Nigeria

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with alleged human trafficking and related offences in the state. In a statement issued on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Abubakar, said the E Divisional Police Headquarters was investigating a case involving criminal conspiracy, human trafficking, assault, extortion and defamation. “A complainant, Ebere Wilson, 20, of Wuntin Dada, reported that she was assaulted and had her mobile phone, a blue Tecno Spark 4, confiscated…

The Peoples Democratic Party chairman in Kogi State, Muhammed Gambo, has expressed the party’s full support for senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, declaring, “You are our pride, we stand with you.” The statement followed the senator’s plea for funding to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company during a budget defence session, which reportedly led to a heated exchange with the Senate committee chairman, Patrick Ndubueze. THE WHISTLER reports that the Federal Government, on Tuesday, proposed to spend N6.04bn on personnel…

The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria has declared its support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election. They declared their support while urging the Federal Government to establish a specialised Bank of Transportation to provide financial backing for operators across the sector. According to a statement signed by the union on Friday, the National President of RTEAN, Musa Maitakobi, in the communiqué said the endorsement followed wide consultations across its units, chapels,…

The family of Nnamdi Kanu has announced plans to hold a solemn memorial on February 14 to commemorate victims of a deadly military operation that struck their ancestral home in Afaraukwu Ibeku. Through his younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, the family described the 2017 raid as “a massacre” and urged both national and international observers to participate in the remembrance ritual “to ensure the tragedy is never forgotten.” The family said the annual observance will honor defenceless individuals who died during the…

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the timetable and schedule for the 2027 general election. Accordingly, while the Presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on February 20, 2027, the Governorship and State Assembly elections will be held on March 6. At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, slammed earlier reports which suggested that the electoral umpire had released the timetable for the election. INEC had, on…

Fresh tensions is brewing within the Labour Party following an alleged late-night invasion of its national secretariat in Abuja by the sacked National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, and the National Secretary, Mr. Umar Farouq. This incident reportedly led to the assault of security guards and the involvement of an officer of the Department of State Services. The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at about 8:30pm, weeks after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on January 21, 2026, upheld Abure’s removal…

The African Democratic Congress has accused the President Bola Tinubu led administration of “intimidation and harassment of leaders simply because they hold opposing political views.” ADC’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the assertion while condemning the attempted arrest of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Abuja International Airport on his return to Nigeria from Cairo, Egypt. Security operatives had attempted to arrest El-Rufai at the airport without giving any reason. While the ADC…

Nigeria has secured a permanent seat on the Board of the African Central Bank (ACB) following a decision by the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) at its 39th session, marking a significant milestone in the country’s continental diplomatic and economic engagements. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed on Friday, describing the development as a landmark achievement that reinforces Nigeria’s strategic role in shaping Africa’s financial and monetary architecture. According to Tuggar, the…

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, says the Federal Government is partnering with the private sector to develop market-based solutions aimed at addressing the country’s growing internally displaced persons (IDP) crisis. Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday about ongoing efforts to resettle displaced Nigerians, Doro said setting a definite timeline for clearing IDP camps would be unrealistic given the complexity of displacement challenges in the country. “It will be…

The abductors of nine worshipers at St John’s Catholic Church, Ojije in Utonkon, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, have demanded a ransom of N100m, PUNCH Metro learnt on Thursday. The victims, comprising women and youths, were holding a vigil at the church when they were abducted around 2 a.m. on Sunday. According to a family member of one of the victims, who spoke anonymously, the abductors first made contact with the families on Wednesday and demanded the sum of N100m. The source added that during…