FocalPoint Reports

ABUJA- PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking for adjustments to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, proposing an increase of ₦9 trillion to raise the total budget from ₦58.4 trillion to ₦67.4 trillion. The request was conveyed in a letter read during Plenary on Tuesday by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. In the letter read by Akpabio,  President Tinubu is proposing an  adjustment that is designed to  strengthen fiscal transparency and ensuring the effective implementation of priority national programmes. He outlined three key objectives behind the request, including to regularize and account for outstanding legal commitments carried over from previous appropriation cycles, preventing them from burdening the execution of the 2026 budget. Secondly, the proposal, the President said that it is aimed  at  consolidating and properly capture existing government indebtedness within the fiscal framework as well as provide for a limited number ...

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has written the Senate seeking approval to borrow $5 billion. In a letter to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, which was read on Tuesday during plenary, the loan will be obtained from Abu Dhabi Bank and it is aimed at covering budget deficit, debt financing, among others. In another letter to the Senate, President Tinubu is seeking approval to borrow $1 billion UK/EF loan facility from London Citi Bank for the rehabilitation of port projects, including Lagos Port complex and Tin Can port. According to the President, the project’s objectives are to address critical deficiencies, improve efficiency, improve safety standards, support non-oil trade diversification and position Nigeria as a trade hub among others. Akpabio then referred the letters to Senator Aliyu Wammakko-led Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts to carry out legislative actions on the request and report back immediately. Details later…

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with the International Office for Migration (IOM) has received 145 Nigerian returnees from Benghazi, Libya, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja. This is contained in a statement signed by the Head of Lagos Operations Office, NEMA, Mr Mohammed Olatunde, and made available to newsmen in Lagos. Olatunde said the returnees arrived at about 8:27 p.m. aboard an Al Buraq Airlines flight as part of the Assisted Voluntary Return programme. According to him, the programme is facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration in collaboration with the federal government. “The breakdown shows 122 adults, comprising 46 males and 76 females. “It also includes 29 children, with 13 males and 16 females. “A total of 27 infants were received, comprising 17 males and 10 females,” Olatunde said. He said the officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service conducted biometric registration and documentation of the returne...

BOMADI — The Chairman of Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, Rawlings Dagidi Andaye, has issued a stern warning to suspected ritualists and other criminal elements to steer clear of the area following a recent attempted beheading incident. The warning comes in the wake of an attack on a 60-year-old woman, Esther Bolozimor, who narrowly escaped death after being ambushed along Akepe Road in Bomadi about two weeks ago. The victim was reportedly rescued by a passerby who heard her distress and intervened before the assailants could carry out the act. Reacting to the development, Andaye said security agencies have been activated to track down those responsible, stressing that his administration would not tolerate a breakdown of law and order in the once peaceful riverine communities. “My number one priority since assuming office is security. We have strengthened the local vigilante outfit to work closely with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure safety ac...

Hundreds of angry residents in Plateau State on Monday morning defied the state -imposed curfew and flooded the streets to protest the deadly Palm Sunday attack that claimed several lives in Jos North Local Government Area. The protest took place at Anguwan Rukuba, the community where the attack occurred on Sunday evening. Videos from the protest circulating on social media showed residents chanting and demanding urgent government action over the recurring killings in the area. Some of the demonstrators expressed frustration over what they described as the government’s failure to prevent repeated attacks in the state. One of the residents participating in the protest said the curfew imposed by the government was not a solution to the persistent security challenges. “People are outside because of the attack that happened yesterday. They chased the security men because they are not doing any help right here ,” the protester said. He added that the attackers struck during a power outa...

No fewer than 27 persons were killed, with many others injured, when suspected gunmen attacked Angwa Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The attackers, said to be in large numbers, stormed the densely populated community at about 7:30 pm on Sunday and opened sporadic fire on residents, throwing the area into panic. Barr Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), confirmed the casualty figure on Monday. According to him, 14 victims were killed on the spot while 13 others died later in hospital.” Their corpses have been deposited in the community. Mwantiri condemned the attack, describing it as another sad episode in the recurring security challenges facing communities in the state. He urged the relevant authorities to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice without delay. The latest violence comes amid heightened tensions in parts of Plateau State, with residents calling for improved security...

