By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran on Sunday night fired missiles toward Israel in a move that has heightened tensions in the Middle East and raised concerns about the future of ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region.

According to the Israeli military, about 10 ballistic missiles were launched toward northern Israel. Authorities said the missiles were either intercepted by air defence systems or landed in open areas. There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.

The attack marked Iran’s first direct strike against Israel since a ceasefire between Iran, Israel and the United States took effect in early April.

Iran said the missile launch was a response to Israeli air strikes on Beirut earlier in the day. Tehran accused Israel of violating the ceasefire in Lebanon and warned of further action if such attacks continue.

In a statement reported by Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the operation as a warning.

“Tonight’s operation was a warning declaration, and in the event of repeated aggressions, the responses will be more extensive and will encompass all American-Zionist targets in the region,” the IRGC said.

Iran’s military leadership also cautioned Israel against further military action in Lebanon, warning that the country could face “more devastating and regretful blows”.

Israel responded by promising a strong reaction to the missile barrage. Military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Iran was attempting to create a new security equation through direct attacks on Israeli territory.

“The (Iranian) regime is attempting to establish a new equation through direct attacks on Israeli territory in response to IDF operations in Dahiyeh,” Defrin said.

“We struck in Dahiyeh in response to Hezbollah’s relentless attacks on the communities of northern Israel. The IDF will continue to operate throughout Lebanon and will intensify its actions against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation.”

He added: “The Iranian terrorist regime has made a grave mistake by once again choosing the path of terror.”

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump urged restraint and called on both sides to avoid further escalation.

Speaking to Israel’s Channel 12, Trump said: “The Iranian strikes didn’t hurt anybody. Hopefully Israel is not going to retaliate. If Bibi [Netanyahu] strikes them back, it’s just gonna keep going like the last 47 years, or the last 3000 years.”

He also expressed optimism about ongoing diplomatic contacts with Tehran.

“We are very close to a final deal with Iran. It is going to be a good deal. I don’t want it to blow up because of what is happening now,” Trump said.

“I am going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate,” Mr Trump added. “Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one.”

“I don’t want to see an additional attack tonight,” he added.

Trump also criticized Israel’s earlier strikes on Beirut, telling Fox News that Washington had not been informed in advance.

“I’m not happy about it,” he said.

Regarding Iran’s response, Trump stated: “It’s certainly not going to help negotiations.”

Elsewhere, Iraq temporarily closed its airspace and suspended air navigation following the missile launches, citing safety concerns. Iraqi aviation authorities said the restriction would remain in place for 72 hours.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also held discussions with officials from Britain, Turkey and Pakistani mediators on Sunday evening. According to Iran’s foreign ministry, the talks focused on the latest regional developments and Israel’s “repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon”.

In Israel, Clalit, the country’s largest healthcare network, began relocating operations at its hospitals to underground facilities as a precaution following the attack.

Pro-government supporters in Tehran later gathered in the streets to celebrate the missile strike, waving Iranian and Hezbollah flags.

The latest exchange has increased fears of a broader regional conflict despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a new escalation.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Hisbah Board has announced that medical screening for 3,000 prospective couples participating in the state-sponsored mass wedding programme will begin on Monday.

The Deputy Commander General of the Board, Mujahideen Aminuddeen, disclosed this on Sunday, directing all prospective couples from 24 local government areas to report to their respective Hisbah offices for the exercise.

The affected local government areas are Rogo, Wudil, Tudun Wada, Warawa, Kibiya, Dawakin Tofa, Garun Malam, Kura, Dambatta, Karaye, Tsanyawa, Minjibir, Rimin Gado, Shanono, Kabo, Tofa, Rano, Bebeji, Ajingi, Gwarzo, Sumaila, Kiru, Takai and Madobi.

Aminuddeen said the screening would include tests for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, genotype compatibility, drug abuse and pregnancy for female applicants.

He explained that only applicants who successfully pass the medical screening would be eligible to participate in the mass wedding programme.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had earlier announced plans to sponsor the marriage of 1,500 men and 1,500 women, mainly widows, divorcees, orphans and other low-income residents across the state.

Under the initiative, each groom will receive N100,000 as dowry support, while the couples will be provided with household items, including beds, mattresses, wardrobes and food supplies.

Beneficiaries will also receive grants of N100,000 each to support small-scale businesses and improve their economic well-being.

