed. This swift response demonstrates our zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of environmental violations, whether in designated facilities or residential areas.”

 OBIDIENTS CANCEL DONATIONS FOR PETER OBI'S BIRTHDAY Following an earlier call for Obidients across Nigeria and the world at large to donate for Peter Obi's 64th birthday on July 19, the Peter Obi Movement has cancelled the request. In a statement signed by Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator; Morris Monye, Director of Mobilisation; and Nana Kazaure, Director Strategic Communications & Media today, the group said requesting for birthday donations was an error. "We acknowledge that the release of donation account details and communication without adequate context may have created confusion and raised concerns," the group said. "The call for donations has been suspended and instead we encourage you to allocate your resources and lend a helping hand to those in need." The group said a rally tagged “FROM COMPASSION TO PURPOSE: Obidients in Action for a New Possible Nigeria” will instead hold across the country and Obidients will help the less-privileged.

 HOW CAN ALEX ZINGMAN BE TINUBU'S CLASSMATE IN CHICAGO? - ATIKU A press release published by Atiku Media Office on Tuesday queried how Alex Zingman, a Belarusian businessman, could have been President Bola Tinubu's classmate at Chicago State University (CSU). According to the release, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar wondered how Zingman, who was born in 1966, could have graduated from CSU with Tinubu in 1979. "Are we now to believe that the Guinness Book of Records missed the story of a 13-year-old Belarusian prodigy graduating from an American university alongside Bola Ahmed Tinubu? "Even more troubling is the President’s casual association with a man whose international reputation is mired in scandal."

 BRAZILIAN VP, WIFE ARRIVE NIGERIA FOR 3-DAY SUMMIT The vice president of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin and his wife, Maria Lúcia Alckmin, arrived in Nigeria today for a 3-day summit on Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM). The foreign VP was received by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; and others at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. More than 30 MoUs covering defence, agricultural technology, energy collaboration, and cultural exchange programmes are expected to be signed within the 3-day summit. 

 Mass Defection in Akwa Ibom: 24 Lawmakers Join APC, Speaker Announces In a dramatic political shift, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, announced on Tuesday that 24 of the 26 lawmakers have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement was made during a plenary session in Uyo, marking a significant realignment in the state’s political landscape. Elder Otong disclosed that he had received resignation letters from the 24 lawmakers, who cited internal conflicts within the PDP’s National Working Committee as their reason for leaving. Initially, the Speaker did not clarify his own status among the defectors or address the positions of the two remaining lawmakers. However, he later revealed that Hon. Sunday Johnny, representing ONNA State Constituency and the House Leader, remains with the PDP, now a minority in the Assembly. Otong directed Johnny to step down from his leadership role, appoi...

 Over 40 people, including children, killed in Sudan hospital attack, says WHO chief Over 40 people, including children and health care workers, were killed in an attack on a hospital in Sudan at the weekend, the head of the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, Reuters reported. Saturday's attack on the Al Mujlad Hospital took place in West Kordofan, near the front line between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, who have been fighting each other since the conflict broke out in April 2023. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for attacks on health infrastructure to stop, without saying who was responsible. The WHO Sudan office said that six children and five medics were killed in the attack, reporting extensive damage to the facility. Emergency Lawyers, a human rights group, accused an army drone of striking the hospital on Saturday, but in a statement on Sunday put the death toll at nine.

The world has lost an extraordinary advocate for animals. Mikayla Raines, the 29-year-old founder of Save A Fox and YouTube sensation with over 2.4 million subscribers, has tragically died by suicide after enduring years of online harassment and bullying. Mikayla, who was on the autism spectrum, channeled her hyperfocus into her life's passion: rescuing foxes and exotic animals. Starting as a volunteer at 15, she founded Save A Fox at just 20 years old, eventually building it into America's largest fox rescue operation. She personally saved over 500 foxes from terrible fur farm conditions.  Her heartbroken husband Ethan revealed that relentless online abuse, including false rumors and name-calling from both strangers and people she considered close friends, became too much for her sensitive spirit to bear. Despite years of therapy and treatment for depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder, she couldn't overcome the pain.  Ethan describes her as "truly on...

 Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong found himself in a tense confrontation with a fan during the band's headlining performance at Germany's Hurricane Festival over the weekend.  The incident occurred when someone in the front row repeatedly shot a water gun directly into Armstrong's face throughout the performance. According to fan-captured footage circulating on social media, Armstrong eventually stopped singing mid-song to directly address the disrespectful fan. The confrontation happened around 1 AM, as the show had already been significantly delayed due to severe weather warnings earlier in the day.  One concertgoer described the situation: "The 'fan' was shooting water with a water pistol at Billie's face for an hour… the show started at midnight so it was nearly 1 am when this happened." This incident highlights a troubling trend in concert behavior that has escalated since the pandemic, with artists increasingly becoming targets of audience...

 A shocking story is emerging from Newark Airport that raises serious questions about current US border enforcement practices.  A 21-year-old Norwegian tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, claims he was denied entry to the United States, strip-searched, detained for over five hours, and ultimately deported - all because immigration officials found a JD Vance meme on his phone.  Mikkelsen was traveling to visit friends in New York and Texas when he was pulled aside by border control on June 11. After being placed in a cell with armed guards, he was subjected to intensive questioning about drug smuggling, terrorism, and right-wing extremism - despite having no criminal record or suspicious background.  ICE agents reportedly threatened the exhausted tourist with a $5,000 fine or five years in prison if he refused to provide his phone password. Upon searching his device, they discovered two images they deemed problematic: a popular meme showing Vice President JD Vance with a bald, e...

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU HOSTS QUEEN MARY OF DENMARK, CALLS FOR EXPANDED COOPERATION ON LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION   President Bola Tinubu has emphasised the importance of expanding Nigeria's dairy and livestock economy, noting that with the country's growing population, the sector holds enormous potential for job creation, rural development, and food security.   The President spoke on Tuesday at the State House, Abuja, while receiving Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark, who is visiting Nigeria as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It was her first visit to Nigeria.   The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, co-hosted the Danish Queen.   President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria's readiness to deepen cooperation with Denmark in knowledge transfer, veterinary health, and sustainable agribusiness practices.   He identified conflicts between farmers and herders as one of Nigeria's pressing security and developmental challen...

 ‎Edo State Government To Return 36 Schools To Catholic Church ‎ ‎The Edo State Government has announced plans to return 36 primary and secondary schools to the Catholic Church, decades after the schools were forcefully taken over by the civil government in the 1970s. ‎ ‎The decision was made following a meeting between Governor Okpebholo and Bishop Gabriel G. Dunia of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi. ‎ ‎The schools slated for return include those formerly owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City and the Catholic Diocese of Uromi.Okpebholo assured that a committee will be set up to identify all schools for handover. ‎ ‎According to the statement, the decision to return some schools to the missionary aimed to address long-standing grievances and potentially enhance educational standards through faith-based initiatives across Edo State.

 Anambra State Executive council has approved the sum of N417,319,619.85 for the construction of the state Rehabilitation centre in Awka. A press release by the commissioner for information in Anambra state, say the Executive council has approved the construction and modelling of The state rehabilitation center at Nibo, Awka capital territory. The contract was awarded to Triseconds Resources Ltd and it will cost a total of N417,319,619.85. the duration of the contract wasn't stated in the press release. The council's decision to build a rehabilitation center is influenced by the need to address the state's mental health issues, this will allow those who leave the state's asylums to access rehabilitation facilities that provide all the services they need to fully heal before returning to their families and communities.

 ‎Abia State Government to flag off $1.3 Billion Abia Medical City by July 10, 2025 ‎ ‎Governor Alex Otti is set to officially flag off construction of the long-anticipated Abia Medical City on July 10, 2025.  ‎ ‎The $1.3 billion project, being undertaken through a build-operate-transfer arrangement with MKP International Holdings, will be sited on 200 hectares of land. ‎ ‎According to Kanu, the world-class medical facility will include a 1,000-bed hospital, a medical tourism hub, five-star hotel, and family accommodation. ‎ ‎ The project, expected to be completed within 24 months, aims to stem the tide of outbound medical tourism, not only in Nigeria but across West Africa. He also disclosed that access roads to the site are nearing completion.

