NEWS
Fear Grips Oyo Community as Gunmen Kidnap 60-Year-Old Trader
Panic has spread through Monatan community in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State following the abduction of a 60-year-old building materials trader by suspected armed men.
The incident occurred on Saturday night along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road in Ibadan when the victim was intercepted by four masked gunmen while returning home at about 8:47 pm.
The attackers reportedly operated in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla before forcefully whisking the victim away to an unknown destination.
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Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the state police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the matter was reported on May 2, 2026, and that security operatives had already begun rescue efforts.
He stated: “I can confirm that there was a case of abduction reported on May 2, 2026, at about 2047hrs from the Monatan area of Ibadan. Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle. Upon receipt of the report, police operatives swiftly visited the scene and activated necessary operational measures aimed at rescuing the victim and apprehending the perpetrators.”
Residents of the area have expressed fear over rising insecurity, urging authorities to intensify surveillance and prevent further attacks.
Security agencies assured that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim and arrest those responsible.
NEWS
The Guardian’s Abuja GM Passes On
Chuks Nwanne, general manager of The Guardian’s Abuja operations and former Saturday editor of the newspaper, has passed on.
Eniola Daniel, a senior multimedia reporter at The Guardian, announced Nwanne’s death in an X post on Saturday.
It was gathered that Nwanne died on Saturday after a protracted illness.
Daniel described Nwanne as a “prolific entertainment writer” and his teacher, saying he would be deeply missed.
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A native of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nwanne joined The Guardian in 2008 as an entertainment reporter.
He later became an editorial assistant at The Guardian Life Magazine, the newspaper’s weekly lifestyle publication.
Nwanne also served as assistant editor, entertainment and lifestyle, while overseeing the youth, travel and tourism sections of The Guardian on Saturday.
He held a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, and a master’s degree in communication studies from Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos.
He attended several training programmes and conferences in Nigeria and abroad.
Beyond journalism, Nwanne was the founder and creative director of the Ogbunike Cave Carnival, an annual three-day cultural festival established to promote the Ogbunike Cave, a major tourist attraction in Nigeria.
He was married and had three children.
Daniel expressed condolences to Nwanne’s family, describing his death as a loss to Ogbunike, Anambra, the music and entertainment industry, and journalism.
NEWS
Petrol Tanker Fire Ravages Houses, Vehicles in Calabar
A road accident, involving a tanker truck conveying petroleum products opposite the Odukpani Local Government Secretariat, Cross River State, ignited a fire, leading to the destruction of several shops and affecting vehicles.
These transpired on Sunday, when the tanker accidentally overturned which led to the fire that spread to nearby shops and buildings.
Fortunately, the tanker driver was rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command said that officers from the Odukpani Division were deployed to the scene to secure the area and prevent further harm.
The Command said the Fire Service had also been alerted and was expected to deploy personnel to contain and extinguish the fire.
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As of the time of filing this report, no death has been confirmed.
However, the police said a number of shops and vehicles had been affected by the inferno.
The Command urged residents and motorists to keep away from the immediate area and allow emergency responders unhindered access to the scene.
It also advised members of the public to exercise caution around the area because of the risk posed by the burning petroleum tanker.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said further updates would be released as verified information became available.
NEWS
Tinubu Gov’t Does Not Engage, Everybody Is Its Enemy — Ajaero
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to meaningfully engage with organised labour, alleging that the government has remained aloof despite repeated attempts to open dialogue.
Ajaero made the remarks during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast, where he spoke about the relationship between the labour movement and the Federal Government over the past few years.
According to the NLC president, the government has not been engaging with labour and only responds when workers and other groups take steps to force its attention.
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“For the past two, three years, you know, it’s not a government that is engaging. This government doesn’t engage,” Ajaero said.
He described the administration as “aloof”, stressing that meaningful engagement had been lacking between the government and organised labour.
Ajaero recalled that the NLC had, by December 17, 2025, announced plans to take its grievances to the streets after months of attempts to communicate with the President.
He said the labour movement had written to President Tinubu from June through December but received no response.
“Well, by December 17th, 2025, we pulled out that we are going to the streets. After writing a letter from May, sorry June, to December to Mr. President and there was no response,” he said.
According to him, the planned action eventually led to the intervention of some state governors, who facilitated an interface between labour and the government.
He said the intervention became necessary after other channels of communication, including the office of the Minister of Labour, had failed.
“Because the whole channel—whether through the Minister of Labour or any other office—failed, collapsed. So some governors met with us, and since that time we have talked once or twice,” Ajaero said.
However, the NLC president suggested that the situation had not significantly improved, alleging that the issues raised by labour since December had largely been left unresolved.
“And those issues… December last year to now, they’re just doing their business. Everybody is their enemy,” he added.





