By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nearly 64,000 Nigerians have fled to the Niger Republic in 2026 to escape insecurity, while hundreds of others have reportedly sought refuge in neighbouring Benin Republic, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Dominique Hyde, UNHCR spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, attributing the movement of people to worsening attacks by Islamist militants and armed gangs.

Hyde said the influx was placing additional pressure on Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, which already hosts more than 500,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. At least 327,500 of them are Nigerians.

“Thousands of newly arrived refugees, many of them children, are struggling to survive with limited access to food, clean water, shelter and essential services, as humanitarian resources fall critically short,” the statement said.

Most of the new arrivals have settled in the border regions of Diffa and Tahoua. Reuters reported that more than 23,000 people, over two-thirds of them children, had arrived in Diffa alone since the beginning of the year.

The UNHCR spokesperson said many displaced families were living in makeshift shelters, while women often travelled several kilometres daily to obtain water.

Aid agencies have also reported increasing cases of malnutrition, respiratory infections and poor sanitation among the new arrivals.

The humanitarian situation has been further complicated by difficulties with refugee registration. Only about five per cent of Nigerians who arrived in Niger this year have been formally registered, leaving many without the documents required to access assistance and public services.

Hyde also identified insecurity and climate-related challenges as factors worsening humanitarian needs. She disclosed that more than 70 per cent of reported security incidents in Niger this year occurred in the Diffa region.

UNHCR is seeking $11.4 million to expand its humanitarian response across Niger, Nigeria and Benin. The agency warned that thousands of displaced families could be left without essential assistance if additional funding is not secured.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Several leading universities in the United Kingdom have begun advertising a proposed interest-free student loan scheme designed to accommodate Muslim students who have religious objections to conventional interest-based borrowing.

The Alternative Student Finance scheme is expected to become available as early as next year. It will operate under the Islamic finance principle of Takaful, which promotes mutual financial support among members of a group.

Under the arrangement, students will make contributions equivalent to the repayments required under the conventional student loan system. However, instead of the money going into the Treasury’s general funds, it will be ring-fenced to support future beneficiaries of the scheme.

The initiative is open to students of all faiths, although it is primarily intended to address concerns among Muslims whose religious beliefs prohibit the payment or receipt of interest.

According to a report by The Telegraph, the University of Bristol, University of Leeds, University College London, City St George’s and Newcastle University are among institutions that have informed prospective students about the proposed arrangement.

The University of Bristol described it as an interest-free UK government loan compatible with Islamic finance principles, while Newcastle University referred to it as non-interest-bearing and sharia-compliant finance.

The scheme has, however, attracted criticism from some political figures who argue that it could create divisions within the education system.

Suella Braverman, Reform UK’s education spokesperson, described the arrangement as a potential two-tier system and questioned why taxpayers would bear the cost of loans that are not fully repaid.

She also criticised the decision to ring-fence repayments for future participants rather than direct them into the government’s general funds.

The report noted that the Government paid the Islamic Finance Council UK more than £365,000 in public funds to develop the scheme.

Although the Department for Education has yet to announce a specific launch date, the arrangement is expected to form part of wider changes to student finance beginning this year.

The department has defended the initiative, insisting that it does not give Muslim students preferential treatment.

A spokesperson said it would be “completely false to assert that Alternative Student Finance arrangements would give favourable treatment to Muslim students”.

“All graduates will be repaying their loans in full regardless of which system they use, including an equivalent alternative to interest,” the spokesperson added.

The department said the scheme would enable more students to access higher education without compromising their religious beliefs.

A 2021 Muslim Census survey involving nearly 39,000 British Muslims found that 80 per cent of student respondents felt conflicted about conventional student loans, while 71 per cent believed the existing system discriminated against Muslims.

Meanwhile, some Islamic scholars consider the existing student loan arrangement permissible. The University of Cambridge, for instance, informs students that conventional student loans are backed by the UK Fatwa Council.

The new scheme will be certified by the Islamic Finance Supervisory Board, while the Government will remain responsible for covering any shortfall if borrowers fail to repay their loans in full.

By Muhammad Sulaiman 

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has reacted to Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s claim that prominent political figures in Jigawa State, including himself, are supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shettima had made the claim while listing Lamido among those allegedly backing the APC administration.

However, Lamido expressed surprise at the statement, questioning how he could have joined the APC in 2026 when he did not join the party in 2014.

In his response, Lamido said:

“God works in mysterious ways! I did not join the APC in 2014, but I have supposedly joined now in 2026? Although a Kanuri man said it, I am not surprised. But my response, in your language, is ‘Kattuwunum!’”

