Metro
Council Poll: FCT Ministers Take Campaign for APC to Abuja Traders

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu on Thursday appealed to Abuja Traders to cast their votes for the All Progressive Congress (APC).
This, according to the two ministers will ensure seamless governance from the Federal to the grassroots levels and dividend of democracy will be enjoyed by all.
The Senior Special Assistance on Monitoring, Inspection and Evaluation to FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah made the position of the ministers known when he played host to Great United Okirika Traders Association, Abuja, who came to felicitate with him on his appointment.
According to him, “But those of us in politics, we know without politics there won’t be government, we want all stakeholders to vote our party, APC, the minister has always asked us to beg all stakeholders to vote for our party candidates, because if we are not in power we are nowhere, the Minister and Minister of State, Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, have appealed to all traders to vote APC in the forthcoming Area Council election.
“FCT Minister Malam Mohammad Bello is committed to the development of Abuja, he may not talk or shout about it but if you drive round the city, you will see construction works going on at Deeper life junction, Power house junction, Wuye bridge among many others”, he added.
Speaking on the plights of the Nyanya traders, Attah said, you need to have a good section for those who sell second hand clothes and second hand items particularly as the market is being developed to factor you in. It is very cardinal like what we have in Garki Model Market, you already have a place nobody will say any taskforce is disturbing them on the road.
His words: “Your place is strategic and the busiest, we are hopeful that you have a similar section on Nyanya Market. We have spoken to the developer and we are hopeful that when the place is fully developed, we will start a deeper engagement, there might be a redesign.
“They can even carve out a place whereby you know you can trade within Nyanya. Research have shown that, you are the busiest in the market. I commend you for leaving the road corridors. But Minister came to the market to see things for himself and allowed you to stay. You people have been following up on your boundaries and I am very happy about this and am impressed. We are going to engage the developer next week. But everyday market is factored in by the developer, that daily market will have to move”.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Great United Okirika Traders Association, Mr Christian Kalu said, they are enjoying the market today because they complied to the directives given to them.
He however, appealed to FCT administration to factor in Okirika traders into the new market design.
Metro
NAF Airstrikes Decimate ISWAP Leadership Cell in Southern Tumbuns

The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has neutralized several high-value Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) commanders and fighters in a decisive air interdiction in the Lake Chad region.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), made this known in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
Ejodame stated that the mission, carried out on Sunday, targeted Arina Woje, a notorious ISWAP enclave in the Southern Tumbuns of Borno, known as a sanctuary for insurgent leaders.
He said the strike followed a series of credible Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) sorties that confirmed the return of terrorist elements to the area after recent inter-factional clashes.
According to him, ISR data revealed significant terrorist activities, including the movement of foot soldiers, reactivation of structures and the concealment of possible command centres and logistics depots beneath dense foliage.
He added that “acting on credible intelligence, NAF air assets were dispatched to undertake focused strike mission. Aircrew on arrival, acquired and prosecuted pre-selected targets using precision-guided munitions, achieving devastating effects.
“Preliminary battle damage assessment reveals the destruction of several structures housing key ISWAP leaders, fighters, and logistics storage facilities, effectively disrupting the group’s operational planning and resupply efforts in the region.”
The NAF spokesman said the operation reflected NAF’s continued resolve to dislodge terrorist elements, deny them freedom of movement, and support ground forces in restoring peace and stability across Nigeria.
He added that the operations also reinforced the value of intelligence-driven air power missions in modern counter-terrorism operations.
Metro
Police Recover Body of Kogi Journalist Murdered by Colleague

The Police Command in Kogi said it has recovered the body of Ayo Aiyepeku, a photo-journalist, allegedly murdered by his colleague, Oluwapelumi Adebayo.
The command’s spokesperson, Williams Ovye-Aya, disclosed this on Monday day in Lokoja.
Ovye-Aya explained that Ayobami’s corpse was found on Sunday evening at a location around WAEC office, Crusher Zone 8 axis in Lokoja.
The command’s spokesperson said Aiyepeku was gruesomely murdered by his colleague, Oluwapelumi Adebayo on Tuesday night, July 22 in an office near the Government House/GRA area of Lokoja.
“Yes, the corpse of the photo-journalist has been found. It was discovered on Sunday evening somewhere around WAEC office, Zone 8 axis of Lokoja.
“The corpse has been deposited at Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
“The discreet investigation will help us uncover what truly happened,” Ovye-Aya said.
He appealed to the victim’s family, colleagues and the public to provide credible information to aid the investigation.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s family has made a passionate appeal to police authorities and the Kogi government for justice.
Timothy Aiyepeku, the deceased’s elder brother, and his uncle, Dr Ibikunle Jide, appealed for justice.
They pleaded with Gov. Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to help unravel the mystery behind Ayobami’s gruesome murder, and punish the perpetrators.
“Now that the body has been found, we once again appeal to the Federal and Kogi governments and police authorities to uncover the mystery behind the killing.
“We commend the Police for their effort so far, and the media for ensuring the incident receives wide coverage and public attention,” they added.
Aiyepeku’s assailant had after killing him, loaded his corpse into a deep freezer and disposed of it off.
Ayobami’s body was found by residents of the area who raised an alarm.
Residents were said to have been attracted to a nearby bush in the area by foul odour from the decomposing body of the late photographer.
On sighting his corpse, residents alerted the Chairman of Lokoja Local Government, Abdullahi Adamu, who immediately arrived at the spot in company of some security agents to recover the body.
Metro
Police Detains Housewife, Two Others for Fake Kidnap

The police command in Delta said it has arrested a housewife, who conspired with two others, to fake her kidnap in Asaba.
The command Spokesperson, Bright Edafe said, in a statement, on Monday in Asaba that the housewife (names withheld) successfully faked her kidnap and collected N3 million as ransom.
“On July 21, 2025, the Delta Police Command received a report of a kidnapping incident involving a female victim, who was allegedly abducted by unknown armed men in the Bonsaac area of Asaba.
“Acting on the report, the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, directed the Commander, Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, Godwin Osadolor to ensure that the victim was rescued unhurt.
“Acting on this directive, police operatives launched coordinated intelligence-driven operations,” Edafe said.
She said that through diligent investigative efforts and strategic deployment, on July 22, operatives apprehended one of the suspects at Koka Roundabout, and another suspect, off DLA Road both in Asaba.
According to the police image maker, one of the suspects confessed that it was not a case of actual kidnapping but a plot between the victim and himself.
Edafe said that the revelation made by the suspect led to the arrest of the housewife.
“The housewife stated that she faked her kidnap and received a ransom of N3 million and gave her accomplices N500,000 while she took N2.5 million for herself, ” Edafe said.
According to him, all suspects involved in the fake kidnap had been arrested, while investigation is currently ongoing.