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A suspected kidnapper has confessed that he planned to travel abroad with his share of the ransom his gang demanded for the release of a victim.

Musa Shaibu, 25, was arrested in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State after he and four others allegedly abducted the 14-year-old son of a Bureau De Change operator, identified as Hassan, from their home in the Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos.

After abducting the victim, the suspects demanded the sum of N20 million as ransom.

“Our intention was not to harm the boy, but to collect the sum of N20 million from his rich father. I would have travelled overseas with my own share of the money,” he reportedly told investigators.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect’s arrest was sequel to a complaint lodged by the victim’s father.

Hundeyin stated that on May 1, 2025 at about 4.50pm, detectives of the command received a report from a complainant, who reported that his son, one Hassan, aged 14, was kidnapped by a group of suspected kidnappers at Olodi-Apapa area and that the sum of N20 million ransom was demanded for his release.

“Based on the report, operatives were immediately deployed to the point of ransom collection at a filling station, at Wema Bridge in Apapa. The team arrested one of the kidnappers, Musa Shaibu aged 25.

“The team also went to the kidnappers’ hideout at a hotel in Ajegunle area, where the victim was kept. He was rescued unhurt, debriefed and reunited with his family while the manager of the hotel was also arrested and taken into custody for investigation. Investigation is in progress,” he added.

The federal government has commenced the payment of the long-awaited N35,000 wage award arrears to its employees, fulfilling a key part of its commitment to support workers amid prevailing economic challenges.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Bawa Mokwa.

According to the statement, many federal government employees have already received the first tranche of the payment, while others who are yet to be credited will receive theirs shortly.

The arrears are being paid in five instalments of N35,000 each, amounting to a total of N175,000 per beneficiary.

The OAGF also addressed reports circulating in some sections of the media suggesting that the N35,000 wage award had been excluded from the 2025 Budget. The Office clarified that at no point did the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Babatunde Ogunjimi, make such a claim.

“There was no press briefing by the Accountant General on the matter of wage award,” the statement read. “Any report quoting him as excluding the N35,000 from the 2025 budget is entirely false.”

The Office further stated that all outstanding arrears of the wage award would be settled in line with the government’s assurance to organised labour and public service employees.

The wage award was introduced by the Federal Government as part of palliative measures to cushion the impact of recent subsidy removal and associated economic reforms. It is intended to bridge the gap pending the conclusion of negotiations on a new minimum wage.

The commencement of payment comes after months of anticipation and advocacy from labour unions, who had pressed for the full implementation of the government’s promise.

The payment is expected to provide some relief to federal workers, many of whom have been grappling with inflationary pressures and rising cost of living.

The OAGF urged patience from workers who have not yet received their arrears, assuring that the payroll system is actively processing all outstanding entitlements.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered some funds and made arrests linked to the massive N1.3 trillion fraud involving the Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) platform, the agency’s chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, revealed.

In a recent interview with TVC, Olukoyede said the EFCC has made significant progress investigating the CBEX scam, which defrauded many Nigerians through its digital investment scheme.

“We have gone far with CBEX. We have been able to recover a reasonable amount of money,” Olukoyede stated.

Although the stolen funds were in cryptocurrency, the EFCC has traced and recovered part of the money.

However, he noted that converting crypto back to cash is complex due to the nature of digital currency.

“Even though it’s in the crypto wallet, the same way the money was taken from them, there is no way you will get it in dollars. There is no way you get the dollars in cash without necessarily going through the same process,” he explained.

The EFCC boss also confirmed that some suspects have been arrested, while others remain at large.

“We have made reasonable arrests. We are not going to give out much because we don’t want the process to be disrupted. We are still after quite a number of people we have declared wanted,” he added.

One major challenge in the investigation, Olukoyede explained, is that the fraudsters used “non-custodial wallets,” which do not require identity verification (KYC), making it difficult to trace the criminals.

“We are still investigating many wallets, and the wallets they created are called noncustodial wallets; in other words, no KYC. So, you can’t trace them to anybody.

“So, from the noncustodial wallets, they moved the money to wallets in Europe, Eastern Europe, particularly Cambodia, and from there, they dispersed the funds. We have been able to block some of these wallets where money has not been dispersed.

“That is as far as we have gone. I even learnt that there are still some of these perpetrators and Nigerians are still falling victim. I believe people should learn from this,” he said.

CBEX collapsed in April after users experienced repeated withdrawal problems, eventually losing access to their accounts and millions in funds.

The platform’s collapse led to losses estimated at over N1.3 trillion and sparked outrage among investors and social media users.

Despite the collapse, It was reported that CBEX has quietly resumed operations, reopening registration and allowing trading and withdrawals in an attempt to regain investor trust.

Olukoyede warned Nigerians to be cautious, as some perpetrators are still active and victims continue to fall for similar schemes.

Saudi Arabia has stopped Kaduna-based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi from performing the 2025 Hajj and deported him back to Nigeria.

