Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR has expressed optimism that the leader of the Indigenous People’s of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be freed through a political approach. He said that all hope for his freedom is not lost. Kalu’s submission came after a federal high court in Abuja sentenced him to life imprisonment on Thursday. The Deputy Speaker said that a political solution is being pursued to ultimately secure Kanu’s release. Kalu also expressed confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to listen to the pleas of well-meaning Igbo leaders…

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, convicted the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on seven-count charges of terrorism and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The IPOB leader was handed the life imprisonment sentence for Counts 4, 5 and 6 of the seven-count charges, while he was handed a 20-year jail term for Count 3. Delivering judgment, James Omotosho, the presiding judge, held that the prosecution had successfully established every allegation. He said Kanu offered no credible defence and “deliberately refused” to challenge the evidence presented in court. The judge said the IPOB leader was…

Popular Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has called for the suspension of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme, over the escalating insecurity in the country. He urged the scheme to suspend posting youths to states other than their state of residency. He argued that while the scheme started as a brilliant idea, it is no longer sustainable due to the state of the nation. On his X handle, the music star wrote, “OfficialNYSCNg Please it’s high time we suspend the posting of our youths to different states other than where they are based. “It all started off as brilliant idea but…

Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has denied the claims of Christian genocide in the state. In a recent broadcast, the Governor argued that as a Reverend Father his position on the alleged Christian genocide should be taken seriously. He emphasing that their is no ethnic or religious genocide in the state, adding that bigotry has no place in Benue. “I’m still a Reverend Father; being in governance does not take that away from me. I came in as a governor as a Reverend Father, I’m a working with the fear of God and the compassion of Christianity and…

A 17 year old boy, Emmanuel Okonkwo who was kidnapped by rampaging bandits in Kogi State with 14 others has regained his freedom. Okonkwo was among 15 passengers who were kidnapped in Kabba axis of Kogi on Sunday, November 9, 2025 while traveling from Lagos to Abuja. Family sources told the Network that the teenager was traveling to Abuja to prepare for WEAC when the bus was attacked by the kidnappers. The vehicle belonging to Andyliz transport company in which Okonkwo was traveling was attacked by the bandits in Kogi and took all 15 passengers into the bush. The bandits…

Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has downplayed the planned US intervention to the insecurity in Nigeria. Recall that United States President Donald Trump recently alleged that there is an ongoing Christian genocide in Nigeria and announced that he was designating the nation a “Country of Particular Concern” and also threatened military intervention. Since Trump expressed concern over the insecurity in Nigeria, some Nigerians on social media have been calling on the US to hasten the intervention. Following the recent wave of attacks in Borno, Kebbi and Kwara states, an X user called for more Nigerians to solicite the assistance of US…

Teseer Waya, aka Kiddwaya, a reality TV star and son of billionaire businessman Terry Waya, has boasted that his silence on the ongoing killings in his home state of Benue does cannot affect his image or future political ambition.  Kiddwaya earned backlash after he made a post on social media anticipating ‘Detty December’ amid rising concerns over insecurity in the country. X users berated him for being silent in the face of the extrajudicial killings and anticipating extravaganza amid the insecurity and worsening humanitarian crisis in his home state of Benue. Reacting, Kiddwaya mocked his critics, saying he would still…

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, CFR has condemned the attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in the Maga community of Kebbi State, which resulted in the death of the vice-principal and abduction of 25 students by suspected armed bandits. Kalu equally condemned the killing of Brigadier-General M.Uba  during a reported ambush by suspected terrorists in Borno State. The Deputy Speaker in a statement strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as heartbreaking and unacceptable. He noted that the kidnap of the school girls, is not only an attack on innocent children…

Indigenes of Umuezenta, Umuelenwa and Okpuala communities in Umuomainta Mbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, have appealed to Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, to immediately suspend the Abia State Land Acquisition Committee overseeing the Nsulu Airport Project, alleging a lack of transparency in its operations. They also urged the governor to personally visit the proposed airport site to assess the actual size of land earmarked for the project and to engage directly with landowners who, they say, are demanding openness in the process. Speaking during a tour of the already cleared portions of land on Saturday, the Village Head of…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257. According to the EFCC, the money was part of funds invested by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, a company reportedly linked to Sylva. The investment was meant for the construction of a refinery but was allegedly diverted. In a statement signed by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Monday evening, the anti-graft agency said the notice followed a warrant issued…