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  At  least 19 people have died after a vehicle carrying a bride and her family plunged into a river when the dilapidated Gwalli Bridge collapsed at Fass community in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at about 4:45 pm when the vehicle carrying the wedding guests plunged from the weakened bridge into the water beneath, killing men, women and children.   The victims are said to be family members of late Sheikh Dauda Fass, a former member of the State House of Assembly.    A resident, Babangida Halifa Ibrahim Fass, who lost relatives in the accident, said the tragedy struck while his newlywed sister was being taken to her husband’s home in Jega community.    “The car fell from the bridge into the water. As they were brought out, we found 19 of them dead, including men, women and children,”  he said.   The bridge which links several towns and villages in the area, had been i...

  Anambra State First Lady, Nonye Soludo (left) and Senator Uche Ekwunife   Anambra State First Lady, Nonye Soludo, has criticized APC deputy governorship candidate Senator Uche Ekwunife over what she termed “malicious allegations” against her family. Recall that Ekwunife had alleged that Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his wife were part of the administration of late Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju between 1999 and 2003. Ekwunife stated this while reacting to reports that her academic qualifications were questionable. Speaking via a statement on Saturday, Soludo dared Ekwunife to a public oath and DNA tests on her children. She warned that legal actions would be taken against the Senator if she does not withdrew her claims and apologized within 72 hours. Soludo said,  “For starters, let me repeat three verifiable facts. One, I have never worked for anyone in my life. I have been a professional and an entrepreneur all my adult life. Two, I never met Dr. Mbadinuju of blessed memo...

The mysterious death of Comfort Jimtop Oliver, a 100-level student at Taraba State University (TSU) who reportedly died at her boyfriend’s residence in Jalingo, has taken a chilling turn. This is because her suspected boyfriend, Emmanuel Kefas, a 2024 graduate in Human Kinetics from the same university, was also found dead in the Tudiri community, just a few meters from Jalingo, the state capital. Residents of the area suspect he must to have committed suicide following the death of Comfort in his house.  The deceased lovers were all residents of Bakasi, and had lived about 200 meters away from each other’s houses, near Dr. Rapha Memorial Guest Inn, by the Vice-Chancellor’s Gate in Jalingo.  Comfort, who was found dead under questionable circumstances, was said to be in a relationship with Emmanuel since when he was still a student of the institution. Comfort, an indigene of Takum Local Government Area, was identified as a member of the Kuteb ethnic group. A senior police offi...

Nigerian celebrity chef and food influencer, Hilda Effiong Bassey popularly known as Hilda Baci has invited Lagos residents to come and enjoy meals from her recently completed Guinness World Record attempt for the largest pot of jollof rice. The event, held at Eko Hotel in Lagos, produced thousands of kilograms of rice, much of which remains available despite large-scale packaging and distribution efforts. Baci explained in a video message on Instagram that there was still an excess of food and encouraged people to bring containers to take portions home. She stated that she would remain at the venue until the giant pot was emptied, stressing that the food must not go to waste. According to her, everyone in Lagos is welcome to partake in the meal, which she described as well-prepared and abundant. She said,  “We’re still packaging food. There is still so much food. Please, you guys, come through and come and get the food. It’s a lot and we cannot waste it. Please, the food is good. ...

In the early hours of Saturday, Nigerian celebrity chef and food influencer, Hilda Effiong Bassey popularly known as Hilda Baci successfully achieved her much-anticipated Guinness World Record attempt for the largest pot of jollof rice. The feat took place at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Akwa Ibom-born culinary star revealed that the massive dish was prepared with 4,000 kilograms of basmati rice, 500 cartons of tomato concentrate, 750 kilograms of oil, and 600 kilograms of onions, all cooked in a custom-made steel pot measuring six metres in diameter. She revealed that the initial plan was to cook 250 bags of rice, but later on adjusted the figure to 200 bags to avoid exceeding the 20,000 kilogram weight limit of the measuring equipment. Ten assistants in red uniforms, equipped with giant wooden paddles, had worked tirelessly with Baci throughout the session, stirring the enormous meal as DJs and live performances kept the audience engaged. The festival tagged ‘Gi...

