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…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
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…