News

How I Escaped Assassination Attempt — Ekiti Monarch, Alara Of Ara

Published

2 years ago

March 1, 2024

Editor

One of the traditional rulers in Ekiti State who escaped assassination by assailants, Alara of Ara in Ikole, Oba Sunday Fatoba, has disclosed how he escaped from an assassination attempt that killed two of his colleagues.

Speaking at the ongoing Yoruba Security Summit in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Thursday, he said nine hefty men with guns unleashed mayhem on him and two others, including the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olusola.

While Elesun and Olumojo were killed in the attack, Oba Fatoba mysteriously escaped from the scene to bring back help from the nearest communities.

His words, “Our attackers did not attempt to kidnap us but to kill the three of us in the car. We went for a security meeting with the monarch of Koro-Ekiti who, was killed few day after the attack on us. We created a special security team among the communities to curtail the rising insecurity because of our proximity to the north.

“We discovered that these evil men infiltrate Ekiti state from Kwara and Kogi states, hence, the decision to form a security forum.

“While we were returning on that day, six hefty men emerged from the bush with guns and cutlasses and started shooting at us immediately. Their intentions was not to kidnap anyone but to kill us all. One of them started attacking me with cutlass but it did not have any effect.

“Then another one started shooting at me with a pump action and it has no effect. While they pick a large three truck to smash it on my head, I had to leave the scene through the help of my….., Well I just escaped to bring back help. But before I returned with vigilante group, they had killed my colleagues and escaped.

“The Elesun is not a weak monarch, I know him too sure, but those who attacked us had their plans well marshalled. He was attacked with AK-47 and cutlass several times and his body was shot at severally too”, he said.

Details later….

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

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.

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

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

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.

“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

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

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.

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).

“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.