Ibadan – President Tinubu Orders Matawalle to Base in Kebbi After Schoolgirl Abductions: President Bola Tinubu directs Defence Minister Bello Matawalle to relocate to Kebbi State to oversee operations against bandits who abducted dozens of schoolgirls, demanding ₦100m ransom per victim, amid escalating northwest insecurity.
Bandits demand N100m per person to free Kwara churchgoers: The bandits who abducted worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igan, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have reportedly demanded N100m ransom per victim. Multiple family sources and community leaders confirmed to newsmen on Thursday that the kidnappers had commenced contacting relatives of the victims, using the phones of the abductees.
ISWAP Militants Storm Yobe Police Base, Killing Officers: Islamic State West Africa Province fighters launch a deadly assault on a police outpost in Yobe State, killing several officers and underscoring the group’s renewed threats in the northeast despite ongoing military efforts.
Benue Bishop Testifies in US Congress on ‘Christian Genocide’ in Nigeria: Catholic Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi tells US lawmakers that Nigeria faces an “unfolding genocide” against Christians, urging global intervention amid attacks by Fulani herders and bandits
Pope Leo XIV Blames Nigeria Violence on Extremism and Resource Wars: The Pope states that both Christians and Muslims have been “slaughtered” in Nigeria, attributing the bloodshed to jihadist groups, economic hardship, and land disputes, while calling for worldwide solidarity.
‘Reckless,’ US Congresswoman condemns Trump’s threat of military action in Nigeria: U.S. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs has strongly criticised President Donald Trump’s threat of military intervention in Nigeria over alleged attacks on Christians, describing the remarks as “reckless” and legally baseless. Speaking on Thursday during a congressional hearing on Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), Jacobs said framing Nigeria’s security challenges solely as a religious conflict distorts the reality on the ground.
US Rep. John James Cites Nnamdi Kanu Case as Proof of Religious Persecution: A US Congressman argues that the life sentence handed to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu exemplifies targeted religious oppression in Nigeria, fueling calls for stronger international pressure
IPOB questions legal basis of ruling on Nnamdi Kanu, seeks clarity from Federal High Court: The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to clarify the legal provisions underpinning his recent ruling involving the group’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB said it intends to analyse and publicly highlight what it views as constitutional concerns arising from the judgment.
Politics not for rascals, Jonathan insists: Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday warned that Nigeria’s democracy was being ‘suffocated’ by reckless political behaviour, cautioning that politics should never be reduced to a playground for unruly conduct. This came as President Bola Tinubu said that democracy was standing in Nigeria because of the likes of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Auditor-General indicts CBN over recycled N29.7bn dirty banknotes: The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria, under the leadership of the former Governor, Godwin Emefiele, of re-circulating dirty and unfit banknotes valued at N29.77bn in violation of the apex bank’s own Clean Note Policy. The allegation is contained in the newly released Auditor-General’s Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses in MDAs for the year ended December 31, 2022, which detailed how several CBN branches issued out banknotes already classified as “Counted Audited Dirty”, a category of notes formally processed and certified as unfit for circulation.