The mass wedding programme, organised by the Hisbah Board, is designed to strengthen family values, promote social stability and ease economic challenges facing vulnerable residents in the state.

Although the initiative has received widespread support, some stakeholders have expressed concerns about its long-term sustainability.

However, the state government maintains that participation in the programme remains voluntary and based on mutual consent.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Former Nigerian Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has pointed fingers at former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his removal from office.

Lawal made the allegation while responding to criticisms that followed his recent exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Days earlier, he had announced his departure from the party, accusing it of discarding internal democracy. According to him, the party’s presidential primary and other processes were manipulated to favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his supporters.

He claimed that some legitimate aspirants were excluded from contests, while the results of others were predetermined long before voting took place. Lawal stated that he could not remain in a party he believes has been turned into a tool for securing Atiku’s candidacy for the 2027 presidential election.

However, his social media posts have drawn criticism from supporters of Atiku. Despite this, Lawal said he is unfazed by the backlash and remains firm on his position.

As reported by Daily Trust, Lawal also refuted claims that he was dismissed from his SGF role due to corruption allegations. He described such assertions as false.

He explained that former President Muhammadu Buhari had been his mentor since 1971 and had invited him to join his team as far back as 2002. Lawal said some people began to fear that Buhari was planning to give him a significant position in the future, which led them to seek ways to remove him from his current post at the time.

He further alleged that opposition to his appointment stemmed from the fact that he is a Christian from the Kilba ethnic group.

Lawal noted that despite the pressure on Buhari, the former president did not initially agree to demands for his removal.

Although he did not directly name anyone at the beginning of his statement, Lawal later accused former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of playing a key role in his eventual sack.

He recounted that after the Senate submitted an interim report to Buhari calling for his removal, the president rejected the report on the advice of the Attorney General, who stated that the report lacked sufficient evidence.

However, Lawal alleged that Osinbajo continued to pressure Buhari on the matter until the president agreed to set up an investigative panel.

In the end, Lawal said it was the report from that panel that recommended his removal, even though, according to him, no evidence was found proving he committed any offence.

By Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi 

Communication on messaging apps remains a mortal affair – not a conversation between man and God. Pompous persons who disable the blue marker on WhatsApp make what should be an interaction seem like a supplication. This parallel applies because the ordinary Christian is usually unsure whether the Lord has heard their prayers. 

Their belief in being heard by heaven stems from Isaiah 59:1, which assures that God’s ears are not too dull to hear prayers. It’s a different kettle of fish for the astute believer. They not only know that God reads their messages but also receive His response even while on the prayer altar. These sons of the Most High have no reason to be anxious about whether they’ve been heard or not. But then, I digress. 

The suspense from a suspended status report on WhatsApp can be quite discombobulating, particularly where a response is urgently required. This unwarranted anxiety is what users with a god complex put their interlocutors through by turning off read receipts. They gleefully create the impression of a dialogue of the deaf, in which one is speaking and the other isn’t listening. It distorts and disrupts communication. Although there may eventually be a reply (feedback), meaning can hardly be exchanged when there is no indication that messages have been read. The interaction, therefore, becomes a dialogue of the deaf, which is anything but communication! 

A fortnight ago, a viral video of Pastor Sarah Omakwu, who leads the Abuja-headquartered Family Worship Centre, sparked debate online, where she criticised WhatsApp users who deactivate their blue tick read receipts. She observed that so many people disable the feature to avoid responding to messages, describing the act as lying.

According to the woman of God, “If you are hiding your read receipts on WhatsApp to avoid accountability, hear me: it is not wisdom, it is dishonesty dressed as privacy. God is raising people who are faithful in small things. If you can’t be honest in a chat, how will he trust you with people, with money, with influence? Start living in integrity; the small place is where he tests you for the big place. Turn it back on, be a person of your word.”

Methinks her deploring of this ghosting act on WhatsApp isn’t far-reaching enough. Deeper repulsive traits beyond insincerity and an aversion to probity can be gleaned from the deactivation of WhatsApp read receipts. People defend the practice as diplomacy, setting boundaries and standards, but it also comes across as bare-faced snobbery. Why would anyone willingly create such an impression of themselves on people?

With Matthew 5:37 demanding that “Your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’, there should be no ambiguity about whether you’ve read a WhatsApp chat or not, for whatever is more than these is from the evil one. Allowing it to be registered that you’ve noted a chat, no matter how inconvenient, is the way of the saints. Even if not explicitly a sin, leaving the user who chatted you up out in the cold is an appearance of evil. This, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 admonishes believers to abstain from!

