A 28-year-old Nigerian Army officer, Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac, who lost his life during the operation to rescue abducted teachers and pupils in Oyo State, has been laid to rest with full military honours.

The late officer was buried on July 10, 2026, at the 23rd Armoured Brigade Cemetery in Yola, Adamawa State, following a solemn military ceremony attended by colleagues, family members and sympathisers.

Lieutenant Isaac was reportedly killed while leading troops involved in the rescue operation that eventually secured the freedom of the kidnapped teachers and schoolchildren abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, after armed men invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School.

Although accounts of the officer’s death differ, reports indicate that he was killed during an encounter with terrorists, with some sources alleging that his convoy was struck by an explosive device, while others claimed he stepped on a landmine planted by suspected Ansaru terrorists.

The Nigerian Army had earlier confirmed that security personnel suffered casualties during the carefully coordinated rescue mission, though it did not immediately disclose the identities of those who died.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while welcoming the successful rescue of the abductees, paid tribute to security personnel who lost their lives during the operation.

He commended the bravery and sacrifice of the security agencies involved and prayed for the repose of the fallen officers and comfort for their families.

Following news of Lieutenant Isaac’s burial, tributes poured in from Nigerians across social media, with many describing him as a courageous and selfless soldier who paid the ultimate price in service to his country.

Many called on the Nigerian government and the Armed Forces to immortalise the late officer in recognition of his sacrifice, noting that his bravery made it possible for dozens of innocent schoolchildren and teachers to regain their freedom.

Lieutenant Isaac is remembered as a dedicated officer whose commitment to duty and patriotism will continue to inspire generations of Nigerians.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the bail application filed by former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Nwabuoku, who is serving an eight-year prison sentence for laundering ₦868.5 million.

A three-member panel of the appellate court ruled that Nwabuoku failed to present sufficient grounds to justify his release pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Adebukola Banjoko on behalf of the panel, upheld the objection of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which argued that the application lacked merit.

Nwabuoku was convicted on March 23, 2026, by the Federal High Court in Abuja after being found guilty of laundering ₦868.465 million while serving as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

The former public official briefly served as Acting Accountant-General of the Federation in 2022 following the suspension of Ahmed Idris.

However, his tenure lasted less than two months before he was removed from office after the EFCC launched a separate investigation into allegations of financial misconduct against him.

Following his conviction, Nwabuoku appealed the judgment and sought bail on health grounds, arguing that his medical condition had deteriorated in custody and that he required specialist treatment beyond what was available at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, the designated medical facility for inmates of the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre.

Through his counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) N.I. Quakers, he also assured the court that he had reliable sureties who would guarantee his appearance whenever required if granted bail.

The EFCC opposed the application, insisting that the offences for which he was convicted were grave and involved the diversion of substantial public funds.

The commission further argued that there was no credible medical evidence showing that he could not continue receiving adequate treatment while in custody.

According to the anti-graft agency, correctional authorities had already facilitated his transfer to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital for medical evaluation, demonstrating that he had access to appropriate healthcare.

The commission also contended that granting bail pending appeal would undermine public confidence in the administration of justice and weaken Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.

In dismissing the application, the Court of Appeal held that Nwabuoku’s request lacked merit.

His substantive appeal challenging both his conviction and eight-year prison sentence remains pending before the appellate court.

A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar has awarded ₦100 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force and other respondents over the torture and killing of 22-year-old Onyekachi Mba.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu delivered the judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the deceased’s mother, Victoria Mba, through her counsel, Roland Ndubuka.

The case arose from an incident on August 1, 2025, when Mba was allegedly assaulted and shot by police officers attached to the Cross River State Government House in Calabar.

According to court records, the deceased had reportedly gone to the Government House to deliver what he described as a message from God to Governor Bassey Otu when he was confronted by security personnel.

He was allegedly beaten and shot before being rushed to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital in Calabar, where he later died from his injuries.

The suit, filed on October 10, 2025, sought the enforcement of the deceased’s fundamental rights as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, including his rights to personal liberty, human dignity and freedom of movement.

In her judgment, Justice Ojukwu held that the torture, assault and killing of the young man were unlawful, unjustifiable and amounted to a gross violation of his constitutional rights.

The court further described the actions of the officers involved as an abuse of power and executive recklessness.

Consequently, Justice Ojukwu awarded ₦100 million in damages against the respondents, ruling that the compensation could be paid jointly or individually.

The respondents in the suit include the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, the Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, Assistant Superintendent of Police Victor Edet and Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Dickson, the Chief Security Officer at the Cross River State Government House.

The sixth and final batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos, bringing the total number of returnees to 1,174.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) disclosed that the last group of 40 Nigerians arrived on Friday aboard a chartered flight, completing the evacuation exercise approved by the Federal Government.

According to the commission, the returnees were transported to Nigeria through six flights comprising four Air Peace flights carrying 258, 266, 262 and 282 passengers respectively, one ValueJet flight with 66 returnees, and the final chartered flight conveying 40 evacuees.

Speaking after their arrival, the returnees expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for approving their evacuation from South Africa.

They also appreciated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Alexander-Ajayi; and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for facilitating their safe return.

NiDCOM said the returnees were received at the airport by officials of several government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and security agencies.

The commission also disclosed that several state governments, private organisations and individuals provided financial and humanitarian support to the returnees.

According to NiDCOM, the Imo State Government approved a grant of ₦1 million for each returnee from the state, while telecommunications giant MTN donated free SIM packs with data valued at ₦50,000 and pledged an additional ₦100,000 to each returnee.

Officials of the Edo and Delta State governments also announced support packages for their indigenes.

In addition, the JAAL Foundation pledged empowerment assistance for 50 female returnees, while the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries Worldwide, Chibuzor Chinwe, was commended for providing free accommodation, skills acquisition opportunities and educational support for dozens of the returnees and their families.

The returnees equally acknowledged the support of Harvesters Church founder, Bolaji Idowu, who donated ₦100,000 each to 66 evacuees, as well as Cruxstone, a real estate firm, for providing financial assistance to the first batch of returnees.

The Enugu State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the driver and conductor of a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus over their alleged involvement in the assault of police officers, attempted murder, dangerous driving and the temporary snatching of a police rifle.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE on Sunday.

According to the statement, the incident occurred at about 1:20 p.m. on July 9, 2026, at All Saints Roundabout along Abakaliki Road, Enugu.

Ndukwe explained that operatives of the Command’s Distress Response Squad (DRS) responded to information from the Control Room that the driver and conductor had assaulted a traffic police officer on duty.

The operatives intercepted and flagged down the commercial bus, but rather than submit to arrest, the driver allegedly pretended to stop before suddenly accelerating in an attempt to escape.

In the process, one of the police operatives was knocked down by the vehicle, while the officer’s AK-47 rifle became entangled with the bus and was dragged away as the suspects fled the scene.

The police spokesperson said that during the ensuing chase, the suspects threw the rifle out of the moving vehicle at the IMT Bus Stop along Abakaliki Road before speeding off. The weapon was immediately recovered by police officers with its ammunition intact.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, ordered a comprehensive investigation and directed operatives to intensify efforts to arrest and prosecute the fleeing suspects.

The Commissioner also urged the driver and conductor to voluntarily surrender to the police, warning that every lawful measure is being deployed to ensure their arrest.

He further called on members of the public to disregard what he described as misleading accounts of the incident, while cautioning against assaulting or obstructing police officers in the lawful discharge of their duties.

According to him, attacks on law enforcement officers constitute serious criminal offences and will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.