Amnesty International has strongly condemned what it describes as the ongoing harassment, intimidation, and persecution of Nigerian activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore, calling for all charges against him to be dropped immediately.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the global human rights group said Sowore is being targeted for peacefully exercising his fundamental rights, and accused Nigerian authorities of using politically motivated charges to silence dissent.

“The Nigerian authorities must immediately end the relentless harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights,” Amnesty said.

Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow movement and founder of Sahara Reporters, was re-arraigned today on fresh charges including terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraud, brought by the Inspector General of Police.

Amnesty described the new charges as part of a continuing crackdown on dissent and independent media.

“Today’s arraignment is yet another effort to suppress his voice and stifle civic space. This travesty of justice must stop,” the group added.

Amnesty International also criticized the government’s decision to investigate bank accounts linked to Sowore and Sahara Reporters, calling it a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate independent media and curtail press freedom.

“Targeting Sahara Reporters is an attack on free expression and public interest journalism,” Amnesty noted.

The organization also urged authorities to investigate claims of torture and mistreatment of Sowore during previous detentions, and to hold those responsible accountable through fair legal processes.

Amnesty recalled that Sowore was declared a Prisoner of Conscience in November 2019, and has since endured multiple arrests, prolonged detentions, and continuous legal harassment for his activism.

“What we’re seeing is a pattern, an alarming erosion of civic freedoms in Nigeria,” Amnesty warned.

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has recovered a total of N4.57 billion from defaulting employers between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025, according to the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp).

PenOp’s CEO, Mr. Oguche Agudah, revealed the breakdown:

N2.12 billion from unpaid pension contributions

N2.45 billion in penalties

These funds were recovered from 138 employers who failed to remit their employees’ pension contributions.

Agudah emphasized that PenCom’s enforcement efforts are aimed at protecting workers’ retirement savings.

“We’re moving beyond periodic crackdowns to long-term solutions, like real-time monitoring, tougher penalties for repeat offenders, and better employer education,” Agudah said.

He stressed that the ultimate objective is not just headline recoveries but to ensure fewer defaults, timely remittances and a ore predictable and secure Contributory Pension Scheme.

Quarterly Recovery Breakdown:

Q1 2024:

N751.51 million in contributions

N1.44 billion in penalties

Q1 2025:

N972.12 million in contributions

N381.88 million in penalties

19 employers involved

Average recovery: N71 million per employer (vs. N63 million in Q1 2024)

Agudah noted that while overall recoveries dipped mid-2024, enforcement efforts ramped up again by Q4 and into early 2025.

The rising average recovery per employer indicates that PenCom is now targeting larger, more serious violators, while the total number of defaulting companies is on the decline.

He also reminded workers of their rights, stating that employers with three or more staff are legally obligated to make pension contributions.

There are whistleblowing channels available for employees to report non-compliance.

Nigerian-born engineer Mike Oluwaseun Ojumu has created a groundbreaking drone system designed to combat malaria in high-risk communities.

Drawing on personal experiences growing up in Katsina State, where malaria was a frequent and costly health issue, Ojumu is using autonomous drones to target mosquito breeding grounds with precision spraying.

His drones are equipped with AI-driven computer vision and sensor technology, enabling them to detect stagnant water sources and efficiently deliver insecticide where it’s most needed.

The aim is to provide a low-cost, scalable alternative for families who can’t afford traditional anti-malaria tools.

“In my community, treating malaria became routine. I wanted to think beyond treatment to prevention,” said Ojumu.

A mechanical engineer specializing in subsea robotics and autonomous systems, Ojumu began with minimal resources, building his early drone prototypes using salvaged parts.

Today, his innovation stands at the intersection of health, technology, and social impact.

Globally, drones are already making waves in agriculture and disaster response, but Ojumu believes Africa’s greatest opportunity lies in applying drone technology to public health and food security.

“Drones are no longer a novelty, they’re a necessity,” he emphasized.

Ojumu is urging Nigerian universities to integrate drone technology into STEM education through hands-on projects, low-cost kits, and student competitions.

He believes this approach will empower the next generation of engineers to design homegrown solutions to local challenges.

He also stresses the importance of local manufacturing and partnerships to reduce reliance on imported tech and ensure the long-term sustainability of such innovations.

“As a child, I wondered why something as common as malaria could disrupt so many lives,” he reflected.

“That curiosity sparked resilience. What began with scrap parts is now saving lives. Purpose-driven technology can truly transform communities.”

Chief Amechi John Onwe, a respected entrepreneur and humanitarian has donated a 300 KVA electricity transformer to the Enuagu community in Amurri, Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State.

The official presentation and commissioning of the transformer scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 28, 2025, shall commence by 10:00 am.

The event will mark the formal handover and also witness the energizing of the transformer for immediate use.