The winner of Big Brother Naija Level Up season, Ijeoma Josephina Otabor popularly known as Phyna has laid her younger sister, Ruth Otabor, to rest weeks after she lost her life in a tragic road accident. Ruth was involved in a crash on August 13, 2025, when a truck belonging to the Dangote Group hit her near Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State, just six days after her graduation. Recall that the accident left her with severe injuries, including the amputation of one leg, damage to the other, as well as head and hand injuries. Despite efforts to save her, the 24-year-old lady died on August 31 at about 6:30 a.m., as announced by the family through their legal representatives. Her remains were conveyed from Ebony Mortuary, Ikoyi to her residence in Ikorodu, Ogun State. Videos circulating online from the burial shows Phyna surrounded by friends and ex-BBNaija housemates, including Christy O and Groovy, who stood by her during the emotional ceremony. The Dangote Group had earlier expressed sor...

Guinness World Record holder and celebrity chef, Hilda Effiong Bassey popularly known as Hilda Baci has started dishing out food from her massive jollof rice pot at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, following over eight hours of cooking. Videos circulating online showed Baci and her team serving steaming plates of rice to thousands of attendees, with large portions of the rice remaining from the 200 bags used. One clip taken around 4 a.m. captured the massive spread, with onlookers exclaiming, “200 bags of rice no be anybody mate!” “Hilda Baci is feeding Lagos” The pot of Nigerian jollof rice took an unexpected turn when the massive pot suddenly collapsed while being hoisted for weighing. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The  event, which began on Friday, drew a huge crowd of Gen Zs, millennials, food lovers, and celebrities, and it has been described as a festival of Nigerian jollof. Baci, who previously earned global recognition for her Guinness World Record cooking marat...

  Just three days before their 29th wedding anniversary,  Akon’s wife, Tomeka Thiam has chosen to end their marriage. According to court filings which was obtained on September 12, Tomeka says she married the singer back in September 1996 but is now pulling the plug on their marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. According reports, the couple share a 17-year-old daughter named Journey.   Tomeka is also asking the court for joint legal custody while requesting physical custody. She is also seeking spousal support from the 52-year-old Senegalese-American singer, Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam but at the same time asking the court to block Akon from receiving any spousal support himself. Over the years, Akon has remained vague about how many “wives” he’s had, but Tomeka is officially making her position clear with this filing. So far, Akon has not publicly reacted to the divorce news.

  Nollywood actress, Abiodun Okeowo popularly known as Omoborty has weighed in on the ongoing trend of wedding comparisons, emphasizing that the scale or glamour of a ceremony does not define the success of a marriage. In a post on Instagram, she wrote:  “Money can decorate a hall, but it can’t decorate marriage. So let’s stop confusing money with taste. "They are not the same thing. The level of a wedding doesn’t equate the success of the marriage… An intimate wedding does not mean there is no money, and an elaborate wedding does not automatically prove wealth.” She added that some couples even go into debt to fund their dream wedding, reminding people that marriage should be about the couple’s happiness, not outsiders’ ratings. “Comparison truly irks me. People need to stop abeg!!!”  she concluded.

An American rapper, Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr., popularly known as DDG, has announced plans to relocate to Lagos, Nigeria, amid his ongoing custody battle with ex-girlfriend Halle Bailey over their 17-month-old son, Halo. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), DDG wrote,  “I’m so tired of living in LA. "I can’t wait til I move to Lagos, Nigeria.”  The rapper had earlier hinted in January 2025 that he was considering leaving the US for either London or Lagos, citing dissatisfaction with life in America. The custody battle between DDG and Bailey has been highly publicized, with Bailey previously alleging physical and emotional abuse and obtaining a temporary restraining order against DDG.

A zookeeper in Thailand was dragged down and mauled to death by a pride of lions. The attack happened at Safari World Bangkok when 58-year-old Jian Rangkharasamee stepped out of his jeep in the lion enclosure.  Witnesses said a lion crept up from behind before pouncing on him. Several other lions then quickly joined in to tear at his flesh.  Visitors honked their car horns and shouted in an attempt to scare off the lions, but the animals mauled Rangkharasamee to death as tourists looked on in horror.  Professor Tavatchai Kanchanarin, doctor at a leading hospital, saw the tragedy unfold at around 11am on Wednesday.  He said:  "The lion attacked the zookeeper while he was getting out of his car.  "It was about 10 metres away, then slowly approached and grabbed the zookeeper from behind, dragging him to the ground and biting him.  "Three or four other lions then joined in with biting the zookeeper.  "Many people witnessed the incident but didn't know...

