FEATURES

FEATURES

The Lagos State command of the Nigeria Police Force has uncovered a baby factory in the Ijegun region of the state, leading to the rescue of ten individuals.

Three individuals have been apprehended in connection with the operation, as disclosed in a statement issued by the spokesperson for the command, Benjamin Hundeyin.

 

According to Hundeyin, the illegal operation was brought to light following a tip-off received by the police last Saturday.

In response, officers promptly arrived at the site and arrested the primary suspect, Mariam Vincent, 35, along with two accomplices, Orie Ruth, 23, and Ujunwa Ifeanyi, 18.

Naija News understands that during the raid, law enforcement officials rescued several victims, including three children aged seven, five, and two.

In total, the operation resulted in the rescue of seven adult women and three children.

The adult victims include Precious (24), Magdalene (25), Adaobi (23), Princess (22), Ifeanyi (25), and Amaka (26).

The rescued children are identified as Destiny (7), Miracle (5), and Success (2).

All individuals rescued are currently receiving appropriate care and support.

Hundeyin stated that the suspects confessed during interrogation to having kidnapped the victims from various locations within the state to operate the baby factory.

He further noted that the investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged in court.

While giving updates on police efforts over the past two weeks, Hundeyin said, “A total of 39 suspects who engaged in various crimes, including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, child stealing, vandalism, illegal operation of a baby factory, illegal possession of firearms, and illicit drugs were arrested.”

In a separate incident, law enforcement successfully freed two individuals who had been kidnapped in the Igbe Alagemo area of Ijede, Ikorodu.

The abduction occurred during a nighttime raid on the community on March 26, 2025.

According to police reports, the victims were safely recovered on March 29, thanks to a collaborative effort involving local teams and security personnel.

A distress signal was received around 9 p.m. on the evening of the incident.

Hundeyin detailed that armed kidnappers stormed the peaceful neighborhood, forcibly entering the home of a 40-year-old man named Dare. The assailants tragically shot and killed his guard dog before taking him hostage.

“Not stopping there, the kidnappers proceeded to a neighbouring house, where they seized a second victim, 25-year-old Rodiat, under similarly violent circumstances,” the police spokesperson said, adding that the force and other security teams worked non-stop for three days before rescuing the victims at about 11:56 p.m. on March 29.

“The victims were immediately reunited with their families, and the area is now relatively calm.

“Surveillance continues, and an investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the crime,” Hundeyin added.

Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj has been named the greatest female rapper of all time by Billboard.

The list of the Best Female Rappers of All Time, released by Billboard staff, also featured hip-hop greats such as Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, and Queen Latifah.

Surprisingly, Nicki Minaj’s rivals, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, ranked outside the top 10.

Minaj topped the list, followed by Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Lil’ Kim, and Queen Latifah at numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.

MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, Roxanne Shanté, Eve, and Foxy Brown completed the top 10.

Cardi B was ranked at number 11, while Megan Thee Stallion came in at number 15.

Despite being widely regarded as the greatest female rapper in history by many music enthusiasts, Nicki Minaj has yet to win a Grammy.

Her rivals, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, have both won Grammys in rap categories.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of what could end his reign and is actively taking significant steps to tackle the issue, as stated by the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) Director of Media and Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, in a recent interview.

Ibrahim expressed confidence that the president will secure victory in the 2027 presidential election, despite concerns regarding insecurity.

He highlighted that, in contrast to former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose tenure was marked by rising violence leading up to the 2015 elections, Tinubu is already enacting strategies to mitigate security challenges.

The APC chieftain affirmed that the party recognizes the existing security threats and is committed to ensuring they do not influence the results of the upcoming election.

“If that was what was responsible for the downfall of Jonathan, I can tell you Jonathan was defeated by the APC, and the APC cannot blindfold itself and allow itself to defeat itself,” Ibrahim told THISDAY on Monday, April 7.

“President Bola Tinubu is already aware of the kind of problem that could lead to defeat, and he will not allow it.”

Ibrahim pointed to the deployment of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to the North-West and the continued efforts of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity.

“In a nutshell, the President will not allow himself to be defeated by himself.

“He’s taking measures to ensure that results are obtained… and he’s assuring Nigerians that the safety of the country is at the forefront of his agenda,” Ibrahim stated.

He also linked the recent spike in insecurity to geopolitical tensions with Nigeria’s Francophone neighbors, arguing that these diplomatic rifts have weakened regional security cooperation.

“Nigeria is literally left alone to fight this war without the collaborative effort of its neighbors,” he explained.

Meanwhile, a Labour Party (LP) senator representing Edo South senatorial district in the national assembly, Neda Imasuen, has advised northern politicians to shield their presidential ambition till 2031.

