NEWS

Eight members of a family, including a pregnant woman, have been k!lled in a late-night attack on Mbwelle village, at Forof Wur District in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.  The attackers reportedly stormed the community around 11 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026, unleashing sustained gunfire that lasted close to an hour, leaving homes shattered, families displaced, and several residents unaccounted for.  Those k!lled in the assault have been identified as Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus, Lucky Titus Dakus, Habila Istifanu Dakus, Hassan Istifanus Dakus, Mrs Hassan Moses Dakus, Biggie Lucky Dakus, Sunday Gideon Dakus, and Innocent Barnabas Makwin.  At least three others sustained injuries, while search efforts continue for those still missing. Chairman o...

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the postponement of the proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise until after the 2027 General Election. This follows a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, on Friday, April 10. A statement signed by INEC’s National Commissioner, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said “the voter revalidation exercise is a critical component of the Commission’s mandate to maintain a credible and up-to-date National Register of Voters. It is designed to verify and review existing voter records, ensure the accuracy of personal data, eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries, and strengthen the overall integrity of the voter register. The exercise also aims to p...

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), in Beijing on Friday, April 10, expressing confidence that relations between China and Taiwan would ultimately lead to unity. During the meeting, Xi said: “The general trend of compatriots on both sides of the Strait getting closer, edging nearer and becoming united will not change.” He added: “This is an inevitable part of history. We have full confidence in this.” Xi also indicated Beijing’s willingness to engage with Taiwanese political groups, stating China is ready to strengthen dialogue on the basis of “opposing Taiwan independence.” Cheng, whose visit marks the first by a KMT leader to China in a decade, echoed similar sentiments, saying efforts to reduce tensions are necessary to avoid con...

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) can now print their examination slips. In a statement released on Thursday, the board advised candidates to visit its official website to download and print their slips ahead of the exam. According to JAMB, the slip contains essential details such as the examination date, venue, and time, and is required for entry into the exam hall. Candidates are expected to log on to jamb.gov.ng and select the “2026 Slip Printing” option to access their details. The announcement follows JAMB’s dismissal of a viral message claiming the examination had been postponed, which the board described as false and misleading. Candidates were urged to ...

A pastor in South Carolina, Rodney Gibson, has been arrested over allegations of sexual abuse involving a foster child in his care. His wife, Kawiana Young, is also facing charges in connection with the case. Both individuals, aged 50, were taken into custody on April 1 and charged with unlawful conduct involving a minor. Gibson is additionally facing multiple charges, including criminal sexual conduct and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Authorities began investigating in March after a victim reported abuse allegedly suffered in the couple’s home, starting at age 15 and continuing until they exited the foster care system. According to the South Carolina Department of Social Services, Young was a licensed foster parent from June 2021 to June 2025 before voluntarily givi...

The United States Embassy Abuja has suspended all visa appointments, advising applicants to check their emails for updates on new dates. The announcement was made via the official 𝕏 handle of the U.S. mission in Nigeria on Thursday. According to the statement, visa services in Abuja are temporarily halted, while operations at the U.S. Consulate General Lagos will continue. Emergency services for American citizens remain available by appointment. The move follows a recent directive from the United States Department of State, which authorised non-essential government staff and their families to leave Abuja due to rising security concerns. In an updated travel advisory, the U.S. urged its citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria, citing risks such as crime, terrorism, kidnappi...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 31 suspected internet fraudsters during a raid on a cybercrime training centre, popularly known as a “Yahoo academy,” in Becki Estate, Karu, Abuja. According to the EFCC, the suspects—made up of two alleged masterminds and several trainees—were apprehended while undergoing lessons in internet fraud. Items recovered during the operation include mobile phones, 18 laptops, and other electronic devices. Preliminary investigations revealed that some recruits were lured from Benue State with promises of legitimate employment but were instead trained in cyber fraud upon arrival. The agency also disclosed that the trainees were confined within the facility, had their phones seized, and were subjected to strict control, in...

Israel's ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has cast doubt on Pakistan's role as a mediator in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the United States. In recent remarks, Azar stated that Israel does not view Islamabad as a "credible player" in the diplomatic process.  While acknowledging that Washington may have its own reasons for utilizing Pakistan’s facilitation, he emphasized that Israel's primary focus remains the total removal of terrorist infrastructure in Southern Lebanon.  These comments come ahead of high-level direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials scheduled for April 11, with reports suggesting U.S. Vice President JD Vance may travel to Islamabad for the meeting.  Azar drew a parallel between the current mediation efforts and previ...

The Presidency has clarified the controversy surrounding the ₦3.3 trillion debt settlement plan approved by President Bola Tinubu for power generation companies, insisting the initiative is a structured reform effort rather than a reward for unverified claims. In a statement, the Presidency said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria is implementing a structured and balanced reform programme to address longstanding financial challenges in the power sector.” It added: “At the core of this effort is a market-based settlement mechanism designed to restore the sector, not reward accumulated claims that extend beyond verifiable service delivery. The objective is to ensure fairness to operators while also protecting the interest of the Nigerian public.” The clarification followed concerns ...