Some members of the Kano state delegation to Ogun for the National Sports Festival have been confirmed dead after a fatal accident on their way home.

Reports confirmed that 35 passengers were in the vehicle that plunged into a bridge at Kura local government after their games in Ogun state.

A survivor from the accident, Ado Salisu Gama who spoke to DAILY POST said some of his colleagues were confirmed dead on the spot, while others were rushed to Kura General Hospital.

Speaking from the hospital on Saturday morning, he said: “22 people have been confirmed dead at Dakatsalle bridge, just before Kura. The driver too is dead. As I speak with you, one other member just died.”

Ado Salisu who was clearly in shock said others still at the hospital are receiving care.

Among the dead are athletes, journalists, medical personnel and administrators.

Details are still emerging as some members of the team that won 29 medals are said to have gone.

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Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command have arrested Rev. Pastor Prince Bassey Ajah, the General Overseer (Daddy G.O.) of “Wells of Salvation” in Abuja over alleged child trafficking.

A statement issued on Saturday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh said the G.O. was arrested alongside two other suspected accomplices identified as Nancy Atoo and Deaconess Vera Duru.

She explained that on May 24, 2025, a distress call was received by the Gwagwalada Area Command from officials of Wazobia Motor Park, Gwagwalada, reporting a male exhibiting suspicious behavior while attempting to travel with a young child. 

She said a Police Emergency Response Team was immediately dispatched to the scene, where one Isreal Ajah was arrested while attempting to board a vehicle to Owerri, Imo State, with a 7-year-old boy in his custody.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the child was handed over to the suspect by his elder brother, one Rev. Pastor Prince Bassey Ajah, the pastor and General Overseer (Daddy G.O.) of “Wells of Salvation” Church located in Byazhin Across.

“Pastor Prince Ajah was promptly arrested alongside two other accomplices identified as Nancy Atoo and Deaconess Vera Duru”, the PPRO said.

She further revealed that a search conducted at the residence of Nancy Atoo led to the rescue of another victim, a 4-year-old girl identified only as “Mercy”, a name given to her by the suspect.

“No documentation or identifying information was found for the child, who is currently in protective custody as efforts are underway to trace her biological family”, she said.

“Further investigation revealed that both children were being trafficked to Owerri for sale.

“The suspects confessed that Muktar Hassan was to be sold for ₦1.2 million through arrangements facilitated by Deaconess Vera Duru”, the statement added.

According to the statement, Muktar has since been reunited with his family.

Earlier in the week, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a well-known cleric based in Kaduna State, was barred from participating in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage after Saudi Arabia banned him from entering the country.

Gumi indicated in a social media post on Monday, that he had returned home to Nigeria. He further confirmed that the Saudi authorities were “uncomfortable” with him being in the Holy Land, even with a valid visa.

“For some obvious reasons- my views about world politics- the Saudi authorities are uncomfortable with me being at the Hajj, even after issuing a visa! Thanks to the Nigerian authorities who immediately made it clear they would engage with the Saudi authorities. That is the value of our cherished freedom and democracy,” Gumi wrote, but failed to elaborate further. 

The issue has sparked widespread debate across social media platforms, with many speculating on the reasons behind Saudi Arabia’s decision to bar the cleric.

However, an investigation by DAILY POST revealed that the ban may not be unrelated to Gumi’s public sermons, where he had criticized the Saudi leadership for deviating from its traditional religious governance model in favor of modernization and alignment with global political norms.

Gumi reportedly believes this transformation undermines the strict Islamic identity Saudi Arabia has long been known for.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Friday, Sheikh Gumi reiterated his stance, declaring that he would not stop speaking the truth about Saudi Arabia until the country reforms, emphasizing that Nigerians have the right to speak freely—unlike those living under the kingdom’s authoritarian regime.

“Saudi Arabia is a police state where you have no freedom of expression. We, on the other hand, were raised in freedom here in Nigeria, and I value that more than anything. In Saudi Arabia, when a mistake is made, people are expected to remain silent. That contradicts Islamic principles, which do not condone silence in the face of wrongdoing. That is the root of our misunderstanding.”

