A tragic incident occurred in Lagos on Saturday as hotelier Otunba Kunle Akinyele collapsed and died during the thanksgiving service held in celebration of his wife’s 60th birthday.

The sad development was revealed in a Facebook post by digital creator Ayoade Ojeniyi, who noted that Akinyele had appeared distressed, gesturing as if in need of assistance—possibly for water or an inhaler—before he slumped.

A video shared alongside the post captured the moment Akinyele struggled visibly before collapsing during the church service.

The event was organized in honour of his wife, Deaconess Catherine Adejoke Akinyele, and took place at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Iyanu, Odemuyiwa District Headquarters in Egbeda, Lagos State.

According to the event invitation, guests were to proceed to a reception immediately after the thanksgiving at the Noble Castle Events Centre in Igando.

One of the vendors who posted on Facebook mentioned that they arrived at the reception venue by 10 a.m. ahead of the event scheduled to begin by 2 p.m.

The family, including the celebrant, her husband, their children, and guests, had first gone to the church for the thanksgiving.

However, the celebration was abruptly disrupted when news broke that Akinyele had collapsed while giving a testimony in church.

Despite efforts to revive him, he could not be saved.

“Variety of foods were set, decoration, cocktail, emu oguro, and many more,” the vendor wrote. “The live band had already arrived with about 25 speakers.”

Still reeling from the shock, the vendor recalled that the Master of Ceremony had a conversation with Akinyele at about 1:23 p.m., but less than an hour later, his death was confirmed.

The event was cancelled, and guests were seen leaving the venue in disbelief.

“This is how people die?” the vendor lamented in the post.
“I can’t possibly ask for my balance for the job,” the vendor added.

As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of Akinyele’s death had not been officially announced.

It was gathered that the deceased was the owner of Ologbo Nla Hotel, located in Isheri, Idimu, Lagos State.

The video of the incident has sparked emotional reactions online, with many highlighting the toll stress can take on men’s health.

“So sad! From the look of things, the man was overtime stressed up, and an accumulation of it took him out. Men should cut down on their workload! Life no supposed be marathon o!” commented Facebook user Taylor Sam.

“That was his last duty to his beloved wife and entire family… Death comes like a thief in the night,” added Murtala Olalere Aderinto.

“It comes like a thief in the night, and snatched our precious life just like that,” Cicero Sasore-Whyte wrote. “Where? When? And how? No one can really say.”

“So sad! May his soul rest in peace. Hallelujah! He breathed his last while praising his creator,” said Sayo Akintola.

Some users took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of prioritizing health.

“This is extremely rampant in society now,” Atteh Isaac Taiwo warned. “Men, kindly take care of yourself health-wise to avert this kind of scenario.”

Other reactions included heartfelt prayers and messages of reflection.

“Life is fleeting,” wrote Goldfish Rahmatulai.

“May our happy day not turn to be sad day,” said IamAdeosun Tajudeen.

“Lord have mercy,” Ayodeji Haastrup added.

While the specific cause of death remains unconfirmed, the sudden passing has prompted widespread reflection on the unpredictability and fragility of life.

Seven passengers were abducted on Saturday evening when gunmen intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle along the Obbo-Aiyegunle/Osi Road in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The vehicle, operated by Olumoh Express, was en route from Abuja to Offa when it was attacked between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

DAILY GAZETTE learnt that the assailants spared three children who were travelling with their abducted parents.

According to reports, it was the eldest of the three children left behind who reported the incident to the transport company’s management in Offa.

The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the attack in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its spokesperson, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi.

Also confirming the incident, the secretary of Olumoh Express, Mr. Mukaila Ogunlade, said, “The incident truly happened. In fact, we are just coming from Osi Police Station. The bus left the park with five passengers, but the oldest of the children that were left behind told us that two more people later joined them on the way. Presently, we are looking for seven people.”

