By Uzair Adam

No fewer than 18 farmers were killed and several others injured following a fresh attack by gunmen on Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The attack, which occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, was confirmed by the Bokkos Youth Leader, Christopher Luka, on Monday.

Luka said he received a distress call from a youth leader in the area shortly after midnight, informing him that armed attackers had invaded the community and opened fire on residents.

“A youth leader called around 12 a.m. and reported that gunmen had attacked the community and shot more than 20 people. So far, 18 deaths have been confirmed,” he said.

According to him, security personnel stationed in Bokkos were immediately alerted after he received the report.

“I contacted the security agencies, and they confirmed that they had already been informed and were heading to the affected community,” Luka added.

He described the attack as unprovoked and urged security agencies to take decisive measures to prevent further violence in the area.

The latest incident comes less than a week after the District Head of Gwande in Bokkos LGA, Saf Samuel Alaket, was killed in an ambush along the Sha District axis bordering Daffo community.

Alaket was reportedly returning home from a traditional council meeting when he encountered the attackers.

As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the latest attack.

Efforts to reach the spokespersons of the Plateau State Police Command and Operation Enduring Peace, SP Alfred Alabo and Captain Polycarp Auta, were unsuccessful.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United States government has announced a temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil exports and related transactions until August 21, 2026.

According to a statement released on Monday by the US Treasury Department, the measure will allow Iran to produce, sell and transport crude oil and associated petroleum products during the period.

The Treasury Department, which oversees US economic sanctions, stated that “All transactions” that had previously been restricted in connection with Iranian-origin crude oil “are authorized through 12:01 am eastern daylight time, August 21, 2026.”

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington decided to ease the restrictions due to commitments made by Tehran during ongoing talks with the United States and its allies.

Bessent explained that Iran had agreed to support “free and open transit” through the Strait of Hormuz. He also cited Tehran’s decision to permit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to enter the country.

The latest development comes amid continuing diplomatic efforts between both countries over regional security and energy-related concerns.

AFP reported that the temporary relief could affect global crude oil supply and international energy markets in the coming weeks.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

China has removed or suspended more than 12,000 university degree programs as part of a sweeping reform aimed at aligning higher education with the country’s economic and technological priorities.

According to data from China’s Ministry of Education, universities revoked or suspended about 12,200 undergraduate programs between 2021 and 2025 while introducing roughly 10,200 new ones. The changes affected more than 30 per cent of university programs nationwide. The cuts were concentrated in arts, humanities, foreign languages, and management-related disciplines.

Programs such as English literature, product design, and public administration were among those affected as universities reviewed courses deemed obsolete or less closely aligned with current labour-market needs.

The reforms come as China seeks to address a graduate employment challenge and strengthen its position in advanced technology industries. Officials and university administrators have increasingly emphasised programs that are seen as supporting national development goals and emerging sectors.

To replace the discontinued programs, universities introduced thousands of new degree offerings focused on advanced technologies and strategic industries. New majors include embodied intelligence, semiconductor engineering, and brain-computer interface technologies, among other fields linked to artificial intelligence and high-tech manufacturing.

The overhaul reflects Beijing’s broader ambition to build a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting innovation, technological self-reliance, and long-term economic growth. Supporters argue the reforms will improve graduate employability, while critics warn that reducing opportunities in the humanities could weaken intellectual diversity and critical inquiry within universities.

As China continues to reshape its higher education system, the reforms are likely to attract close attention from policymakers and educators around the world who are grappling with similar questions about the future of work and the role of universities in a technology-driven economy.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the termination of admissions into affiliated degree programmes offered by colleges of education across the country.

The decision appeared in new registration guidelines released for Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and agriculture-related National Diploma (ND) programmes by the office of the JAMB registrar.

Under the new policy, admissions into affiliated degree programmes in colleges of education will no longer take place from the 2026/2027 academic session.

JAMB also stopped direct admission into 100 and 200 levels in colleges of education. The board stated that all candidates seeking admission into such institutions must now enter through the NCE route.

