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Two Weeks to His Wedding: Groom-to-Be Beaten to Death by Lagos Mob

Published

34 minutes ago

September 7, 2026

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police Abimbola Adebisi

Two Weeks to His Wedding: Groom-to-Be Beaten to Death by Lagos Mob

A man who returned to Nigeria to marry his fiancée has been killed by a mob in Lagos Island after an alleged traffic accident. The tragedy has sparked outrage and renewed calls for an end to jungle justice.

LAGOS, Nigeria – Basit had one mission: to return home, marry the love of his life, and begin a new chapter. Instead, his wedding—scheduled for just two weeks away—turned into a funeral. The groom-to-be was beaten to death by a mob on the night of Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in the Patey neighborhood of Lagos Island, Lagos State, following an alleged hit-and-run incident that residents say sparked their fury. According to multiple eyewitness accounts, Basit was driving along Freeman Street when his vehicle struck a male pedestrian attempting to cross the road. Rather than stop to render aid or await authorities, witnesses said he drove off—a decision that would cost him his life.

Residents who saw the crash expected Basit to stop. When he didn’t, a group of locals gave chase, eventually catching up with him a short distance away. “He was coming from the other end of Freeman Street, and the incident occurred as he was getting close to the other end,” said a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. “A resident was trying to cross the road when he rammed him. The moment it happened, people thought he would wait, but he did not. He was later chased and caught before the mob descended on him.” What followed was swift and brutal. Witness Afolabi Lawal told reporters that the mob attacked Basit with sticks and bottles, striking him repeatedly on the head. The severe head injury he sustained left him unconscious at the scene. “He was hit with sticks and bottles on his head, which caused him to sustain a head injury. He went unconscious and later died,” Lawal said. Once the crowd realized Basit had stopped moving and was unresponsive, they fled the scene, leaving his body lying in the street.

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Basit had returned to Nigeria specifically to marry his fiancée. Family members and friends had been preparing for a celebration that was expected to take place in approximately two weeks. Instead, they are now making funeral arrangements. The tragedy has left the local community in shock, with many expressing grief not only for Basit but also for the young man he allegedly struck—whose identity and condition remain unknown at this time.

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that arrests have been made in connection with the killing. A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent: “Some suspects have been taken into custody, and the remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue.” However, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached for comment on Sunday. Calls to her phone went unanswered, and she had not responded to a text message at the time of this report.

The incident has reignited conversations about vigilante justice and mob violence in Nigeria, where citizens often take the law into their own hands—sometimes with fatal consequences. Legal experts and human rights advocates have repeatedly warned that jungle justice undermines the rule of law, denies suspects their right to a fair trial, and often leads to the punishment of innocent people. In this case, Basit—whatever his alleged offense—was never given the opportunity to tell his side of the story in a court of law.

Here is a quick summary of the key facts: the victim, Basit, was a groom-to-be who had returned from abroad. The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in the Patey neighborhood of Lagos Island, Lagos State. The alleged trigger was a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian. The mob used sticks and bottles to inflict a severe head injury, which led to his death. His wedding was scheduled for approximately two weeks away. Police have arrested some suspects, and his body has been deposited in a morgue. The Police Public Relations Officer was unreachable for comment at the time of reporting.

The Lagos State Police Command is expected to release an official statement once the Public Relations Officer is available. Meanwhile, the family of the deceased is making arrangements for his burial, even as they demand justice. The identity and condition of the pedestrian allegedly struck by Basit remain unclear, and authorities have not confirmed whether that individual survived or also succumbed to injuries.

Two Weeks to His Wedding: Groom-to-Be Beaten to Death by Lagos Mob

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Socialite Igho ‘Tiny’ Ubiribo Dies After Penis Enlargement Surgery

Published

4 minutes ago

September 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Socialite Igho ‘Tiny’ Ubiribo Dies After Penis Enlargement Surgery

The British-Nigerian influencer, a close friend of Afrobeats star Davido, was buried in a gold coffin. But an unresolved NDLEA drug trafficking case and the extraordinary timing of his death have fueled conspiracy theories.

LONDON, United Kingdom – British-Nigerian socialite and influencer Igho “Tiny” Ubiribo, a close friend of Afrobeats superstar Davido, died on March 6, 2026, from a pulmonary embolism caused by a penis enlargement procedure he underwent in Bangkok, Thailand. He was 43 years old. But long before his death, Ubiribo and his wife, Zimbabwean fashion designer Danielle Simba Allen, had been declared wanted by Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over allegations of running an international drug trafficking syndicate. Adding to the intrigue, reports indicate Ubiribo was expected to appear in a Nigerian court on March 7, 2026—the day after his death—to answer the charges. The extraordinary timing has generated conspiracy theories, with some social media users even suggesting Ubiribo may have faked his death to escape prosecution. However, there is no evidence to support this speculation. A London inquest provided substantial evidence of his death, including treatment at a Bangkok hospital, a UK postmortem, and a coroner’s formal finding.

