Metro
Lady Slumps, Dies While Celebrating Birthday in Benue
Family and friends of a make-up artist, Deborah Tushimah, are mourning her sudden death, which occurred while she was celebrating her birthday at the Hampton Mews Hotel in Makurdi, Benue State, on Sunday.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Deborah was having a nice time with her guests at the party before tragedy struck.
It was learnt that Deborah started feeling uneasy while dancing and suddenly slumped and started vomiting blood.
A footage of the party, which has been trending online, showed Deborah in company with her friends before the tragic incident happened.
The deceased was seen in the footage showing her friends some of the gifts she received from well-wishers.
The party atmosphere was filled with excitement as the guests and the celebrant danced to the tune being dished out by a saxophonist.
In a post on Instagram by gossipmillnaija, a source alleged that one of the birthday gifts, an iPhone 11, was responsible for Deborah’s death, stating, “She was poisoned at her birthday party.
“She was gifted iPhone 11 too. It’s obvious one of the girls she calls friends is behind it. While dancing, she slumped and started vomiting blood then died. It happened in Markudi, Benue State. Stupid envy and jealousy.”
Reacting on her Instagram handle, @prinasblend__empire, alleged that the ‘killer’ was among those celebrating with her in the footage and advised people to be cautious about eating at social functions.
“Chaiiiii fear people, during your parties alwazdont eat wt the public, have a food u reserved for urslf so after the party u eat and drink, becareful out there and one of those shouting there is the killer, wow,” she wrote.
However, one Hannah Silas, who claimed to have spoken with a member of deceased’s family, stated through her social media handle, @hannahSilas_, that the family had refuted the claim that Deborah died because of an iPhone 11, adding that there was also no confirmation that she was poisoned.
In a chat between Hannah and the family member, Deborah was said to have been nursing a heart problem without the knowledge of her parents and had collapsed on three separate occasions before the birthday party.
The chat read in part, “Later on, we discovered that she has a heart problem that makes her faint, and she have been fainting for some time but neither dad nor mum knew about that. The one that happened the early hours of today was the 4th, and she couldn’t make it.
“Like seriously, I don’t know when it started, I was also confused about the death, no illness, then just like that, but she had that heart problem for some time nw according to the feedback, but was silent to the parents.”
Commiserating with the family, @mabglams wrote, “This is really heartbreaking. May her soul Rest In Peace in Jesus name. Amen.”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene, said Deborah’s corpse had been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy, adding that the command had commenced investigation to determine the cause of death.
Anene said, “On Sunday, July 5, 2020, around 9.30am, information was received that Miss Deborah Tushima suddenly collapsed around 2am at the Hampton Mews Hotel, while dancing in the midst of her friends, who attended her birthday party that was secretly organised.
“She was rushed to the Madonna Hospital, Markudi, for treatment and was pronounced dead shortly. Her corpse has been deposited in a mortuary. Investigation into the cause of death is in progress.”
When asked about the speculation that Deborah was poisoned, the PPRO stated, “We cannot know that from just looking at the corpse; that will be revealed through a post-mortem examination.”
The Punch
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked a commercial bus operated by GUO Transport along the Benn-Ore expressway, killing the driver and abducting several passengers in what underscores Nigeria’s deepening insecurity on major highways.
Reports indicate that the assailants ambushed the South East-bound vehicle, opened fire on the driver, who died at the scene, and subsequently whisked away passengers to an unknown destination.
The incident is believed to have occurred along a notorious stretch of the highway linking the South-West to the South-South, long plagued by banditry and abductions.
While official confirmation from security agencies is expected, local sources and a circulating video showed that passengers might have forcefully been taken into nearby forests, a tactic commonly employed by kidnapping syndicates operating along the corridor. Similar attacks in the past have involved mass abductions, with victims later released after ransom payments.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, on Thursday paid a high-profile courtesy visit to the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), where he lauded the agency’s operational efficiency, technological advancement, and grassroots-driven policing model.