Lamido’s remarks indicate his rejection of Shettima’s claim that he is among those supporting the APC.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Medical students from Kano State under the 2020/2021 MBBS set have raised concerns over the prolonged delay in the payment of their bonding allowances, appealing to the state government to urgently address the situation.

One affected student, who requested anonymity, told The Daily Reality that the students had expected payments to begin more than a year ago, but none had received any payment so far.

The student also expressed concern over the absence of official communication from the relevant authorities explaining the delay or indicating when the payments would begin.

He said the delay had worsened the financial difficulties many students face, particularly amid the country’s prevailing economic challenges and the high cost of medical education.

The students have therefore appealed to concerned individuals and public figures to draw the attention of the Kano State Government to their plight and prevail on the relevant authorities to fulfil the commitment.

They described themselves as future members of Kano State’s healthcare workforce and urged the government to take necessary steps to ease their financial burden and ensure that the bonding allowances are paid.

Efforts to reach the Kano State Government for its reaction to the matter have so far been unsuccessful.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Indian authorities have arrested three Nigerians in Delhi for allegedly staying in the country without valid immigration documents.

The Times of India reported on Sunday that the arrests took place on October 31 during an immigration verification exercise in Dwarka, southwest Delhi.

The Delhi Police identified the suspects as Bartholomew Iloegbunem, Konan Okocha, also known as Konan Brice Kousaai, and Ndubuisi Nwabufor.

According to the report, the three men were unable to provide documents authorising their stay in India when they were questioned by the police.

Following their arrest, the suspects were presented before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office before they were transferred to the Sewa Sadan detention centre in Lampur.

The arrests form part of an enforcement exercise targeting foreign nationals suspected of violating India’s immigration regulations.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Portugal midfielder Rodrigo Mora has dismissed the possibility of taking over Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous number 7 shirt, saying he is comfortable with his current number 86.

The 19-year-old FC Porto youngster had the opportunity to share a dressing room with Ronaldo before the former Portugal captain announced his retirement from international football.

Speaking in comments reported by Tribuna, Mora described playing alongside the legendary forward as a privilege and acknowledged his influence on footballers.

“I was extremely lucky to play with Cristiano and share the dressing room with him, as he is everyone’s role model. He has retired from international football, and Portugal thanks him greatly for everything he has given.”

When asked whether he would consider wearing Ronaldo’s iconic number 7 jersey, Mora ruled out the possibility, saying the responsibility attached to the shirt was too great.

“No, no, no, I don’t think about that, it is far too much for me, the number 86 suits me,” he responded.

Ronaldo leaves behind an outstanding record with Portugal, having become the country’s highest-ever goalscorer and led the national team to victory at the 2016 European Championship.

He also helped Portugal win two UEFA Nations League titles during his international career.

Mora, meanwhile, is regarded as one of Portugal’s promising young talents. Having progressed through Porto’s academy, he has earned opportunities in the club’s senior team and is expected to play a significant role in the country’s football future.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced a discreet investigation into the spending and management of public funds by chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

The investigation, which is being conducted through the commission’s zonal directorates across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, seeks to determine whether the councils have demonstrated accountability since gaining financial autonomy.

Sources within the anti-graft agency told The PUNCH that the exercise would examine how the chairmen manage their allocations, their capacity to administer public resources and the impact of financial autonomy on service delivery at the grassroots.

One of the sources said the commission wanted to assess whether the councils had improved their performance and accountability since the Supreme Court granted them financial autonomy.

“We want to see their definite impact on the economy as a result of the financial autonomy that has been granted them. We want to see whether they have the necessary managerial skills, and whether their integrity quotient is high.

“We want to see comparatively what was existing before the autonomy and what is existing now and whether there has been development. It is not about the state you mentioned alone; it is across the country. All the EFCC zonal offices are handling the investigation secretly.”

The investigation comes more than two years after the Supreme Court affirmed the financial autonomy of the 774 local government areas and barred state governors from controlling or withholding their allocations.

In May 2024, the Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, approached the Supreme Court to challenge governors’ control of local government funds.

The suit also sought to stop governors from dissolving elected councils and replacing them with caretaker committees.

On July 11, 2024, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Garba Lawal, ruled in favour of local government financial autonomy. The court directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay allocations directly into local government accounts.

The ruling was expected to strengthen grassroots governance by allowing elected council officials to independently manage their finances and execute development projects.

However, concerns over the management of the funds led the EFCC to announce plans to monitor local government expenditure.