Enuagu community, DAILY GAZETTE reports, is abuzz with excitement as preparations are in top gear to welcome dignitaries for the event.

The traditional ruler of Enuagu community, Igwe Charles Nwoye, along with his cabinet members, as well as other prominent personalities are expected to be in attendance.

Chief Amechi Onwe has consistently used his resources to uplift the lives of people in Amurri, from providing infrastructure and awarding scholarships, to offering financial assistance to indigent families and initiating empowerment programs.

Just recently, he delivered massive food palliatives to Enuagu, distributing hundreds of 50kg bags of rice, cartons of noodles, yams, groundnut oil and other essential food items, along with cash gifts to support the most vulnerable.

The Enugu State Police Command has intensified its offensive against criminal elements in the state, with recent operations leading to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of firearms, a stolen motorcycle, and various other exhibits linked to armed robbery cases.

In a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE on Tuesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the Police confirmed that the latest breakthrough came through a series of intelligence-driven operations executed across different parts of the state.

According to the statement, police operatives from the Agbani Area Command, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Okafor Chukwuka, a 28-year-old male, in the early hours of August 20, 2025.

A locally made double-barrel firearm was recovered from the suspect, who has been linked to a violent robbery incident in Nara Unataeze, Nkanu East LGA, where a motorcycle was stolen at gunpoint roughly two weeks prior.

In a separate but related development, officers from the Udenu Police Division apprehended two male suspects; Emeka Odo (45) and Ugochukwu Eze (35), at Obollo-Afor in Udenu LGA on August 18, 2025.

During preliminary interrogation, Emeka Odo confessed to participating in the armed robbery of a motorcyclist on August 7, alongside an accomplice who remains at large.

He further revealed that Ugochukwu Eze had agreed to purchase the stolen motorcycle.

The operation also led to the recovery one locally fabricated cut-to-size gun, one live cartridge, one battle axe, a cutlass and three solar panels.

Others were; one solar battery, one solar-powered light as well as a suspected charm.

The suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Reacting to the arrests, the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa reiterated the Command’s steadfast commitment to flushing out criminals from all corners of the state.

He commended the operatives for their professionalism and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing the Police with actionable information.

“Our message is clear: Enugu is not a safe haven for criminals. We will continue to go after them until every law-abiding citizen feels safe in their homes and communities,” CP Giwa stated.

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) staged protests across the country on Tuesday, voicing their rejection of the Federal Government’s recent loan scheme and demanding the payment of long-overdue salaries and allowances.

At the University of Jos, lecturers demonstrated before addressing the press, firmly dismissing the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund loan initiative introduced by the government.

Joseph Molwus, chairperson of the ASUU branch there, described the loan offer as a “poison chalice” that would push university staff further into financial distress instead of providing relief.

Molwus emphasized that what lecturers truly need is not loans but the release of unpaid entitlements.

“How can the government expect us to borrow money to cover basic needs like healthcare and school fees when it still owes us salaries, allowances, and arrears?” he questioned.

Similar protests were held at the University of Lagos, where lecturers demanded better welfare, the payment of arrears, and a renegotiation of the 2009 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.

At the University of Benin and the Federal University Gusau, lecturers sent a stern warning to the government to honour the agreement or face the possibility of another strike.

Abdulrahman Adamu, chairman of the ASUU chapter at Gusau, lamented the chronic neglect of Nigerian universities and pointed out that funding has largely been left to TETFUND while academic staff endure various hardships.

Adamu disclosed that the government still owes ASUU over three months’ salary arrears from the 2020 strike, in addition to unpaid promotion and wage award arrears ranging from 25 to 35 months.

Academic staff at the Federal University Dutse in Jigawa State also joined the protest, highlighting their grievances over unpaid salaries and calling on the government to address their financial struggles.

Isma’il Ahmad, the union chairman there, stated that the current salaries are insufficient to meet lecturers’ basic living expenses.

Across all protest venues, ASUU reiterated that the government should prioritize settling outstanding obligations including unpaid salaries, earned allowances, promotion arrears, revitalization funds, wage awards, and third-party deductions, rather than offering loan schemes.

The union further expressed frustration over the government’s failure to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU agreement despite years of dialogue and reports submitted by various committees.

ASUU warned that the delay is pushing lecturers into despair and putting at risk the industrial peace that has lasted over two years.

The lecturers recalled President Bola Tinubu’s 2022 campaign promise to prevent university strikes during his tenure, lamenting that two years on, critical issues remain unresolved.

They appealed for the president’s direct intervention to renew hope and prevent a looming crisis in the education sector.

While affirming their commitment to dialogue, ASUU cautioned that patience is wearing thin and urged the Federal Government to urgently address these matters to avoid another prolonged shutdown of academic activities.