News
Nnamdi Kanu: Sowore Raises Alarm Names 12 IPOB Members Still In Custody Since 2021
The activist accused the DSS of operating outside the law, noting that the detainees have been held for over four years without charge or trial.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has revealed the names of 12 people, mostly from Ebonyi State, who have been unlawfully detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Wawa Barracks detention facility since 2021.
Sowore, who made the revelation in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, said the only offence of the detainees was travelling to Abuja to attend a court appearance of the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The activist accused the DSS of operating outside the law, noting that the detainees have been held for over four years without charge or trial.
“Since 2021, the lawless Department of State Services (DSS) has unlawfully detained these citizens at Wawa Barracks,” Sowore stated.
“Their only ‘offence’ was travelling to Abuja to attend a court appearance in the case of Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to him, the individuals were arrested by DSS operatives in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, while en route to Abuja and have remained in custody ever since.
He noted that the prolonged detention of the detainees amounts to a grave violation of their fundamental human rights. “The detainees, mostly citizens of Ebonyi State, were arrested by the DSS in Lokoja and have been held in custody since 2021 without trial,” he said.
Sowore listed the detainees as Wisdom Ezike, Kenneth Ojima, Chinedu Nwoba, Igwe Sampson, David Ogbonnaya, Aja Joseph, Barrister Awoke, Chinoso Oyibe, Eze Joseph, Okezie Fortune, as well as two drivers, one of whom he identified as Ikechukwu.
“These individuals have been illegally detained without charge or trial for over four years, in blatant violation of the fundamental principles of justice and human rights,” he stated.
The activist called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees, urging the Federal Government to compensate them for their prolonged incarceration.
He also demanded that officers responsible for the alleged violations be identified and held accountable.
Furthermore, Sowore called for the closure of the Wawa Barracks detention facility, describing it as a “dark site” that should no longer be allowed to operate.
“The DSS must release them immediately and unconditionally. The Federal Government must adequately compensate the victims for their prolonged and unlawful detention, identify the officers responsible, and ensure they are held fully accountable for these egregious violations.
“Further, Wawa Barracks detention centre and or another dark site must be closed down immediately,” he added.
His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, has announced the date for Eid al-Fitr in Nigeria.
The Emir, who is the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, has not reported the sighting of the crescent moon of Shawwal, 1447AH, today, Wednesday, the 29th of Ramadan .
This was contained in a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Daular Usmaniyya , signed by the Wazir of Sokoto and Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee of the Sultan’s Palace, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.
The statement stated that the Sultan’s Palace Moon Sighting Committee had not received any reliable reports of moon sightings from anywhere in Nigeria. According to this information, Thursday, March 19, will be the day to complete the 30th day of Ramadan.
The Sultan of Sokoto has declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as the day of the lesser Sallah, i.e. the 1st of Shawwal 1447AH.
He urged Muslims to use this time of Eid al-Fitr to pray for peace, unity, and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The statement said: “His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni, and Chairman, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has received the moon sighting report, which showed that the crescent moon was not sighted today, Wednesday.
“Accordingly, he declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as 1 Shawwal 1447AH (the Day of the Small Prayer). He also congratulated the Nigerian Muslim community on the occasion, and wished them the guidance and blessings of God.”
“He also called for continued prayers for peace, progress, and development of the country . He also wished Muslims a peaceful and prosperous Eid. May Allah (SWT) accept our acts of worship, amen.”
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri approves ₦19.6 billion Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Yola The Adamawa State government says the hospital aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in Adamawa State Fintiri explains that the facility will serve as a training center and improve healthcare services in the North-East.
Yola, Adamawa State – Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has approved the construction of a state-of-the-art Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Yola. The proposed Mother and Child Specialist Hospital will cost the state ₦19.6 billion, and it’s expected to be completed within 52 weeks. The landmark project is designed to significantly strengthen maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare services across the state.
The project aligns with Governor Fintiri’s commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. The hospital will also improve access to quality healthcare and position Adamawa as a referral hub for specialized medical services in the North-East region.
As reported by Daily Trust, the hospital will be equipped with modern medical technology and specialized units when completed.
