Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo, the widow of Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, Ogun State’s first civilian governor during Nigeria’s Second Republic, has died at the age of 100.

The family announced her peaceful passing on Monday, January 11, 2026, in a statement released on Tuesday by her daughter, Olubukunola Onabanjo, Chairperson of the Ogun State Local Government Service Commission.

“The family of Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, former Governor of Ogun State, announces with deep sorrow, yet with gratitude to Almighty God, the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother,” the statement read. “Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo (1925–2026) was called to glory on Monday, January 11.

We thank God for her long and fulfilled life, and for the enduring legacy of love, strength, and faith she leaves behind. May her soul rest in perfect peace.

“Born in 1925 in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Madam Onabanjo moved to Lagos at around age 10 to complete her education. She trained at the Teachers’ Training College in Yaba, Lagos, and built a career in teaching spanning over two decades.

She was married to the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, who served as governor from October 1979 to December 1983 under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Their union produced four children—two sons and two daughters—though their first daughter predeceased them.

As the state’s maiden First Lady, she provided steadfast support to her husband during his tenure, which was noted for establishing key institutions like Ogun Television and Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University).

She was also actively involved in community service, with a keen interest in children’s welfare, women’s empowerment, and humanitarian causes. She served as Iya Ijo of St. Sebastian Catholic Cathedral in Ijebu-Ode.

Tributes have poured in from prominent figures. Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun described her demise as “the end of a glorious era,” praising her exemplary life devoted to God, family, and humanity, and noting her role in supporting her husband’s fight for democracy and social justice.

President Bola Tinubu condoled with the family, highlighting her compassionate investments in lives across the community, state, and nation, and urging the preservation of her legacy of love for the poor and vulnerable.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced. Madam Onabanjo’s passing marks the end of an era for one of Ogun State’s foundational political families, leaving behind a profound legacy of grace, resilience, and service.

A positive development has emerged in the aftermath of last weekend’s violent protest in Ekpoma, where 52 individuals, including students from Ambrose Alli University (AAU), were arrested and remanded in custody.

According to a statement from Hon. Comrade Asefon Sunday Dayo, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, 38 confirmed AAU students among those detained are set to be released shortly.

The announcement credits the swift resolution to collaborative efforts by key stakeholders, including Edo State Governor, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo, who has directed the release of bona fide students after meetings with the AAU Students’ Union Government (SUG) leadership; Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayo Olawande; the dedicated Commissioner for Education in Edo State; the SUG President of Ambrose Alli University**; and the broader comrade community.

The protest, initially sparked by concerns over rising kidnappings and insecurity in Ekpoma and surrounding areas, reportedly escalated into violence, with reports of property destruction, looting, and vandalism—including at the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma. Authorities, including the Edo State Government, have attributed the unrest to a group known as the “Ambrose Alli Comrade Community” (primarily non-students or former students), insisting that genuine AAU students did not organize or lead the demonstration.Governor Okpebholo has emphasized that while peaceful protests are protected, criminal acts will face consequences, with ongoing investigations into the violence.

The state has deployed officials, including the Commissioner for Education, to the Ubiaja Correctional Centre to facilitate the verification and release process for confirmed students.

The statement praises the commitment to dialogue, due process, and student welfare, highlighting a peaceful resolution through multi-level interventions.

This update comes amid widespread calls from groups such as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), opposition parties like the PDP, and rights activists for the unconditional release of the detainees, amid concerns over insecurity in the region.

The Edo State Government continues to urge calm as efforts focus on restoring peace and addressing underlying security challenges in Ekpoma.

The United States has delivered critical military supplies to Nigerian security agencies in Abuja, bolstering the country’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, and other security threats amid persistent insecurity.

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced the handover on Tuesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “U.S. forces delivered critical military supplies to our Nigerian partners in Abuja.

This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasizes our shared security partnership.”

The announcement included an image of sealed equipment being offloaded from an aircraft.

This latest support comes weeks after U.S. forces conducted a Christmas Day airstrike in Sokoto State targeting Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants, an operation carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

The strike followed heightened U.S. attention to security challenges in Nigeria, including President Donald Trump’s earlier designation of the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” over reported violence against Christian communities—a claim Nigeria has rejected, emphasizing that attacks affect citizens across religious and ethnic lines.

The delivery underscores deepening bilateral security cooperation between Washington and Abuja. Nigerian officials have previously highlighted ongoing structured collaboration with the U.S., including enhanced intelligence sharing, expedited defense equipment processing, and potential provision of excess defense articles to reinforce counterterrorism operations.

While specific details on the type or quantity of supplies were not disclosed, the gesture is seen as a timely boost for Nigerian forces engaged in intensified operations against insurgent groups in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central regions, and other violent threats nationwide.

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani described the development as “a welcome development and commendable,” urging other countries to emulate the U.S. gesture in helping Nigeria address insecurity.

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria was tagged in AFRICOM’s announcement, signaling continued partnership.

Neither the Nigerian Ministry of Defence nor the Presidency had issued a formal statement on the delivery as of Tuesday afternoon, though broader security engagements between the two nations remain active.

This move aligns with long-standing U.S.-Nigeria defense ties, which have included previous major provisions such as A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and training programs focused on counterterrorism and civilian harm mitigation.