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 OCHA Brigade Arrests 13 people Over Illegal Kaolin Excavation In Ozubulu, Ukpor Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade has arrested 13 suspects in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, and Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area, over illegal kaolin excavation and activities linked to severe environmental degradation in Anambra State. The arrests followed a targeted enforcement operation at identified excavation sites where indiscriminate removal of soil had been taking place, and the affected locations were immediately sealed to halt further damage and prevent the expansion of erosion-prone areas. Illegal excavation has been identified as a major driver of erosion in Anambra State, weakening soil structure, destroying farmlands, and exposing communities to flooding and gully erosion. The activities also pose long-term risks to infrastructure, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability if left unchecked. The Managing Director of the OCHA Brigade, Comrade Celesti...

 APC Chairman to State Coordinators: “Register Every Member or Be Removed The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has directed all Coordinators of the ongoing nationwide electronic membership registration exercise across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that no member of the party is left unregistered, warning that any Coordinator who fails in this responsibility will be replaced. Professor Yilwatda gave this directive when he met with all the State Registration Coordinators at the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja.  All the State Organising Secretaries of the party at the state level are the coordinators of the exercise except where any of them them was not trained for the exercise. The ongoing registration exercise is scheduled to end on January 30, 2026. For a mass-membership political party like the All Progressives Congress (APC), electronic registration is not just a techn...

 TARABA COUNCILLOR KILLED IN TIV-FULANI CLASH  Hon. Shagari Bankaki, the serving Councillor of AKate Ward in Donga Local Government Area, Taraba State, has been shot dead amid a deadly clash between Tiv and Fulani communities. The incident reportedly occurred during heightened tensions in the area, leaving residents in fear and panic.  Sources said the councillor was caught in the violence and did not survive the attack. Security agencies are yet to release an official statement on the killing, while residents are appealing for urgent intervention to prevent further escalation. The tragic death of Hon. Bankaki has deepened worries over communal conflicts in Donga LGA and the need for immediate peace measures.

 FACEBOOK POST EXPOSES ALLEGED TRAFFICKING ATTEMPT IN BENUE  A Facebook user in Benue State has raised alarm over an alleged trafficking attempt involving a man identified as Terzulum of Lubuna Roundabout in Gboko LGA  The user, posting under the name “D Naked Elder Zege Orkwande,” claimed that Terzulum tried to lure underaged girls to a park this night. “Bad market for them today,” the post read. “You may have succeeded sending some out before, but today’s batch is bad market, sir.” The report has sparked outrage on social media, with calls for authorities to investigate the alleged incident.

 ANGRY YOUTHS LYNCH, BURN SUSPECTED OKADA SNATCHER IN MAKURDI  12th January, 2026      A suspected motorcycle robber was on Sunday lynched and set ablaze by an angry mob near the Prime Power petrol station in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Sources told Benue Info-pedia that the suspect allegedly dispossessed an okada rider of his motorcycle along Ahmadu Commisi Road in the Demekpe area of the metropolis. It was gathered that the victim raised an alarm shortly after the incident, mobilising youths in the neighbourhood who gave the suspect a hot chase. He was eventually intercepted close to the Prime Power filling station. A resident, identified simply as Tony, said the suspect attempted to flee immediately after snatching the motorcycle, but was pursued by eyewitnesses. “After taking the bike, he sped off. The youths who saw what happened chased him. He was caught while trying to cross the road, but vehicles coming from Ankpa Quarter Junction blocked his escap...

 Brand influencer Emmanuella, Carter Efe's babymama, continues to reveal more of what went on between them while they were together, in response to Carter's harsh breakup announcement, where he painted her to be the devil. Nuella said that Carter Efe usually beat her up, even while she was pregnant with their daughter, describing her pregnancy journey as a literal walk in h€ll.  She took to her Instagram account to share series of video evidences to back up her revelations.  She wrote; "My Pregnancy journey was hell, Carter would hit me regardless of my condition, which made me a regular customer at Cedacare hospital.  "Every staff there knew me to the point that immediately I stepped my foot in there, they already knew why I came. "He would always always hit me and throw me out of the house. "The nurses would always ask me why I was always at the hospital alone with no one to help me, but I would always lie because they all knew me. "One of the days I ...

