Nigerian News: Morning Headlines – 01 September 2026

Military Rescues 21 Kidnap Victims From Kogi Forest

Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in a coordinated operation with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, local hunters and vigilantes, have rescued 21 kidnapped victims from a forest in Kogi State.

The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Lt Hassan Abdullahi, said the operation was conducted on August 31, 2026, in the Egume and Ochaja forest areas of Dekina Local Government Area.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed that the 21 victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, included members of the National Youth Service Corps, and had been rescued from the Egume-Ochaja forest. He said the military would sustain efforts to rescue residents still held in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

Reacting to the development, President Bola Tinubu, in a statement via his X handle, commended the combined Search and Rescue team for their courage, and said the rescued corps members and other victims were receiving medical attention before being reunited with their families. He also appreciated the families and loved ones of the abductees for their understanding during the ordeal.

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Opposition Summit Suffers Setback As Key Figures Skip Abuja Gathering

The First National Opposition Summit, aimed at forging a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections, suffered a setback on Monday in Abuja as several major opposition figures failed to attend.

The summit, organised by civil society pressure group G100 in collaboration with the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre to develop a framework for a common presidential candidate and a four-year transition government.

Representatives of the African Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and Social Democratic Party attended alongside some presidential and vice-presidential candidates and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Presidential candidates Adebayo Adewole of the SDP and Donald Duke of the PRP, as well as APM’s vice-presidential candidate Lawal Daura, were among those present. The presidential candidates of the ADC and NDC, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, were yet to arrive as proceedings commenced.

Presenting opening remarks on behalf of G100, its representative, Salihu Lukman, said the proposed arrangement, to be known as a Government of National Competence, was designed to move opposition cooperation beyond electoral calculations, and would be based on competence, integrity, inclusiveness and equitable participation. He said it would be guided by a four-year National Reset Programme and a binding agreement limiting the administration to a single transition term.

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EFCC Asks Wanted Ex-Governor Sylva To Turn Himself In

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has urged former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, who has been declared wanted over an alleged $14.86 million fraud, to make himself available for questioning.

The commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, stated this on Monday while reacting to Sylva’s allegation that the anti-graft agency had conducted itself more as an organ of the All Progressives Congress than as an institution of the state.

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Timipre Sylva Dumps APC, Gives Reason

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress.

His resignation was contained in a letter dated August 31, 2026, addressed and electronically transmitted to the APC chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

In the letter, Sylva accused the ruling party of abandoning the ideals on which it was founded, saying he could no longer remain in the party. He described the APC as a floundering ship whose fate appears irredeemable by the load of its iniquities.

Copies of the resignation letter were also sent to the National Chairman of the APC, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC and the Bayelsa State Chairman of the party. The former governor said his decision followed extensive consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers.

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INEC Examines Records Over NDC’s ‘Unknown Names’ Allegation

The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced an examination of its records to determine how names allegedly unknown to the Nigeria Democratic Congress appeared on the party’s list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The move followed allegations by the NDC that names of candidates it neither nominated nor authorised were uploaded and published as its candidates in several state House of Assembly constituencies, particularly in Anambra State. In a statement issued Sunday by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the party said the names were not authorised or submitted to INEC.

Reacting, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the commission had no legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties or substitute its preferred candidates for those validly nominated in accordance with the law. He said the candidate nomination portal is the platform through which parties submit candidate particulars using access credentials issued to them, and that INEC does not involve itself in nominating or submitting candidates. He added that all activities carried out on the portal were electronically recorded and could be verified through the commission’s records and audit trail.

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Woman Arrested For Allegedly Smuggling Drugs Into Ogun Custodial Centre For Son On Death Row

The Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service has arrested a woman, Iyabo Sowunmi, for allegedly attempting to smuggle suspected illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, for her son, Dare Sowunmi, who is said to be on death row at the facility.

The spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, Olayinka Odukoya, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

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Gunmen Kill APC Ward Chairman, Another Resident In Kano

Gunmen have killed the All Progressives Congress chairman of Rantan Ward in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Garba Buba, and another resident, Sulaiman Zunduma, in a fresh attack on the community.

The victims were killed on Sunday night when suspected gunmen invaded Rantan community and opened fire on residents, forcing many to flee their homes for safety.

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We Were Part Of Your Liberation – Shettima Warns South Africa Over Xenophobic Attacks

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Monday warned that the Nigerian government and its people would no longer tolerate any form of dehumanisation of Nigerian citizens by any government.

