Osun Youths Storm IBEDC Office Over Prolonged Blackout, Issue 7‑Day Ultimatum

Residents and youths in Boripe Local Government Area, Osun State, have staged a protest at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) office, demanding an immediate restoration of stable electricity supply. The demonstrators issued a seven‑day ultimatum for power to be reinstated, citing weeks of erratic supply and prolonged blackouts that have disrupted daily life, economic activities, and education in the area.

The protest was organised by members of the Nigerian Youth Congress, Boripe chapter, who described the blackout as a severe hardship for households, traders, artisans, and students preparing for exams. Group coordinator Hammed Oyetunji explained that many business owners have been forced to rely on generators and alternative energy sources, driving up operational costs and threatening livelihoods.

“The absence of electricity has disrupted economic activities and daily life for residents,” Oyetunji said. “For weeks, our communities have been subjected to prolonged blackout, causing serious hardship to residents, business owners, students, and artisans.” He added that electricity is essential for economic development and public safety, stressing that the blackout has slowed commercial activities and increased financial pressure on households.

READ ALSO:

• Senate Committee Rejects NNPCL’s Explanation of ₦210 Trillion Financial Discrepancy
• Viral Video Shows Man Disarming Robbers After Minna Bank Heist, ₦10m Stolen
• Iran Ready to Help Nigeria Combat Boko Haram, ISWAP — Envoy

During the protest at IBEDC’s Osogbo office, demonstrators chanted solidarity songs and presented the company with a seven‑day ultimatum to restore Band A electricity classification, which guarantees longer hours of daily supply. Security personnel were deployed to maintain order, but the youths maintained pressure on the company to act immediately.

In response, IBEDC said the blackout is largely due to constraints in the national electricity grid, including limited gas supply to power plants and unstable energy allocations from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The company acknowledged increased electricity demand in its franchise areas, particularly after the expansion of Band A feeders, and apologised for the disruption.

“Gas supply shortages to electricity generation plants have significantly reduced generation capacity nationwide, forcing distribution companies to implement increased load shedding,” IBEDC said. The company assured residents that it is engaging stakeholders to stabilise supply and minimise disruptions to homes, businesses, and public services.

The protest in Osun reflects growing frustration across Nigeria over unreliable electricity supply and the fragility of the national grid, with residents calling for urgent reforms and more sustainable power distribution solutions.

Osun Youths Storm IBEDC Office Over Prolonged Blackout, Issue 7‑Day Ultimatum

Senate Committee Rejects NNPCL’s Explanation of ₦210 Trillion Financial Discrepancy

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has expressed dissatisfaction with explanations provided by the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over an alleged ₦210 trillion discrepancy in the company’s audited financial statements. The committee said the responses from Group CEO Bayo Ojulari and his team were inadequate and unsatisfactory.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada, revealed the concerns during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics. He noted that the discrepancies were identified during the review of NNPCL’s audited accounts from 2017 to 2023, with lawmakers flagging financial entries that lacked sufficient supporting documentation.

Among the disputed entries, ₦103 trillion was recorded as accrued expenses under liabilities, allegedly linked to Joint Venture cash calls, while ₦107 trillion appeared as sundry receivables, reportedly owed by banks and other entities but difficult to verify due to limited transparency. The committee described these figures as “mind‑boggling” and stressed that they were not adequately justified.

READ ALSO:

• Viral Video Shows Man Disarming Robbers After Minna Bank Heist, ₦10m Stolen
• Iran Ready to Help Nigeria Combat Boko Haram, ISWAP — Envoy
• Abduction of Corps Member Sparks Calls to Suspend NYSC

The committee has also summoned former top executives, including immediate past Group CEO Mele Kyari, to provide further explanations. Senator Wadada said that standard accounting practice requires all assets and liabilities to pass through profit and loss accounts before being recognised, a step the committee found insufficiently documented in NNPCL’s accounts.

Responding to earlier queries, NNPCL officials said the alleged discrepancies stemmed from accounting adjustments, timing differences, and technical classifications, promising to reconcile the figures and provide further documentation. The committee has given the company a strict timeline to submit reconciled records and prepare for a public hearing after the Eid holiday.

Lawmakers also questioned ₦5.9 billion spent on NNPCL’s rebranding, as well as costs related to subsidies and production. Senator Wadada emphasised that the investigation is focused on accountability and transparency, and is not politically motivated, although the committee may question any relevant government official, including the Minister of Petroleum Resources, if necessary.

