The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will establish an aircraft manufacturing plant in Osogbo, Osun, just as it takes over construction of the state airport runway in Ido-Osun. Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, the Chief of Air Staff, made this known in Osogbo at the official handing over of the proposed state airport Runway and Airport Corridor to the Nigerian Air Force by the Osun Government. Amao, represented at the event by AVM M.O Onilede, said the Air Force, as part of the agreement reached with the state government to take over the state airport site, had already moved its Research and Development Centre from Kaduna to Osogbo. He said NAF would also develop an “Aviation City” in Osun, adding that discussions were already ongoing with necessary foreign partners and that work would commence as soon as the agreement was reached. Amao said the Aviation City would be the first of its kind in the continent of Africa. “The project in the state would also include aircraft manufacturing plant, a...

President Muhammadu Buhari joins members of the Anglican Communion in Igbo land and around the world in celebrating the 165th anniversary of the coming of Christianity in the Eastern part of Nigeria on July 27, 1857. The Rev Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who later became the first African Anglican bishop of West Africa, had led the Church Missionary Society (CMS) team, including Rev. John Christopher Taylor, Catechist Simon Jonas and Augustus Armadillo and others in the 1857 Niger expedition.   President Buhari urges the Christian faithful celebrating CMS anniversary to uphold the values of love, compassion, sacrifice, forgiveness and selflessness in a diverse country like Nigeria, in recognition of what the true Christian faith teaches and recommends to all adherents. He says that this celebration of faith, hope and victory is an opportunity for reverent worship to God and prayers for the unity, stability and prosperity of the country, at a time like this. Femi Adesina Special Adviser to...

Three separate attacks that rocked Nigeria on July 5 clearly demonstrated that the country’s security forces are no longer able to protect themselves let alone the public. A burnt out bus is seen outside the Kuje prison following anl attack in Kuje, Nigeria, A burnt out bus is seen outside the Kuje maximum prison following a rebel attack in Kuje, Nigeria, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. At least 600 inmates escaped in a jailbreak in Nigeria's capital city, officials said Wednesday, blaming the attack on Islamic extremist rebels. About 300 have been recaptured, authorities said. (AP Photo/Chinedu Asadu) Earlier this month, attacks that took place within minutes of each other in different parts of Nigeria, and the apparent failure of the security forces to respond to them efficiently and in a timely manner, exposed how big of a threat lawlessness and impunity currently poses to the country and its people. Late on July 5, heavily armed men on motorcycles raided the Kuje Medium Security Custo...

The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, will on Wednesday (today) arrive Ikorodu, Lagos State, ahead of the church’s six-day crusade scheduled to begin in the town on Thursday. The crusade, which is part of the cleric’s world evangelisation programme, is coming under the auspices of the ‘Global Crusade with Kumuyi.’ This came as the Christian Association of Nigeria expressed its support for the crusade. The Lagos State CAN Chairman, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, while announcing the Christian body’s support for the programme, described the forthcoming event as “a wonderful end-time programme in which participants will never regret attending.” denominations to participate in the gospel programme actively, according to a statement. The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria is also participating in the event. Already, the church had said Deeper Life leader would meet the Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Adegorushen, on his arrival in the town on ...

Nigeria - Maiduguri Thirteen scrap-metal collectors in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state have died after a bomb they excavated blew up, security sources told WEXERES. Sixteen metal scavengers from a displaced persons’ camp in Bama found the bomb while digging for scrap on Monday in the bush on the outskirts of town. “The bomb exploded as they were pushing it in a cart toward the town, killing 13 and seriously injuring three,” Babakura Kolo, a leader in a local militia, said on Tuesday. Kolo said the ordnance had apparently been dropped in 2015 during military operations to retake Bama from the Boko Haram armed group. “It was dormant for seven years and buried in the sand but they managed to dig it out, not knowing it was a bomb,” said a second militia leader, Bukar Grema, who gave the same toll. Nigeria’s military is battling to end a 13-year conflict spearheaded by armed groups like Boko Haram in the country’s northeast. It has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced 2.2 million mo...

Russia targeted Ukraine’s Black Sea regions of Odesa and Mykolaiv with air strikes Tuesday, hitting private buildings and port infrastructure along the country’s southern coast, the Ukrainian military said. The Kremlin’s forces used air-launched missiles in the attack, Ukraine’s Operational Command South said in a Facebook post.   Russia targeted Ukraine’s Black Sea regions of Odesa and Mykolaiv with air strikes Tuesday, hitting private buildings and port infrastructure along the country’s southern coast, the Ukrainian military said. The Kremlin’s forces used air-launched missiles in the attack, Ukraine’s Operational Command South said in a Facebook post. The command posted video Tuesday that appeared to show smoldering rubble and destroyed buildings with the caption: “The consequences of today’s rocket shelling across the Odessa region.” In the Odesa region, a number of private buildings in villages on the coast were hit and caught fire, the report said. In the Mykolaiv region, po...

