Author: Damilola

The United States has called on Nigeria to take more robust and decisive steps to safeguard Christian communities, warning that recent attacks highlight the need for stronger security measures. US Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, made the call during a high-level US–Nigeria working group meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, where officials discussed joint strategies to curb violence, strengthen counterterrorism efforts, investigate attacks, and ensure accountability for perpetrators. Hooker said the dialogue focused on reducing killings, abductions and forced displacement of Christians, particularly in north-central Nigeria, while improving cooperation between both countries. She acknowledged progress made by the Nigerian…

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey have been selected in the official Team of the Tournament for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the tournament’s Best XI on Wednesday, recognising the standout performers of the competition. Osimhen played a key role in Nigeria’s campaign, scoring four goals and recording two assists as the Super Eagles secured a bronze medal — their ninth third-place finish in AFCON history. Lookman emerged as one of the tournament’s most influential attackers, finishing with the highest number of goal contributions. He netted four…

The identities of 177 worshippers kidnapped during coordinated attacks on three churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have now been made public. Gunmen struck the churches on Sunday, abducting congregants during services. Addressing journalists in Kaduna, the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, challenged those behind the reports to provide names and verifiable details of the victims, insisting there was no official record of such abductions. The police position triggered widespread backlash, including from Christian Solidarity Worldwide–Nigeria (CSW-N), which accused security agencies of frustrating independent verification. The group said soldiers blocked its team from accessing the affected community…

The Nigeria Police Force has acknowledged that more than 100 worshippers were abducted by gunmen in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, reversing an earlier denial issued less than 24 hours after the incident. Gunmen had attacked three churches in the community on Sunday, carting away an estimated 167 worshippers. The following day, however, the Kaduna State Police Command dismissed the reports, describing them as misinformation allegedly spread by “conflict entrepreneurs” bent on disturbing the state’s relative calm. At a press briefing in Kaduna, the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, had challenged those circulating the…

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out a lawsuit filed by Samuel Anyanwu in which he sought judicial recognition as the national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed the case on Tuesday after Anyanwu’s counsel, U. C. Njemanze-Aku, informed the court that his client’s tenure as national secretary lapsed in December 2025. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, had asked the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Umar Damagum, who was PDP national chairman at the time, from recognising or acting on any communication from the party that did not…

Leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, has sharply criticised United States President Donald Trump over his renewed push to acquire Greenland, describing the move as akin to “international gangsterism”. Speaking in parliament on Tuesday while addressing Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Davey labelled Trump “the most corrupt president the United States has ever seen” and warned that Britain’s current response to Washington was dangerously weak. Trump has recently intensified efforts to persuade European allies to back his plan to buy Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, which is a NATO member. As part of the pressure campaign, he announced…

Joshua reportedly sustained minor injuries and survived the crash. However, two of his close associates — Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami — lost their lives. Ghami was Joshua’s long-time friend and strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele served as his personal trainer.

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has made an appearance at the Southwark Crown Court in London for a preliminary hearing in her ongoing bribery case. The matter came up on Monday before Justice Thornton in Court 8, marking an early procedural step ahead of the substantive trial, which is slated to begin on January 26, 2026. British authorities first brought charges against Alison-Madueke in August 2023, accusing her of accepting a £100,000 bribe while in public office. The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) has alleged that the former minister received illicit payments in exchange for awarding…

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday arrested former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in Abuja. Malami’s arrest comes weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail on January 7 in an ongoing money laundering case. Justice Emeka Nwite admitted Malami, his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife Bashir Asabe to bail in the sum of N500 million each. The court ordered each defendant to provide two sureties owning landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa within the Federal Capital Territory. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the trio…

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf on Monday visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he held talks with President Bola Tinubu, fuelling fresh speculation over his possible move to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor, clad in a white babanriga and his trademark red Kwankwasiyya cap, was seen entering the President’s office around 4:13pm. The visit comes against the backdrop of prolonged negotiations over Yusuf’s reported plan to dump the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the APC — a defection that has been delayed several times since January. This is Yusuf’s first known meeting with Tinubu since the…