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UPDATED: DSS arraigns suspected kidnappers of 20 corps members in Imo

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The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly behind the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.

The suspects were reportedly arrested during intelligence-led operations conducted by operatives of the DSS, the military and the police in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14

The defendants face charges of conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms in two separate cases.

Three of them, Usman Aliyu, 25, aka Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; and Mohammed Ali, 23, aka Smallie Pepper, were accused of abducting the prospective corps members on Independence Day, October 1, 2026.

According to the charge sheet filed at the Imo State High Court, Oru Judicial Division, Mgbidi, the defendants and others still at large allegedly abducted the victims along the Owerri-Mgbidi-Onitsha Expressway.

The victims were travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were kidnapped. They were rescued after seven days.

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The defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, an offence punishable under Section 6 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009.

They were also accused of unlawfully possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol and 81 rounds of live ammunition.

Following the arraignment, the DSS, in a statement on Tuesday, said, “Three of them, Usman Aliyu, twenty-five, also known as Chonge; 21-year-old Babangida Aliyu, and 23-year-old Mohammed Ali aka Smallie Pepper, are specifically charged with the kidnapping of the prospective corps members. They were charged with conspiracy to commit hostage-taking punishable under Section 6 of the Imp State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009.

“The defendants were accused of unlawfully possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol and eighty-one rounds of live ammunition.”

In a separate case, Aminu Haliru, 27, and Tange Ibrahim, 20, aka Jijji, were arraigned over the alleged abduction of four persons around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4.

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The prosecution alleged that the two defendants and others still at large collected N8 million for the release of the victims.

They were also accused of unlawfully possessing an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun.

The prosecution listed N1.8m as money recovered in the second case, while a DSS investigator and the victims were listed as witnesses in both cases.

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Four UNN students found dead after suspected hard drug overdose at hostel party

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Four students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) have been confirmed dead following a party held at their apartment in End in Praise Lodge, Hilltop area of Nsukka, the university’s host community.

A statement issued on Thursday by
Onah Olisaemeka, president of the UNN chapter of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS); and Obasi Chibuike, the association’s secretary; confirmed the incident , but said the victims were not pharmacy students, as widely reported.

According to the statement, the student leaders visited the hospital where the bodies were deposited in a bid to ascertain the identities of the deceased but could not identify any of them.

“I personally visited Faith Foundation Hospital, where the bodies of four deceased persons (two boys and two girls) from the incident were deposited at the mortuary,” the statement reads.

“I also personally viewed the deceased, and I can confirm that I did not recognise any of them as a pharmacy student.”

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The student leaders said further enquiries revealed that two of the deceased were familiar UNN social media personalities, popularly known for street vlogging (Rymez) and dance content (Golden), respectively.

While urging the university community to avoid spreading unverified information and speculation, the student leaders said further enquiries were ongoing to ascertain the identities of the victims.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this unfortunate incident,” the statement added.

In a viral WhatsApp message purportedly written by a colleague of one of the deceased, the deaths were attributed to a mixture of hard drugs and alcohol allegedly consumed at the party.

The writer claimed that some of the attendees began collapsing around midnight on Tuesday after consuming the substances.

“It was not poison that killed them; it was a mixture of hard drugs and alcohol,” the message reads.

“The house party was held on Tuesday night, and they started collapsing around midnight because the mixture was very strong.

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“Then, a neighbour of the host went to knock on his door yesterday night, but nobody responded. They broke down the door and that was how they found dead bodies everywhere.”

The writer added that one of the victims “is currently in the hospital, and tests confirmed that she had a hard drug overdose in her system”.

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‎Tinubu  campaign team storms Lagos‎

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‎A foremost President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign team, popularly known as South West Agenda For Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (SWAGA) will flag off its campaign for the re-election of the president on Friday.

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‎The Senator Dayo Adegeye-led group has promised to go out enmass to campaign for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to mobilize grassroot support for the All Progressives Congress gubernetorial candidate in Lagos State in the name of Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat.

