Sunday Karimi, the senator, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, has described the daily occurrence of kidnappers in the area as one too many, lamenting the gruesome death of a 76-year-old Major, Joe Ajayi, who died in the hands of his abductors.

Karimi, in a statement, Tuesday, in Lokoja, while reacting to the death of Ajayi, lamented that the whole of Kogi West is now under siege of kidnappers.

He expressed concern that people of his district now remain in their houses and lamented that even at that, they are still being kidnapped from their homes.

The lawmaker, who described the story and rate of kidnapping in his senatorial district, from Lokoja, Kakanda and Bunu axis, in Kiri area of Kabba Bunu Local Council, as worrisome, recalled that till date, the 92-year-old traditional ruler of Okoloke is in the hands of his abductors.

The senator said that all over the places in Kogi West, his people now live in fear, pointing out that kidnapping is now a daily occurrence and calling for collective actions by security agencies to free the people from criminality.

He, however, disclosed plans by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and clerics under the Council of Ulaamau to organise a three-day fasting and prayer session that would help free the people from the activities of terrorists.

The Julius Abure-led leadership of the Labour Party, has warned its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. To desist from his ongoing campaign of calumny aimed at tarnishing the party’s image.

This no doubt points to the escalation of the crisis that has engulfed the opposition party and Peter Obi ahead of realignment for 2027 general election.

The party leadership, through its National Secretary, Umar Farouk, on Tuesday, accused Obi of waging a sustained campaign of media blackmail against the National Chairman, Julius Abure, and other top officials.

This comes as a fallout to Obi’s appearance on Arise Television, where he alleged that the All Progressives Congress had infiltrated the Labour Party to destabilise its leadership.

The party dismissed the claims as unfounded, challenging Obi to provide evidence and accusing him of shirking responsibility for internal party crises.

It urged Obi to desist from what it described as a sustained campaign of media blackmail against the party’s leadership.

The party said- “Our attention was called to an interview granted by Obi wherein he alleged that the APC-led Federal Government has infiltrated the leadership of the Labour Party and is fomenting crisis in the party.

“But when asked to produce evidence, Obi had nothing tangible to offer.”

“Unfortunately, Mr Obi continues to misinform Nigerians on the root of the internal crisis within the Labour Party, even though he knows that most political parties face one form of crisis or another,” he said.

Farouk placed the blame for the party’s internal strife squarely on Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, who he said remained suspended from the party for anti-party activities.

He insisted that the ruling APC had no hand in LP’s troubles, challenging Obi to present any proof to the contrary.

“Nobody is infallible. When good leaders fail, they should take responsibility. Obi failed in providing leadership for the party and should own up to that failure instead of shifting blame,” Farouk said.

He noted that despite their recent criticisms, Obi’s recognition of Abure as national chairman during his interview was a subtle acknowledgement of legitimate leadership.

“As far as we are concerned, the issue is settled. Julius Abure remains the national chairman of the Labour Party. That fact is not in dispute.

“We urge Peter Obi and other aggrieved members to come to terms with this and work toward the unity of the party,” he concluded.

Khaby Lame, the most followed person on TikTok, has been deported from the United States after allegedly overstaying his visa, The New York Times reported.

The 35 year Italian-Senegalese social media sensation, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was detained last Friday at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

The agency confirmed the detention in an official statement, stating that Lame entered the country on April 30 but “overstayed the terms of his visa.”

Lame, who rose to international fame for his silent comedic reactions to overcomplicated “life hack” videos, has amassed over 160 million followers on TikTok.

His online popularity led to collaborations with global fashion brands, a role in a Hollywood film, and a reality show on Tubi titled Khaby Is Coming To America.