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No Houses Were Set Ablaze, Nigerian Army Clears Air On Cross River Claims.
The Nigerian Army has denied allegations that its troops set houses on fire during a two-month operation in Odonget community, Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The military presence in the community began on March 12, 2026, when personnel from the 13 Brigade, Calabar, and 245 Battalion, Edor Barracks, Ikom, were deployed following distress calls linked to suspected illegal mining activities. The miners had accused local youths of attacking them over alleged refusal to pay a ₦1,000 toll.
However, after the deployment, residents accused the soldiers of destroying over 50 houses, including stalls, shrines, and community halls. Reports also claimed that more than 200 people were displaced, while others were allegedly beaten or killed.
As displaced villagers gradually return from hiding in nearby bushes and communities, they are calling for compensation for destroyed properties and alleged killings.
Reacting to the accusations, the Public Relations Officer of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Major Yemi Sokoya, dismissed the claims, insisting that no houses were burnt by soldiers.
He challenged residents to provide evidence supporting their allegations and suggested that rival communities, long involved in local conflicts, may be responsible for the destruction.
According to him, troops responded to a distress call in Odonget but were ambushed by local youths during the operation, leading to the death of one soldier.
He explained that during a cordon-and-search operation, troops discovered arms and ammunition allegedly hidden within the community.
Sokoya maintained that the Army operates to protect lives and property and could not have engaged in burning houses, either intentionally or accidentally, as alleged.
He added that senior commanders of both the 13 Brigade and 245 Battalion were present during the operation, stressing that those making the accusations should provide photographic or video evidence to support their claims.
He also noted that the area has a history of communal conflict, particularly between Odonget (part of Ochon) and neighbouring Alesi, suggesting that such tensions could have been exploited by others during the crisis.
Earlier military accounts of the operation indicated that four people were killed during the engagement, while the Army reported losing one soldier.
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AMVCA 2026: Sola Sobowale, Kanayo O. Kanayo Honoured With Prestigious Industry Merit Awards.
Veteran Nollywood actors, Kanayo O. Kanayo and Sola Sobowale, have been honoured with the Industry Merit Award at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The recognition was presented on Saturday night during the 12th edition of the AMVCA ceremony held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos State.
The award celebrates their decades of outstanding contributions to the Nigerian film industry, as well as their lasting impact as two of Nollywood’s most respected screen legends.
While receiving her award, Sola Sobowale expressed gratitude to God, the organisers, her colleagues, fans, and most especially her children, whom she credited for making her journey through motherhood and career easier.
“I want to specially thank God Almighty for keeping me till this day to have this. I thank my children. Thank you to all my colleagues. I thank my fans because without you ‘Ko si Shola’ (there’s no Shola). It truly is an honour,” she said.
On his part, Kanayo O. Kanayo used his moment on stage to speak out against xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Nigerian record producer and music executive, Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, has named alternative rock artiste Johnny Drille as his best musician.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Mavin Records boss described Johnny Drille’s sound as exceptional, adding that he considers him a complete and highly skilled musician.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Crea8torium podcast, Don Jazzy said Johnny Drille stands out uniquely in the Nigerian music industry and, in his view, has no close rival.
He praised the singer’s versatility, noting that he is involved in mixing, songwriting, and vocal performance.
“If you look at the Nigerian music industry right now, there is nobody like Johnny Drille. He is in a world of his own. He is like the best musician – the complete musician that I know. He is versatile. He mixes, writes, sings. He does everything,” Don Jazzy said.
He further commended Johnny Drille’s consistency in performance, stating that his live performances match his studio quality.
“He is also an amazing performer — the way he sounds in the studio is the same way he sounds in live shows,” he added.
The spokesperson for the eight Kano Central Senatorial District aspirants, Usman Bala, has explained that their withdrawal in favour of former Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, was influenced by the intervention of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and their collective respect for him.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Bala said all the aspirants unanimously accepted the governor’s peace initiative, describing it as timely, strategic, and instrumental in uniting all parties behind a common objective.
Governor Yusuf had successfully mediated in the long-standing dispute over the Kano Central senatorial ticket, a development that eventually produced Shekarau as the consensus candidate.
The resolution followed a high-level reconciliation meeting convened by the governor in Abuja, where all aspirants and key stakeholders agreed to set aside personal ambitions in the interest of unity, progress, and Kano State’s political future.
As a result of the agreement, the eight aspirants voluntarily stepped down and endorsed Shekarau as the consensus flagbearer for Kano Central under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kano Central, which is Nigeria’s largest senatorial district, covers 15 local government areas with an estimated population of over 10 million people, making the consensus decision a significant political development with wide implications.
Governor Yusuf praised the aspirants for prioritising collective interest over individual ambition, describing their action as a show of maturity, sacrifice, and commitment to democratic values.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to dialogue, inclusion, and consensus-building as key tools for political stability and sustainable development, expressing confidence that the agreement would strengthen unity and enhance Kano’s influence nationally.
In his reaction, Shekarau commended the governor’s role in fostering peace among the aspirants and expressed gratitude to those who stepped down in his favour, as well as their support for APC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
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