News
Lagos: Balogun Market traders decry continued closure weeks after GNI building fire
Traders in Balogun Market on Lagos Island have expressed frustration over the ongoing sealing of shops and the barricading of access roads by the Lagos State Government, weeks after the devastating fire at the Great Nigeria Insurance, GNI, building on December 24, 2025.
Ekwutosblog reports that the inferno claimed eight lives, including three members of the same family: Stephen Onyeka Omatu, Casmir Nnabuike Omatu, and Collins Kenechukwu Omatu.
Despite intervention by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, portions of the fire remain active, resulting in the suspension of commercial activities in hundreds of shops across the bustling business district.
During a visit to Balogun Market, traders gathered in groups, discussing next steps, mourning the victims, and expressing concerns about the prolonged closure of their businesses.
One trader, Martin Amalos, lamented the economic toll of the shutdown, saying, “My shop has been closed since December 25. I can barely provide for my children. Many traders are stranded and unsure of how to cope.”
Amalos, who deals in children’s clothing, added, “The fire struck during the peak of my business, and I have spent all I had to survive.”
Another trader, Oduloye Bimpe, criticised the government for failing to offer any support. “Our shops were sealed without consideration for our livelihoods. There should have been assistance before the closures. Where do we go from here?” she asked.
She also noted that the affected building should have been demolished by now. “The government needs to take action while also considering our situation,” Bimpe added.
Fabrics trader, Maduabuchukwu Ifeakomili, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the financial hardship caused by the closures. “We rely on daily income to feed our families. We appeal to the government to reopen the sealed sections of Balogun and surrounding areas before Saturday,” he said.
Ifeakomili further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to expedite the demolition of the fire-damaged building. “There are also residents left homeless because their homes were sealed. Some of us are borrowing money just to eat,” he added.
Responding to the concerns, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, emphasised that the closures were driven by safety considerations. “We hope people will prioritise life over livelihood. The 25-storey building is at risk of collapse, which could endanger everyone within a 100-metre radius,” he said.
Omotosho added that the government’s actions were not punitive. “The area has only been closed for two weeks, and complaints have already surfaced. There are reports of people who entered the building to retrieve goods during the fire and never returned. Over 10 buildings were affected by the incident, and public safety remains our priority,” he explained.
News
Delta CP removes DPO over alleged N2.5m extortion
Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Aina Adesola, has ordered the immediate removal of the Jesse Divisional Police Officer in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state over allegations of extortion.
The DPO reportedly committed the offence in collaboration with two junior officers identified as Bright and Usman.
A statement issued on Friday by spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed that the Command was alerted to the alleged crime through “a viral video recording” by a woman.
“The aggrieved woman alleged that one officer Bright, officer Usman and the DPO Jesse extorted from her the sum of N2,500,000 with the hope that her brother, who is presently in custody, would be released.
“After a careful examination of the video clip, the Command wishes to state as follows: On January 1, 2026, the youth leader of Jesse community arrested some suspects and brought them to the police station.
“Among the suspects was the narrator’s younger brother, later identified as Israel Onojeruo, aged 20 years,” the statement partly read.
News
BREAKING! Delegation From US Visits Nnamdi Kanu At Sokoto Detention Facility
SOKOTO, Nigeria – A high-profile delegation from the United States has visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), at the Sokoto Medium Security Custodial Centre. The visit has drawn significant attention to the ongoing legal and diplomatic saga surrounding Kanu’s detention.
The delegation was led by Lady Blessing Ijeoma from the United States. It included Dr. Sylvester Onyia, President of the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), and Mr. Evans Nwankwo, Chairman of the Ambassadors for Self Determination.
Kanu, who faces terrorism-related charges, has been in the custody of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) since his extraordinary rendition from Kenya in June 2021. His transfer to the Sokoto facility after his controversial conviction, far from his southeastern stronghold and the Abuja court overseeing his case, has been a point of contention among his supporters and legal team.

Speaking to Ekwutosblog after the visit, Lady Blessing Ijeoma detailed the group’s experience. While the specifics of their conversation with Kanu remain private, Ijeoma emphasized the purpose of the visit as one of “humanitarian concern and solidarity.”
“Our primary mission was to see him, to ascertain his condition firsthand, and to offer our support,” Ijeoma stated. “We are a group deeply invested in peaceful advocacy and the welfare of all people.”
When pressed for details on Kanu’s health and spirits, Ijeoma said, “He remains resolute. Our observations of the facility will be part of a broader report to our organizations.” She did not elaborate on the contents of this report.
The presence of Dr. Onyia, representing the American Veterans of Igbo Descent, underscores the continued interest of sections of the Igbo diaspora in Kanu’s case and the broader issues of self-determination. Mr. Nwankwo’s group, Ambassadors for Self Determination, also points to the activist network campaigning for Kanu’s release.
This visit is likely to reignite debates over Kanu’s detention conditions and the fairness of his trial. His legal team has repeatedly alleged violations of his rights and has appealed for his release, a call echoed by various human rights organizations and some southeastern leaders.
News
Rivers: Lawyer, Effiong reveals cause of enmity between Wike, Fubara
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has revealed the cause of enmity between the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Speaking during an interview on ‘The Morning Brief’, a programme on Channels Television monitored by Ekwutosblog on Friday, Inibehe said what is playing out in Rivers is a clear political enmity between Wike and Fubara.
The lawyer added that it is about the resources in the state, stressing that the state is endowed with rich mineral resources, petroleum, which is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.
“Let me make the point. I don’t want Nigerians to be carried away. What is playing out in Rivers is a matter of legal sophistry, a clear political enmity between FCT minister Wike and Fubara.
“So let us not just be talking about the constitution. I think the House of Assembly itself never really cared about the constitution.
“This is politics that also has to do with the allocation of the state. This is a state that is so rich, so endowed with resources.
“We are dealing with a situation where the FCT minister has alleged that there is about N600 billion for grab and he is accusing some political actors in the country of having interest in that money.
“So this is about the money of River State. This is about the interest of individuals, that has now been elevated as a state affair. Because what is really the grievance between the State Assembly and the government?
“Are they fighting over the roads that the government has failed to construct? Is this about the healthcare for the people of Rivers State?” He asked.
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