Soyinka to Tinubu: Reopen Unresolved Killings, Assassination Cases Nationwide

• Nobel laureate dedicates 2026 lecture to victims of state violence, warns that collective silence fuels impunity, as he demands justice for Deborah Samuel, Mene Ogidi, and others.

Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fulfil his 2023 campaign promise by revisiting unresolved cases of assassinations and extra-judicial killings across Nigeria. Soyinka made the appeal on Friday at the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture Series organised by the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” was chaired by former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Timi Alaibe.

Soyinka dedicated the 2026 edition of the annual lecture to victims of extra-judicial killings and state excesses, declaring that Nigeria’s greatest failure is not only the murders but the collective silence that allows perpetrators to escape justice. “Through these remarks, I pay honour to those who have lost their lives because of the deficiencies of the state which have led to the devaluation of human life,” Soyinka said. He specifically honoured victims of some of Nigeria’s most disturbing cases of violence, including 18 Ughelli residents allegedly killed by state agencies, a young man reportedly shot dead by a policeman in broad daylight, Deborah Samuel, who was lynched and burnt alive by a mob in Sokoto State in 2022, and Mene Ogidi, a 28-year-old man allegedly shot dead by a police officer in Delta State. “Today is dedicated to the 18 Ughelli residents butchered by state agencies for no reason at all, simply for minding their own business; to the young man shot dead in broad daylight by a policeman while under suspicion; and to Deborah, the youth hunted through the city by her own classmates, necklaced and set ablaze,” he said. Soyinka also honoured the six police officers killed in Apo, Abuja, describing the lecture as a reminder of the many unresolved injustices in the country.

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Soyinka expressed concern that one of Deborah Samuel’s alleged killers reportedly displayed the matchstick used to set her ablaze publicly without facing justice years after the incident. He contrasted that with the swift arrest of the police officer accused of killing Mene Ogidi, saying the differing responses reflected selective justice. “It’s dedicated to individuals, the youths, like Deborah, who was killed, who was butchered by her own classmates, hunted through the city, necklaced and set on fire. But that is not the crime. That really is not the crime,” Soyinka said. “The crime is the silence of the rest of us, that such a thing is possible, and that the killers of that girl can actually go on television, hold up a match, and say this is the match with which I set her on fire. And there the system of justice fails us completely,” he added. He urged Nigerians to demand justice and ensure that alleged perpetrators of extra-judicial killings do not escape punishment.

Soyinka reminded Nigerians that President Tinubu, upon assuming office, requested files relating to unsolved assassinations and extra-judicial killings. “Watch with me so that we can force the government to bring up all the files. When there was a government retreat, you remember? The incoming president said, ‘I want all the files of all the unsolved assassinations, killings, extra-judicial killings.'” “What has happened to those files? I want you to join me in asking President Tinubu to say, ‘We want you to dig up those files. We want to know what happened, why it happened,'” Soyinka said. Soyinka warned that successive failures to prosecute those responsible for unlawful killings had emboldened criminals and weakened public confidence in the justice system. He described the persistent failure to secure justice for victims as one of the country’s gravest moral crises, insisting that silence in the face of brutality was itself a form of complicity.

Soyinka called on President Tinubu to end all forms of killings by state actors and ensure that those responsible for abuses are held accountable. He declared that human life has been dangerously devalued in Nigeria, adding that the inaction of citizens in the face of repeated human rights violations has emboldened those who abuse state power. The Nobel laureate dismissed critics who accuse him of provoking religious tensions whenever he speaks against injustice, insisting that defending human life transcends religious, ethnic, or political divides. “Sessions like that in Port Harcourt are vital, precisely, to remind Nigerians that the human unit is the least common denominator and the most important element of the community,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, former Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka argued that justice begins long before a matter reaches the courtroom. According to him, justice starts from the moment police officers determine whether complaints are investigated fairly or ignored because of influence, power, or social status. Highlighting the challenges confronting Nigeria’s justice and correctional systems, Chidoka disclosed that about 64 per cent of inmates in custodial centres—more than 50,000 Nigerians—are awaiting trial despite not being convicted of any offence. “Each of these 50,000 is a life in suspension, a job lost, a family destabilised, someone’s health failing. When the state causes that delay, and citizens pay for it in lost liberty, the delay is not inefficiency; it is a form of violence carried out by the state itself,” he said. He insisted that justice must apply equally to every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, or social standing.