Providing more details, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi of the state police command said, “Armed hoodlums numbering about eight reportedly intercepted a Sienna bus registered FFA 50xd, heading to Offa from Abuja and forcefully abducted seven occupants, including the driver.”

She added, “Upon receipt of the information, police operatives in collaboration with local vigilantes responded swiftly to the scene.

“The vehicle was recovered to the nearest police formation. During a coordinated search of the surrounding bush, three children aged between two and 12 years were located and safely rescued.

“One of the children was able to give the police detailed information of her guardian, who was contacted, and the three rescued children have been reunited with their relatives.”

According to the police, efforts have been intensified to rescue the remaining abductees, using discreet investigations, intelligence gathering, and continuous bush combing.

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Adekimi Ojo, reaffirmed the command’s dedication to public safety, urging residents to provide any useful information through official communication channels.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended more than 20 unauthorized Private Guard Companies (PGCs) operating within Enugu State.

As mandated by the Act establishing the NSCDC, the Corps is responsible for supervising, monitoring, profiling, and regulating all PGCs across the country.

Dr. Elijah Willie, the Commandant of the NSCDC in Enugu State, made this known on Sunday in Enugu.

According to Willie, the Corps has in recent months stepped up its enforcement activities, targeting illegal security outfits in the state.

“Over 20 arrests were recorded within about three months, involving unlicensed operators, defaulting companies with unpaid branch fees, and impersonators of registered PGCs personnel,” he stated.

He also announced that the Command will convene a PGCs Stakeholders’ Meeting on April 30, 2025, aimed at improving coordination and compliance in the sector.

“To consolidate these efforts and ensure proper handling of all issues relating to PGCs operations, the State Command will host a PGCs Stakeholders’ Meeting on April 30, 2025.”

“This meeting is expected to foster mutual understanding, compliance, and improved regulation within the private security sector,” Willie said.

The commandant further noted that the Enugu Command remains committed to its core responsibility of protecting lives, property, and national infrastructure by enhancing operational efficiency and strategic focus.

“The Command under my watch had remained steadfast in its mandate of safeguarding lives, property and critical national assets through strategically repositioning the Command for greater efficiency and impact,” he affirmed.

Amid escalating violence in Plateau State, where over 100 residents have been brutally killed within two weeks, prominent Christian cleric Isa El-buba has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on security.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, El-buba described the attacks as a clear declaration of war by bloodthirsty marauders.

The violence, concentrated in the Bokkos and Bassa local government areas, has triggered national and international outrage.

These latest attacks represent the worst since the Christmas Eve massacre in Bokkos in 2023, which claimed approximately 150 lives.

El-buba backed Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s recent characterization of the killings as genocide, warning that the situation poses a grave threat to the unity of Nigeria.

“It’s a big concern because just like the governor said it’s genocide, and it’s not something that just happened today; it’s something that has been happening with several attacks in the past before the recent ones on the Plateau,” he said.

“Plateau is a cosmopolitan city. It houses virtually all Nigerians. And if anything goes wrong with Plateau, everything goes wrong with Nigeria.”

Drawing from his experience with similar tragedies, the cleric recalled past atrocities such as the massacre in Dogo Nahawa, where over 500 people were killed and their land seized by the attackers.

“Of the over 60 communities that were attacked, the attackers killed the people, displaced the people, destroyed the property of the people, and occupied those communities,” El-buba stated.

“This tells you a lot about what these people are up to.”

He emphasized that the pattern of invasion, destruction, and occupation has continued for years and that the perpetrators are not unknown.

“It’s not that these people are not known; these people are known – they are there,” he stressed.

El-buba accused past administrations of enabling the attackers by turning a blind eye and allowing them to operate with impunity.

“These people felt it was their government, they felt they were being supported and protected. And you see them move with arms. I raised an alarm,” he said.

Citing instances in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, and Zamfara, the cleric pointed out that similar methods and actors are involved in attacks across various states.