The state governor explained that the hospital capable units to handle high-risk pregnancies, neonatal intensive care, pediatric emergencies, and other complex medical cases affecting women and children. Mother and Child Specialist Hospital will also serve as a training and research centre for healthcare professionals.
It will help to strengthen capacity and improve the quality of medical services within the state’s health sector. It will offer other healthcare services like advanced diagnostic and laboratory services, fully equipped operating theatres, intensive care units, emergency response facilities, and modern inpatient wards designed to provide quality care for patients.
Recall that Fintiri’s administration executed over 100 infrastructural, educational, health, and social projects across Adamawa state, transforming both urban centres and rural communities. The administration completed major road networks, flyovers, and township roads, including the Lamido Aliyu Mustapha Flyover, Yola, and the Nyibango-Yolde Pate Road in Yola South.
Over 100 new primary health care centres were built, while hospitals such as Numan General Hospital and Specialist Hospital, Yola, underwent comprehensive development and modernisation.
King Charles III ceremonially welcomed Nigerian President Bola Tinubu at Windsor Castle on Wednesday in the first state visit by the leader of Africa’s most populous nation in nearly four decades.
Tinubu has made less formal visits to Britain several times in his tenure, and the two countries remain major partners in trade, aid and defence. London is also home to a massive Nigerian diaspora.
King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted the president and his wife in Windsor, west of London, on a sunny afternoon as artillery fired Salutes
The Nigerian president and his wife earlier chatted with heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife Catherine at a hotel in Windsor.
The party then rode in carriages to the historic Windsor Castle, followed by cavalry in red and gold livery.
These include a Yoruba beaded throne presented to Queen Elizabeth II during an official visit in 1965.
They were also to view photographs of a Yoruba woman known as Sarah Forbes Bonetta, who became a protegee of Queen Victoria after being captured as a slave and taken to Britain by a naval captain.
In the evening, Charles and Tinubu were set to give speeches at a lavish state banquet.
‘Renewed chapter’
Nigeria’s presidency said the visit signalled a “renewed chapter” and reflected a shared commitment to “advancing trade and strengthening diplomatic ties”.
Calling the visit “historic”, London announced Nigerian companies, including banks, are expanding operations and creating hundreds of jobs in Britain, strengthening it as a global hub for African business.
Likely on the agenda are issues ranging from major Nigerian port renovations backed by Britain as well as trade, which reached £8.1 billion ($11 billion) in the year to September 2025, an 11.4 per cent year-on-year increase.
On Thursday, Tinubu is expected to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as well as members of the Nigerian community abroad, according to the official schedule.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, a Christian pastor, is set to preach at London’s Lambeth Palace — the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury — on Thursday and meet representatives of the Church of England.
The last Nigerian state visit to the UK took place in 1989, although Tinubu was received by Charles in September 2024.
Before the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022, Charles also visited Nigeria four times as Prince of Wales.
Abuja Elections: APC Drags PDP To Courts
2027 Shocker: Popular Nigerian Cleric Predicts Total Collapse of Three Major Parties
BREAKING: Sultan Receives Moon Sighting Report, Announces Date of Eid-ul-Fitr in Nigeria
Former Super Eagles Star Loses Life Savings, Duped By A Pastor of ₦1.2 Billion
These ’90s fashion trends are making a comeback in 2017
I’m A Married Man, I Can Never Get Myself Involved With Such A Thing, Delta Gov Aide Reveals Why He Offered Comfort ₦500,000 Job
-
News23 hours agoFull List of Ministers to Resign from Tinubu’s Cabinet
-
News1 day agoSO SAD: Lagos Top Council Administrator Dies In India
-
News22 hours agoBREAKING: Nigerian Governor To Build N19.6bn Specialist Hospital, Details Emerge
-
News2 days agoBREAKING: Tinubu’s Government Declares Two-Day Public Holidays
-
Tech1 day agoEl Rufa’i Ya Fara Samun Nasara a kan Gwamnati bayan Kotu Ta Soke Wani Hukunci
-
News23 hours ago
JUST IN: ADC Threatens To Petition Amnesty International Over El-Rufai’s Detention
-
News23 hours agoBreaking: Saudi Arabia Announces 2026 Eid al-Fitr Day
-
Foreign23 hours agoPICTORIAL: Tinubu, First Lady Meet Royals On ‘Historic’ UK State Visit