The Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has warned pastors against lying in a bid to sustain or promote their ministries. Speaking at the third service held at the church’s international headquarters, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, on Sunday during the final day of the 21-day fasting and prayer programme, Oyedepo said liars do not last in ministries. “You won’t last in the ministry telling lies. I stand before God, I will never tell lies about what God did not do just to impress anyone,” he said. The cleric emphasised the importance of holding firmly to the truth of the Scriptures and giving glory to God alone, noting that such commitment is what enables ministers to attain enviable heights. He equally advised believers to keep their love for Jesus alive, saying total dependence on God guarantees victory over life’s challenges. The bishop further shared a personal testimony, recalling how a close associate in Ile-Ife who was afflicted with insanity was restored after Scripture was read to him. He affirmed his confidence in divine protection, declaring that no evil plan against him would succeed.

Some gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed an inspector of the Nigeria Police Force in Oyo State, THENEWSCREDIT learnt. The inspector was killed when a police patrol team was waylaid by the suspected bandits. The incident occured at Budo Masalasi border post around 1:30 pm on Saturday. Our correspondent gathered that a police officer whose identity has not been revealed died as a result of injuries he sustained in the ambush. Other persons also sustained various degrees of injury during the attack. Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident when contacted on Sunday. Ayanlade said the commissioner of police has ordered investigation into the incident, adding that the police are currently on the trail of the suspects. The Oyo police spokesman advised residents to report any suspicious movements in their communities to the nearest police station. He said, “Yes, there was an attack on police operatives during which an inspector, while courageously repelling the attack, paid the supreme price in the line of duty. “Residents are urged to remain calm, vigilant, and report any individuals with gunshot injuries, those seeking medical attention under suspicious circumstances, or persons exhibiting suspicious behavior to the nearest police station or security agency.”

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is planning to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima, ahead of the presidential election in 2027. In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele reiterated his warning to Tinubu not to make use of a muslim-muslim ticket, stating that the disobedience is leading to the removal of the vice president from office. He, however, warned that if the VP is removed acrimoniously, it will affect the party because Shettima will work against the interests of the party. Ayodele said: “I warned Tinubu of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, but most people didn’t listen. If Shettima is removed acrimoniously, he will work against the interest of the party because they are contemplating picking a governor to replace Shettima as vice president.” Likewise, he advised President Tinubu against making use of any of the governors who decamped to the party because it could cause aggression in the north. “If any of the crossing governors is picked from the north, this will cause aggression in the north,” he said. Speaking further, Primate Ayodele said: “Tinubu is working and doing well, but two things are fighting him, which are nemesis and betrayal. “People who are applauding him are looking for his downfall; money can’t buy it at all. Some of his aides are also blocking access to him for those who can actually help him. “On insecurity, no matter the security formation you put together, the US doesn’t like your government, and they know where to puncture this government because they already know the secret of your security.

United States Congressman, Rep Riley Moore, has said the US will ensure that all Nigerians live and practice their faith without fear of persecution and death. Moore said this in a post on his verified X handle on Saturday. The lawmaker was reacting to the collaboration between the US and Nigeria on security issues. He wrote, “Establishing the U.S.–Nigeria Working Group to increase coordination and cooperation between our two counties is an encouraging and necessary step to jointly combatting the security challenges facing Nigeria, promoting our nations’ shared values of religious freedom, and ending the brutal persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ by radical Islamic terrorists. “Nigeria has a once in a lifetime chance to strengthen its relationship with the US as we work cooperatively to counter violent terrorism throughout the northern states and middle belt, end the persecution of Christians, and address the broader economic and security challenges the nation faces. Nigeria now also has a real opportunity to increase its capacity to be a stabilizing force in the region. “This agreement shows the Nigerians are continuing to take the situation seriously and are working to address the security conditions in good faith. Our nations have pledged to work together to ensure all Nigerians can live and practice their faith without fear of persecution and death. “While there is much still to be done, we continue to see positive developments. I’m grateful to the government of Nigeria for coming to the table and partnering with the US to address these challenges.”

