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Tinubu Holds Consultation with Labour Leaders Amid Nationwide Protest Threats

Published

1 month ago

December 17, 2025

Tinubu Holds Consultation with Labour Leaders Amid Nationwide Protest Threats

ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday met with labour leaders at the Presidential Villa in a bid to persuade organised labour to shelve planned nationwide protests over the worsening security situation in Nigeria.

The meeting, held behind closed doors, involved the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other unions, amid heightened public attention on potential strike actions. NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero told journalists after the engagement that the discussion was a consultation rather than a final negotiation, noting that labour’s leadership would first brief its internal organs before issuing any public statement.

“We came for a consultation with the President, and we are finished. So we have to go back to our meeting and then continue tomorrow. By tomorrow, we will get the outcome,” Ajaero said, stressing that decisions within the congress are collective.

Also present at the meeting was Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, who emphasised that sustained dialogue remains the preferred approach to resolving issues between labour and the government.

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“Consultation is going on. We were dialoguing, and like he (Ajaero) said, at the end of the day, you will know what you are supposed to know and what you want to know,” Uzodinma said. He added that all parties were acting in the national interest.

The Minister of State for Labour, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, also praised the meeting, saying labour leaders welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with the President and were reassured by the discussions. “They are happy they’ve had firsthand engagement and that at least the President has driven the economy out of the woods,” she noted.

Labour leaders are expected to reconvene internal meetings, after which a clearer position on next steps and the planned nationwide protests is likely to be announced.

This engagement highlights the federal government’s ongoing efforts to maintain industrial peace, address security concerns, and foster collaborative dialogue with organised labour in Nigeria.

Tinubu Holds Consultation with Labour Leaders Amid Nationwide Protest Threats

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Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

Published

55 minutes ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested a newly‑wedded woman suspected of poisoning her husband to death in Gauza village, Jahun Local Government Area. The incident, which occurred on January 23, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the community.

Police reported that the deceased fell seriously ill after eating a meal prepared by his wife and was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators from the Jahun Divisional Police Headquarters launched an inquiry and quickly detained the wife as the main suspect.

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During interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to putting rat poison in her husband’s food, claiming she was coerced into the marriage by her parents, which fueled resentment that led to the deadly act. Police have confirmed that a full investigation is underway, and the suspect will face court charges once the investigation is complete.

The Commissioner of Police has urged the public to remain calm, stressing that marital disputes should never escalate to violence, and warning that such actions have irreversible consequences. The tragic case highlights growing concerns over domestic poisoning and marital-related crimes in the region.

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

metro

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

Published

1 hour ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Niger State Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that six people were killed by suspected bandits in the Wawa community of Borgu Local Government Area, intensifying concerns over the growing security crisis in rural Niger State.

Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun stated that the attack occurred on January 22, 2026, when the victims — including farmers and a local vigilante — were ambushed while heading to their farms near Damala village. Two other people remain missing, and search operations are ongoing.

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Local residents described the incident as devastating, urging the state and federal governments to take urgent measures to protect vulnerable communities from frequent bandit attacks.

This latest incident is part of a broader pattern of banditry in Niger State and neighbouring areas. Recent attacks in Damala village, Woko District, and Kasuwan Daji market in Demo community have left dozens dead, properties destroyed, and residents displaced, highlighting the escalating rural insecurity in the region.

Authorities have vowed to strengthen security operations, while experts warn that continued attacks threaten socioeconomic stability, displace local populations, and erode confidence in local law enforcement.

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

metro

DSS Silent as NAPO Leader, Two Others Held Incommunicado

Published

2 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr Harold Benstowe

DSS Silent as NAPO Leader, Two Others Held Incommunicad

The whereabouts of the President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr Harold Benstowe and two other union officials, Mr Tuwonimi Benstowe and Mr Michael Mbata remain unknown, following their alleged arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Rivers State, according to their lawyer.

NAPO’s counsel said the union leader and his colleagues were picked up during a security operation in Finima, Bonny Local Government Area, but have since been held incommunicado, with no official confirmation from the DSS on their detention or location. The development has sparked growing concern among family members, labour unions and civil society groups.

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The lawyer described the action as unlawful and a violation of the detainees’ fundamental human rights, noting that security agencies are required by law to disclose the whereabouts of arrested persons and grant them access to legal representation.

The arrests reportedly followed rising tensions linked to NAPO’s labour activities, including a recent warning strike by plant operators working on the NLNG Train 7 project in Bonny. The union had protested alleged irregular salary deductions and tax remittance issues, which were also the subject of a pending case before the National Industrial Court.

Labour rights advocates have warned that the continued silence of the DSS could undermine due process and escalate industrial unrest, calling for the immediate disclosure of the detainees’ location or their release.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official response from the DSS have remained unsuccessful, while pressure continues to mount on authorities to respect the rule of law and constitutional safeguards.