http://www.voiceofawori.com.ng/

VOA News, Eko (2025)

31/07/2025

News: Tinubu Extends Tenure Of Customs CG!!!

The Presidency on Thursday, July 31 announced that President Bola Tinubu has extended the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

The tenure of the CG of Customs is due to expire on August 31, 2025, but the President extended his tenure by one year.

The Presidency, in a statement by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the extension, approved by Tinubu, will enable Mr. Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete critical initiatives of the administration.

The statement listed the reforms to include the modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service; the implementation of the National Single Window Project; and the ex*****on of Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol.

The statement further added that “President Tinubu recognises Mr. Adeniyi’s steadfast leadership and commitment to service.

“The President is confident that this extension will further strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service in achieving its strategic mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security.”

31/07/2025

: Woman Charged With Attempted Murder After Giving Minor Son A Drug Pipe To Smoke!!!

A woman from Newclare, Johannesburg, South Africa, who was captured on video instructing her young son to light and smoke from what appeared to be a drug pipe, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday, July 31, alongside three men alleged to have been present during the incident.

The disturbing footage, which went viral on Tuesday, triggered public outrage and led to the swift arrest of the woman by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) later that night. Two of the men were arrested the same evening, while the third suspect was apprehended on Wednesday.

All four are facing charges of attempted murder and child abuse for allegedly exposing the child to harmful substances. The group has indicated plans to apply for Legal Aid representation. The case has been postponed to August 4.

The child involved, initially believed to be three years old, is actually four, the court heard. He has since been taken to a place of safety after undergoing a medical assessment in hospital.

“The video depicted the child lighting drugs in a bottle neck for his mother, who then encouraged him to smoke, all in the presence of other adults,” the JMPD stated earlier this week.

According to authorities, the mother was located following a tip-off. “When questioned, she identified two other individuals present in the video, including the person who recorded it,” JMPD said. “All three suspects confessed to using Mandrax and admitted to filming the incident. Their cellphones were confiscated as evidence.”

Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit are investigating the case.

“The FCS in Gauteng has 22 units strategically located in the province servicing 146 police stations,” she said. “There are at least 66 detectives on standby from FCS after hours to attend to cases related to their mandate."

31/07/2025

: Two Women Drown In River While Performing Mermaid Rituals For Money!!!

Two women have drowned in the Nyaure River in Bindura, Zimbabwe during a ritual believed to be linked to the controversial practice of “manjuzu”, a form of mermaid spirit worship that has gained traction among some young women in Zimbabwe seeking wealth or fame.

The incident occurred during a spiritual session led by a self-proclaimed prophet who claimed the purpose of the gathering was to invoke mermaid spirits believed to inhabit sacred waters. The prophet, whose identity has not been disclosed, said that his wife was among those who drowned.

“I went with some women to pray and I wanted to invoke the mermaid spirits. These people had their own issues and during this process one of us was taken by the spirits,” he said. “We then went into the water to try and rescue her and one of them died. In the process, my wife also died during the rescue.”

The deaths have sparked renewed concern over unsanctioned rituals and the growing trend of spiritual practices associated with manjuzu, which often involve offerings and symbolic acts conducted in rivers and other water bodies.

Traditional authorities have expressed alarm. Headman Masembura condemned the ritual and cautioned against performing spiritual ceremonies without proper guidance or respect for sacred locations.

“These are sacred waters, and there are underground spiritual creatures there. So, every time you go there you must follow proper rituals and you must ask the leaders of this place,” he said.

He also revealed that the prophet admitted to bringing rice, sweets, biscuits, and wine as offerings to appease the mermaid spirits, reportedly on behalf of a deceased colleague.

31/07/2025

: Court Sentence Killer Of Hafsoh Lawal To Death By Hanging!!!

After a four-month trial, the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, presided over by Justice Hannah Olushola Ajayi, has sentenced Abdulrahman Bello to death by hanging for the murder of 24-year-old Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.

The court found Bello guilty of the gruesome killing, which he earlier admitted was committed for ritual purposes.
Lawal, who reportedly met the convict on Facebook, was lured and murdered in a disturbing case that drew widespread attention.

Meanwhile, four other defendants — Ahmed Abdulwasiu (41), Suleiman Muyideen (28), Jamiu Uthman (29), and Abdulrahmon Jamiu (31) — were discharged and acquitted due to lack of evidence linking them to the crime.

