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Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Dies at 66 After Battle With Cancer

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Veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has died at the age of 66 after battling cancer.

The actor’s death was reported on Sunday, August 23, 2026, with multiple Nigerian media outlets reporting the development. His daughter, Kira Taiwo, reportedly announced his death in an emotional social media video.

The development comes less than a week after Ogogo’s family disclosed that the veteran actor had been diagnosed with stage-four cancer and appealed to Nigerians, medical professionals and well-wishers for assistance.

Kira and her sister, Lima Taiwo, had made emotional appeals for help, explaining that the family was seeking appropriate medical care for their father.

Reports at the time indicated that doctors had informed the family that chemotherapy was no longer being administered, prompting them to seek further medical options.

The family’s appeal attracted widespread attention, with colleagues and other Nigerians rallying around the actor.

Prominent members of the Yoruba film industry also gathered in Lagos on Friday for a prayer session in solidarity with Ogogo and his family.

Among those present were veteran actors Jide Kosoko, Yinka Quadri, Laniyan, Bukky Wright, Yomi Fash-Lanso, Madam Saje and Mr Latin.

Ogogo also reportedly received assistance from Ogun State politician Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Senator Yayi.

Actress Toyosi Adesanya had previously disclosed that Adeola contacted cancer specialists in an effort to secure medical attention for the actor.

Amid the outpouring of support, concerns were also raised by members of Ogogo’s family over individuals allegedly attempting to exploit the situation.

Kira reportedly accused some people offering assistance of making financial demands while the family was focused on her father’s treatment.

Ogogo was one of the respected figures in the Yoruba movie industry, with a career spanning several decades. He was known for his acting, filmmaking and contributions to the growth of Yoruba-language cinema.

His death marks a major loss to Nollywood, particularly the Yoruba film community, where he had built a strong reputation and following over the years.

 

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Taraba Pageantry Community Mourns as Former Miss Taraba Comfort Williams Dies

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Former Miss Taraba and Assistant Managing Director of Prime Planet Event Managers, Comfort Williams, has died.

Her death was announced on Monday, November 2, 2026, in a statement issued by Prime Planet Event Managers, organisers of the Mr and Miss Taraba pageants.

The organisation described Williams as a beloved and irreplaceable member of its team, saying she made a lasting impact on Nigeria’s pageantry and entertainment industry.

Williams was the 10th Miss Taraba and was widely recognised for her humanitarian activities, particularly initiatives aimed at supporting education and community development.

One of her recent projects involved the printing and distribution of educational books to students in support of the Taraba State Government’s free education policy.

At the time of her death, she was serving as the Assistant Managing Director of Prime Planet Event Managers, where she played a key role in the organisation’s activities.Some reports attributed her death to a brief illness.

However, the circumstances surrounding her passing had not been independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

Her death has sparked tributes from members of the pageantry and entertainment community, who have remembered her contributions to the industry and her commitment to humanitarian causes.

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Spanish Striker Jesus de Miguel Dies After Collision With Goalkeeper

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Spanish football has been thrown into mourning following the death of CD Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel Alameda, who died after sustaining a serious injury in a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a league match against FC Andorra.

The club confirmed the death of the 30-year-old forward in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, expressing deep sorrow over the loss.

According to the statement, De Miguel died at 8:00 a.m. local time, hours after the incident that left players, officials, supporters and his family devastated.

“Broken in pain, with a knot in the throat and unable to believe this is true, from the CD Tenerife we communicate the tragic death, this Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 8:00 hours, of Jesus de Miguel Alameda,” the club said.

The club added that there were no words capable of easing the grief surrounding his death, while extending its condolences to his family, loved ones and supporters.

Tenerife also disclosed that De Miguel’s family appreciated the messages of sympathy and support received since the incident but appealed to the public to respect their privacy during the mourning period.

The striker sustained the fatal injury during Tenerife’s Spanish second-division encounter against FC Andorra on Monday at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium.

The incident occurred in the closing stages of the match when De Miguel collided with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono as both players challenged for a loose ball.

The forward collapsed unconscious following the impact, prompting players from both teams to immediately call for medical assistance.