  The United States President, Donald Trump has confirmed the arrest of the killer of right-wing youth leader, Charlie Kirk.   According to Trump, the shooter has been taken into custody.   Trump disclosed during a live Fox News interview,  “Somebody very close to him turned him in. “The person was involved with law enforcement, but was a person of faith, a minister, and brought him to a US Marshal who was fantastic. They drove into the police headquarters, and he’s there now. We have the person that we think is the person we’re looking for.”   Kirk, 31, was shot dead on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. Police said the assailant fired a single round from a rooftop 200 yards away, striking him in the neck.   Investigators revealed that the shooter escaped across a roof before vanishing into nearby woods, where a high-powered bolt-action rifle was later recovered.   Images released by the FBI on Thursday showed the suspect in Converse ...

G unmen who are suspected to be cultists opened fire at a wake keep in Anambra State, killing four mourners and injuring about 15 others. The incident occurred on Thursday night, during a wake keep for an 18 years old boy, at Ezi village in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The wake keep was organized ahead of the internment slated for Friday. A source in the community, who did not wish to be named, said,  “Friends of the deceased gathered to honour him with a night wake and were carried away as they entertained themselves with drinks and some were smoking. In was in the process that some people arrived and opened fire on them. “The suspicion in the community is that the boy who is to be buried was a cultist, and rival members came to attack because they knew his cult members would be at the ceremony and they could only be caught off guard at such event.” It was gathered that while four people were killed instantly, about 15 others sustained bullet injuri...

  Burkina Faso’s military government has announced free visa for all African travellers.   This move is aimed at strengthening Pan-African ties and boosting regional integration.   Security Minister Mahamadou Sana announced the decision on Thursday after a cabinet meeting chaired by junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré. “From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees,”  Sana said, noting that visitors will still be required to complete an online application subject to approval.   The policy aligns Burkina Faso with countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya, which have recently eased travel restrictions for Africans in support of the African Union’s free movement agenda.   Citizens of West African states had already enjoyed visa-free access under ECOWAS protocols. However, the new measure comes months after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew from the regional bloc, accusing it of ...

Dangote Refinery has lowered the retail price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol across the country. This is as it announced Monday, September 15, 2025, as the new date to begin the direct petrol distribution initiative. The initiative, which Dangote Group had earlier announced would kick off on August 15, 2025, would see the $20 billion plant distribute petrol and diesel to consumers with its 4,000 compressed natural gas trucks at zero logistics cost. The 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery said its new gantry price is ₦820 per litre, the same price announced last month. The company, which is currently in a face-off with the Nigerian Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), disclosed this in a fresh price template released by Dangote Group on its X account. With the new price template, in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti, Dangote Refinery’s petrol retail price stands at ₦841 from ₦860 per litre. In Abuja, Edo, Delta, Rivers and Kwara states, t...

Nigerian TikToker, Olumide John Ogunsanwo popularly known as SeaKing, was arraigned on Thursday, September 11, 2025, before a Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba on a two-count charge of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. During the proceedings on Thursday, Ogunsanwo pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge which reads as follows: “COUNT 1: That you OGUNSANWO OLUMIDE JOHN aka SeaKing on the 18th day of December, 2024 at noon time, at Ikorodu Area of Lagos State in the Lagos magisterial district did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by sending an online video through your phone via a tiktok handle named SEAKING 303 and called on the Nigeria youth and members of the public to beat up or throw stones at any Police Officer who stops and or demands to check their phones and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 168(d)(2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.” “COUNT 2: That you OGUNSANWO OLUMIDE JOHN on th...

  Celebrity chef and food influencer, Hilda Effiong Bassey popularly known as Hilda Baci has officially began her attempt to set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for cooking the world’s largest pot of jollof rice.   Her aim is to cook about 250 bags of rice.   The record-breaking cook, who gained global recognition in 2023 after smashing the record for the longest cooking marathon, launched the ambitious attempt in Eko hotels, Lagos before a lively crowd of fans and supporters.   Before the cooking commenced, Hilda and her mother were seen praying together, asking for divine strength, protection, and endurance throughout the process.   The touching scene drew emotional cheers from spectators, many of whom credited her mother as a key pillar of Hilda’s journey.   “Yes, I can officially confirm this pot is squeaky clean! I rolled up my sleeves and washed it myself. In just a few hours, this same pot will carry thousands of servings of Nigerian Jollof history...

