Security dominated the morning headlines as Saturday PUNCH reported that forests and porous border corridors across Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti states have become major infiltration routes for bandits and kidnappers.
This is as a man recounted how his brother, Gospel Kinanee, went missing at 14 in 2007 and was later found at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre after 18 years.
In politics, rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party traded accusations over a plan to endorse former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2027 presidential election.
Also, a PDP faction in Lagos State loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, suspended former Deputy National Chairman, Bode George, and 23 others over alleged anti-party activities.
Here’s a quick roundup of major headlines making waves this Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Jonathan’s 2027 endorsement plan tears PDP apart
Rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party led by supporters of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee have traded accusations over plan to endorse former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
While the Wike-backed PDP questioned the legitimacy and authority of the Turaki-led faction, the latter accused the minister of attempting to shut down the venue for the planned event.
Read the full story here: https://punchng.com/jonathans-2027-endorsement-plan-tears-pdp-apart/
Lagos PDP suspends Bode George, 23 others for anti-party activities
A faction of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has suspended a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Bode George, and 23 other members over alleged anti-party activities.
The suspension was announced on Friday in a statement signed by the Chairman of the party’s disciplinary committee in the state, Kayode Ogunbiyi, and the committee’s secretary, Desmond Agbo.
Read the full story here: https://punchng.com/anti-party-lagos-pdp-suspends-bode-george-23-others/
Terrorism: Forest routes fuelling South-West kidnappings
Forests and porous border corridors stretching across Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti states have become major infiltration routes for bandits and kidnappers entering the South-West, Saturday PUNCH findings have revealed.
Credible sources, including hunters, operatives of the Oodua Peoples Congress and local residents, disclosed that armed groups fleeing military operations in the North were exploiting weak surveillance across forest reserves and boundary communities to launch attacks, abduct residents and escape undetected.
Findings further revealed that the Old Oyo National Park linking Oyo and Kwara states, as well as forests connecting Osun and Ekiti through Imesi-Ile, had become major security threats in the South-West.
Read the full story here: https://punchng.com/terrorism-forest-routes-fuelling-south-west-kidnappings/
Miyetti Allah rejects Fulani-militant link
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has dismissed reports linking the Fulani ethnic group to thousands of armed militants and bandits.
The group insists law-abiding pastoralists are often victims of insecurity themselves and pledged continued cooperation with security agencies while warning against ethnic profiling.
Read the full story here: https://punchng.com/miyetti-allah-rejects-fulani-militant-link/
My brother went missing at 14, found in P’Harcourt prison 18 years after – Sibling
A family’s long search ended in mixed emotions as a man discovered his brother, who went missing at age 14 in 2007, had been held in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre for 18 years without charge or proper records.
Now 32 and mentally unstable, the man was released via judicial clemency facilitated by lawyers; the family is seeking justice and compensation.
Read the full story here: https://punchng.com/my-brother-went-missing-at-14-found-in-pharcourt-prison-18-years-after-sibling/
Nigerian hailed for bravery in UK knife fight
A 45-year-old Nigerian, Hammed Danmole, has been praised for intervening to stop a knife fight involving teenagers at Burgess Park in London, risking his life to prevent potential tragedy. Danmole, who was playing football nearby, acted because he saw his own son in the youths.
Read the full story here: https://punchng.com/nigerian-hailed-for-stopping-knife-fight-in-uk/
