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Forced To Flee: Nigerian Pharmacist Still In Exile Years After South-East Violence

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What began as a thriving small-scale medical practice along the commercial Onitsha–Owerri corridor has since transformed into a prolonged story of displacement, uncertainty, and exile.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

For Pharmacist Omorokunwa Edosa Best, the violence and political volatility that gripped parts of Nigeria’s South-East in the years surrounding the 2023 general elections marked a turning point that forced him out of both his profession and his home.

Associates recount that the first major disruption came when armed men stormed his pharmacy during business hours. The attackers, described locally as touts allegedly operating under separatist pretenses, reportedly carried out a robbery that unsettled traders and professionals along the busy corridor. Though the premises survived the incident, confidence in local security did not.

Not long afterward, tragedy struck the pharmacy’s broader business network. Henry Ejiogu Ogbuji, a commercial associate linked to its supply chain, was reportedly shot dead by suspected kidnappers along the same route. Within the business community, the killing deepened fears that ordinary economic activity had become increasingly dangerous.

At the time, authorities frequently connected rising unrest in the region to the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), both subjects of intense security scrutiny. While official narratives attributed multiple violent incidents to armed actors associated with these groups, responsibility for specific attacks has remained contested in some instances.

Against this backdrop of suspicion and instability, individuals allegedly claiming affiliation with ESN were said to have communicated threats to the pharmacist. According to sources familiar with the matter, the messages included financial demands and references to prior killings in the area — developments that heightened fears for his safety.

Compounding the situation was his political visibility. Known locally as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, he reportedly led a grassroots support group during the Tinubu–Shettima presidential campaign. In a region already strained by political polarization and security operations, such affiliations may have increased exposure to risk.

As military crackdowns and post-election tensions intensified, associates say remaining in place became untenable. Faced with uncertainty and potential targeting, he reportedly chose to leave — prioritizing survival over business continuity.

Years later, he remains unable to safely resume his professional life in Nigeria. Family contacts suggest that fears of renewed threats persist, making a public return feel uncertain.

Observers note that while national discourse has evolved, the personal consequences of the South-East crisis endure quietly for some individuals. Beyond headlines and official briefings are small business owners, professionals, and politically visible citizens whose lives were disrupted in ways that remain unresolved.

For Pharmacist Edosa Best, the passage of time has created distance from the immediate turmoil — but not yet a clear path back to the life he once knew.

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Police Arrest NSCDC Officer With Pistol, 17 Bullets At Abuja Kubwa Market.

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An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been arrested for allegedly firing gunshots into the air during a confrontation with traders at Kubwa Market in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The officer, identified as Onoja Samuel, reportedly arrived at the market armed with a pistol following allegations that some traders had assaulted his wife.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed the incident while addressing journalists at the command on Wednesday, Naija News reports.

Sanusi said the police received a distress call from Kubwa Market, located in the Bwari Area Council, reporting that a man was shooting into the air.

Following the report, officers attached to the Kubwa Police Division were deployed to the scene, where they arrested the suspect.

According to the police commissioner, preliminary investigations revealed that Samuel holds the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) in the NSCDC.

He explained that the officer allegedly fired several shots during an argument with the traders.

“During the ensuing argument with the traders, Onoja Samuel, who is a DSC with the NSCDC, fired several shots into the air,” Sanusi said.

The police recovered a CZ pistol and 17 rounds of live 9mm ammunition from the suspect.

Sanusi added that Samuel remained in police custody and would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The commissioner also urged personnel of other security agencies operating in the FCT to exercise restraint and notify the police divisions responsible for their areas before conducting authorised operations.

He stressed that effective coordination among security agencies was essential to preventing confrontations and maintaining peace across the territory.

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‘We Don’t Want Another Mohbad Case’ – Laolu Gbenjo Speaks On Toluwanisings.

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Nigerian gospel singer Laolu Gbenjo has cautioned the public against spreading unverified information about the circumstances surrounding the death of his colleague, Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Gbenjo’s warning comes amid growing controversy surrounding the late singer’s death and burial arrangements, with reports of disagreements among members of his family.

The gospel singer spoke on Tuesday during a night of tributes held in honour of Toluwanisings in Ibadan, Oyo State. He warned against allowing the situation to degenerate into a controversy similar to the one that followed the death of Nigerian singer Mohbad.

Describing the deceased as a devoted Christian and a genuine servant of God, Gbenjo said Toluwanisings was passionate about his faith and had a good relationship with people.

He urged the public to stop fuelling unnecessary controversy over the late singer’s death, particularly through social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

“You can never see Toluwani in the midst of jobless people. He had a good heart. He was a friend to everybody. He served the Lord with all his heart. Don’t turn Toluwani into Mohbad. That madness on TikTok and Instagram must stop. If you are jobless, go and look for a job,” Gbenjo said.

Meanwhile, comedians Ayobami Ajewole, popularly known as Woli Agba, and Olamide Oladimeji, also known as Dele Omo Woli, have threatened legal action against individuals allegedly linking them to Toluwanisings’ death.

Woli Agba disclosed this in a public notice shared on his Instagram page on Sunday.

In the notice issued by their solicitors, Gemgold, the comedians warned members of the public against publishing or circulating allegations they described as false and defamatory against them.

The legal notice maintained that the allegations were baseless and intended to damage the reputations of the two entertainers.

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El-Rufai’s ₦1bn Legal Battle Takes New Turn As Court Fixes Judgment Date.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 2, 2026, for judgment in the ₦1 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other respondents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the date after lawyers representing the parties adopted their respective court processes.

However, El-Rufai’s lawyer was absent when the case was initially called. The judge subsequently deemed the former governor’s filed processes adopted.

Counsel to the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), adopted the commission’s court processes and urged the judge to dismiss the suit in its entirety.

Similarly, the lawyer representing the Inspector-General of Police, ACP Ezekiel Rimamsomte, and Maimuna Lami-Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation and Public Law, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), adopted their respective processes and asked the court to dismiss the case.

During the proceedings, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, arrived in court and apologised for his lateness.

When Akpan sought the court’s permission to adopt his client’s processes, Justice Abdulmalik informed him that the documents had already been deemed adopted.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until December 2, 2026, when judgment is expected to be delivered.

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