According to Nivo News, four children lost their lives in Borno State following an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Banki town, Bama Local Government Area. The incident occurred on Friday at approximately 12:40 p.m. behind Banki Motor Park in Wajari Ward, police confirmed.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Keneth Daso, stated that the explosion happened while a 12-year-old boy, Mustapha Tijja, and four friends were playing in a makeshift structure. The IED, reportedly discovered in nearby bushes, detonated accidentally. Mustapha sustained injuries and was immediately taken to the FHI 360 Clinic, where he is receiving treatment.

The children who died have been identified as Awana Mustapha, 15; Malum Modu, 14; and Lawan Ibrahim and Modu Abacha, both 12. Authorities have restored calm in the area, and investigations are ongoing. The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, warned the public against handling unknown objects and urged immediate reporting of suspicious items.

According to Nivo News, the Edo State government has terminated the appointment of Chief Press Secretary Fred Itua in what appears to be part of a pattern of late-night administrative decisions. The abrupt dismissal highlights a governance style critics describe as nocturnal, with sacks, redeployments, and appointments often occurring outside regular hours.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Itua’s tenure has drawn scrutiny for his confrontational approach to public communication. Rather than engaging the public strategically or fostering constructive discourse, he became known for a series of hostile remarks directed at dissenting voices. Analysts note that this approach often confused volume with effectiveness, undermining the role of a government spokesperson.

As a manager of the state’s public image, Itua was criticized for inefficiency and a lack of strategic discipline. Observers suggest that his combative communication style frequently countered the administration’s objectives instead of advancing them. The recently issued dismissal letter hinted at a potential redeployment, though speculation about a transfer to a respected media institution such as the Observer newspaper has prompted caution from media stakeholders, who fear that Itua’s past conduct could damage the organization’s long-established credibility.

Experts contend that Itua may be better suited for positions requiring oversight rather than independent leadership, emphasizing that effective communication leadership demands emotional intelligence, maturity, and the ability to elevate public discourse. Itua’s legacy, they argue, is likely to be remembered less for achievements and more for the turbulence his communication style created.

As with previous sudden administrative changes in Edo State, questions remain about who might next face a similar fate in a government whose decisions often unfold under the cover of night.

According to Nivo News, the Supreme Court ruling on withheld local government allocations in Osun State has elicited contrasting reactions from the state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Both parties claimed victory following the judgment while issuing cautionary statements to their supporters and opponents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Osun APC, through its state chairman Tajudeen Lawal, praised the Supreme Court’s decision, describing it as a reinforcement of the July 2024 ruling affirming financial autonomy for local government councils. The party emphasized that the verdict again nullified actions by allegedly illegally elected PDP chairmen and councillors.

However, the APC criticized the Osun State House of Assembly for passing the Local Government Accounts Administration Bill, 2025, shortly after the judgment. The party described the legislation as “unconstitutional” and an attempt to undermine the court’s ruling. It alleged that the bill was rushed through the Assembly to weaken the authority of local government chairmen and councillors reinstated under the APC platform and warned the public to hold lawmakers accountable. The party also accused certain individuals of impersonating members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), calling the act criminal.

In contrast, PDP governorship candidate Adedamola Adebayo interpreted the ruling as a victory for PDP-elected chairmen, urging party members to celebrate peacefully while avoiding any form of lawlessness. Adebayo, who secured 919 votes in the party’s recent primary, stated that the court’s decision affirmed the PDP’s position and emphasized that the party would rely on legal measures to ensure its elected local government officials assume office without disruption. He commended party members for maintaining discipline throughout the legal process.

The Supreme Court had on Friday dismissed a suit filed by the Osun State Government seeking to compel the Federal Government to release withheld allocations to the state’s local governments. A seven-member panel ruled six to one that the suit lacked legal competence. Following the verdict, both the PDP and the APC-aligned members of ALGON welcomed the ruling, each asserting their respective interpretations of its implications.