News
Ohanaeze Youths Reject U.S. Military Intervention in Nigeria, Endorse Referendum
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) has rejected any form of U.S. military intervention in Nigeria based on religious grounds, urging instead that such intervention be directed toward facilitating a national referendum to address the country’s deep-seated political and social challenges.
The group’s National President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, made this known while briefing journalists in Owerri on Wednesday. He said the Igbo people appreciated the United States’ concern over the continued killings of Christians in Nigeria, especially in the South-East and Middle Belt regions.
However, he cautioned that any U.S. military engagement driven by religious motives would be counterproductive, stressing that what Nigeria urgently needs is a political solution through a referendum.
“A referendum is currently the most pressing requirement for Nigeria,” Igboayaka said. “This position is not only that of the Ohanaeze Youth Council but also of the younger generation of Igbo people and other ethnic groups in the Middle Belt.”
The OYC argued that the killings of Christians in Eastern Nigeria and other parts of the country have worsened since 2015, accusing the Federal Government of using the fight against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a cover for targeted attacks on Christians.
Citing reports from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), the group alleged that thousands of Christians have been killed by security forces, Fulani herdsmen, and jihadists in recent years. It also referenced data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that over 614,000 Nigerians were killed between May 2023 and April 2024 due to insecurity.
OYC urged former U.S. President Donald Trump to use his influence to help end the killings by supporting a referendum for Nigerian Christians within one year, noting that true peace cannot be achieved through military force alone.
“President Trump’s proposed military action on religious grounds may offer temporary relief, but a lasting solution lies in the convocation of a national referendum,” Igboayaka said.
He also called on Trump to honor victims of Christian persecution in Nigeria, particularly IPOB members allegedly killed while celebrating his 2017 electoral victory, and to advocate for the release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The group further accused Nigeria’s past and current administrations of neglecting the widespread violence against Christians, warning that failure to address the crisis could lead to a full-scale religious and ethnic conflict.
“The killings of Igbos and Christians in Nigeria under the guise of fighting IPOB must stop. Only a referendum can restore peace and justice in the country,” the statement concluded.
An angry mob has set a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus on fire after it reportedly crushed a commercial motorcyclist to death at Ogolonto Bus Stop along Ikorodu Road in Lagos State.
The incident occurred on Friday, October 16, 2026. Eyewitness accounts and social media reports indicate that the motorcyclist was riding alone along the restricted BRT lane when the collision happened. He died at the scene.
Enraged residents and youths then attacked the bus driver and set the vehicle ablaze. Police officers and officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), who were nearby, intervened promptly and rescued the driver unharmed.
The identity of the deceased motorcyclist and the exact circumstances of the crash had not been officially confirmed at the time of filing this report. It was also unclear whether any arrests had been made in connection with the burning of the bus.
News
ARISE News Wins Seven Honours At Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards
The awards recognised the network’s achievements in television journalism and programming, with ARISE News winning the Best TV Channel (Viewer’s Choice) category.
• ARISE News Anchor and host of What’s Trending Ojy Okpe was named Best Newscaster (TV – Female)
ARISE News has emerged as one of the major winners at the just ended Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA).
ARISE News won seven honours across television broadcasting, news reporting, presentation and production during the ceremony.
The awards recognised the network’s achievements in television journalism and programming, with ARISE News winning the Best TV Channel (Viewer’s Choice) category.
The network’s flagship breakfast programme, The Morning Show, also won the Best TV Talk Show award, further strengthening its recognition in television broadcasting.
ARISE News Anchor and host of What’s Trending Ojy Okpe was named Best Newscaster (TV – Female).
Rufai Oseni was named Nigerian Broadcaster of the Year (Male), while Vimbai Mutinhiri-Ekpeyong received the Nigerian Broadcaster of the Year (Female) award.
The recognition extended to the network’s newsroom, with Ovieteme George winning Best TV News Reporter (Male) for his contributions to television news reporting.
Behind the camera, Sam Adeyemi received the Best Camera Operator/Cinematographer award, recognising his work in television production and visual storytelling.
News
Meta removes 3.7 million accounts in West Africa scam crackdown
The joint operation led to 28 arrests, identified more than 30 suspected scam centres and rescued 117 people allegedly trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has removed more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages and groups linked to suspected scam networks operating in West Africa.
The joint operation led to 28 arrests, identified more than 30 suspected scam centres and rescued 117 people allegedly trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.
The company announced the crackdown in a statement on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. It involved 14 technology companies and law enforcement agencies from 10 countries.
The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency coordinated the operation with the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies. Nigerian authorities were involved.
Other countries included Ghana, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.Tech companies that took part included Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Coinbase, Starlink and Adobe.
Meta said the partnership let participants share intelligence across digital platforms, countries and financial systems to identify criminal networks.
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