He also claimed to be an Islamic cleric and that he carried out the act all alone.

Bello, who said he killed Lawal because he needed human hands for money rituals, regretted that if only he had known another way to source the needed ingredient, he wouldn’t have killed her.

On February 13, 2025, Hafsoh Lawal was said to be attending a naming ceremony of her friend’s newbornbaby when AbdulRahman Bello called her to his residence somewhere around Offa garage area of Ilorin.

AbdulRahman Bello, during the trial, told the court that after having bouts of s*x with Hafsoh, he choked her by the neck, after which she passed on, and he then dismembered her body.

At another time, AbdulRahman Bello said Hafsoh Bello died of asthma after having rounds of s*x with her and that the fear of how to dispose of the lifeless body caused him to dismember her body.

31/07/2025

: Young Man Commits Su***de Over Gambling Debts!!!

A young man identified as Stephen Chidubem has committed su!cide over gambling debts in Abuja.

Chidubem allegedly took his life at his residence on Abba Street, behind the Anglican Church in Saburi 2, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

According to security analyst, Zagazola Makama, the deceased hung himself using a rope tied to a ceiling fan.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene and evacuated the body to Kubwa General Hospital, where he was confirmed d3ad by a medical doctor.

The co**se was subsequently deposited at the hospital’s mortuary for autopsy.

A su***de note recovered at the scene pointed to gambling addiction as the cause of the tragic act.

In the note, Chidubem apologized to those he owed and to those he believed were affected by his financial troubles.

The note read in part: “Sorry to everyone who cared, I can’t continue putting people in trouble because of my gambling addiction. Please forgive me Elvis, Paul, and all I’m owing. And you, Bishop Andy Ero, give the balance of N507,500 to Elvis or Paul.”

It was gathered that the deceased had been struggling with a severe gambling addiction that plunged him into debt and emotional distress.

31/07/2025

: No Cause For Alarm - Minister Of State For Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, Visits Ghana oOver ‘Nigerians Must Go’ Protests!!!

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has visited Ghana over the recent demands by some Ghanaians for the deportation of Nigerians from their country.

Over the weekend, a group of Ghanaians staged a protest demanding that Nigerians be sent back to their home country, alleging that their behaviour does not align with Ghanaian values. The protesters, who were mostly traders from the local retail market, carried placards and other items, while stating that their Nigerian counterparts were causing problems and were allegedly involved in criminal activities.

While speaking to newsmen after a meeting with Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Wednesday, July 30, the Minister said the viral videos calling for the deportation of Nigerians had caused anxiety, necessitating her visit to the country for a firsthand assessment of the situation.

“Since I arrived, I haven’t seen people burning tyres in the streets or carrying placards everywhere calling for Nigerians to be deported.

This shows that the Ghanaian government and the president have stepped up to the situation. I would say there’s no cause for alarm, they are handling the situation effectively, and we will continue engaging stakeholders.”he said

On his part, the Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, said the ministry is addressing the matter and has met with some leaders of the Nigerian community.

“The Ghanaian government will ensure that everyone in the country, citizens and non-citizens, is protected,” he said.

31/07/2025

: 17-Year-Old Drowns In Village Pond!!!

A 17-year-old boy, Lurwanu Suleiman, has drowned in open water in Dandalama village, located in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday, by its Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi.

According to the statement, the drowning occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

“We received an emergency call from Malam Aminu Dandalama at about 12:54 p.m. on Tuesday.

“We immediately sent our rescue team to the scene at about 1:25 p.m.,” Abdullahi said.

He explained that Suleiman was recovered from the water lifeless and his body was handed over to the Ward Head of Dandalama village, Alhaji Safiyan Usman.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation, the agency said.

31/07/2025

: United States Rejects Two-state Solution For Palestine!!!

This week, the UN will serve as host to an unproductive and ill-timed conference on the two-state solution in New York City. This is a publicity stunt that comes in the middle of delicate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Far from promoting peace, the conference will prolong the war, embolden Hamas, and reward its obstruction and undermine real-world efforts to achieve peace.

As Secretary Rubio has made clear, this effort is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th and a reward for terrorism. It keeps hostages trapped in tunnels. The United States will not participate in this insult but will continue to lead real-world efforts to end the fighting and deliver a permanent peace. Our focus remains on serious diplomacy: not stage-managed conferences designed to manufacture the appearance of relevance.

