Morning recap: Sex workers scramble as anti–HIV jab runs out, Obi, Momodu condemn El-Rufai’s prolonged detention, other top stories

Good morning. Here is your morning news recap, bringing you the latest and most important stories across politics, metro, entertainment, business and sports.

1. Sex workers scramble as anti–HIV jab runs out

Sex workers and other eligible Nigerians are increasingly seeking the twice-yearly injectable HIV-prevention drug, Lenacapavir, as growing demand depletes supplies in some states participating in the Federal Government’s pilot programme.

Findings by Saturday PUNCH showed that Benue, Kwara, Gombe and Cross River states have experienced stock-outs barely months after the rollout of the long-acting injection.

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2. N8,000 debt suicide: How Oyo police triggered ‘poor’ student’s death

New details emerging from the suicide of a polytechnic student, Al-Amin Mohammed, suggest that the mishandling of the matter by the Oyo State Police Command triggered his death.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the police allegedly failed to interrogate or arrest the woman accused of taking Al-Amin’s mobile phone, which started the dispute.

Our correspondent had reported that the 30-year-old was detained by the Sanyo Police Division over a debt of N8,000.

When his family failed to pay the N100,000 allegedly demanded by the police for his bail, he was taken to court.

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3. Obi, Momodu condemn El-Rufai’s prolonged detention

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, have renewed calls for the release of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who has remained in custody since February.

Obi’s media aide, Idris Zekeri, told Saturday PUNCH that the former Anambra State governor had consistently demanded that El-Rufai’s case be addressed through due process.

Zekeri said Obi had been vocal about the former governor’s continued detention, arguing that the courts should establish any allegations against him rather than allowing him to remain detained for an extended period.

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4. Niger miners’ deaths: Grieving families demand justice

Families of 37 suspected illegal miners who died after being arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State have demanded justice and compensation.

The bereaved families, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH, alleged that they were denied access to their loved ones before being informed of their deaths.

They said they were repeatedly turned away or asked to return whenever they went to the NSCDC office to see the detainees or take food to them, only to learn later that some of the miners had died.

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5. My daughters don’t need approval to be lesbians — Charly Boy

Veteran entertainer and social commentator, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has revealed that he accepted his two daughters’ decisions to identify as lesbians because he wants them to be happy.

In an exclusive interview with Saturday Beats, Charly Boy addressed the backlash that followed his social media posts about his daughters and defended his parenting philosophy.

He explained that his response to his children’s sexuality had ultimately been guided by love and his belief that adult children could not be controlled by their parents.

Read full story here

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