Author: Maryam Sulaiman

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reassured the nation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is fully resolved to ensure the safe rescue of all schoolchildren and citizens currently held captive by terrorists and bandits.Speaking in Abuja shortly after a special Democracy Day Jummat prayer at the National Mosque, the Vice President reemphasized the federal government’s determination to triumph over the country’s security crises. His remarks come during a tense period of heightened public anxiety. Meanwhile, the police have officially debunked rumors claiming that one of the girls abducted during the May 15 school raids in Oyo State had died, cautioning…

The Senate has pledged to accelerate the constitutional amendments required to establish state police forces, reacting to a worrying surge in kidnappings, banditry, and general lawlessness across Nigeria. In a conversation with Saturday PUNCH, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed that the upper legislative chamber is fully dedicated to speeding up the legislative work needed to overhaul the country’s security framework. He emphasized that the Senate wants to move quickly on these constitutional revisions to tackle the nationwide security crisis head-on.”Very soon. As I earlier told you, the Senate is fully prepared…

A joint security operation involving operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and forest guards has successfully intercepted a shipment of medical supplies reportedly bound for Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno State. The operation took place on Friday in the Kaga Local Government Area of the state. The breakthrough was first reported by Zagazola Makama, a publication specializing in counter-insurgency and security analysis within the Lake Chad region. According to security sources cited by the publication, the joint team successfully targeted a suspected logistics route utilized by insurgent networks operating through the forested areas of…

A major crackdown on visa exploitation is underway as details emerge of Nigerian citizens being scammed out of millions of Naira by corrupt syndicates for South African visas. ‎‎In a powerful statement, Ambassador Ayanda Ngwane, the Press Diplomat and Mediator, exposed the massive price inflation, revealing that the actual official fee set by South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is a fraction of what middlemen are charging. “For too long, Nigerian citizens have been made to pay millions to unseen faces calling themselves agents and middlemen for a South African 🇿🇦 visa,” Ngwane stated. “Let the record…

A nursing mother and her baby boy who were captured during a violent terrorist raid on the Ngoshe community in Borno State have been freed by troops from the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai. The rescued individuals, 20-year-old Maryam Muhammad and her 16-month-old son, Bello Muhammad, had been held since their abduction on March 3, 2026. Their liberation was part of a broader military campaign in the region that also resulted in the elimination of active terrorists and a wave of surrenders by insurgents’ relatives. According to military officials, the success of the mission highlights the intensifying pressure…

In a significant diplomatic move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a rare open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, proposing a direct, face-to-face meeting. This development comes on the heels of the Kremlin chief admitting a need to bolster Moscow’s air defenses following a series of recent Ukrainian strikes. US President Donald Trump, who has consistently advocated for an end to the conflict and previously claimed he could halt the war within 24 hours of taking office, described the potential meeting as “great” while urging both nations to find common ground. Responding to the development, the Kremlin stated that…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has greenlit a dedicated compensation package for premium (Band A) electricity consumers who faced severe power outages and subpar supply between February and March 2026. The regulatory body explained that this intervention was triggered by massive generation shortfalls across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). These shortages left electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) unable to deliver on their guaranteed service hours to premium feeders during that window. According to NERC, the widespread blackouts were primarily driven by a lack of gas supply to generation companies, alongside the vandalism of critical gas and transmission infrastructure—events that…

From L-R: Press Diplomat, Ayanda Yaya Ngwane, South African Deputy Ambassador, Her Excellency Lindy Mminele and Dr. Maimoona Salim

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced four members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group to death by hanging for their roles in the devastating June 5, 2022, assault on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo. The infamous attack resulted in the deaths of over 40 congregants and left more than 100 others wounded. Presiding Judge Emeka Nwite delivered the verdict after finding Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25) guilty on a nine-count terrorism charge. The case was prosecuted by the Department of State Services on behalf of the Federal…

Five worshippers who were abducted during an armed raid on the ECWA Church in Omugo, located in the Oro Ago District of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, have tragically died while being held by their captors. The heartbreaking news was shared by the church’s minister, Rev. Timothy Omole, through a message to his congregation via the church’s WhatsApp platform. He subsequently confirmed the devastating update during a telephone interview on Wednesday night. Among those who lost their lives in captivity was the pastor’s own wife, Mrs. Rachael Oluwaremilekun Omole.The victims were part of a group of eight congregants…