Author: Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi

The United States has been quietly carrying out intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, signalling heightened security cooperation between Washington and Abuja, according to an exclusive report by Reuters. The report, published on Monday, cited flight-tracking data as well as current and former U.S. officials, noting that the precise purpose of the surveillance missions could not be immediately and independently confirmed. The development comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump warned in November that Washington could consider military intervention in Nigeria over what he described as the government’s failure to stop violence against Christian communities. In…

Fresh violence has rocked Orelope Local Government Area in the Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State, following an early-morning attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen that left three farmers dead. The victims, Aderoju Mukaila, Olawuwo Saka, and Ojeniyi Ojebayo, were reportedly attacked on Monday after confronting herders who were grazing cattle on their farmlands. The confrontation allegedly escalated when the farmers resisted the destruction of their crops, leading to a violent assault in which they were hacked. According to a report by Vanguard, the injured farmers were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but later succumbed to their injuries despite medical…

Nigerian naira traded within a relatively narrow range against the United States dollar on Monday, offering a measure of stability after a year marked by sharp fluctuations and sustained pressure on Africa’s most populous economy. In official trading at Nigeria’s formal foreign exchange window, the naira exchanged at about ₦1,460 to the dollar, according to market data. The rate reflects cautious optimism among traders as year-end liquidity patterns and reduced speculative activity ease short-term volatility. However, the currency continued to trade at weaker levels in the parallel market, where the dollar was sold for between ₦1,480 and ₦1,500, highlighting the persistent…

Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has been formally installed as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland, a traditional title associated with service, leadership and responsibility within the Yoruba nation. The title was conferred on Sunday, December 21, 2025, by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, during a colourful ceremony at the Alaafin’s Palace in Oyo Town. The event also featured the installation of former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, as Obaloyin of Yorubaland. Speaking at the ceremony, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of…

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old housewife and her 30-year-old accomplice for allegedly staging her own kidnapping and extorting ₦2.5 million from her husband. The command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos. Adebisi said the police received a distress call on November 24 from the woman’s husband through one of the command’s emergency lines, reporting that his wife had been kidnapped by armed men. According to her, the caller said the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦10 million, which was later reduced to ₦3 million. Despite paying ₦2.5…

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has no plans to reunite with her estranged father, Thomas Markle, and is believed to have given up hope of repairing their fractured relationship. Mr Markle, 81, is currently hospitalised in Cebu, the Philippines, where he is recovering from surgery that resulted in the amputation of his leg below the knee. Reports say the Duchess recently sent him a letter outlining her feelings about his repeated media interviews, but she has not spoken to him directly and has reportedly deleted his phone number. According to The telegraph, Meghan has avoided calling her…

British heavyweight Anthony Joshua stopped YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round of their controversial heavyweight bout, but the long-anticipated mismatch left the boxing world questioning both the spectacle and the safety of the contest. Joshua, a two-time world champion, was expected to make short work of the novice. Instead, he endured a frustrating night as Paul circled and refused to engage, making it embarrassing that Joshua could not find a way to force exchanges and end the fight sooner. The breakthrough finally came late in the fifth round when Joshua knocked Paul down twice, imposing his size and power…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has summoned the warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a joint meeting, warning that it would strictly adhere to the law as preparations begin for major elections scheduled for 2026.  The meeting, which began mid-day on Thursday, brought face-to-face the faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, and the rival bloc backed by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed.  Turaki arrived with members of his National Working Committee, party secretariat officials, and former Niger State Governor, Dr Babangida Aliyu. On his part, Mohammed was accompanied by members of his…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has further strengthened its political dominance across Nigeria following the reported defection of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, a development former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode described as “historic”. In a statement made available on his Facebook page, he said the governor’s defection means that both the North Central and South South geopolitical zones are now fully controlled by the APC, a feat he said no political party has previously achieved. “This is a historic development because the same political party has never controlled all the states in both zones at the same time,” he said.…

A convicted Lithuanian national was permitted to remain in the UK after an immigration tribunal ruled that it was in the best interests of his teenage daughter for him to stay and attempt to rebuild their relationship, despite his violent criminal record. Arturas Pielikys, who has lived in Britain for 15 years, had faced deportation after being jailed for almost two years for a series of assault offences. The Home Office ordered his removal under rules requiring foreign nationals sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment to be deported. However, the decision was overturned by the First-tier Tribunal, which found…