metro
PANDEF seeks Tinubu intervention in Rivers crisis
PANDEF seeks Tinubu intervention in Rivers crisis
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene decisively in the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, warning that continued instability in the oil-rich region could have far-reaching consequences for national peace and economic stability.
During a high-profile visit to the State House in Abuja on Tuesday, PANDEF leaders, including traditional rulers, former governors, and senior political figures, presented an eight-point agenda to the President, highlighting pressing issues affecting the South-South geopolitical zone.
At the forefront of their concerns is the escalating political tension in Rivers State, where conflicting court rulings have deepened the divide between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Despite the governor’s public commitment to abide by a recent Supreme Court ruling, PANDEF expressed fears that the situation remains volatile.
To address the crisis, the group has constituted a High-Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee led by former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah. However, PANDEF leaders believe that only a direct intervention by President Tinubu can bring a lasting resolution. They urged the President to ensure that all parties prioritize peace and work towards an amicable settlement outside the courts.
PANDEF also pressed for the immediate assent to the South-South Development Commission Bill, which they argue is distinct from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). According to the group, while the NDDC focuses on oil-producing communities, a South-South Development Commission would drive holistic regional growth, similar to commissions established for other geopolitical zones.
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The group called on the federal government to revisit the fallout of the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment that ceded the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. PANDEF lamented the displacement of indigenous communities, warning that the affected people face the threat of cultural extinction.
Rising cases of kidnappings, violent attacks, and piracy in the South-South also featured prominently in PANDEF’s agenda. The leaders urged the government to strengthen security measures, warning that unchecked criminal activities could lead to a resurgence of militancy. They specifically called for the urgent establishment of a Coast Guard unit to protect coastal communities.
PANDEF criticized the inadequate allocation of funds for critical infrastructure in the South-South despite the region’s significant contributions to national revenue. They decried the deplorable state of key roads, including the East-West Road and the Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road, and demanded immediate government intervention.
The group also called for the development of new deep-sea ports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Edo states to boost Nigeria’s maritime economy.
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PANDEF urged the federal government to facilitate greater involvement of Niger Delta indigenes in the oil and gas industry, including leadership positions within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other key agencies.
They also advocated for the implementation of modular refineries to curb illegal oil refining, reduce pollution, and create economic opportunities for locals.
Reiterating concerns about environmental degradation due to oil exploration, PANDEF called for an expanded clean-up initiative beyond Ogoniland to other affected communities in the Niger Delta.
Concluding their presentation, PANDEF emphasized the need for constitutional reforms to return Nigeria to true fiscal federalism, a position they noted President Tinubu had championed in the past. They argued that restructuring the revenue-sharing formula would empower regions to drive their own development more effectively.
While President Tinubu has yet to make a public statement on PANDEF’s demands, sources at the meeting indicated that he assured the delegation of his administration’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the Niger Delta region.
With tensions in Rivers State still unresolved and economic challenges mounting, PANDEF’s appeal underscores the urgent need for decisive leadership to stabilize the South-South and ensure sustainable development.
PANDEF seeks Tinubu intervention in Rivers crisis
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metro
Vehicle allegedly driven by drunk soldier kills two police inspectors
Vehicle allegedly driven by drunk soldier kills two police inspectors
Two police inspectors attached to the Kawo Police Division in Kaduna State have died after a Toyota Hilux vehicle allegedly driven by a soldier struck them near the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Junction in Kaduna metropolis.
The fatal incident reportedly occurred on Thursday in the Kawo area while the officers were crossing the road as pedestrians.
The deceased officers were identified as Inspector Tanko Musa and Inspector Ajubi Onah.
According to sources familiar with the incident, the Toyota Hilux was reportedly travelling at high speed when it rammed into the two officers at the busy junction.
A source described the incident as a “black moment” for the Kawo Police Division and alleged that the vehicle was driven by a soldier who was under the influence of alcohol.
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However, the allegation that the driver was intoxicated had not been independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report. No official medical assessment, police investigation report or statement from military authorities had been released to establish the claim.
A video said to have been recorded shortly after the crash showed the bodies of the two police officers on the road as residents and sympathisers gathered at the scene.
The incident has reportedly caused grief among officers and personnel attached to the Kawo Police Division.
