A highly reverred media personality Dan Agbese is dead.According to a statement issued by the Agbese family of Ikpilogwu clan of Agila district, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, he died on Monday.

“We hereby announce the passing away of our husband , father, grandfather, brother, uncle and mentor: Chief Dan Agbese, the Awan’Otun of Agila.

”“Chief Agbese transited to eternal glory this morning, Monday November 17, 2025. He was aged 81.“Burial arrangements would be announced by the family in due course.

“Born May 12, 1944 in Agila, Chief Agbese was a renowned journalist and author, famous for his seminal contributions to journalism practice in Nigeria and renowned for his satirical columns.

He was editor of The Nigeria Standard and New Nigerian newspapers, and General Manager of Radio Benue, Makurdi.“Chief Agbese was one of the founders of the trail-blazing Newswatch magazine and was until April 2010 its Editor-in-Chief.

“Before his passing, he wrote several books and maintained weekly columns in notable newspapers including the Daily Trust and The Guardian, while running a media consultancy with his friends and colleagues, Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Muhammed and Soji Akinrinade.

“He is survived by his wife , Chief Rose Agbese six children, and seven grandchildren.”

Taraba State House of Assembly Speaker, Kizito Bonzena, along with 15 other lawmakers, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bonzena made the announcement on Monday, November 17, 2025, stating that the decision was driven by the factionalisation of the PDP at the national level. He clarified that the move was not personal but intended to serve the collective interest of Taraba State.

“Our people should not misinterpret this decision of ours. It is for the interest of Taraba,” Bonzena said. “We now have all 24 members of the House as APC members.”

Among the defectors are the Deputy Speaker Hamman-Adama Abdullai (Bali 2 Constituency), Majority Leader Jethro Yakubu (Wukari 1 Constituency), and other members including Tafarki Eneme, Akila Nuhu, Musa Chul, Josiah Yaro, Tanko Yusuf, Veronica Alhassan, Anas Shuaibu, Nelson Len, Umar Adamu, Joseph Kassong, John Lamba, Happy Shonruba, and Zakari Sanusi.

With all members now in the APC, the House has no minority leader.

The mass defection comes ahead of the planned switch of Governor Agbu Kefas to the APC.

The United States congress will on Thursday hear allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria.

The hearing will be chaired by Chris Smith, chairman of the house foreign affairs Africa sub-committee.

This follows President Donald Trump’s re-designation of the African nation as a country of particular concern (CPC).

Smith, who has been one of several US lawmakers pushing the allegations, had introduced a resolution naming the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as erring entities.

Sanctions recommended on members of the groups included visa bans and asset freezes.

The resolution also asked that the US place “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau states on the entities of particular concern (EPC) list under the International Religious Freedom Act.

Thursday’s congressional hearing will examine the “ongoing religious persecution of Christians by radical Islamists”, the wide-reaching implications of Trump’s re-designation of Nigeria as a CPC, and the course of action the US State Department should follow in response to the “Nigerian government’s complicity in these crimes”, Smith’s office said.

A partial list of witnesses on the first panel include Jonathan Pratt, senior bureau official, bureau of African Affairs, State Department; and Jacob McGee, deputy assistant secretary, bureau of democracy, human rights, and labour, State Department.

The second panel will comprise Nina Shea, senior fellow and director, Centre for Religious Freedom; Wilfred Anagbe, bishop of Makurdi diocese; and Oge Onubogu, director and senior fellow, Africa Programme, Centre for Strategic & International Studies.