 24th June, 2025 PRESS RELEASE ARREST  OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS, ARMED ROBBER, RECOVERY OF TWO PUMP ACTION GUNS, ONE LOCALLY MADE CUT-TO-SIZE GUN On 18/06/2025 at about 12:20hrs Eagle-Net Surveillance Team stationed at Ughelli North LGA, while on Routine stop and search duty along Otokutu Bridge, Warri intercepted a black Toyota Corolla car with registration number RSH 90 RC driven by one Telvin Richmond m’, aged 27 years of Opete by Otokutu and one Frank Obiorah m’, aged 26 years of the same address. The vehicle and the suspects were subjected to a thorough search of the car, a locally made cut-to-size gun, two (2) yellow hand-bands inscribed with NBM “neo black movement”, one battle axe and a wooden pistol, all concealed inside the compartment of the vehicle doors. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are members of the Aiye confraternity, and he bought the gun in the year 2024 for the sum of eighty-seven thousand naira from another suspect presently at large. S...

 LAGOS FLAGS OFF MATERNAL, CHILD HEALTH, NUTRITION WEEK, REACHES FOR ZERO CHILD, MATERNAL DEATHS A renewed commitment to maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health was declared on Monday, June 23, 2025, as the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu officially flagged off the first round of the bi-annual Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition Week (MNCH+N) in Lagos State at the Alimosho Local Government Area Secretariat. Addressing a large audience of healthcare workers, traditional leaders, community stakeholders, and development partners, Dr. (Mrs.) Sanwo-Olu highlighted the significance of the MNCH+N Week as a critical intervention that empowers citizens with access to cost-effective, high-impact healthcare services that can transform health indices and save lives. The First Lady, who was represented at the event by the wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, expressed gratitude to the people of Alimo...

 IRANIAN MISSILE KILLS HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR IN ISRAEL The Israeli government has confirmed that 95-year-old Holocaust survivor, Yvette Shmilovitch, was killed by a Iranian missile in Petah Tikva. While US President Donald Trump has negotiated a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Iran, the countries may complete their inbound attacks before the ceasefire takes effect.

 Imo CP Urges New Recruits to Uphold Professionalism Imo State Police Commissioner, CP Aboki Danjuma, has urged 264 police recruits at the Police Training School, Nekede, to maintain discipline and professionalism in line with the IGP’s vision of a people-friendly force. During his visit, he assessed facilities, interacted with trainees, and donated food items to support their welfare. One more photo below. 

  Two Lawmakers Dump PDP, LP for APC in House of Reps Two members of the House of Representatives have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during plenary in the Green Chamber today. The defectors are: Peter Akpanke, who represents Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwarra Federal Constituency of Cross River State. He dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC. Professor Paul Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency in Enugu State. He left the Labour Party (LP) to join the APC. Their defection letters were read on the floor of the House, citing internal party issues as reasons for their decision.

 Bandits Hack Community Leader To Death On His Farm In Southern Kaduna In a shocking and brutal attack, Mr. Moses Jarumi, a respected community leader, political activist, and prominent farmer, was hacked to death by suspected bandits on his farm in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The tragic incident occurred in Kurmin Jama’a, a village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.  According to local sources, the assailants stormed the farm and killed Mr. Jarumi in cold blood, leaving the community devastated. His untimely death has left the community reeling in grief and fear. The community is calling for urgent intervention and improved security measures to prevent further attacks. 

 DSS Arrests Six Suspected Bandits, Including Three Women, At Kaduna Airport After Return From Hajj Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly arrested six suspected bandits — three men and three women — at the Kaduna International Airport, shortly after their return from the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A top source who spoke with SaharaReporters, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended at approximately 3:40am on Tuesday by DSS operatives stationed at the airport.  The source revealed that the suspects had just disembarked from a flight returning Nigerian pilgrims from Hajj when security personnel moved in on them. The identities of the suspects remain unclear as of the time of filing this report.  However, a top security source hinted that intelligence reports had linked the individuals to banditry activities in the Northern region of the country.  The source said, "Today, at 3:40 a.m, operatives of DSS arrested 6 suspec...

