Metro

The Federal Government evacuated another 83 Nigerians from South Africa amid rising anti-foreigner sentiments and reported Afrophobic attacks in the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the returnees were expected to arrive at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday, August 19, after departing Oliver Tambo Airport, Johannesburg, aboard South African Airways. The latest evacuation was facilitated through the intervention and sponsorship of air tickets by private individuals. The government expressed appreciation to the sponsors for helping Nigerians affected by the situation. The development followed the conclusion of the government’s voluntary repatriation programme, which had seen nearly 1,490 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa over concerns about attacks and discrimination against foreigners. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Federal Government remained committed to protecting the welfare and dignity of Nigerians living abroad. It also said diplomatic engagement with South Africa would continue in an effort to tackle the causes of Afrophobia and prevent further attacks and discrimination. The government further called on private organisations, state governments and well-meaning Nigerians to support efforts aimed at responding to consular emergencies and protecting Nigerians abroad.

Seven miners have died after a mining pit collapsed in Kassa community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. The incident reportedly occurred around 7pm on Wednesday while the victims were inside the pit extracting minerals. The Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident on Thursday. According to Tengwong, a heap of sand suddenly collapsed on the miners while they were working inside the mining site, trapping them beneath the debris. Rescue efforts were launched immediately, with rescuers digging through the collapsed sand in an attempt to locate the victims. However, all seven miners were eventually found dead. Tengwong said the victims were among several miners operating at the site but were inside the pit when it caved in. The incident has renewed concerns about safety standards at mining sites across Plateau State, particularly the risks faced by miners working in unstable and poorly secured pits.

Residents across Lagos have raised concerns over the growing vandalism of public infrastructure by scavengers, warning that the activities could endanger lives and property. The concern intensified after the Alakija-Festac link bridge was reportedly vandalised, with scavengers accused of breaking the concrete covering of the bridge’s pillars to remove the iron reinforcement inside. The damage has raised fears about the structural integrity and safety of the bridge. Residents also alleged that some scavengers dug into the laterite piling beneath the bridge, creating hollow spaces that were reportedly used as shelters. They called for urgent intervention to prevent further damage to the structure. Following the circulation of a video showing the vandalism, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inspected the bridge and ordered efforts to identify and arrest those responsible for the damage. A similar incident was later reported at another bridge around Mile 12, where residents caught a suspected vandal in the act. They urged authorities to strengthen security and surveillance around public infrastructure across the state. The report also noted that scavenger activities have become a wider concern in Lagos, with authorities previously raiding a scavengers’ enclave along the LASU-Iba Expressway, where drugs and dangerous weapons were reportedly recovered and arrests made. Residents and authorities are now facing renewed pressure to curb infrastructure vandalism and ensure that public facilities are adequately protected.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has warned parents to monitor their children’s consumption of cookies and gummies following the discovery of cannabis-infused products being smuggled into Nigeria. The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, issued the warning on Sunday, saying recent seizures had exposed attempts by criminals to disguise illicit drugs as ordinary snacks. Babafemi urged parents to pay closer attention if their children frequently crave cookies and gummies, noting that some of the products could contain prohibited substances. The warning followed the seizure of two 40-foot containers by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos. The containers reportedly contained thousands of cannabis-infused products, including Delta-8 pre-roll cookies, cannabis gummies and other infused cookies, concealed among legitimate imports such as used vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics. The seized items, which originated from the United States, were packaged as colourful vegan and hemp-derived snacks in flavours such as pineapple guava and Thai mango. The consignment was estimated to have a street value of about 373.8 million naira before it was handed over to the NDLEA. The agency described the products as an emerging public health concern, particularly because their attractive packaging could appeal to children, students and other young people, potentially increasing the risk of accidental consumption of concentrated cannabis.

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has received 163 residents who were abducted from communities in the state and recently rescued by combined security forces. The victims were handed over to the governor by the Nigerian Army on Friday in Ilorin, the state capital. Speaking during the handover, Abdulrazaq congratulated President Bola Tinubu on the successful rescue operation and commended the security agencies involved for their collaboration, bravery and commitment to restoring peace and security across the state. The Kwara State Government had on Wednesday announced the release of residents abducted from Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area. The governor’s media aide, Olayinka Fafoluyi, announced the development in a Facebook post, praising the President, security forces and others involved in the operation. The victims were abducted on February 3 after armed assailants launched coordinated attacks on Woro, Nuku and other neighbouring communities in Kaiama LGA. The attacks reportedly claimed the lives of at least 75 people, displaced several residents and left the affected communities severely impacted. Although the exact number of people abducted was initially unclear, reports estimated that about 170 women, children and other residents were taken hostage during the attacks. In April, a video circulated on social media showing one of the abducted women appealing to the Kwara State Government to intensify efforts to secure their release.