If not apropos, active read receipts wouldn’t have been the default setting of a virgin account. It is apparently to uphold rectitude and propriety that WhatsApp included the fair and firm condition: “If you turn off read receipts, you won’t be able to see read receipts from other people.” The same standard applies to the viewing of status. We shall get to that presently.

It is shocking that, despite this proviso that draws from the principle of “do unto others as you’d want them to do unto you”, some users still turn off their blue-tick marker! What is incentivising this shadiness is inconceivable, yet it also reeks of cowardice. If you can’t stand some people and their overtures, why not intimate to them your ill disposition rather than shutting out everyone else?

Some users even hide the two blue check marks, not for any reasonable reason but because doing so appears fashionable or is a status symbol. This is given that disabling WhatsApp read receipts is the proclivity of higher-ups, movers and shakers, or users who consider themselves better than most. This perhaps explains why the trend seems fanciful and is not being condemned as it should. 

Be that as it may, first impression – which has always been said to matter – is not only created at the initial physical meeting but has crept into the digital milieu as the signal someone gets after sending their earliest message to a new contact on WhatsApp. Even if a kahuna, the user with disabled blue ticks will, from the gates, come off as off, thereby triggering the alarm bells on their integrity quotient.

Now to the kindred spirit of stealthily viewing people’s WhatsApp updates as if on a digital espionage mission. That’s another despicable act dressed as privacy, because the motive is usually unrighteous, hideous, devious, and dubious. Out of arrogance, some people find ways to secretly keep up with the WhatsApp briefings of people they seem not to care about or they presume are beneath them. 

Individuals who indulge in this self-deceit and supercilious behaviour need to get a life. Why don’t they devote their time and broadband to activities they can be proud of, rather than remaining bothered about who they have supposedly cancelled or are undeserving of their attention? Given that there are hacks that expose them, haters who hide to view their contacts’ updates on WhatsApp are only making a mockery of themselves. 

Understandably, there may be altruistic reasons for viewing WhatsApp statuses anonymously, such as HR managers seeking to better understand their employees or the need for due diligence before entrusting a major responsibility or opportunity to someone. Vengeful users also put up the appearance of getting at those who ignore their own posts. Who can count the number of relationships that have crumbled under the weight of pettiness around social media updates! What these egotistic and myopic characters fail to realise is that there are users like yours sincerely who are constrained from arbitrarily and habitually checking people’s online status. With that being the case, I have deep regard for good-intentioned contacts who transparently follow my posts on WhatsApp regardless. 

In the final analysis, those who, out of spite, vindictiveness, and other vain considerations, steal to see the social media posts of their relations and acquaintances must realise that they are a few metres away from the witch’s street. Matthew 5:37 can also be adapted here in that the “Yes” of these monitoring spirits had better be “yes” and their “no”, “no”, because any other tendency towards their contacts’ WhatsApp updates is inspired by the evil one (read: the devil)!

VIS Ugochukwu is a Sage, Storyteller, and Branding Strategist, reachable at nmiringwu@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A woman and her 12-year-old twin sons were rescued unharmed on Saturday evening, three days after they were abducted in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed.

Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her sons, Peter and Paul, were seized on June 3, 2026, while she was driving them to school at about 7:30 a.m. Police say the rescue took place around 7:30 p.m. on June 6, following a coordinated operation by the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) in Ibadan.

According to a police statement, sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance, and tactical operations allowed investigators to track the kidnappers’ movements. Operatives eventually confronted the suspects, leading to a shootout. Two suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded, and two rifles were recovered.

The victims were brought to safety without injury and are now receiving medical care and support.

Inspector-General of Police commended the FID-IRT operatives for their courage and professionalism. Security forces continue to search for fleeing members of the syndicate, some of whom are believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds.

The Nigeria Police Force thanked the public for their cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to combating violent crime and protecting citizens.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

United States President Donald Trump has granted a presidential pardon to former Republican Congressman Stephen Buyer, who was convicted of insider trading and served nearly two years in prison.

The pardon, dated Thursday, was made public by the White House late on Friday.

Buyer, a former representative from Indiana, received a 22-month prison sentence in 2023 after a federal court found him guilty of making illegal stock trades based on confidential information obtained while he worked as a consultant and lobbyist after leaving Congress. The court also ordered him to surrender more than $350,000 in profits linked to the trades and pay a $10,000 fine. He was released from prison in 2025.

