Headlines

The remains of the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba and son, Chizi have been buried in his hometown of Omueke, Isiokpo in Rivers State.

The 57-year-old banker Plc, his wife and his son were laid to rest in a private interment following a funeral service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Naija News reports that their burial followed a week-long funeral rites to celebrate the life of the founder of Wigwe University.

Several business leaders, friends, captains of industry, family members and associates had paid tributes to the late banking guru at the events held in Lagos.

The funeral service for the esteemed banker and philanthropist commenced promptly at 11:00 AM today, with friends, associates, and well-wishers from both local and international communities, gathered to pay their final respects.

Present at the service include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governor Sim Fubara, State Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, business leader Aliko Dangote, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, Governor Alex Otti, and Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Watch below

There have been some reports today regarding the passing of Herbert Wigwe’s father, Shyngle Wigwe.

We can confirm that these reports are inaccurate. Shyngle Wigwe is not dead.

He was reported to have collapsed and taken to hospital for treatment.

Our thoughts remain with the Wigwe family during this difficult time.

Late Herbert Wigwe’s father, PA Shyngle Wigwe had allegedly been reported to have slumped during the funeral.

He was reported to have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Details soon….

Bandits have reportedly abducted dozens of Almajiri (Tsangaya) students during the wee hours of Saturday in Gidan Bakuso, Gada local government area of Sokoto state.

The students were said to have been abducted from their school around 1am on Saturday, March 9.

The bandits reportedly killed one person and abducted a woman.

The proprietor of the school, Liman Abubakar, the number of abducted student could not be ascertained as at the time of writing this report.

“We are still counting,” the head of the school said.

Details shortly…

There is tight security at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, ahead of the burial of former Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe.

Report says over 50 private jets are expected to arrive Isiokpo for Wigwe’s burial.

Wigwe, his wife, Doreen, and son, Chizzy died in a helicopter crash in the US in February 2024.

As at the time of writing this report, dignitaries, guests and hundreds of mourners have started arriving at the RCCG in Isiokpo.

The state commissioner of police, Olatunji Disu, led security men to the venue.

Clerics, traditional rulers from the Omoeke, Wigwe’s hometown and monarchs from Isiokpo, in general, were already seated.

Meanwhile, there is a security beef-up within Isiokpo and its surroundings.

Family members and friends attended the Christian wake organised in honour of the deceased in the community on Friday.

Fuel scarcity has hit the Nigerian capital, Abuja, with commuters and commercial drivers forming long queues at fuel stations in different parts of the city.

The queues have led to traffic congestion in certain areas. Some filling stations were observed to be closed, while others had long queues of vehicles waiting to purchase fuel.

At the Fynefield filling station in Apo Resettlement, gates were locked, preventing new vehicles from entering.

Queues at retail outlets of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited are usually long because they offer fuel at a lower price compared to most other outlets.

The NNPC station had a worsening queue, causing traffic in the Central Business District Area.

Other filling stations in various areas of the city were selling fuel at prices ranging from N617 to N680.

Black marketers have taken advantage of the situation, selling fuel at higher prices to those desperate to buy. The cause of the fuel scarcity is yet to be determined.

The spokesperson for NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, reassured the public, stating, “There is no scarcity; we have abundant products, and there is no cause for alarm.”

The bodies of Herbert Wigwe, former Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, his wife, and son have arrived in Nigeria for burial.

The bodies of the Wigwes arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State, from the United States on Friday, March 8.

Recall that Wigwe died in a helicopter crash in the United States on February 9.

His wife, Chizoba, and son, Chizi, we’re also onboard the ill-fated helicopter.

The video below captures the moment Wigwe’s remains arrived in his hometown, Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State for burial.

No fewer than 16 people have reportedly been killed in a fresh attack by unknown gunmen on Wandor community of Mbalom area in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.

Sources say the attackers invaded the village on Thursday night adding that 16 corpses had been recovered so far while many residents were still missing.

The villagers said as of Friday morning, bereaved youths of the affected community took custody of the bodies while awaiting security intervention.

They also said that 11 settlements, including Tse- Agernor, Tse- Najime, Tse- Wandor, Wandor market square, Tse-Ate, Tse-Anyol, Tse- Abagi, Tse-Ifian, Tse- Ukombor, Tse- Girgi Akwaya, Tse- Tion Ukpa and Tse- Abuur were were set ablaze by the armed invaders.

Those whose bodies had been found were identified as Peter Tion, Nyityo Kyoon, Iorfa Ukombor, Doopinen Awua, Tyoshaa Mkaanem, Asan Ate, Asough Ate, Terzungwe Asoo Ate and MWO Mbatsavbun Gbatar (rtd).

Others are: John Ndahagh Tyohemba, Tertsea Ukombor, Akuma Kpenge, Abume Kpenge, Igba Byuan, Master Ter Byuan, Terzungwe Aulugh and a little boy whose name was not yet known at the time of this report.

A villager, who witnessed the attack, said search was ongoing in the bushes to recover bodies of missing persons believed to have been killed.

The villager who preferred anonymity, said, “They (attackers) came through Mbasombo into our village. There is a herders’ settlement close to the boundary between Ihyrav and Ayar and the Alhaji who we believed caused this attack. We earlier arrested three of his boys and handed them over to the police at Aliade. They were later released.

“The retired WO2 military officer and community security adviser who reported the case was among those killed. They took us by surprise. They came around 7pm yesterday (Thursday) numbering over 40, with guns and cutlasses.

“The operation lasted over three hours. As I’m talking to you now, over 50 houses are burnt. One of the victims was burnt in his house.”

The police spokesperson for Benue Command, SP Catherine Anene, said she could not speak on the incident until the Commissioner of Police, who had gone to the scene of the incident, returns.

Similarly, the Deputy Governor of the state, Barr. Sam Ode, was said to have travelled to the affected community for on-the-spot assessment at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Masev Development Association (MDA) of Gwer people has expressed shock over the brutal murder of their people and the destruction of over 50 houses by the attackers.

President General worldwide, Prof. Vearumun Tarhule, in a statement made available to journalists on Friday morning by the organisation’s Media Adviser, Dr. David Mtswenem, regretted the unfortunate incident, saying it was the third attack on the Mbalom people.

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly urged governors to provide financial incentives to Islamic clerics during the Ramadan fasting period to discourage sermons critical of his government.

Peoples Gazette reports that the president is concerned about potential sermons that could provoke public dissent amid widespread challenges, including hunger, insecurity, and economic crises.

Accordsing to the report, a confidential memo sent on Tinubu’s behalf by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, urged governors to engage religious leaders, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the Nigeria Council of Ulamas to promote peaceful coexistence during Ramadan.

The memo emphasized the need to moderate Islamic preachers to prevent comments that could mislead followers or incite opposition against the government.

The memo highlights the delicate situation in Nigeria, where economic hardships, rising inflation, and security challenges have fueled public frustration.

With the potential for anti-government sentiments to escalate during the holy month of Ramadan, the president seeks strategies to manage dissent and promote a positive image.

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has called on the Federal Government to implement censorship on social media platforms in Nigeria, citing concerns about the abuse of the platforms.

The governor made the call after a photo of him kneeling to greet President Bola Tinubu went viral on social media.

Bago emphasized the need for regulated content to curb misinformation while promoting objective reporting by traditional journalists.

The governor made the remarks during his decoration as the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council.

His words: “As the fourth estate of the realm, journalists should carry out their duties as watchdogs of the society and ensure the objectivity in their reports.

“I call for the introduction of censorship on social media contents to checkmate the spread of fake news and hate speeches.”