By Nancy Mbaegbu
My people, this Edo matter no be ordinary wahala. E get one kind tension wey fit make even stammerer to start pacing like agent wey him 10 percent money no complete.
Since that couple for Aviele enter kidnapper’s net, internet never rest. But the real fire start when the family accuse activist Harrison Gwamnishu of doing disappearing mathematics with the ransom money. From there, everybody turn narrator.
The elder brother of the kidnapped wife, Abdulganiyu Oseni, just burst enter social media like person wey refuse to swallow painkillers quietly. He accused Harrison with confidence wey no get comma.
According to am, the family gather ₦20 million for ransom plus small change to balance imperfect counting, but the activist allegedly deliver only ₦5.4 million. Oseni no even whisper, him tag am “thief” like say him write the word for chalkboard during morning assembly.
Harrison Gwamnishu, family of abducted Edo couple in ransom controversy – Lagos Television
Oseni talk say this shortage put everybody for danger because the kidnappers supposed count the money before releasing anybody. Instead, dem free only the pregnant wife and hold the husband like collateral wey still dey generate interest. The way Oseni narrate am, e be like the family nearly faint when dem realize say the money wey take dem 10 days to gather don suddenly develop wings.
But Harrison no be man wey go sit down collect dragging. Him enter Facebook begin drop long explanation, calm but firm. Him say he no touch ransom money at all, say his own involvement no pass using technology to track movement of the kidnappers.
According to him, the kidnappers demand ₦50 million from the start, family negotiate am down to ₦20 million, and the woman’s release no be because of incomplete money but because the kidnappers claim na only her dem wan free that night.
As if the matter no already choke, Harrison lawyer enter the gist with a version wey make everybody pause. The lawyer claim say Harrison normally replaces part of the money with prototype notes with tracking chip because real cash no dey hold the tracking chip well.
According to am, na standard procedure and family representative allegedly dey there when e happen, but the people deny am later like someone wey no wan involve in extended drama.
The lawyer talk say when the ransom reach the bush, only the wife come out, while the husband voice dey background apologizing to his younger brother, something wey make the lawyer begin suspect internal family wahala.
They later carried the entire confusion reach station where Harrison allegedly returned the removed cash which police collect, but asked him to pretend like he’s returning it again for their “documentation.” At this point, even confusion don tire.
But na here the latest drama enter like unexpected guest. That tracking chip wey dem put for the prototype money still dey active, dey beep direction like spiritual compass. Harrison allegedly gathered police enter road, on a serious tracking mission. My people, dem track the kidnappers reach 15 minutes away, as in just small ride remain to enter their zone. Hope high, everybody’s brain dey focused.
Na so police Oga suddenly halt movement. Him talk say make everybody turn back because police morale don drop. Yes, you read am well; morale drop. For edge of breakthrough? Even ground shock.
For now, the he kidnappers still dey hold the husband allegedly. Tracking chip still dey point to location. And Harrison still dey insist on his innocence. And victim’s Family still dey swear say something no add up. And security officials; dem calm pass everybody, dey watch the matter like balcony spectators.
This matter no be small one oo. E get too many voices, too many versions, and too many “he said / they said” inside one story. But as usual, we go sit here dey nod head gently and wait for the next layer of drama because this gist never finish at all. Except we no know when police want to free Harrison wey people claim say na him make dem no release the husband to the pregnant woman.
Jehovah’s Witness and blind faith over medicine
My gistlovers, sometimes Nigeria go show you that even inside sickness, wahala still dey find person. This week, social media carry one gist land my door; the case of Mensah Omolola, better known as Auntieesther, a cancer patient and Jehovah’s Witness who boldly told doctors “no blood transfusion; not today, not tomorrow.” Just like that, the whole country turn courtroom of opinions.
Before the drama start, Nigerians raise over ₦30 million for her treatment, thinking she go follow the standard medical plan wey require blood transfusion. But Auntieesther calmly enter X one morning, greet everybody innocently, then drop the bomb say cancer dey her breast and armpit, but transfusion no dey her dictionary.
She appreciate donors, but say her faith no permit blood transfusion and she’s sticking to it. Omo, people pause for screen like say na news of a new currency note release. Some side-eye their laptop, some dey type like investigative journalists wey never sleep.
Then Wizarab, the man wey coordinate the fundraising, come drop more gist. Him say doctors give two treatment routes: the normal one wey fit use part of the donations, and the special no-transfusion version wey cost more and take longer time. And Omolola calmly picked option B. Why? Because her church warned her say if she collect blood, dem go “disfellowship” her which in simple English means spiritual eviction notice.
To make matter sweeter, Wizarab yarn say her family sef stand behind the no-blood decision like board of elders. Doctor Sina supposedly advise them with full medical experience, but the message enter ground like water poured inside dry sponge.
Na so the internet begin ask, “So all this money now, wetin exactly we dey fund?” Auntymuse, her close friend step in like responsible aunt of the story. She make am clear say Omolola no ever pretend. From day one, she don stand her ground like bank vault.
But auntymuse also talk say truth be told, the woman need the ideal medical treatment, not the edited version designed to please congregation rules.
Meanwhile, online lawyers don open office for comment. One of dem calmly remind everybody say the woman get constitutional right to refuse any treatment, even if her life dey hang on thread. Nobody fit force am, except if she be minor. The only thing wey concern them na what to do with the remaining funds if anything go wrong.
According to the man, the money no be family inheritance. It should be used for another patient wey go follow doctor’s advice without argument.
Now Nigerians just dey watch the matter unfold like Sunday afternoon gossip. Between faith, medical science, and thirty million naira of pure kindness. This gist get all the ingredients for premium curiosity. But as e be, Omolola stand firm on her decision. Whether people agree or not, her belief no shake.