  Guinness World Record holder and food influencer, Hilda Effiong Bassey popularly known as Hilda Baci has taken delivery of the massive pot for her recording breaking event.   Recall that she's set to cook the world’s biggest pot of jollof rice.   The massive red pot, which has a volume of 22,619 litres, was fabricated in Gbagada and was transported overnight to Eko Hotel in Lagos, the venue of the event.   Videos online show the pot branded with Gino being delivered under tight supervision.   In a post on Instagram, Hilda confirmed its arrival, saying:  “At 4 am this morning our pot was safely transported from Gbagada where it was fabricated to Eko Hotel where the event is taking place. I’m still pinching myself this is actually happening in less than 24 hours.”

Pastor Jerry Eze, founder of Streams of Joy International, has been ranked Nigeria’s highest-earning YouTuber for the second year in a row. The latest ranking by Playboard, a global YouTube analytics platform, shows that the pastor records the country’s largest live viewership, averaging 282,451 viewers per stream. Eze’s channel is linked to Streams of Joy International and has grown to 2.87 million subscribers with more than 2,900 uploaded videos. The pastor is also the convener of the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD), which has drawn about 80 million viewers in 2025 alone. Playboard estimates his earnings at ₦1.94 million daily, ₦7.95 million in the last 24 hours, and ₦47.7 million over the past week. His cumulative revenue is placed at ₦10.71 billion, reflecting a sharp increase from 2024. The top five Nigerian YouTube earners are all faith-based channels. They include Paul S. Joshua of The Refiner’s House Ministries; Dunamis TV of Pastor Paul Enenche’s Dunamis ...

  US tech billionaire Larry Ellison yesterday dethroned Elon Musk as the world’s richest person.    However, Musk seemed to have recovered to take his position on Thursday morning.   This comes as Ellison’s wealth surged after shares in the company, Oracle, which he co-founded and in which he owns a stake of 41%, rocketed in early trading on Wednesday, September 10.    Oracle shares rose by more than 40% in early trading to $340 a share, valuing the business software company at $958 billion (£707 billion) and Ellison’s stake at $393 billion, just ahead of Musk’s fortune of $384 billion, according to Bloomberg’s billionaires index.    The jump in the shares is the company’s largest single-day increase ever and the biggest ever one-day wealth increase on the Bloomberg index.    Ellison also has other sources of wealth, including a stake in electric carmaker Tesla, where Musk is chief executive, a sailing team, the Indian Wells Open tennis ...

    The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Nigeria has debunked claims that it imposed a new and stricter visa restriction on Nigerians.   Speaking to the newsmen on Wednesday, September 10, a Qatar ministry official said that there are no restrictions on Nigerians seeking to visit Qatar.   The denial follows viral reports alleging that Nigerians must now meet additional conditions before securing a visa, including mandatory return transfer bookings, hotel reservations, and restrictions limiting applications to only women or families. The report further suggested that staying in a 5-star hotel was a new requirement for visa qualification.   The Qatari Embassy said these claims are false and urged the public to rely solely on information shared through its official communication channels for accurate travel guidelines.

  Conservative activist, Charlie Kirk has died after being shot during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem on Wednesday.   US President Donald Trump confirmed his death in a post on Truth Social.   The shooting occurred shortly after noon during a Q&A session with students. Witnesses reported hearing a single gunshot about two minutes into the event, striking Kirk in the neck. Chaos broke out in the quad near the campus food court as students and attendees scrambled for safety.   UVU spokesperson Scott Trotter confirmed the incident in a statement.   “On September 10, 2025, at 12:20 p.m., a single shot rang out in the quad near the food court on the Utah Valley University Orem Campus as Mr. Charlie Kirk began speaking at his planned rally. We can confirm that Mr. Kirk was shot, but we don’t know his condition. The suspect is not in custody. Police are still investigating. Campus is closed for the rest of the day.”   Authori...