The Labour Party has expressed profound grief over the passing of Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, mother of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. In a statement in Abuja, on Saturday, the party’s Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, described Hajiya Umma as a distinguished community leader and quintessential mother who raised her children with strong moral values. Usman said, “It is with profound grief that I received the news of the passing of Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, beloved mother of His Excellency, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. “Hajiya Umma was a distinguished community leader and a quintessential mother who laboured selflessly to raise her children with strong moral values, discipline, and the fear of Allah. “As we mourn her transition to eternal glory, I pray that Almighty Allah (SWT) forgives her shortcomings, grants her Aljannatul Firdaus, and grants the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.” The party extended condolences to the El-Rufai family and the people of ...

Suspected gunmen abducted six health workers from a health centre in Okeijebu, Akure, Ondo State, in the early hours of Saturday, plunging the community into panic. Eyewitnesses said the attackers, arriving in a bus around 2:00 a.m., forcefully entered the facility, overpowered staff, and rounded up health workers, including interns on night duty. A patient who narrowly escaped described the operation as swift and precise, leaving little room for resistance. “They came in a big bus and entered the hospital forcefully. Before anyone could react, they gathered all the staff on duty and took six of them away,” the witness recounted. The victims were bundled into the vehicle and taken to an unknown location, prompting immediate concern in the area. Meanwhile, the state security outfit, Amotekun, conducted overnight operations in Akure South Local Government Area, rescuing three of the abducted health workers. Two other victims—a 45-year-old man and his 15-year-old son—who were kidnapped ea...

The Nigerian Navy has deactivated an illegal refinery in the Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State and recovered more than 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil. This is contained in a statement by the acting director of naval information, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, on Friday in Abuja. Folorunsho said the operation was carried out under Operation Delta Sentinel by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, Eastern Naval Command. He said the operation followed credible intelligence on illegal refining activities in Allison Community, Bonny. Folorunsho said an anti-crude oil theft patrol team was deployed to the area, leading to the discovery of an active illegal refining site. He said the site contained dugout pits, locally fabricated cooking and cooling systems, as well as sacks filled with substances suspected to be stolen crude oil. “Further assessment revealed over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil stored at the facility. “The illegal refining inf...

United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has reiterated his call for decentralisation of Nigeria’s police force to allow state governments to take more responsibility for local security. He made the call in a post on X, yesterday, urging the Federal Government to step up action to protect its citizens, particularly those from the Middle Belt, who have been at the center of Islamic extremists killing. Congressman Moore had taken a proactive role in addressing security issues in Nigeria, focusing heavily on the persecution of Christians and the rise of extremism, largely aligning with the policy agenda of President Donald Trump. As of early 2026, he led investigations, introduced legislation, and demanded direct accountability from the Nigerian government. As part of his efforts to address insecurity, he led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Nigeria to investigate violence affecting Christian communities, meeting with victims, religious leaders, and high-level Nigerian government o...

The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo has dismissed a ₦54 billion representative lawsuit filed over a 2014 oil spill, ruling that the case was filed outside the legal time limit. The suit was brought by representatives of Barracks, Nditia and Okposo 2 communities against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, now known as SEPNU. Claimants argued that the environmental damage from the spill amounted to a continuing injury and should therefore escape the statute of limitations. The court disagreed and struck out the case, holding that the spill was a single completed act whose legal timeline began in 2014. At the centre of the decision was an argument by Mobil’s counsel, Ms Abasiemediong Etuk, who urged the court to distinguish between a continuing injury and the continuing effect of an injury. She maintained that a continuing injury requires repeated wrongdoing, which was not present in this case. “While the effects of the spill might persist, the cause of action remains fixed to the date t...

JOS — Residents of Special Site in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State were thrown into shock and outrage on Thursday, after the bodies of aborted twins were discovered in a polythene bag at a refuse dump. The foetuses, a male and a female, estimated to be over five months old, were found behind the house of commercial driver Enman Danladi. Danladi recounted that a local farmer alerted him to the discovery after noticing a dog sniffing at the bag, which was swarming with flies. “He drove the dog away several times before opening the bag and finding the aborted twins. He immediately rushed to inform me,” Danladi said. He said he gathered about eight neighbours who later dug a small grave at the site to bury the remains. The men expressed anger and cursed whoever was responsible, while women in the community wept, with one woman who had struggled with infertility crying uncontrollably. When asked about potential suspects, Danladi said no one in the neighbourhood was suspected...