President Macron’s announcement about recognizing a Palestinian state was welcomed by Hamas. This reflects a pattern of counterproductive gestures that only emboldens Hamas, encourages its obstruction of a ceasefire, and greatly undercuts our diplomatic efforts to end the suffering in Gaza, free the hostages, and move the whole Middle East towards a brighter and more prosperous future.

31/07/2025

: Varsity Students To face Drug Tests, Says Education Minister!!!

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has backed the introduction of compulsory and random drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions across the country.

This decision followed a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd), where both parties discussed measures to curb substance abuse among students.

In a statement on Wednesday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the minister also approved a review of the current secondary school curriculum to incorporate updated drug education and committed to forming an inter-ministerial working group with the NDLEA.

Babafemi said the NDLEA boss had proposed a three-pronged approach: revising drug education content in schools, introducing stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes in secondary schools, and implementing a drug testing policy for tertiary institutions, including for new students, returning students, and random testing.

Marwa described the drug scourge as a threat to national security and youth development, citing its links to criminal activities such as terrorism and banditry.

He disclosed that the agency had arrested over 40,000 drug offenders and seized more than 5,500 metric tonnes of drugs in the past two years.

“We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” he said.

Responding, Alausa acknowledged the urgency of the problem, stating: “When the youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they go to school, they are not getting a functional education.

“At the end of the day, what happens? Their level of critical thinking is lower.

“Their ability to make informed decisions in the later part of their life becomes significantly reduced. So, they become unemployable.

“And what happens? You now have that vicious cycle. They’re not functional.”

The minister stated that drug tests for fresh and returning students in tertiary institutions would be done.

He said, “You also said something very important about the drug test policy in tertiary institutions. We will do it.

“We have to do it. We do not have a choice. At least, we’ll start with tertiary institutions, for their fresh and returning students as well as random testing.”

He announced the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry and confirmed that a revised curriculum for secondary schools was underway.

Alausa said, “I would suggest we form a technical working group, an inter-ministerial working group between our ministry and NDLEA.

“As a result, I would also like to create a Substance Use Prevention Unit in the ministry.

“We’re reviewing the curriculum now for secondary school. And that’s why I’ve asked the Director of Senior Secondary School to come, to be here and then we find a way to cascade it down to primary school.

“We need to incorporate both primary and secondary schools into their curriculum. But the one for secondary school, we can do that now. We’re currently developing their new curriculum.

“Also, on the stand-alone school programmes, I agree with you fully. We should also design ongoing programmes in our schools. That we can roll out, and cascade down.”

The minister also committed to working with the Universal Basic Education Commission and Tertiary Education Trust Fund to support the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.

31/07/2025

: Former Lawmaker, Hon. Victor Akande, Dies Following Auto Crash Injuries!!!

The Lagos political landscape has been thrown into mourning following the passing of Hon. Victor Akande, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who represented Ojo Constituency I. The seasoned lawmaker and legal practitioner reportedly died on Wednesday due to complications arising from a recent car accident in the Ojo area.

Sources close to the family confirmed that Hon. Akande had been receiving treatment since the automobile crash occurred last week, but unfortunately, he succumbed to the sustained injuries.

Political Career and Contributions

Hon. Victor Akande had a remarkable political journey marked by commitment, service, and leadership. He served two consecutive terms in the Lagos State House of Assembly between 2015 and 2023, where he was well-respected for his contributions to legal reform and human rights advocacy.

Initially elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, Akande later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), under which he secured his re-election in 2019. His switch to the APC was seen as a strategic move that ensured the continuity of his legislative work and strengthened his ties within the political framework of Lagos State.

While in the Assembly, Akande served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Petitions, and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC). His leadership in these areas was instrumental in handling sensitive legal issues, reviewing public grievances, and enhancing the credibility of electoral processes in Lagos.

Legal Expertise and Public Service

In addition to his political career, Hon. Akande was a qualified legal practitioner, who leveraged his professional background to shape policies and champion the rights of the underserved. Colleagues often described him as a man of integrity, known for his firm stance on justice and accountability.

During his tenure, he contributed significantly to legislative debates, especially in matters affecting civil rights, electoral transparency, and legal reforms.