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), arrived at his official residence at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday at 09:00 pm. Our correspondent who was on the ground spotted a retinue of escorts conveying Buhari into the premises from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Hours earlier, The President had been in Liberia where he was a Special Guest at the country’s 175th independence anniversary. In his goodwill message, Buhari stressed that the deepening of democracy and good governance are essential antidotes to unconstitutional change of governments in Africa. He also called on West African leaders to do their best possible to conduct elections in an atmosphere of trust, freedom and transparency. This, he argued, is the only way the sub-region can be insulated from the scourge of unconstitutional takeovers recorded in Mali (2021), Guinea (2021) and Burkina Faso (2022). Buhari’s visit to Liberia becomes his 13th foreign trip in the past six months.

  President Muhammadu Buhari Suspected terrorists laid ambush on the personnel of the Elite Guards Brigade at the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory. The troops were said to have been ambushed during a patrol in the area. Three of the personnel were said to have been injured during the attack and are currently receiving medical attention. A military source told our correspondent that the attack happened while the troops were on patrol. The source added that the troops engaged them and successfully repelled the attack. The source said, “The troops of the elite Guards Brigade were ambushed along Bwari-Kubwa road. But the ambush was forcefully repelled by the Brigade of Guards troops. “The troops were on routine patrol of the area when they were attacked. However, three soldiers were wounded in the attack and they are already being treated at a military hospital in Abuja. The attack happening within the area of Bwari showed that the terrorists are actually within the ...

Veteran Nollywood actress, Sola Awojobi Onayiga, is dead. The gap-toothed actress, popular for playing Ireti in the now-defunct family drama, Fuji House of Commotion, died on Monday. Her death was announced by a renowned movie critic and film specialist, Husseini Shaibu, via his Twitter page. Shaibu said, “Just learnt that the accomplished Stage and Screen Actress and Fellow of Theatre Arts Auntie Sola Awojobi Onayiga passed on today. “Auntie Sola is best known for living delightfully the role of Ireti aka Cooking practicals in the defunct TV sitcom ‘CHECKMATE’! Journey well, Ma!” More details shortly…

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo chose to undergo a surgical procedure on his right femur (tigh bone) at a local hospital because “He had confidence in Nigerian doctors both at home and abroad,” a consultant who operated on the VP has revealed. WEXERES reports that Osinbajo, on Saturday, successfully underwent leg surgery on his leg at the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos. The operation is “possibly related” to a longstanding injury associated with a game of squash, the VP had revealed in a tweet. According to a senior official in the Presidency who pleaded anonymity, some of the government and private practice doctors of the Vice President suggested he travels out of the country as this is “often usually considered by such a class of patients and at times the option could also seem more seamless.” “But he insisted on using a Nigerian hospital and medical experts. “The VP’s view is that most people don’t even know the facilities exist here. Besides, we have some of the best doc...

One person was injured and hospitalised after a two-storey building in the Onipanu area of Lagos State collapsed. The affected building is said to be at Oke Arin street, off Shyllon Ilupeju. The incident reportedly happened at about 1.07 am on Wednesday. A source in the area who craves anonymity confirmed the incident, adding that the building is around the rail line in the area “Yes, a building collapsed at the Oju Irin (rail line) area during the early hours of today,” he said. Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, said the structure was an abandoned two-storey building that collapsed to ground zero. According to LASEMA, investigation revealed that the incident occurred at about 12:45am due to the aging of the structure. "Fortunately no loss of life. However, one adult male sustained minor injury and has been taken to hospital. “The affected building has been cordoned off in order to prevent any threat,” the agency said in a statement on Wednesday...

 The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Friday wedded  Nana Hadiza, the daughter of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) Hadiza is the third daughter from Buhari’s first wife, Safinatu and has just become Malami's third wife. According to TheCable, the private Nikkai ceremony took place at the villa. Nana Hadiza is 41 years old, a divorcee with six children.