The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has dismissed claims that it is demanding Nigerian students repay loans. This comes amid reports that Tinubu had asked Nigerian students to repay their debt to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Reacting to the development, a presidential media aide, Olusegun Dada, urged Nigerians to disregard the rumours. In a statement on his X account on Saturday, Olusegun said, “As reported from inception, repayment of the student loan will not commence until a moratorium period of two years (after NYSC completion) has been reached by the applicants. “As it stands, the scheme will clock two years in March 2026 from the day when the first applications were made, and not a single one of the applicants would have reached the repayment stage. “Kindly discard any other information contrary to these,” he wrote. THENEWSCREDIT reports that the acting managing director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, said the agency disbursed N174bn to over 800,000 beneficiaries from about 263 tertiary institutions

A 27-year-old woman, identified as Esther Akwaji, has reportedly collapsed and died under mysterious circumstances. The deceased was reported to have died while eating at her boyfriend’s residence in Dei-Dei, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. According to SaharaReporters, the deceased’s boyfriend fled shortly after her death, while his identity has also not yet been established. Sources claimed that Esther, who was a resident of Nasarawa State, had travelled to the FCT to visit family members. On January 21, she reportedly left her family home, claiming she was heading to a bank in Dei-Dei, but never returned. Hours later, family members were said to have received a phone call from a man who identified himself as Esther’s boyfriend, using her mobile phone. According to the source, the man informed the family that Esther had visited him and that he had purchased food for them to eat. The boyfriend allegedly stated that while they were eating, Esther suddenly began vomiting. He claimed he rushed her to Kubwa General Hospital, where doctors confirmed that she was dead on arrival. However, the man reportedly fled the hospital shortly after the doctors pronounced her dead and has remained unreachable since the incident. Meanwhile, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, while confirming the incident told SaharaReporters that the Command had commenced a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Esther’s death. “The corpse has been deposited for autopsy to determine the actual cause of death, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect,” Adeh said.

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has shared an emotional testimony of reconciliation with her ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill, the father of her child, following a decade of public disputes, broken communication, and personal pain. She shared the story on her official Instagram page on Saturday, attributing the restored relationship to divine intervention. In her post, the actress described how what once seemed “ugly, impossible, and beyond repair” has been transformed into peace and respect. “What human effort could not fix, God healed by salvation, humility, and the sincere prayers of a child,” she wrote. Dikeh emphasised that the reconciliation was achieved “not by might, not by wisdom, not by strength but by the Spirit of the Lord,” adding that God “softens hearts, silences the enemy, and rewrites stories that looked finished.” She expressed gratitude to Churchill for embracing peace and yielding to God’s word, noting that obedience to God often leads to restoration even after long and painful struggles. Addressing her followers, she encouraged those facing similar challenges, saying, “God has not abandoned you. Your story is not over. What He has started, He will surely perfect. Keep praying. Keep choosing love. Keep trusting God even when it hurts.” The actress also thanked her spiritual mentor, describing the guidance she received as instrumental to her personal growth and ability to navigate difficult times.

A newlywed wife has been arrested by the Jigawa State Police Command over the alleged poisoning of her husband, who died after consuming a meal prepared by her. The incident occurred on January 23, 2026, at about 1700hrs at Gauza village in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State. Confirming the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Dutse, the state capital, on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said the deceased reportedly took his lunch at home before he suddenly fell seriously ill. According to the police spokesperson, the man was rushed to the hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment. Following the incident, detectives from the Jahun Division swung into action and arrested the wife of the deceased as the principal suspect. SP Shi’isu Adam said that “during interrogation, the suspect confessed to poisoning her husband’s food with rat poison.” He added that the “suspect claimed she sent her cousin to purchase the rat poison used in committing the poison used in committing the act.” According to the PPRO, the suspect reportedly stated that she was forced into the marriage by her parents, a situation she claimed led to her actions. However, the police spokesperson said the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police has directed that the case be thoroughly investigated at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse. He said upon the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect would be charged to court for prosecution. Meanwhile, the police command urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding and to seek lawful means of resolving family and marital disputes. The statement further “advised against taking laws into one’s hands, noting that such actions often result in irreversible consequences.” Accordingly, the police assured the public of the command’s commitment to justice and the protection of lives and property across the state. “The police will ensure that justice is served in this case,” the PPRO said, adding that “the suspect is currently in police custody, awaiting trial.”

