Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Sunday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. There was tension on Saturday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, over sounds of gunshots at the venue of the mega rally by a group, NEW Associates, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The rally is being organized by the group coordinated by George Turnah, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

2. Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have killed 2 vigilantes and ten firewood fetchers in Bokko Ghide community, Gwoza local government area of Borno State. Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, confirmed the incident, saying the vigilantes (civilian JTF) were ambushed and killed by the assailants along kirawa road under Pulka District.

3. A fully loaded truck on Saturday fell off a bridge and landed on two commercial buses in the Agege area of Lagos State. It was learnt that the two vehicles were completely damaged in the accident that occurred around 11am on Saturday.

4. Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped commuters travelling in two vehicles along Eleyin village, Isanlu-Isin, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State. The attack is coming in the wake of a similar incident near Obbo-Aiyegunle in Ekiti Local Government of the state last week involving seven travellers heading for Offa from Abuja.

5. The United Kingdom Government has deported 43 individuals, including failed asylum seekers and convicted foreign offenders to Nigeria and Ghana as part of its ongoing border security measures under the “Plan for Change.” According to a report published Friday on gov.uk, the deportees included 15 failed asylum seekers, 11 foreign national offenders who had completed their prison terms, and seven individuals who voluntarily agreed to return.

6. Abia State governor, Alex Otti, has debunked rumours that he is perfecting plans to dump the Labour Party, LP, and defect to All Progressives Congress, APC. The governor said he remains a member of the LP, the platform that brought him to power, adding that there are no plans to abandon the party, contrary to speculations.

7. The leadership of Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, on Saturday lamented that the Church had already spent over N300 million in ransom payments, adding that over 50 of their members remain in captivity. General Secretary of ECWA, Rev. Ayuba Asheshe, at a press conference in Jos, condemned the rising cases of violence, banditry, and kidnappings in the country.

8. No fewer than 40 persons have been arrested and are facing prosecution for impersonating candidates during the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has disclosed. This is as many parents and guardians are lamenting that the 6.30 am resumption time for the exam was too early for candidates.

9. The Oyo State Police Command has uncovered a human trafficking syndicate operating in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. In the coordinated operation, officers rescued 83 individuals including a child from a residential building in the Orogun area of the city, where they had allegedly been held against their will for an unspecified period.

10. Tragedy struck the Ọja Odan area of Ogun State as the body of an 80-year-old woman, Ayodele Ogundipe, who was declared missing on April 24, was discovered in a dismembered state. The spokesperson for the state police command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to at the weekend.