NEWS

The Federal Government of Nigeria has denied allegations that it paid a N2 billion ransom to secure the release of students abducted from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, describing the claims as “false and baseless.”In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris reaffirmed the government’s longstanding policy against ransom payments. He said the students’ release followed coordinated security operations, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration not financial inducements.The government was responding to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), which cited intelligence sources alleging that millions of dollars were paid to militants, alongside the release of two commanders, to secure the freedom of up...

“It’s A Declaration Of War On Nigerians” – Sowore Reacts As Police Disperse ProtestersHuman rights advocate and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has described the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector-General of Police as proof that his time in office lacked legal backing.Sowore made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s programme, The Morning Brief.According to him, “This removal or resignation, however they choose to describe it, is an admission that his tenure was never lawful.”The activist further accused the former police chief of suppressing officers who demanded improved welfare conditions.Sowore alleged that after organising a protest in support of better treatment for police personnel, he was arrested, detaine...

Veteran journalist Reuben Abati has taken a swipe at Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo over his difficulty pronouncing the acronym “GCFR.”In a viral video circulating online, the governor appeared to struggle while attempting to say the “GCFR” title attached to President Bola Tinubu’s name.Commenting on the development during The Morning Show on Arise Television, Abati criticised the governor, saying Edo residents had the opportunity to elect a highly educated and intelligent candidate but opted for Okpebholo instead.According to the former presidential aide, the governor was unable to pronounce what he described as a basic sequence taught to schoolchildren, adding that the electorate must accept the outcome of their decision.“Like the Yoruba would say, it is finished. Ed...

U.S. President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union-style address in modern history on Tuesday night, speaking for about one hour and 48 minutes before a joint session of Congress.Data from the American Presidency Project, which has documented such speeches since 1964, shows that the address was the lengthiest presented to Congress in at least 60 years.The speech exceeded the previous modern-era record, also set by Trump, when he spoke for one hour and 39 minutes last year. That earlier address, delivered during the opening year of his second nonconsecutive term, was not formally designated as a State of the Union.Prior to Trump’s record, the longest State of the Union address had been delivered by Bill Clinton in 2000, lasting one hour and 28 minutes.In co...

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved the appointment of Peter Akpe as the Deputy Governor of the state.The Assembly gave the approval during plenary on Tuesday.The appointment followed the death of erstwhile deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who slumped and died in December 2025Ewhrudjakpo was buried on January 30, 2026, in his hometown, Ofoni, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.Akpe, a pastor, served as Chief of Staff to Governor Douye Diri, prior to his nomination.