Army Shakes Up Senior Leadership With Major Redeployment
The Nigerian Army has carried out a major shake-up of its senior leadership, redeploying General Officers Commanding (GOCs), brigade commanders and other senior officers. The redeployment, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, affects key operational, command, training and staff appointments, including the leadership of major military formations and institutions. The reshuffle is expected to bring fresh perspectives to ongoing security operations across the country, particularly in regions battling insurgency, banditry and other forms of violent crime. Military analysts say such periodic reshuffles are routine and aimed at improving operational efficiency while giving officers exposure to different commands. Further details on specific postings are expected to be made public by the Army’s Department of Public Relations in the coming days.
Seven Boko Haram, ISWAP Commanders Arrested At Katsina Airport After Saudi Pilgrimage
Seven suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders returning from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia were arrested at the Katsina airport, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has disclosed. Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria’s integrated identity management system played a crucial role in flagging and apprehending the suspects upon their arrival. The suspects have since been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation. The minister described the arrest as proof that Nigeria’s biometric and identity verification systems are increasingly effective in tracking persons of interest, even those attempting to evade detection through international travel. Security agencies say investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the suspects’ activities and any wider terrorist networks they may be linked to.
Makinde Lifts Curfew In 10 Oyo LGAs After Oriire Kidnapping
Oyo State Government has lifted the curfew earlier imposed on 10 local government areas as part of measures to facilitate the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area. The curfew, which ran from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., was later extended by 24 hours on Thursday before being lifted. The affected councils — Atiba, Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Olorunsogo, Oriire, Orelope, Saki West and Saki East — border the Old Oyo National Park, an area that has drawn security attention following the abduction. Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said the decision followed a review of the security situation, and thanked residents for their cooperation. He assured that efforts to end the kidnapping episode and strengthen security in the area remain ongoing.
Kano Governor Orders Appointees To Register With APC Ahead Of 2027
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has directed all political appointees in his administration who are yet to register as members of the All Progressives Congress to do so immediately, as part of efforts to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. The governor stressed that every government official must identify with the ruling party and contribute to strengthening its structures across the state. The directive is seen as part of broader efforts by the APC-led state government to consolidate political loyalty within its ranks and present a unified front for the 2027 polls. No timeline was given for compliance, but sources within the state government say appointees are expected to act swiftly on the directive.
Nasarawa Arrests 42 Residents Over Lack Of Toilets In Homes
Nasarawa State Government has arrested 42 residents for living in houses without toilet facilities, as part of efforts to curb open defecation and improve environmental sanitation across the state. Chief Prosecution Officer at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Mohammed, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after an environmental sanitation exercise held on Saturday in Lafia. He said the crackdown forms part of a broader campaign to enforce sanitation laws and discourage practices that pose public health risks. The arrested residents are expected to face prosecution unless they take immediate steps to construct toilet facilities in their homes. Officials say the exercise will be sustained across other parts of the state in the coming weeks.
Niger Police Arrest Three Over Illegal Possession Of Firearm
The Police Command in Niger State says it has arrested three suspects for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. This was contained in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on Saturday in Minna. According to Abiodun, on June 22 at about 12:30 a.m., credible intelligence led police operatives in the Lapai Division to three suspicious persons spotted on a motorcycle passing through Yawa village via Lapai. The suspects were intercepted and a search reportedly led to the recovery of the firearm and ammunition. Abiodun said investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the weapon and whether the suspects have links to other criminal activities in the area.
Ogun, Lagos Police Rescue Five Kidnap Victims, Kill Four Suspects
A joint security operation between the Police Commands in Ogun and Lagos States has rescued five kidnapped victims and neutralised four suspected kidnappers in Ogun State. The Commissioners of Police in both states, Bode Ojajuni and Fatai Tijani, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Saturday at the Police Training School, Iperu. The officers said the operation was the result of intelligence-led collaboration between the two commands, aimed at dismantling kidnapping networks operating along the Ogun-Lagos corridor. They commended the officers involved for their bravery and assured residents that similar operations would continue to rid the area of criminal elements. The rescued victims have reportedly been reunited with their families.
ADC Condemns Court Ruling Setting Aside NDC Recognition
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the ruling of a Lokoja Federal High Court setting aside its earlier judgment recognising the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, described the court ruling as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. He argued that such judicial reversals undermine confidence in the country’s electoral and judicial processes ahead of the 2027 general elections. Abdullahi called on relevant stakeholders to ensure that the rights of political parties are protected, warning that attempts to weaken opposition formations could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s democratic stability.
APC Sweeps Gombe LG Elections, Wins 24 Chairmanship Seats
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the entire 24 chairmanship seats and 240 councillorship positions in the just-concluded local government elections in Gombe State. The Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC) made the announcement on Saturday in Gombe, the state capital. The council polls were contested by six political parties, including the Youth Party, National Rescue Movement, Zenith Labour Party, African Action Congress and Democratic Liberation Alliance, but the APC cleared all available seats at both chairmanship and councillorship levels. The clean sweep further consolidates the ruling party’s grip on local government structures in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Trump Says US Strikes In Nigeria Saved Christians From Terrorist Attacks
United States President Donald Trump has said US military strikes in Nigeria saved Christians from continued attacks by terrorists, claiming the operation brought an end to the widespread killing of Christian communities. Speaking at an event in Washington over the weekend, Trump said the military action targeted the leaders of the terrorist group responsible for the attacks and sent a strong warning against further violence. The claim is likely to draw reactions from Nigerian authorities, who have previously pushed back against narratives framing the country’s security crisis purely along religious lines. Nigerian officials have yet to issue an official response to Trump’s latest comments.
