Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Thursday morning

The Senate again on Wednesday condemned the abduction of schoolchildren, teachers and a toddler in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. It described the attack as a barbaric assault on the nation’s future and called for the immediate rescue of all victims still in captivity.

It was judgment day yesterday for four of the five men prosecuted by the Department of State Services over their involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. They were convicted and sentenced to death by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that the four convicts – Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik and Abdulhaleem Idris – die by hanging.

Gunmen have abducted the younger sister of former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, along with her twin sons in Ibadan, the state capital. The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday morning in the Challenge area of Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.

Several people have been killed following fresh attacks on communities in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State by suspected armed militia. Residents said the violence began three days ago in Didango village, where gunmen reportedly ambushed a group of youths returning home after watching football match at a viewing centre, killing two young men.

Five worshippers abducted during an attack on ECWA Church in Omugo, Oro Ago District of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, have died in captivity. The church’s minister, Rev. Timothy Omole, informed the congregation about the tragic development in a message to the church’s WhatsApp platform.

The Naira on Wednesday depreciated to N1,398 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,385 per dollar on Tuesday. But the naira appreciated to N1,360 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market,  NFEM.

The Oyo State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, rejected suggestions and calls that the state government should negotiate with the bandits who abducted teachers and students during the coordinated attack at Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area of the state on Friday, May 15, 2026. It, however, called for intensified rescue operations to secure the release of victims abducted during the attack.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, on Wednesday appealed to aspirants who participated in the party’s recently concluded primary elections to accept the outcomes and support efforts to strengthen the party ahead of future elections. Obi made the appeal during the second National Executive Committee meeting of the NDC in Abuja.

The Abia State Police Command says it has arrested 17 suspected cultists, warning that there is no place for cultism and other crimes in the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, made the disclosure and issued the warning in a statement released on Wednesday through the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka.

Three chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, who had at different times been lawmakers in Osun State House of Assembly, have resigned their membership of the party. The lawmakers, Lekan Oyediran, Aleem Bakare and Folorunso Oladoyin, resigned their APC membership through letters addressed to the local government chairmen of the party.