As of the latest available information, there was no official confirmation that the driver had been arrested or taken into custody.
The identity of the alleged driver, the military unit involved and other circumstances surrounding the crash were also not immediately available.
Neither the Kaduna State Police Command nor the Nigerian Army had issued an official statement on the incident at the time of publication.
The circumstances surrounding the fatal crash are expected to be investigated to establish the identity of the driver, the speed of the vehicle and whether any traffic or road-safety regulations were violated.
Investigators may also examine claims concerning the driver’s condition at the time of the incident and determine whether any other factors contributed to the crash.
The incident has renewed concerns about road safety, responsible driving and the need for thorough and transparent investigations into fatal accidents involving security personnel or official vehicles.
Further updates are expected from the police, military authorities or other relevant agencies as investigations continue.
Vehicle allegedly driven by drunk soldier kills two police inspectors
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metro
Bomb Explosion Kills Eight Soldiers Escorting Military Supplies in Borno
Bomb Explosion Kills Eight Soldiers Escorting Military Supplies in Borno
Maiduguri — At least eight Nigerian soldiers were killed when a military convoy escorting logistics supplies hit an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents in Borno State.
The deadly explosion reportedly occurred on Thursday along the Maiduguri–Dikwa road as troops attached to the 24 Task Force Brigade were returning to their base in Dikwa after successfully escorting military supplies from Maiduguri.
According to security sources, one of the vehicles in the convoy struck the buried explosive, triggering a powerful blast that destroyed the vehicle and killed about eight soldiers on the spot. Several other personnel were also reportedly injured and evacuated for medical treatment.
Although the Nigerian Army has yet to officially confirm the casualty figure, military sources described the attack as one of the latest in a series of insurgent assaults targeting security forces operating in the North-East.
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The attackers are believed to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an extremist group that has intensified the use of roadside bombs and ambushes against military convoys despite sustained counter-insurgency operations by Nigerian troops.
The Maiduguri–Dikwa axis remains one of the most vulnerable routes in Borno State, with insurgents frequently planting improvised explosive devices to disrupt military movements and logistics operations.
Following the explosion, additional troops were reportedly deployed to the area to secure the route, evacuate casualties and recover the damaged military vehicle. Security patrols were also intensified to prevent further attacks.
The latest incident underscores the persistent security challenges confronting the Nigerian military in the North-East, where troops continue to battle insurgent groups seeking to regain operational strength despite years of sustained offensives by government forces.
As of the time of filing this report, military authorities had not released an official statement on the incident or confirmed the number of casualties. However, security operations were said to be ongoing in the area as efforts continued to track down those responsible for the attack.
Bomb Explosion Kills Eight Soldiers Escorting Military Supplies in Borno
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metro
Phyna Files N500 Million Defamation Suit Against Carter Efe Over Sex Claim
Phyna Files N500 Million Defamation Suit Against Carter Efe Over Sex Claim
- Reality TV star gives content creator seven days to retract claim or face legal proceedings after explosive social media dispute.
Former Big Brother Naija winner Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has initiated legal action against content creator and streamer Carter Efe, demanding ₦500 million in damages over allegations that he falsely claimed they had a sexual relationship. The legal move follows days of escalating online drama that has dominated Nigerian social media conversations and drawn widespread public attention, with fans and observers closely following the unfolding dispute between the two prominent figures in Nigeria’s entertainment space.
In a pre-action letter dated July 30, 2026, signed by Segun Ojienoh of Eko Solicitors & Advocates, Phyna accused Carter Efe, whose real name is Joseph Oderhohwo Efe, of making defamatory remarks during a livestream broadcast on Twitch and X on July 25. The letter detailed how Carter Efe repeatedly claimed, “You slept with me,” during the broadcast, a statement that Phyna’s legal team argued falsely portrayed her as someone who engages in sexual relationships to gain opportunities to appear on livestreams. The lawyers further contended that the statement exposed Phyna to public ridicule and caused significant harm to her reputation, which she has built over years as a public figure and brand influencer.