ABUJA — A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kabiru Turaki, SAN, a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Justice Peter Kekemeke made the order after Turaki—who served as Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs from 2013 to 2015—failed to appear in court to answer a one-count charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). In the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/647/25, police alleged that the factional PDP national chairman provided false information to them in a petition he lodged in 2022. The charge, filed on November 15, 2025, reads: “That you, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, (SAN), ‘m’, No. 37 T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja, on or about October 5, 2022, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, gave false information to the Inspector-General of Police via a petition dated October 5, 2022.” He was accused of committing an offence punishable under Section 140 of the Pe...

The management of  Dangote Refinery  has attributed the latest petrol prices across Nigeria to global market pressures and challenges in crude oil supply. Despite the commencement of domestic refining, the refinery said expectations that local refining would significantly ease pump prices have been dampened by external factors, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, the Managing Director of the refinery,  David Bird , said the facility operates fully within global market dynamics without any subsidy support. “On fuel pricing, the refinery is fully exposed to global market forces and operates without subsidies, making it vulnerable to fluctuations driven by geopolitical tensions,”  he said. Bird added that multiple cost components continue to exert pressure on pricing. “We try and maintain some stability within a commercially acceptable range, but all our cost inputs—from crude to freight and insurance, ar...

Operators in the downstream petroleum sector, under the aegis of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), have called on the Federal Government to urgently roll out temporary intervention measures to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on Nigerians. The group said the steady increase in petrol pump prices over the past three weeks, driven by global oil market disruptions linked to the Middle East crisis, has placed immense pressure on households, businesses, and the wider economy. Speaking on the development, the National President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, said the ripple effects of the price surge were already evident across key sectors. He noted that transportation costs have spiked, while prices of goods and services have continued to rise, worsening the cost-of-living crisis. According to him,  “the ripple effects are evident in rising transportation costs, increased prices of goods and services, and a general strain on the cost...

Health sector unions under the Joint Health Sector Unions and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (JOHESU) have announced plans to stage a national protest in Abuja over the proposed Health Sector Executive Bills 2026 currently before the National Assembly. It was reported that the protest, scheduled for Thursday, is expected to attract healthcare professionals from across the country. According to the unions, participants are expected to converge at the Unity Fountain in Maitama before proceeding to the National Assembly Complex. In a circular obtained on Thursday morning, JOHESU directed its a unions and professional associations to mobilise members in large numbers for the demonstration. Speaking on the planned protest, JOHESU National Secretary, Martin Egbanubi, said the demonstration was aimed at drawing public attention to the implications of the proposed legislation. “Our members must educate the general public on how the Health Sector Executive Bills 2026 affec...

Kano gov tells appointees contesting 2027 polls to resign Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has directed political appointees who would be interested in contesting the 2027 elections to resign, citing the Electoral Act. The directive was contained in a statement issued by his spokesperson Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa in Kano on Wednesday. The statement said that the interested persons must resign by March 31, 2026, to ensure neutrality and a level playing field. The directive was conveyed through an official circular issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, emphasising the need for strict compliance with laws governing the conduct of public officers. The circular stated that the decision is in accordance with Section 88 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which regulates the participation of public officeholders in partisan political activities. It added that the measure was aimed at upholding neutrality, accountability, and integrity within the public service while ens...

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Delta State has issued a public notice clarifying the leadership of the state’s coalition, affirming that Professor Pat Utomi is the duly recognized leader. This was disclosed in a statement dated March 25, 2026 and signed by Engr. Austin Okolie, chairman of ADC in Delta State. The state leadership of the party said the clarification became necessary to address concerns and provide direction to party members, coalition partners, and the general public.  The party noted that Utomi, who was the ADC presidential candidate in the 2007 general election, rightfully occupies the position of coalition leader in the state. For the avoidance of doubt, Professor Pat Utomi is the duly recognized Leader of the Delta State Coalition,” the statement said .The party also acknowledged the political influence of Chief Great Ogboru, describing him as a respected and prominent figure in Delta State politics and within the coalition framework. Howeve...

The traditional ruler of Ogwashi Uku Kingdom, Obi Ifechukwude Anishi Okonjo 11, has called on the Delta State government and all relevant authorities to allow the courts to determine the boundary issues before them without interference. This may not be unconnected to the land disputes between the community and others, especially the acts of aggression, threats to life and wanton destruction of property at Aboh Ogwashi-Uku allegedly perpetrated by certain individuals from the neighbouring Ibusa community last Thursday. The monarch, a younger brother to the director-general of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, made the call on Monday,  stating that the kingdom cannot be intimidated, harassed, or subdued through acts of violence over land matters.  The monarch while reacting through a press statement signed by Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, the palace secretary of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom on Monday, noted however that law enforcement authorities had co...

