News
Hoodlums Transform North Bank of Makurdi into a Death Zone, Residents Escape

The North Bank area of Makurdi in Benue State is increasingly being perceived as a dangerous zone due to rampant violence from hoodlums who are openly targeting and killing innocent individuals.
In just the past week, reports indicate that six people have been murdered by these criminals, instilling a pervasive fear among the local population as the uncertainty of safety looms large.
An investigation by ELANZANEWS reveals that many residents have fled the area in search of safety, uncertain of who might be the next victim.
Boniface Tor, a resident of Akpehe, a nearby suburb, expressed concern for his family members living in North Bank, stating that they can’t rest easy due to the escalating violence. He highlighted the lack of security personnel to curb the hoodlums’ actions, as they carry out attacks, causing injury and death without facing any resistance.
ELANZANEWS found that these criminals operate freely both day and night, indiscriminately attacking and robbing residents of their possessions.
Reports indicate that parts of North Bank are taking on an eerie, deserted appearance, with heavily impacted areas including Federal Housing, Ter Guma Street, Day Spring, ECWA Secondary School, Udei Street, and Federal Low Cost.
Mrs. Christiana Iveren Tyav, a staff member at the Ministry of Defence stationed at NASME Barracks in North Bank, voiced her concerns about the area’s instability. She mentioned that she has stopped working evening and night shifts for safety reasons, opting to stay at the barracks to avoid potential harm.
An eyewitness shared that students from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University and Akawe Torkula Polytechnic have also been victims of these attacks at SRS junction, where they were robbed of their phones and money in broad daylight. The eyewitness noted that the attackers do not hesitate to resort to violence if their victims resist.
Efforts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue State for a response have been unsuccessful, as her phone lines are reportedly unreachable.
Education
BREAKING: JAMB Release 2025 UTME Results, 39,834 Candidates’ Scores Withheld

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on Friday announced the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, results.
Elanza news reported that over 1.9 million applicants participated in the just-concluded exercise.
The board also disclosed that 80 suspects across the country are currently under interrogation for examination fraud, with Anambra State leading the pack with 14 suspects.
The board said it is withholding the results of 39,834 candidates over issues relating to examination irregularities.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated this on Friday while officially releasing the 2025 UTME.
He also disclosed that while 467 underage candidates met the prescribed minimum score, 50 were engaged in cheating scandal.
A press conference to this effect is ongoing.
Details coming…
News
Oyo State Adviser Urges Stricter Fire Safety Measures After Factory Blaze

A massive fire razed a warehouse at Global Crystal Foam Nigeria Limited in Oko-Oba, Oyo State, on Thursday night, destroying property worth millions of naira, officials confirmed.
The blaze, which broke out along Akinmorin Road, prompted a rapid response from state and federal fire services, who managed to contain the inferno within 15 minutes.
Hon. Maroof Akinwande, Senior Adviser on Fire Service Reform to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, visited the scene and urged the company’s management to prioritise fire safety measures to prevent future incidents.
“The governor places immense value on the safety of lives and property,” Akinwande said, calling on the public to cooperate with firefighters during emergencies.
The Oyo State Fire Service Agency, led by General Manager Akinyemi Akinyinka, was alerted to the fire at 8:50 pm by a retired fire officer, Mr. M.O. Adewuyi.
“Upon arrival, we found the warehouse engulfed in flames,” Akinyinka said.
“Our team, supported by the Federal Fire Service, Oyo Command, applied firefighting chemicals to restrict the fire from spreading to other sections of the company.”
Akinyinka noted that the fire, caused by overheating foam blocks igniting nearby combustibles, had raged for an hour before the agency was notified by a passerby who spotted smoke.
Despite the delay, the coordinated response prevented the blaze from consuming the entire facility, saving property worth millions.
Security was provided by a team from the Oyo East Division of the Amotekun Corps, led by CFS Adeduntan, who ensured no looting occurred during the operation.
News
Why We Invests N3.5bn To Social, Sustainability Efforts In 2024—MTN

MTN Nigeria, a leading telecommunications company, has invested N3.5 billion in corporate social investment (CSI) in 2024, bringing its total CSI spending to N31.9 billion since its inception, the company’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo, announced on Thursday.
Speaking at the Nigerian Exchange Ltd (NGX) during the presentation of the company’s Facts Behind the Sustainability Report, Okigbo highlighted the tangible impacts of MTN’s initiatives.
“Our efforts have benefited over 663,300 individuals, supported 628 small businesses, and improved educational outcomes in 62 schools across Nigeria,” he said.
The company also launched the Sustainability in Action, Value for the MTN Everyone (SAVE) campaign to enhance employee engagement in sustainability efforts.
To improve global accessibility, MTN’s 2023 sustainability report was digitally tagged with extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), making it easier for investors and stakeholders to access.
MTN Nigeria made significant strides in reducing its environmental footprint, cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 11% from its 2021 baseline of 113,826 tCO²e to 101,300 tCO²e in 2024.
The company expanded renewable energy use by adding 194 solar-powered rural telephony sites and became the first telecom operator in West Africa to introduce eco-friendly SIM cards.
On the social front, MTN reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality through its Yellowpreneur platform, which provides women access to low-interest loans.
“No fewer than 600,000 women have benefited from this initiative,” Okigbo noted, adding that the loans, facilitated through partner banks, carry an interest rate not exceeding N3.00.