MID DAY NEWS ON CTBEATS 90.1 FM AKURE
THE HEADLINES:
Gunmen Attack Ekiti Church, Kill Pastor, Kidnap Worshippers.
Osun 2026 : INEC Applauds ICPC, NSCDC Roles in Pre-Election Security Efforts
Plateau State Recovers 60 Looted Buildings, Vehicles and Equipment
Delta Police Speak on Extrajudicial Killing, Cite Possible Spiritual Dimension
U S - Iran War Impact: TUC Demands Fiscal Relief Measures for Workers and Manufacturers
UCL: Ademola Lookman Faces Late Fitness Test as Atlético Madrid Brace for Arsenal showdown.
THE DETAILS
Gunmen on Tuesday night attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo Ekiti, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting an unspecified number of worshippers.
The attack, which occurred around 8.30 pm during a church programme, has thrown the community into panic, with residents expressing fears over rising insecurity in the area.
Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Ekiti State Police Command said it had launched a rescue operation to secure the release of the abducted victims.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Abutu, said the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, had ordered a thorough investigation and a manhunt for the perpetrators.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, has attributed the success achieved in the fight against vote buying to the strategic role played by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission, ICPC.
Mrs Babalola also acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in reducing election violence, the Osun INEC boss made this revelation as she continued her courtesy visits to the two agencies on Tuesday in Osogbo.
She appealed for intelligence sharing between the agencies and INEC as the commission prepares for the August 15, 2026 governorship electionMrs Babalola described the ICPC as one of the critical stakeholders in the electoral process, noting that its role in preserving the integrity of elections remains visible and widely acknowledged.
The REC revealed that the ICPC had been at the forefront of combating vote buying through various programmes, which have significantly reduced the menace.
The Plateau State Government has recovered over 60 property, including buildings, construction equipment and vehicles, in an ongoing drive to reclaim public assets allegedly diverted or illegally occupied across the state.
Chairman of the Taskforce on Recovery of Government Properties, retired General Nash Yakubu, disclosed this while presenting an interim report to the Chief of Staff to the Plateau State Government, Jerry Satmak, in Jos.During the presentation of a report, the chairman of the task force said the task force, which has been in operation for over one year, has made significant progress in the recovery of government properties across the state.
Yakubu explained that the task force had adopted the principle of “See something, say something” to encourage citizens’ participation in identifying government assets allegedly diverted or concealed.
According to him, the committee has opened dedicated telephone lines and an official email address to enhance public engagement and receive tips through regular television briefings where citizens call in with useful information.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, has reacted to the viral video showing the killing of a suspect by a police officer in Delta State, saying the command has no clear explanation for the incident and that “spirituality may not be far from it.
The incident, described as an extrajudicial killing, reportedly occurred on Sunday, April 26, 2026, when police operatives attached to the Area Command, Effurun, acted on intelligence from members of the public.
The command had, in a statement on Tuesday, said the deceased, Mene Ogidi, 28, was apprehended while attempting to waybill a parcel suspected to contain a Beretta pistol with four rounds of ammunition.the officer leading the team, ASP Nuhu Usman, “in clear violation of Force Order 237 and the Standard Operating Procedure of the Nigeria Police Force, discharged his firearm, leading to the death of the suspect.”
The Nigeria Police Force has maintained that it will not tolerate extrajudicial actions by its personnel, while assuring that due process will be followed in handling the case.
FOREIGN NEWS
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has demanded a 50 per cent tax reduction for manufacturing companies and workers to ease economic pressure and support productivity.
The Congress noted that the ongoing Iran–United States conflict had impacted the global economy, warning that Nigeria could face worsening inflation, higher energy costs and increased hardship despite being an oil-producing country.
At the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, the union called on the Federal Government to address rising fuel prices, escalating insecurity, electricity tariff hikes and the growing casualisation of labour.
The communiqué, jointly signed by TUC President, Festus Osifo and General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, said the Congress reviewed the state of the nation, reports from affiliates and state councils, preparations for the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration, as well as other pressing issues affecting Nigerian workers and citizens.
SPORTS
Ademola Lookman is facing a late fitness test ahead of Atlético Madrid’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal tonight , with coach Diego Simeone confirming the Super Eagles winger is still struggling with discomfort.
The Nigerian forward, however, struck an optimistic note of his own. “I missed the last few matches, but now I feel much better,” Lookman said. “Wednesday will be a special game.”
Meanwhile, Atlético captain Koke admitted the occasion is already weighing on him, likening the build-up to pre-match nerves to the anxiety of a first date.
Koke, 34, is no stranger to this stage, having featured in Atlético’s Champions League final defeats to rivals Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016 Despite the weight of history, he insisted he was not approaching Wednesday as a last opportunity.
