NEWS

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, January 8, arraigned an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly failing to declare foreign currencies totaling $800,575 and €651,505—worth approximately N2.28 billion. Onal appeared before Justice Yellim Bogoro on a two-count charge of non-declaration of funds. Prosecution counsel, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the alleged offences occurred on December 13 at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, as Onal was preparing to travel to Australia. He was reportedly arrested by officers of the Anti-Money Laundering Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) after failing to declare the currencies in his possession. Buhari stated that the offences contrav...

The Lagos State Government has announced a temporary night-time traffic diversion along the Fadeyi–Donmanlong and Donmanlong–Ojuelegba corridors to allow for the installation of truck-restriction barriers. Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi said the diversion will take place from 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, to 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026. He said the measure is part of ongoing traffic control and road safety efforts aimed at reducing accidents along the busy route. Osiyemi explained that affected bridge sections would be closed to traffic during installation, noting that the work was scheduled overnight to minimise disruption to commuters and businesses. During the closure, motorists approaching from Fadeyi Donmanlong Bridge or Ayilara toward O...

Police in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, have arrested a group of children and teenagers accused of carrying out a string of burglaries across city suburbs, with the alleged crime spree involving property valued at more than US$10,000. The suspects, aged between 12 and 16, were linked to a wave of housebreaking incidents that began in October 2025 and left residents of Nkulumane and Tshabalala shaken. The arrests followed a months-long investigation into a surge of unlawful entries reported in the two neighbourhoods. On 8 January 2026, the Zimbabwe Republic Police said they were investigating 20 separate cases of unlawful entry and theft committed between 15 October and 30 December 2025. Stolen goods included cash and household items valued at US$8,948, ZAR 13,400 and P2,350. Police said te...

Russia launched a hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight on Thursday, marking a rare use of one of Moscow’s most advanced weapons as attacks intensified amid harsh winter conditions. This was the first known use of the Oreshnik missile in over a year. The system is designed to carry multiple warheads and can be equipped with either conventional or nuclear payloads. In a statement released on Friday, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said its forces carried out a “large-scale strike using high-precision long-range weapons,” including land- and sea-based systems as well as the Oreshnik mobile medium-range missile platform. While Russian officials did not disclose the specific target, Ukrainian authorities reported explosions and confirmed that a ballistic missile stru...

A Nigerian woman, Amanda Azubuike, has made history as the first Nigerian woman to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army Azubuike, who was born in London, United Kingdom, to a Nigerian father of Igbo descent and a Zimbabwean mother, recently achieved the milestone. Her journey into the military began early after she moved to the United States with her mother and sister, eventually becoming a U.S. citizen in April 1989. At 17, she joined the Air Force Junior ROTC program while attending high school in the U.S., laying the groundwork for a distinguished career. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas before beginning her Army service in 1994 as an aviator after completing the Army Aviatio...

US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could carry out additional military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christians continues. In an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, Trump said the December 25 airstrike against Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria was intended to be a one-off operation, but added that more strikes could follow if the attacks persist. “I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” Trump said, “but if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.” The Christmas Day operation, which the US said was conducted at the request of the Nigerian government, targeted Islamic State affiliates and attracted international attention due to its timing. Trump described the action as a response to ...

Venezuela has begun freeing a significant number of political prisoners, including foreign nationals, a development praised by US President Donald Trump as a positive step toward cooperation following the removal of former leader Nicolas Maduro. The releases, which started on Thursday, mark the first such action since Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy, assumed leadership with backing from Washington. Trump has indicated he is willing to support her administration provided the United States gains access to Venezuela’s oil resources. In a social media post on Friday, Trump described the prisoner releases as a gesture of “seeking peace,” calling it a “very important and smart move.” He said relations between Washington and Caracas were improving and revealed that he had cancelled ...

Union jack flagon pole and Big Ben The United Kingdom has issued a renewed warning to Nigerians and other migrants against taking up jobs without proper authorisation, cautioning that anyone found working illegally will be arrested, detained and deported. UK authorities said enforcement actions against illegal employment have intensified nationwide, with immigration raids now taking place more frequently. Officials noted that enforcement teams are actively visiting workplaces to identify individuals violating immigration regulations. According to the UK government, migrants caught working without valid permission will face immediate action, including possible removal from the country. The Home Office stated that it remains committed to strict enforcement of immigration laws a...

Iran was thrown into a nationwide internet shutdown on Thursday night, January 8, as widespread anti-government protests swept across the country. Demonstrators took to the streets chanting slogans against the ruling theocratic system, fueled by mounting frustration over economic hardship and intensified security crackdowns. Authorities severed internet access and telephone services shortly after protests broke out in Tehran and other major cities. Despite the blackout, videos of the demonstrations continued to surface online as the unrest entered its second week. Cybersecurity analysts say such nationwide shutdowns are often imposed when authorities anticipate the use of lethal force, with the aim of curbing information flow and reducing international scrutiny. Protests have erup...

The Lagos State House of Assembly has approved a ₦4.4 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, following the adoption of the report from the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget. Committee chairman Sa’ad Olumoh presented the report during Thursday’s plenary, outlining the assumptions, projections, and structure of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, dubbed the “Budget of Shared Prosperity.” The budget marks the third cycle of the current administration and the final new-cycle budget of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term. It aligns with the state government’s development agenda, which is built on four strategic pillars: human-centric development, modern and adaptive infrastructure, a thriving 21st-century megacity economy, and governance that surpasses citizens’ expectatio...