The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has called for the immediate release of Stanley Ugagbe, a SecretReporters journalist who was reportedly taken by unidentified security personnel in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The union has expressed deep concern and condemnation regarding the circumstances of his detention. Key details surrounding the incident include:

• The Abduction: On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, four armed men in plainclothes arrived at Ugagbe’s home in Jikwoyi Phase II, Abuja, shortly after he returned from work.

• The Process: The individuals—one of whom carried an assault rifle—seized the journalist’s laptop and mobile phone before forcing him into an unmarked, tinted black Mitsubishi Pajero SUV.

• Lack of Accountability: While the NUJ has reached out to various security agencies to locate Ugagbe, none have acknowledged holding him or possessing information about his whereabouts.

• Demands for Action: The union is demanding that authorities identify the operatives involved, explain the reasoning for the arrest, and provide Ugagbe with immediate access to legal counsel and his family.

• Legal Stance: The NUJ insists that if there is a legitimate legal basis for his arrest, he must be charged in a competent court; otherwise, he must be released immediately.

The union reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the situation and protecting press freedom in Nigeria.

South Africa has formally declined Nigeria’s request for compensation regarding assets and businesses abandoned by Nigerian citizens during their recent evacuation from the country. These evacuations were prompted by a surge of xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants residing in South Africa.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Previously, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, stated that the Nigerian government was in the process of cataloging these abandoned properties to use as a foundation for compensation negotiations with South African officials.

However, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, firmly rejected these claims during a Friday press conference, stating that the government would not provide any form of financial restitution. The Minister’s position included several key points:

• Property Status: Ntshavheni asserted that while formally registered, legal property can be sold on the open market, informal settlements and shacks are considered illegal and are not recognized as legitimate property under South African law.

• Government Policy: The South African government has mandated measures to ensure that informal settlements are not reconstructed following demolition efforts.

• Drug-Related Allegations: In a sharp retort, the Minister requested that Nigeria provide specific information regarding the locations of alleged “drug dens” run by Nigerians so that South African authorities can take urgent action to dismantle them.

David Salifu, a former Secretary to the Benue State Government and lecturer at the Federal University, Wukari, has passed away following a fatal shooting by suspected bandits. The attack occurred on Thursday while Salifu was traveling from Wukari to Makurdi along the Wukari-Zaki Biam road in Taraba State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to David Olofu, an associate of the deceased, the attackers intercepted Salifu’s vehicle on the outskirts of Wukari, ordered him out of the car, and shot him. Although he was initially treated at a hospital in Wukari, plans were made to transport him to Abuja for further care. Ultimately, he was taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, where he succumbed to his injuries early Friday morning.

Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, confirmed that the incident was an attempted kidnapping. Kula noted that Salifu sustained gunshot wounds while trying to evade the abductors and later died while undergoing treatment in Benue.

In a tribute, the current Benue State Secretary to the Government, Deborah Serumun, honored Salifu as an accomplished administrator, scholar, and dedicated public servant. She emphasized that his death is a significant loss to his family, the academic community, and the state at large.