Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former presidential aide, is reportedly dead.

The medical doctor turned politician passed away at the age of 72.

It was gathered that Dr. Okupe died on Friday morning after battling a protracted illness suspected to be cancer.

Okupe served as presidential spokesman during the administration of president GGoodluck Jonathan and was in 2022 appointed as the Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign for the 2023 election.

He was, however, forced to step down following a court conviction over alleged money laundering.

According to sources close to the family, Okupe was critically ill in the weeks leading up to his demise.

The Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), has written to the Inspector General of Police, demanding investigation into the reported ‘escape’ by three fully armed policemen while gunmen abducted the association’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Obasi Lawson after killing his driver and another petrol station owner in Lawson’s car.

In the petition, PETROAN also requested the Police boss to get involved in the search to rescue Chief Obasi following the incident which took place in Azumili community of Abia State.

In a statement on Wednesday, Joseph Obele said Lawson, who is also the chief executive officer of Sobaz Group of Companies, was abducted on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at around 7 pm, when his SUV was ambushed, resulting in the death of his driver, Mr. Anayo Ukwu, and his special assistant, Mazi Confidence Chijioke, who were in the same car with him, adding that the three policemen with them escaped.

He said, “Mazi Confidence Chijioke was a highly respected member of PETROAN, serving as the vice chairman of the Rivers State chapter, managing director of Dozzman Filling Stations, and holding various other positions within PETROAN.

“His death is a significant loss, especially since he was preparing to commission his latest multi million naira filling station in Port Harcourt.

“The national president of PETROAN, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, while addressing newsmen with deep pain, condoled with the family of Mazi Confidence Chijioke, describing his death as one injury too much to bear.”

The association raised concerns about Lawson’s whereabouts and called for an investigation into the three policemen who were with him during the attack.

“PETROAN is appealing to the inspector general of police to take immediate action to ensure the safe rescue of Chief Obasi Lawson,” Obele said.

PETROAN also extended its condolences to the family of Confidence Chijioke, vice chairman of its Rivers chapter, and to the PETROAN leadership in Rivers.

A barrage missile and drone strikes across Ukraine from Russia Thursday night has left four people dead.

This is coming after the U.S. confirmed it had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv.

President Donald Trump’s decision to pause all U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing has raised concerns that Ukraine’s air defenses will become less effective in the days, weeks and months to come.

The pause followed last week’s explosive Oval Office meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump. White House officials have suggested the freeze may be lifted if Ukraine takes concrete steps towards a peace deal with Russia to end Moscow’s 3-year-old invasion.

Ukraine’s air force reported 112 drones and two missiles launched into the country overnight, with 68 drones shot down and 43 lost in flight.