News
Archbishop Patrick Ekpu of Benin City Dies at 92

Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, the Emeritus Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, has passed away at the age of 92. His death occurred on the evening of Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 7:09 PM, following a brief illness.
The news of his passing was communicated by Most Reverend Augustine Obiora Akubeze, the current Archbishop of Benin City Archdiocese.
The announcement was made through a statement signed on behalf of Akubeze by Very Rev. Fr. Michael Oyanoafoh, the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin.
In the statement, Archbishop Akubeze requested that priests, religious leaders, and the lay faithful of the archdiocese keep the late Archbishop Ekpu in their prayers. Details regarding the funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
Archbishop Ekpu was born in Uromi, located in the Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, in 1931. He was ordained a priest on July 7, 1963.
His leadership in the Catholic Church was marked by his appointment as Bishop of Benin City on July 5, 1973, and later as Archbishop of Benin City on March 26, 1994.
He served in this capacity until his retirement on November 21, 2006. His legacy will be remembered by the Catholic community he served so faithfully throughout his life.
News
Pastor Adeboye to Lead National Prayers for Nigeria’s Failing Economy

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, will be leading a national prayer session focused on reviving Nigeria’s struggling economy. The prayer is scheduled to take place during the church’s July 2025 Thanksgiving Service, themed “Divine Intervention”, at the RCCG national headquarters in Oyingbo, Lagos.
Speaking ahead of the event through his Special Assistant on Administration, Pastor Dele Balogun, Pastor Adeboye acknowledged that both Nigeria and other countries are facing tough times. But he believes the current hardship is not beyond repair if people embrace faith and take positive action.
“Our nation is going through serious challenges, just like other parts of the world. But the truth is, we can overcome them with faith, as long as we don’t give room to fear or doubt,” Adeboye said. He encouraged Nigerians to reject negative confessions and instead focus on faith-driven solutions, adding that with God’s intervention, the country’s economic situation can still turn around.
The upcoming prayer session, according to him, is not just about asking for change but about opening doors to new opportunities and paving the way for national transformation.
News
Israel Bombs Southern Lebanon Again with Heavy Airstrikes

Southern Lebanon witnessed one of its most serious attacks in months on Friday, June 27, after Israeli fighter jets bombarded areas around Nabatieh, a city located deep in Lebanon’s south. Eyewitnesses reported hearing several loud explosions as Israeli aircraft targeted hilltops and underground sites in two separate waves of strikes.
The Israeli military later confirmed the operation, saying they aimed at Hezbollah positions they claimed were being rebuilt in violation of last year’s ceasefire deal. According to Lebanese officials, the assault left one woman dead and over a dozen others injured after a residential building in Nabatieh was hit.
Local sources say the woman, reportedly a German national, had been staying in the apartment complex when it collapsed following the blast. Paramedics rushed several other residents, including those in nearby areas, to hospitals with varying injuries. The situation sparked panic across the city, with families evacuating damaged homes and roads filled with rescue teams.
Reason for the bombing
The Israeli army stated that the operation was aimed at dismantling what they described as a “reconstructed underground defense system” controlled by Hezbollah militants. According to them, Hezbollah has been rebuilding tunnels, weapons depots, and launch sites in the region, despite the ceasefire agreement brokered in November 2024, which banned such military infrastructure close to the border.
Israeli officials also claimed that the explosion in the civilian building wasn’t directly caused by their missiles but was triggered by hidden Hezbollah weapons stored in the area, causing a secondary blast.
In response, Lebanon’s government strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a direct attack on Lebanese sovereignty. President Joseph Aoun described Israel’s actions as a dangerous violation of the truce, adding that the attack could drag both sides back into open conflict. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also criticized the airstrikes, warning that Lebanon cannot tolerate repeated breaches of the ceasefire while civilians continue to suffer the consequences.
Business
GTCO Announces Nationwide Early Closure on June 30 for Half-Year Audit

Customers of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) across Nigeria should brace for early branch closures on Monday, June 30, 2025, as the banking group kicks off its routine half-year audit.
In an official announcement shared on their verified X (formerly Twitter) page, GTCO informed customers that all their branches nationwide will stop attending to walk-in customers earlier than usual to allow for internal review processes.
The bank assured the public that this temporary adjustment is strictly for operational reasons tied to their mandatory half-year audit, a common practice among financial institutions to check financial records, processes, and compliance levels.
While in-person services will pause earlier that day, GTCO encouraged customers to make use of their digital banking platforms. Options such as internet banking, mobile apps, ATMs, and USSD codes, which will remain available 24/7 for essential banking transactions.
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