Ibadan – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has carried out airstrikes on terrorist hideouts, routes, and assembly areas in the North East and North West regions, resulting in heavy casualties among the armed groups.
It said the joint task forces of Operations HADIN KAI and FASAN YAMMA Sector 2 conducted a series of ‘coordinated, intelligence-led operations’ from January 1 to 3 across critical threat corridors in the regions.
NAF’s spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame revealed this in a statement, on Saturday.
Military unmasks ringleader of North-East suicide bombing network
The Nigerian military has identified one Shariff Umar as the suspected principal coordinator of a suicide bombing network linked to recent deadly attacks, including the December 24 bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri, and attempted strikes across the North-East.
This follows intelligence-led operations by troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK)
The breakthrough came after a series of cordon-and-search operations conducted in the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on December 31, 2025, during which 14 suspects believed to be connected to suicide bombing activities were arrested.
The development was disclosed in a statement on Saturday in Maiduguri by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, who said investigations had uncovered the structure and operational linkages of the terror cell, according to Vanguard.
US bombs Venezuela capital, captures leader Maduro — Trump
President Donald Trump said Saturday that US forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro after launching a “large scale strike” on the South American country.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country,” Trump said on Truth Social, around two hours after explosions rocked Venezuela’s capital Caracas.
There was no confirmation from Venezuela’s government of the fate of the leftist Maduro, in power since 2013.
His government accused the United States of an “extremely serious military aggression” which follows a months-long campaign of increasing military and economic pressure by Trump.
Maduro: ‘Dangerous precedent’ – UN reacts to US invasion of Venezuela
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has described the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by US special forces on Saturday as “a dangerous precedent.”
Guterres made the statement through the UN Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, on Saturday in New York.
He said the standoff between the United States and Venezuela in recent months, which culminated in Saturday’s reported capture of Maduro, is deeply alarming.
2027: I will only join party willing to give me presidential or VP ticket – Kwankwaso
The national leader of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has set conditions for joining any coalition or forming an alliance with any political party.
Kwankwaso said that although they are looking for a party to merge with ahead of the 2027 general election, such a party must be willing to surrender its presidential or vice-presidential ticket to him.
There is speculation that the former Minister of Defence is currently under pressure to join the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Governor Yusuf’s planned defection to APC shifted to January 12
The planned defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), earlier slated for Monday, January 5, 2026, has been postponed to January 12, The Nation has learnt.
Sources said the shift was to allow the governor additional time to consult with National Assembly members from Kano State and other key stakeholders who are yet to fully commit to the move.
In the state, it was gathered that members of the Kano State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Jibril Isma’il Falgore, have aligned with the majority of local government council chairmen who have already endorsed the governor’s defection by signing the decamping document.
The planned defection is understood to be part of a broader political realignment aimed at positioning Governor Yusuf for a major leadership role within the APC in Kano State, while also strengthening his chances of securing the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
Fatal crash: Anthony Joshua escaped death after swapping seats – Report
British-Nigerian former World Boxing Champion Anthony Joshua narrowly avoided death in a Monday car crash after he swapped from the front to the back seat of a Lexus SUV, a revelation made Friday by his driver’s lawyer.
The accident, which occurred on a busy Lagos–Ibadan expressway, killed two of Joshua’s friends — Ayodele Kelvin Olu (36), a Nigerian-British citizen, and Gami Sina (36), a British citizen — and injured others, including the boxing champion.
Joshua’s driver, Kayode Adeniyi (46), who has been remanded in custody, faces four charges, including dangerous and negligent driving, and driving without a valid licence.
The driver’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, told the Daily Mail that Joshua initially sat in the front seat but moved to the back at the driver’s request.
President Tinubu saves N10trn annually from oil subsidy removal — Sen Adeola
Sen. Solomon Adeola (APC–Ogun West) has revealed that Nigeria now saves approximately ₦10 trillion annually following President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy.
Adeola, Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, stated this on Saturday during his new year thanksgiving service held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Ona-Nla, Ilaro.
The senator noted that within two years in office, the President had succeeded in removing a major cankerworm that had undermined the nation’s economy and finances.
According to him, before the removal, few Nigerians were benefiting from the fuel subsidy at the detriment of the overall population of the nation.
Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, noted that prior to the removal of fuel subsidy, Nigeria borrowed an estimated ₦6 trillion to ₦7 trillion each year to finance the subsidy.
Gov Adeleke orders enforcement of Osun LG financial law compliance as NULGE resumes Jan 5
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Saturday directed strict compliance with the Osun State Local Government Accounts Administration Law, 2025, which regulates the opening, management and operation of local government accounts.
In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor also commended the Osun State chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees for resolving to resume work on January 5, describing the decision as patriotic and people-oriented.
I won’t allow anyone bury me politically in Rivers – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday declared that he would not allow himself to be politically buried ahead of 2027.
Wike explained that if he repeats past mistakes regarding the governorship in Rivers State, he would be buried politically like others, adding that he would not allow that to happen.
The minister spoke while addressing the people of Okrika during his thank-you visit to local governments in Rivers State.