In October 2024, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said the commission would track the budget performance of local governments to ensure that allocations were used for their approved purposes.

He also pledged to work with relevant stakeholders to monitor expenditure and prosecute officials found to have violated the law.

Olukoyede said, “We are fully prepared to ensure accountability in the use of local government funds. One of the reasons that informed the decision to establish additional zonal directorates by the commission is the need to improve the commission’s presence and coverage of the country.

“We’ll work closely with stakeholders in tracking the budget performance of the councils, to ensure that funds appropriated are used for specified purposes and those who violate the law will be brought to justice.”

The EFCC’s latest investigation is expected to provide a broader assessment of how local government councils have managed public funds since the implementation of the autonomy ruling.

Efforts to obtain a response from the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful as of Monday night.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has removed 1,609,553 records from the preliminary voters’ register following a nationwide screening exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commission also disclosed that 54 individuals across 10 states had been identified for their alleged involvement in irregularities linked to voter registration. It warned that those found responsible would face disciplinary action, including possible prosecution.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the findings on Monday during a press conference in Abuja on the review of the preliminary voters’ register.

He explained that the commission removed 1,608,660 confirmed invalid registrations from the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise. An additional 873 records belonging to verified deceased persons were also expunged.

Amupitan said the review followed complaints and objections submitted by members of the public after the preliminary register was displayed between October 9 and 15, 2026.

He said, “The commission confirms that the current register-cleaning exercise for the 2025/2026 Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) has been concluded. All 1,608,660 confirmed invalid registrations have been removed.

“In addition, 873 records belonging to verified deceased persons have also been removed as a separate category. The combined total of records removed under these two categories is 1,609,553.”

According to the chairman, the exercise uncovered suspected duplicate registrations, manipulated photographs, unusual names and registration patterns, as well as records of deceased persons.

INEC initially harvested 11,088,238 registration records from the three phases of the 2025/2026 CVR exercise. Its Automated Biometric Identification System flagged 1,545,052 records for further examination.

However, Amupitan cautioned that a record flagged by the system was not automatically invalid, as each case required further assessment by authorised officials.

He said, “A flagged record is not necessarily an invalid registration: automated screening identifies matters requiring review, while authorised adjudication determines the outcome.”

Before the preliminary register was published, the commission had confirmed and excluded 1,277,052 invalid registrations.

Following public complaints, another 268,000 cases were examined. Of these, 217,722 were found to be invalid and removed, while 50,278 were cleared and retained.

Further screening identified an additional 113,886 invalid registrations, bringing the total number of invalid records removed during the exercise to 1,608,660.

54 Officials Face Investigation

Beyond removing the affected records, INEC said its investigations uncovered deliberate violations of registration procedures by some personnel.

Amupitan explained that the technical assessment examined suspected multiple registrations, unusual registration patterns, substituted photographs and irregularities in registration transactions.

He said some personnel deliberately bypassed established procedures and abused provisions designed to accommodate exceptional circumstances, including registration arrangements for persons with disabilities.

The commission identified 54 individuals across 10 states in connection with the irregularities.

Amupitan said, “Fifty-four persons across 10 states have been identified as complicit and necessary disciplinary action will be taken against them, including possible prosecution.”

He added that INEC was strengthening its registration processes through improved biometric capture, authentication and verification measures.

Historical Duplications Remain a Concern

The commission warned that the latest clean-up would not resolve all integrity concerns surrounding the national voters’ register, particularly duplicate records inherited from previous registration exercises between 2011 and 2023.

Amupitan said some of the names and photographs circulated on social media as evidence of irregularities related to older registration records rather than the 2025/2026 exercise.

He explained that the national register had evolved through successive registration exercises that used different technologies and operational procedures.

He said, “Cleaning the register of only the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise alone will not solve the problem identified.

“Even with the removal of 331,608 who were found to be irregular in the Preliminary Voter Register for 2025/2026 displayed and published, the final list will still carry over the duplications of 2011-2023.”

The chairman also addressed complaints from voters who claimed that their names had disappeared from the preliminary register.

He said investigations showed that many of those affected had registered between 2011 and 2023 before relocating and registering afresh at their new places of residence without formally transferring their original registrations.

According to him, the biometric system identified the newer registrations as duplicates and voided them, while the original records remained valid at the voters’ former registration locations.

He advised affected voters to verify their details and check their previous polling units where necessary.

INEC had earlier proposed a nationwide voter revalidation exercise to address inconsistencies in historical records. However, the commission postponed the plan following concerns from stakeholders about its proximity to the 2027 elections and the possibility of disenfranchising eligible voters.

