Afternoon recap: Tinubu condemns mass abduction in Niger, London court confirms Poco Lee’s hearing, other top stories

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President Bola Tinubu has condemned a mass abduction in Niger State and ordered an immediate coordinated rescue operation.

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Human rights lawyer Femi Falana criticised the Nigerian Bar Association for inviting former Liberian President George Weah to its annual conference, calling for an end to hosting African “dictators.”

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A London court confirmed that dancer and socialite Poco Lee will appear on assault charges on September 15.

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PUNCH Online curates these and other headlines dominating Tuesday afternoon in Nigeria.

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Tinubu condemns mass abduction in Niger, orders immediate rescue operation

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President Bola Tinubu directed the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other agencies to launch a coordinated rescue of victims abducted in a terrorist attack on a mosque in Gidan-Zana, Kpenya village, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

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In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the attackers as “enemies of peace and enemies of humanity,” offered condolences to families of those killed, and vowed that Nigeria would not bow to terrorism.

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Stop inviting African dictators, Falana faults NBA over George Weah invitation

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria Falana criticised the Nigerian Bar Association for inviting former Liberian President George Weah as keynote speaker at its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.

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Speaking after Weah’s address, Falana alleged that Weah’s administration (2018–2024) captured the judiciary, refused to comply with ECOWAS Court judgments, and allowed drug trafficking to flourish.

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London court confirms Poco Lee to appear for assault September 15

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Snaresbrook Crown Court in London confirmed that Nigerian dancer and socialite Iweh Pascal Odinaka (Poco Lee) is scheduled to appear for plea and trial preparation on September 15, 2026, in connection with assault charges.

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The court’s Admin Team Lead, James Baker, verified the listing in response to an inquiry by PUNCH Online.

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Police bust Ogun baby factory, rescue pregnant women, children

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Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command dismantled an alleged baby factory in the Mowe area, rescuing two pregnant women (aged 23 and 20) and four children (two boys and two girls).

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Six suspects, including an attending nurse, were arrested.

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Atiba University DVC sparks outrage over remarks to protesting law students

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A Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo State, drew widespread condemnation after describing protesting law students as “intellectually bankrupt” during a demonstration.

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The students were protesting a 10-year moratorium imposed by the Council of Legal Education on the university’s Law programme over inadequate facilities and regulatory violations.

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FULL LIST: Nigeria, other African countries dominate world’s 60 poorest by GDP-PPP per capita

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Nigeria ranked 56th among the world’s 60 poorest countries by GDP per capita at purchasing power parity in a 2026 Global Finance magazine ranking, with a figure of $9,532.92 (down from 44th in 2025).

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African nations dominated the list, occupying nine of the bottom 10 positions. Burundi ranked lowest at $994.23, followed by the Central African Republic and South Sudan.

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Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.

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