 Popular netizen and social media influencer, Ruth, has made a video declaring her stance against the baby mama culture, calling it an act of madness.  In the video, Ruth says that even if Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, or award-winning singer, Wizkid, approaches her to have a child for them and be her baby daddy, she will still turn them down since none of them is her legal husband. "Nigerian girls, we have to put an end to this babymama madness. If a man is not your husband, please don’t get pregnant for him", she said. "Like me, even if Wizkid or Aliko Dangote comes tomorrow and tells me he wants me to have a child for him, the first question I’ll ask is, 'Are you my husband?' If he says no, then there is nothing like having a child for him. "It is time for us to be very stingy with our bodies. Men will not want to marry a baby mama, trust me. Most Nigerian men do not want to end up marrying a baby mama, so why put yourself in that situation? No rin...

 Popular skit maker and streamer, Carter Efe, has revealed that he had separated from his baby mama, Emmanuella, for over a year now. In a series of post on Instagram, Carter Efe shared that the relationship took a toll on his mental health, finances, and creativity, causing him to struggle with content creation and stability, and described the experience as painful, particularly for being apart from his child. He attributed his recent growth and increased visibility in streaming to the separation.  He expressed gratitude for his recovery and progress, stating he’s now in a better place emotionally and professionally. "Just to let you know, guys I have been single for over 1 year now. God is good!!!! I saw mad changes in my life.   "This lady has frustrated my whole life to the extent that I trended everyday for beating a lady.  For good 2 years i lost everything, I lost my mindset, I cannot think or shoot content, I got broke. "Good 3 months I didn’t see my kid! CHA...

 The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) has asked to be involved in the Lagos State Government’s investigation into the alleged medical negligence surrounding the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi, son of renowned author Chimamanda Adichie. In a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, the NSA National President, Prof. Alhassan Mohammed, commended the Lagos State Government for ordering a probe into the incident. He expressed satisfaction that the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency had commenced investigations following the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Prof. Mohammed noted that the allegations appeared to centre on the physician anaesthetist who was part of the medical team that carried out procedures to facilitate an MRI. He therefore recommended that a senior and experienced physician anaesthetist be co-opted into the investigative panel to ensure a thorough and professional review. Describing the incident as deeply tra...

  Resident Doctors of  Chukwuemeka Odemegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospita,  Set to Join Nationwide Strike. The Association of Resident Doctors, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (ARD-COOUTH) Branch says it will comply fully with the strike directed by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). ARD-COOUTH declared it’s position in a communiqué issued after an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) held to deliberate on the proposed total, indefinite and comprehensive strike by the national leadership. The communiqué signed by Dr Joy Okwumuo and Dr Albert Okoye, President and Secretary of ARD-COOUTH was made available to journalists in Awka on Saturday. NARD had in November 2025 suspended its nationwide strike after 19 days following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government. ARD-COOUTH said it had resolved to comply fully with the NARD directive for members to down tools when it resumed the industrial acti...

 This Igbo Bride is trending for using Can Malt inside a cup as her traditional wedding drink given to her by her father to go find her husband on her traditional wedding day. She is facing criticism online because people are of the opinion that this is not igbo tradition. Some said the father would have even poured the Malt inside the cup rather than giving her the Can inside the cup. More photos below. 

