NEWS

United States President Donald Trump has revealed that Iran’s leadership has reached out to Washington to begin negotiations following Saturday’s airstrikes that reportedly killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and several senior officials. In a telephone interview with The Atlantic, Trump said Tehran had expressed readiness for dialogue, though he described the move as coming too late. According to the U.S. president, the request for talks followed what he characterised as a significant military setback for Iran. “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long,” Trump said. When pressed on when discussions might b...

United States President Donald Trump reportedly authorised Saturday’s military strike on Iran after sustained private lobbying by Mohammed bin Salman and the Israeli government. According to a report by The Washington Post, the operation—codenamed “Operation Epic Fury”—was launched following months of diplomatic pressure from Riyadh and Tel Aviv. Citing four sources familiar with the discussions, the newspaper stated that the Saudi Crown Prince made several private calls to Trump in recent weeks, urging direct U.S. military intervention against Iran despite publicly backing diplomatic efforts. The report noted that the coordinated push by Saudi Arabia and Israel ultimately influenced Trump’s decision to initiate a large-scale aerial assault targeting Iran’s leadership and military...

The Kwara State Government has approved the reopening of Kwara State Polytechnic after it was shut down for several weeks due to a student protest. According to an internal memo obtained by our correspondent, academic and administrative activities will resume on Monday, March 2, 2026. The directive was communicated in a memo signed by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Halima Garba, on behalf of the Registrar. The document, dated February 26, 2026, was issued by the office of the Acting Registrar and titled, “Reopening of the Polytechnic for Academic and Administrative Work.” Part of the memo stated that the state government had granted approval for the institution to reopen and directed both staff and students to return promptly on the scheduled date. The polytechnic ...

The Presidency has refuted a viral report alleging that a chef at the State House in Abuja was arrested over an alleged attempt to poison Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu. The clarification followed the circulation of an online story claiming that a member of the kitchen staff at the Presidential Villa had been detained in connection with a purported plot against the President’s life. Reacting to an enquiry by The Nation, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, dismissed the allegation outright. “Fake,” Ajayi said in a brief response when contacted about the claim. The unverified report, which failed to provide credible sources or concrete evidence, quickly spread across social media, generating speculation among members of the public. ...

Fresh tension has gripped the Middle East after Iranian missiles and drones targeted major airports in the United Arab Emirates late Saturday, leaving at least one person dead and several others injured. Authorities confirmed that key aviation hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were affected, sparking panic and forcing a temporary halt to flight operations. In a statement shared on X on Sunday, Abu Dhabi Airports reported casualties following what it described as an incident linked to the interception of a drone aimed at Zayed International Airport. “Authorities in Abu Dhabi are responding to an incident resulting from the interception of a drone that targeted Zayed International Airport. The interception led to falling debris, which resulted in one fatality of an Asian national and seve...

Gunmen have kidnapped Francis Igwe, the father of a former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Kelechi Igwe. Igwe, who is the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike community, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was abducted on Sunday morning, March 1, 2026 while on his way to church in his Ndufu-Alike community. Community sources disclosed that Igwe was driving when armed men riding a motorcycle intercepted his vehicle. The assailants allegedly double-crossed him, forced him out of his car, and whisked him away on their motorcycle to an unknown destination.  The Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Sunday Nwankwo, who confirmed the incident said that the council was working with security agencies to gather necessary information that would lead to his resc...

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was reportedly killed on Saturday following what has been described as one of the most extensive military operations against Iranian targets in decades, carried out by the United States and Israel. Iranian media further reported that Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law were among those who lost their lives in the strike. The Israeli military stated that several high-ranking officials within Iran’s defence structure were also killed. In a statement shared on 𝕏, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its fighter jets had eliminated seven senior members of Iran’s defence leadership. Those named include: 1.Defence Minister and Minister of Armed Forces Logistics, Aziz Nasirzadeh 2. Chief of the Military Bureau to...

NDLEA Suspect The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed the arrest of a notorious drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, after 13 years in hiding. Naija News understands that Chidiebere was taken into custody following fresh links to large consignments of cocaine and heroin. Chidiebere, who was first arrested in 2013 over the shipment of cocaine into Nigeria, had been arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in charge number FHC/L/187c/2923. He, however, jumped bail shortly after being granted freedom and went underground. In February 2024, his name resurfaced as one of the masterminds behind the importation of 49.70 kilograms of heroin from South Africa. The consignment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at t...

Iran is reportedly moving to address the leadership vacuum following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was said to have been killed in a joint airstrike involving the United States and Israel. According to The Guardian, an interim leadership structure has been outlined to steer the country during the transition period. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, along with another senior legal figure, are expected to jointly manage state affairs temporarily. Meanwhile, Iranian state television has identified Mohammad Mokhber as the designated successor to Khamenei. Mokhber, a close aide and longtime adviser to the late leader, previously served as acting president after the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in 2024. He ...

Iran has declared 40 days of national mourning and a seven-day public holiday after the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The announcement was made on Sunday via state television after authorities officially confirmed his passing. Regular programming was suspended and replaced with Quran recitations, while archival footage of the late leader was broadcast. A black banner was also displayed on screen as a symbol of national grief. In a statement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council described his death as martyrdom and blamed the United States and Israel for the attack it said resulted in his death. The council added that the incident would mark the beginning of what it termed a renewed struggle against oppression. On Saturday night, U.S. President Donald Tru...