 Igbo Values Under Threat: Fr. Amakaeze Urges Return to Traditional Virtues  By Regina Igwebuike  Rev. Fr. Kenneth Amakaeze, Chaplain of the Catholic Corps members in Anambra State and Manager of Rosary College Nise in Awka South LGA, has expressed concern over the growing restiveness among youths, advocating for the principle of communalism as a solution to address this issue. He noted that the Igbos have derailed from their values, that the principle of communalism no longer hold, explaining that a child was owned by all 'nwa oha' and unless they go back to their values, they will not get it right. Fr. Amakeze, who gave the submission during his homily on June 22 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, Amawbia, his former parish, addressed the alarming rate of exam malpractice in the country.  He emphasized that parents and guardians should not encourage their children or wards to engage in this act, as exams are designed to assess students' academic achievements, provid...

 Anambra 2025: Bishop Nwokolo Urges Politicians To Campaign With Manifestos Not Thugs Juliana Nwachukwu /Nkiru Anakor/Ngozi Okoli As the November 8, 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election draws near, the Bishop on the Niger, Anglican Communion, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo, has issued a firm, yet courteous call to politicians, urging them to campaign with manifestos, not with thugs. He encouraged political parties, their flag bearers and supporters to craft better methods to win votes, instead of resorting to the use of thugs, miscreants and street urchins for electioneering  Nwokolo made the appeal in an interview shortly after ordaining 33 priests at the All Saints' Cathedral, Onitsha, Sunday June 22, 2025. He urged politicians to be painstaking enough to translate their manifestos, programmes and promises into intelligible fragments to the masses rather than heating up the polity with the use of thugs. According to him, "Politicians should do the right thing. The Lord is Go...

 A Kentucky woman crashed into a Save A Lot store at a high rate of speed and was ejected from the vehicle into the store. A Georgetown Police Officer clocked a vehicle being operated by Amber Samokar going 71 mph in a 55 mph zone on McClelland Circle at 1:50 a.m.,  Monday morning. The officer wheeled around to initiate a stop but discovered the vehicle had crashed on US 25. The officer then approached the vehicle to check the condition of the driver, however as he was approaching the vehicle, Amber sped off. The officer made his way back to his cruiser and contacted dispatch for permission to pursue.   Before he could receive that permission the incident came to a shocking conclusion. The vehicle slammed into the front of the Save A Lot grocery store on Broadway. The impact sent Amber Samokar through the windshield of her vehicle and into the store. Officers quickly located Samokar suffering from serious injuries. She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatme...

 A young Louisana slugger saved his father's life the night before he drilled a homerun in a tied game to keep his teams playoff dreams alive.  8-year-old Ethan Castle was home alone with his father, on June 17th when duty called and this young athlete knew just what to do. Ethan's father Ernest was diagnosed with lung cancer last year; in addition to the the cancer, doctors also discovered Ernest suffers from brain tumors.  These brain tumors may cause seizures and sadly that's what happened on that Tuesday evening, causing this young hero to take immediate action. Ethan calmly called 911 and informed the dispatcher that his father was having a seizure. Ethan then continuously checked on his father while waiting on the EMT's. When they arrived, he let them inside the home and showed them the way to his father. After such an eventful night, most people would be 'off of their game' the following day, but not Ethan.  Ethan took to the field with his baseball team,...

 “Muslim-Muslim Ticket Gave You Power, Don’t Abandon It” – Baba-Ahmed Tells Tinubu Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former political adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has issued a stern warning against any move to sideline Northern Muslims or drop Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 elections. Speaking with news men on Monday, Baba-Ahmed emphasised that such a political misstep could cost Tinubu heavily in the North. He noted that Shettima, a prominent Muslim from the North, symbolizes the region’s stake in the current government and dropping him for political balancing would send the wrong message. “If the President drops Shettima because he believes the North represents a problem and he has to tinker with faith or geography, then he has a problem,” Baba-Ahmed warned. He explained that Tinubu’s electoral victory was largely hinged on the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket, and walking away from that could erode the political capital that brought him to power. “You now jettison th...

