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Owo Church Massacre: DSS Trial Begins As Priest Recounts Explosions And Gunfire.
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday began proceedings against five men accused of carrying out the deadly June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The suspects – Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al-Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; Abdulhaleem Idris, 25; and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47 – appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on terrorism charges.
The prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ayodeji Adedipe, called its first witness, a Catholic priest who officiated the Pentecost Sunday mass during the attack. For security reasons, the court granted a request to withhold the priest’s identity.
In his testimony, the priest provided a chilling account of the assault, explaining that the attackers struck as the service was concluding. He said, “As the service was ending and the recessional hymn began, I heard a loud sound. Then I saw commotion in the church. Two men from our congregation locked the main entrance, and an elder told me, ‘Father, we are under attack.’”
The cleric recounted that the assault started with a powerful explosion, followed by sporadic gunfire. He revealed that at least three explosives were detonated, one dangerously close to a safe room where he and several children had sought shelter. He described helping to evacuate injured worshippers, including his choir master, who sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.
During cross-examination by the defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, the priest maintained that he could not identify any of the attackers due to the chaos, emphasizing that his focus was on rescuing children and moving casualties to the hospital. When asked about the number of assailants, he replied, “The one struck by a vehicle doesn’t wait to take note of the vehicle’s number.”
Earlier in the session, the prosecution confirmed that the charge sheet had been amended to correct minor errors. The five defendants subsequently pleaded not guilty to the revised charges.
Justice Nwite approved an accelerated hearing schedule and adjourned the case to January 13 and 14, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
Social media personality and Oyo-based herbal vendor, Eniola Fagbemi, widely known as Sisi Alagbo, has issued a public apology following the circulation of a private video online.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
News reports that she reacted to the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, where she admitted responsibility and expressed regret over the controversy.
Sisi Alagbo said she was deeply sorry to anyone who felt hurt or disappointed by the video.
In her words, “I own my mistakes, and I apologise with all sincerity for the video circulating online. I am deeply sorry to everyone who felt disappointed in me.”
She also disclosed that the backlash has had a serious impact on her emotional health, saying she has been unable to eat or sleep properly since the video went viral.
“I am already passing through a lot. I can’t eat or sleep for days. Even sleeping medicines aren’t working for me any longer,” she said.
Appealing for forgiveness and understanding, she added, “Please forgive me. I don’t want to injure myself. I only have a little strength left.”
The incident adds to a growing trend of leaked private videos involving public figures in Nigeria, with personalities such as Tiwa Savage and Moyo Lawal previously facing similar situations.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, alongside the National Publicity Secretary of the Obi–Kwankwaso Movement, Justin Ijeh, has called for adherence to Nigeria’s informal zoning practice, saying it promotes fairness, equity, and national stability.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking in an interview with Punch, Tanko maintained that the idea of a southern presidential ticket is based on fairness and political balance, noting that the current presidency is already held by the South.
He explained that Peter Obi had aligned with this position by agreeing to serve only one term of four years if elected.
Tanko said: “Yes, we are concerned about zoning. That was why we’ve been asking the ADC to zone the presidency to the southern part of this country, considering the simple fact that the Presidency has been zoned to the South.
“As you speak right now, what we have is a southern presidency. So, once you have a southern president, it simply means that even if there is going to be a replacement for the existing president, it should come from the South for them to complete their tenure.
“I think it is only fair to do that. And that was why Mr Peter Obi has also agreed that he’s going to do only four years.”
Tanko further expressed optimism that Obi would emerge as the consensus candidate of the opposition if a unified arrangement is reached, adding that his popularity—especially among young Nigerians—remains strong.
He said Obi enjoys massive public support across the country, describing moments of public reception during recent travels as overwhelming and emotional.
According to him, “That is because he’s the most popular candidate in the country at the moment… especially among the youth. Anywhere he goes, he is adored.”
Tanko added that large crowds and emotional displays of support reflect the level of trust Nigerians have in Obi’s leadership potential.
Similarly, Justin Ijeh noted that while zoning is not provided for in the constitution, it has become a political tradition that helps maintain inclusiveness in Nigeria’s diverse society.
He argued that, in the current political climate, it would be appropriate for the presidency to remain in the South in line with existing convention, warning that deviating from it could create avoidable political tension.
Ijeh said zoning, though informal, remains a stabilising mechanism that helps balance representation in the country’s power structure.
The Ugandan government has detained 62 Nigerian nationals over allegations of illegally running a church in the country.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The development was confirmed in a statement posted on the government’s account on Wednesday. According to the Ugandan National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC), the suspects were also found to be living and working in the country without valid permits. The agency said the arrests followed an intelligence tip-off indicating that the individuals were operating unlawfully without the necessary documentation. “Following a tip-off, our enforcement team has arrested 62 Nigerian nationals operating illegally in Adjumani (without work permits). The group, primarily found operating a church among other things, is now being processed for prosecution under Uganda’s immigration laws,” the statement read. The spokesperson for Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Simon Peter Mundeyi, said the suspects often present themselves as gospel preachers while allegedly engaging in other unlawful activities. He added that they are currently being held at the ministry’s Namanve facility, where they are undergoing legal processing that could lead to deportation, fines, or blacklisting. “They often pose as gospel preachers while engaging in other irregular activities. Acting on intelligence, we moved in and apprehended them,” Mundeyi said. He further disclosed that preliminary investigations showed conflicting accounts from the suspects, with some claiming they were deceived into coming to Uganda with fake job offers, while others are being investigated over alleged involvement in cyber-related fraud and other offences.
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