  A court in South Africa has jailed two Nigerian women and a South African woman for running a brothel in George in the Western Cape province, South Africa.    The brothel was used for trafficking of girls.   The Nigerians, Patience Precious Abudu, 35, Success Egabor, 42, and South African Nontobeko Mathunjwa, 36, faced several charges, including trafficking in persons, running a brothel, and living off the proceeds of prostitution.   The trio pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them.    They were sentenced in the Plettenberg Bay Regional Court on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.    This follows their arrest by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks).   The provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani said the women were arrested between December 2023 and May 2024 by members of the Hawks’ Economic Protected Resources team (EPR) in collaboration with the Department of Ho...

Apple has announced the launch of the highly anticipated iPhone 17 Pro.   Apple announced the launch on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at its annual event in Cupertino, California.   The iPhone 17 Pro, launching at a starting price of $1,099, will be offered in three distinctive color options which include, Deep Blue, Cosmic Orange, and Silver.   The phone’s features include a 48MP Fusion ultra-wide camera, telephoto camera, and Fusion main camera.   Recall that the iPhone 16 was launched on September 20, 2024, at Apple’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ event in California.   The series included the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

  An Ebonyi man, Jeremiah Obaji has been gifted ₦10 million for trekking 633 kilometers from Lagos to Abakaliki.   The money was gifted him by the Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru.   Obaji, a 37-year-old businessman, began the journey on August 22 as a show of support for the governor’s peace efforts in the Effium/Ezza-Effium community of Ohaukwu LGA, which has been plagued by violent clashes since January 2021.   He completed the trek in 17 days, traveling during the day and resting at night in villages along the way, armed with only two T-shirts and a single pair of shoes.   Obaji reached Abakaliki on Sunday morning, welcomed by cheering supporters before meeting with the governor.   He was officially received by Chief of Staff Emmanuel Echiegu, who represented the governor. Nwifuru praised his resilience and commitment, rewarding him with a ₦10 million cash prize.   Speaking afterward, Obaji explained that his walk was inspired by the governor...

    Mrs Nonye Soludo, wife of the Governor of Anambra State has replied the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the forthcoming governorship election, Senator Uche Ekwunife.   Recall that Ekwunife had in a recent video mocked Soludu, claiming that he has both mouth and body odour.   Mrs Soludo in her reply urged Ekwunife to focus on how to defend her PhD degree, which have been allegedly found out to be fake and issued by an unaccredited institution.   The wife of the governor in a statement signed by her media Adviser, Mr Daniel Ezeigwe said:  “At no time was Soludo nor his wife involved in the government of the time (Mbadinuju). Though it is sad that Senator Ekwunife would rather resort to inciting hate and name-calling against a woman who is widely loved by the people, the truth is that, unlike Ekwunife herself, the governor’s wife can never be drawn to political or personal debasement. “To bring clarity to light and t...

The Qatari Ministry of Interior has introduced updated visa regulations for travelers from Nigeria. The ministry cited recent cases of overstays as the cause of the new development. It was learnt that, under the new policy, a confirmed return transfer must be booked alongside hotel reservations before a tourist or transit visa can be processed. Also, eligibility has also been restricted, as only females or families are allowed to apply. Male travellers are no longer eligible unless accompanied by their families. In addition, only 5-star hotel bookings will now be accepted for visa qualification. The new requirements take immediate effect and apply to all pending visa applications.

  Moves to declare the throne of the Apetumodu vacant following the conviction of Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede in the United States have ended in chaos.   This comes after a meeting of princes of Ipetumodu, Osun State held on Tuesday ended in chaos after calls were made for Governor Ademola Adeleke to dethrone Oba Oloyede.   Oba Oloyede, the 27th Apetumodu, was recently sentenced to over four years in prison for COVID-19 loan fraud. He was also ordered to forfeit assets and pay more than $4.4 million in restitution.   The meeting, held at the palace and presided over by the Asalu of Ipetumodu, Chief Sunday Adedeji, began around 4 p.m. without incident. Problems arose when a prince demanded that Adedeji, as the most senior surviving kingmaker, formally write to the governor declaring the stool vacant.   Chief Adedeji rejected the request and reportedly recused himself from any decision regarding the throne.   His refusal sparked arguments among the princes, ...