NEWS

The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has trained government officials and key stakeholders on strategies to improve support for vulnerable residents during emergencies and periods of hardship. The training, organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, was held at The Patron Hotels, Sangotedo, Lagos, and brought together members of the Social Protection Implementation Technical Working Group, social protection focal persons from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as other relevant stakeholders. The workshop focused on developing stronger approaches for responding to economic challenges, climate-related emergencies, public health crises and other situations that affect vulnerable household...

Nigerian journalist Rufai Oseni has alleged that the legal challenge seeking to invalidate the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was deliberately initiated shortly after former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi joined the party. Speaking during ARISE Television’s “The Morning Show” on Monday, Oseni claimed that the timing of the court action raised concerns, noting that Obi officially joined the NDC on May 3, while the lawsuit challenging the party’s registration was filed two days later, on May 5. The broadcaster suggested that the development was part of a wider attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election. According to Oseni, the situation follows a similar pattern to previous legal battles involving opposition groups, including the...

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to focus on rehabilitating and maintaining existing roads instead of starting new road construction projects. Obi argued that Nigeria’s limited resources should be directed toward restoring major highways that are currently in poor condition rather than investing in new projects that may not provide immediate relief to citizens. The former Anambra State governor made the remarks in a statement titled “My Stance on Road Development”, shared on his official X account on Monday. He identified the Asaba-Benin Road as one of the country’s most important highways requiring urgent attention, describing it as a major transport route connecting several parts of the Sout...

A teacher has been confirmed dead and dozens of students abducted from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, a border community with Adamawa State. The Special Adviser to Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, on Media and Strategy, Mr Solomon Kwamagar, a resident of Lassa, confirmed the incident to PUNCH Online on Monday morning. He disclosed that the attackers arrived on motorcycles and invaded the school. “Today is Lassa market day. I was informed that they came through the market on motorcycles and went to Government Day Secondary School, Lassa. They shot and killed one teacher and took away all the students who were in their classrooms,” he said. Kwamagar added, “Lassa in Borno State is predominantly inhabited by my pe...

The US and Iran have reportedly agreed to "stand down" following an exchange of strikes over the past few days. It comes after several attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz, with both nations accusing each other of violating their ceasefire. A US official confirmed to the BBC's US partner CBS News that vessels will now be able to move through the waterway "freely", and added that renewed talks aimed at ending the war will continue. The United States and Iran have also agreed to meet in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday for further discussions, according to another US official. Iran has not commented on the reports that it has agreed to halt strikes in the strait. On 17 June, the US and Iran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which included an "immediate and perm...

A medical doctor who works in Kebbi Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, has issued a warning after an encounter at the hospital.  Doctor Mustapha Muhammed took to Facebook to reveal what happens when a person doesn't drink enough water. He wrote: "A week ago, an 11 year old boy was brought in to our children's clinic and specifically to my consulting room, the parents complained that their child can't hold urine (urinary incontinence), and that was the only complaint, nothing more except for child's inadequate intake of water or doesn't like drinking water that much.  "Upon further evaluation, he was assessed to have urinary tract infection and likely BLADDER STONE. about:blank "An abdominopelvic ultrasound scan was requested, which revealed a finding in keeping with...

A notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Maha, has boasted that he has the ability to kidnap top government officials, including governors. The terrorist leader also claimed to have deep access to confidential security information, alleging that he receives advance notice of military operations before they are launched. The bandit kingpin spoke in a recorded audio message that surfaced on Sunday and was shared by verified X user, Abdool Moh. Maha, in the audio, accused authorities of refusing to release his arrested associates and seized cattle, insisting that the government’s actions had pushed him into escalating violence across affected areas. He said repeated efforts to secure the release of his men were ignored by authorities, leaving him with no intention of back...

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a suspected notorious armed robber and recovered firearms and live ammunition. The spokesperson for the command, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, June 29, 2026 said the suspects identified as Austine Emenike, popularly known as “Oyibo,” is linked to a wider criminal network.  She added that efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the gang, as well as uncover the full scope of their activities.  “The Rivers State Police Command has recorded another major operational success in its relentless campaign against violent crime, with the arrest of a suspected armed robber and the recovery of multiple firearms and live ammunition in a targeted intelligence-led operation," the...

Sustained offensive operations by troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have continued to yield significant results, with a fresh group of senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commanders surrendering to the military amid intensified counter-terrorism operations across the North-East. Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the latest surrender involved key figures within the terrorist network who abandoned their enclaves following weeks of sustained military offensives, precision strikes and intelligence-driven operations that have continued to degrade the group’s operational capabilities. The sources said the surrendered commanders are currently being held at a secure military facility, where they are undergoing profiling, intellige...

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has carried out a minor cabinet reshuffle, relieving several political appointees, including his Deputy Chief of Staff and Principal Private Secretary, of their appointments. The decision was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Governor's Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mashood Agboola. According to the statement, the reshuffle also affects all Special Advisers (SAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), and Special Assistants (SAs) serving in the administration. Governor AbdulRazaq explained that the exercise was aimed at creating opportunities for more members of the ruling party to contribute to governance while injecting fresh ideas and renewed energy into his administration. He directed all affected officials to hand over...