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the conduct of former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, describing it as a disruption of courtroom decorum. The association made its position known in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its President, Afam Osigwe. The reaction followed an incident on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Sowore reportedly clashed with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria while attempting to address journalists inside the courtroom. A video circulating online showed the senior lawyer confronting Sowore and insisting that the courtroom was not an appropriate venue for a press briefing. Responding, Sowore said,  “You’re intimidating me and insulting my intelligence because you’re introducing yourself to me as a SAN. I also have my own SANs.” In its statement, the NBA said that although courtrooms in a constitutional democracy are open to the public to promote transparency, procee...

Tension has gripped parts of Agatu Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State following the killing of a local woodcutter and farm operator by suspected armed herdsmen. The victim, identified as an indigene of Enungba and resided in Oshigbudu, was reportedly attacked on Monday while working on a farm located between Atakpa and Obagaji communities. According to local sources, the deceased and a colleague had gone to the farm to cut trees when they suddenly started hearing gunshots. “We heard two gunshots, and from a distance we saw Fulani men approaching. We shouted, ‘It’s Fulani, let’s go,’ and started running,” a source who recounted the incident said. The source explained that the attackers immediately chased the people and the victim, who could not keep pace with his colleague, was gunned down. “They chased them and shot the one who could not run fast. He died instantly, while the other person managed to escape,” the source added. He claimed that the attackers were part of armed her...

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has approved the recruitment of more than 700 medical and non-medical personnel to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state. The Commissioner for Health, Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this during a press briefing, stating that the decision aligned with ongoing efforts to expand the health sector alongside infrastructural upgrades. He said the recruitment was necessitated by rising demand for healthcare services following key developments, including the upgrade of General Hospital Warri to a Central Hospital and the near completion of the Mother and Child Hospital in Ekpan. Onojaeme explained that 295 personnel would be deployed to the Hospital Management Board, 120 to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, and 100 to the College of Health Technology, Ovrode. He added that Asaba Specialist Hospital and Warri Central Hospital would receive 60 and 12 staff respectively. He noted that the exercise is also intended to address wo...

Eritrea will return to the African cup of Nations qualifying after an 18-year absence when they face Eswatini national football team on Wednesday in Meknes, Morocco. The 2027 AFCON preliminary qualifiers first-leg tie will be played at the Stade d’Honneur, a neutral venue chosen because Eritrea do not have a stadium that meets international standards. The return leg is set for March 31, with the aggregate winner progressing to the group stage of the 2027 qualifiers. Nicknamed the Red Sea Camels, Eritrea have been missing from the continent’s flagship tournament since a 2008 qualifier against Eswatini, then known as Swaziland. No official explanation was ever offered for their prolonged absence. However, it has long been linked to a wave of defections, with players reportedly seeking asylum while on international duty. The United Nations estimates that about 80 footballers and coaches have left the country under such circumstances, citing political repression and prolonged military serv...

An aide to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has denied reports that the senator representing Oyo South, Sharafadeen Alli, has been chosen as the consensus governorship candidateof the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 election in Oyo State.  It was reported that the aide, Otunba Femi Awogboro, said Adelabu is still one of the leading aspirants and remains a strong figure in the race for the party’s ticket. He described the reports about Alli’s adoption as untrue and misleading. He also dismissed claims that the decision was taken during a meeting at the Lagos residence of Bola Tinubu. According to him, the gathering being referenced was only a Sallah visit to the President and not a political meeting to pick a candidate. Awogboro explained that Adelabu did not attend the visit because he was away for the Lesser Hajj. He added that such an important political decision could not have been taken without Adelabu’s presence and that of other top party leaders. He furthe...

Enugu community protests, seeks Govt intervention over land dispute Residents of Etiti Ngwo community in Enugu South Local Government Area staged a peaceful protest at the Government House in Enugu, calling on Governor Peter Mbah to intervene in an ongoing land dispute. The protesters, numbering over 1,000, carried placards expressing concern over the demolition of properties on the contested land and appealed for a resolution of the matter. They stated that the land remains subject to dispute and urged the state government to review the situation in line with existing legal decisions. Responding, the state government, through the Senior Special Assistant on Mainstream Media, Mr Dan Nwomeh, said the land in question is classified as crown land originally acquired during the colonial era and currently under the custody of the federal government through the Bureau of Public Enterprises. He explained that the matter involves multiple stakeholders and requires proper legal and administrati...

