The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has officially announced that veteran Nollywood actor Benedict Johnson is currently hospitalized and in need of surgery. The news was confirmed by the National President of the AGN, Abubakar Yakubu, on Saturday following public concern sparked by a viral video of the actor undergoing an MRI scan.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• While the actor’s specific medical condition remains undisclosed, it has been confirmed that he requires a surgical procedure.

• The leadership of the AGN is fully aware of the situation and has pledged to provide institutional support to ensure the surgery is successful.

• “Yes, he is ill. Actually, he is ill and requires surgery. The guild is aware, and we are lending our full support to ensure that he undergoes this surgery,” Yakubu stated.

• Benedict Johnson is a notable alumnus of Abia State University whose career began as a recording artist in the late 1980s before transitioning to acting in foundational Nollywood films like Living in Bondage and Stolen Bible.

Nollywood Bids Farewell to Alexx Ekubo

In a separate development, the film industry and grieving loved ones have laid actor Alexx Ekubo to rest.

• The late actor was buried on Thursday, June 18, in his hometown of Arochukwu, Abia State.

• The burial was marked by an emotional ceremony attended by a large crowd of mourners, including many colleagues from the acting profession, to honor his decade-long career.

• The event featured moving tributes and prayers as family and friends gathered to commit his body to mother earth, marking a final, painful goodbye to a cherished colleague.

Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has publicly commented on a recent attack that resulted in military casualties in Sokoto State. At least two soldiers reportedly lost their lives, and several others were injured, after their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) while en route to the Bargaja community in the Isa Local Government Area. The troops had been mobilized to assist the area following an early Saturday morning bandit raid.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a video surfaced after the attack, Turji expressed satisfaction over the incident, claiming victory over those he described as enemies responsible for killing civilians and rustling livestock across areas including Sokoto, Zamfara, Isa, and Sabon Birni. These claims remain unverified at this time.

Escalating Security Fears and Alleged Arms Buildup

Simultaneously, severe security concerns are mounting following claims by Sokoto-based activist Basharu Altine Guyawa Isa. In a recent Facebook post, the activist alleged that Turji is aggressively bolstering his forces and procurement of weaponry along the border shared by Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Key allegations from the activist include:

• Turji’s fighters are reportedly conducting weapons training in various communities, including Bingabale Kudu, Bafarawa East, and Bargaja.

• The group is allegedly receiving specialized training from individuals with suspected links to Boko Haram.

• The buildup of arms and personnel may be a precursor to coordinated assaults on five local government headquarters in eastern Sokoto ahead of the rainy season’s peak.

Following these assertions, the activist released a video online that he claimed documented newly acquired weapons now in the possession of Turji’s faction.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recently conducted several successful operations across Nigeria, leading to significant drug seizures and the arrest of multiple suspects.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Arrests in Abia State Two elderly men have been taken into custody in Umuahia, Abia State, for supplying illicit substances to teenage secondary school students.

• Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora, 75, was arrested on June 19, 2026, after 4.64 kilograms of tramadol and diazepam were found in his patent medicine store.

• Godfrey Orji, 84, a pensioner, was apprehended by school security guards for supplying drugs to students at Saint Silas Secondary School and was subsequently transferred to the NDLEA. A 15-year-old student confirmed that Orji supplied the drugs, which were used and sold to peers.

Operations in Lagos and Other States The NDLEA also carried out successful raids in several other regions:

• Lagos: Officers intercepted 9.5 kilograms of a dangerous synthetic cannabinoid from China and 300 grams of cannabis. Additionally, a raid on the home and shop of wanted dealer Lukman Badmus led to the arrest of his wife, Aisha Saraki, and the recovery of codeine syrup and 22.5 kilograms of skunk.

• Kogi: Tochukwu Onah, 33, was caught transporting 1.030 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a couple wanted since March for a 117-kilogram skunk seizure were finally arrested.

• Oyo: A raid in Oyo town resulted in the arrest of three individuals, including 75-year-old Tudun Olubiyi, and the recovery of 1,416 kilograms of skunk.

• Edo: Operations in Ikao and Ilushi led to the destruction of over 4,000 kilograms of cannabis and the arrest of suspects Patrick Imoukhede and Augustine Anyamone.

WADA Sensitization and Leadership Commendation Alongside enforcement, the NDLEA continued its “War Against Drug Abuse” (WADA) campaign through sensitization lectures and advocacy visits across various schools and communities in Kano, Nasarawa, Katsina, Anambra, and Rivers states. NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the commands involved in these operations and urged them to maintain their momentum in reducing drug supply.