One Dead, Two Injured as Armed Men Clash with Villagers Over Alleged Eviction in Bauchi

By: Zagazola Makama

One person has been killed while two others sustained gunshot injuries following a violent clash between armed men and residents of Unguwan Marke area in Munsal Ward, Liman Katagum District, Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Police sources said the incident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on May 16, 2026, when a group of armed men, allegedly posing as members of a hunters’ association, invaded the community and attempted to remove the roof of a building belonging to one Isah Garba of Balakum village in Alkaleri Local Government Area.

According to the sources, the situation escalated when youths of the community confronted the group, leading to the armed men opening fire on residents.

During the attack, Sani Hassan sustained gunshot injuries to his leg, while Garba of Shinge village was injured in the hand. Another resident, Mubarak Adamu, was shot and died on the spot.

The injured victims were evacuated to the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, by a team of officers from the Nigeria Police Force, where a medical doctor confirmed the death of Mubarak Adamu before his body was released to relatives for burial.

Police authorities said preliminary findings indicated that the armed men claimed they were acting on an eviction order allegedly issued by a High Court in Bauchi, though the legality and circumstances surrounding the operation and use of firearms are currently under investigation.

The police added that efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest all persons connected to the incident.

One Dead, Two Injured as Armed Men Clash with Villagers Over Alleged Eviction in Bauchi

UN Women, Diplomats, Nollywood Stars Intensify Push for Special Seats Bill With New Advocacy Film

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria office of UN Women, alongside diplomats, civil society groups and Nollywood stars, has intensified pressure for the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill with the premiere of a new advocacy film aimed at confronting the persistent exclusion of women from Nigeria’s political leadership.

The film, Ibukun and the People, was screened at the weekend in Abuja under the Side by Side Naija campaign as part of efforts to mobilise nationwide support for increased women’s representation in parliament and decision-making positions.

The production, supported by UN Women, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Government of Canada, brought together actors, development partners, women groups, civil society organisations, media practitioners and advocates of inclusive governance.

Featuring prominent Nollywood stars including Ivie Okujaiye, Uzee Usman and Joke Silva, the movie highlighted the structural barriers, intimidation, stereotypes and political exclusion confronting women seeking elective offices in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong described the initiative as a strategic intervention designed to deepen conversations around gender inclusion and strengthen advocacy for the Special Seats Bill.

She said women’s inclusion in governance must be seen as a national development imperative rather than an act of charity.

“Not as an act of charity, but as a necessity for national development. We need more women at the table when decisions that affect them are made. That is what the movie is advocating,” she said.

Eyong urged Nigerians to look beyond the entertainment value of the production and confront the realities women continue to face in politics, expressing optimism that the movie would inspire broader support for women seeking political offices.

She also commended the actors and production crew for volunteering their talents in support of the advocacy campaign.

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, described women’s participation in politics as an urgent democratic priority, noting that storytelling remains a powerful tool for driving policy conversations and social change.

According to her, the film aligns with ongoing advocacy for affirmative action and could help accelerate reforms that promote inclusive governance.

Also speaking, the Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, said reserved seats remain one of the practical pathways for improving women’s representation in Nigeria’s political system.

He, however, stressed that broader political reforms and education were equally critical in addressing gender imbalance in leadership.

Similarly, the Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Sanna Selin, said gender equality promotes peace, social justice and sustainable development.

She noted that inclusive governance benefits society as a whole through improved stability and economic progress.

The Country Representative of United Nations Population Fund in Nigeria, Muriel Mafico, reaffirmed the commitment of United Nations agencies to supporting the passage of the Special Seats Bill to boost women’s representation in governance.

Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, urged women to sustain grassroots mobilisation and remain united in the campaign for increased political participation.

Women’s rights advocate, Ene Obi, said the proposed legislation would help correct Nigeria’s political imbalance and create opportunities for women to contribute more meaningfully to national development.

She called on men and key stakeholders to actively support the bill and champion the inclusion of women in leadership and governance.

President of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, described the bill as a crucial affirmative action measure needed to deepen democracy and empower women politically.

The National President of the National Council of Women Societies, Edna Azura, commended the organisers and young filmmakers for deploying cinema as a platform for social advocacy and democratic inclusion.

Director of the film, Patience Ejoke-Ogedegbe, said the movie sends a strong message that competent women should no longer be intimidated, blackmailed or discouraged from contesting political positions.

Actor Uzee Usman, who played the role of a senator in the film, stressed the need to encourage and support more women to seek elective offices.

