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South-South leaders angry over botched security meeting

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Governors and leaders of the South-South geopolitical region have expressed displeasure over the decision by the presidency to cancel a security meeting of the region planned for Port Harcourt on Tuesday after many of them had gathered at the forum.

They have therefore demanded an apology from the presidency for abruptly aborting the crucial stakeholders’ meeting.

The presidency had fixed the meeting with the governors and other leaders of the region to discuss burning national issues affecting the region and the aftermath effects of the #EndSARS protest.

The FG’s delegation was supposed to include all the ministers from the geopolitical zone.

Addressing South-South leaders at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Port Harcourt, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who presided over the session, expressed regret at the botched meeting.

The meeting was called through the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

He explained that the meeting time was adjusted twice from 11 am to 1pm, on the excuse that President Muhammadu Buhari was meeting with Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police, who were supposed to be part of the presidential delegation for the South-South meeting.

Okowa, who is also the chairman of South-South Governors Forum, said he later got a call from the Chief of Staff to the President to eventual call off the meeting.

According to him, he felt really disappointed that the region could be treated with such disdain.

Okowa said the people of the region had been embarrassed, disgraced and disrespected.

He noted that the South-South geopolitical zone remained a very important component part of the nation and that the governors felt insulted because the traditional rulers who had gathered for the meeting deserved to be revered.

He said, “As governors, we feel very touched and very sad about what has happened. And having also listened to our youths, we can feel the anger. As a mark of respect for our people, because you are actually the stakeholders of our region, we felt it was necessary for us to consult with you before taking any decision, if we take our decision without consulting with you, then we would have added to the disrespect that has just been meted on you.

“We call for a public apology, not for the governors alone. We call for a public apology because this meeting was not called at our instance. It was called at the instance of the presidency. The time was changed last night. We understood and we talked to our people. Some of us did not sleep in trying to put things together. We have got to a very bad start. So we are going to convey this message to the chief of staff to the president.”

He also said, “We deserve as a region unreserved public apology to the region, particularly to our traditional rulers and the leaders in this zone, which include our Christian leaders, opinion leaders, our women and our youths, and also the governors of the zone who were voted into office and that is the least that we expect for us to accept the reconvene of this meeting.”

Former president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, Ledum Mitee, said the abrupt cancellation of the meeting was an insult on the people of the South-South zone.

A member of the 2014 National Conference, Ms. Ann-Kio Briggs, also said the action of the Federal Government demonstrated the value it placed on the South-South geopolitical zone.

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike; Ben Ayade (Cross River), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), and Godwin Obaseki (Edo) were at the forum.

Other eminent persons present are the National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd.); and former President, Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Onueze Okocha (SAN).

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Oyo Police Free Four Kidnapped Passengers on Igbeti–Kishi Road

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Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka
Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka

Oyo Police Free Four Kidnapped Passengers on Igbeti–Kishi Road

The Oyo State Police Command has successfully rescued four passengers abducted along the Igbeti–Kishi Road in the early hours of March 5, 2026, following a swift and coordinated security operation. The incident occurred when armed hoodlums emerged from nearby bushland and blocked a commercial bus, forcefully taking four passengers into the surrounding forests.

Upon receiving reports of the abduction, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Femi Haruna, immediately directed the Divisional Police Officers in Igbeti and Kishi, alongside tactical units and security stakeholders, to deploy all operational resources for a rescue mission.

A joint security team comprising Oyo Police operatives, members of the Amotekun Corps, Operation Burst, and other local security agencies conducted intensive bush combing operations in the forests surrounding the area. The sustained operation forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and flee, allowing the authorities to rescue all four passengers unharmed. The victims have since been reunited with their families.

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The police spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, commended the professionalism and bravery of the combined security forces, highlighting that collaboration among security agencies is vital to ensuring safety across the state. The command also appreciated the Oyo State Government under Governor Seyi Makinde for promptly mobilizing resources and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for strategic guidance in the ongoing fight against crime.

Investigations and intelligence-led operations are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and ensure they are brought to justice. Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to support security efforts.

The incident underscores the continued commitment of the Oyo State Police and security agencies to protect travellers on vulnerable highways, particularly areas with increased reports of highway abductions and criminal activity. Patrols and security presence along the Igbeti–Kishi corridor and other vulnerable routes have been intensified to prevent future attacks.

Oyo Police Free Four Kidnapped Passengers on Igbeti–Kishi Road

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BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)

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Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri
Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri

BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved the posting of 65 Nigerian ambassadors and high commissioners to diplomatic missions across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s foreign policy and international engagement.

The announcement was made on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that the list comprises 31 non-career diplomats and 34 career ambassadors whose appointments were earlier confirmed by the Senate.

The newly posted envoys include prominent politicians, retired military officers and seasoned diplomats tasked with representing Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic and strategic interests abroad.

Among the notable postings, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, has been posted to Qatar, while former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany.

Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has been deployed to Mexico City, while former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been assigned to Spain.

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Businessman and senator Jimoh Ibrahim will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

According to the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already begun securing diplomatic approval, known as agrément, from host countries. The United Kingdom has granted agrément for Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, while France has approved the posting of Ayo Oke.