“With effect from the 2026/2027 session, no admission into the 100 or 200 level is allowed into any college of education. All entrants are through NCE,” the policy document reads.

The examination body, however, introduced measures for candidates who had earlier selected affiliated colleges of education for degree programmes through Direct Entry.

According to the board, affected candidates may change institutions without payment or transfer to the parent universities affiliated with the degree programmes.

JAMB added that candidates may also upgrade their second-choice institutions to first choice for admission processing. The board directed those interested in changing institutions to complete the process before June 22.

“A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the degree programme is affiliated,” the board noted.

The board also listed three options for candidates seeking 100-level admission into affiliated colleges of education through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The candidates may change institutions, promote their second-choice institutions to first choice, or move to the NCE programme.

JAMB explained that candidates who choose the NCE option must obtain an O’ level verification code from the appropriate examination body and pay a registration fee of N700 on the board’s portal.

“The candidate may be moved to the NCE programme of the institution, on the understanding that the choice of the college of education indicates an interest in pursuing the NCE qualification,” JAMB said.

The board further stated that any candidate who accepts the NCE option and receives admission recommendation will have any existing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended.

“Anyone who chooses NCE and is proposed/recommended would have any ongoing UTME/DE process suspended,” the board said.

JAMB disclosed that details of candidates who had already applied for changes of institution through the 2026 UTME would automatically move to their preferred first-choice colleges of education or agriculture-related non-technology ND programmes.

The board also introduced compulsory O’ level verification for all NCE applicants. It fixed the fee at N1,500 for one sitting and N2,000 for two sittings.

Earlier in March, the Federal Government exempted candidates seeking admission into colleges of education from writing the UTME.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, had said candidates with four credit passes in relevant subjects could apply to colleges of education without sitting for the examination.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Nigerian Army, alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have destroyed terrorist camps during a military operation in Sambisa Forest within Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The operation took place around 8:26 a.m. on June 19. Troops attached to the 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison carried it out during a raid on suspected terrorist enclaves in the forest.

According to sources quoted by counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the joint security team targeted locations believed to serve as hideouts for terrorists operating within the Sambisa axis.

The troops reportedly encountered suspected fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Disa and Balangaje villages. The suspects fled after sighting the advancing troops.

Security operatives later destroyed camps and logistics facilities allegedly used by the insurgents for shelter and operational planning.

Military authorities said the mission forms part of ongoing efforts to weaken terrorist networks and restrict their movement within the Sambisa Forest area.

No casualty was recorded among the troops during the operation.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A human rights activist has called on the Inspector-General of Police to launch an immediate investigation into allegations that police officers in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State, handed over a female suspect to an angry mob that subsequently lynched and burnt her to death.

In a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Human Rights Activist Hamza N Dantani, Esq, demanded a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ummulkhair, an Islamic school teacher accused of child theft.

According to the petition, the deceased was apprehended by members of the public and taken to the Maraban Jos Police Division for her protection and to facilitate proper investigation. However, reports indicate that a large crowd later stormed the police station, demanding that the woman be handed over to them.

The situation has been further complicated by allegations from the deceased’s husband and another woman who publicly testified that Ummulkhair was alive while in police custody. They further alleged that the Divisional Police Officer personally took custody of the woman before she was allegedly handed over to the mob.

If these allegations prove true, the activist argues, they constitute a “shocking violation” of constitutional and statutory responsibilities imposed upon members of the Nigeria Police Force.

The petition cited Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, and Section 34, which guarantees the right to dignity of the human person. It also referenced the Police Act, 2020, which places a clear obligation upon police officers to protect lives and property.

“Every person accused of a crime remains entitled to the protection of the law and is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law,” the petition states.

The activist cited several Supreme Court decisions, including Nasiru Bello v. Attorney-General of Oyo State (1986) and Fawehinmi v. Abacha (2000), which reaffirmed the sanctity of human life and the supremacy of fundamental rights.