 Nwada Igbo, Chioma Amaryllis Ahaghotu, has taken to her Facebook page to respond to those coming at her and bashing her for being 'Igbo-phobic'. So far, Chioma Amaryllis has not failed to call out and air her opinion on trending issues and topics surrounding ndi Igbo.  She became very popular during Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's trial, court hearings and imprisonment for being on the other side of what most Igbos were saying at the time. Following that, most Igbos, home and abroad have since resented her for not being in support of Biafra, referring to her as a hater of ndi Igbo. In response, Chioma Amaryllis has reaffirmed her sole pride in the Igbo tribe and everything it represents, saying that those who call her Igbo-phobic are simply senseless. Her post read; "The reason you think I’m Igbo-phobic is because you don’t have sense. You heard uncomfortable truths and instead of engaging the argument, you ran to the easiest emotional defence: 'She hates Igbo people'. Tha...

 FUNKE AKINDELE Officially Becomes The All-time Africa's Highest-Grossing Filmmaker as BehindTheScenes hits over 2BILLION NAIRA. Congratulations pour in as Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele's 'Behind the scenes' movie crosses two billion naira(2b) at the box office, the first Nollywood movie to ever reach such height. Funke Akindele took to her X account to announce this in a celebratory video with some of the casts of the movie.  "Our hearts are full of gratitude to God and to you, our amazing fans who have become family. Thank you for believing in this journey. This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without you. "BehindTheScenes is showing nationwide, in the UK & Ireland at select Odeon cinemas, in the USA at Regal Cinemas, and in Canada from January 16 at Landmark Cinemas", she captioned the video. The BehindTheScenes movie features A-list actors like Scarlet Gomez, Funke Akindele, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana...

Akwaibom state Assembly is set to pass a bill into law criminalizing sleeping with married men, proposes 10yrs imprisonment for offenders. Akwa lbom State House of Assembly will on Tuesday 13th January 2026 pass into law that sleeping with married men is prohibited.  The bill sponsored by the  Deputy governor Her Excellency senator Akon Inyang will on Tuesday pass into law by AKS House of Assembly.  The bill stated that any young girl, lady  or woman caught sleeping with a married man will go for 10 years imprisonment without any fine, while the man in question will pay a fine of 2 million naira.

 Awka South Mayor pleads with Awka indigenes in Diaspora to Support and collaborate with governor Soludo in promoting Anambra state. The Mayor of Awka South Local Government Area, Prince Chinedu Okafor, has called on Awka indigenes in the diaspora to collaborate with the Anambra State Government in promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development, particularly within Awka communities. Prince Okafor made the appeal during the handover ceremony of 50 hospital beds donated by the Awka Union in Houston, Texas, to the Chukwuma Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOU), Amaku. He described the donation as timely and impactful, noting that it reflects the union’s strong commitment to community wellbeing and improved healthcare delivery. The Mayor emphasized the importance of collective responsibility and strategic collaboration, stressing that diaspora-led initiatives play a critical role in complementing government efforts to strengthen key public institutions. Reaffirmin...

 Anambra First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo shares insights on ‎how to prevent cardiovascular diseases. ‎ ‎The wife of the Anambra State governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has called for a conscious and more intentional medical and habitual discipline to tackle the rising figures of cardiovascular-based diseases and deaths associated with heart related issues. ‎ ‎The Anambra first lady who is also the founder of the non-governmental organisation, ‘Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative’, noted that most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing habitual risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets and obesity, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol. ‎ ‎She stated this on Monday shortly after her weekly statewide ‘Healthy living walks’ and workout sessions in all 21 local government areas aimed at promoting awareness on cardiovascular risks and prevention. ‎ ‎According to her, the seeming neglect by many people to go for routine heart checks, has helped the increase...

 The prolonged absence of president Tinubu at this time of national crisis, depicts failure-  Peter Obi  Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over the prolonged absence of President Bola Tinubu amid Nigeria’s worsening socio-economic challenges, describing it as a failure of leadership. In a statement posted on his X account, Obi said Nigeria is facing a national emergency marked by rising poverty, hunger, insecurity, youth unemployment, and high infant mortality, yet the President has reportedly spent extended periods abroad, including 196 days outside the country in 2025. He lamented that Nigerians have not heard directly from the President since December 2025, noting the absence of a New Year address or national broadcast to reassure citizens. Obi also criticised the President’s silence on major security developments, stating that Nigerians learned of critical incidents from foreign sources rather than their own leader.  He ar...