A lawmaker in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Saidu Baba-Ahmed, has disclosed that 25 children were among the victims who reportedly died in terrorists’ captivity after being abducted from communities in Kebbi, Kwara and Niger states. Baba-Ahmed, who represents the Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena constituency of Kaiama Local Government Area, made the disclosure while speaking about the condition of victims recently freed after spending about six months in captivity. According to the lawmaker, 315 abductees regained their freedom on Thursday night, including 308 victims rescued from terrorist captivity in forests across Kwara and Niger states and seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State. He said 25 children died either while in captivity or during transit, with their bodies reportedly buried in the forest. Baba-Ahmed also disclosed that 12 young men volunteered to join the terrorists’ ranks after their abductors asked which of the captives wanted to become part of their group. He said they were therefore not among those released. He further stated that 176 victims were abducted from Kwara State, with 163 subsequently regaining their freedom, while 15 remained missing. The lawmaker also revealed that two women who were pregnant when they were abducted returned with babies after their release. He said the rescued women were examined and were no longer pregnant. Following their release, the victims were taken to Ilorin, where 46 were receiving medical attention. The Kwara State Government was also providing care for them before they would be reunited with their families. The victims were abducted during the February 3 attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. Armed terrorists reportedly invaded the community, killed several residents and abducted hundreds of people before taking them into the forest. After months of military and security operations, the victims were transported from Niger State to Ilorin late Thursday. Receiving the victims, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the Woro attack as tragic and regrettable. He commended President Bola Tinubu for his intervention and support towards securing the victims’ release. The governor also disclosed that the President had approved the establishment of five Army battalions in Omu-Aran, Patigi, Ilemona, Kosubosu and Kaiama to strengthen security across the state.

The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikorodu has ordered X, formerly known as Twitter, to disclose the identity of a user accused of manipulating and republishing a birthday post belonging to Nigerian law graduate, Esther Agboola. The court also awarded N20 million in damages against the unidentified user and imposed a conditional N50 million penalty on X Corp if it fails to comply with the disclosure order. In a judgment delivered on June 5, 2026, Justice Adeniyi Pokanu held that the alleged unauthorised manipulation and republication of Agboola’s post violated her constitutional right to privacy. Agboola, through her X account, @agirlnamed_esth, had shared photographs on January 9, 2026, to mark her 25th birthday with the caption, “Chapter 25. Happy Birthday to me!” She told the court that an anonymous X user, @_AbiolaPharays, retrieved an earlier birthday post she had made in January 2025 and altered its timestamp, allegedly creating a false impression about when the post was originally published. Justice Pokanu held that X Corp, as the platform’s owner and operator, had access to information and activity logs capable of identifying the anonymous account. The judge therefore ordered the company to file an affidavit disclosing the identity of the account holder. The court awarded Agboola N20 million in general damages for what it described as the mental anguish, emotional distress, harassment, reputational injury and humiliation allegedly caused by the user’s actions. It further ordered X Corp to pay N50 million if it fails, refuses or neglects to comply with the order to disclose the user’s identity. The case highlights the legal responsibilities of social media platforms in protecting users’ privacy and responding to court orders involving anonymous accounts.