The petition also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly Articles 4, 5, and 7, which guarantee the right to life, respect for human dignity, and the right to a fair hearing.

“The deceased, irrespective of the allegations against her, was entitled to these protections. No allegation of criminal conduct can justify mob justice or extra-judicial execution,” the activist stated.

The petition called for the preservation of all station records, detention registers, occurrence books, communication records, and any available CCTV footage. It also requested that all officers on duty, including the DPO, be invited to make statements and account for their actions.

The activist further demanded that witnesses, including the husband of the deceased and other persons with material information, be provided adequate protection to ensure they can assist investigators without fear of intimidation.

“This matter goes beyond the death of one individual. It touches on the integrity of the criminal justice system, the constitutional obligation of the Police to protect lives and the fundamental principle that no citizen should be condemned or executed without due process of law,” the petition concluded.

The activist has urged that the outcome of the investigation be made public and that any officer or individual found culpable be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Kaduna State Police Command has launched a manhunt for suspects involved in the brutal killing of a woman who was lynched by a mob after being accused of child stealing in Maraban Jos.

The victim, a native of Maraban Jos, was attacked by residents on Sunday, 21st June, 2026, over allegations that she was involved in child theft. Police officers who arrived at the scene rescued the woman and moved her to the station for safety and investigation.

However, shockingly, a large crowd numbering hundreds later stormed the police station, overwhelmed officers on duty, forcibly removed the woman from custody, killed her, and set her body ablaze.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mandir Hassan, described the incident as “barbaric, criminal, and a direct assault on the rule of law.”

The Command warned that no person or group has the authority to take the law into their own hands, stressing that jungle justice would not be tolerated.

Several suspects have already been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend others who participated in the mob action. The Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, assured that a comprehensive investigation has commenced and that all culprits would face the full weight of the law.

“The Command will not tolerate jungle justice, mob action, or attacks on police formations and personnel,” CP Muhammad warned.

Residents have been urged to report suspicious persons or activities to the Police and allow due process to take its course.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and upholding justice in accordance with the law.

By Uzair Adam

Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has claimed responsibility for an attack that left soldiers dead and others injured in Sokoto State.

The attack occurred on Saturday when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated on a military vehicle carrying troops to Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area.

The soldiers were reportedly responding to a distress call after bandits attacked the village in the early hours of the day.

Residents said the assailants stormed the community between 12:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., firing sporadically and forcing villagers to seek military assistance.

A resident, who requested anonymity, alleged that the attackers planted the explosive device along the Isa–Bargaja road before the arrival of the troops.

In a video released after the incident, Turji expressed satisfaction over the attack, claiming that members of his group had successfully targeted those conducting operations against them.

He said his fighters had recovered livestock allegedly seized during security operations and described the development as a victory.

Turji further claimed that some of those involved in operations against his group in Isa, Sabon Birni and surrounding areas had been killed.

However, the claims contained in the video could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, fresh security concerns have emerged following allegations that Turji is expanding his fighting force and acquiring new weapons along the Sokoto–Zamfara border.

The allegations were made by Basharu Altine Guyawa Isa, Sokoto State Coordinator of the Movement for Social Justice and Good Governance, in a Facebook post on Saturday.

He claimed that Turji’s fighters were holding gatherings and conducting weapons training exercises in communities stretching from Bingabale Kudu through Bafarawa East to Bargaja.

According to him, the group has acquired new weapons, some of which were allegedly used during recent clashes with security forces.

He also alleged that newly arrived fighters with suspected links to Boko Haram had joined the group to provide combat and weapons training.

Basharu further claimed that intelligence reports indicated that a night-vision device recently purchased by Turji was among the equipment delivered to his camp.

He also linked the movement of the weapons to two alleged bandit commanders, Kachalla Haru Dole and Kachalla Ibrahim Chimo.

The activist expressed concern over what he described as a growing alliance between Turji and Chimo, warning that it could strengthen bandit operations across eastern Sokoto and potentially lead to coordinated attacks on local government headquarters in the region.

