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Tonto Dikeh Recalls Struggle With Addiction During Drug Abuse Campaign

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Tonto Dikeh Advocates Compassion for People Battling Drug Addiction

Actress Tonto Dikeh has called for greater compassion towards people struggling with drug addiction while revealing that she once battled substance abuse herself.

The actress made the disclosure in a lengthy message shared with her followers on social media as she advocated against drug abuse.

Dikeh said she had personally experienced the destructive effects of addiction and wanted people to understand that substance abuse often has deeper emotional roots.

She warned that drugs do not take away pain, arguing that they only provide temporary relief while gradually taking control of an individual’s life.

“Say no to drugs. I’ve been down this dark road, and I can tell you firsthand: substances don’t make the pain go away,” she wrote.

The actress recalled how she was once perceived by others during her difficult period.

According to Dikeh, people saw the anger, chaos and self-destructive behaviour but often failed to understand the emotional suffering behind them.

She said the person struggling with addiction may need help rather than condemnation.

“I was once the chaos people judged. The noise. The mess. The broken decisions,” she recalled.

Dikeh said her addiction was connected to pain she could not properly articulate at the time.

She explained that drugs were not the root cause of her struggles but a symptom of deeper problems.

“Drugs weren’t the problem, they were the symptom,” she stated, adding that addiction became her way of escaping pain she did not know how to name.

Read Also: DHQ Seeks Strategic Repositioning of MNJTF Against Evolving Threats

The actress also highlighted the role of her Christian faith in her recovery.

She said God saw beyond the circumstances that led to her struggles and helped restore her life.

Dikeh therefore urged the public to avoid defining people permanently by their mistakes or addiction.

She appealed to Nigerians to reject stigmatisation and instead offer support and prayers to those struggling to break free from substance abuse.

“Hate the drugs. Hate the addiction. But never stop praying for the person trapped inside it,” she said.

According to Dikeh, people battling addiction should not be regarded as weak, worthless or beyond redemption.

She described herself as living proof that recovery and restoration are possible.

The actress ended her message by encouraging continued prayers and support for people facing addiction, stressing that timely compassion could help save lives.

DHQ Seeks Strategic Repositioning of MNJTF Against Evolving Threats

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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has called for the repositioning of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to strengthen its response to evolving security threats in the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), made the call on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, while speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the opening of a two-day international forum at the National Defence College, Abuja.

The forum, organised by the DHQ in collaboration with the Irregular Warfare Centre of the National Defence College, is themed: “Repositioning the Multinational Joint Task Force to Effectively Combat Evolving Threat Dynamics in the Lake Chad Region.”
Musa said that 11 years after its establishment, the MNJTF remained critical to the fight against terrorism, transnational crime and other forms of insecurity across the Lake Chad Basin.

He, however, noted that the regional security environment had changed significantly, making it necessary to reassess the Task Force’s structure, capabilities, intelligence, command and control, logistics and financing.

The Minister urged participants to move beyond routine assessments and develop practical and sustainable measures to strengthen the MNJTF, particularly against the backdrop of evolving threats in the Sahel and changing patterns of international support.
He commended the sacrifices of troops and the contributions of regional and international partners to the fight against insecurity.

Musa expressed optimism that the participation of the African Union, European Union, Lake Chad Basin Commission, troop-contributing countries, former and serving Force Commanders and other strategic stakeholders would produce actionable recommendations.

He assured participants that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria would give due attention to the outcome of the forum, stressing that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu considers the MNJTF an important instrument of regional security and collective African action.

In his welcome remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, described the forum as a timely platform for military practitioners, policymakers, academics and strategic partners to assess the MNJTF’s experience, continuing relevance and future employment.

Oluyede stressed that the transnational nature of contemporary security threats required sustained cooperation, intelligence sharing, interoperability, mutual trust and the capacity to adapt collective responses to emerging realities.