Dr. Ogunsan in company of the fund’s Director of Administration, Mr. Adegbola Lewis were received at the LNSA headquarters by the agency’s General Manager, Dr. Ifalade Oyekan, alongside top officials and personnel. In a ceremonious display underscoring the importance of the visit, the LSSTF boss was accorded a mounted guard of honour. He was also decorated with LNSA Medal of Honour and presented with a commemorative lapel pin in recognition of his contributions to strengthening Lagos’ security architecture.
The visit featured an extensive tour of the agency’s facilities, during which Dr. Ogunsan inspected a range of modern security assets, including surveillance drones, body-worn cameras, and other high-tech equipment deployed to enhance intelligence gathering and rapid response operations.
The Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency, established by the Lagos State Government as a community-based security outfit, plays a critical role in complementing conventional law enforcement agencies such as the Nigeria Police. Its core mandate includes grassroots intelligence gathering, routine patrols, crime prevention, and fostering peaceful coexistence within communities. Officers of the agency, largely drawn from the local population, leverage their deep knowledge of their respective neighbourhoods to monitor suspicious activities, mediate disputes, and provide actionable intelligence to security agencies.
Speaking after the inspection, Dr. Ogunsan expressed admiration for the strides recorded under Dr. Oyekan’s leadership, particularly highlighting the effectiveness of the agency’s community policing framework.
“The strength of the LNSA lies in its people-oriented approach. Having officers who live and serve within their communities builds trust, enhances intelligence gathering, and ultimately strengthens public safety,” he said. “What we have seen here today reflects strategic investment, innovation, and a clear commitment to safeguarding lives and property.”
He reaffirmed the commitment of the LSSTF to sustaining support for the Lagos Neighborhood Safely Agency (LNSA) and other security agencies across the state, noting that security remains a critical pillar for economic growth, social stability, and investor confidence in Lagos.
In his response, Dr. Oyekan expressed appreciation for the continued partnership and support that the agency has enjoyed over the years from the LSSTF, describing it as instrumental to the agency’s operational successes. He reiterated that the agency’s neighbourhood-based policing structure which is anchored on local familiarity and collaboration remains central to its mission of proactive crime prevention and effective security delivery.
The visit highlights the growing synergy between key security stakeholders in Lagos State, in a bid to strengthen intelligence-led and community-driven strategies to address evolving security challenges in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and West Africa’s economic hub.
Adron Homes and Properties Limited delivered a commanding performance at the grand finale of the 2026 Ibadan Cultural Festival, firmly establishing its dominance as Nigeria’s leading real estate brand. At the iconic Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, the company did not just sponsor the event, it took control of the narrative, transforming the cultural celebration into a powerful showcase of brand strength, innovation, and market authority.
With the presence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, alongside a distinguished assembly of traditional rulers, high chiefs, and top government dignitaries, Adron Homes leveraged the high-profile platform to reinforce its influence at the intersection of culture, community, and modern development. The royal commendation from the Olubadan, who openly praised the company’s contribution, further cemented Adron’s growing stature as a key driver of cultural and socio-economic advancement.
Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director, Mrs. Adenike Ajobo, projected a bold and uncompromising vision, emphasizing that Adron Homes is not just building houses but creating ecosystems where heritage, lifestyle, and modern living seamlessly converge. She reaffirmed that the company’s presence in Ibadan is strategically positioned to redefine the city’s residential landscape while embedding the brand deeply within the cultural fabric of its people.
Adron Homes’ activation proved to be one of the most dominant features of the festival. The “Adron Experience” zone became the epicenter of engagement, attracting massive crowds through immersive brand interactions, including the viral 360-degree video booth that drove widespread digital visibility. Simultaneously, the Ibadan Sales Team executed a results-driven engagement strategy, converting high foot traffic into real business opportunities while showcasing Adron’s expanding portfolio of modern, world-class estates transforming the city’s iconic skyline.
By seamlessly integrating its “Home Festival” concept into the cultural celebration, Adron Homes blurred the line between tradition and innovation, delivering an unmatched brand experience that competitors could not rival. As the festival drew to a close, one message was unmistakable, Adron Homes did not just participate; it dominated, setting a new benchmark for corporate cultural investment and reinforcing its position as the brand defining the future of real estate in Nigeria.