Gunmen Attack Ekiti Church, Kill Pastor, Kidnap Worshippers.
Osun 2026 : INEC Applauds ICPC, NSCDC Roles in Pre-Election Security Efforts
Plateau State Recovers 60 Looted Buildings, Vehicles and Equipment
Delta Police Speak on Extrajudicial Killing, Cite Possible Spiritual Dimension
U S - Iran War Impact: TUC Demands Fiscal Relief Measures for Workers and Manufacturers
UCL: Ademola Lookman Faces Late Fitness Test as Atlético Madrid Brace for Arsenal showdown.
THE DETAILS
Gunmen on Tuesday night attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo Ekiti, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting an unspecified number of worshippers.
The attack, which occurred around 8.30 pm during a church programme, has thrown the community into panic, with residents expressing fears over rising insecurity in the area.
Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Ekiti State Police Command said it had launched a rescue operation to secure the release of the abducted victims.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Abutu, said the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, had ordered a thorough investigation and a manhunt for the perpetrators.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, has attributed the success achieved in the fight against vote buying to the strategic role played by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission, ICPC.
Mrs Babalola also acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in reducing election violence, the Osun INEC boss made this revelation as she continued her courtesy visits to the two agencies on Tuesday in Osogbo.
She appealed for intelligence sharing between the agencies and INEC as the commission prepares for the August 15, 2026 governorship electionMrs Babalola described the ICPC as one of the critical stakeholders in the electoral process, noting that its role in preserving the integrity of elections remains visible and widely acknowledged.
The REC revealed that the ICPC had been at the forefront of combating vote buying through various programmes, which have significantly reduced the menace.
The Plateau State Government has recovered over 60 property, including buildings, construction equipment and vehicles, in an ongoing drive to reclaim public assets allegedly diverted or illegally occupied across the state.
Chairman of the Taskforce on Recovery of Government Properties, retired General Nash Yakubu, disclosed this while presenting an interim report to the Chief of Staff to the Plateau State Government, Jerry Satmak, in Jos.During the presentation of a report, the chairman of the task force said the task force, which has been in operation for over one year, has made significant progress in the recovery of government properties across the state.
Yakubu explained that the task force had adopted the principle of “See something, say something” to encourage citizens’ participation in identifying government assets allegedly diverted or concealed.
According to him, the committee has opened dedicated telephone lines and an official email address to enhance public engagement and receive tips through regular television briefings where citizens call in with useful information.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, has reacted to the viral video showing the killing of a suspect by a police officer in Delta State, saying the command has no clear explanation for the incident and that “spirituality may not be far from it.
The incident, described as an extrajudicial killing, reportedly occurred on Sunday, April 26, 2026, when police operatives attached to the Area Command, Effurun, acted on intelligence from members of the public.
The command had, in a statement on Tuesday, said the deceased, Mene Ogidi, 28, was apprehended while attempting to waybill a parcel suspected to contain a Beretta pistol with four rounds of ammunition.the officer leading the team, ASP Nuhu Usman, “in clear violation of Force Order 237 and the Standard Operating Procedure of the Nigeria Police Force, discharged his firearm, leading to the death of the suspect.”
The Nigeria Police Force has maintained that it will not tolerate extrajudicial actions by its personnel, while assuring that due process will be followed in handling the case.
FOREIGN NEWS
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has demanded a 50 per cent tax reduction for manufacturing companies and workers to ease economic pressure and support productivity.
The Congress noted that the ongoing Iran–United States conflict had impacted the global economy, warning that Nigeria could face worsening inflation, higher energy costs and increased hardship despite being an oil-producing country.
At the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, the union called on the Federal Government to address rising fuel prices, escalating insecurity, electricity tariff hikes and the growing casualisation of labour.
The communiqué, jointly signed by TUC President, Festus Osifo and General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, said the Congress reviewed the state of the nation, reports from affiliates and state councils, preparations for the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration, as well as other pressing issues affecting Nigerian workers and citizens.
SPORTS
Ademola Lookman is facing a late fitness test ahead of Atlético Madrid’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal tonight , with coach Diego Simeone confirming the Super Eagles winger is still struggling with discomfort.
The Nigerian forward, however, struck an optimistic note of his own. “I missed the last few matches, but now I feel much better,” Lookman said. “Wednesday will be a special game.”
Meanwhile, Atlético captain Koke admitted the occasion is already weighing on him, likening the build-up to pre-match nerves to the anxiety of a first date.
Koke, 34, is no stranger to this stage, having featured in Atlético’s Champions League final defeats to rivals Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016 Despite the weight of history, he insisted he was not approaching Wednesday as a last opportunity.