Nigerian socialite and celebrity barman Paschal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has shared his unpleasant experience during a recent visit to Benin City, Edo State, lamenting the state of infrastructure in the region.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• The Elevator Ordeal: Chief Priest recounted that he was trapped inside an elevator at the Protea Hotel, describing the incident as a deeply frustrating and terrifying ordeal.

• A Bad Experience: He characterized his time dealing with the mechanical failure as a “total bad experience” while staying in the city.

Lamenting Bad Roads in Benin

Aside from the hotel mishap, the socialite heavily criticized the condition of roads across Benin City, pointing out that even exclusive areas were affected:

• GRA and Government House: He noted that roads within the Government Reserved Area (GRA) and the route leading right up to the Government House are in extremely poor condition.

• Comparing Cities: Expressing his dismay, Chief Priest urged people to pray for Benin, claiming it desperately needs help. He drew a comparison to his hometown, remarking that while Owerri also has some bad streets, it looks “like Europe compared to Benin”.

Between September 30 and October 1, 2026, coordinated operations by the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai in Adamawa State resulted in the neutralization of 16 terrorists and the recovery of various arms and ammunition.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Ambush in Gombi: Acting Military Information Officer Mohammed Goni disclosed that troops successfully ambushed a terrorist enclave in the Boima area of Gombi Local Government Area, neutralizing 16 insurgents.

• Weapon Recoveries: A subsequent sweep of the ambush site led to the recovery of multiple firearms, including three AK-47 rifles, two pump-action rifles, one Dane gun, six AK-47 magazines, and a belt of pump-action cartridges.

• Precision Airstrikes: Backing up ground forces, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai launched a precision air strike on October 1 at around 5:30 AM. This targeted a gathering of approximately 16 terrorists and 15 motorcycles detected by an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform under a tree canopy.

• Repelled Battalion Attacks: In parallel engagements, troops successfully repelled coordinated insurgent attacks on military positions at the 226 Battalion in Garkida and the 232 Battalion in Garaha, forcing the attackers to retreat.

Casualties and Ongoing Operations

While the military successfully thwarted the assaults, tragic losses were recorded on the government side. Three soldiers lost their lives during the fierce fighting, while injured personnel were promptly evacuated and are currently receiving stable medical care.

The Theatre Command has confirmed that follow-up exploitation and mop-up operations remain active across the affected areas to completely restrict terrorist movement in the North-East. Furthermore, the military has urged the public to stay vigilant and continue sharing timely, credible information to support ongoing security efforts.

As Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1, 2026, African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore delivered a scathing critique of the nation’s leadership, demanding an end to systemic corruption, oppression, and injustice.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Unfulfilled Promises: Sowore asserted that despite 66 years passing since the lowering of the Union Jack and the raising of the green-white-green flag, the fundamental promises of dignity, equality, and prosperity remain out of reach for millions.

• The Reality of Hardship: He emphasized that ceremonial celebrations cannot mask the harsh realities of widespread poverty, hunger, unemployment, and insecurity facing ordinary Nigerians.

• Collapsing Infrastructure: Highlighting the decay in essential services, Sowore pointed out that children are denied quality education, hospitals are collapsing, electricity remains a luxury, and workers earn unsustainable wages while public resources are looted with impunity.

The People Are Not the Problem

Defending the character of the citizenry, Sowore stated that Nigerians are remarkably hardworking, creative, and resourceful. Instead, he placed the blame squarely on successive ruling establishments, accusing them of squandering the nation’s wealth while continuously demanding sacrifices from the poorest citizens.

A Call for Genuine Emancipation

Sowore outlined a vision for a truly liberated Nigeria where:

• Workers receive a living wage and young people can successfully build meaningful lives.

• Farmers can work without fear, and citizens can freely exercise their rights without facing brutality, arrest, or imprisonment for criticizing those in power.

• The system serves the collective interest of all citizens rather than a privileged minority, free from ethnic manipulation and religious intolerance.

Concluding his Independence Day message, Sowore stressed that his generation’s historic duty extends far beyond merely celebrating the handover of power in 1960: “The task before our generation is not merely to celebrate the independence handed to us in 1960. Our historic duty is to redo it.”