The recap of top 10 stories you might have missed this Tuesday evening, 20th January, 2026
NDLEA recorded 77,792 arrests, seized 14,847kg drugs in five years – Marwa
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), has said the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrested no fewer than 77,792 drug offenders and seized about 14,847 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs in the last five years.
Marwa disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the NDLEA Commands, Awards and Commendations Ceremony, where outstanding commands and personnel of the agency were honoured for their performance over the past year.
According to him, the seizures significantly disrupted local and transnational drug trafficking networks, sending a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for illicit drug enterprises.
He said the agency also arrested 128 identified drug barons who played central roles in major trafficking operations across the country, noting that the successes were the result of deliberate reforms aimed at repositioning the NDLEA for effective service delivery.
Destiny Boy’s father raises the alarm over son’s missing SUV
The father of late Afrobeat singer, Afeez Adeshina, popularly known as Destiny Boy, has appealed to the public for help following the disappearance of his son’s SUV, days after the artiste’s death.
In a now-trending video on Tuesday, the grieving father expressed concern over the whereabouts of the vehicle, revealing that it was allegedly returned to the dealership shortly after Destiny Boy’s passing, but has not been seen since.
He explained that the SUV was purchased from Lycon Autos and that he accompanied his son to complete the transaction.
According to him, the dealership provided a driver to convey the vehicle to their residence on the day of purchase.
The father said Destiny Boy later retained the same driver for personal use, but trouble arose when the driver claimed the singer was owing him and subsequently returned the SUV to the dealership without informing the family.
ICYMI: FG opens applications for 2026 overseas scholarships
The Federal Government has announced the commencement of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund Overseas Scholarship Scheme, providing opportunities for Nigerian postgraduate students to study in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.
This was confirmed in a post shared via X( Formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, on Monday.
“FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas,” the post said.
According to the statement on scholarship board website, the scheme targets MSc and PhD candidates in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas sector, offering benefits such as tuition, return flight tickets, accommodation and living allowances, health insurance, and bench fees where applicable.
I’m an arrogant Nigerian, I don’t have dual citizenship — Fashola
A former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has dismissed claims that he holds no dual citizenship, declaring that he remains firmly Nigerian by choice, conviction and identity.
Fashola made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during his keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, where he spoke extensively on national identity, migration, patriotism and Nigeria’s global image.
He stressed the need for Nigerians, at home and abroad, to take collective ownership of the country and its problems.“I don’t think we own Nigeria enough.
So, I hear some of our colleagues and our compatriots who, by virtue of the 1999 Constitution, have dual citizenship. But I have only one.
Kwara shuts poly after students’ protest
The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following student protests over the use of the institution as a temporary National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp, which led to a security breach, injuries, and chaos on campus.
The directive was issued by the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to prevent further breakdown of law and order and to ensure the safety of lives and property within the institution.
The closure was confirmed in a statement on Tuesday by the Acting Registrar of the Polytechnic, AbdulHafis Amin, who said the decision became necessary after tensions escalated during student protests.
The statement read,
“The Polytechnic had earlier been designated by the state government as a temporary NYSC orientation camp due to prevailing security challenges in the state.
Publishing firm empowers visually impaired students with braille, audio books
No fewer than 60 visually impaired learners from selected special schools in Ibadan were empowered with free braille and audio storybooks by Evans Brothers Nigeria Publishers Limited to enhance their independent reading and lifelong literacy.
Speaking during the presentation of learning materials on Tuesday, the Managing Director of Evans Publishers, Mr Lukman Dauda, said the initiative underscores the company’s corporate philosophy that sustainable national development is inseparable from accessible, inclusive, and high-quality education.
Dauda added that the gesture was also in recognition of a deeper responsibility to ensure that literacy initiatives intentionally include underserved and special-needs communities.
Edo Government arrests pastor for alleged sexual abuse of minors
The Edo State Government has arrested Bishop Gideon Osagie Osazee, founder of Rollo Life of Christ Brethren Ministry, over allegations of sexually abusing two biological sisters, aged 13 and 17.
Authorities say four additional girls have also come forward, claiming that the pastor engaged in sexual activity with them.
Bishop Osazee was apprehended after several days of surveillance by state officials.
C1ommissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Eugene Abdullah, confirmed that other children from the church have reported sexual harassment by the suspect.
The case has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Edo State Police Command for prosecution.
Olubadan, Alaafin ‘feud’ unimpressive – Sunday Igboho
Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has intervened in the ongoing dispute over the rotational chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas between the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Laoye Ghandi.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Igboho described it as “unimpressive for the prominent traditional rulers, whose stools were germane to the historical evolution of Yoruba, to dissipate energy on crisis over positions,” urging all monarchs to work together to address insecurity in Yorubaland and advance the South-West’s development agenda.
He also called on Yoruba leaders, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olushola Alao, to help defuse the tension surrounding the permanent chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas.
Rivers Assembly shun PANDEF peace panel over Fubara’s impeachment
The Rivers state House of Assembly is not backing down any time soon on its threat to impeach the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu over the allegation of “gross misconduct” leveled against them by 26 lawmakers in the 32-man Assembly.
This is as the lawmakers refused to give audience to the 7-member peace and reconciliation committee of the pan Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, led by an erudite lawyer and former Attorney General of the federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).
The committee stormed Port Harcourt last Saturday and had “successful” meetings with the Rivers State Leaders/Elders Forum, with the former governor and former deputy governor of the state, Chief Rufus Ada George and Sir Gabriel Toby, as chairman and vice chairman, respectively, and the Rivers State Elders Council, led by Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, a close ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, separately.
Abuja doctors get 13-month hazard allowance, wage award, pledge enhanced services
The commendation was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, which conveyed a letter of appreciation written by the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCTA), and dated January 15, 2026
In the letter, jointly signed by the President of ARD-FCTA, Dr. George Ebong, and the General Secretary, Dr. Yusuf Israel Lissa, the association praised Wike’s leadership and responsiveness to the long-standing welfare concerns of resident doctors