“We have to call a spade a spade. Right now, in this country, and I’m being sincere, 80% of the terrorists displacing people from their communities disguised as herders and the language they speak is Fulani; not Kanuri, not Igbo, not Yoruba,” he asserted.

He insisted that decisive military action must replace dialogue with those responsible for the violence.

“You don’t negotiate with people who have come to wipe away your citizens. But rather, you wipe away these people who have come to wipe away your people,” El-buba declared.

He advocated for the full involvement of local communities, backed by the government, to lead the fight.

“Just give the locals the right, liberty, and then the backing of the military to move in there, take sentiments out of it. These are people who have declared war, they have declared war on the people,” he said.

The cleric also responded to President Tinubu’s recent claim that he had advised the governor on steps to take.

“The first thing is that President Bola Tinubu is the commander-in-chief. I appreciate Governor Caleb Mutfwang; he is the chief security officer of the state but I tell you the truth: state governors are limited,” he said.

He emphasized that the president must take personal responsibility and visit the affected areas.

“Since this thing has happened, the president has not visited. He should come down himself… I expected that the president at this point would come down here, even for a few hours, and instruct that these communities should be taken over in 24 hours,” El-buba said.

He concluded with a firm appeal to the president.

“The president should come down here and declare a state of emergency on security. If he does, we will get this matter done in 72 hours. Terrorists don’t repent.”

“They can surrender because they have been overpowered… clear them and wipe them out, or else you will continue to waste your resources trying to secure your people.”

As violent attacks in Benue State claimed 56 lives over the weekend, retired General Theophilus Danjuma has once again urged citizens to rise in self-defense, describing the crisis as a “real war” against communities across Nigeria.

Speaking in Takum, Taraba State, during an appreciation event for his staff, the former Defence Minister and Chief of Army Staff lamented the worsening security situation in Benue, Plateau, Ondo, and other states.

His remarks came in response to fresh killings by suspected herdsmen, which have left dozens dead and displaced scores of residents.

“I once asked you to rise and defend yourselves. I am still repeating it today with more seriousness; rise and defend yourselves,” Danjuma said.

“The killers have obtained sophisticated arms; we don’t know where they got the arms. But you people should also seek to get it wherever they get the arms; you must defend yourselves against the killers,” he added.

“You should know that they are well armed to kill you and take over your land. Be ready for them as they are also humans like you.”

Danjuma maintained that unless communities are ready to defend themselves, no one would come to their rescue.

This marks the third time he has issued such a warning, reiterating concerns over what he called an ongoing genocide.

In attendance at the Takum event was Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, who praised Danjuma for his contributions to the state’s development.

“The state has benefitted immensely from Danjuma’s philanthropic gestures, particularly in the areas of health care services, roads infrastructure and economic empowerment and holistic development of the state,” Kefas said, also praying for continued strength and good health for the retired general.

Meanwhile, Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia confirmed the updated casualty figures during his assessment tour of attacked communities.

He revealed that 27 people were killed in Logo Local Government Area and another 28 in Ukum LGA.

“Since these attacks started, we have recovered corpses. As of yesterday (Friday), we received some, and today (Saturday), the tally rose to 27 in Logo. In Ukum, security operatives have recovered over 28 corpses,” Alia reported.

He added that many families had already buried their relatives with the support of security personnel.

“Some families requested immediate burial for their relatives, and the security personnel provided them with cover to do so,” the governor explained.

Governor Alia described the situation as dire, stating, “There is no room for anyone to sleep with their two eyes closed. This is real war. We know our enemies. This is the only state that we have. I mourn with you at this very pathetic and sad moment in your lives.”

He also appealed to the federal government for urgent intervention, while assuring residents that his administration would handle the burial and medical costs of affected victims.

Tensions remain high in other parts of the country as well. In Kwara State, residents of Kaiama and Baruten LGAs are on edge following reports that a new terrorist group, “Mahmuda,” has resumed attacks, involving kidnappings and killings.