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Sowore Threatens Mass Protest At NYSC Passing-Out Parade If Raye Is Barred From Completing Service
Sowore noted that the Tinubu regime might go down with the Rita Raye NYSC matter.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has vowed to lead a mass mobilisation of supporters to the Passing-Out-Parade (POP) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) if the agency fails to clear Ms. Rita Ushie to complete her national service.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Sowore accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of unjustly targeting Ms. Ushie, popularly known as Rita Raye, warning that the matter could escalate if not resolved promptly.
Sowore noted that the Tinubu regime might go down with the Rita Raye NYSC matter.
He said, “This @officialABAT Tinubu regime might go down with the Rita Raye’s National Youth Service Corps @officialnyscng matter. This is not acceptable, we will mobilise down to the Passing Out Parade except Rita is allowed to complete her NYSC national service without let or hindrance.”
Sowore, a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration, has consistently championed issues of injustice and youth rights, particularly as they relate to freedom of expression and civic duty in Nigeria.
Earlier, Ekwutosblog reported that the NYSC had extended Ms. Rita’s service year by two months following her viral criticism of President Tinubu’s administration over the worsening economic hardship.
The corps member, who had one month left in her mandatory national service, drew nationwide attention in March after posting a video lamenting the economic crisis and alleging threats from NYSC officials demanding she delete the content.
The incident was condemned by civil rights groups and many Nigerians who accused the NYSC of attempting to suppress freedom of expression.
The NYSC Local Government Inspector summoned Rita to appear at the Eti-Osa Local Government office.
However, when she arrived with Sowore and her legal representatives, the official who issued the summons was absent.
The matter faded from public attention until last Wednesday, June 18, when Raye was summoned to appear before another disciplinary panel at the Iyana Ipaja NYSC orientation camp in Lagos.
However, despite repeated delays, she was eventually informed that her service year had been extended as a form of punishment.
Jonathan Ugbal, South-South Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, who has been in contact with Raye’s family, told CrossRiverWatch, “Upon her arrival at Iyana Ipaja last Wednesday without any formal letter, she was met by the Local Government Instructor who spoke to her and asked her to return this week despite the scarce resources she burned to get there.
“She went there eventually, and she faced them, apologising to the staff who felt hurt due to the backlash they received from the public.”
“However, her mother called me moments ago to inform me that she called crying over the phone that her service year has been extended by two months. I have reached out to her, but she is not in a good frame of mind to speak,” Jonathan added.
Imo State government has shutdown a hotel and a mortuary allegedly used for kidnapping and the harvesting of human organs.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Okoye Henry, disclosed this in a statement shared via X handle on Sunday.
Henry said the operation was based on credible intelligence regarding a suspected criminal, Stanley Morocco Oparaugo, who remains at large.
According to the command, the action formed part of an ongoing crackdown on kidnapping and violent crimes along the Owerri–Aba Expressway, led by the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, in collaboration with other security stakeholders.
“A hotel and a private mortuary owned by the suspect, allegedly used by kidnappers and violent criminals, were inspected.
“At the mortuary, decomposed and mutilated corpses were discovered in unhygienic conditions, raising suspicions of illegal organ-harvesting activities.
“Following these discoveries, both the hotel and mortuary were sealed on the directive of the State Government.
“The suspect’s residence was also searched, and crucial exhibits were recovered,” he said.
Politics
Nigerian Air Force Launches Coordinated Airstrikes Against Fleeing Coup Plotters in Benin Republic
Nigeria has carried out a series of precision airstrikes against members of the failed military coup in the Benin Republic, neutralising several suspected plotters and destroying their escape vehicles.
The operation was executed on Sunday after the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), acting under a joint security arrangement with authorities in Cotonou, tracked the movement of key coup actors attempting to flee in armoured convoys. Intelligence reports had indicated that the fleeing soldiers were heading south toward coastal exit routes.
A senior security official confirmed the mission, saying it was “carefully coordinated with Benin’s leadership” to prevent the coup backers from regrouping and to support efforts to stabilize the country after the attempted takeover.
According to multiple security sources, the airstrikes—lasting approximately 30 minutes—targeted fast-moving convoys believed to be carrying loyalists of the coup leader, Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri. The fleeing soldiers reportedly departed the country’s interior in an effort to evade capture.
Residents in parts of Cotonou reported hearing loud explosions and seeing thick smoke rising from the outskirts, sparking speculation that foreign aircraft were involved in the crackdown on the mutineers.
The development was later confirmed by Agence France-Presse (AFP), which reported that Nigerian jets conducted the strikes in coordination with Beninese authorities working to contain the mutiny.
Speaking on the operation, Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the mission was carried out “in line with ECOWAS protocols and the mandate of the ECOWAS Standby Force.”
Sources told POLITICS NIGERIA that the strikes successfully disabled multiple armoured vehicles and sealed off escape corridors identified by the fleeing troops. Although no official casualty figures have been released, security insiders disclosed that “a number of hostile elements” were eliminated.
“All sorties were flown with the consent of Beninese authorities and adhered strictly to international rules of engagement,” another official said, noting that planners were careful to avoid civilian areas and minimise collateral damage.
The air operation followed the unsuccessful attempt by Lt. Col. Tigri and his faction—known as the Military Committee for Refoundation—to dissolve state institutions and seize power. Loyalist forces in Benin swiftly regained control, forcing several of the coup backers to attempt a southern retreat before they were intercepted.
The Federal Government has reportedly secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
Bandits had, on November 21, 2025, invaded the remote Papiri community around 2:00 a.m., arriving on motorbikes and attacking the school dormitories for over three hours. By the time they retreated, 315 people, 303 students and 12 teachers, had been taken away.
In the first 24 hours after the abduction, 50 pupils managed to escape and were reunited with their families. However, 265 individuals, 253 children and all 12 teacher, remained in captivity.
Security agents, alongside local hunters, were immediately deployed to comb surrounding forests in search of the missing victims.
The Federal Government intensified the operation by imposing a 24-hour security cordon and launching aerial surveillance across Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States.
President Bola Tinubu also cancelled scheduled international engagements to address the crisis.
In the wake of the attack, the government ordered the indefinite closure of all schools in Niger State, along with several federal institutions in high-risk areas, pending further security assessments.
As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding the release of the 100 schoolchildren, including whether negotiations were involved, remain unclear.
The National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Nuhu Ribadu, last Monday, reassured parents and authorities of school, that the abducted pupils are doing fine and will return soon.
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