Day: September 1, 2025

MURIC condemns mob killing of woman over alleged Blasphemy in Niger State

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has strongly condemned the killing of a woman accused of blasphemy in Kasuwan-Garba town, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.   The victim, identified as Amaye, a local food vendor, was reportedly attacked and killed by a mob on Saturday evening after being accused of making blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (SAW) while conversing with a customer in her restaurant.   In a statement issued by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC described the killing as “Bohemian, extrajudicial, barbaric and unIslamic.”…

Finland Court sentences Pro-Biafra Agitator, Simon Ekpa to six years for Terrorism-related offences

Emporium Reporters

A Finnish court has sentenced pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences, including incitement to violence and participation in a terrorist organisation.   The Päijät-Häme District Court delivered the judgment after prosecutors argued that Ekpa, a dual Finnish-Nigerian national, used online platforms to incite acts of terrorism in Nigeria between 2021 and 2024.   According to state prosecutor Sampsa Hakala, investigators presented substantial evidence linking Ekpa’s online communications to violent incidents in Southeastern Nigeria. Prosecutors alleged that he operated from Lahti, Finland, under the self-acclaimed…

Ooni, Alaafin and Yoruba’s endless war By Lasisi Olagunju

Emporium Reporters

A race of giants. The Yoruba had been producing monumental men and women long before Nigeria became a country. Professor Adelola Adeloye’s ‘African Pioneers of Modern Medicine’ (1985) has a list of eleven Nigerians who qualified as medical doctors between the 19th century and 1901. Ten out of the eleven were Yoruba. Check out their names and the dates they qualified: William Davies (1858), Nathaniel King (1874), Obadiah Johnson (1884), John Randle (1888), Orisadipe Obasa (1891), Leigh-Sodipe (1892), Oguntola Sapara (1895), R. Akinwande Savage (1900), C. C. Adeniyi-Jones (1901) and…

DEPOWA President seeks Navy’s support for Intervention Projects

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Oghogho Musa, has solicited the support of the Nigerian Navy for the association’s flagship and ongoing humanitarian initiatives. Mrs. Musa made the appeal on Monday during a working visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja. She highlighted DEPOWA’s flagship initiative, “Thank You to Our Troops,” which is designed to recognize the sacrifices of Armed Forces personnel while boosting their morale. According to her, DEPOWA remained…

Dabiri-Erewa commends CBN, Nigerians in Diaspora as remittances triple to $600m monthly

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has hailed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigerians abroad for their role in driving a historic surge in diaspora remittances, which have tripled to $600 million monthly in recent months.   In a statement signed by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa attributed the rise to the Renewed Hope economic policies of the Tinubu administration, reforms of the CBN, and the continued trust and patriotism of Nigerians in the diaspora.   She…

Apapa Customs nets ₦215bn August revenue on ‘B’Odogwu’ platform despite network glitches

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported revenue generation of ₦215 billion for the month of August 2025 through the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), popularly known as B’Odogwu. Announcing the figures in Lagos, Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, attributed the feat to increasing confidence in the homegrown platform and the resilience of officers who sustained operations despite reported network hitches. “The August 2025 collection on the B’Odogwu system is a testament to the resilience of officers whose patriotism has kept the…

FG assures relief as Nigerian missions abroad get fresh funding

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Government has assured that Nigerian Diplomatic and Consular Missions across the globe will soon experience financial relief following the approval of fresh funding to address their ongoing challenges. In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged that Missions abroad had been struggling to meet critical obligations such as salaries of local staff, allowances of home-based officers, rent, and payments to service providers. The Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, explained that the difficulties were the result of budgetary shortfalls and economic pressures at home. He, however,…

NHRC mourns former IGP Solomon Arase, hails his Human Rights legacy

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Inspector General of Police, Dr. Solomon Arase, described him as a visionary leader and a steadfast defender of human rights.   In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, the NHRC conveyed heartfelt condolences to the late Arase’s family, colleagues, and the Nigeria Police Force.   Dr. Ojukwu recalled Arase’s transformative reforms during his tenure as Inspector General of Police, particularly his establishment of the Complaint Response Unit, which…

NHRC charges Govt to address Insecurity as Nigeria marks International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised alarm over the growing cases of enforced disappearances, kidnappings, and abductions in Nigeria, described the trend as a grave assault on human dignity.   Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, made this known in a statement to mark the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances. He lamented that the surge in such incidents has left countless families in anguish, with loved ones enduring prolonged psychological trauma and uncertainty.   Dr. Ojukwu linked the incessant wave of insecurity ranging from…

Senate President Akpabio mourns late Ex-IGP Solomon Arase, consoles Police Community

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Inspector General of Police and immediate past Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase.   In a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio described the late Arase as a consummate security expert and a rounded professional who significantly transformed the Nigerian Police during his tenure.   “I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of Dr. Solomon Arase, a gentleman and…