The US Supreme Court declined to hear Buyer’s appeal in May, issuing its decision without comment.

In the pardon document, Trump granted “a full, complete, and unconditional pardon” to Buyer. The president pointed to Buyer’s service as a judge advocate general in the US Army and his years in Congress, describing his public record as “distinguished and highly productive”.

Responding to the decision, Buyer said the pardon “corrects a politically motivated prosecution” and that it was “horrific to be imprisoned for a crime that I did not commit”. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Trump had previously signaled support for Buyer’s pardon request. On May 31, he shared two letters on his Truth Social platform that urged him to grant clemency to the former lawmaker, who is also a Gulf War veteran.

Buyer served as a House prosecutor during the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton in 1998. He also worked on Trump’s presidential transition team in 2016, where he focused on veterans’ affairs.

One of the letters, signed by more than 40 former Republican members of Congress, argued that Buyer was “targeted by the deep state” because of his role in Clinton’s impeachment proceedings.

“Like you, Mr President, Steve has been the victim of lawfare conducted by the Biden Administration,” the former lawmakers wrote in an April 2025 letter.

A separate letter from five current Republican members of the House of Representatives stated that a pardon would help deliver justice in Buyer’s case. The June 2025 letter was signed by Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Ken Calvert of California, Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, Jack Bergman of Michigan and Pete Sessions of Texas.

Buyer, 67, was convicted over trades connected to the $26.5 billion merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, which was announced in 2018. Prosecutors also linked him to illegal trading involving consulting firm Navigant before its planned acquisition by Guidehouse became public.

Under the US Constitution, the president has broad authority to grant pardons for federal offences. While a pardon does not remove a criminal conviction from a person’s record, it is often viewed as an act of mercy or a remedy for perceived injustice.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

An Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon has killed Brigadier General Wissam Sabra and two other senior Lebanese military personnel, amid growing regional tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran.

According to the Lebanese military, Sabra was travelling in a convoy on a road between Kfar Tebnit and Khardali when the strike occurred. The two other victims were identified as Captain Elie Khoury and soldier Hussein Ghozal.

The Lebanese presidency condemned the attack, describing it as “a blatant violation” of the country’s sovereignty. President Joseph Aoun said the strike was “aimed at thwarting all efforts to reach a solution”, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called it “a heinous crime and an attack on Lebanon and all Lebanese people”.

The Israeli military later acknowledged carrying out the attack and said the vehicle involved was “moving suspiciously”. It added that the incident remains under review.

The killing of Sabra, a 54-year-old father of three, is one of the deadliest incidents involving the Lebanese army in recent years. The attack comes at a sensitive time as diplomatic efforts continue to seek an agreement involving the United States, Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon and Israel.

Jordan also condemned the strike and called for an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon. A spokesperson for Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, Fouad Majali, described the attack on the Lebanese military convoy as “a blatant violation of the sovereignty, security, and stability” of Lebanon.

Majali extended condolences to the Lebanese government and the families of those killed. He also reaffirmed Amman’s “unwavering support” for Lebanon.

According to Jordan’s official Petra news agency, Majali “also stressed Jordan’s support for the Lebanese government’s efforts to assert its sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, reactivate its national institutions, and ensure that weapons are solely in the hands of the state”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reportedly delivered what was described as an “important message” from Islamabad to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khomeini. He also urged an end to the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

Elsewhere, demonstrations in support of Palestinians took place in several countries. Hundreds of people marched through Manchester in the United Kingdom carrying Palestinian flags and demanding that the British government withdraw support for Israel. Protesters displayed a banner reading “End the Israeli Occupation”.

The march coincided with the 59th anniversary of the 1967 Naksa, when Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

In Tunisia, demonstrators gathered in the city of Bizerte to protest Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Participants placed symbolic coffins marked with red paint in a public square to highlight the humanitarian situation in the territory.

In Scotland, activists from the group Red Card Glasgow held a vigil outside Hampden Park Stadium to honour Palestinian footballers killed during the conflict. Participants placed wreaths, football shirts and Palestinian scarves at the venue.

The latest developments highlight continuing instability across the region as diplomatic efforts to ease tensions face significant challenges.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

United States President Donald Trump has said Israel would not exist today if he had not taken action against Iran, while rejecting claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persuaded him to confront Tehran.

