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I’ll release Nnamdi Kanu if I become president – Peter Obi
The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he would release Nnamdi Kanu and engage separatist agitators in dialogue if elected president.
Speaking during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, Obi argued that Kanu should not be detained over comments he allegedly made on Radio Biafra, insisting that criticism of political leaders should not be criminalised.
“There’s no reason for keeping Nnamdi Kanu. I will free Nnamdi Kanu as President. He has done nothing wrong; the government has no reason to arrest him because he was speaking and calling people names on radio,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor maintained that public officials are often subjected to criticism and insults, which, according to him, should not constitute an offence.
“Anybody can tell you anything. I’m a politician and people call me all sorts of names and I don’t think calling me names is an offence,” he added.
Obi also pledged to adopt dialogue as a strategy for addressing separatist agitations and other grievances across the country.
“If I am in government today, I will discuss with all agitators because I believe that they have a reason for whatever they want to do and it’s only by engaging them that we would learn,” he said.
Ajayi, Ogazi win NCAA titles
Nigerian athletes Kayinsola Ajayi and Samuel Ogazi claimed the men’s 100m and 400m titles, respectively, at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the early hours of Friday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, United States, PUNCH Online reports.
Representing Auburn University, Ajayi stormed to victory in the men’s 100m in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds.
The performance would have broken the African record of 9.77 seconds currently held by Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, but a tailwind of +2.2m/s rendered the mark ineligible for record purposes.
It was the 21-year-old’s first NCAA outdoor title after finishing fourth in the event last year. With the victory, he became the first Nigerian to win the NCAA men’s 100m title since Divine Oduduru achieved the feat in 2019.
Ajayi produced a dominant display in the final, pulling clear of the field in the closing stages. LSU’s Jaiden Reid finished second in 9.82 seconds, while Arkansas’ Jelani Watkins placed third.
The Nigerian had earlier overcome a slow start in Wednesday’s semi-final, winning in 9.94 seconds (-1.1m/s) ahead of Reid, who equalled the Cayman Islands national record with 9.95 seconds.
Although the time will not stand as an official record, Ajayi’s 9.72 seconds ranks among the fastest performances ever recorded under all conditions and further underlines his status as one of the world’s leading sprinters this season.
In the men’s 400m, Ogazi successfully defended his NCAA title in spectacular fashion, running a national and collegiate record of 43.38 seconds. The Alabama athlete broke the NCAA record of 43.61 seconds set by American Michael Norman in 2018.
Enugu arrests six suspects, recovers 17 ak-47 rifles
The Enugu State Government on Friday announced the arrest of six suspected criminals linked to major security breaches in the state and the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition during joint security operations.
Governor Peter Mbah disclosed this while inspecting the recovered weapons at the headquarters of the Department of State Services in Enugu.
The recovered weapons include 17 AK-47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun, one rocket-propelled rifle, one tear-gas gun, 12 AK-47 magazines, two hand grenades, three tear-gas canisters and 1,071 rounds of ammunition.
The ammunition comprises 323 rounds of special ammunition, 270 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 478 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Security operatives also recovered uniforms and four lanyards.
Mbah, who was received by the State Director of the DSS, Humphery Ohikhuare; the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa; and the Garrison Commander of the 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Garba Suru, described the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against crime in the state.
He said some of the suspects had been on the state’s security watch list and were allegedly involved in violent crimes, including attacks that claimed the lives of security personnel.
“First of all, I would like to acknowledge and salute the gallantry of our security agents. What we are witnessing here today is the triumph of vigilance, hard work and dedication to duty.
“Recall that sometime in December last year, we had an incident that took the lives of some of our officers. The state government placed bounties on the heads of the criminals. We had earlier apprehended some of those involved, but the suspects here today are those who had been on the run,” he said.
The governor reiterated his administration’s determination to rid the state of criminal elements, stressing that offenders would be tracked down and brought to justice regardless of how long it takes.
Police arrest four suspected armed robbers in Oyo hideout raid
Four suspected armed robbers cum cultists have been arrested with a locally made pistol at their hideout in the Soka area of Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State by the state Police Command.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement released in Ibadan, the state capital, on Friday.
Ayanlade said the arrest was made possible through credible intelligence reports on the activities of the suspected criminals in the area.
The PPRO said, “On Friday, June 10, 2026, at approximately 6am, operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, acting on credible intelligence, received information that members of a notorious criminal syndicate known for terrorising residents at various locations within the Ibadan metropolis were operating in the area.
“The intelligence reports revealed the suspects were planning to embark on another criminal operation within the community at the time of the arrest.”
The suspects, whose identities are given as Salawu Sarafa alias Folori, Yusuf Tajudeen alias Blacky, Farouq Ariyo, and Adebayo Awosemo alias Naira, are said to have confirmed their membership of the Eiye Supremo Confraternity.
He said, “During preliminary interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of the Eiye Supremo Confraternity and admitted their involvement in a series of violent criminal activities within the Ibadan metropolis and its environs.”
Real Warri Pikin thrills fans in Dallas
Comedian and actress, Anita Asuoha, aka Real Warri Pikin, has successfully concluded the American leg of her ‘In My Element Tour’, delivering sold-out performances in Dallas and Houston, Texas, while receiving strong support from some of Nollywood’s biggest stars.
The tour attracted large audiences from across the United States, with fans turning out in numbers to enjoy the comedian’s signature blend of humour, relatable storytelling and inspirational life lessons.
One of the highlights of the tour was the presence of veteran actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD; and actresses, Uche Jombo and Chioma Chukwuka, whose appearances generated excitement among attendees.
Guests were also entertained by performances from Kofi Da Guru and Senior Pastor, who added energy and excitement to the events.
Beyond the packed venues and celebrity appearances, the Houston show marked a significant milestone in Real Warri Pikin’s career. She was presented with the African Comedy Excellence Award by the Global African Diaspora Awards in recognition of her contributions to comedy, entertainment and cultural advancement.
A statement shared with Saturday Beats stated that the award further strengthens her reputation as one of Africa’s leading comedy exports, whose work continues to resonate with audiences across continents.