The case of Mene Ogidi, a 28-year-old man shot dead by a police officer in Delta State on April 26, 2026, has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed concerns over police brutality. According to police reports, Ogidi was handed over to ASP Nuhu Usman and his team after citizens arrested him for attempting to waybill a parcel containing a fabricated Beretta pistol and ammunition. Rather than following standard operational procedures, ASP Nuhu shot and killed the unarmed, already-apprehended suspect. The Nigeria Police Force has since recommended the immediate dismissal of ASP Nuhu Usman and other officers found culpable, with the Inspector-General approving the recommendation and forwarding it to the Police Service Commission for ratification. Upon completion of administrative procedures, the affected officers will be handed over to judicial authorities for prosecution. Investigators have also uncovered a gun-running syndicate linked to the firearm, with four suspected members of the Black Axe confraternity arrested in connection with the case.

Soyinka to Tinubu: Reopen Unresolved Killings, Assassination Cases Nationwide

Osun Guber: IGP Deploys New Election CP as INEC Identifies 11 Flashpoint LGAs

• CP Erale Samuel Etaifo takes over security operations for August 15 poll as former CP Gotan is redeployed to Force Headquarters amid neutrality concerns.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has deployed a new Commissioner of Police in charge of Elections, CP Erale Samuel Etaifo, to Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The deployment comes as part of measures to strengthen security arrangements and ensure the neutrality of security agencies during the poll. In a statement signed by the Osun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Police said the deployment reflects the Inspector-General’s commitment to neutrality, professionalism, and adherence to democratic principles throughout the election. CP Etaifo will oversee the entire security architecture for the poll and coordinate election security operations with other security agencies and stakeholders.

CP Etaifo’s deployment follows the redeployment of the former Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on special duty. His redeployment was conveyed in a police wireless message issued by the Force Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday and marked “Most Immediate,” with a directive for immediate implementation. The move comes after persistent calls from the state government and civil society organisations for Gotan’s removal over allegations of partisanship. The Accord Party had accused the police of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation against its members and top government officials ahead of the election. According to the party, about 100 Accord leaders, candidates, members, and supporters across the state have been arrested and detained by the police, with some reportedly moved to Abuja. However, a senior police source clarified that the redeployment was not linked to any specific allegation against CP Gotan and that he may be redeployed back to the state after the election. Sources familiar with the development also noted that Erale’s posting came shortly after his promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police, having been decorated with his new rank on July 21.

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According to the Osun Command, CP Etaifo will ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act, the Code of Conduct for Security Personnel on Electoral Duty, and other extant laws guiding the electoral process. The police assured residents that comprehensive security measures have been put in place across the state to protect lives, property, and critical electoral materials before, during, and after the election. All officers deployed for election duty have been directed to remain impartial, professional, and respectful of the rights of every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation. The Command also issued a strong warning to political actors and their supporters, stating that electoral violence, vote buying, voter intimidation, the spread of misinformation, and any other form of criminality will be met with the full weight of the law. Residents were urged to remain law-abiding, cooperate with security agencies, and report any suspicious activities through the Command’s emergency channels. The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to providing a level playing field for all political parties and ensuring that the will of the people prevails through a peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral process.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has reiterated that INEC has no preferred candidate for the election, assuring that the Commission will provide a level playing field for all candidates and parties. He urged residents to come out en masse and vote, assuring that adequate security will be provided. “The Independent National Electoral Commission has no preferred candidate, holds no political allegiance, and seeks no outcome other than the lawful choice of the electorate. Our sole loyalty is to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” Amupitan said at a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo. During a courtesy visit to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Amupitan declared that the next governor of Osun State would emerge through the ballot and not through violence. “We don’t want violence. And the blood of every Osun citizen is not worth to be shed, just for the purpose of election to the office of the governor,” he said. The INEC Chairman disclosed that the Commission had identified 11 Local Government Areas as potential flashpoints that would receive specialised, high-visibility security deployment. These include Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun, and Oriade local government areas. “Security forces have been issued strict operational directives to neutralise thuggery, cult activities, and any attempt at ballot disruption, while maintaining absolute professional neutrality,” Amupitan stated.

According to INEC, the election will feature 2,339,233 registered voters spread across 30 Local Government Areas, 332 Registration Areas (Wards), and 3,763 Polling Units in the state. Fourteen political parties will participate in the contest. A total of 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices have been customised and deployed for the election, including 664 dedicated backup units representing a 15% operational reserve. All polling unit result sheets (Form EC8A) will be scanned and uploaded directly from the polling unit to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), guaranteeing public transparency from the moment voting closes. The Commission also announced that a statewide Mock Accreditation Exercise is scheduled for Saturday, August 1, 2026, across 12 selected Local Government Areas to test its preparedness ahead of the governorship election.