Trump made the remarks during an appearance on the Pod Force One podcast, where he responded to suggestions that Netanyahu had influenced his decision to take a hard line against Iran.

“He tricked me? No. I’m the one that started it,” Trump said.

The US president stated that his actions were motivated by concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme.

“I started it because we can’t let them have a nuclear weapon. If there wasn’t me, there would be no Israel right now,” he said.

His comments came amid reports of strained relations between Trump and Netanyahu following a recent telephone conversation about Israel’s military operations in the region.

Trump also confirmed that he had a tense exchange with the Israeli leader over the continuing conflict involving Lebanon.

In an interview published by the New York Post, Trump was asked about reports that he used strong language during a phone call with Netanyahu.

“You said, ‘Are you f-ing crazy? What are you f-ing doing? I helped you stay out of jail.’ Is that true? Did you speak to him in those terms?” the interviewer asked.

“I did,” Trump responded. “I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon.”

Trump said he urged Netanyahu to halt the hostilities.

“I said, ‘Bibi, we gotta stop this.’”

The comments highlight reported disagreements between the two leaders over Israel’s military actions, despite their long-standing political relationship. They also come at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, where conflicts involving Israel, Iran and regional armed groups continue to draw international attention.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Kano State is mourning the death of veteran broadcaster and seasoned administrator, Alhaji Adamu Ibrahim Getso, who passed away on Saturday evening after a brief illness.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing the late Getso as a distinguished broadcaster, seasoned administrator, and respected public servant. 

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, the governor said that Getso devoted his life to advancing professional journalism, public enlightenment, and promoting societal values across Northern Nigeria.

Getso enjoyed a remarkable career spanning several decades in the media industry. He served as Managing Director of CTV 67, now Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV), between 2000 and 2003, where he played a key role in strengthening regional television broadcasting. 

Getso later served as Managing Director of Radio Kano from 2011 to 2015, introducing reforms that enhanced the station’s position as one of the region’s leading public broadcasters.

Tributes have continued to pour in from colleagues, media professionals, and government officials, who remembered him for his integrity, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to public service.

Governor Yusuf extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and the media community, praying for the peaceful repose of his soul.

By Dahiru Kasimu Adamu

The Department of Mass Communication at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), is finalising preparations to host its maiden international conference, a landmark event slated to hold from June 7 to June 10, 2026.

With the theme “Media and National Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” the four-day gathering promises to bring together scholars, media practitioners, and policymakers from across Nigeria and beyond.

According to a statement issued by Dr Danladi Bako, Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee, a distinguished personality will chair the event: Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, former President of the United Nations General Assembly.

Dr Bako further explained that the conference will kick off on June 7 with a pre‑conference lecture to be delivered by Prof. Fatma El‑Sayed of Cairo University, Egypt, at 1:00 p.m.

The main conference will be officially declared open on June 8 at the university auditorium by the Chief Host and Vice‑Chancellor of UDUS, Prof. Bashir Garba.

Expressing the university’s readiness to welcome the international academic community, Prof. Garba said: “We are fully prepared to welcome the international academic community.”

The opening ceremony will also be graced by the Pro‑Chancellor and Chairman of the University Governing Council, Professor Attahiru Jega, alongside other members of the Governing Council.

The highlight of the conference will be the keynote lecture delivered by Professor Kehbuma Langmia, a double Fulbright Scholar from Howard University, Washington, D.C., USA.

The conference will critically examine the role of the media and its intersection with artificial intelligence in an increasingly digital world. Some of the sub-themes include: AI & Media Policy, AI for Security & Information Disorder, AI in Rural Communities, AI in Political Communication & Good Governance, AI & National Security, AI & Investigative Journalism, and more.

Dr Bako’s statement noted: “The conference theme, ‘Media and National Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,’ will provide a platform for robust intellectual discussions among lead paper presenters, panellists, academics from various universities, and other stakeholders across Nigeria.”

In a significant academic milestone, the Department of Mass Communication will also unveil the maiden edition of its academic journal, Alkalami: Journal of Communication.

Journalists, media practitioners, public relations and information officers, content creators, and Mass Communication/Journalism students are strongly encouraged to attend and actively participate in this upcoming event.

“The four‑day conference promises to be memorable and rewarding for participants, visitors, and the academic community at large,” Dr Bako assured.

He added that all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure the event’s success.

The Department of Mass Communication at UDUS was established in 2019 with a focus on producing media and communication graduates who can contribute their quota to the media and communication industry nationwide.