Hours after making the allegations, Basharu shared another video on Facebook which he claimed showed some of the newly acquired weapons in Turji’s possession.

He alleged that the footage was released by Turji on June 20 and was intended to showcase successes recorded against security forces operating along the Isa–Bargaja axis.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Sokoto State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

By Uzair Adam

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two elderly men, aged 84 and 75, for allegedly supplying illicit drugs to secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia State.

The suspects, identified as Godfrey Orji, 84, and Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora, 75, were apprehended in separate operations following intelligence reports and investigations by the agency.

According to the NDLEA, Obiora was arrested on Friday, June 19, 2026, after intelligence revealed that he was allegedly selling illicit substances, including opioids, from a patent medicine store on Club Road in Umuahia.

A search of the shop led to the recovery of 4.64 kilograms of drugs, including tramadol and diazepam.

In a separate incident, Orji, a pensioner, was arrested after security personnel at Saint Silas Secondary School in Old Umuahia reportedly caught him supplying drugs to two teenage students.

He was initially handed over to the police before being transferred to the NDLEA on June 18 for further investigation.

The agency said one of the students, a 15-year-old Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) student, confessed that Orji supplied him with drugs, which he in turn distributed to other students within the school.

NDLEA said both suspects would face prosecution, while the students involved have been enrolled in counselling and rehabilitation programmes.

Elsewhere, the agency intercepted a 9.5-kilogram consignment of ADB-Chminaca, a synthetic cannabinoid classified as a dangerous psychoactive substance, at a courier company in Lagos.

The shipment, which originated from China, was concealed inside a carton.

Operatives also recovered 300 grams of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, hidden inside ladies’ handbags at a logistics company in Lagos.

In another operation, NDLEA officers raided the residence of a wanted drug dealer, Lukman Badmus, in the Ogombo area of Ajah, Lagos, where they recovered codeine syrup and skunk.

A follow-up raid at his wife’s shop led to the seizure of additional drugs and related items. The agency said attempts to destroy evidence were thwarted by operatives.

In Kogi State, officers intercepted a suspect transporting methamphetamine concealed in custard containers along the Okene-Lokoja highway.

Meanwhile, a couple who had been on the run following the seizure of 117 kilograms of cannabis in Ekiti State were also arrested.

In Oyo State, three suspects were arrested during a raid on a building in the Dangote area of Oyo town, where operatives recovered 1,416 kilograms of skunk concealed in jumbo sacks covered with sawdust.

The agency further disclosed that several forest operations in Edo State resulted in the destruction of large cannabis plantations and the arrest of suspects linked to drug cultivation and trafficking.

NDLEA said it has continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across schools, places of worship and communities nationwide as part of efforts to combat substance abuse.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain the ongoing nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking and abuse.

By Uzair Adam

Security operatives in Kebbi State have killed a suspected kidnap gang leader and arrested one of his accomplices during an operation in Bagudo Local Government Area.

The operation, carried out by the Kebbi State Police Command in collaboration with other security agencies, led to the death of the suspected kingpin, identified as Jiji Mujugu.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, a suspect who had earlier been arrested provided information that led operatives to the gang leader’s hideout.

Usman said the suspect attempted to flee and opened fire on security personnel during the operation, prompting the operatives to return fire and neutralise him.

He added that another gang member, Bube Tukur, was arrested at the scene.

The police spokesman disclosed that investigations revealed that Mujugu and Tukur were members of an eight-man kidnapping syndicate responsible for a series of attacks and abductions in communities across Bagudo Local Government Area.

The affected communities include Geza, Adawa, Matsinkai, Sharabi, Illela, Suru and Dakin Gari, among others.

Usman further stated that the gang was linked to the abduction of a resident, Alhaji Abu Geza, from Geza Village.

He said security operatives recovered a locally fabricated pistol and a live cartridge during the raid, while the kidnapped victim was rescued unharmed from the gang’s hideout.

The police assured residents of their commitment to sustaining efforts aimed at tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state.