NEWS

Former presidential spokesperson Reuben Abati has called on Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to clarify how he allegedly obtained access to the restricted database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The controversy arose after Olayinka published voter registration details belonging to Nollywood actor Emeka Ike following the actor’s declaration of interest in contesting for a seat in the FCT House of Representatives. His action sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning how a non-INEC official was able to access information believed to be stored on the commission’s restricted administrative platform. Speaking during the “What’s Trending” segment of Arise Television’s Morning Show on...

The Nigerian military, working alongside the United States Africa Command, reportedly killed 21 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province during an air strike in Arege, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. According to security publication Zagazola Makama, the operation was carried out on Saturday, May 30, after intelligence and surveillance reportedly confirmed the presence of ISWAP fighters in the area. Security sources cited by the publication said the strike targeted a terrorist camp where insurgents were allegedly planning attacks across the Lake Chad region. “The precision engagement resulted in the elimination of 21 terrorists and caused significant disruption to the operational capabilities of the criminal elements,” the publication quoted sources as saying. ...

A veteran CIA officer arrested over the alleged hoarding of millions of dollars worth of gold bars has reportedly been linked to Stephen A. Feinberg, a senior Pentagon official in President Donald Trump's administration. According to reports by NBC News and The New York Times, David Rush previously worked with Feinberg, a billionaire businessman who currently serves as Deputy Secretary of Defense. Rush spent 17 years at the Central Intelligence Agency and held a senior role within the agency's Directorate of Science and Technology. Reports indicate that Rush and Feinberg may have first crossed paths during Trump's first term in office when both were associated with the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. Feinberg served as chairman of the board, which advises the White House...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the August 15, 2026 governorship election in Osun State, with a renewed focus on voter education, inclusivity and strategies to address voter apathy. The Commission disclosed this in a post on its official X handle on Monday, following a Joint Implementation Meeting involving its Voter Education and Publicity as well as Gender and Inclusivity departments in Osogbo. Speaking at the meeting, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, stressed the importance of sustained civic engagement ahead of the poll, describing elections as a continuous process rather than a one-day event. “Election is a process, not an event,” Babalola said, warning that inadequate vot...

Gunmen have attacked Gwon-Ajang village in Foron district, Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau, k!lling at least seven people.  The gunmen suspected to be herders raided the village on Sunday night, May 31, 2026. Rwang Tengwong, spokesperson for the Berom Youths Moulder-Association, who confirmed the incident on Monday said the attack occurred around 9:30 p.m. *At least seven persons were reportedly k!lled in another armed invasion perpetrated by terrorist gangs of Fulani at about 9:30 p.m. or thereabout on 31st May, 2026 in Gwon-Ajang village of Foron District, Barkin Ladi LGA,” Mr Tengwong said. about:blank According to him, more than 10 people were wounded in the attack. "The Special Task Force commander who is in charge of that axis. He said it even took him by s...

The official Instagram account associated with the The Obama White House was briefly compromised on Sunday after hackers posted unauthorised content, according to a spokesperson for Meta. The incident affected the @obamawhitehouse Instagram account, which serves as an archived account for the administration of former U.S. President Barack Obama. Among the posts published during the breach was an AI-generated image accompanied by a caption that reportedly translated to, “The White House is under Shiites' control.” The hackers also posted several Instagram Stories before the account was secured. A representative for Meta confirmed that the account had been hacked and said the unauthorised content had since been removed. The company added that the account has now been secured...

A 27-year-old Nigerian man, Qudus Ajeyemi, has been convicted of attempting to r@pe a woman after following her upstairs at a house in Hull, United Kingdom and ignoring her repeated refusals during a night out. Ajeyemi, formerly of May Street off Beverley Road in Hull and more recently living in Manchester, was found guilty at Hull Crown Court on Friday, May 29, 2026 of attempted r@pe by a 10-2 majority verdict and of s3xual assault by a unanimous decision. Charlotte Baines, prosecuting, told the court that Ajeyemi – nicknamed Spartan – and others were invited to a "party" night out in Hull, including at a club.  The woman, who had consumed a significant amount of alcohol including champagne and vodka, began to feel unwell and went upstairs in the house to lie down and sl...

The United States Department of State has announced a $3.5 million funding programme aimed at improving the documentation and reporting of religious freedom violations in Nigeria. The initiative, unveiled by the Office of International Religious Freedom under the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, seeks applications from organisations capable of strengthening efforts to monitor and document religion-related abuses across the country. According to the funding notice released on May 22, 2026, the programme will run for between 24 and 48 months, with one grant or cooperative agreement expected to be awarded. The State Department said the project is intended to improve accountability, advocacy and memorialisation efforts through better documentation of abuses committed by...

The Kogi State Government has suspended the annual Echane Festival in Ebiraland with immediate effect, citing security concerns and the need to maintain public order. The announcement was made in a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo. ] According to the government, the decision followed credible intelligence reports suggesting that activities associated with the festival could pose a threat to public peace and security and potentially lead to a breakdown of law and order in parts of Kogi Central Senatorial District. While acknowledging the cultural importance of the festival and its role in preserving the heritage of the Ebira people, the government said the safety of residents remains its top priority. The statement ...

Fifteen Chinese nationals, nine Nigerian citizens, and a mining company have been brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of illegal lithium mining activities in Nasarawa State. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia following their arrest by Mining Marshals during a joint enforcement operation conducted on May 16, 2026, in Kokona Local Government Area. According to court documents, the suspects were allegedly engaged in unauthorized mining activities within a mineral-rich area covered by Exploration Licence No. 036528-EL, which is legally owned by TIMADIX Geomin Consult Ltd. Prosecutors accused the defendants of unlawfully extracting lithium from the licensed mining site in Kokona, an area that has attracted significant interest due ...