The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 69-year-old man and his 17-year-old accomplice for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Asaba-Benin Expressway. The suspects were allegedly transporting the weapons to Kaduna when they were intercepted. According to counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, officers from the Dragon Patrol Team 02 stopped a navy blue Sharon Space Bus with registration number DKA 408 LM (Kaduna) near the National Open University in Onicha-Ugbo, Aniocha North Local Government Area. A search of the vehicle uncovered seven pump-action guns and 1,600 cartridges concealed beneath the back seat. The…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The State Working Committee (SWC) of the Labour Party in Imo State has unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the State Chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, citing allegations of autocracy, financial recklessness, constitutional breaches, and betrayal of the party’s principles. In a statement issued on Friday, the SWC accused Ihejiagwa of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and acting as a stooge for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The committee also demanded his immediate resignation. The statement was signed by key SWC members, including the State Secretary, the three Zonal Chairmen/Deputy State Chairmen of Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri Zones, the…
The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from the purported recognition of former Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, as the leader of the party in the state. In a statement issued on Friday by the Delta APC Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, the party dismissed a claim by the National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka, who had declared Omo-Agege as the party’s leader in the state. Onojeghuo described Morka’s statement as false, insensitive, and not reflective of the collective efforts of party stakeholders working to strengthen the APC in Delta. “Barr. Morka’s unilateral statement that…
The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Nonye Soludo, has dismissed allegations by opposition politicians that her husband, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, is arrogant and unwilling to accept other opinions. Speaking with journalists at the Anambra Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Mrs. Soludo refuted the claims, describing her husband as a jovial and approachable individual who enjoys good humor and is deeply committed to his family. According to her, Soludo’s perceived seriousness is often mistaken for arrogance, but in reality, he is simply focused and dedicated to his responsibilities. She recalled their time together at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he…
The body of Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu, who was abducted on March 4, has been discovered in Mafan, Atakar Community, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State. According to intelligence sources, the 44-year-old Catholic priest was kidnapped from his residence at St. Mary Catholic Church, Tachira Atakar, around 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday. A joint security team conducting a search operation found his body at approximately 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, bearing signs of violence. His remains have since been transported to St. Louis Hospital, Zonkwa, for a post-mortem examination. Security forces have intensified efforts to track down those responsible for the…
President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, disclosed that he spent a night at the Dangote Cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State, during the wedding of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central. Akpabio made this revelation during plenary at the upper legislative chamber while lawmakers were debating the sexual harassment allegations leveled against him by Natasha. Addressing the Senate, Akpabio described Natasha’s husband as a close friend and brother, emphasizing that he stayed in Kogi for three days to attend the wedding ceremony. “Natasha is the wife of my very good friend and brother—or so I thought.…
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday confirmed that Sudan has filed a case against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing it of arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and violating the Genocide Convention in connection with attacks in West Darfur. In response, the UAE dismissed the allegations, stating it would seek an immediate dismissal of the case, which it claimed lacked any legal or factual basis. Sudan’s Allegations Against the UAE While the Sudanese foreign ministry has not yet commented, Sudanese officials have repeatedly accused the UAE of supporting the RSF, which has been locked in a…
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of engaging in an abuse of court process by allegedly undermining the appellate court’s ruling that reinstated elected APC local government council chairmen and councillors. In a statement on Thursday, APC’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, condemned Adeleke’s actions, claiming he has treated the Court of Appeal’s February 10, 2025, judgment with disdain. Adeleke Accused of Backing PDP Court Cases The party alleged that Governor Adeleke is behind lawsuits filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) local government officials, who were elected in…
A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s appointments, describing them as lopsided, particularly in the Northwest. He lamented that Zamfara State, a key contributor to Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, has been sidelined in federal appointments. Speaking in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, during the inauguration of his political movement, the Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front (WSDF), Shinkafi urged Tinubu to correct the imbalance and intensify efforts to address the lingering security crisis in Zamfara. Zamfara’s Role in Tinubu’s Victory Overlooked Shinkafi, who resigned as the National Secretary of…
The United States has halted intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, a move that could significantly impact Kyiv’s ability to target Russian forces, CIA Director John Ratcliffe announced on Wednesday. The decision underscores the Trump administration’s strategy of pressuring allies to engage in negotiations. U.S. Pushes Ukraine Toward Peace Talks This development follows President Donald Trump’s revelation on Tuesday that he had received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressing readiness to negotiate an end to the ongoing war with Russia. Ratcliffe, while addressing the intelligence-sharing pause, hinted that the situation might soon change. “I think on the military front and the…