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in 2023, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has declared January 23 as a “Day of Betrayal”. Kwankwaso made the declaration following Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf’s decision to dump the NNPP. THENEWSCREDIT reports that the Kano governor officially resigned from NNPP on Friday ahead of his imminent defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. Addressing his teaming supporters in Kano, Kwankwaso said the day should be recorded in history as a day of betrayal, to ensure global awareness. He said, “Today, as the leader of this Movement, I declare the 23rd of January as Betrayal Day. “We believe that day should be permanently recorded in history to ensure global awareness of betrayal and the breaking of trust.” Kwankwaso had begged the governor to remain in the opposition party, stating that the hard-fought mandate shouldn’t be handed over to his political rivals.

Members of the distillers’ association, under the aegis of the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees, have warned that the enforcement being carried out by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control will displace no fewer than 5.5 million Nigerians from their jobs. The unions, which are affiliates of the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress, disclosed this on Friday when they besieged the Lagos office of NAFDAC to protest the order stopping them from distributing their products. THENEWSCREDIT reports that NAFDAC said it had begun enforcing the ban on the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml. NAFDAC had, on November 11, 2025, announced plans to enforce a total ban on such products by December 2025, in line with a directive from the Senate. However, enforcement was initially halted after the Federal Government, through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, called for an immediate suspension of all actions and measures related to the proposed ban, pending consultations and a final directive. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, during a media briefing on Wednesday, said the agency had received a matching order from the Senate to proceed and that enforcement had already commenced. Speaking at the protest ground on Friday, the Executive Secretary of FOBTOB, Solomon Adebosin, said the enforcement would displace no fewer than 5.5 million direct and indirect jobs. He noted that the policy undermined the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which seeks to attract investment into the country. The executive secretary added that NAFDAC’s claim that sachet alcohol and PET drinks were accessible to minors and children could not be backed by empirical facts. Adebosin said, “We are here today to protest the sudden seizure of our companies in the distillery sector by NAFDAC concerning the issue of sachet drinks and PET bottles that are less than 200ml. “We have 500,000 Nigerians working directly in this sector and over five million working indirectly, and they are going to be affected. “Access and control are what we should be talking about. Let us be able to put control on these things such that children and minors do not have access to them.” He stressed that the distillers had continued to invest in advocacy and sensitisation to prevent unqualified persons from consuming their products. Also speaking, the Head of Department, Brewery and Tobacco, of the NUFBTE, Azeez Razaq, alleged that the actions of NAFDAC depicted sabotage of the growth of indigenous manufacturers. He condemned the decision of the agency to violate the directive of the SGF, which ordered a stay of action on the ban. Razaq added that shutting down the companies would result in job losses that could further worsen insecurity in Nigeria. While reading the demands of the unions, a member of FOBTOB, Anthony Oyagha, added, “We call on the Presidency to urgently intervene to ensure that NAFDAC aligns its actions with government policy, legislative oversight, and the broader national interest. “Local manufacturers deserve honour, protection, and partnership, not punitive measures that destroy investments, livelihoods, and confidence in Nigeria’s business environment. “We respectfully urge Mr President to act decisively to safeguard indigenous industries, protect jobs, and ensure that regulatory agencies serve the Nigerian people and not external interests.