Author: Maryam Sulaiman

The Imo State Police Command confirmed on Thursday that security personnel executed a rapid response operation resulting in the rescue of 10 individuals kidnapped by armed attackers along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway. The intervention came after gunmen intercepted vehicles carrying National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other travellers along the highway. Police Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye detailed the initial rescue outcomes in an official statement. “The rescued victims are in safe hands and are being attended to. The exact number of persons abducted is being verified and will be made public once confirmed,” the Command said. Following the report…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, attended the official national screening of MKO, a documentary detailing the life, political battles, and legacy of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola alongside the historic June 12 pro-democracy movement. Organised as part of events commemorating Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, the event took place at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Abuja. Directed by US-based filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, the project recounts the cancellation of the June 12, 1993 presidential contest—a critical turning point in the country’s democratic trajectory—and the persistent struggle by citizens and activists to bring…

Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group and Africa’s richest man, has accused local marketers and international oil corporations of inciting protests against land acquisition for his proposed $16 billion refinery in Lamu, Kenya. Despite a court order halting construction operations due to an ongoing land conflict, Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto led the official groundbreaking ceremony for the facility on Wednesday. Addressing the demonstrations by local residents over land compensation during an interview on BBC’s Focus on Africa, Dangote rejected assertions that his firm had seized excess land, asserting that the company solely occupied the area designated by…

Marking 66 years of national sovereignty, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered an Independence Day address asserting that Nigeria has successfully altered its economic trajectory following three and a half years of rigorous structural reforms. He declared that the country has moved past emergency measures and entered an “age of prosperity.” Reflecting on the nation’s journey since the flag was first raised 66 years ago, Tinubu noted that the original promise to build a united, strong, and prosperous country had been tested by war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity, and political upheaval. He praised the resilience of ordinary citizens—including farmers, traders,…

Thursday, October 1, 2026, has been declared a public holiday by the Federal Government to celebrate the 66th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence. The announcement was made on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, through a statement issued on Wednesday by Magdalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry. Extending his congratulations to Nigerians both domestically and in the diaspora, Tunji-Ojo encouraged citizens to reflect the values of unity, patriotism, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect during the celebration. He highlighted that peace and stability serve as vital foundations for national progress, urging the public to…

In preparation for Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1, the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has mobilized 3,000 personnel across Abuja as part of its security measures. A statement issued on Tuesday by the FCT CDPRO, DSC Monica Ojobi, explained that the deployment was directed by FCT Commandant, Dr. Olusola Odumosu. The operation aims to reinforce security, uphold law and order, and safeguard lives and property ahead of, during, and after the national celebrations. The deployment draws officers from specialized units within the Corps, including the Arms Squad, Female Strike Force,…

Troops from Sector 2 of Operation Fansan Yamma have successfully liberated 41 travellers kidnapped by bandits in Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State, after their vehicle broke down on the road. The victims, who were journeying from Senegal to Kano State, were left stranded on the highway when their commercial bus suffered a mechanical breakdown. Reports indicate that the group consisted of “24 males, 10 females and seven children.” An official statement released by the military operational team on Tuesday explained that the bandits capitalized on the passengers’ helpless situation and tried to force them into the adjacent terrain. “Acting…

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to resume the issuance of petroleum product import licences to Matrix Energy, A.A. Rano, and AYM Shafa. Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that the regulator’s refusal to grant and renew import permits for the three oil firms constituted “direct non-compliance” with the Petroleum Industry Act. The suit was instituted by the companies through their legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Raji Ahmed alongside Chris Ekemezie, contesting the regulator’s stance on issuing and renewing import documentation. The claimants had…

The Department of State Services has obtained a death sentence against notorious kidnapper Ibrahim Usman, widely recognized as Dan Iyali, following his involvement in the abduction and murder of three individuals in Sokoto State in September 2023. Usman appeared before the High Court of Justice of Sokoto State, sitting in the Sokoto Judicial Division, where he was prosecuted on a four-count charge. His accomplices remain at large. The charges filed against him included criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, culpable homicide punishable by death, and voluntarily causing severe bodily harm without provocation. This verdict comes shortly after another major conviction obtained by the…

The Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg has demanded justice over the deaths of three Nigerian nationals in separate incidents across South Africa between September 18 and 21, 2026, amid renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians in the country. Consul-General, Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, in a statement, calls on South African authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensure that anyone found responsible faces the law. The Consulate says Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadu dies on September 18 after allegedly jumping from a building while attempting to escape alleged police harassment and brutality at Kenlin Court on Douglas Street, Bloemfontein. Two…