He called for candid and forward-looking deliberations that would produce practical recommendations for strengthening the MNJTF and enhancing security across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel.

The CDS further emphasised that security in the Lake Chad Basin remained a shared responsibility, requiring sustained commitment and stronger partnerships among regional and international stakeholders.

The forum brings together senior military and security officials, policymakers, academics, practitioners and strategic partners to examine the future of the MNJTF and identify practical pathways for strengthening collective security in the region.

NAF Aircraft Accident Forces Senate to Reschedule National Security Summit

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The Senate has postponed its two-day National Security Summit, earlier scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, following the fatal crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The crash, which occurred on Monday, claimed the lives of 25 officers and seven crew members of the Nigerian Air Force.

The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the postponement in a statement personally signed and issued on Tuesday.

Bamidele explained that the decision was taken to honour the victims of the crash and in view of the three-day national mourning declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

President Tinubu had directed that national flags be flown at half-mast nationwide in honour of the deceased officers and crew members.

The Senate had convened the summit to examine Nigeria’s persistent security challenges and develop pragmatic solutions aimed at protecting lives and property across the country.

According to Bamidele, the ad-hoc committee had concluded preparations for the summit following the completion of zonal public hearings across the country.

Read Also: Edo: AAU Lecturer Found Dead in Hotel After Alleged Encounter With Sex Worker

However, the fatal NAF aircraft crash necessitated the decision to defer the summit until further notice.

“Given the declaration of national mourning by the President, the Senate has resolved that the National Security Summit be deferred until further notice in honour of the victims of the crash,” Bamidele stated.

The Senate expressed condolences to President Tinubu, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the officers and crew members who lost their lives in active service to the nation.

It described the deceased personnel as gallant officers and crew members who paid the supreme price in service to the fatherland.

Bamidele disclosed that a new date for the National Security Summit would be announced in due course.

He appealed to all stakeholders to take note of the national tragedy and bear with the Senate during the period of mourning.

The postponed summit is expected to bring together key stakeholders to deliberate on Nigeria’s security challenges and consider practical measures for strengthening national security and safeguarding citizens across the federation.

Edo: AAU Lecturer Found Dead in Hotel After Alleged Encounter With Sex Worker

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Police Probe Death of AAU Academic After Hotel Visit in Ekpoma

The death of a senior lecturer at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Dr Matthew Uwuigbe, has triggered a police investigation after he was found dead in a hotel room in Edo State.

Uwuigbe reportedly died on Sunday, October 5, 2026, at a hotel located in the Mosco area of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area.

The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, although the police have arrested three people in connection with the incident.

According to the Edo State Police Command, Uwuigbe had lodged at the hotel with a 21-year-old woman, Angela Defa Jacob.

Jacob was identified by the police as a commercial sex worker.

Police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem said the lecturer allegedly engaged Jacob’s services before sending her out to purchase water.

She reportedly returned to the room and found Uwuigbe lying lifeless on the bed.

The matter was reported to the police at about 8pm, leading to the commencement of an investigation.

Ikoedem said the three people arrested were the hotel owner, the manager and Jacob.

She explained that detectives were working to determine what happened before the lecturer’s death and whether there were circumstances requiring further criminal investigation.

Read Also: Fr Mbaka Says Nigeria’s Challenges Are Spiritual, Defends Peter Obi Supporters

The police spokesperson also confirmed that Uwuigbe’s remains had been deposited at the Oriaifo Memorial Hospital mortuary.

Meanwhile, Ambrose Alli University has confirmed the deceased’s affiliation with the institution.

The university’s Public Relations Officer, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, said Uwuigbe was a member of the university’s staff but stressed that the incident took place away from the school.

“We are not denying that he is our staff, but whatever he did and what happened, it is his private life,” Aladenika said.

He also clarified that Jacob was not a student of Ambrose Alli University.

The university therefore described the incident as a private matter that occurred outside its premises.

