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Schools shut, students stranded as ASUU down tools

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2 years ago

June 3, 2024

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Most tertiary, primary and secondary schools across the country have shut down activities, and students turned back home as the Labour Unions on Monday, flagged off an indefinite nationwide strike action.

This followed a declaration by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Sunday, that there was no going back on the industrial action

“For now, we don’t have the power to call off the strike, tomorrow (Monday) morning, the strike will kick off as we take their (NASS) plea asking us to call off the strike to our various organs,” said Festus Osifo after the meeting with NASS leadership.

Earlier, Osifo, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC); and his counterpart in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; met with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas in Abuja.

The meeting was part of last-minute efforts by the legislators to persuade aggrieved workers to shelve their planned industrial action for a new minimum wage.

The decision of the Organised Labour followed the deadlock between the Federal Government and the unions over a new national minimum wage and the reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

Our correspondents, on Monday, reported that the commencement of the industrial action, had seen the shutdown of public schools, as the teachers complied with the strike.

Roads leading to major schools across the country, were seen deserted as the strike actions bite harder.

The stranded students were also captured chatting away, while lamenting the impact of the strike on their academic pursuits.

The labour unions had said the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the well-being of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act should be reviewed every five years to meet with contemporary economic demands of workers.

ASUU Joins Strike

The Academic Students Union of Universities (ASUU), has also directed its members to join the nationwide strike.

A statement by its President, Emmanuel Osodeke, to branch chairmen, and zonal coordinators of the association, noted the industrial actions were a result of the failure of government, to conclude the renegotiation of minimum wage for Nigerian workers and reversal of hike in electricity tariff.

“Our branches are hereby enjoined to join in the strike action as an affiliate member of Congress. Consequently, Branch Chairpersons are to mobilise all members to participate in the strike action,” the statement noted. (Channels TV)

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Tragedy as RCCG pastor collapses, dies during sermon at funeral in Rivers

Published

41 minutes ago

October 3, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Deacon Steve Eyo

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A funeral ceremony in Aleto, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, reportedly turned tragic on Friday after a pastor collapsed and died while delivering a sermon on the certainty of death.

The cleric was identified as Deacon Steve Eyo, the Resident Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Aleto.

He was preaching before more than 300 mourners when he suddenly collapsed as he was concluding his message.

Eyo’s sermon was titled “The Certainty of Death and Hope Beyond.”

According to eyewitness accounts cited by multiple local news outlets, he began preaching at about 1:10 p.m., speaking about the inevitability of death and urging those present to live their lives with the awareness that nobody knows when death will come.

In illustrating his message, the pastor reportedly compared life to going to the market, explaining that some people leave early while others remain until later, just as some people die young while others live longer.

About 15 minutes into the sermon, at approximately 1:25 p.m., Eyo reportedly collapsed while rounding off his message.

His sudden fall initially confused some mourners, with eyewitnesses saying some thought the pastor was demonstrating the suddenness of death as part of his sermon.

The situation quickly became clear, however, as church ministers, choir members and others rushed to his aid.

People at the scene reportedly prayed for him while individuals with medical knowledge attempted to administer first aid.

He was subsequently taken to a nearby medical facility in the same ambulance that had been hired to convey the remains of the deceased person whose burial was taking place.

He was reportedly confirmed dead at the hospital, after which his remains were taken to a mortuary.

The circumstances surrounding Eyo’s death have not been publicly established in the reports reviewed, and no specific medical cause of death was disclosed.

However, the timing of the incident has left mourners and members of the Aleto community deeply shocked because of the subject of his final sermon.

According to eyewitness accounts, Eyo had urged the congregation to “number your days and prepare, for it can happen anytime” shortly before he collapsed.

The incident transformed what had begun as a solemn farewell for one deceased person into another moment of mourning, as attendees were confronted with the sudden death of the minister delivering the funeral sermon.p pm

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Fulani Militia leader linked to Christian killings arrested in Plateau

Published

4 hours ago

October 3, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

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Mahmoud Adam, a suspected militant allegedly linked to deadly attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has reportedly been arrested in Plateau State.

The arrest was disclosed in an exclusive report published on Friday by the US-based Daily Caller, which identified Adam as an alleged secret leader of the Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) operating in Plateau State and surrounding parts of the Middle Belt.

According to the report, Adam was arrested in the early hours of September 12 at his compound in Plateau State, where he was known as a prominent Fulani community leader.

A former US intelligence officer with expertise in Islamist terrorism reportedly confirmed Adam’s alleged role in FEM, while Nigerian journalist Masara Kim of Truth Nigeria was also cited as having reported evidence allegedly linking him to deadly attacks in Plateau State.

The Daily Caller said information from a whistleblower indicated that Adam had previously established contacts with senior Nigerian military figures and had allegedly received high-value gifts from military officers.

The report also alleged that a serving senator had intervened in 2024 to secure Adam’s release following an earlier arrest.

The senator, Shehu Buba, has previously denied allegations of links to criminal networks. Separate reports said photographs showing Buba and Adam together have emerged, prompting calls for further investigation.

The Daily Caller reported that Adam was previously released from custody several days after his 2024 arrest following the alleged intervention.

Photographs cited by the publication reportedly show Adam meeting a Nigerian major general in 2023. According to the account accompanying the photographs, the military officer handed over five motorcycles to Adam and associates as part of efforts described as aimed at restoring peace in Plateau State.

The latest arrest comes amid renewed security concerns in Plateau State, where several communities have experienced deadly attacks in recent weeks. Local reports have linked some of the violence to armed groups, although attribution for individual attacks remains subject to confirmation by security authorities.

Reports of Adam’s arrest have also generated reactions in the United States. US Representative Riley Moore welcomed the reported arrest, describing it as evidence of increased US-Nigeria security cooperation, while the circumstances surrounding the allegations against Adam remain subject to official investigation and clarification.

As of the latest reports, the Nigerian security agencies had not publicly released a detailed statement outlining the charges against Adam or the evidence being relied upon in the investigation.

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IGP Disu deploys DIG, two CPs to rescue abducted NYSC members, passengers

Published

5 hours ago

October 3, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has deployed Shehu Nadada, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of operations, to coordinate the the rescue of 20 passengers abducted in Imo.

On October 1, two buses conveying National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers were waylaid in Umunoha, along Owerri-Onitsha expressway.

The police command in Imo said it recovered the two buses and rescued 10 persons at the scene of the incident.

In a statement on Friday, Anietie Iniedu, force spokesperson, said Nadada has arrived in the state with two commissioners of police and conducted on-the-spot assessment of the operation.

He said the DIG reviewed the deployment of personnel and operational assets and issued directives to strengthen the coordinated response.

Iniedu said the assessment was conducted alongside Audu Bosso, Commissioner of Police in Imo; Akpan Anifiok, commissioner of police in charge of federal operations, and other service commanders.

“The search-and-rescue operation has been further intensified, with additional deployments of tactical teams and operational assets across identified areas, backed by intelligence-led tracking of the suspects,” the statement reads.

“The police are working in close coordination with sister security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted persons and the apprehension of the perpetrators.”

The force assured the public that it would continue the operation until the 20 abducted persons are rescued.