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Omawumi Ogbe, speaking on behalf of the family, said they were “devastated by this profound loss” and expressed appreciation for the messages of support from friends, fans, and well-wishers. The statement also asked the public to respect their privacy and keep the family in their prayers.
Police in Ogun State said the 36-year-old boxer was rushed to hospital with minor injuries. Two other people were confirmed dead following the collision.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations’ Conflicts to Watch in 2026 report, several ongoing and potential conflicts on the African continent remain significant sources of instability in the year ahead.
A journalist based in Plateau state said families of those taken hostage have already started receiving ransom demands from the kidnappers. The identities of the gunmen remain unclear, and security agencies have not yet issued an official statement on the incident.
Nigeria's federal government described the latest release as a "moment of triumph and relief", after one of the country's worst mass kidnappings.
The Nigeria Football Federation claims the dispute revolves around a set of players who recently changed their international allegiance. Among them are Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, both of whom appeared in the match. The NFF argues these players violated Congolese law, which prohibits dual citizenship, yet they reportedly hold European and French passports.
These events reflect growing insecurity in Nigeria’s central and north-western regions, where armed gangs frequently carry out kidnappings, raids on villages, and attacks on religious sites. At the end of November, over 250 children and 12 staff members were abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger state, in one of the largest recent incidents.
The aircraft touched down in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city, which the Nigerian Air Force said was the closest airfield to ensure the plane’s safety. However, the account from the three Sahel countries, formally known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), disagreed, insisting the plane had entered Burkina Faso without permission and had been forced to land.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited Papiri last week and met Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna and his delegation, assuring them that the children would soon be returned safely. Despite the latest rescue, about 153 students and 12 staff members are still being held by the kidnappers.
Reports indicate that at least 402 people, mostly children, have been kidnapped since mid-November, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Their release comes amid a surge in abductions of young people across the country over the past two weeks.
The WFP report released on Tuesday relies on the latest Cadre Harmonise assessment of food and nutrition across West Africa and the Sahel. It shows that Borno State remains the hardest hit, where ongoing insurgent attacks have devastated communities and disrupted farming and livelihoods for more than 16 years.