The police have not announced the cause of death. Investigations are continuing, while the three people arrested remain in custody as authorities seek to establish the full circumstances of the lecturer’s death.

Fr Mbaka Says Nigeria’s Challenges Are Spiritual, Defends Peter Obi Supporters

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Catholic priest and founder of the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, AMEN, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has described Nigeria’s challenges as “spiritual”, saying the country’s youths should not be blamed for supporting the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi.

Mbaka made the remarks in a video recorded during one of his church programmes.

The cleric said Nigeria was endowed with abundant human and natural resources but had failed to translate its wealth into improved living conditions for its citizens.

“Like what Nigeria is passing through now, Nigeria’s case is a spiritual one. We may not understand it,” Mbaka said.

Read Also: Don’t Marry a Man Just Because He Chose You, Damilola Adegbite Tells Women

He described Nigeria as one of the most blessed countries in the world, particularly in terms of its human resources, saying the country had “the best youths”, whose potential remained largely unrecognised.

According to him, Nigeria also has vast mineral resources, including gold and coal, yet many Nigerians continue to live in poverty and face inadequate electricity supply.

“Enugu is sitting upon a multi-trillion-dollar worth of coal, yet the indigenes of the city are all poor,” he said.

Mbaka also criticised successive governments over policies and actions that, according to him, have negatively affected poor Nigerians, including the demolition of shops and disputes over land.

He further attributed the country’s insecurity challenges, including kidnapping, to political factors.

The Catholic priest said Nigerian youths were naturally industrious and should therefore not be blamed for rallying behind Obi.

“That’s why nobody should blame Nigerian youths when all of them started following Peter Obi because they are looking for whoever will save them,” Mbaka said.

Don’t Marry a Man Just Because He Chose You, Damilola Adegbite Tells Women

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Nollywood actress Damilola Adegbite has urged single women to stop accepting relationship proposals solely because a man has expressed interest in them.

Adegbite gave the advice during a recent edition of her podcast, which was shared on her YouTube channel.

According to the actress, women should not feel pressured to settle with men who are ready for marriage simply because they have been selected by those men.

Instead, she encouraged women to consider whether the person is genuinely compatible with them and capable of building a healthy relationship.

“Ladies, don’t choose someone because they chose you. Choose someone because they are right for you,” Adegbite said.

She explained that age should not be the deciding factor when choosing a life partner. Whether a prospective partner is younger, older or the same age, she said, the important questions should concern love, support and the ability to build together.

Read Also: Ex-American Idol Contestant Gets Life Sentence for Killing Wife

“At the end of the day, we are not looking for numbers. We are looking for a partner,” she said.

Adegbite also spoke specifically to older women who are approached by younger men.

She warned that being admired by a younger man should not automatically be interpreted as a reason to accept his proposal.

According to her, women should first determine whether such a man is respectful, emotionally mature and genuinely prepared for commitment.

“To the older woman, if a younger man is interested in you, please don’t make the mistake of choosing him because he makes you feel desirable,” she said.

Adegbite urged women to consider whether the prospective partner makes them feel safe and supports their personal lives.

She added that older women with children should ensure that a younger partner respects their children and understands their responsibilities.

“Only choose him if he is emotionally mature and knows what he wants, respects your children and your life, and actually wants to build something with you,” she added.

The actress emphasised that genuine compatibility should take priority over age, attention or the desire to simply settle down.

Ex-American Idol Contestant Gets Life Sentence for Killing Wife

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Life Sentence for Caleb Flynn After Jury Rejects Intruder Defence

Caleb Flynn, a former American Idol contestant and music pastor, has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole after being convicted of murdering his wife, Ashley.

A jury found the 40-year-old guilty last week after a short deliberation, rejecting his claim that a stranger had entered his Ohio home and shot his wife as she slept.

Flynn was convicted of aggravated murder and eight other offences, including tampering with evidence.