Owono was subsequently shown a straight red card following the collision.

Medical personnel attended to De Miguel on the pitch before he was transported by ambulance to the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.

Reports indicated that the striker suffered cardiac arrest during the emergency transfer but was resuscitated by medical personnel, who managed to restore his pulse.

He remained unconscious and was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Tenerife had earlier announced that his neurological condition had deteriorated before confirming his death on Tuesday morning.

The match was abandoned in the 108th minute following the incident, with both teams level at 2-2.

De Miguel’s death has left CD Tenerife and the wider football community mourning the loss of a player whose life was cut short following the tragic match incident.

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Journalist Killings: UNESCO Says 86% of Cases Go Unpunished Globally

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Global impunity for the killing of journalists has increased for the first time in more than a decade, with six out of every seven cases remaining unresolved, according to a new report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The report revealed that the global impunity rate rose to 86 per cent in 2024 and 2025, compared with 85 per cent in the previous two-year period, reversing progress in efforts to ensure justice for journalists killed in the line of duty.

It also raised concerns over the growing use of drones in attacks against journalists, particularly those reporting from conflict zones.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that UNESCO released the findings on Monday, ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, observed annually on November 2.

According to the report, 189 journalists were killed worldwide in 2024 and 2025, representing a 20 per cent increase compared with the preceding two-year period.

Of the total number, 127 journalists, representing more than two-thirds, were killed in conflict zones.

The findings were contained in UNESCO’s Director-General’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity, which is published every two years to mark the international day.

UNESCO Director-General, Khaled El-Enany, expressed concern over the increasing dangers journalists face while covering armed conflicts and the failure to bring those responsible for their deaths to justice.

“Journalists are increasingly paying with their lives for reporting from the frontlines of war and far too often those responsible for their killings are not held accountable,” he said.

The report showed that the Arab States recorded the highest number of verified journalist killings, with 97 cases.

Latin America and the Caribbean followed with 37 cases, while the Asia-Pacific region recorded 34. Central and Eastern Europe had 14 cases, Africa recorded six, while Western Europe and North America recorded one.

The State of Palestine recorded the highest number of journalist killings in both years, with 30 cases in 2024 and 32 in 2025.

UNESCO also identified the increasing use of drones in attacks against journalists as an emerging threat, particularly in areas affected by armed conflict.

According to the report, drone strikes killed 50 journalists during the 2024–2025 period, accounting for 40 per cent of all journalists killed in conflict zones.

It further documented seven incidents in which multiple journalists were targeted and killed in single attacks, including strikes on media workplaces and temporary reporting centres.

Fifteen journalists were reportedly killed while wearing press vests or travelling in vehicles clearly marked with the word ‘Press’.

Reacting to the findings, El-Enany called for compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222, unanimously adopted in 2015 to protect journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians during armed conflicts.

He said the protection of journalists had also been reaffirmed in the Pact for the Future.

Despite the increase in global impunity, UNESCO noted that some progress had been recorded in countries not experiencing armed conflict.

The impunity rate in non-conflict countries declined from 94 per cent in 2012 to 77 per cent in 2026, representing an average reduction of approximately one percentage point annually.

The number of journalists killed in non-conflict zones also fell to 85, the lowest figure recorded in 18 years.

“This demonstrates that when governments invest in investigations, prosecutions and protections for journalists, progress is possible,” UNESCO said.

Meanwhile, the report highlighted the particular dangers faced by women journalists, who continue to experience threats and attacks both in conflict zones and online.

It disclosed that 13 of the 14 women journalists killed during the 2024–2025 period were in countries experiencing armed conflict.

A 2025 study conducted by UN Women and the International Center for Journalists also found that 75 per cent of women journalists had experienced online or offline abuse and harassment.

More than 40 per cent reported experiencing offline violence linked to online attacks, compared with 20 per cent recorded in a 2020 UNESCO survey.

UNESCO’s findings underscore continuing concerns over the safety of journalists, the protection of press freedom and the need for stronger investigations and prosecutions to ensure that crimes against media professionals do not go unpunished.

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