NNPCL Slashes Petrol Price For Second Time In Four Days
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reduced its petrol pump price for the second time in four days. According to a market survey, NNPCL retail outlets around Airport Junction, Wuse Zone 6, and Berger in Abuja have cut the pump price of petrol to ₦1,210 per litre from ₦1,260 per litre, a reduction of ₦50 per litre. The latest cut came barely two days after Dangote Refinery slashed its petrol gantry price by ₦50 to ₦1,125 per litre, and follows an earlier NNPCL adjustment four days prior that cut prices by ₦75 per litre. Petrol now ranges between ₦1,210 and ₦1,305 per litre in Abuja. The reductions coincide with a drop in global crude prices, with WTI trading around $69 per barrel and Brent at about $71, following easing tensions in the Middle East.
Tinubu Behind Attempt To Deregister NDC – Atiku
Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has described the attempt to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) through judicial means as evidence of President Bola Tinubu’s desperate determination to impose a one-party state in Nigeria. Atiku said the move runs contrary to the democratic wishes of Nigerians, alleging that Tinubu is afraid of a free and fair 2027 election. The reaction follows a ruling by a Federal High Court in Lokoja, where Justice Isah Dashen set aside an earlier judgment that had directed INEC to register the NDC, holding that the December 2025 judgment had adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party. Atiku warned that weakening opposition parties could trigger chaos and anarchy ahead of the polls.
INEC Speaks On Judgment Regarding NDC Deregistration
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will take a lawful decision in line with the directives of a Federal High Court in Lokoja, which nullified the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). In a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, INEC said it was aware of media reports on the June 26 judgment but could not comment on its specifics until its legal department obtained and reviewed the Certified True Copy of the ruling. The commission assured that it would act strictly within the confines of the law once it had fully reviewed the court’s decision.
Police Speak On Recruiting Repentant Terrorists
The leadership of the Nigeria Police Force has debunked reports that it has plans to recruit repentant terrorists into its ranks. The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the North Central Zone, DIG Isyaku Mohammed, made the clarification during a stakeholders’ meeting with officers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and transport union representatives in Ilorin, Kwara State. Mohammed urged community heads and religious leaders not to append their signatures on recommendation letters for individuals with questionable characters, warning that such leaders would bear the consequences alongside their communities should such persons later be found culpable. He called on stakeholders to help identify and expose criminals to prevent their infiltration into the security system.
DSS Releases, Compensates Man Wrongfully Arrested Over Alleged Boko Haram Links
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released a Kaduna State farmer and herder, Nura Idris, after an internal investigation found no evidence linking him to Boko Haram. According to security expert Zagazola Makama, the decision followed a review ordered by DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi. Idris, from Soba Local Government Area, was arrested in Suleja, Niger State, in June 2024 by another security agency over suspected terrorist links before being transferred to DSS custody. After reviewing the case, the agency concluded there was no basis to continue holding him and approved his release alongside a ₦3 million compensation package to help him rebuild his life. The DSS also promised to assist him in reviving his business.
‘If You Can’t Let Me Correct You, Don’t Visit Me’ – Funke Akindele Scolds Eniola Badmus
Nollywood actress and producer, Funke Akindele, playfully scolded colleague Eniola Badmus following a public dispute with a makeup artist. The controversy began after Badmus vented online about a makeup artist who failed to honour a booked appointment, going as far as sharing the artist’s phone number and urging followers to call her out. The makeup artist defended herself, explaining that the booking wasn’t confirmed since no advance payment had been made, adding that she only spoke out publicly after receiving online threats. In a Snapchat video on Saturday, Akindele jokingly confronted Badmus, asking, “Badosky, why were you misbehaving online?” while recalling that she had repeatedly advised her against engaging in online confrontations.
Kola Oyewo: Family Announces Three-Day Burial Rites For Veteran Actor
The remains of renowned Nigerian actor and theatre scholar, Chief Dr Adekola Gabriel Oyewo, popularly known as Kola Oyewo, will be laid to rest on Friday, August 7, 2026, in Osun State. This was disclosed in a funeral programme released by the Bangbola Oyewo family of the Ese-Ola Royal House, Oba-Ile, which described the late actor as a beloved father, grandfather and veteran of Nigerian theatre. Oyewo died at age 80 after a career spanning stage, television and academia. The three-day rites will run from August 5 to 7, beginning with a wake-keep at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Igboya, Ile-Ife, followed by a commendation mass, an artistes’ night at Obafemi Awolowo University, and an exhibition of his works at the Pit Theatre.
‘I Still Talk To Diogo Jota’ – Neves Shares Conversation With Late Liverpool Player
Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves has revealed that he still sends WhatsApp messages to his late friend and former teammate, Diogo Jota, nearly a year after the Liverpool forward died in a car crash. Speaking on SIC’s Alta Definição, Neves said he and Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, have kept a WhatsApp group that still includes Jota’s account, describing it as a private space where special moments are shared in his memory. “I still talk to him. Few people know this,” Neves said, adding that he sends messages whenever something important happens and that the conversations remain archived on his phone so he can continue communicating with his late friend.
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