The case centred on the February killing of Ashley Flynn, a 37-year-old teacher. The couple’s two daughters, aged nine and 11, were asleep inside the home when their mother was killed.

Flynn told investigators that he had been asleep when he heard gunshots. He said he discovered Ashley’s body in bed and noticed the garage door was open.

His account suggested that an intruder had entered the house, but prosecutors argued that the scene had been staged to make it look like a burglary.

Investigators presented police body-camera footage and digital information from Flynn’s iPhone and Apple Watch. Prosecutors said the evidence contradicted elements of his account.

The prosecution also presented evidence from witnesses, including Botner, whom Flynn met while she was an intern at his church.

Botner read messages from their extensive correspondence, which reportedly contained around 100,000 texts.

Among the messages was one in which Flynn allegedly discussed staying awake until 4am thinking about ways to kill Ashley without going to prison.

He also allegedly wrote that he wanted his wife “dead and gone.”

Read Also: Minister: Food Prices Have Dropped by as Much as 50% Since 2023

Flynn did not testify during the trial, while his defence called no witnesses.

At sentencing, his daughters delivered some of the most emotional statements in the case.

One wrote to Flynn, “Dear Daddy, I don’t even know where to start. How could you do such a thing?”

She described Ashley as a perfect mother and expressed anger that her father had killed the only mother she had known.

The second daughter addressed Flynn only as “Dear Caleb”. She demanded that he tell people what he had done and accept the consequences.

“You made me feel like an idiot thinking I could trust you,” she wrote.

She also said she would not visit him in prison.

Flynn sobbed as the letters were read.

In his own statement, Flynn expressed love for his family and apologised for unspecified decisions. He admitted failing the vows he made to Ashley but maintained that he did not kill her.

Judge Jeannine Pratt described Flynn as an “extreme” public risk and imposed the life sentence without parole.

Flynn’s lawyer, Patrick Mulligan, said an appeal would be filed. He argued that prosecutors had not produced sufficient evidence of prior calculation and design.

Mulligan also questioned the use of infidelity evidence and challenged the tampering conviction because the alleged murder weapon was never recovered.

Following the verdict, Ashley’s family described her as a deeply religious woman who loved people and cherished motherhood.

“Ashley loved Jesus with her whole heart,” the family statement said. “She loved people. Most of all, she loved being a mum.”

Flynn had previously appeared briefly on American Idol in 2013 and spoke then about loving Ashley “more than anything.”

Minister: Food Prices Have Dropped by as Much as 50% Since 2023

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The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, says prices of some essential food commodities have fallen by as much as 50 per cent compared with their levels before 2023.

Kyari made the claim on Monday in Maiduguri while speaking at the opening of a Community of Practice Meeting involving commissioners responsible for agriculture, health, environment and rural development from across Nigeria.

The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in partnership with the Borno State Government, with support from the German government.

The summit, themed “Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria,” focused on strengthening Nigeria’s food production and food security.
Kyari said the Federal Government’s goal was to increase food production, make food more affordable, strengthen rural economies and build a more resilient food system.

“We have seen the reduction of up to 50 per cent in prices of some essential food commodities, alongside expanded input delivery, investment in rural infrastructure, and support to smallholder farmers,” he said.

The minister said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had made food security a major priority, urging Nigerians to assess the government’s performance using available data rather than politicising the rising cost of living.

Read Also: Nigeria Climbs Four Spots as Bloomberg Updates African Investment Risk Ranking

“Let’s be honest, how much was a bag of rice and maize in 2023, and how much is it now? What is the percentage? Let us not play politics with these things,” Kyari said.

He said the Maiduguri meeting would also examine the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Declaration and its Strategy and Action Plan for 2026–2035.

According to him, the Kampala framework covers sustainable food production, investment, financing, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, climate resilience and improved governance.

Kyari added that Nigeria had already developed and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to implement its commitments under the framework.