Amupitan maintained that the postponement did not affect the commission’s existing mechanisms for identifying and correcting irregularities.

PVC Distribution To Continue

The INEC chairman also provided an update on the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He said distribution of cards from the first and second phases of the CVR exercise, including transferred PVCs, was ongoing at local government area offices nationwide.

He added that cards produced for the third and final phase were being delivered and would be dispatched to states the following week.

According to him, distribution would return to registration areas across the country from December 1, 2026.

He said, “The distribution of Phases 1 and 2 of the PVC and transferred PVCs is ongoing at the various LGAs in Nigeria. Some of the PVCs for the third and final Phase are being delivered, and they will be dispatched to the states by next week.

“Meanwhile, as from 1st December 2026, distribution will go back to the Registration Areas all over Nigeria,” he said.

Amupitan appealed to voters who participated in the third phase to remain patient, noting that the cards were being produced outside Nigeria.

He further assured Nigerians that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and established election procedures would prevent multiple voting.

He explained that voters must appear physically at their designated polling units for biometric verification through fingerprints or facial recognition. The system also has controls to prevent a voter from being accredited more than once.

The chairman said INEC had concluded the current clean-up exercise and was conducting final reconciliation, quality assurance and publication checks ahead of the release of the final voters’ register on December 15, 2026.

He stressed that the commission’s responsibility included removing invalid records while ensuring that eligible Nigerians were not wrongly excluded from exercising their right to vote.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, Thomas Massie, has initiated impeachment proceedings against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over his role in the US military campaign against Iran.

Massie, who represents Kentucky, introduced articles of impeachment on the House floor on Monday, accusing Hegseth of abusing his office and carrying out unlawful orders to launch a war against a foreign country.

CNN reported that lawmakers would have to vote on the impeachment motion by Wednesday.

Presenting the articles, Massie accused the defence secretary of knowingly implementing illegal directives to initiate military action against another nation.

He argued that Hegseth had become a threat to the US Constitution and had acted in a manner inconsistent with his official responsibilities and the rule of law.

Hegseth has remained firm in his position, while President Donald Trump has publicly defended him against calls for his removal. The Pentagon chief is also expected to address the controversy at a news conference on Tuesday.

The impeachment effort comes amid mounting criticism of Hegseth following the Republican Party’s poor performance in the 2026 midterm elections.

According to CNN, some Republican lawmakers and allies have blamed the party’s electoral losses partly on the war with Iran.

Critics have accused Hegseth of playing a key role in persuading Trump to launch the military campaign without a clearly defined exit strategy. They have also questioned his assessment of how quickly the United States could achieve its military objectives.

US Vice President JD Vance reportedly attributed the Republican setbacks to the conflict, while Trump acknowledged that the war had contributed to rising petrol prices. The president, however, maintained that the decision to attack Iran was justified.

Although impeachment requires only a simple majority in the House of Representatives, removing Hegseth from office would require a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.

CNN reported that Massie’s proposal could attract sufficient support in the House if Democrats, the lawmaker himself and a small number of Republicans back it. However, securing the required votes in the Senate would be considerably more difficult.

Hegseth, 46, is a former Fox News presenter and US Army National Guard officer who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.

He graduated from Princeton University in 2003 before obtaining a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigerian Armed Forces have reportedly killed more than 50 suspected terrorists, apprehended several criminal suspects and rescued dozens of kidnapped persons during coordinated security operations across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

The operations, conducted between October 30 and November 5, 2026, targeted terrorist groups, bandits, kidnappers, gunrunners and individuals suspected of providing support to criminal networks.

The Defence Headquarters disclosed this in a statement issued on November 6 and signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja.

According to the statement, troops sustained offensives across various theatres of operation to weaken armed groups, disrupt their sources of supplies and improve security.

North-East: Troops repel attacks, recover weapons

In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI repelled attacks on Buni Yadi in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State and Bitta in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The military said troops launched a counteroffensive following an attempted terrorist attack on Buni Yadi from the Timbuktu Triangle axis on October 29.

Clearance operations carried out the following day reportedly resulted in the recovery of 48 bodies of suspected terrorists, 42 AK-47 rifles, five PKT machine guns, four general-purpose machine guns, one 60mm mortar, 105 magazines and two video cameras.

Further operations around Apama and Jauro Bashir on October 31 led to the recovery of three additional bodies, an AK-47 rifle and 188 rounds of ammunition.