 Iran Violates US Brokered Ceasefire Agreement, Fires Missiles to Israel  A missile was launched from Iran in violation of the ceasefire, Israeli media reported on Tuesday. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in response, “Tehran will tremble.” The Israeli military said on Tuesday that missiles were launched from Iran toward Israeli territory shortly after the ceasefire took effect. Air defense systems were activated to intercept the threat.

 Over 10 people have reportedly been feared dead in an accident that occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Oyo State on Tuesday morning. At least 10 people are feared dead following a fatal road accident that occurred on Tuesday morning along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Oyo State. The tragic incident reportedly involved three Nissan Micra taxi cabs and three articulated lorries. According to eyewitness accounts, all the vehicles were travelling from the Iwo Road axis before the collision occurred. More photos below. 

 Tell someone your location even if you are going for ”hookup"---- Edo police PPRO advises ladies The spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command has advised ladies to tell people their location even if they are going for “hookups” He gave the advice yesterday, following the m8rder of a 21-year-old lady, Osato Festus Edogiaweria by one Mr Joshua Osaigbovo. According to the story, Osaro who is the victim met Joshua online and visited him, she  got missing for two months after visiting Joshua who she met online, she was later found dead and buried in a shallow grave near Joshua's house. The Police command has arrested the suspect, Joshua Osaigbovo and exhumed the victim's body from a shallow grave where he buried her.

 Anambra Court orders Life Imprisonment to Security Personnel Who Rap€d 17yr-old Girl Hawking “Okpa” At Upper Iweka. One Mr Michael Okoi, aged 23, who on 11th May 2024 at a Filling Station along Onitsha – Asaba Expressway, Upper Iweka, allegedly had unlawful s€xual int€rcourse with a 17yr-old girl hawking “Okpa” at the area, offence contrary  to Section 3(2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State, 2017, has been Sentenced to Life Imprisonment For taking advantage of the vulnerability of the “young naïve girl who was on a survival quest in this harsh economy to ravage her womanhood. The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting at Awka and presided over by Justice Peace Otti, sentenced the perpetrator, Michael, to life imprisonment on count 1, and fined him two hundred thousand naira each on counts 2 and 3 Reacting to this, the Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, has de...

 RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMAND PRESS RELEASE RIVERS CP VOWS TO APPREHEND COP-KILLER CULTISTS AFTER DEADLY ATTACK IN AHOADA The Rivers State Police Command condemns the brutal attack carried out by suspected cultists on June 23, 2025, at about 8:00 PM. Armed assailants, led by two men, Umegbewe Kingsley a.k.a. ‘Gutam’ and one Opaka (surname unknown), believed to be leaders of the Iceland cult group, stormed the OSPAC office beside the Ahoada East Council Secretariat and opened fire on its operatives. During the assault, OSPAC operative Ngozi Ipah was shot. While escaping, the assailants also gunned down a police officer, Corporal Francis Friday, who was on special duty at the Secretariat with the Special Intervention Squad (SIS). Responding swiftly, Police patrol teams led by the Divisional Police Officer arrived at the scene, but the attackers had already fled. Both victims were rushed to the Ahoada General Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds but were pronounced dead on arrival. Th...

 DEMS WANT TRUMP IMPEACHED OVER IRAN BOMBING Several Democratic lawmakers have voiced their desire to have President Donald Trump impeached over his decision to bomb Iran. While numerous world leaders have voiced their shock and disapproval that the US got involved in the Israel-Iran war, even a few Republicans have expressed their disappointment with Trump. Republican Thomas Massie said without mincing words that it "is not constitutional" for Donald Trump to order a strike on Iran. Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has spoken against the strikes, said what the president did is outside the books.  Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, made it clear that “the President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorisation is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. “He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.” So far, only Democra...