Lead actress Ivie Okujaiye said the production would inspire women to challenge stereotypes and resist intimidation while pursuing leadership positions.

Guests at the screening praised the movie’s production quality, storyline and performances, describing it as socially impactful and politically relevant.

The event also featured the presentation of awards to some of the actors and advocates in recognition of their contributions to gender equality and inclusive governance in Nigeria.

UN Women, Diplomats, Nollywood Stars Intensify Push for Special Seats Bill With New Advocacy Film

Korean Cultural Centre Deepens Nigeria-South Korea Ties Through K-Heritage Festival in Abuja

By:Michael Mike

The Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria has intensified efforts to strengthen cultural diplomacy and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and South Korea through the expansion of its K-Heritage Festival, an initiative aimed at promoting traditional Korean arts, music and cultural education in Nigeria.

Organisers said the Abuja edition of the festival reflects growing cultural exchanges between both countries and a deliberate effort to expose Nigerians to Korea’s rich traditional heritage beyond the globally celebrated K-Pop culture.

Speaking during the event in Abuja at the weekend, the Event Manager at the Korean Cultural Centre, Yoonjin Lee, said the festival was created to showcase the depth of Korean traditional performances and cultural identity to Nigerian audiences increasingly fascinated by Korean entertainment.

According to her, although K-Pop has gained massive international popularity among young people, the K-Heritage Festival was designed to introduce Nigerians to the traditional roots of Korean culture through indigenous music, dance and live performances.

“K-Pop is more like the modern type, more attracted by young people. But the K-Heritage Festival is trying to also bring Korean traditional performances to Nigeria,” she said.

The festival, which debuted in Lagos in 2025, was extended to Abuja this year as part of efforts to widen participation and deepen cultural engagement across Nigeria.

This year’s edition featured performances by Korean traditional performance duo Sorichum, comprising Melissa Minseong Seo and Hyunjung Park, who entertained audiences with displays of traditional Korean music and dance.

Beyond the stage performances, the artistes also organised intensive two-day cultural workshops where Nigerian participants were introduced to Korean fan dance and the traditional Korean percussion instrument known as the Janggu.

Participants who took part in the workshops later performed during the festival alongside students of the Korean Cultural Centre and winners of previous K-Pop competitions.

Lee described the level of enthusiasm and commitment shown by Nigerian participants as remarkable.

“The students only learned for two days, but they performed perfectly. People are really enjoying it,” she said.

According to her, the response from participants and audiences demonstrates that Nigerian interest in Korean culture is evolving beyond contemporary pop entertainment into deeper appreciation for traditional Korean heritage.

She stressed that the K-Heritage Festival forms part of the centre’s broader cultural mission to present multiple dimensions of Korean identity, history and artistic traditions to Nigerians.

“We really want to show different stages of Korean culture. K-Pop is very big, but as a Korean Cultural Centre, we also want to bring traditions and opportunities for people to experience them,” she added.

The growing popularity of Korean cultural programmes in Nigeria mirrors a wider global expansion of the “Korean Wave,” popularly known as Hallyu — a phenomenon driven by the international success of Korean music, films, television dramas, fashion and cuisine.

Over the past decade, South Korea has increasingly deployed cultural diplomacy as a soft-power strategy to strengthen global influence and international partnerships, particularly among younger populations.

Nigeria has emerged as one of the leading African countries embracing Korean cultural exports, with rising participation in K-Pop contests, Korean language classes, film screenings and cultural festivals organised by the Korean Cultural Centre in Abuja and Lagos.

The Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria, established to promote mutual cultural understanding, has continued to organise language education programmes, cultural exhibitions, culinary events and entertainment festivals aimed at fostering closer bilateral ties.

Lee disclosed that organisers are considering expanding traditional Korean cultural activities in Nigeria through additional workshops and festivals, especially in Lagos.

She revealed that plans are underway for another Janggu drum festival while traditional cultural classes are also expected to be strengthened ahead of the possible introduction of K-Heritage competitions in the future.

However, she noted that competitive events currently remain largely focused on K-Pop activities due to their strong youth appeal.

She further announced that another K-Pop Festival would hold later this year in Lagos as organisers continue rotating major cultural events between Lagos and Abuja to ensure broader national participation.

Observers say the growing acceptance of Korean cultural festivals in Nigeria reflects the increasing role of cultural exchanges in international relations, where arts, music and shared experiences are becoming powerful tools for strengthening diplomatic and economic cooperation between nations.

Korean Cultural Centre Deepens Nigeria-South Korea Ties Through K-Heritage Festival in Abuja