News
Guardian Reporter, Others Abducted Along East-West Road
A gang of armed men have attacked a Bayelsa to Delta bound Sunny Eru Bus along Evwreni Community near Ughelli axis of Delta State.
The gunmen who allegedly shot sporadically killed the driver and abducted the Bayelsa State correspondent of the Guardian Newspaper, Julius Osahon and other passengers in the vehicle.
The incident happened in the evening on Sunday, March 27, 2022 while the Edo born journalist was heading to Warri from Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
According to a source who pleaded anonymous, Osahon was on his way to Ughelli to board a train scheduled to leave for Abuja on Monday, March 28, before the unfortunate incident occupied.
He said that the kidnappers suddenly came out from the bush when the bus got to Ughelli axis of the East-West road and started shooting directly at the passenger bus, hitting the driver who died instantly.
It has also been confirmed that five of the kidnapped passengers (3 from Delta, 2 from Bayelsa) were miraculously released on Monday, March 28, around 8:30am.
The source who resides very close to the reporter at Punch road, Amarata in Yenagoa, disclosed that a female passenger who was among the five that was released came to their neighborhood to inform them about what happened to them and how Osahon and other passengers were held captive by the abductors.
The source said: “The journalist boarded a Sunny Eru bus on his way to Ughelli to board train bound for Abuja. The incident happened along Ughelli axis of the East-West road. The gunmen suddenly came out from the bush and started shooting directly at their bus. The bullet hit the driver and he died instantly.
“The girl recognized Osahon as someone she knew at Punch road and they boarded the same bus. She was in the bus with him when the gunmen suddenly came out of the bush and attacked their bus. The girl was jittery and traumatised because of the experience.
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“She said about five of them (3 from Delta, 2 from Yenagoa) among the passengers in the bus were miraculously released by the kidnappers on Monday morning around 8:30am while the rest of the passengers including Osahon were still held in captivity.”
Another source close to the family has also confirmed that the kidnappers have contacted his wife and family members and they are demanding for 5 million naira before he will be released.
Niger Delta Connect also gathered that some persons within the neighborhood decided to go to Sunny Eru terminal in Yenagoa to confirm if what the girl said was true, but discovered that the same bus that was attacked by the hoodlums has been tolled back to the terminal with bullet holes all over the bus.”
News
Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru
Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.
Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.
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La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.
The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.
He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.
News
Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.
DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.
A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.
READ ALSO:Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria
“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.
“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.
“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.
News
N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.
The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.
At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.
Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.
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Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.
“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.
“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.
This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”
“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).
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“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”
Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.
Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.
Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.
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