“As you coldly calculated, the sinister statement has since been rebroadcast on numerous platforms and by handles which are legion, thereby escalating the untoward damage already visited on Phyna,” the letter reads in part. “The above defamatory words which you uttered were packed with innuendos suggesting that Phyna will sleep with anyone with a significant online following in order to get featured on livestreams, especially when the statement is rationalised alongside the sentences uttered in the sequence following the defamatory words.” The legal team emphasized that the defamatory nature of the statement was compounded by the viral nature of social media, where content can spread rapidly and reach millions of viewers within hours.
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Phyna’s lawyers demanded that Carter Efe take specific actions to remedy the harm caused. First, they demanded that he retract the statement within seven days of receiving the letter, doing so in a contrite manner. Second, they required that he publish an undertaking not to make similar comments in the future, effectively committing to refrain from further character assassination. Third, they insisted that the retraction be issued via the same livestream platforms where the statement was made, ensuring that the correction reaches the same audience that witnessed the original allegation. At this stage, Phyna is not seeking monetary compensation, with the letter stating she has set the value of damages demanded at “₦0.00 (Zero Naira, Zero Kobo)” , a gesture her lawyers described as gracious and focused on clearing her name rather than financial gain.
However, the letter warns that failure to comply with the demands will result in legal proceedings, with Phyna seeking not less than ₦500 million in general, exemplary, and aggravated damages for the alleged harm to her reputation. “If you do not meet any – or all – of the above demands, TAKE NOTICE THAT, without prejudice to other rights, reliefs and remedies available to her, Phyna will be seeking legal redress against you by claiming a sum not less than a sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) only as general, exemplary and aggravated damages, for the malicious damage you did to Phyna’s character,” the letter added, leaving no doubt about the seriousness of the legal threat.
The controversy that led to this legal action began when Davrel, a streamer associated with singer Davido, alleged that Carter Efe had described Phyna as being “of no benefit.” Phyna responded by calling out Davrel over an alleged unpaid debt, triggering a public exchange between the parties that quickly escalated on social media. The situation intensified when Davrel accused Phyna of making sexual advances toward him and claimed she had asked him to introduce her to his father, further inflaming tensions and drawing more attention to the dispute. During a subsequent confrontation between Phyna and Carter Efe in a viral video shared on social media, Carter Efe claimed they had been sexually involved, a statement that became the basis for the current legal action. In the viral exchange, Phyna asked, “Me and you fck?”* and Carter Efe responded, “Yes. I will bring the whole evidence come outside.” Phyna then replied, “Thank you very much. You and Davrel will hear from my lawyer,” foreshadowing the legal action that would follow.
During an Instagram Live session on Thursday night, an emotional Phyna apologised to her fans and confirmed that legal action had been taken against both Carter Efe and Davrel. She reflected on the toll the ordeal had taken on her, saying, “I know a lot of people say I’ve lost my self-respect. I have put myself down so much, and I think I finally realised that. Yes, you are saying the truth.” Phyna continued, “I have stood different kinds of drags, but there are two types of drags that I can’t stand. One is what everybody knows, and the other one is a sexual and man issue. I do not move that way,” emphasizing the particular pain caused by allegations of a sexual nature. She stated that the events of the past few days had forced her to adopt a new approach, one that prioritizes legal recourse over emotional reactions. “Since I started streaming, I tried to stream the way everybody streams, but it has brought a lot of disrespect to me, and this one that happened recently has to be the last time I will be disrespected like that. It has to be the last time my playful self or that Phyna that’s always there for everybody, laughing with everybody, or that Phyna that would always rant online when someone offended her,” she said. “This is the end of that Phyna because, at last, I’m finally learning how to use legal means because, at the end of the day, if I check it, I don’t really look for trouble. Most times, it’s my own reactions that overshadow what was done to me, and it makes the whole thing seem like I am the one wrong. So, Carter Efe and Davrel, check your emails and WhatsApp. You’ve been served. Thank you,” she concluded, signaling a new chapter in how she handles public disputes.
Shortly after Phyna’s announcement, Carter Efe confirmed in a video shared online that he had been sued for ₦500 million. As of the time of this report, he had not publicly indicated whether he would comply with the demands in the pre-action letter, leaving his next move uncertain. The coming days will determine whether the matter is resolved out of court or proceeds to litigation, a development that would likely draw even more attention to the already high-profile dispute.
Phyna Files N500 Million Defamation Suit Against Carter Efe Over Sex Claim
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