A motor accident has claimed the lives of three children of Professor Yusuf Attahir Baba, the former provost of the American University of Nigeria, AUN, also known as ABTI American University Nigeria, in Yola, Adamawa State.
The tragic incident, which occurred Friday night, has left the academic community and the nation in mourning.

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, who founded AUN, has expressed shock over the tragic incident.

In a statement, he said, “It is with a heavy heart that I condole with the family of Professor Yusuf Attahir Baba, former provost of the American University of Nigeria, on the loss of three children in a ghastly motor accident last night.”

According to him, “It is my wish that we put the family in our prayers at this difficult time, for Allah to comfort them and accept the return of the departed souls. Amin.”

Professor Baba, a respected academic and administrator, previously served as the provost of AUN, an institution renowned as Africa’s first development university.

The loss of his children has sparked an outpouring of condolences from colleagues, students, and the wider community, who are rallying to support the grieving family during the unimaginable tragedy.

A young girl identified as Onyinye and her mother have reportedly beaten her father to death.

The incident occurred along Urhobo Road in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State after the man questioned her daughter’s second pregnancy out of wedlock.

According to the report, the deceased, a commercial tricycle operator, was reprimanding his daughter for the second pregnancy when she became angry and pounced on, beating him to stupor.

Onyinye’s mother was said to have quickly locked the door, joining her daughter in assaulting the husband until he fell and hit his head on the ground.

He was reported to have died instantly, before neighbors could intervene and force the door open.

Sources in the area said residents raised an alarm, inviting the police, who arrested both the mother and daughter.

When contacted, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, claimed that the matter had not been reported.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Embassy of China in Nigeria has pushed back against claims that visa delays were responsible for Nigerian athletes’ withdrawal from the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China.

In response to reports and a public statement by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), which cited delays in visa processing as the reason for the country’s withdrawal from the event scheduled for May 10–11, the Chinese Embassy released a detailed clarification asserting that it acted swiftly and professionally to facilitate the process.

According to the Embassy, it received a formal request for visa support from Nigeria’s National Sports Commission on April 24—two weeks before the competition—following a letter dated April 22. The embassy stated that it immediately communicated with the Commission and provided guidance on required documentation.

The visa application materials were submitted to the China Visa Application Centre on May 6, the embassy noted. In response, it activated expedited procedures and completed visa issuance by May 8, just two days later.

“The Embassy of China in Nigeria has always actively supported people-to-people and sports cooperation between the two countries,” the statement read. “We have consistently assisted Nigerian citizens in visa applications in an efficient and professional manner.”

The Embassy also underscored that visa issuance is a matter of national sovereignty and requires applicants to follow standard procedures and timelines. It described the AFN’s statement as “clearly inconsistent with the facts.”