He gave the warning while addressing journalists shortly before departing Luanda, the Angolan capital, for Nigeria, after the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

The Vice-President reiterated Nigeria’s strong opposition to xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, insisting that the country would not condone the mistreatment of its citizens. While condemning the attacks, he urged South African authorities to protect lives and uphold human dignity in the enforcement of the country’s immigration policies.

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EFCC Chairman Says Over 40 Staff Dismissed For Corruption In Three Years

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, says more than 40 staff members have been dismissed for corruption and financial malpractice in the last three years.

Olukoyede disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a media interactive session to mark his three-year stewardship at the commission’s headquarters.

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70-Year-Old Man Arrested For Allegedly Defiling Eight-Year-Old Girl In Bauchi

Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 70-year-old man, Usman Abubakar, for allegedly defiling an eight-year-old girl in the Tsakanin Bayara area of Bauchi metropolis.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib.

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EFCC Uncovers How Public Funds Were Moved Into Crypto Wallets

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has disclosed how public funds were moved from a local government account to a private company before being transferred into cryptocurrency wallets.

The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Monday while addressing media executives and journalists in Abuja, stressing that the commission could not ignore the suspicious movement of public funds.

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It Is Embarrassing For A Sitting President To Block Records About His Past – Peter Obi

The Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said it is wrong for any leader to try to shield uncomfortable aspects of their past from legitimate scrutiny.

According to Obi, in a statement issued Monday via his X account, the moral standard of any individual who occupies the presidency can influence several generations. The former Governor of Anambra State made the submission amid the saga involving the background and alleged involvement of President Bola Tinubu in a drug-related case in the United States.

Obi said records regarding a sitting President’s background have become an issue of legitimate public interest, and that it was embarrassing that a sitting Nigerian president would approach a foreign court seeking to prevent the release of records concerning him, particularly documents he described as matters of legitimate public interest. Instead of trying to block records from entering the public space, Obi said Nigerians deserve clear, credible and verifiable explanations, particularly on issues such as their leader’s educational credentials, including primary and secondary school records.

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I Wasn’t Invited To Baby Showers Because I Had No Child – Mo Bimpe

Nollywood actress Mo Bimpe has opened up on a painful period in her life when she was deliberately left out of events involving children because she had not become a mother.

The actress shared her experience in an emotional Instagram post while speaking to women who are currently trying to conceive. Bimpe revealed that there was a time when she stopped receiving invitations to baby showers, naming ceremonies, children’s birthday parties and other celebrations involving kids, and later discovered that some people she knew had intentionally excluded her because she did not have a child.

According to her, the experience was deeply painful because she had always loved children and wanted to be part of the happiness and celebrations of people around her.

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Headies Rejects Claims Of Ignoring Gospel Artistes

The organisers of The Headies have rejected claims that gospel and inspirational artistes are being pushed aside at the annual music awards.

The organisers said faith-based musicians remain qualified to compete in major categories alongside artistes from other genres, in a statement shared on their official Instagram page on Monday, August 31, 2026, following concerns raised by Afrogospel singer Gaise Baba over the treatment of gospel music at the awards.

Gaise Baba had questioned why gospel and inspirational artistes appeared to have limited opportunities in some of the major categories at The Headies, arguing that artistes should be assessed based on the quality, sound and impact of their music rather than the religious message contained in their songs.

Responding, The Headies said its history does not support the claim that gospel artistes are excluded from major award categories, pointing to several gospel and inspirational musicians who have competed successfully against artistes in mainstream music categories.

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Messi Retires From International Football

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has called time on his international career, ending a 21-year journey with the national team.

The 39-year-old football icon announced his decision on Monday in an emotional message posted on Instagram, saying he had reached a stage where he had given everything he could to the national team.

Messi said the decision was painful but necessary, particularly with a new generation of Argentine players emerging. Reflecting on his long association with Argentina, he said the decision had been difficult but insisted he believed it was the right time to step aside.

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Liverpool Complete Signing Of Bradley Barcola From PSG

Liverpool have completed the signing of French forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.

The Premier League champions confirmed the transfer on August 31, after the 23-year-old signed a long-term contract and completed his move to Anfield. Barcola will wear the No.29 shirt after ending his spell with PSG, where he established himself as one of the club’s leading attacking players.

The France international becomes the latest addition to Liverpool’s squad as they prepare for the new Premier League season. Barcola expressed his delight after completing the transfer and revealed that winning the Premier League is one of his biggest ambitions.