Naija News reports that the lawmaker, while speaking during a chat with newsmen in Benin City, stated that the advice has become necessary following the unwritten constitution that zoned the position of the presidency between the North and South.

The Federal Government has barred heads of tertiary institutions in an acting capacity from contesting to fill the same position.

Naija News reports that the new policy bars acting Vice Chancellors (VCs) of universities, Rectors of polytechnics and Provosts of colleges from joining in the contest for substantive heads of the institutions.

In a statement on Monday, signed by Boriowo Folasade, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, noted that acting VCs, Rectors, and Provosts, in most cases, take advantage of the selection process, thereby compromising fairness and transparency.

Alausa stated that acting VCs, Rectors and Provosts intending to contest the position must resign from their acting capacity within six months to qualify.

He added that the Ministry was committed to entrenching transparency in the tertiary education system to enhance quality education.

It read: “In line with the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to promote equity, transparency, and integrity in the appointment process of Federal Tertiary Institutions, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has approved the implementation of a guiding policy on eligibility for the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts.

“This policy has become necessary following a pattern of undue advantage observed over the years, where officers serving in acting capacities often leverage their positions to influence appointment outcomes, thereby compromising the fairness and transparency of the selection process.

“To eliminate this practice, ensure a level playing field for all qualified candidates, and strengthen institutional governance, the policy stipulates that any officer serving in an acting capacity as Vice Chancellor, Rector, or Provost shall not be eligible to apply for the substantive position while still holding the acting appointment. However, in the interest of fairness, such officers may choose to recuse themselves from their acting positions before the expiration of their non-renewable six-month tenure, thereby becoming eligible to apply for the substantive roles.

This policy is designed to complement the existing Federal Ministry of Education Guidelines for the Appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts (2013), along with all other extant regulations governing appointments in federal tertiary institutions.

“Governing Councils, Managements, and relevant stakeholders are hereby requested to ensure strict compliance with the new directive.

“The Ministry appreciates the continued dedication and cooperation of stakeholders in upholding good governance and maintaining the integrity of leadership appointment processes within the education sector. It is our belief that this policy will bring about the desired reforms and enhance public confidence in the selection of principal officers in our institutions.”

 

Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested one Olawole Sunday, a suspected fraudster who specialised in buying bank account details from individuals to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

Sunday’s modus operandi involved encouraging young people to open multiple bank accounts, paying them either N25,000 or N50,000 for each account, and collect their bank details including Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

Sunday allegedly employed the account details of one Uyi Godstime Eghosa to defraud a petitioner of the sum of N2 million under the guise of trading in forex.

The account owner, Eghosa was arrested and his disclosure that he was unaware that his account was used to defraud members of the public, led to Sunday’s arrest.

 

Eghosa explained that he relinquished his account details, including his ATM card, to Sunday after an N25,000 payment to him.

Sunday confessed to the crime and would be charged in court as soon as investigations are completed.

Governor Babagana Zulum has called for reinforced interventions in the war against Boko Haram and other insurgents in Borno State.

He lamented that Boko Haram now attacks and kidnaps people in many communities in Borno State almost on a daily basis without any confrontation from security forces.

Naija News reports Governor Zulum made the observation on Tuesday during Special Expanded Security Meeting (ESM) in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The meeting was attended by the General Officer Commanding 7 Div, Major General Abubakar Haruna, Sector Commanders, Commissioner of Police, heads of other security agencies, Shehu of Borno, Alh. Dr. Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, Shehu of Bama, Emirs of Biu, Uba, Askira, Gwoza, while Shehu of Dikwa- and Emir of Shani were in absencia.

Zulum lamented that recent developments point to the fact that Borno State is losing ground in the fight against insurgency.

The Governor submitted that his administration has been very supportive of the military in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists leading to relative peace in the last three years, but the recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa local government, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, Izge in Gwoza local government areas among other related killing of innocent civilians and security agencies calls for serious concern and a set back in the fragile state of Borno and the North East region.

He however commended the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against Boko Haram but stressed the need to strengthen efforts by equipping and deploying technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedevilling parts of the sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

His words: “As I address this important gathering today, it is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities almost on daily basis without confrontation signaled that Borno State is loosing ground.

” As you are all aware that my administration has been very supportive to the military and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists leading to a relative peace in the last three years, it is disheartening to note the recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa local government, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, Izge in Gwoza local government areas among other related killing of innocent civilians and security agencies calls for serious concern, and it is a set back in the fragile state of Borno and the North East region.

” In as much as Borno Government under my leadership commend the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against Boko Haram, more efforts have to be put in place through equipping and deploying of technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedevilling parts of the sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon,” Zulum stated.