A former governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Brigadier General John Sura (rtd), has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Sura’s resignation comes just months after he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in 2025. The development was conveyed in a statement signed by the retired army officer and obtained by journalists in Jos. In the letter addressed to the APC Chairman of Panyam Ward in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Sura stated that his resignation takes immediate effect. He expressed appreciation to members of the party for the support and cooperation he received during his brief stay in the APC. “I thank the leadership and members of the party for the support accorded to me while I was a member,” he said. Meanwhile, sources close to the former aspirant disclosed that he is expected to unveil his next political platform in the coming days.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening engagement with the academic and research community as Nigeria progresses toward a fully-fledged Inflation Targeting (IT) monetary policy regime. A statement issued by the CBN on Monday said its Deputy Governor in charge of Economic Policy, Dr Muhammad Abdullahi, said this during a strategic session with the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) and the academic community in Abuja. Abdullahi described the dialogue as timely and essential to Nigeria’s ongoing economic reform programme. He addressed a gathering of scholars, directors, and policy experts as part of a sensitisation programme. The deputy governor said that the transition to an inflation-targeting framework marked a significant shift toward a transparent, forward-looking, and rules-based monetary policy system anchored in long-term price stability. He said that inflation targeting would serve as a crucial nominal anchor for the Nigerian economy. “By guidi...

According to CNN news Report, Oil and liquefied natural gas tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz carry around 20% of the world’s supply. But for countries on the Persian Gulf, the waterway is more than just an energy route, it’s a lifeline for more than 100 million people. Now, as the United States and Israel’s war with Iran chokes this vital stretch of water, it’s also straining food supply into the region. Thriving in this harsh climate takes effort. With summer temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) and little cultivatable land, much of the Gulf Arab states’ drinking water comes from the sea via desalination plants. Most of their food, however, must come from abroad. Saudi Arabia imports more than 80% of its food, the United Arab Emirates around 90%, and Qatar about 98%. In Iraq, too, the bulk of food imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the country’s access to two major rivers. In total, the majority of the food shipments to the re...

The global economy is under “major threat” from the energy crisis caused by the Middle East war and “no country will be immune” to its effects, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Monday. Speaking at the National Press Club in Australia’s capital, Birol compared the current energy crisis to those of the 1970s and the impact of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “This crisis as things stand is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together,” Birol said. “The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible. “No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. So there is a need for global efforts.” US President Donald Trump and Tehran have issued tit-for-tat threats as the war entered its fourth week, with the US president demanding the Islamic republic reopen the blocked Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and...

Suspected terrorists, on Sunday morning, stormed an ECWA Church in Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting nine worshippers. It was gathered that joint security operatives rescued three of the abducted victims during a swift response to the attack. The incident occurred during the weekly church service, causing panic among worshippers and residents of the area. It was further gathered that the assailants invaded the church premises while service was ongoing and whisked away several worshippers into the forest. Sources said it was after an alarm was raised by some congregants who escaped that a combined team of police, forest guards and soldiers pursued the attackers into the bush, leading to the rescue of three victims. A credible source from the Kwara South Joint Security Watch, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the development. He expressed concern that the church is located less than two kilometres from a military base, questioning how ...

After breaking their fast, four brothers stepped out to buy eyeglasses for Sallah. They never returned. From one family’s loss to a nation’s reckoning, the Maiduguri attacks, and the rising tide of terror deaths, are turning grief into a defining political question ahead of 2027. In Gwange Sabon Layi, a quiet neighbourhood in Maiduguri, Ba Musa sits in a house that no longer sounds like itself. Against the wall, four pairs of new shoes are still lined up. Black. Brown. Two slightly oversized, bought so the boys could grow into them. No one has touched them since Monday night. They belonged to his sons. Days earlier, Ba Musa had been preparing for Eid. New clothes. New shoes. A small, certain joy. On March 16, after breaking their Ramadan fast, the boys stepped out together. A quick errand. Eyeglasses for Sallah. They never came back. Three explosions; at Monday Market, the Post Office area, and the gate of the University o...

