A former security guard, 22-year-old Sodeinde Olajuwon Phillips, has confessed to his involvement in the murder of Olakitan Ibiyola Oyesiku, a retired Ogun State broadcaster widely known as Aunty Kitan. The 67-year-old Oyesiku, who had retired from Ogun State Television, was killed along with her current security guard, Pelumi Adetayo, at her residence in Agodo village, Kobape, Abeokuta.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered over ₦38.66 billion in cash and assets as part of an active investigation into the alleged diversion of funds earmarked for the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries. The total recovery comprises ₦9.4 billion, $21.2 million (roughly ₦29.26 billion at the official exchange rate of ₦1,380 to the dollar), and various landed properties linked to the individuals under investigation.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• The probe focuses on approximately $2.79 billion released between 2021 and 2023 for maintenance work on refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.

• Allegations include money laundering, procurement fraud, economic sabotage, criminal conspiracy, and abuse of office.

• The Federal Government had committed significant funds to these projects—$1.56 billion for Port Harcourt, $740.7 million for Kaduna, and $492.3 million for Warri—yet investigators found minimal evidence of actual operational improvements.

• Officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), its subsidiary, refinery managing directors, and major contractors like Daewoo Engineering Nigeria Limited and Tecnimont SPA are currently under scrutiny.

Enforcement Actions and Key Individuals

• The EFCC has interrogated over 30 senior NNPCL officials and more than 50 representatives from contracting and subcontracting firms.

• Last year, the commission arrested several high-ranking officials, including Umar Isa, Tunde Bakare, Ahmed Adamu Dikko, and Ibrahim Onoja.

• Former Port Harcourt Refinery Managing Director Ahmed Dikko is accused of bypassing contractual procedures; authorities have traced ₦983.9 million, $227,030, and three landed properties to him, all of which are subject to an interim forfeiture order.

• Senior official Jimoh Yisawu is accused of approving inflated invoices and payments to unqualified third-party contractors, resulting in losses exceeding $10 million and nearly ₦8 billion.

• Investigations traced over ₦1.4 billion and four landed properties to Yisawu, which have also been placed under interim forfeiture while prosecutors prepare formal charges.

The family of Alhaji Ardo Risku Muhammad, the late Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), is demanding a comprehensive investigation into his murder. Alhaji Muhammad and his associate, Yakubu Isah, were killed on Friday afternoon while returning from a peace meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ohimini Local Government Area.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Sequence of Events

According to the victim’s eldest son, Muhammad Idris, his father had traveled to Idekpa by motorcycle to attend the police-arranged dialogue, which aimed to address complaints regarding cattle-related crop destruction. Idris noted several concerning details regarding the meeting:

• Key local stakeholders, including the traditional ruler and the Ohimini Council Chairman, were notably absent from the gathering.

• While the meeting concluded peacefully, the family suspects a targeted operation, noting that a suspicious tinted Hilux van was observed monitoring the group shortly before the fatal attack.

• The ambush occurred at approximately 2:00 PM in Okwudu, Otukpo Local Government Area—just a few kilometers from the meeting site—resulting in the deaths of the MACBAN leader and Mr. Isah.

Official Response and Appeals for Calm

The family has questioned the security arrangements for such a high-risk meeting and is urging the Benue State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure a transparent investigation.

In a joint press conference in Makurdi, local government chairmen from Idoma land and Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Special Adviser on Internal Security condemned the act. Key takeaways from the officials included:

• Denial of Ethnic Targeting: Ohimini Council Chairman Gabriel Adole and Agatu Chairman James Melvin Ejeh emphasized that the murder was the work of “criminal elements” and enemies of peace, explicitly stating it was not a premeditated act by the local Idoma-speaking community.

• Commitment to Justice: Officials vowed to support security agencies in uncovering the perpetrators and insisted that the killers be identified and prosecuted.

• Plea Against Reprisals: Joseph Har, the Special Adviser on Internal Security, described the incident as unacceptable and urged the Fulani community to avoid retaliatory attacks, warning that such actions would only further destabilize the region’s recent period of relative peace.