NEWS

The High Court of Sierra Leone presided by Justice Andrew S.C. Johnson, has sentenced a 37-year-old South African woman, Asandra Denise, to 130 years’ imprisonment for offences relating to the unlawful possession, transportation, and importation of cocaine. The convict, a resident of Nenvonds in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, was arraigned before the High Court on a five-count indictment, including Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Drugs, Dealing in Prohibited Drugs, Collecting Prohibited Drugs, Importing Prohibited Drugs, and Transporting Prohibited Drugs.  The charges were brought pursuant to Sections 8(a) and 7(b) and (c) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).  The charges were brought pursuant to Sections 8(a) and 7(b) and (c) of th...

Suspected “repentant” bandits have reportedly killed a commercial driver and abducted nine other people in separate attacks along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari highway and parts of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The slain driver, identified as Mallam Ibrahim Adamu, was said to be the grandson of a District Head in the Birnin Gwari Emirate. A family source confirmed that Ibrahim was killed during an attack at Kwanan Giginya along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road. According to reports, armed attackers opened fire on his commercial vehicle, killing him instantly before abducting about five passengers who were travelling with him. In another incident, four farmers were reportedly kidnapped while working on their farms in the Kurgi area of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area....

IGP Disu Appoints Anietie Iniedu As New Nigeria Police Force PRO Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu has appointed CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu as the new Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, replacing DCP Anthony Placid, who assumed the role in March 2026. The appointment was confirmed in a statement by the outgoing spokesperson, who described Iniedu as an experienced officer with strong background in public communication, intelligence management, operational policing, and administration. Iniedu, from Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pure Chemistry from the University of Uyo and has undergone professional training in strategic communication, crime management, investigative interviewing, and human rights-base...

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading rapidly despite intensified efforts to contain the deadly virus. Speaking from Bunia, the capital of the conflict-affected Ituri Province, WHO Regional Emergencies Director for Africa, Marie-Roseline Belizaire, said health authorities are struggling to keep pace with the evolving outbreak. “The outbreak remains serious” and is “evolving so fast,” Belizaire told reporters in Geneva, while noting that the response effort is becoming stronger each day. The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, although health officials believe the virus had been circulating undetected for some time before its discovery. The epidemic is being driven by the rare B...

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has accused British authorities of destroying her reputation and integrity after she was cleared of bribery charges in a London court, describing the 13-year investigation into her activities as “painful and traumatic”. In an interview with the BBC, the former minister said the prolonged probe by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had severely affected her life, restricting her freedom, career and ability to travel. “I’ve not been allowed to travel. I’ve not been allowed to work. They destroyed my reputation and my integrity,” Alison-Madueke said. “When your freedom is taken away from you, no matter how you try to handle it, it has a very deep impact upon you psychologically.” Alison-Madueke, who made history as Ni...

Israeli troops will stay in Lebanon “as long as necessary”, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, vowing to make Iran-backed Hezbollah pay a “heavy price” for its attacks. “Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or our territory, and it will exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks,” Netanyahu said in a statement after the military announced the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in Lebanon.“Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary for the protection of the communities of the north.” Netanyahu characterized the overnight assault as a "blatant violation of the ceasefire" agreement that had recently taken effect under broader regional diplomatic frameworks. He confirmed that he had instructed the Israel De...

Suspects who kidnapped a woman at the Vegetable Market in Benin on Sunday, April 14, 2026, have been arrested by operatives of the Edo State Police Command. The Guardian gathered that the woman was released two days after the incident. Parading the suspects in Benin on Thursday in the presence of Governor Monday Okpebholo, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, said “operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Edo, acting on credible intelligence, successfully arrested one Marvelous Issac (m), aged 32 years, who was identified as a member of the kidnapping syndicate,” adding that “another suspect identified as Precious (surname unknown) was neutralized following an exchange of gunfire with the police.” Also paraded were suspected kidnappers operating along the...

For decades, corruption has remained one of Nigeria’s biggest challenges, with many citizens questioning why repeated government promises and anti-corruption campaigns have failed to completely address the problem. From allegations of mismanagement of public funds to concerns over weak institutions and lack of accountability, corruption has continued to affect the country’s development, leaving many vulnerable Nigerians struggling with poverty, unemployment, poor infrastructure and limited access to basic services. Analysts say one of the major reasons corruption persists is the weakness of institutions responsible for preventing and punishing corrupt practices. When investigations and prosecutions are delayed or political influence is suspected in accountability processes, public co...

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Apapa Area Command, has intercepted expired pharmaceutical products worth over ₦12.7 billion and a large consignment of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) weighing about 1.8 tonnes, in separate intelligence-led operations carried out in Lagos. The Command said the illegal goods were stopped from entering the Nigerian market through coordinated efforts with sister security agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and other regulatory bodies. This was contained in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, CSC, Isah Sulaiman. The statement explained that the seizures were achieved through credible intelligence and improved risk profiling systems. According to him, the oper...

The Federal Government is considering a policy that would allow journalists to accompany military personnel on selected operations as part of efforts to improve security reporting and enhance public understanding of the nation's security challenges. The proposal was disclosed by the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, during the National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abuja. The minister was represented at the event by his Special Adviser, Olusanya Bankole. According to Musa, the initiative is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the media and security agencies while promoting greater transparency in military operations. He noted that the media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception of security efforts and national stability, part...