Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested 113 suspected kidnappers in a coordinated security operation across Zango settlements in the state. The operation, carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, vigilante groups and local hunters, targeted identified locations in Edo Central believed to be hubs for kidnapping activities. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the enforcement action was conducted under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika. According to the statement, the crackdown followed credible intelligence indicating…

By Peter Omopo No fewer than six worshippers have been killed and three others injured after suspected Lakurawa terrorists attacked a mosque in Dadinkowa community, Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The attack occurred on Wednesday evening while residents were observing prayers. The gunmen reportedly stormed the mosque and opened fire indiscriminately, throwing the community into panic. The Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, Bashir Usman, confirmed the incident, describing it as a reprisal assault following a failed ambush on a military convoy. According to him, the attack was linked to an earlier confrontation between the terrorists and troops…

By Peter Omopo Socialite and High Fashion founder Rahman Jago has claimed that Afrobeats star Burna Boy has converted to Islam, sparking widespread reactions across social media. The claim followed a viral video shared by Rahman Jago on Wednesday, showing Burna Boy reciting a quote from the Qur’an. The post, which was captioned “Allahu Akbar,” coincided with the Ramadan period and quickly gained traction online. The video has generated thousands of reactions, drawing congratulatory messages from Muslim fans as well as humorous commentary from other users debating the influence of peers on personal faith decisions. The development has triggered conversations…

By Peter Omopo Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has announced fresh appointments to key positions in his administration following the decision by the Rivers State House of Assembly to halt impeachment proceedings against him and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. The governor appointed Dagogo Wokoma as Secretary to the State Government and Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff in a move seen as an effort to consolidate his cabinet amid the ongoing political developments in the state. The decision to suspend the impeachment process was adopted during plenary in Port Harcourt. Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, said the move followed…

By Peter Omopo The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stressed the need for clear and effective communication of public service reforms to prevent resistance and strengthen transparency, accountability and digital governance in Nigeria. The minister made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, and members of the agency’s management team to his office in Abuja. Idris said communication plays a central role in the success of any reform initiative, noting that reforms that are not properly understood often face opposition. “Reforms must not only…

By Peter Omopo President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts, effective from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027. The decision, announced on Thursday, is aimed at boosting industrial development, promoting domestic value addition, and advancing the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda. According to the government, the extension is designed to deepen local processing capacity, improve livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and encourage the growth of Nigerian exports driven by value-added products. To ensure effective implementation, President Tinubu authorised the two ministers in the Federal Ministry of Industry,…

Justice Babangida Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has dismissed a libel suit filed against former Attorney- General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) by the Chairman of the HEDA Resource Centre, Olanrewaju Suraju. It is instructive to note that Adoke had in February 2021, sent a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), alleging forgery of an email and stage-managing of a phone conversation which he said were meant to implicate him in the OPL 245 criminal trial in Italy and civil proceedings in the United Kingdom (UK). After…

By Peter Omopo The UK government has denied that its deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been paused, despite earlier comments from a minister suggesting a temporary halt in the legislative process. A government source said there is no pause and that no deadline had ever been set for the legislation, adding that timings would be announced in the usual way. The clarification came after Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer told MPs in the House of Commons that the UK was “pausing” the process while discussions take place with the United States. Falconer said there…

By Peter Omopo The Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, has confirmed that he passed information to the Metropolitan Police suggesting that Peter Mandelson could be a flight risk, stating that he acted in good faith. Sir Lindsay told Members of Parliament that he considered it his duty and responsibility to share what he described as relevant information with the police. He expressed regret that the matter quickly became public through media reports but did not disclose specific details of the information provided. The development follows complaints by Lord Mandelson’s lawyers over the police decision to arrest him…

By Peter Omopo The All Progressives Congress has emerged as the majority party in the Adamawa State House of Assembly following the defection of 15 lawmakers from the People’s Democratic Party, including the Speaker. The development was announced during a preliminary sitting of the Assembly, where a letter conveying the lawmakers’ decision was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker. In the letter, the lawmakers cited the ongoing internal crisis within the PDP as the reason for withdrawing their membership from the party. The mass defection alters the political composition of the Adamawa State House of Assembly,…