All this wahala dey show say sometimes belief fit carry weight pass even science and money. You fit reason am yourself: thirty million naira raised, doctors ready, options on the table, yet aunty stand her ground. E make you wonder, who really dey in charge of her story; faith, logic, or something else wey people no dey openly talk, but you fit draw your own conclusion.
Saudi Arabia’s quiet revolution in 70 years
Saudi Arabia’s Bold Alcohol Shift Sparks Global Online Buzz 2025
So imagine waking up and realizing that one of the most tightly buttoned countries on earth quietly loosened one button and acted like nobody was watching. No announcement. No debate. Just one global ah-ah moment hanging in the air while the world tries to catch up.
After 70 years of firm no alcohol, don’t even dream it, Saudi Arabia has now introduced wine and spirits. But abeg, no misunderstand am. This one no be public enjoyment, na only for a very selected audience. This one entered like premium gossip: low voice, locked doors, and strict invitation.
Somewhere inside Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, one unmarked liquor store dey operate like inner caucus meeting. No signboard. No publicity. Just guards wey dey check ID with serious face. Diplomats? Enter. Premium residents with money and credentials wey get weight? You fit pass. Everybody else? Oga abeg, waka pass and maintain your religious purity.
Those wey don enter inside say the atmosphere get tension and excitement mixed together. First-time buyers dey hold bottle like say dem dey carry fragile evidence.
Government-issued ID dey track every purchase, monthly quota dey watch you closely, and prices? Omo, prices dey behave like luxury insult. Diplomats dey enjoy better rates; premium residents dey pay “we know you can afford it” fee. Balance must be kept.
Now make we talk the part wey dey make eyebrow raise. Officially, nobody dey talk. Government dey form deaf. Religious authorities suddenly dey very busy. State media dey look ceiling.
But somehow the access app na government own, and the store open just after embassies stop importing alcohol freely, the same route black market dey use flex before. Coincidence? If you believe that, I get bridge to sell you.
This move followed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s pattern well well. No argument. No press briefing. Just quiet adjustment and let everybody adapt emotionally. One day something is forbidden, next day it’s available but only for the “right” people. Equality no dey this table.
And make we no forget, this no be their first global mic drop moment. This na the same Saudi Arabia wey swear say women no fit drive. Meanwhile since 2018, women don dey collect driver’s licenses dey drive themselves like normal adults.
That old gist expired long ago, but many people never update their files. So when people dey faint over this quiet alcohol move, e just show say dem never really follow the pattern.
But make we no lie to ourselves, this no be freedom. This na curated enjoyment. Controlled sipping for foreigners wey bring value, money, and international approval. As Saudi Arabia dey prepare for big global events and foreign guests, dem don politely accept say some expectations cannot be ignored.
Saudi Arabia no dey break image. Dem dey quietly edit am. Strategically. One unannounced move at a time. And na so history dey change these days my people, softly, expensively, and everybody dey form say e no concern dem at all.
The 1.2million naira tummy tuck theft
My people, come closer abeg, because the kain drama wey unfold for one boutique this week fit make person drop phone and hold chest. You know how quiet Monday morning dey be sometimes. This particular Monday come with gbas gbos.
Boss madam wey get boutique waka enter her shop with the energy of person wey dey rehearse national anthem for competition, only to jam her sales girl dey stand outside like bouncer wey no sign employment letter.
Next thing, both of them enter inside shop, lock door, and gbam, the atmosphere change. Madam start dey vibrate like person wey hear bad market. She talk say she create thrift contribution for her ten girls to help them handle urgent things like school matter, family issues and other emergencies. But instead of emergency, this particular sales girl turn the whole contribution to “Operation Flat Belly 2025.”
The gist be say she carry N1.2 million; yes, the whole contribution, pack am like weekend rice go book tummy tuck. Madam shock no be here o. She even call the doctor, ask am why he wan turn her employee to patient without anybody’s knowledge.
According to madam, she begged the doctor, “Oga, abeg cancel the surgery. Return the money before person faint.” But guess what? sales girl stand gidigba like fence wey no dey shake. Zero remorse. She even say na her boyfriend complain say her stomach dey too big. Imagine that kain motivational speech.
Madam wey dey try explain breakdown of the thrift money suddenly burst into tears. She dey cry ask whether she no dey try for her girls. Meanwhile, sales girl still dey argue with confidence like person wey get sponsor. She talk say nothing go stop her mission because body shaming don pepper her sotey she wan rearrange her belly by fire by softness.
Social media no help matter. One babe yarn say after all this shouting, the girl go still find way do the surgery because she don already sign personal agreement with herself. Another guy warn say all this “body rearrangement trend” don pass normal; young girls dey rush go table like say na manicure appointment.
But the sharpest comment na the one wey point out say the real beef no even be the surgery. Na say she be the first to collect the thrift money. If anything happen to her for that hospital, na who go refund the other contributors. Community meeting don enter beauty procedure matter.
But make we talk true, this tummy tuck and body enhancement fever don turn to nationwide campaign. Everywhere you look, one babe wan adjust waistline, relocate fat, lift yansh or flatten belle.
And honestly, na your body, make you do am as e sweet your spirit. Nobody get right to police another person’s shape. But abeg, no use thrift contribution run body upgrade because say you be first to collect! That one no be self-love again, na community heartbreak.
If you like do liposuction, waist sculpting, cheek lifting or deluxe belly smoothing, just make sure say e no involve money wey ten people dey depend on before village elders summon you to emergency meeting.
Now everybody dey wait like jury; will the doctor refund the money? Will the sales girl still squeeze her belly flat by force? Will the boss forgive her and accept her decision? We all dey wait to know next move but true true wonders shall never end for this country.
*Nancy Mbaegbu
The Southerner