Boko Haram In Control Of Three LGAs

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers at the meeting, the Shehu of Borno, commended the efforts of security agencies in the fight against terrorism, but emphasized that about three local government areas of Guzamala, Marte, Abbadam and some parts of Mobbar are still under the total control of Boko Haram, stressing that, most of these communities are without civil authority.

He appealed to the federal government to reconstruct the dilapidated and deplorable Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri, Maiduguri- Dikwa- Ngala, Maiduguri- Monguno-Kukawa and Biu -Damaturu federal roads among others.

Veteran Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s administration, stating it is filled with empty promises.

Naija News reports that Abdulkareem, in a new song titled ‘Tell Your Papa,’ urged the son of the president, Seyi Tinubu, to present the plight of Nigerians to his father.

Recall that Seyi Tinubu, while addressing a gathering of youths in Adamawa State in March, described his father as the greatest president in Nigeria’s history, which sparked controversy online.

However, in his new song, Abdulkareem slammed Seyi, stressing that the president’s son was insensitive to the plight of Nigerians from economic hardship and insecurity.

The singer said Seyi should inform his father about the spate of kidnappings in Nigeria and numerous deaths over the current economic policies.

He said, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.

“Seyi, how far? I swear your papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians.

“Seyi, try travelling by road without your security make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”

The cryptocurrency market has experienced a notable rebound, with Ethereum (ETH) rallying back to around $1,550 on Tuesday, marking about a 10% gain within the past 24 hours.

This surge follows a dramatic decline to a two-year low of $1,410 earlier in the week, during which ETH suffered a staggering 27% crash in just 48 hours.

The rebound offers a much-needed reprieve for investors who bore the brunt of significant liquidations and losses during the turbulent period.

 

Ethereum’s latest price recovery comes amid intensified activity in derivatives markets, which were shaken by the rapid price drop.

Liquidation in the past two days 

According to data from Coinglass, approximately $370 million worth of leveraged ETH futures were liquidated over just two days, a testament to the scale of the downturn.

Santiment statistics further revealed that the sell-off was driven by short-term holders, who collectively endured losses amounting to $500 million on Monday alone.

The volatility in Ethereum’s performance has raised concerns about the resilience of the cryptocurrency, but analysts are cautiously optimistic about the possibility of further stabilization as market conditions improve.

Bitcoin rallies back from $75,000 

Bitcoin briefly dipped below $75,000, only to rally back to approximately $80,000 late Monday, igniting a wave of recovery across major cryptocurrencies such as XRP (XRP-USD), Dogecoin (DOGE-USD), BNB (BNB-USD), and Cardano’s ADA (ADA-USD).

These tokens saw gains of up to 10%, helping the total crypto market capitalization return to levels not witnessed since early November.

The recovery was largely technical, as Monday’s market shakeout resulted in the liquidation of over $1.3 billion in crypto futures—predominantly affecting long positions. This purge of overleveraged traders cleared the way for a more stable rebound.

What you should know 

  • Despite its recovery, Bitcoin’s claim to be a “digital gold” continues to face skepticism. Unlike traditional safe-haven assets like gold, which typically appreciate during periods of market turbulence, Bitcoin has shown a tendency to trade in tandem with high-risk technology stocks.
  • During last week’s equity sell-off, Bitcoin dropped alongside the S&P 500, further challenging its reliability as a refuge during financial chaos.
  • These concerns are seen by findings from a peer-reviewed study published in ScienceDirect, which revealed that Bitcoin failed to act as a safe haven during the 2020 COVID crash. Instead, it mirrored equity movements, highlighting its vulnerability to broader market trends.
  • Positively, Ethereum’s network architecture keeps proving to be robust. On April 6, the Ethereum network’s overall value locked (TVL) peaked at 30.2 million ETH, a 22% rise over last month.

Over the same period, this rise exceeded rivals such as Solana (12% increase) and BNB Chain (16% increase).

[Nairametrics]

The House of Representatives Labour Party Caucus has dismissed as “laughable, naive, and misleading” the reported appointment of a new caucus leader by the embattled former national chairman of the party, Julius Abure.

This response follows an earlier statement from the caucus, which welcomed the Supreme Court judgment from last Friday and expressed readiness to work for the party’s internal peace and progress under the leadership of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC), headed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.

 

In a subsequent move, Abure announced the “sacking” of Afam Ogene as the caucus leader.

Reacting in a statement released on Tuesday, the Labour Party Reps emphasized that the position of caucus leader is not an office to be appointed; rather, the leader is elected by peers based on their leadership qualities and their capacity to represent the party and the people.

“On May 6, 2023, a 35-member Labour Party caucus in the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives elected Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as its Leader. Ogene, a ranking member from the 7th Assembly, emerged as the Labour Party leader with 21 votes, after a keenly contested election,” the statement explained.