 Soldier who assaulted a man with a pick handle to appear in court   A 42-year-old South African National Defence Force (SANDF) member is expected to appear before the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 12 January 2026.  The suspect faces a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). The incident allegedly occurred on Friday, 9 January 2026, at approximately 17:15 at Tshirenzheni village.  It is alleged that the 61-year-old complainant was asleep when the suspect arrived at his home, shouting angrily. Upon going outside to investigate, the complainant was allegedly assaulted several times on the head with a wooden pick handle.  The victim sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. The suspect is a Sergeant stationed at the Vuwani Military Base.  He was arrested on Sunday, 11 January 2026, and remains in police custody pending his court appearance.

 Ghana clears $1.47bn energy sector debts Ghana has paid a total of US$1.47 billion in 2025 to clear longstanding energy sector debts and restore the World Bank guarantee for the sector, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Monday. According to Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, the government fully repaid US$597.15 million, including interest, drawn under the World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee, which had been exhausted in previous years. The repayment has effectively restored the guarantee, which is critical to investor confidence in Ghana’s power sector. Minister Forson, in the statement on X, said the energy sector was in a fragile state when President John Dramani Mahama assumed office in January 2025, following years of persistent non-payment for gas supplied to the power sector, TRT Afrika reported. “When President Mahama assumed office in January 2025, the energy sector had been pushed to the brink by years of persistent non-payment for gas supplied to the power s...

 CAF condemns misconduct at AFCON 2025 quarterfinals, opens investigations The Confederation of African Football (CAF) strongly condemned what it described as “unacceptable behaviour” by players and officials during two quarterfinal matches at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, and has opened formal investigations into incidents surrounding the games. In a statement on Monday, CAF said it had reviewed match reports and video evidence indicating potential misconduct during the quarter-final clashes between Cameroon and Morocco, and Algeria and Nigeria. Host nation Morocco secured a 3–2 victory over Cameroon in their quarter-final encounter, a tightly contested match that ended in chaos as tempers flared following the final whistle. Several players from both teams were involved in heated exchanges on the pitch, while officials were forced to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating further as the teams made their way toward the tunnel. Angry reactions post-match In...

 RSF drones attack Sudan's eastern city of Sinja: military source Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces launched a drone strike on Monday on an army base in the southeastern city of Sinja, a military source told AFP. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media, said RSF drones "targeted the headquarters of the army's 17th Infantry Division in Sinja, the capital of Sennar state". Since April 2023, the civil war between the army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands and left around 11 million people displaced internally and across borders. Sennar State has seen relative calm since the army recaptured key Sudanese cities in late 2024 in an offensive that later saw it regain the capital, Khartoum. Anti-aircraft fire The Sennar region was last targeted by drones in October. One resident of Sinja told AFP on Monday that they "heard explosions and anti-aircraft fire". Sinja, which is located around ...

 A popular content creator has died from surgery complication     Esther Thomas, popularly known as Sunshine, was a Nigerian content creator, skit maker, and brand influencer. She died on Friday, 9 January 2026, after complications from fibroid surgery. She had been complaining of serious stomach pain from late December 2025.     Sunshine was first admitted at Orchid General Hospital in Lagos, where her friends said she was only given pain relief drugs because doctors were on strike. Her condition did not improve, so she was moved to another hospital on 2 January 2026, where tests showed she had a large fibroid and surgery was carried out. She later developed complications and died. After her death, friends blamed Orchid General Hospital online, saying she was neglected and did not receive proper treatment early enough. More photos below. 

