On Friday, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Joe Igbokwe narrowly avoided a physical confrontation at the well-known Ladipo Market in Lagos. Igbokwe shared his account of the event via a video posted to his official Facebook page on Saturday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to Igbokwe, he had visited the market to purchase spare parts for his vehicle when he was recognized by a group of youths who began to mobilize against him. He described the situation as follows:

• He initially attempted to ignore the crowd after people began calling his name and pointing at him.

• As the group grew larger and more aggressive, shouting that he should not be in the market, he retreated to a friend’s shop for safety.

• The leadership of the market was summoned to intervene, and they eventually helped him leave the area safely.

• Igbokwe clarified that although he heard reports online claiming he had been beaten, he was not physically harmed during the encounter.

Igbokwe concluded by stating that he remained silent during the commotion and simply drove away once the situation was managed.

A retired Major General, Abubakar Rabe, and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, are calling for urgent government action to secure their release after being kidnapped on the Karaduwa-Matazu Road in Katsina State one week ago. The couple, who were traveling with their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, were ambushed by armed men near Zakin Baure village along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli road. During the attack, the driver was shot in the hand but was ultimately spared by the assailants.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a four-minute, two-second video recently circulated online, the couple appeared in captivity to relay the specific demands of their captors. Notably, the abductors did not request a monetary ransom. Instead, they are demanding the following:

• The release of three of their associates identified as Sani, Aminu, and Nasiru, who were reportedly arrested in Jikamshi and Kano.

• The return of livestock that was allegedly confiscated from the group.

In the video, the retired general’s wife urged the Katsina State Government and local leaders from five areas to fulfill these conditions to ensure their freedom. The retired general also briefly spoke, advocating for efforts toward peace and noting that the captors had expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue.

Sources indicate that a well-known bandit leader operating in the region, Kachallah Muhammad, has initiated contact with the general’s family to communicate these demands. As of now, neither the state government nor security agencies have released an official statement regarding the situation.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) oversaw the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination this Saturday, with 58,187 candidates sitting for the test required for admission into Nigeria’s Federal Government Colleges.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, announced these figures in Abuja, noting a decline from the 64,578 candidates who participated in 2025. Despite the overall drop in numbers, the registrar highlighted a positive trend: female enrollment surpassed male participation, with over 31,000 girls registered compared to approximately 26,000 boys. Prof. Wushishi attributed this to ongoing government efforts to advance girl-child education.

Overall, the examination proceeded smoothly across the country without reports of major disruptions. The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, who monitored the process alongside NECO leadership, commended the orderly conduct of the students and the punctuality of the exam start times. The minister also confirmed that schools were adhering to established age guidelines for applicants.

However, the minister expressed concern regarding student absenteeism, noting that some centers saw several candidates fail to appear. Authorities intend to investigate the reasons behind these absences to address potential barriers to participation.

Regional data showed a significant disparity in turnout:

• Highest turnout: Lagos State led with 13,228 registered candidates.

• Lowest turnout: Taraba State recorded the fewest, with only 15 registrations.

The monitoring tour included visits to the Model Secondary School in Maitama, as well as the Government Science Technical College and Federal Government Boys’ College in Garki. The minister reaffirmed that the federal government remains dedicated to upgrading school infrastructure to bolster the national education system.