Top Ten Trending Stories Today

Nigeria is buzzing with major developments, from the Inspector General of Police’s visit to Osun State, where he raised concerns over the alleged shielding of criminal suspects at the Government House, to Governor Ademola Adeleke declaring that even his son should be arrested if found guilty of any crime.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court has awarded N200 million in damages to the widow of a truck driver unlawfully killed by a police sergeant in Osun State.

Hence, OSUN DEFENDER presents the top 10 trending stories in Nigeria today. Kindly read and enjoy:

1. Video: IGP Visits Adeleke, Queries Alleged Shielding Of Criminal Suspects In Govt House

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has stated that he heard that the Osun State government is allegedly shielding some criminal suspects in the Government House.

The IGP stated this on Friday during a meeting with Governor Ademola Adeleke at the government house in Osogbo.

Continue reading @
https://osundefender.com/video-igp-visits-adeleke-queries-alleged-shielding-of-criminal-suspects-in-govt-house/

2. Video: ‘I Don’t Condone Criminality, If My Son Commits Crime, Arrest Him But Be Neutral’ – Adeleke Tells IGP

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has said he does not condone crime and that the police are free to arrest anyone causing trouble in the state.

Adeleke stated this on Friday while responding to the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, who paid a courtesy call to him at the Government House, Osogbo.

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https://osundefender.com/video-i-dont-condone-criminality-if-my-son-commits-crime-arrest-him-but-be-neutral-adeleke-tells-igp/

3. Shock As Ifa Priest Sets Self On Fire, Dies

Residents of Adebiopon Village in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State were thrown into shock and confusion after a 50-year-old traditional priest, Muritala Shodiya, allegedly set himself ablaze.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when Shodiya reportedly doused himself with petrol inside an uncompleted building before setting himself ablaze.

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https://osundefender.com/shock-as-ifa-priest-sets-self-on-fire-dies/

4. Urban Alert Accuses Osun Govt Of Withholding 332 Borehole Records Despite FOI Request

A civic accountability organisation, Urban Alert, has condemned the Osun State Government’s ‘failure’ to disclose details of the 332 boreholes it claims to have delivered between 2023 and 2024, across all the political wards in the state, more than two months after the legal deadline to respond expired.

The group, in a statement by its Communications Associate, Titilade Alayande, a copy obtained by OSUN DEFENDER on Friday, said it filed Freedom of Information requests to the Ministry of Water Resources and the Osun State Public Procurement Agency on April 27, 2026.

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https://osundefender.com/urban-alert-accuses-osun-govt-of-withholding-332-borehole-records-despite-foi-request/

5. Court Awards N200m To Widow Of Truck Driver Killed By Police Sergeant In Osun

The Federal High Court in Abuja has awarded N200m damages to the widow of a truck driver, Kabiru Babai, who was unlawfully killed by a police sergeant in Osun State in 2021.

Justice Peter Lifu, on Thursday, held that the fatal shooting of Babai by Sergeant Moses Samuel violated his fundamental right to life guaranteed under Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

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https://osundefender.com/court-awards-n200m-to-widow-of-truck-driver-killed-by-police-sergeant-in-osun/

6. US Withdraws Troops From Nigeria

The United States has withdrawn most of the military personnel deployed to Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin for a joint counterterrorism operation, while maintaining intelligence sharing and other security cooperation with the Nigerian government.

The Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, disclosed this during a virtual press briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.

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https://osundefender.com/us-withdraws-troops-from-nigeria/

7. Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today, July 3, 2026

The Nigerian Naira maintained a steady path against the United States Dollar at the start of Friday’s trading session, reflecting subtle shifts across both the official window and the parallel market.

Data from early transactions reveals a marginal gain for the local currency as liquidity dynamics continue to dictate market movements.

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https://osundefender.com/black-market-dollar-to-naira-exchange-rate-today-july-3-2026/

8. Amnesty International Condemns Attempted Mob Execution Of Blasphemy Suspect In Katsina

Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned what it described as the rising wave of mob violence and “jungle justice” in northern Nigeria following an incident in Katsina State where a crowd reportedly surrounded a court, demanding the extrajudicial execution of a defendant accused of blasphemy.

The human rights organisation, in a statement issued on Friday, said the incident occurred on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the Kofar Soro area of Katsina town.

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https://osundefender.com/amnesty-international-condemns-attempted-mob-execution-of-blasphemy-suspect-in-katsina/

9. Adeyemi: NDC Demands Immediate Sack Of Tinubu’s Chief Of Staff

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has called for the immediate removal of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to the controversy surrounding the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC.

The party’s position was contained in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director.

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https://osundefender.com/adeyemi-ndc-demands-immediate-sack-of-tinubus-chief-of-staff/

10. Oyo Govt Denies Ransom Payment For Release Of Abducted Pupils, Teachers

The Oyo State Government has denied reports claiming it paid ransom to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted by bandits in Oriire Local Government Area.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, on Friday, the government described the claim as allegation as false and misleading saying it is “far from the truth” and a deliberate attempt by “irresponsible bloggers” to create confusion and misinform the public.

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https://osundefender.com/oyo-govt-denies-ransom-payment-for-release-of-abducted-pupils-teachers/