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‎Speaking on behalf of group at a briefing in Lagos on Wednesday
‎11, November 2026, Chairman Media Committee SWAGA,Hon. Lanre Odubote said that the group under the new name SWAGA 2.0. is ready to take the bull by the horn and to campaign for the re-election of the incumbent President.
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‎Going down the memory lane Odubote said in year 2020  this same SWAGA led by Senator Dayo Adegeye, Chairman Federal Housing Authority,Hon.Oyetunde Ojo, Hon.Monsuru Alao Owolabi  and other like minds moved round the country especially the South West to mobilize grassroot support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contest the Presidency in 2023 and seeing his performance,”we have no other choice than to asked him to continue hence the purpose of SWAGA 2.0”.
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‎Continuing, he said when Tinubu took over, the economy was in total mess and he has been trying his best possible to put things right and the best thing for him is  to continue so that he can consolidate on his four year achievements.
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‎The SWAGA 2.0 spokes person said that the group which is known for its grassroot support will go all out to campaign for Tinubu and Obafemi Hamzat in Lagos state.
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‎ Other members of the group who were present at the briefing namely Director General National Centre For Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM),Engineer Julius Oloro,Olabanji Oba, Adewale Jafojo,Former Chairman Lagos Island East LCDA,Kamal Olawale Salau Bashua and others promised to support the moving train.
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‎Lanre Odubote added that campaign flag-off will take place at the Blue roof LTV,Ikeja on Friday.
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Good morning! Nigerian Newspapers Headlines: 2027: Court judgment worsens Atiku’s troubles

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1. These are challenging times for the African Democratic Congress as its leadership crisis deepens ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a Federal High Court in Abuja invalidating a resignation letter allegedly written by former Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

The development has further complicated the dispute over the party’s leadership, following last week’s judgment which nullified the emergence of the National Working Committee led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark.

2. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of obstructing its campaign following the sealing of Arewa House, Kaduna, the venue proposed for its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s consultation with Northern stakeholders. The party blamed the APC-led Kaduna State Government for the closure.

3. The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and the party’s governorship candidate in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, yesterday donated N12 million to Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area and pledged to end insecurity in the area if elected. Obi promised to sink a motorised borehole in the community immediately and donated N10 million to support vulnerable children. Shija gave N2 million for the education of orphans

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4. Canada is introducing a time-limited measure to transition up to 100,000 workers and their eligible family members already living in the country to permanent residents, as part of a wider plan to process applications for thousands of other migrants and families awaiting decisions. The measure, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on Tuesday, also provides for up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada to obtain permanent residence

5. A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a resignation letter allegedly signed by Nafiu Bala, former Deputy National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ruling that it was not genuine evidence that he voluntarily relinquished his position. In a judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, Justice Peter Lifu held that the signature on the disputed letter was materially different from Bala’s signatures on other documents submitted before the court.


6. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has cancelled the leave of police personnel assigned to election security ahead of the 2027 general elections and ordered an intensified crackdown on bandits nationwide. Disu also directed the immediate deployment of additional personnel, mobility, and air support to communities affected by bandit attacks, and gave Commissioners of Police in affected states 72 hours to submit updated security threat assessments and operational requirements.

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7. Vice-President Kashim Shettima has accused Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate Peter Obi of “clout chasing” after the former Anambra governor said he was prevented from welcoming Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, at Abuja airport on Monday. Shettima referred to the incident while campaigning for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election at the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign rally in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Wednesday.


8. The United States has reportedly withdrawn its Under-17 men’s national team from the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar over security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The decision was communicated to the players and staff on Wednesday, after the US Soccer Federation consulted its internal security team and the US State Department

9. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has warned that the Nigeria Police Force will track down and prosecute individuals involved in spreading fake news, fabricated videos and other misleading digital content capable of triggering public panic and insecurity. Disu said the police had strengthened their cybercrime monitoring and digital forensic capabilities to identify those behind the circulation of fake videos, notices and other misleading materials.

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10. President Bola Tinubu has rewarded the Flamingos, Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national football team, with Federal Government Savings Bonds worth N100m each, issued by GTBank. Coach Akeem Busari also received a cash gift of the same value, while each technical crew member received N50m in cash. The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, announced this while receiving the players and crew on behalf of the President at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.

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