Nigeria news roundup: kidnappings, landslides, demo, politics – July 12, 2026
On July 12, 2026, Nigerian newspapers highlighted ten major stories. In Kogi state, armed men ambushed a convoy carrying the remains of FRSC Deputy Commander Augustine O. Ikwue and mourners near Otukpo, Benue, along the Ochadamu‑Ejule road around 6 p.m. on Thursday. Labour Party presidential aspirant Dr. Chibuzo Okereke explained that his running mate, Hajja Bintu Konto, was chosen solely on competence and national interest for the 2027 election. In Oyo, Governor Seyi Makinde and army Brig. Gen. Moses Azuoru visited rescued Oriire kidnap victims receiving treatment at the 2nd Division medical centre. Benue police arrested seven suspects, including four traditional chiefs and an 80‑year‑old, in the murder of MACBAN chairman Ardo Risku Mohammad and Yakubu Isa in Otukpo LGA. Heavy rainfall triggered landslides in Ikot Anwatim, Calabar Municipality, killing five people — four children — and destroying two houses. Lagos State Building Control Agency evacuated and began demolishing an unsafe residential building at Akinyele Bus Stop, Abesan Estate. APC chieftain Jonathan Vatsa of Niger State criticized the retained Muslim‑Muslim ticket of Tinubu‑Shettima, warning it could alienate Christian voters. Lagos police’s VCRU arrested five suspected cultists in Apapa, Ijora and Badia, seizing weapons and drugs. Internationally, the Strait of Hormuz was shut amid renewed US‑Iran hostilities, threatening global oil supplies. Finally, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams was found dead at home; cause unknown.
Why it matters: These events affect personal safety (kidnaps, landslides, unsafe buildings), political direction ahead of 2027 elections, economic stability through oil routes, and community security. Stay alert to security alerts, avoid flood‑prone zones, verify building safety, consider candidates’ inclusivity, monitor oil price news, and report suspicious activity.
SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/12/nigerian-newspapers-10-things-you-need-to-know-sunday-morning-134/