NEWS

A 38-year-old man has been arrested after the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square was defaced with graffiti overnight.The bronze monument in Westminster was sprayed with red paint bearing phrases including “Zionist war criminal”, “Stop the Genocide” and “Free Palestine”. Other slogans read “Never again is Now” and “Globalise the Intifada”.Officers from the Metropolitan Police were alerted shortly after 4am on Friday. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and remains in custody.A Dutch-based group calling itself Free the Filton 24 said it was behind the action. The group describes itself as made up of relatives and supporters of activists charged over a 2024 break-in at a UK site linked to Israeli defence firm Elbit....

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has advised American embassy staff in Israel that anyone wishing to leave the country should do so “today,” citing heightened tensions and the possibility of a strike involving Iran.According to a source familiar with the message, Huckabee told staff there was “no reason to panic,” describing the move as a precaution taken out of an abundance of caution. He warned that flights out of Israel could quickly fill up and encouraged personnel to secure tickets to any available destination with onward connections to Washington.Earlier on Friday, the US embassy announced it had authorised the departure of non-essential personnel and family members due to safety concerns. A notice posted on the embassy’s website advised individuals to consider leavi...

About 263 stranded Nigerians have voluntarily returned to the country, arriving in Kano on Thursday aboard two Sky Mali flights from Agadez in the Republic of Niger.The returnees were reported to have touched down at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in two batches.Represented by the Commission’s Kano State Coordinator, Mrs Lubah Liman, the Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Aliyu Tijani, explained that the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safe and dignified return of Nigerians stranded abroad.The first flight arrived at around 12:50 pm with 116 passengers, while the second landed at about 4:35 pm with 147 persons, the majority being young men, alongside a few women and children.To ensure the safe return of those affected, the exercise was f...

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), has welcomed the Oyo State High Court judgment validating the party’s November 2025 National Convention in Ibadan.In a statement issued Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the Turaki-led NWC described the ruling as a victory for internal democracy and party unity.Justice Ladiran Akintola of Court 5 had affirmed the legitimacy of the convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, during which Turaki emerged as National Chairman. The court granted all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, who was represented by Musbau Adetunmbi (SAN), and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and give effect to t...

The Defence Headquarters has said that military training, intelligence sharing and operational support provided to Nigeria by the United States come at no financial cost, describing the arrangement as part of Washington’s global counterterrorism policy.Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, made the disclosure on Friday, February 27, while briefing journalists on military operations conducted against terrorists and criminal elements in February 2026. According to him, the support is channelled through the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) under a strategic partnership designed to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.“The presence of US troops in Nigeria is about partnership. They are here to assist the Nigerian military with training, intell...

Ghana’s Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that 55 Ghanaians have been killed while fighting in Ukraine, describing the situation as “depressing and frightening.”In a post on X on Friday, February 27, Ablakwa said the government had been informed that 272 Ghanaians were believed to have been lured into the conflict since 2022, with 55 confirmed dead and two captured as prisoners of war. “We cannot turn a blind eye to these heartbreaking statistics. These are not just numbers, they represent human lives, the hope of many Ghanaian families and our nation,” he wrote after meeting his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv.Ukraine said earlier this week that more than 1,780 citizens from 36 African countries had been identified among Russian forces. Ablakwa said Ghana’s governme...

Justice Jude Obiora of the Anambra state High court in Awka, the state capital, today February 27, sentenced Chidozie Nwangwu, the high-profile native doctor popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, to 11 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges brought against him by the Anambra State Government.Recall that Nwangwu, along with two other native doctors—Onyebuchi Okocha (alias Onyeze Jesus) and Ekene Igboekweze (alias Eke Hit)—were arraigned under suit numbers A/40C/2025, A/41C/2025, and A/42C/2025.The government’s case against the defendants included: conspiracy to commit felony, specifically k!dnapping; obtaining by fraud through claims of supernatural powers; promoting “Oke Ite” rituals, which the state alleges involve the fortification of criminals and the use of...

Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has sparked reactions after revealing that he practices Christianity while also using traditional charms.The activist made this known in a video going viral on social media.In the clip, he was speaking before a group of traditional rulers, where he talked about his religious background, family history, and spiritual life.He explained that being a Christian does not stop him from making use of charms.Igboho said he was born into a Christian home and grew up in the church.However, he also stated that he was trained in traditional practices from a young age.According to him, his father is a known babalawo based in Modakeke, and this influenced his knowledge of traditional spirituality.He added tha...

The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, has officially retired after reaching the mandatory retirement age and completing his tenure in office.Audi marked his final day on Friday during activities commemorating the 2026 World Civil Defence Day at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja.He assumed leadership of the corps on March 1, 2021, following his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari. His retirement concludes nearly five years at the helm of the agency responsible for safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure, as well as overseeing disaster management and civil defence operations.As of the time of this report, the Federal Government had not announced a successor.The retirement coincided with...