Community and State Reactions

Tributes have started pouring in from political leaders, constituents, and members of the legal community, all mourning the loss of a dedicated lawmaker and advocate for justice. His legacy as a public servant who put the people of Ojo first continues to resonate within his constituency.

Many have taken to social media to express their condolences, reflecting on his impactful representation and role in the development of Ojo Local Government and Lagos at large.

Final Thoughts

Hon. Victor Akande’s death marks the end of a notable chapter in Lagos State politics. As the people of Ojo and Lagos State at large mourn this tragic loss, he is remembered not only for his contributions to lawmaking but also for his unwavering dedication to justice and public service.

May his soul rest in peace.

31/07/2025

: Fuel Tanker With 45,000 Litres 0f Petrol Overturns!!!

A petroleum tanker carrying 45,000 litres capacity of petroleum motor spirit has tumbled at Eleyele area in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

A statement by the Chairman of the state Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande in Ibadan, on Wednesday, said the incident occurred opposite AIB Filling Station at Eleyele, on Tuesday.

He explained that the tanker with the Number Plate: LAGOS T21044 LA swerved off the road into a nearby ditch, leading to its contents gushing out profusely.

The chairman said, “Immediately the address was taken, a crew of firemen led by CFS Olayiwola promptly deployed to the scene of the incident, and on getting there, it was a trailer tanker with registration No. T21044LA (LAGOS) loaded with a 45,000-litre capacity of PMS, swerved off the road into a nearby ditch, and the contents gushed out profusely.

“The petrol trailer tanker has since been removed from the road, and normal vehicular movement has been restored, and everyday activities are going on properly.”

31/07/2025

: Man Confronts Prophet Over Alleged Fake Prophecy After Paying ₦3,000!!!

A dramatic encounter between a Nigerian man and a self-proclaimed prophet has sparked outrage online, following claims that the cleric accepted ₦3,000 in exchange for what turned out to be a false prophecy.

The confrontation, which was captured on video and shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) by user , has since gone viral, igniting fresh conversations around fake prophets and exploitation in religious spaces across Nigeria.

In the video, the visibly angry man is seen challenging the prophet in public, demanding an explanation for the “prophecy” he paid for. According to the man, the so-called spiritual message delivered to him was not only false but deliberately deceptive — an attempt to exploit his trust and vulnerability.

“This Man Is a Scam!” – Victim Speaks Out

In the now-viral clip, the man accused the prophet of intentionally misleading him with false spiritual claims after collecting a service fee of ₦3,000. He stated that he initially believed the man of God was genuine but later discovered that the prophecy was a fabrication, possibly reused or based on false insight.

“This man collected ₦3,000 from me and told me a lie in the name of prophecy. I now know this is a scam,” the victim can be heard saying in the video.

Eyewitnesses present at the scene tried to calm the situation, but the confrontation continued for several minutes as the man demanded a refund and called for the public to beware of “fake prophets” disguising themselves as men of God.

Reactions Trail the Viral Video

The video has stirred strong reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing their frustration at the growing number of fraudulent pastors and prophets operating unchecked in the country. Social media users on X have called for more awareness and even regulatory oversight to protect citizens from being duped in the name of religion.

“This kind of fake prophecy scam is happening every day. These people are damaging the image of real men of God,” one user commented.

Another user wrote, “It’s time Nigerians start holding religious leaders accountable. We cannot keep quiet while people are being exploited spiritually and financially.”

Religious Fraud in Nigeria: A Growing Concern

Incidents like this have become increasingly common, as reports of fake pastors and prophets swindling unsuspecting believers make the rounds on social media platforms. These religious fraudsters often prey on the desperate and vulnerable — those seeking miracles, healing, financial breakthroughs, or solutions to life’s challenges.

Analysts have urged Nigerians to be cautious and seek spiritual guidance from trusted and well-established religious institutions, rather than individuals operating without accountability.

The Need for Awareness and Action

While faith is deeply rooted in Nigerian culture, many are now calling for a balance between belief and discernment. The government, religious councils, and civil society groups are being encouraged to intensify awareness campaigns to educate the public on how to identify red flags in religious scams.

As the video continues to circulate, many believe that publicly exposing these fraudulent activities is one of the most effective ways to combat the menace and prevent others from falling victim.

VOA News

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

31/07/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category