Residents of Ijebu Ode, Odoyanta and Imosan in Ogun State have praised philanthropist Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo and his wife, Olori Abayomi Onabanjo, following the donation of 52 motorised boreholes aimed at improving access to clean water across communities in Ijebuland. The borehole projects, spread across several communities within the Ijebu Ode district, were inaugurated over the weekend as part of the couple’s efforts to tackle water scarcity in rural areas. Speaking during the inauguration, the donors’ representative, Funmilayo Ayanwusi, said the initiative marked the beginning of a broader development plan for Ijebuland. She explained that 12 boreholes have been completed under the first phase of the project, while construction of the remaining 40 is ongoing. According to Ayanwusi, the completed boreholes are located in Mokorede, Aiyegun, Ijasi Oke, Olukokun Isale, Olumuroko, Fusengbuwa, Ita Afin, Fusigboye, Odo Esa, Igbogun/Ilede, Imosan and Odoyanta. She added that each facility is equipped with a power generator, while the donor has also committed to funding maintenance and fuel costs for a specified period. Describing the intervention as only the beginning, Ayanwusi said more developmental projects would follow to position Ijebuland alongside some of the country’s leading urban centres. She noted that the initiative reflects the donor’s commitment to humanitarian service and giving back to society. Chairman of the Olorituns-in-Council in Ijebu Ode, High Chief Adebisi Alausa, described the project as unprecedented, saying it was the first time an individual had provided 52 motorised boreholes for communities within such a short period. He commended the donors for investing personal resources in projects that directly improve residents’ welfare and urged beneficiaries to protect the facilities from vandalism and ensure they are properly maintained. At the inauguration in Odoyanta, the Regent of the community, High Chief Abdullahi Adekoya, described the intervention as exceptional, noting that no individual had previously embarked on a similar project in the area. He also praised the decision to provide free fuel and maintenance for one year, assuring the donors that the community would protect the boreholes and continue to support them with prayers. Chairman of the Odoyanta Central Committee, High Chief Awonuga Titus, also expressed appreciation for the gesture and wished the donors greater success in future endeavours. Residents from the benefiting communities celebrated the commissioning of the projects, describing Onabanjo as a philanthropist committed to improving the lives of his people. The spokesperson for the Ijebu Ode Council of Olorituns, Chief Oluwafemi Kareem Adagojo, thanked the donors for the intervention, saying the community would continue to pray for them because “he who brings water brings life.”

Families of at least 176 people abducted by suspected terrorists in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have renewed calls on the Federal Government and the Kwara State Government to secure the release of their loved ones, who have remained in captivity for nearly six months. The appeal comes amid claims that the abductors threatened to force some of the female captives into marriage while killing the remaining hostages. Speaking during an interview monitored on BBC Hausa, Abdul Ibrahim, a resident of Kaiama, said the kidnappers rejected more than ₦155 million raised through community contributions to secure the victims’ release. According to him, the abductors warned that they would marry the “beautiful” female captives and kill the others if their demands were not met. “We have done everything within our means. The money was raised, yet our people have not been released. Their suffering continues, and families are living in agony,” Ibrahim said. He appealed to the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, noting that the affected communities had exhausted virtually every available option, including peaceful protests, without success. Also speaking, the Dan Sardaukin Kaiama and Suleiman Bukata urged security agencies to replicate the operation that recently secured the rescue of kidnapped victims in Oyo State. Bukata said the successful rescue in Oyo had given families in Kaiama hope that similar efforts could be extended to those still being held by terrorists in Kwara State. He stressed that every additional day in captivity exposes the victims to greater danger and hardship, calling for urgent government intervention. Commenting on the broader security situation in northern Nigeria, Senator Adamu Aliero expressed concern over the persistent threat of terrorism but said the challenge was not due to inadequate funding. He noted that the National Assembly has consistently approved budgetary requests from security agencies to support counter-terrorism operations, arguing that the continued attacks reflect the complexity of the country’s security challenges. Aliero also reiterated his support for the creation of state police, saying governors should be constitutionally empowered to establish local policing structures capable of responding more effectively to security threats in their respective states.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the abduction of pupils and teachers from Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area. The development was announced on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, in a statement issued in Ibadan. According to Oyelade, the commission is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping, identify the factors that led to the security breach and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. He said the panel, which is scheduled to be inaugurated on Friday, will also assess the response of relevant authorities to the incident and propose ways to strengthen security in schools and communities across the state. “The commission will examine the events leading to the kidnapping, assess the response of relevant authorities, and recommend measures to improve security and safeguard schools and communities across the state,” Oyelade said. He added that the establishment of the commission reflects Governor Makinde’s commitment to ensuring a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the incident. The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when pupils and teachers were kidnapped from the affected communities in Oriire Local Government Area. The victims were rescued after spending 56 days in captivity. The Judicial Commission of Inquiry is expected to submit findings and recommendations aimed at improving security and preventing a recurrence of similar attacks in Oyo State.