Sheikh Gumi confirmed this in a post made on Monday, May 26, 2025, via his Facebook page.

He said the Saudi government had granted him a visa to enter the country for Hajj, but he was not allowed to enter Medina to begin his religious duties.

“Due to some reasons related to my views on world politics, the authorities in Saudi Arabia do not want me to be present at Hajj even though they have granted me a visa,” Sheikh Gumi said in a post on his Facebook page.

He added, “I am grateful to the authorities in Nigeria who have pledged to engage with the Saudi authorities on this matter.”

According to findings, Sheikh Gumi is part of a delegation of scholars sponsored by the Nigerian Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to travel to Saudi Arabia for religious services.

Gumi arrived in Medina with other clerics last Saturday at around 10:30pm on an Umza Air flight, but upon arrival at the city’s airport, Saudi immigration officials prevented the cleric from entering the country.

Reports revealed that Sheikh Gumi has now returned to Nigeria to continue his daily activities, especially teaching.

Officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration, under the leadership of Minister Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have sealed the National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party.

At exactly 2:06 pm, a group of FCTA staff locked the entrance gate of Wadata Plaza, the PDP’s national secretariat located in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

This action follows the FCTA’s recent announcement on Sunday, stating its intention to reclaim properties affected by the revocation of 4,794 land titles due to non-payment of ground rent spanning 10 to 43 years.

Details shortly…

A Nigerian professional boxer, Prince Bob Alagoro, has tearfully cried out for help over his inability to pay house rent, despite representing Nigeria and emerging champion in multiple competitions.

This is contained in a post shared via X (formerly Twitter) by user @General_Somto, which includes a video of the boxer narrating his current ordeal.

In the emotional clip, Alagoro, who identified himself as a professional boxer and West African champion, revealed that he is stuck in his current residence because he cannot afford rent, agreement, and agent fees.

He also expressed disappointment over being abandoned by his family, whom he claimed turned against him after he donated money to a motherless baby home.

His words: “My family hates me because of the money I donated to the motherless. I’m ashamed to bring this belt out.”

“Sometimes, the money for the house rent would be complete in my hand, but the money for agreement and commission made me continue staying where I’m still staying”

“No boxer in Nigeria defeat me. I represented Nigeria in Burkina Faso, I became West African champion. I’m a professional boxer. My name is Prince Bob Alagoro.”

As the video circulated online, concerned individuals flooded the comment section to share their thoughts and show support.

See some reactions below:

@SantusJames7: “I will advice he sell that belt and his rent for the instance.”

@Captain_drizzy: “And a man like wike and Akpabio that has not done anything for this country for free will be rewarded on a daily basis.”

@PhilipUche16187: “You should have started your charity from your poor family, that’s way to go. Assist family, assist the motherless and save for yourself, you lacked a good mentor?”

@KenndyO73628: “Nigeria is a rubbish country . A country fill with all kinds of recourse yet Nigeria is poverty capital of the world . Look at how a Nigerian legend is suffering what about us the ordinary citizens shame on Nigeria #free mazi NNAMDI KANU he is not Nigeria problem.”

@LewisChuks5: “Pls tag this video to Anthony Josuah to see if this man can be helped by him.”

@Ebube_Dike__: “Nigeria is a massive and a gigantic failed state.”

@KenDavidNwachu1: “Nigeria has happened to him. Serve the zoo and return in shame.”

@ayodelesun: “It is not about Nigeria happen that you people are typing. Is endorsement that gave them money, if you no get any u go dey bro.”

Watch Video Below:

https://x.com/General_Somto/status/1926355675531084048?s=19

The grieving father of Teenage UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) candidate has revealed how he buried his daughter, Timilehin, using money he had set aside for her university education after she d+ed by ending it all over her UTME result.

In an emotional interview with Channels Television, the father explained that Timilehin, who had scored 190 in the previous year’s UTME, was devastated when she saw this year’s result was 146.

“She said, ‘Daddy, this is not my result! Go and do something!’” he recalled. “I told her to calm down, but she was panicking.”

What followed was a tragic series of events. The father said he kept video-calling after hearing she was unwell, but her siblings avoided his calls.

“When I finally saw her on the phone’s screen, I knew. She was on the hospital bed, struggling with death. I knew then that she would not survive.”

Her elder sister, Opeyemi, had tried to get help when Timilehin confessed to ingesting “Push Out” — a common term for rat poison — thinking it was medication. By the time they realised what had happened, it was too late.

“She regretted it. I could see it. She was fighting for her life,” the father said through tears.

Timilehin, the fourth of eight children, was described as brilliant, hardworking, and gentle. While awaiting university admission, she learned hairdressing and styled hair for several professors at LASUSTECH. She had dreamed of studying Biochemistry.

“Never did I imagine this,” her father said. “I told her not to worry, that I had kept her school fees intact. Now I’ve used the school fees to bury her.”

Timilehin’s death has sparked fresh concern over exam body result controversies and the mental health crisis among Nigerian youths.