Ubiribo was on a luxury holiday in Bangkok with his wife when he opted to undergo a cosmetic penis enlargement procedure at an unnamed clinic. An inquest at the Inner West London Coroners’ Court heard that he received approximately 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine injected into his penis on March 5, 2026. After the procedure, Ubiribo and his wife returned to their Marriott hotel and went for a massage. During the massage, he complained of chest pain and lost consciousness twice. He was rushed by ambulance to Sukhumvit Hospital, where he was initially conscious and able to answer questions. His wife informed doctors about the filler injections, but Ubiribo lost consciousness before a recommended CT scan could be performed. Doctors diagnosed him with a pulmonary embolism—a blockage of a blood vessel in the lungs—and transferred him to intensive care. Medical staff reportedly performed CPR for more than 100 minutes, but he could not be revived.

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A post-mortem examination conducted in the UK found cellular material in Ubiribo’s lungs consistent with the hyaluronic acid used in the penile filler. Pathologist John du Parcq stated that the findings were consistent with a pulmonary embolism and matched the results of a Thai autopsy. Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin concluded that Ubiribo died from a pulmonary embolism caused by the cosmetic procedure. The inquest also heard that Ubiribo had pre-existing medical conditions, including prediabetes and gout, and had previously undergone joint surgery.

Before his death, Ubiribo and his wife had been at the centre of a high-profile drug trafficking investigation. In April 2023, the NDLEA declared Ubiribo, Allen, and Port Harcourt-based prophetess Faith Ugochi wanted over allegations of running an international drug trafficking syndicate. The investigation began after NDLEA operatives intercepted 32.70 kilograms of “Loud” cannabis concealed in cartons of used clothing at the NAHCO import shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on November 16, 2022. A freight agent was arrested, and subsequent investigations led to more arrests. The NDLEA alleged that the syndicate recruited teenage girls as sales agents through Ugochi’s church and that Ubiribo and Allen operated the group from Los Angeles. One suspect, Edward Omatseye (alias Montana), told investigators he worked for Ubiribo and Allen, whom the agency described as the “overall heads” of the group. The agency obtained Federal High Court orders declaring the three wanted and blocked about N80 million connected to the investigation. According to the NDLEA, invitation letters sent to Ubiribo and Allen were initially answered through lawyers who requested more time, after which the couple allegedly became unreachable.

Nearly three years later came the remarkable coincidence. GWG.ng reported that Ubiribo was expected to appear in a Nigerian court on March 7, 2026—the day after his death—in connection with the trafficking allegations. While the outlet stated it had not independently obtained the court record confirming that appearance, an NDLEA official confirmed the agency was awaiting documentary evidence of Ubiribo’s death before determining the finality of the case against him. The timing has fueled online speculation, with some even questioning whether Ubiribo could have staged his death to escape the Nigerian case. There is presently no evidence supporting such speculation.

Ubiribo was buried in London in a gold coffin reportedly worth more than $745,000. His funeral was attended by celebrity mourners, including Davido, who delivered an emotional tribute, describing Ubiribo as a man of “light, energy, courage, resilience” and saying his absence “doesn’t feel real”.

Socialite Igho ‘Tiny’ Ubiribo Dies After Penis Enlargement Surgery

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Senator Shehu Buba Denies Bandit Links, Says Viral Videos Manipulated

Published

20 minutes ago

September 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Senator Shehu Buba

Senator Shehu Buba Denies Bandit Links, Says Viral Videos Manipulated

The Bauchi South lawmaker rejects fresh banditry allegations, claims footage was spliced, and challenges accusers to provide evidence as Christian elders demand an independent probe.

ABUJA, Nigeria – Senator Shehu Buba, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, has forcefully denied fresh allegations linking him to banditry, describing viral videos and claims circulating on social media as part of a sustained campaign of disinformation and character assassination. Buba, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence and currently Chairman of the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry, has faced repeated accusations of having links with suspected bandits since 2024—claims he has consistently rejected. The latest controversy erupted after a content creator known as ‘D English Alhaji’ circulated videos allegedly showing suspected bandit kingpins visiting the senator’s residence. The allegations gained further traction after a resident identified as Hassan, in an interview with the social media influencer, accused Buba of being among politicians allegedly aiding bandits in the area. Hassan also claimed that individuals linked to notorious bandit leader Dogo Gide were brought to Abuja for specialised training, purportedly facilitated by an aide of the senator.

