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A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi a Catholic priest, has been found dead in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.

‎Until his death, he served as a priest at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Egbe.

Rev. Fr. Opeyemi was reportedly stabbed multiple times, and his lifeless body was discovered by the roadside in Ajaokuta.

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Salihu, said, “We received information that the lifeless body of an unidentified male was found by the roadside along Church Road, Ajaokuta.

‎”Operatives promptly mobilised to the scene, where it was observed that the deceased had sustained severe machete cuts to the head. The body was evacuated to the ASCL Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor, and was thereafter deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

”The deceased was later identified as Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi of St. Paul Parish, Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA, Kogi State.

”The case is currently under investigation, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible. Upon the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation.”

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed that there is no going back on the ban on small-volume alcoholic drinks in the country.

The NAFDAC Zonal Director, South East, Dr Festus Ukadike, made the vow in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Friday.

Ukadike said the crackdown had already begun targeting manufacturers and distributors of small sachet alcoholic drinks.

He said the next stage after the enforcement was to mop up the remaining alcoholic products currently in the market.

He also said that businesses would not be affected by the ban as companies could still produce alcohol in volumes not less than 200ml per bottle.

According to him, arrests and seizures have been made in the zone, including Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Anambra.

The zonal director said the health of children was a deciding factor informing NAFDAC’s decision to ban sachet alcohol.

He said that children had to be protected from unhealthy drinking habits prevalent among young children in Nigeria.

“If our children are no longer exposed to sachet alcohol, they will live healthier lives, curb antisocial behaviours and promote the country’s fight against cancer and other terminal diseases,” he said.

Ukadike advised consumers to control their alcohol intake, saying that missing out on sachet alcohol was not a terrible thing.

Responding to concerns over affordability, the NAFDAC director said that public health considerations outweighed commercial interests.

Ukadike said that in 12 months, Nigeria should expect a standard regulatory landscape in which there would be no alcohol in any packaging less than 200ml.

Meanwhile, some consumers of sachet drinks expressed mixed reactions to the ban.

While some welcomed the ban, others said the ban on small volume alcoholic drinks would make alcohol less affordable to low-income earners.

A consumer, Mr Charles Otubo, said the ban should only be introduced in motor parks to prevent highway accidents.

Another consumer simply identified as Godwin said he had seen school children buying the sachet drinks, putting it in their school bags, and taking it to school.

He said the drinks should be sold at special liquor stores.

(NAN)

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The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), has urged President Bola Tinubu not to seek reelection in 2027 but instead like a statesman with an eye on history and posterity, earnestly commit the rest of his tenure to restructuring Nigeria and giving her a new constitution.

The organisation also said the demand for a new Constitution for Nigeria before the 2027 elections should be jointly spearheaded forthwith by the ethnic nationalities under the socio-cultural groups and other relevant interest groups.

These were some of the resolutions taken in a communique issued at the end of the July 2026 meeting of the Christian elders which deliberated on the state of the nation and review of the ongoing preparations for another cycle of elections in 2027 and signed by its chairman and former Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Dr Samuel Danjuma Gani.

Apart from Gani, other members of NCEF are Pastor Bosun Emmanuel (Secretary), Dr. Saleh Hussaini, Vice Chairman (North); Elder Shyngle Wigwe, Vice Chairman (South); Mrs. Osaretin Demuren, Hon. Treasurer; Prof. Joseph Otubu, Dr. (Mrs) Kate Okparaeke, Dr. Ayo Abifarin, Gen. Zamani Lekwot (rtd), Hon. Justice James Ogebe, JSC (Rtd); Elder Moses Ihonde, Hon. Justice Kalajine Anigbogu (Rtd), Elder Nat Okoro, Solomon Asemota (SAN) and Elder Matthew Owojaiye.

Others are DIG P. L. Dabup, Sir John W. Bagu, Dame Priscilla Kuye, Prof. (Mrs) Deborah Enilo Ajakaiye, HRM Oba Dokun Thompson, Dr. Taiwo Idemudia (Diaspora), Elder Minso Gadzama, Apostle Bulus Musa Kewa, Admiral Peter Adeniyi (Rtd), Hon. Justice Goddy Anunihu (Rtd) and Chief Sir Ferdinand Anikwe.

The communique reads: “That the Tinubu-led Federal Government’s performance in the critical areas of national security, economic development and the wellbeing of the citizenry has been hugely sub-optimal and manifestly disappointing vis a vis the unequivocal specification of Section 14(2)b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

“That the direction in which the nation is being led by the Tinubu presidency offers increasing apprehension rather than hope and this state of affairs has left all patriots with no option but to call on President Tinubu to please desist from seeking re-election for a second term, but instead like a statesman with an eye on history and posterity, to earnestly commit the rest of his tenure to restructuring Nigeria and giving her a new constitution.

“That his Muslim-Muslim Presidency ticket is tone-deaf and grossly insensitive particularly at a period, like now, when Islamist terrorists are ravaging the country and Christians are at the receiving end of the widespread violence, unabated killings and unspeakable atrocities.

“That the call for a new constitution for Nigeria before the 2027 elections be jointly spearheaded forthwith by the ethnic nationalities under the socio-cultural groups and other relevant interest groups.

“That the judiciary be put on notice that the nation is now at a tipping point and can no longer afford any semblance of judicial bias in their handling of electoral matters.

“That the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should remind itself that it is not an arm of any political party but a federal institution that must stay independent, neutral and beyond reproach to henceforth always deliver credible, free, and fair elections in Nigeria.

“That the North/South rotation of the Presidency is not a written constitutional clause, but it is good and effectual for national stability, equity and inclusivity and for that reason, patriots are urged to support a Southern candidature in 2027 for the four remaining years of the South’s current turn.

“That flagrant compromise of national institutions by the current administration is reminiscent of the dark days of the General Babangida’s military administration and this is unacceptable and must be brought to the quickest halt.

“That the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal is an indictment of the Tinubu administration and an urgent in-depth, independent enquiry into the scandal is mandatory.

“That Nigerians obviously want a change for the better and the continued patience of the long-suffering public must no longer be taken for granted.”