Nigeria Climbs Four Spots as Bloomberg Updates African Investment Risk Ranking

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Nigeria has overtaken Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Namibia to rank eighth among 19 African economies assessed for relative investment risk by Bloomberg Economics, recording one of the biggest improvements in the 2026 Bloomberg Economics Investment Risk-O-Meter.

The four-place rise reflected improvements in three of the five indicators measured by the gauge: economic strength, fiscal strength and external vulnerability.

Bloomberg said Nigeria’s latest position was one of the more notable movements in the scorecard, while Mauritius emerged as the continent’s most investable economy among the 19 countries assessed.

“The continent’s biggest oil producer and refiner rose four places to eighth in the 2026 Bloomberg Economics Investment Risk-O-Meter, overtaking Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Namibia as it improved in three of the five metrics assessed by the gauge, economic strength, fiscal strength and external vulnerability,” Bloomberg reported.

Nigeria’s improved standing came against a mixed performance among other major African economies. Botswana dropped two places, while South Africa, which topped last year’s ranking, fell by one position, with Bloomberg attributing the decline to weaker economic growth outlooks.

The improvement in Nigeria’s ranking follows a series of economic reforms introduced since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, liberalisation of the foreign exchange market and the introduction of electricity tariffs aimed at reducing losses in the power sector.

The reforms have coincided with a gradual strengthening of economic growth during the period covered by the assessment.

Nigeria’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rose from 2.54 per cent in the third quarter of 2023 to 3.46 per cent in the fourth quarter. Growth averaged 3.19 per cent in 2024 before strengthening to 3.85 per cent in 2025, the strongest annual performance within the review period.

In the first quarter of 2026, the economy expanded by 3.89 per cent, bringing average quarterly growth between the third quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2026 to about 3.46 per cent.

Read Also: President Tinubu Assesses Nigeria’s Defence, Security Architecture

The sustained expansion in economic activity helped improve Nigeria’s position on the Bloomberg investment-risk gauge, although the ranking also highlights the continuing tension between macroeconomic reforms and fiscal pressures.

Nigeria’s public debt and debt-servicing obligations have risen sharply since the Tinubu administration assumed office.

Data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) showed that Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N87.38 trillion as of June 30, 2023, shortly after the administration took office. By December 31, 2025, the figure had risen to N159.28 trillion.

The DMO attributed the increase to higher borrowing, exchange-rate adjustments and the securitisation of legacy obligations.

The rise in debt remains a significant fiscal challenge even as Nigeria’s relative position in the Bloomberg assessment improves.

The latest ranking places Nigeria ahead of Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Namibia on the five-metric investment-risk gauge, with its gains concentrated in economic strength, fiscal strength and external vulnerability.

Mauritius ranked first in the 2026 scorecard, while Nigeria’s four-place rise made it one of the biggest movers in the assessment.

President Tinubu Assesses Nigeria’s Defence, Security Architecture

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), at the Presidential Residence in Lagos for a review of Nigeria’s national defence and security framework.

The discussions covered ongoing counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations, frontline operational requirements and inter-agency security strategies.

This was made known in a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde.

The meeting also reviewed current defence initiatives and proposed reforms aimed at “strengthening troop morale, modernising military hardware and improving military infrastructure across the country.”

Read Also: N802bn Audit Breaches: Reps Summon NNPCL, INEC, Issue HYPREP 7-Day Deadline

President Tinubu expressed satisfaction with progress recorded in securing vulnerable communities and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the Ministry of Defence.

General Musa briefed the President on current defence initiatives, operational logistics and proposed reforms, while expressing appreciation for the President’s continued guidance and support for Nigeria’s security apparatus.

The Minister assured that the Ministry of Defence remains committed to carrying out its mandate with resolve and integrity.

The engagement formed part of the President’s continuing security briefings and policy alignment sessions with key government officials as the administration works to address security and economic challenges nationwide.

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