The Nigerian Correctional Service on Friday released the names and images of inmates with cases of terrorism who escaped from the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre in Abuja. WEXERES reports that the inmates escaped the correctional centre on Tuesday night after members of the Islamic for West Africa Province attacked the facility. “If you see any of these people, or have useful information which may lead to their recapture, please call 07000099999, 09060004598 or 08075050006 or Any Law Enforcement Agency nearest to you. We guarantee to keep your information anonymous,” the NCoS said in a release on Friday. See the names below: 1. ABDULKAREEM MUSA 2. ABDUSALAMI ADAMU 3. ABUBAKAR ABDULRAHMAN HABIBU 4. ABUBAKAR MOHAMMED SADIQ 5. ABUBAKAR MOHAMMED 6. ABUBAKAR YUSUF 7. ADAM LAWAL MUHAMMAD 8. AKIBU MUSA DANJUMA 9. AMODU OMALE SALIHU 10. BELLO HARUNA 11. BILYAMINU USMAN 12. BUKAR ALI 13. IBRAHIM MOHAMMED 14. IKYA ABUR 15. ISMAIL IDRIS ABDULLAHI 16. MODU AJI 17. MOHAMMED SANI 18. MUSA ABUBAKAR 19. ...

…as soldiers, security agencies arrest more prisoners There is heavy security presence at Kuje town where gunmen suspected to be terrorists bombed the Nigerian Correctional Center and released several terrorists in custody. This is just as the Nigerian Air Force has embarked on aerial surveillance to aid ground troops who are in pursuit of the terrorists in the forest.   So far the operations of soldiers who have been on the trail of the terrorists and the prisoners who escaped from custody is beginning to yield positive results with the arrest of a good number of the prisoners. The security agents comprising the military, police, DSS among others have mounted several security checkpoints conducting stop and search on vehicles and passengers.   Meanwhile the minister of Defence Bashir Magashi, who visited the facility said 600, and not over one thousand prisoners escaped from the facility during the attack as it is being speculated. Details later

The Indigenous People of Biafra has lashed out at a former Governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, saying that he should not link the group with the ambition of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi. This was as the group stressed that it was not interested in the nation’s “corrupt and fraudulent” politics, adding that its main target was the liberation of the Biafra people. The group observed that Obi was neither a member of IPOB nor supported its cause at any point in time. IPOB Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, stated this in a statement on Tuesday, a copy of which was made available to WEXERES. The statement read, “The global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, under the command and leadership of our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wishes to advise the former Governor Kano State Rabiu Kwankwoso not to involve IPOB in the selection process they call election in Nigeria. “The Nigerian po...

  The General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries,   Chibuzor Chinyere , has offered free accommodation to veteran actor,   Kenneth Aguba , who is reportedly homeless and has nowhere to stay. In the early hours of Monday, July 4, photos of the veteran thespian in a shabby environment looking downcast surfaced online and sparked concern from Nigerians. It was alleged that Kenneth Aguba is homeless and lives in the shabby structure where the photos were taken. In an updated development, a popular clergyman, Apostle Chibuzor, known for his benevolence, has now offered free accommodation to Aguba. “Who knows the contact of this actor should tell him to contact me immediately. Instead of him sleeping on the streets, I apostle chibuzor chinyere GO of OPM is giving him a free accommodation in one of the OPM free estates. With free feeding.” He wrote on Twitter. See his post below, This comes after Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere donated a fully equipped restaurant to the family of late...

Russia’s defence minister says Moscow’s forces have taken control of the last major Ukrainian-held city in Luhansk. damaged residential buildings are seen in Lysychansk Smoke rises over the remains of a building destroyed by a military strike in Lysychansk  Russia’s defence minister tells President Vladimir Putin that Moscow’s forces “have established full control over the city of Lysychansk” in Ukraine’s Luhansk region. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says his country is being “provoked”, claims Ukraine fired several missiles at military targets inside Belarus. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says “colossal investments” are needed to rebuild his war-torn country. Ukrainian forces hit a Russian base with more than 30 strikes in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol without causing any casualties.

Russian forces destroyed five Ukrainian army command posts in the Donbas and in the Mykolaiv regions with high-precision weapons and also struck three storage sites in the Zaporizhzhia region, says the defence ministry. Details later...

The Deputy Registrar, Delta State Polytechnic, Excellence Ugbune, trended on the social media after he was commended for returning excess cash dispensed to him by an ATM. He speaks to OPEYEMI ADEFEMI about his motivation What is your name and what do you do for a living? My name is Excellence Ugbune. I am a public servant. I am the deputy Registrar at the Delta State Polytechnic. Is it true that an ATM dispensed cash in excess of your request and you returned the excess cash to the bank? Yes; it is true. I was overpaid when I went to withdraw at the ATM. Can you narrate how it happened? Well, some persons have been asking me how possible it is (for an ATM to dispense in excess of request). What happened exactly was that I went to cash some money that day and after cashing the money I decided to confirm if the amount was complete. In the process, I saw that the bundle was a mixture of N1,000 and N500 notes. After counting, I discovered that the cash in my hand was more than the amount I...

