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Unknown Gunmen Kidnap University Students As Sultan Calls For Prayers Over Insecurity

The insecurity in Nigeria has since taken a different shape as violence has taken over several parts of the country. Gone are the days where it was only the Boko Haram insurgents terrorizing the North East or Fulani Herdsmen in the North Central. Now everywhere you look across the six geo-political zones of the country, there is an armed group prevalent in the zone and constant wrecking havoc among the citizens – with impunity and mad audacity.

Be it Boko Haram terrorists, Bandits, Fulani herdsmen, Unknown gunmen, Kidnappers, every geo-political zone (if not every state) in Nigeria has a criminal group that is terrorizing them. Perhaps what is more worrying is the nonchalance and lackadaisical attitude of the government even as its citizens continue to suffer at the hands of these criminal elements.

Yesterday evening, Thursday, May 6, 2021, it was reported that a yet-to-be-determined number of students of the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) were kidnapped along the Okigwe/Uturu axis in Imo State. According to a statement from the Abia State Ministry of Information, as released by Igbere TV, both states (Abia and Imo) will work together to rescue the abducted students and bring the perpetrators to justice. The statement reads in part:

“Preliminary information available to us indicates that the students were moving in a mini van from Okigwe to Uturu between 7pm – 8pm when they ran into the armed gang who marched them into the nearby forest along with other yet-to-be-identified travelers. Two of the students managed to escape from the hoodlums while others are still being held at a yet-to-be-identified location.

“We are working with the government of Imo State and relevant security agencies in both states to ensure the rescue of the abducted students and others. Members of the public and ABSU community are advised to remain calm as we will spare no resource in ensuring the safety of the victims. No criminal operating within our environment will be allowed to escape justice as we take the job of protecting lives and property of Abians and visitors to the State very seriously.”

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on all Muslim faithful to use the Ramadan fast as an opportunity to pray for peace all over the country. The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) also expressed its worry over the spate of insecurity in the nation. In a statement signed by its Deputy Secretary-General NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehuwho, the council decry the heightened degree of insecurity in the country and urged Muslims to follow the path of peace and eschew violence. The statement read in parts:

“The Sultan is very concerned about the heightened degree of insecurity in the country and the attendant fatalities, tensions, fear, and confusion being foisted upon the citizenry. The Council believes and urges all Muslims to continue to support all efforts to sustain a united and indivisible Nigeria. The Council prays Almighty Allah to accept our supplications and grant us all the blessing of Ramadan.”

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Wole Soyinka Reveals He’s Been Banned from Entering the United States

Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka says the U.S. has withdrawn his visa and requested its physical cancellation in Lagos. Wole Soyinka said on Tuesday that the United States had revoked his non-immigrant visa issued last year, and that he had been informed he must reapply should he wish to visit the U.S. again.

The 91-year-old writer had torn up his U.S. green card and renounced his American residency in 2016 in protest of the election of President Donald Trump. The Nobel laureate has held regular teaching appointments at American Ivy League universities since the mid-1990s, following his Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.

“The moment they announce his victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up,” Soyinka had said.

On Tuesday, Soyinka presented reporters with a letter from the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos requesting that he bring in his passport for the physical cancellation of his visa.

The letter, dated 23 October, stated that “additional information became available” after the visa had been issued. The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“I have no visa; I am obviously banned from the United States, and if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” Soyinka said, addressing those who might have planned to invite him to events in the U.S.

In July, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced that Nigerians applying for non-immigrant visas would now receive single-entry, three-month permits, rolling back the previous policy that had allowed multiple-entry, up to 5-year visas.

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“I Feel Sorry for Men with One Wife” – Ned Nwoko Has No Regrets After Marrying 4 Wives

Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North, has finally opened up about his marriage to Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, addressing weeks of speculation, accusations, and viral clips that set social media on fire.

The businessman and politician not only defended his controversial polygamous lifestyle but also denied claims that he had been violent towards his wife.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Sunday, the politician addressed the marital crisis with his actress wife, Regina Daniels, directly.

He made astonishing claims about the merits of multiple marriages and firmly rejected the explosive allegations of domestic violence.

In his own words, Ned painted himself as a man who has been misunderstood, while standing firmly by his tradition and choices.

Senator Nwoko was asked about the status of his marriage with his youngest wife, Regina Daniels, following the disturbing video of a 25-year-old Nollywood actress that went viral.
A teary clip showed the actress crying and saying she couldn’t “stand the violence anymore.” In the footage, she was heard lamenting, “In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing. But in my own house, I am a Queen.”

The video triggered outrage across social media, with many Nigerians accusing the lawmaker of domestic abuse. However, Senator Nwoko firmly rejected the claim, saying the story was false and that he had never raised a hand on any of his wives.

In his usual calm but confident tone, Senator Nwoko also spoke openly about being a proud polygamist, calling it both a blessing and a cultural duty.

The 64-year-old Senator expressed sympathy, or perhaps pity, for men in monogamous marriages: “I feel sorry for those who have one wife,” he said.

He argued that having multiple wives offers men greater stability and balance, using a striking, easy-to-understand analogy: “Just imagine standing on one leg — it’s difficult. But with two, three, or four, you’re more balanced. That’s the example I give.”

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NCC, CBN’s move to end failed airtime, data transactions

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have joined forces to introduce a unified framework aimed at curbing failed airtime recharges and data transactions on electronic platforms.

The initiative, announced last week, seeks to enforce accountability among telecom operators, payment processors, and financial institutions, ensuring that millions of subscribers get timely redress for failed or incomplete transactions.

The Centre for Digital Justice and Consumer Rights (CDJCR) has applauded the move, describing it as a landmark in consumer protection. In a statement on Monday, October 20, 2025, the group’s Executive Director, Dr Kenechukwu Opara, said the collaboration between the two regulators was long overdue.

“For far too long, consumers have borne the brunt of system failures that are neither their fault nor within their control,” Opara said.

Opara noted that failed recharges and data purchases are among the most frequent complaints by telecom users, with many left stranded due to delayed or unresolved reversals. The new framework, he said, would protect millions of Nigerians who rely on mobile platforms for daily microtransactions.

Consumers are not just users; they are the backbone of the telecom and financial systems. By ensuring that customers get full value for every recharge and data purchase, the NCC is not only protecting rights but also deepening trust in Nigeria’s cashless and digital inclusion policies,” he added.

The CDJCR praised the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, for prioritising consumer welfare and for pushing a proactive regulatory agenda.

While commending the regulators, Opara urged them to go a step further by enforcing clear timelines, transparent processes, and strict sanctions against operators who fall short of agreed standards.

“We encourage both regulators to publish the service level expectations for all stakeholders — telecom operators, payment processors, and financial institutions — so that consumers know who to hold accountable when transactions fail,” he said.

The group also applauded the CBN for embedding consumer rights in its financial protection framework, especially for low-income Nigerians who depend heavily on digital services for daily payments.

Beyond telecoms, Opara argued that the NCC–CBN partnership should become a model for other sectors where technology, finance, and service delivery intersect.

“This kind of inter-agency collaboration shows that government institutions can truly work in the interest of citizens. What matters now is strict compliance and constant review of the framework to adapt to new technologies and emerging consumer issues,” he said.

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