Suspected political thugs disrupted the maiden meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Young Women Forum on Friday in Eleme Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the thugs stormed the venue in Alesa Eleme, Rivers, dispersed supporters and destroyed canopies, loudspeakers, chairs and other equipment. The thugs disrupted the meeting on the grounds that the organisers had not obtained prior approval and claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not authorised political activities. Reacting, the National Coordinator of the ADC Young Women’s Forum, Ms Atosemi Oma-Uwame, condemned the incident. She described the disruption as an attempt to suppress democratic engagement and opposition parties ahead of the elections. “We gathered here today to inaugurate the ADC Young Women Forum in Eleme LGA. Thugs led by a ward councillor (name withheld) disrupted our meeting. “The councillor claimed that we did not obtain a...

Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly neutralised a top commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), identified as Abou Ameer, during a failed infiltration attempt in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Security sources said the insurgent leader was killed alongside several fighters during the operation. According to counter-insurgency publication, Zagazola Makama, Ameer personally led the insurgents in the attack on a military formation. He was said to have been recently appointed as the Ameer (Qaid) of Pulka, following the killing of his predecessor, Modu Kunduli, in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State. Sources who spoke with Makama said the insurgents were met with strong resistance from troops, leading to significant losses on their side. “The terrorists came under heavy fire from the well-coordinated troops and were repelled, resulting in significant casualties on their side,”  the report stated. The report added that several senior ISW...

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says Tower T99 along the Ughelli/Benin 330 kilovolt (kV) transmission line collapsed as a result of vandalism. Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said that the incident was discovered during a line patrol at Coconut Village, Effurun Local Government Area, Warri, Delta State, following a line trip. Mbah said that upon inspection by TCN’s linesman, it was observed that the fallen tower had some of its bracing members vandalised and carted away, which led to its collapse. She said that the adjoining towers, T100 and T101, were also vandalised, although they remained standing. ”As a result, there is a temporary disruption in the evacuation of bulk power supply from Transcorp Power Plc to the national grid through the Benin 330 kV transmission line. ”However, TCN has commenced the mobilisation of resources to facilitate the reconstruction, restoration, and reinforcement of the vandalised towers ...

The Senator representing Borno South,  Ali Ndume , has raised fresh concerns over the evolving tactics of insurgents in Borno State, revealing that explosives used in recent attacks in Maiduguri were transported using tricycles, popularly known as ‘Keke NAPEP’. Ndume made the disclosure while reacting to the deadly bomb blasts that rocked the state capital on Monday. No fewer than 23 persons were killed, while 108 others sustained injuries after multiple explosions hit key locations in Maiduguri. The blasts occurred at a busy market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office flyover. Speaking on Channels Television on Thursday night, Ndume said the attackers employed a familiar “hit-and-run” strategy, aided by local intelligence networks. “What they do is hit and run. They gather, share information among themselves, and most dangerously, they also get information from some citizens. They have informants within society,”  he said. ...

Gunmen Kill Three Police Officers, Four Others In Taraba A tragic attack has thrown residents of Tor-Damisa community in Donga Local Government Area in Taraba State into mourning after gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen stormed the area on Wednesday evening, killing at least seven persons. According to reports, the armed assailants invaded the community, shooting sporadically and causing widespread panic among residents. The attackers were, however, confronted by officers of the Taraba State Police Command, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. Sources, according to the Daily post, disclosed that the confrontation turned deadly, with casualties recorded on both sides. It was gathered that three police officers and four civilians were gruesomely killed during the attack. Focalpoint  reports that the identities of the victims had yet to be officially released as of the time of filing this report. The violence triggered fear and confusion across the community, forcing several r...

Alleged Coup Plot: Suspects Planned To Seize Aso Rock, Capture Tinub u Fresh details have emerged of an alleged plot by suspected coup conspirators to storm the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and capture President  Bola Tinubu  alongside other top government officials in a coordinated military-style operation. Findings by Focalpoint indicated that the suspected plot went beyond earlier reports of assassination attempts, with investigators uncovering a multi-layered plan to take control of key national assets and cripple Nigeria’s leadership structure. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the alleged conspirators planned to overrun the Presidential Villa, and capture President Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima. Also listed as targets were Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. Sources who spoke with Focalpoint said specific officers were assigned to lead the operation, described as the “decapita...