  Osun State Police Command, on Saturday, said it apprehended a corps member, a supervisor working with the Independent National Electoral Commission, and one other over manipulation of ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter Cards in Osu, Osun State. The police also said 38 PVCs were recovered from the suspects. A statement by the spokesperson for the command, Yemisi Opalola, obtained in Osogbo, noted that its officers have also launched a manhunt for two members of the Peoples Democratic Party, Wale Ojo and Ijamakinwa Olaoluwa, for inducing the corps member to give a PVC belonging to a particular voter to another person. The statement read in part, “On 30th June, 2022 at about 1040hrs, the complainant reported at Osu Division that, on 29th June, 2022, at about 1000hrs, he went to Independent National Electoral Commission office located at the Atakumosa West Local Government Area, Osu, Osun State, to collect his permanent Voter Card but could not find it. “He consequently demanded...

 According to a source who begged not to be identified, the protest was supposed to expose the corruption of Nigerian army operations under General Faruk Yahayi, the chief of staff. He said that Nigerian army operations were hampered by ethnic and religious jings, who favored only part of the army. “General Yahaya has done what no other army commander in the history of the Nigerian army has done. He has divided the Nigerian army according to religious and ethnic lines. You cannot be considered an officer unless you are of the same religion or religion that has affected operational efficiency on several occasions,” he said. “Let me tell you, the current harvest of the Nigerian military leadership is busy making pension plans. Contracts are divided among themselves, money for fighting units is transferred to private pockets, troop fees have not been paid, and there has often been an atmosphere of military fraud, as we speak. Wexeres Reporters believe that the military authorities are...

Scores of children were allegedly found in an underground apartment of a church in the Valentino Area of Ondo town, Ondo State, on Friday evening. It was gathered that the children were allegedly kidnapped and kept in the underground apartment of the church. A source said victims were over 50 while the police had rescued them and arrested the pastor and some members of the church. In a viral video, the children were seen in a patrol vehicle of the police who took them to the police station. In the one minute, 40 seconds video, a voice was heard saying, “They are kidnapped children found in the underground cell of a church in the Valentino Area of Ondo. The pastor and some members of the church have been arrested and were also in the patrol van of the police. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, said the victims had been taken to the Akure headquarters of the command. “I don’t have the details yet but they are bringing t...

Scientists have discovered a carnivorous plant that grows prey-trapping contraptions underground, feeding off subterranean creatures such as worms, larvae and beetles. The newly found species of pitcher plant was unearthed in the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo. Like other pitcher plants, Nepenthes pudica has modified leaves, known as pitfall traps or pitchers, that its prey fall into before being consumed. (One species is so large it can trap rats). No other species of pitcher plant known to science catches its prey underground. The plant forms specialized underground shoots with small, white, chlorophyll-free leaves, the researchers said. The pitchers are much larger than the leaves and have a reddish color. "This species places its up-to-11-cm-long (4.3-inch-long) pitchers underground, where they are formed in cavities or directly in the soil and trap animals living underground, usually ants, mites and beetles," said lead study author Marti...

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the report of a young mentally-ill lady who stripped herself and barked like a dog in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The state police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said this in a statement on Friday. He said the command was awmare of the report of the yet-to-be-identified lady who might have been diabolically used for money ritual by a suspected internet fraudster otherwise called Yahoo boy. Oyeyemi said, “The young lady in question was alleged to have been spiritually and diabolically used by a suspected yahoo boy, as a result of which she started barking like a dog.” The PPRO added that the victim, who was brought to police without any clothes on her, became “very difficult to control because she was acting violently, hence she was kept in the cell.” Oyeyemi said police had immediately contacted her parents, saying she was taken to a hospital with the help of the police. He said that “the alleged Yahoo boy was immediately arrested for int...

 The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday, said his government would do everything possible to ensure the return of those abducted in an attack on a mining site in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. This was as he described the attack as a direct assault on Nigeria which will not be allowed to go unpunished. In a statement signed on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President also paid tributes to the military personnel who lost their lives repelling the attack saying their effort will not be in vain. The statement is titled ‘President Buhari: Attack on Shiroro is an attack on Nigeria herself. it will not go unpunished.’ WEXERES reports that gunmen believed to be terrorists killed over 43 persons including 30 soldiers and seven mobile police personnel in the attack on Wednesday. According to residents, several Chinese and Nigerian nationals were also abducted. Reacting to the incident, Buhari said, “We...