President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners, after which they will proceed to their respective missions once final approvals are secured.

The appointments are part of the administration’s broader effort to reinvigorate Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, attract foreign investment, strengthen bilateral relations and expand trade and security cooperation globally.


Non-Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners

S/N Name Mission
1 Senator Grace Bent Lome, Togo
2 Senator Ita Enang South Africa
3 Victor Ikpeazu Spain
4 Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu Tel-Aviv, Israel
5 Mahmud Yakubu Qatar
6 Paul Oga Adikwu Vatican City
7 Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas Philippines
8 Reno Omokri Mexico
9 Abasi Braimah Hungary
10 Angela Adebayo Portugal
11 Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa Japan
12 Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Greece
13 Chioma Priscilla Ohakim Poland
14 Aminu Dalhatu United Kingdom
15 Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau China
16 Tasiu Musa Maigari Gambia
17 Olufemi Pedro Australia
18 Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu Argentina
19 Lateef Kayode Are United States
20 Joseph Sola Iji Russia
21 Jimoh Ibrahim United Nations
22 Femi Fani-Kayode Germany
23 Isaak Folorunso Adewole Canada
24 Fatima Florence Ajimobi Austria
25 Lola Akande Sweden
26 Ayo Oke France
27 Yakubu N. Gambo Saudi Arabia
28 Nora Ladi Daduut South Korea
29 Joe Okocha (SAN) Ireland
30 Kulu Haruna Abubakar Tunisia
31 Jerry Samuel Manwe Trinidad and Tobago

Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners

S/N Name Mission
1 Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka Cote d’Ivoire
2 Besto Maimuna Ibrahim Niger
3 Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi Sao Tome & Principe
4 Mohammed Mahmud Lele Algeria
5 Endoni Syndoph Paebi Burkina Faso
6 Ahmed Mohammed Monguno Egypt
7 Jane Adams Michael Jamaica
8 Alexandra Clark-Omeru Zambia
9 Chima Geoffrey Lioma David Mali
10 Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah Equatorial Guinea
11 Wasa Segun Ige Lebanon
12 Ruben Abimbola Samuel Italy
13 Ogechukwu Kingsley Onaga Mozambique
14 Magaji Umar DR Congo
15 Muhammad Saidu Dahiru India
16 Abdussalam Habu Zayyad Senegal
17 Shehu Ilu Barde Ghana
18 Aminu Nasir Ethiopia
19 Abubakar Musa Musa Chad
20 Haidara Mohammed Idris Netherlands
21 Bako Adamu Umar Morocco
22 Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed Malaysia
23 Romata Mohammed Omobolanle Tanzania
24 Shaga John Shamah Botswana
25 Hamza Mohammed Salau Iran
26 Ibrahim Danlami Kenya
27 Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola Benin
28 Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel Belgium
29 Wahab Adekola Akande Switzerland
30 Esther Arewa Adedokun Namibia
31 Gergadi Joseph John Gabon
32 Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata Sierra Leone
33 Danladi Yakubu Nyaku Sudan
34 Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru Thailand

BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)

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US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump

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U.S. President Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump

US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump

The United States Justice Department has released additional FBI documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including interview records from a woman who alleged that U.S. President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her after being introduced to him by Epstein.

The newly disclosed documents were made public on Thursday as part of the ongoing release of records related to the Epstein investigation. According to the Justice Department, the materials were not included in earlier congressionally mandated disclosures because they had been incorrectly labelled as “duplicative” records during the document review process.

The files include summaries of several 2019 interviews conducted by the FBI with the woman, who claimed she was between 13 and 15 years old when she was sexually assaulted by Epstein in the 1980s.

According to the interview summaries, the woman told investigators that Epstein once took her to either New York or New Jersey and introduced her to Trump in what she described as a tall building.

She alleged that during the encounter, Trump attempted to force her to perform oral sex, but she resisted and bit him, causing the alleged assault attempt to stop.

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The woman further told investigators that Epstein had abused her repeatedly over several years and had sometimes arranged encounters with other men.

During the interviews, she also said that she and people close to her had received threatening phone calls over the years warning her to remain silent, which she suspected were connected to Epstein.

Despite the allegations, the FBI did not bring charges related to the claims, and records indicate that investigators eventually stopped communicating with the woman later in 2019.

Justice Department officials have cautioned that the allegations contained in the newly released documents are uncorroborated and noted that some materials submitted during the Epstein investigation included “untrue and sensationalist claims” involving President Trump.

President Trump has repeatedly denied any misconduct linked to Epstein or the allegations contained in the documents.

The release of the additional files has sparked renewed political scrutiny in Washington, with Democrats questioning how the administration handled the disclosure of the Epstein records.

Lawmakers argue that key materials may have been withheld or mishandled during the earlier releases.

In response, a House committee has voted to summon Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files and explain why some documents were not initially disclosed.

The Justice Department maintains that the omission resulted from administrative errors in the massive document review process, which involves millions of pages of records tied to the Epstein investigation.

The disclosures are part of a broader transparency effort following congressional legislation requiring the government to release large volumes of records connected to Epstein, whose high-profile criminal case exposed an extensive network of abuse involving underage victims.

US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump

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