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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 1,119 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in 2025, with young adults identified as the most affected age group nationwide.The data comes from the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 51, covering December 15–21, 2025, which provides details on cases, deaths, and affected states.The report shows that people aged 21 to 30 accounted for the highest number of infections, with a median patient age of 30 years. Males were slightly more affected than females, reflecting differences in exposure or health-seeking behaviour in high-risk communities.A total of 206 deaths were recorded among confirmed cases, resulting in a case fatality rate of 18.4%, up from 16.4% during the same period in 2024. D...

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday warned that U.S. intervention in Venezuela breaches international law and threatens global security.Over the weekend, U.S. forces carried out a surprise operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who now faces four criminal charges in the U.S., including narco-terrorism. Maduro’s vice president has been sworn in as interim president.“The operation clearly violated a core principle of international law: no state should threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state,” the OHCHR stated.Ravina Shamdasani, the Office’s chief spokesperson, urged the international community to “speak with one voice” in defending this principle. She st...

Former National Secretary of the now-defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), Prof. Udenta O. Udenta, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of fabricating terror financing charges against Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.Udenta made the claim on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television.He said, “No one is above the law; governors or even presidents can be investigated, and prosecution can take place after their tenure. However, openly investigating a sitting governor can disrupt governance.“The EFCC’s public targeting of Bala Mohammed, and the harmful criminalisation of his reputation, is unacceptable. His name is being associated with terror financing in ways that are visible globally, tarnishing his image.“If you recall, the judge asked the...

Former Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has dismissed reports suggesting he plans to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the claims as false and baseless.PUNCH Online gathered that the speculation may have arisen from the lingering political rift between Badaru and his successor, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Party sources say tensions have persisted, with allegations that supporters of the former governor feel sidelined in both government and party affairs in the state.The internal disagreements within the Jigawa APC have reportedly fueled rumours of possible defections, as some members are said to be disillusioned and exploring alternative political platforms.However, Badaru has firmly denied the re...

Former National Secretary of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), Professor Udenta Udenta, has said efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to establish a one-party state will ultimately fail.Speaking on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television, Udenta argued that the APC would emerge weaker after its primary elections, with rival parties benefiting from internal fallout.He said the party’s internal troubles were already evident, pointing to developments in Rivers State as an early sign of structural and administrative instability within the APC.According to Udenta, Nigeria’s diverse and multi-ethnic nature makes the idea of a one-party state unrealistic, stressing that such a system would face strong resistance.He added that politicians are often f...

Venezuela’s parliament on Monday officially inaugurated Delcy Rodríguez as interim president, two days after US forces captured former leader Nicolás Maduro and transported him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president, took the oath of office before the National Assembly, pledging her commitment to the nation. She expressed anguish over what she described as the abduction of national figures, referring to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are currently in US custody.The parliamentary session also resulted in the re-election of Rodríguez’s brother, Jorge Rodríguez, as Speaker of the National Assembly, further consolidating executive and legislative power within the family.Addressing lawmakers, Jorge Rodríguez vowed to e...

The only son of detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has called on citizens to take to the streets in protest, following his father’s arrest, while warning that those who betrayed his family would eventually be exposed.Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, 35, who was indicted by the United States in 2020 alongside his parents, struck a defiant tone on Sunday, January 4. He declared that he would do everything possible to secure the freedom of his parents and resist what he described as US-backed leadership in Venezuela.In a fiery statement reported by El País, Maduro Guerra urged Venezuelans to demonstrate unity and resilience. “You will see us in the streets. You will see a united people. You will see us raising the flags of dignity,” he said, adding that his family would not be br...

The Senior Pastor of Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, Chris Okafor, failed to honour a police summons on Monday over allegations bordering on multiple rape and other offences said to be capable of disturbing public order.According to reports, Okafor was invited to appear before the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos, by 10:00 a.m. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, had ordered a comprehensive investigation into petitions filed against the cleric.The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, had earlier confirmed that the complaints involved alleged sexual misconduct and related issues.A senior officer at SCID, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that ...

Kano State witnessed rising political tension on Monday as security presence was increased around the Government House amid disagreements between the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf over planned defections.There have been strong indications that Yusuf, a protégé of Kwankwaso, is preparing to defect from NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).Reports said the move, earlier expected imminently, had been shifted to January 12 to allow the governor hold wider consultations, especially with lawmakers in the state assembly.Kwankwaso, speaking on Saturday, accused the governor of planning to “hand over Kano to former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje”, claiming the state had earlier been rescued from him.Ganduj...

Nigeria has been ranked as the fifth most proficient English-speaking country in Africa, according to the 2025 Education First English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), as cited by SNOW TV NEWS from EF’s official website.The index, compiled by global education firm EF, evaluated English language proficiency across 123 countries and regions, drawing on results from 2.2 million test participants. For the first time, the 2025 edition also assessed speaking and writing skills, using artificial intelligence-powered tools developed by EF’s education technology division.As Nigeria’s official language, English plays a central role in education, governance, media, and business, contributing to the country’s strong performance in the rankings. Within Africa, Nigeria placed behind South Africa, Zim...