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Catholic Priest Found Dead in Kogi After Machete Attack as Police, Govt Launch Investigations

The Catholic Diocese of Lokoja and the Kogi State community are in mourning following the tragic death of Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi Oyetoro, a Catholic priest whose lifeless body was found by the roadside along Church Road in Ajaokuta, Kogi State. The cleric, who served at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Egbe and was also associated with St. Paul Parish, Ayetoro Gbede, was reportedly attacked by yet-to-be-identified assailants on July 29, 2026. Initial reports indicated that the priest was stabbed multiple times, but police later confirmed that he had sustained severe machete cuts to the head. According to a source, Fr. Oyetoro was on relief duty to the steel town of Ajaokuta when his life was cut short. A native of Ayetoro in Ijumu Local Government Area, he was born in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State. The police received a report at about 9:30 a.m. on July 29 that the body of an unidentified male had been discovered along the roadside in Ajaokuta. Officers who responded to the scene observed the severe injuries, evacuated the body to the ASCL Hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed the priest dead, and then deposited the remains at a mortuary for an autopsy.

In an obituary issued by its Chancery Office on July 29, 2026, the Catholic Diocese of Lokoja announced the priest’s passing, describing the loss with deep sorrow while expressing hope in the resurrection. “It is with profound sorrow and in the hope of the resurrection that the Catholic Diocese of Lokoja announces the passing of our beloved priest, Fr. Samuel Opeyemi Oyetoro, who departed this life on Wednesday, 29th July 2026,” the Diocese said. The Church described the late priest as a devoted servant of God whose life was marked by dedication to the ministry. “As we mourn the loss of our dear brother and priest, we commend his soul to the infinite mercy of God, whom he served with dedication and love,” the statement read. The Diocese urged priests, religious faithful and members of the laity to remember the deceased in their prayers and Holy Masses while also seeking divine comfort for his family and the Lokoja Diocese. “We kindly request all priests, religious and laity to pray for the peaceful repose of his soul during their Holy Masses and personal prayers and to pray for strength and consolation for his aged parents, siblings, parishioners and the entire Diocese of Lokoja during this time of grief,” it said. The obituary ended with a prayer for the repose of the late priest’s soul: “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the soul of Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi Oyetoro and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

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Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Oyiza Afusat, stated that the killing occurred on July 29, 2026, and that the case is under active investigation. “On 29th July 2026, at about 9:30 a.m., the police received information that the lifeless body of an unidentified male was found by the roadside along Church Road, Ajaokuta,” she said. “Operatives promptly mobilised to the scene, where it was observed that the deceased had sustained severe machete cuts to the head. The body was evacuated to the ASCL Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor, and was thereafter deposited at the mortuary for autopsy,” she added. The deceased was later identified as Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi of St. Paul Parish, Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA, Kogi State. The police confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible, and upon the conclusion of preliminary investigation, the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation. “We will provide further updates as the investigation progresses,” ASP Afusat added.

The Kogi State Government has also stepped in, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo directing security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation and ensure that the perpetrators face justice. The directive was announced in a statement by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who described the killing as a “heinous and unacceptable act”. “The murder of Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi is a painful tragedy that has saddened the Government and the people of Kogi State. We condemn this barbaric act in the strongest possible terms and assure the Church and the family of the deceased that the perpetrators will not escape justice,” the statement read. Fanwo said the government had absolute confidence in the capacity of security agencies to unravel the incident and assured that it would provide all necessary support to ensure justice is served. He urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information, while cautioning against spreading rumours capable of undermining the investigation. The government reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of lives and property and pledged to continue to strengthen security across the state.

The tragic death of Rev. Fr. Oyetoro has thrown the Catholic community and many residents of Kogi State into mourning. The incident has prompted calls for a thorough investigation to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted. As investigations continue, the motive behind the killing remains unknown. Authorities have yet to release a detailed official account of the incident, while the search for those responsible intensifies. The Catholic Diocese of Lokoja has called on all faithful to remember the slain priest in their prayers and Holy Masses during this period of grief.

Catholic Priest Found Dead in Kogi After Machete Attack as Police, Govt Launch Investigations