 Carrick favourite for Man Utd caretaker role Michael Carrick has emerged as favourite to be appointed Manchester United caretaker head coach, according to sources close to the process. Club chiefs are hoping to have an appointment in place for when players return to training on Wednesday. While a final decision is yet to be reached, talks are said to have progressed with the 44-year-old over the position. Carrick previously had a three-game stint as United's temporary boss following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal in 2021. He won two and drew one of those matches but left after Ralf Rangnick's arrival as interim manager. Solskjaer held face-to-face discussions with the club on Saturday about a return. United sacked Ruben Amorim as manager after 14 months in the job on 5 January. Darren Fletcher, a former United and Scotland midfielder, was initially handed temporary responsibility for first-team affairs following Amorim's departure. United suffered an FA Cup third-rou...

 THREE-MONTH AMNESTY:  LASG REDUCES COST OF REPLACING FADED NUMBER PLATES TO ₦20,000 The Lagos State Government has approved a temporary reduction in the cost of replacing faded and damaged vehicle number plates from ₦30,000 to ₦20,000, as part of a three-month amnesty and rebate window running from January to March 2026. The initiative, approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, applies to both private and commercial vehicle owners across the State and is aimed at improving vehicle identification, strengthening security architecture and enhancing overall road safety. The Permanent Secretary, Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA), Mr. Rasheed Muri-Okunola, disclosed that the rebate is a deliberate and citizen-focused intervention designed to encourage motorists to voluntarily replace faded, worn or illegible number plates at a significantly reduced cost. According to him, the condition of vehicle number plates has direct implications for security, traffic enforcement and cr...

 FRSC CONFIRMS FATAL CRASH THAT KILLED 12 VICTIMS AT GADA BIYU ALONG YANGOJI–ABUJA CORRIDOR The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has confirmed a fatal multiple vehicle road traffic crash that claimed twelve lives at about 1145hrs on Sunday, 11 January 2026, at Gada Biyu, along the Yangoji–Abuja (YGJ–ABJ) corridor. According to a statement signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Segun Ogungbemide, The crash involved four vehicles: one commercial trailer conveying coal, one commercial bus, and two commercial cars.  Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident could have been caused by speed violation and dangerous driving which led to loss of control. Further information gathered indicated that the truck driver was driving at an excessive speed beyond the legally prescribed limit for the corridor, lost control, and crashed into already parked vehicles, triggering the fatal collision. Out of 18 persons involved in the crash, Five victims died instantly at the scen...

Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, Is Dead The Akran of Badagry Kingdom, His Majesty De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I (OFR, LLD, DLitt, JP), has passed on. The revered monarch, who reigned for decades, was a paramount ruler of the Badagry Kingdom and a respected voice within the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER SOURCE:  AKRAN OF BADAGRY, DE WHENO AHOLU MENU-TOYI, JOINS HIS ACESSTORS  Badagry Kingdom has been thrown into deep mourning following the passing of its revered paramount ruler, His Majesty De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I (OFR, LLD, DLitt, JP), the Akran of Badagry. The departure of the highly respected monarch marks the end of an era. For decades, he stood as the custodian of Badagry’s rich heritage, a symbol of unity, wisdom, and royal authority, and a towering traditional voice within the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs. Beyond Badagry, his reign earned him reverence across Lagos State and Nigeria, where he was widely acknowledged ...

Chimamanda’s lawyers write Lagos hospital, doctor suspended Solicitors acting for renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie, have written to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, over the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi. This comes as the Lagos State Government confirmed the suspension of the anaesthesiologist at the clinic as probes continue into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, solicitors acting for Chimamanda and her partner, Dr Ivara Esege, alleged that the hospital, its anaesthesiologist, and attending medical personnel breached the duty of care owed to their son, who died in the early hours of Wednesday, January 7, 2026. The notice was issued on behalf of the parents by PINHEIRO LP and signed by the founding partner, Prof Kemi Pinheiro (SAN). My Name, Opeifa, Triggers Stigma, Name-Calling - Ifa Priest’s Daughter0:00 / 0:00 According to the notice, the child was referred to the hospital on January 6, 202...