When asked whether he feared being banned from the country again during Hajj, he responded:

“It’s not compulsory that I must go for Hajj. Even Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio never performed Hajj, yet look at the immense service he rendered to Islam. So no, I am not afraid of being banned.”

Sheikh Gumi added, “We are only helping them correct their mistakes—just as they try to reform society. This is an error on their part, but let it be known: anyone who tries to prevent people from visiting the Grand Mosque in Mecca will not last.”

When asked whether the ban might be related to his recent sermons, Gumi replied:“Yes, that’s true. If you are going to stand for truth, you must be prepared to endure. Truth is not loved by everyone. While Saudi Arabia has done a lot to help many countries, it’s now on a path of self-destruction. Any Muslim nation that aligns itself with Western powers is bound to face ruin. This is exactly what happened when the Arab world followed the British in ousting the Ottomans—only for the British to betray them by giving Palestine to the Jews. Not everyone in Saudi Arabia supports what’s happening. Even descendants of King Faisal once resisted Western influence. So why should we, who enjoy freedom of speech in Nigeria, remain silent?
“How can you witness what’s happening in Palestine and stay silent? How can someone funding and arming this oppression be honored, while Muslims are disregarded? No—we will not stop speaking out unless they change. And if they don’t, we will continue to speak.”

Efforts by DAILY POST to get a response from the Saudi embassy in Nigeria were unsuccessful, as the embassy’s media officer, Mohammed El-Sahabi, did not respond to the message sent via WhatsApp regarding the incident.

This incident marks a new chapter in Nigeria-Saudi relations, especially in northern Nigeria, where Saudi Arabia holds considerable religious influence and soft power.

Thousands of Islamic scholars from northern Nigeria studied in Saudi institutions on government scholarships, and many are often expected to defend Saudi’s interests.

It is therefore rare to see a cleric who spent years studying in the kingdom to openly be at odds with its leadership—making Sheikh Gumi’s case a notable exception.

Nollywood actor, Yemi Awomodu has opened up about his relocation to the United Kingdom, the struggles he faced after his first divorce, and how he rebuilt his life.

Awomodu in a recent interview revealed that his move abroad was influenced by both personal loss and an opportunity presented by his then-partner.

Awomodu explained that after his father’s death in 2003, he suppressed his grief to support his mother and siblings. He said, however, two years later, the emotional toll became unbearable.

He said at the time, he was in a relationship with a woman based in the UK who knew of his passion for education, adding that she informed him about a school offering English Language studies, and he seized the opportunity.

“After losing my dad in 2003, I could not grief because I had to console my mom and siblings but somehow grief caught up with me,” he said.

“I was tired, I wanted to be by myself, to grief in 2005. I just needed to grieve that time, so I was indoors for almost two weeks, but actors who knew my house came to me for work, and I had to.

“However, at the time, I was dating someone who lives in the UK. She knew about my passion for education so she told me about a school offering English Language study so I didn’t think much about it, especially with the grief I was expressing so I took the opportunity and left.”

The film star said initially, relocating was seamless because he was married, and his wife helped ease the process. He, however, revealed that after their separation, his life took a drastic turn.

Awomodu disclosed that for months, he endured harsh conditions. He said he slept on buses, park benches, and struggled to afford basic necessities like food and hygiene.

He said his situation, however, got better after he called Tosin Abiola, his colleague, who offered him a place to stay.

“Going to the UK was smooth for me because I was married at the time so my wife at home made things easier,” he added.

“But I went through a lot in my marriage and I ended up leaving the marriage and then I became homeless.

“I was sleeping on buses, in the cold, park benches in the UK; no bathing or brushing. It was hard but it a stage in my life that made me who I am now. I was hurt but not depressed.

“The situation got to me when a woman who recognised me as an actor advised that I should eat well so my face can look better.

“At one point I begged for money on the road to make a call. After getting the money, I went to the phone booth and I called Tosin Abiola who offered me a place and I got me off the street.”