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has neutralized 16 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers while arresting 300 suspects for various criminal offenses within the last two months. FCT Police Commissioner Olatunji Disu disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, stating that the arrested suspects are currently undergoing profiling and screening. He assured that those found culpable would be charged to court. Breakdown of Arrests and Neutralizations According to Disu, the arrests and neutralizations were achieved through special operations and raids conducted by operatives across the territory. He provided a breakdown of the arrests: 59 suspects were…
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has officially recognized the 27 members of the State House of Assembly led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule. For over a year and five months, Fubara had declared the seats of the Amaewhule-led lawmakers vacant following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers were known loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Despite multiple legal battles and stakeholder interventions, the crisis remained unresolved until the Supreme Court, on Friday, reinstated the lawmakers. Lawmakers Demand Budget Re-Presentation During their first plenary session in…
The newly elected local government officials in Osun State have approached the Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun to resolve the ongoing dispute over the occupation of council secretariats by officials elected under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration in 2022. The crisis stems from the October 15, 2022, local government elections conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, which were won by APC candidates through a Yes-or-No voting system. However, in November 2022, a Federal High Court in Osogbo nullified the election and sacked all elected chairmen and councillors. Prior to the election, on February 10, 2022, the…
The Rivers State House of Assembly has summoned the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), to appear before it within 48 hours over the conduct of the 2024 local government elections. During plenary on Wednesday, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the House warned that failure to comply with the summons would lead to the issuance of an arrest warrant against the RSIEC chairman. In another resolution, the Assembly urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to submit the names of all commissioners who were not screened by the Amaewhule-led legislature. Meanwhile, RSIEC has scheduled fresh local…
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (Rtd.), has defended his tenure in the fight against insurgency, acknowledging Nigeria’s lingering security challenges while highlighting key achievements under his leadership. Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, Buratai addressed issues ranging from intelligence operations to allegations of mismanaged military funds. Buratai, who led the Nigerian Army from 2015 to 2021, claimed significant progress was made in reclaiming territories from Boko Haram and strengthening the military. “Before 2015, Boko Haram controlled roughly 120,000 square kilometers, cutting off several parts of the North-East. By the time I left office, we had reclaimed…
United States President Donald Trump has criticized Canada’s banking regulations, alleging that American banks are barred from operating in the country while Canadian banks enjoy access to the U.S. market. Trump made this claim in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, writing: “Canada doesn’t allow American banks to do business in Canada, but their banks flood the American market. Oh, that seems fair to me, doesn’t it?” His comments come amid escalating trade tensions between the two nations. Trump has vowed to impose 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico, alongside a 10% tariff on Canadian energy.…
The Catholic Bishop of the Katsina-Ala Diocese, Isaac Dugu, has raised alarm over the persistent killings and displacement of residents in Benue State, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen. Speaking during a sermon on Sunday in Katsina-Ala, Bishop Dugu questioned the fate of the anti-open grazing law, which was enforced under the administration of former Governor Samuel Ortom. He noted that the law, when actively implemented, significantly curbed the activities of herdsmen due to the support it received from authorities at the time. The cleric called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to take decisive action within seven days to halt the killings, warning…
The Labour Party (LP) has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining control over its affairs, vowing never to allow “reactionary forces” to hijack the party. LP spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, made this declaration while dismissing speculations about a possible merger, following calls by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for the party to rebrand or form coalitions. In a communiqué issued after its meeting, the NLC directed its National Administrative Council (NAC) to explore immediate steps, including rebranding, merger, or coalition, to safeguard the interests of Nigerian workers and reclaim the party’s original ideological foundation. “The congress will not allow the Labour Party…
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has suspended its candidate for the November 16, 2024, governorship election in Ondo State, Olugbenga Edema, along with his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi. Their indefinite suspension, along with that of a party chieftain, Isreal Ayeni, was announced during the State Working Committee (SWC) meeting in Akure, the state capital. According to the NNPP chairman in Ondo State, Pastor Peter Olagookun, the decision followed allegations of anti-party activities and violations of the party’s constitution. Olagookun stated that Edema took legal action against the party without first exhausting its internal conflict resolution mechanisms. “The SWC decision…
A petrol tanker crash along the Jalingo-Wukari road in the early hours of Monday triggered a swift response from security operatives to prevent looting and a potential explosion. Police officers and personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) promptly arrived at the scene, securing the area and temporarily closing the road to ensure public safety. Authorities successfully transferred the tanker’s fuel container to another vehicle, averting any hazardous situation. Both the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Usman Abdullahi, and the NSCDC spokesperson, SC Sam Iliya, confirmed the swift intervention. The NSCDC Commandant personally led his team to…