In a statement issued on Sunday titled, “Setting the Record Straight: My Response to Fabricated Videos, False Allegations and a Sustained Campaign of Disinformation,” Buba dismissed the allegations as false and malicious. He said a fact-check established that the viral material combined two unrelated clips: one showing Kaduna-based Hajj returnees who visited his residence in 2023, and another showing different individuals displaying passports. “The individuals in the first video spoke Fulfulde; those in the second spoke English. The claim that these clips constitute evidence of bandits visiting my residence is false,” Buba stated. The senator challenged anyone with credible evidence linking him to criminal activities to submit it to the appropriate security agencies, insisting that he had “nothing to hide and nothing to fear from any legitimate investigation”. He also urged journalists, editors, fact-checkers and civil society organisations to independently interrogate the allegations rather than accept viral social media materials at face value.

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Buba traced the controversy to September 15, 2024, when Umar Shayi allegedly led a militia group described as hunters working for the Bauchi State Agency for Vigilante and Youth Empowerment. The group reportedly killed two charcoal sellers conducting their lawful business. As the elected senator representing the district, Buba said he visited the families of the deceased, demanded justice, and condemned the killings. He alleged that following his intervention, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Abubakar Bununu, publicly linked his name to banditry—an allegation he rejected as false and unsupported by evidence. Subsequently, Governor Bala Mohammed petitioned President Bola Tinubu, alleging that Buba sponsored a “bandit kingpin” to perform the 2024 Hajj through an aide named Yahaya Ibrahim. Buba categorically denied the allegation, stating he had no aide by that name and inviting security agencies to investigate.

Rather than engage in a public exchange, Buba said he filed a defamation suit, marked CV/413/2024, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. He also stated that he had taken legal action against individuals behind the allegations in courts in Nigeria and Niamey, Niger Republic. According to Buba, after the videos circulated and those sharing them demanded money as extortion, he petitioned the Nigeria Police Force on September 9, 2025. Five suspects were subsequently arraigned on October 30, 2025, before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on charges including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, criminal defamation, advance-fee fraud and extortion. The next hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2026. Meanwhile, Buba disclosed that he had submitted a formal criminal complaint to the Public Prosecutor at the Tribunal of First Instance in Niamey, Niger Republic, through a legal practitioner in that country, seeking the criminal prosecution of Hassan Saleh Hussein for defamation and insult carried out via electronic communication.

Addressing the origin of photographs and videos now circulating online, Buba said a young man identified as Hassan Husseini had been introduced to him in 2024 as an orphan requiring educational assistance. He enrolled the young man in a private college and an Islamic school in Kaduna and also provided him with a bicycle. According to the senator, Husseini later abandoned his education and requested money to establish a car dealership—a request Buba declined, advising him to return to school. “I later discovered that, while under my care, he had recorded photographs and videos of visitors to my residence. These materials later formed the basis of allegations circulated on social media,” Buba said.

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The controversy has drawn responses from various quarters. The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has called for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the allegations. The group, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, described the allegations as “too serious to be ignored, dismissed, or allowed to be buried under political, ethnic, or religious sentiments”. NOSCEF urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Security Adviser to immediately initiate an investigation capable of establishing the truth or otherwise of the allegations. The group also called on Senator Buba to step aside from his legislative responsibilities pending the conclusion of the investigation, saying this would “demonstrate accountability and enable security agencies to conduct their work without interference or the perception of political influence”. Former Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung also urged the DSS to make public the outcome of its investigation into the allegations, stressing that the matter should not be treated as a mere political disagreement.

Buba claimed that his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and pursue his governorship ambition had heightened political attacks against him. He recalled that former Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar made remarks about the source of his wealth in July 2026, which he considered defamatory, and that he had opted for legal action in that instance. “Political disagreement should never justify character assassination. My decision to leave the APC for the Peoples Redemption Party, under whose platform I am pursuing my gubernatorial aspiration, should be debated on policies, competence and vision, not on fabricated allegations,” Buba said. The senator maintained that he was open to public scrutiny but insisted that such scrutiny must be based on verifiable facts. “There is a difference between investigation and fabrication, between criticism and blackmail, and between political opposition and deliberate character assassination,” he stated.