Although 34 Members-Elect of the Party were present at the voting session, only 31 of them participated in the exercise, with the trio of Honourables Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Obi Aguocha, and Professor Lilian Oby Orogbu abstaining, as they were responsible for conducting the exercise. So, only the members of the caucus who overwhelmingly elected him have the right to remove him as leader, not ‘an authoritarian power-thirsty individual who is still battling, without much success, to extricate himself from the muddy waters of multiple allegations of malfeasance,’” the statement, signed by Hon. Ogene, read.

The statement further remarked, “If Abure’s latest ill-advised tactics stem from the Caucus’ support for the Supreme Court judgment, which declared that Abure’s tenure had long expired, he is mistaken. This remains the majority stance of LP House of Representatives members, which will be reinforced on Wednesday, April 9, during the NEC/Stakeholders meeting convened by the Party’s National Leader, Mr. Peter Obi, and Governor Alex Otti.”

The caucus also took a strong stance against Abure’s leadership style, declaring, “We need to let Abure know, and boldly too, that the Labour Party is a credible organization, not a ponzi scheme, because sadly, everything about his leadership style revolves around forgery, money, and more money. From Ebonyi to Plateau, Ondo, Edo (where he embarrassed the party through his undignified episodes with the police), it’s all about slush funds and compromising the integrity of the office of the party’s national chairman. Even in Anambra last week, the mention of Abure’s name continues to emit a putrid smell of financial malfeasance.”

The caucus also challenged Abure to address ongoing controversies surrounding his leadership, stating, “He may wish to tell Nigerians and the world what is at the center of his feud with Eze Oko Splendour of Ebonyi State, Kenneth Imasuagbon in Edo, and the aspirants involved in last weekend’s Anambra LP gubernatorial farce.”

Highlighting Abure’s lack of accountability, the statement criticized him for failing to account for party finances from the 2023 general elections, despite raising significant funds from the sale of forms and off-season elections.

“It is appalling that a man who has yet to account for Party finances arising from the 2023 general elections, nor leaves any penny in the party’s account – despite raising hundreds of millions of naira – would be so engrossed in wanting to access funds belonging to the House of Representatives Caucus,” the statement read.

It concluded, “No sane organ of the party would entrust funds to the Supreme Court-sacked former national chairman, at least, not until he is able to cleanse himself of the twin evils of allegations of forgery and pilfering party funds levied against him by former national treasurer of the LP, Oluchi Oparah. Funds belonging to the caucus are intact and will only be deployed in a manner prescribed by members, not by the former chairman’s discretion.”

The Labour Party, the statement affirmed, deserves a fresh start with leadership that party faithful can proudly stand behind.

[NaijaNews]

Senator representing Borno South at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his political appointments since assumption of office.

Tinubu has come under attacks from some sections in the country as he is being accused of favouring the South West where he hails from, particularly with his appointments.

Speaking on Arise TV, Ndume described Tinubu’s appointments as violations of the constitutional provision for federal character.

He added that the appointments have not reflected the diversity mandated by section 14(3) of the 1999 constitution.

According to him, “The figures are there. It’s not that I’m just making accusations or that the president has no right to do that kind of thing.

“But it’s a constitutional provision. Section section 14 (3) of the constitution is very, very clear on that. When you look at it vis-a-vis the appointments made so far, and there are political appointments. And it is because of avoiding such infractions that the constitution clearly states that appointments, especially political appointments should reflect the federal character, and that is not the case here”, he stated.

He said he was only calling the attention of Mr President to such “infractions” for him to correct it so that it will not “boomerang at a certain period of time.”

Ndume, a ranking senator, insisted that his remarks were not an attack on the president but a constitutional responsibility.

“I know, as you rightly say, people look at me as somebody that is critical of the government. I have the right to do that in the first place. And in fact, that’s why I’m in the national assembly in the first place”.

“Collectively, we are supposed to oversight the acts of Mr President and point out some of these irregularities. That is what we swore to do. It’s not personal”, he submitted.

He stated that he is not scared of being attacked for his latest take on the Tinubu administration.

“Each one of us will stand before God and God will ask him to account for what he is responsible for. Besides, we are all in this government. What will we tell our people? When you have these figures out, it is already viral, it is already in circulation.

“But you know what, after this interview, those attack dogs or maga-dogs will start attacking Ndume, not the message”.

He said his position is “not about Ndume or me being a senator. As a Nigerian, I have the right to voice out all these things. Not only that, I have the right to even protest. I have the right. That is guaranteed by the constitution.

“But from tomorrow, those so-called Tinubu boys or people will start attacking Ndume. These are the facts”, he added.

[DailyTrust]