(DDM) — The Super Eagles of Nigeria have officially suspended their training boycott and are set to resume full preparations ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon, DDM reports.

The confirmation came on Wednesday from the team’s media department, marking the end of a tense standoff that had thrown the camp into uncertainty just 24 hours before the decisive qualifier.

DDM gathered that the players had downed tools earlier in the week to protest unpaid bonuses, appearance fees, and match allowances, some of which reportedly date back to AFCON 2023 and earlier qualifying rounds.

The situation sparked outrage among fans and sports commentators, who questioned why Nigeria’s most successful football team continues to face chronic administrative failures and poor welfare management despite the huge revenue generated from football sponsorships and broadcast rights.

Following an emergency meeting in Abuja, senior officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by President Ibrahim Gusau met with team representatives and technical staff to address the grievances.

Sources told DDM that a partial payment plan was agreed upon, alongside written commitments to clear outstanding dues within a stipulated timeline.

According to insiders, captain William Troost-Ekong, vice-captain Kenneth Omeruo, and senior player Ahmed Musa were instrumental in brokering peace, reminding teammates that “the pride of the nation must come before all else.”

“The players have demonstrated maturity and patriotism,” an NFF official said. “While their concerns are legitimate, they have agreed to put the country first. All pending matters will be resolved.”

Head coach Finidi George reportedly welcomed the resolution, emphasizing that focus must now return to tactical drills and match readiness.

The coach expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will overcome the distraction and deliver a strong performance against Gabon.

Meanwhile, sports analysts view the episode as another reflection of systemic governance lapses in Nigerian football. Many are calling for long-term reforms in how the NFF manages player welfare, transparency, and financial accountability.

“This kind of crisis happens too often,” sports journalist Charles Anazodo told DDM. “Players should not be worrying about unpaid bonuses on the eve of a World Cup qualifier. It’s embarrassing and destabilizing.”

Fans on social media have also reacted strongly, with many demanding that the Ministry of Sports Development conduct an audit of NFF expenditures, especially funds allocated for national team management.

As the Super Eagles resume training this evening at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, the team is expected to hold a closed-door session before traveling to Uyo, where the playoff will be played.

The match against Gabon remains critical to Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup dream, as a loss could endanger qualification hopes and invite further scrutiny of the country’s football leadership.

For now, all eyes are on the players to translate unity and renewed focus into victory.

LAGOS – Tragedy struck in Lekki, Lagos, on Saturday morning as a young man identified as Endurance Udeke reportedly died after jumping from a four-storey building during a raid conducted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. when EFCC officials stormed a residential block suspected to be housing internet fraudsters.

Residents said the operatives arrived in several unmarked vehicles and surrounded the building before attempting to gain entry into various apartments.

In a panic, Udeke, believed to be in his late twenties, reportedly leapt from the fourth floor of the building in an attempt to escape.

He landed heavily on the concrete pavement, sustaining severe head and spinal injuries that led to his death before emergency services could arrive.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) noted that the EFCC operatives continued the raid even after the tragic fall, arresting several suspects and seizing mobile devices, laptops, and vehicles believed to be linked to cybercrime activities.

A resident, who identified himself as Chima, described the incident as “heartbreaking and unnecessary,” blaming the EFCC for what he called “a reckless and traumatizing approach to law enforcement.”

He said, “The officers came like armed invaders. They were breaking doors and shouting. The boy panicked and jumped from the top floor because he was afraid. Even if he was innocent, he wouldn’t have survived that kind of fear.”

Family sources told DDM that Udeke was not involved in any illegal activity and had only moved into the building recently to live with friends.

The EFCC, however, has not issued an official statement on the incident as of press time.

Calls and messages to the Lagos Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency were not immediately returned.

This is not the first time the EFCC’s midnight raids have been linked to fatalities.

In 2023, a similar incident was reported in Oyo State, where a student of the Polytechnic Ibadan died after jumping from a storey building during an EFCC operation.

Human rights groups, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), have repeatedly condemned such operations, urging the commission to reform its tactics and prioritize due process.

Meanwhile, Udeke’s body has been deposited at a morgue in Lekki pending further investigation.

Residents have called for an independent probe into the incident, demanding accountability for what they describe as a needless loss of life.

(DDM) – The Organization of Igbo Communities (OIC) has commended Nigerian youths across Abia, Lagos, and Abuja for their massive and peaceful turnout during today’s Free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu march, which drew nationwide attention and solidarity from millions of supporters across the country.

DDM gathered that the protest, which took place simultaneously in major Nigerian cities, was part of a coordinated civil movement calling for the immediate release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021 despite multiple court rulings ordering his freedom.

Speaking exclusively to DDM in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Hon. Major Chukwuemeka Ukason, a prominent leader of the Organization of Igbo Communities (OIC), expressed deep admiration for the courage, discipline, and unity displayed by the protesters.

He described the peaceful nature of the demonstrations as “a sign of maturity and collective determination among Nigerian youths, especially those from the South-East, who continue to demand justice through lawful and organized means.”

According to him, the massive attendance in various cities, including Abia, Lagos, and Abuja, reflects growing national awareness and frustration over the prolonged detention of Mazi Kanu, which many believe remains a stumbling block to peace and stability in the region.

Hon. Ukason urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to “listen to the voice of reason” and order the immediate release of Kanu, stressing that such action would mark a major step toward reconciliation, dialogue, and long-lasting peace in the South-East.

He noted that many Igbo leaders and youth organizations across Nigeria and the diaspora have repeatedly called for political resolution rather than continued confrontation, warning that suppressing peaceful protesters or ignoring their demands could deepen mistrust between the government and the people.

DDM also gathered that today’s march witnessed a heavy presence of security operatives in some states, though the demonstrations remained largely peaceful, with protesters carrying placards bearing inscriptions such as “Justice for Nnamdi Kanu,” “Respect Court Orders,” and “Peace Through Freedom.”

Hon. Ukason reiterated OIC’s support for non-violent advocacy, emphasizing that dialogue, justice, and respect for the rule of law remain the only sustainable paths to national unity and progress.

He further appealed to international human rights organizations, the United Nations, and the African Union to intervene diplomatically and ensure that Nigeria upholds its constitutional obligations regarding fundamental human rights and lawful detention procedures.

“The release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” he said, “will not only heal wounds but also open a new chapter of peace, justice, and coexistence in the South-East and Nigeria at large.”

Hon. Ukason commended Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) for its balanced coverage of national issues and for amplifying the voices of marginalized communities calling for fairness and national healing.

He concluded by urging youths to remain calm, focused, and law-abiding as they continue to press for justice through peaceful and constitutional means, reaffirming that the struggle for freedom and equality must always be guided by discipline, unity, and truth.