Buba explained that he initially refrained from responding to the allegations because of the sensitive nature of his previous responsibility as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence. “National security demands discretion. Operational successes cannot always be publicised without jeopardising ongoing efforts, exposing sources or endangering individuals and communities involved in sensitive interventions,” he said. He also rejected suggestions that his humanitarian and philanthropic activities were designed to conceal improper relationships, saying his sponsorship of pilgrims, educational programmes, medical interventions and empowerment initiatives were based on recommendations from community and religious leaders. Buba emphasised that Nigeria cannot defeat insecurity by military force alone, advocating complementary non-kinetic strategies involving community engagement, dialogue, intelligence gathering, deradicalisation and confidence-building. “Sustainable security requires winning the trust of vulnerable communities, strengthening local intelligence networks and creating pathways for cooperation with legitimate authorities,” he said.

The Bauchi State Police Command said it had no formal basis to comment on the allegations, as no petition had been received from any of the parties. The command’s spokesperson, Nafiu Habib, told Saturday Punch that the matter had not been formally brought before the state police authorities. The Force Public Relations Officer did not respond to calls or messages seeking clarification on the alleged arrests and investigation. A businessman and political ally of Buba, Mukhtar Gwarzo, called on security agencies and other relevant institutions to thoroughly investigate the allegations. Gwarzo, the Managing Director of Nixon Energy and Nixon Telecoms, said the accusations were too serious to be ignored because of their implications for national security. “I am not asking anyone to close their eyes. I am not asking for silence. Let every allegation be thoroughly investigated. Let the DSS speak clearly. Let the National Assembly examine the matter with the seriousness it deserves,” Gwarzo stated.

Senator Shehu Buba Denies Bandit Links, Says Viral Videos Manipulated

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Troops raid terrorist enclave in Sokoto, recover high-calibre weapons

Published

49 minutes ago

September 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Troops raid terrorist enclave in Sokoto, recover high-calibre weapons

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s COAS Special Intervention Battalion 7, Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have dislodged terrorist elements from a forest enclave in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, recovering a PKT machine gun, AK-47 rifles, ammunition, motorcycles and other logistical items.

The operation was conducted as part of the ongoing military offensive to clear terrorist hideouts, restrict the movement of armed groups and strengthen security across communities in the North-West. The latest operation took place on Saturday, with troops advancing through identified areas considered to be terrorist threat enclaves.

According to the military, the troops moved through Manu, Alkasim and Kandam villages before advancing towards the Magarya Forest axis, where they encountered the terrorists.

The encounter resulted in an exchange of fire, with the Army saying its troops engaged the terrorists with superior firepower and forced them to abandon their positions and flee deeper into the forest.

The troops subsequently conducted follow-up operations and a thorough search of the area, leading to the recovery of a cache of weapons, ammunition and mobility assets believed to have been abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.

The recovered items included one PKT machine gun, AK-47 rifles and a large quantity of 7.62 x 54mm belted ammunition. Several motorcycles and assorted logistical and miscellaneous items were also recovered during the operation.

The recovery of the weapons represents a setback for the armed group operating in the area, as the military said the seized arms and mobility assets would further degrade the terrorists’ operational capability.

The motorcycles are believed to have been used by the armed group to move through the difficult terrain around the forest and access remote communities.

Following the operation, troops maintained a strong presence in the area and continued patrols and follow-up activities aimed at preventing the terrorists from regrouping or returning to the cleared locations.

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The Army said its troops were continuing to dominate the general area to protect surrounding communities and prevent the armed group from re-establishing its operational base.

The operation is part of the wider Operation FANSAN YAMMA campaign, which has continued to target terrorist and other armed groups operating across the North-West.

The military has increasingly relied on clearance operations and intelligence-led offensives to disrupt armed groups, recover weapons and deny them access to forest corridors and other locations used as hideouts.

The latest operation in Sokoto State also comes amid broader military efforts across the North-West to reduce attacks, kidnapping and other violent crimes affecting rural communities.

The Army said the continued presence of troops in the affected area was intended to prevent the fleeing terrorists from regrouping and to safeguard nearby communities.

Residents were also urged to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist troops in tracking armed groups and preventing further attacks.

The military assured communities in the affected areas that operations would continue as part of efforts to restore lasting security and enable residents to carry out their daily activities without fear.

The latest development is another setback for the terrorists operating in the Tangaza and Magarya Forest axis, following the loss of their position and the recovery of weapons and mobility assets.

The Army said troops would sustain the offensive and continue efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and deny them safe havens across the North-West.