At Bitta, troops also thwarted an attempt by terrorists to infiltrate their position. They recovered seven bodies, four AK-47 rifles, an RPG tube, four RPG bombs, three RPG chargers, a PKM machine gun and a radio.

The Defence Headquarters also reported that 12 terrorists and members of their families surrendered at different locations in Borno and Yobe states between November 2 and 4. The locations included New Abaram Resettlement Village and Banki Junction in Bama Local Government Area.

Some of those who surrendered reportedly cited sustained military pressure and disagreements between rival Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) factions.

Troops also rescued a female abductee who escaped from the Mandara Mountains.

North-West: Several abductees regain freedom

In the North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA personnel recorded a number of successes in rescue and arrest operations.

In Kebbi State, troops responding to a distress call near Ribah in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area forced kidnappers to abandon seven captives.

Four other persons abducted from their farms were rescued after troops repelled an ambush along the Wasagu-Falfala Road.

Search-and-rescue operations conducted on November 3 also led to the freedom of seven kidnapped persons from Sabon Tunga and Binoni communities in Kebbi State.

In Kaduna State, troops arrested two suspects allegedly connected to kidnapping and cattle rustling at Sabon Gida in Chikun Local Government Area.

Another suspected terrorist was arrested at a clinic in Kagarko Local Government Area while reportedly seeking medical attention for gunshot injuries. The operation was conducted with support from the Department of State Services.

Meanwhile, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE intercepted a suspected terrorist during a stop-and-search operation at Kukawa Village in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State on November 4.

The suspect was allegedly found carrying an AK-47 magazine and one round of 7.62mm special ammunition. Preliminary investigations reportedly connected him to a criminal syndicate allegedly headed by an individual known as Kaura.

North-Central: Forest raids yield weapons and ammunition

Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE intensified operations against armed groups and kidnapping networks in Benue, Kogi and Taraba states.

During a raid on a suspected criminal hideout in Edimogbo Forest on November 2, troops recovered 1,000 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, seven bandoliers, six motorcycles and a mobile phone.

Two suspected kidnappers were later killed in a separate encounter, with troops recovering two AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition.

On November 4, another operation at Obele Forest resulted in the killing of three suspected kidnappers. The military said troops recovered four AK-47 rifles, 12 magazines, 336 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and three bandoliers.

In Taraba State, six civilians, including a baby, were rescued after troops responded to a kidnapping incident at Jeb Jeb Village in Karim Lamido Local Government Area.

The military also announced the arrest of a suspected member of the Konyo Boys bandit group in Takum Local Government Area on November 1.

In Kogi State, a suspected terrorist surrendered alongside his wife and two children at Atsawa in Lokoja Local Government Area. He reportedly handed over an AK-47 rifle, four rounds of ammunition and a radio.

Troops also apprehended a suspected logistics supplier accused of providing materials to terrorists operating in Agbaja Forest. In a separate operation, a suspected gunrunner was arrested in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

In Kwara State, troops working with the Vigilante Group of Nigeria ambushed suspected Ansaru terrorists at Nanu Village in Kaiama Local Government Area on November 4, killing two of them.

An injured suspected kidnapper was also arrested at Dusai Village in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

Additionally, three persons who escaped from captivity in Lema-Ndeji Forest, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, were rescued by troops.

South-East: Kidnap victim rescued, weapons recovered

In the South-East, troops operating under Operation UDO KA recorded security breakthroughs in Abia and Anambra states.

In Abia, troops rescued a kidnapping victim following a gunmen’s attack on a compound at Okwe Ubahu Nneato in Umunneochi Local Government Area on November 4.

In Anambra State, a search conducted at a shop near the Marine Outpost in Otuocha, Anambra East Local Government Area, led to the discovery of a pump-action rifle, a damaged hunting rifle and 13 cartridges suspected to have been hidden for criminal purposes.

Defence chief urges public cooperation

The Defence Headquarters said the operations formed part of the military’s broader efforts to dismantle criminal networks, cut off their supply routes and protect communities across Nigeria.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, commended the troops for their commitment and sacrifices in the ongoing operations.

He also paid tribute to an officer, a soldier and a civilian hunter who died in the line of duty, while wishing injured personnel a speedy recovery.

Oluyede called for closer collaboration among security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents to sustain the progress recorded.

He urged members of the public to report credible information about suspicious activities to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free emergency number 193.

The Defence Chief cautioned Nigerians against providing logistical support to criminal groups, resorting to mob action or circulating misinformation capable of undermining security efforts.

He further directed military personnel to maintain discipline, vigilance and combat readiness, assuring that the Armed Forces would sustain their operations until peace and stability were restored across the country.