Meanwhile, the federal government recently introduced Executive Order No. 9 of 2026, signed by President Bola Tinubu, to reform aspects of the fiscal framework of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, including directing that revenues from Production Sharing Contracts go directly into the Federation Account and suspending certain deductions previously retained by NNPCL.

The probe continues to attract widespread public interest, highlighting concerns over financial governance and transparency in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Senate Committee Rejects NNPCL’s Explanation of ₦210 Trillion Financial Discrepancy

Viral Video Shows Man Disarming Robbers After Minna Bank Heist, ₦10m Stolen

A yet‑to‑be‑identified man in Minna, Niger State, fought back bravely after armed robbers trailed him from a bank to a nearby commercial complex along Shiroro Road, disarming one of the assailants in a dramatic confrontation that was captured in a viral video online. Despite his courageous response, the robbers escaped with about ₦10 million in cash and the victim’s Toyota Camry.

The incident happened on Friday, 6 March 2026, around 3 p.m., shortly after the man had withdrawn the money from a bank in Minna. Footage widely shared on social media shows two suspects alighting from a silver Toyota Corolla and approaching the man’s blue Toyota Camry as he stood outside a complex. They forced him out of his car and moved the cash into their vehicle.

In a bold counter, the man wrestled a rifle from one of the robbers, fired several shots in self‑defence, and appeared to disrupt the attackers’ escape plan. The robbers fired back at the victim, but none of the bullets struck him. After a brief and intense exchange of gunfire, the suspects fled the scene in the victim’s car, abandoning their own vehicle and the attempted robbery.

In an interview shared by The Peoples Gazette, the shirtless victim said he initially thought the armed men were policemen before they opened fire. “Two of them just came out of a car. I didn’t even know who they were. I initially thought they were policemen and asked what my offence was … but they started shooting at me,” he recounted. He added that he did not know how he managed to snatch the rifle and return fire, describing it as “a moment of adrenaline.”

READ ALSO:

• Iran Ready to Help Nigeria Combat Boko Haram, ISWAP — Envoy
• Abduction of Corps Member Sparks Calls to Suspend NYSC
• Police Arrest More Suspects Over Killing of Ajiran of Agungi’s Son in Lagos

Police Response and Investigation

Confirming the attack, Niger State Police Command spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said that the victim was trailed from a bank to Shiroro Road and robbed of his money and vehicle. Police operatives from the Tudun‑Wada Division moved rapidly to the scene, recovered the robbers’ abandoned Toyota Corolla, and retrieved the rifle handed over by the victim. The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation.

SP Abiodun added that the victim’s Toyota Camry was later found abandoned at a different location, suggesting the robbers dumped it while fleeing. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects as part of a wider crackdown on armed robbery in the state.

Viral Video and Public Reaction

Social media reactions to the viral video were immediate, with many users applauding the man’s bravery and questioning why police had not arrived earlier to prevent the robbery. Commenters said the footage — widely shared on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp — highlighted both the courage of the victim and the urgent need for enhanced security around banks and public spaces in Minna.

Some viewers described the encounter as a “real‑life action movie,” while others called on authorities to increase patrols on Shiroro Road and other known robbery hotspots. Several commenters noted that the man’s resistance may have forced the robbers to alter their escape plan and inadvertently created opportunities for police to recover key evidence.

Rising Concerns Over Bank‑Related Robberies

The Minna incident adds to growing concerns about daylight armed robberies and attacks targeting bank customers in parts of Niger State and neighbouring regions. Security analysts say such incidents often involve strategic surveillance of bank patrons and rapid getaways, highlighting persistent security gaps on major roads and commercial corridors.

Authorities have called on residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious movements immediately, and avoid displaying large amounts of cash after banking transactions.

CCTV shows a man trailed from the bank (after withdrawing ₦10M) in Minna. Robbers confronted him, sh0ts fired. He fought back, disarmed one, and sh0t that robber.

NEPA | March Madness | Khadee | #OnitshaBusinessHangout | #ZenithBankCelebratesWomen | Dunamix pic.twitter.com/iBLqLMD1K3

— Newstrends.Ng (@Newstrends_ng) March 9, 2026

Viral Video Shows Man Disarming Robbers After Minna Bank Heist, ₦10m Stolen