By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

After 12 days in captivity, the National President of the Afenifere Youth Council, Eniola Olajuni, has been released after spending 12 days in the custody of his abductors.

This was confirmed on Saturday by the National Secretary of the council, Biodun Aderohunmu, who sent a brief WhatsApp message stating, “He has been released.”

Olajuni was abducted on Monday, February 17, 2025, while traveling to Abuja for a meeting. His kidnappers had initially demanded a ransom of N100 million and two tricycles for his release.

Following public outcry, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the deployment of the Intelligence Response Team to secure his freedom. This came after a viral video showed Olajuni at gunpoint, pleading with Nigerians to assist in raising funds for his release.

While details surrounding his release remain unclear, his freedom comes as a relief to his family, associates, and the Afenifere Youth Council.

More details to follow as the situation unfolds.

The first female minister of Nigeria, Chief Adenike Ebun Oyagbola, is dead.

She died at the age of 94 on Friday, February 28.

She was from the family of Akinola of Igan-Alade in Yewa North Local Government, Ogun State. Born on May 5, 1931, Oyagbola was a pioneering politician and diplomat.

She began her career as a teacher before traveling abroad for further studies in accounting.

Upon returning, she joined the Federal Civil Service in 1963.

In 1979, she made history as Nigeria’s first female cabinet minister when she was appointed Minister of National Planning under President Shehu Shagari’s administration.

She served in that role until 1983. Oyagbola later became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, with concurrent accreditation to Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.

Beyond her political career, she was the President of the Nigerian chapter of Attitudinal Healing International, a global organization focused on mental and emotional well-being.

Her contributions to Nigeria’s governance and international representation remain significant, and she will be remembered for paving the way for women in leadership.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reportedly eliminated scores of bandits in air strikes in Zamfara state.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said a component of Operation Fansa Yanma launched air strikes on bandits’ hideouts targeting Yusuf Yellow, “a notorious bandit leader”, in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara.

According to the publication, a senior security source who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that the intelligence-led operation was highly successful.

The publication said the strikes were carefully coordinated based on credible intelligence.

“The mission was executed with precision to degrade their operational capabilities,” the source confirmed to Zagazola Makama.

The publication added that it remained unclear as of press time if Yusuf Yellow was among those killed in the air raid.

“Security forces are currently conducting surveillance to assess the full impact of the operation,” the publication said.

The Nigerian military has intensified air and ground offensives under Operation Fansa Yanma, to restore peace and stability in the region.