Nelson Ugwuagbo

A crash has occurred on Karu Bridge along the Nyanya-Keffi expressway in Abuja, less than 24 hours after a fatal accident was reported at the same location.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident involved a trailer and a vehicle transporting sachet water, commonly referred to as “pure water.”

Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, though the number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.

The repeated incidents have raised fresh concerns over road safety along the busy route, which links the Federal Capital Territory to Nasarawa State.

Details later….

The South East Caucus of the House of Representatives has called for the immediate resignation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, citing what it described as a “catastrophic institutional failure” in the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

In a statement issued on Monday, the caucus leader, Hon. Igariwey Enwo, criticised the examination body for technical glitches that reportedly affected nearly 380,000 candidates, many of whom have now been directed to retake the examination.

The lawmakers described JAMB’s response to the incident as “grossly inadequate,” citing poor communication, scheduling conflicts with ongoing WAEC examinations, and the short notice given to candidates for the rescheduled test.

They called for the immediate cancellation of the 2025 UTME and the fixing of a new date—preferably after the conclusion of WAEC and NECO exams—to avoid further disruption to students’ academic schedules.

The caucus also demanded the suspension of officials responsible for JAMB’s digital operations and logistics.

“Over the past week, we have exercised restraint, hoping that JAMB would provide effective remedial measures to address what is clearly a catastrophic institutional failure—one that has severely shaken public trust and the confidence of students and their families nationwide,” the statement read.

According to the lawmakers, all five South Eastern states were directly affected by what they referred to as “score distortions,” adding that the measures taken so far by JAMB had fallen short of expectations.

They criticised the Board’s “knee-jerk, fire-brigade approach,” noting that many students currently sitting for the WAEC examinations were given less than 48 hours’ notice to sit for the rescheduled UTME.

“This notice was grossly inadequate, resulting in low turnout. In some cases, the rescheduled UTME clashed directly with ongoing WAEC papers, compounding the distress and confusion for students and their families,” the statement added.

The caucus insisted that accountability must go beyond public apologies, stating that Prof. Oloyede’s resignation would pave the way for an independent review of the failure and help restore public confidence in JAMB.

The Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Maria Oligbi-Edeko, has resigned from her position.

Oligbi-Edeko, who represents Esan North-East II, announced her resignation during plenary on Monday in Benin City, the state capital.

Her decision follows the recent shift in the Assembly’s political balance, after several members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including the Speaker, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), rendering the PDP a minority in the House.

Oligbi-Edeko was elected Deputy Speaker on June 16, 2023. Following her resignation, lawmakers unanimously elected Hon. Osamwonyi Atu, who represents Orhionmwon East under the APC, as the new Deputy Speaker.

During the session, Majority Leader Hon. Jonathan Aigbokhan moved a motion requesting that all entitlements due to the office of the Deputy Speaker be accorded to Oligbi-Edeko. The motion was seconded by Minority Leader Hon. Charity Airobarueghian and was unanimously adopted.

In her resignation letter, Oligbi-Edeko cited the need to uphold justice, fairness, and equity across all constituencies. She also expressed appreciation to PDP leaders and members for the opportunity to serve her constituency in the House.

Fellow lawmakers commended her commitment and dedication to public service.

Finnish prosecutors on Friday announced that Nigerian separatist leader Simon Ekpa has been charged with inciting terrorism through online platforms.

In a statement, Finland’s National Prosecution Authority confirmed it had charged “a Finnish individual in a case involving suspected public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent and participation in the activities of a terrorist group.”

The alleged offences were committed in the city of Lahti between 2021 and 2024, and are linked to efforts aimed at securing the independence of Nigeria’s Biafra region.

While the prosecution authority did not name the individual, Finnish public broadcaster YLE identified the suspect as Simon Ekpa, who claims to head the Biafra Republic Government in Exile.

Ekpa was detained in November and, according to authorities, remains in custody. He has denied all charges.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday received the newly crowned Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The visit marked the monarch’s first official audience with the President since his coronation on April 12, 2025.

Oba Owoade arrived at the Villa shortly after Jumaat prayers and was received following Tinubu’s closed-door meeting with service chiefs and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

During the monarch’s coronation ceremony in Oyo town, Tinubu—represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima—had charged the new Alaafin to promote unity among the Yoruba people and contribute to national cohesion.

Details later

Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in collaboration with personnel of Operation Safe Haven, have neutralized two suspected bandits and recovered approximately 1,000 stolen cattle during a joint operation in Taraba and Plateau States.

The successful operation followed actionable intelligence that armed bandits, riding in a convoy of about 30 motorcycles, had crossed from Plateau into Taraba State to carry out a cattle rustling attack on a Fulani settlement near Jebjeb Village in Karim Lamido Local Government Area.

According to a statement issued by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, Captain Olubodunde Oni, the operation was part of the ongoing security initiative code-named Operation Lafiya Jama’a, aimed at bolstering efforts to combat criminal activity across Taraba and its surrounding states.

Responding swiftly, troops of 6 Brigade in Taraba coordinated with their counterparts from Operation Safe Haven in the Kampani axis of Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State. The combined forces pursued the fleeing assailants into Komodoro village, where they were intercepted in Daji Madam Forest.

A fierce exchange of gunfire ensued during which two bandits were neutralized, and the troops succeeded in recovering roughly 1,000 rustled cattle.

The recovered animals were safely returned to the Jebjeb community in Karim Lamido LGA, where local authorities have taken custody.

The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the fight against banditry and ensuring peace and security in the region.