By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has opened an investigation into a soldier accused of damaging a Christian religious symbol in southern Lebanon after a viral image showed him smashing a statue of Jesus Christ with a hammer. The military described the act as a serious violation of its standards and values.

The IDF confirmed the authenticity of the image in a statement posted on X on Sunday. It said:

“The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops,”

The army said the matter is already under review and has been escalated within its command structure.

“The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is currently being addressed through the chain of command. Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings,”

The military also stated that it is engaging efforts to assist in restoring the damaged statue. It insisted that its operations in southern Lebanon are not directed at religious or civilian sites.

“The IDF is operating to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure established by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and has no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols,”

The image first appeared online after Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi shared it, a development that triggered widespread reactions on social media. Tirawi said the incident took place in southern Lebanon. A local community page identified the site as the outskirts of Dibil, a Christian-majority town in the Bint Jbeil District near the Israeli border.

The official Dibil page also published a photo of the damaged statue alongside a biblical verse: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” reflecting the community’s grief over the incident.

International reactions followed. Former U.S. congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene criticised continued American support for Israel while sharing the image. She wrote, “Our greatest ally that takes billions of our tax dollars and weapons every year,”

Former U.S. lawmaker Matt Gaetz also reacted to the image and described it as “horrific.”

The incident has intensified scrutiny of military conduct in conflict areas, especially regarding the protection of religious and cultural heritage sites.

In earlier conflicts involving Gaza and Lebanon, Israel has faced similar criticism over damage linked to religious landmarks. In 2023, an Israeli airstrike struck a building next to the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza, which led to at least 18 deaths. In 2025, shrapnel from a tank shell hit the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in the enclave, and caused three deaths.

By Anwar Usman

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has not banned airtime borrowing or data advance services in Nigeria.

The statement comes few days after MTN Nigeria said it was suspending its airtime and data credit advance service, popularly known as “Xtratime” in compliance with the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional (DEON) consumer lending regulations, 2025. The regulations were officially gazetted and took effect on July 21, 2025.

In September 2025, FCCPC said the rules, issued under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (2018), would serve as a comprehensive framework for registration, transparency, and ethical loan recovery.

Also in November 2025, FCCPC set January 5, 2026, as the deadline for full compliance with the regulations.

In an effort t clarity the issue, the commission in a statement on Friday said claims circulating in some media reports and social media posts suggesting it shut down such services are “incorrect”.

“The commission has not prohibited airtime borrowing or data advance services, and no directive was issued preventing consumers from accessing lawful telecom value-added services,” the statement reads.

The commission further revealed that, its intervention in the sector was as a result of complaints from consumers over opaque charges, unexplained deductions, aggressive recovery practices, and poor disclosure standards.

According to the commission, the issues led to the introduction of the Digital Economy and Online Lending (DEON) consumer lending regulations in July 2025 to address abuses in the market.

“The regulations were introduced to curb the excesses of abusive service providers whose practices had generated persistent consumer harm and undermined confidence in the market,” the FCCPC said.

“The primary aim is to promote a fairer and more transparent system by mandating proper registration, responsible lending conduct, clear disclosure of fees and terms, accessible consumer complaint channels, data protection safeguards, stronger accountability for third-party partners, and effective regulatory oversight.”

The agency said some telecom operators engaged in exclusionary arrangements in violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, noting that the regulations were designed to open up the market and encourage fair competition.

Furthermore, the commission accused some vested interests of spreading misinformation to undermine regulatory efforts.

“Attempts to misrepresent temporary service inconvenience as the result of lawful consumer regulation are mischievous. Nigerians deserve accurate information, not sensational claims,” the agency said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Mahmud Abubakar, the Sonfada Etsu Nupe, has passed away, sparking mourning across Niger State and the Nupe Kingdom.

Governor Umaru Bago expressed sorrow over the development and sent his condolences to Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe and chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers.

In a statement released on Sunday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Bago described the death as a “colossal loss” not only to the Nupe Kingdom but also to the entire state.

He extended his sympathy to the Bida Emirate as well as the immediate family of the deceased, and prayed for Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the late Sonfada and grant him Aljanat Firdaus.

The governor also called on the family to remain committed to prayers for the repose of the deceased’s soul and to uphold his legacy through acts of service to humanity.

Bago recalled the contributions of the late Abubakar to the growth and development of the Nupe Kingdom and Niger State, noting that his impact “will always be acknowledged and re-echoed for many years to come”.

The statement added: “He prays that the immediate family of late Alh. Mahmud will continue to be steadfast in praying for the repose of his soul even as he urges them to emulate his good deeds in serving humanity.”

It further stated: “The farmer governor recalls the numerous contributions made by the late Sonfada in the development of the Nupe Kingdom and the State in general and adds that, his efforts will always be acknowledged and re-echoed for many years to come.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Rescued passengers abducted along the Taraku–Otukpo road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have narrated how they suffered torture, hunger, and harsh treatment during four days in captivity before their release on Sunday, a report by Daily Trust said.

The victims were taken on Wednesday after armed men attacked a Benue Links vehicle carrying passengers. Security operatives later rescued all the victims after sustained pressure on the kidnappers.

Governor Hyacinth Alia received the rescued persons at the Government House in Makurdi. He confirmed that eight of them were candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), while others were ordinary passengers.

The victims include Augustine Sunday Okechalo, Emmanuel Okechalo, Elaigwu Joshua, Hyacinth Okoh, Wende Paul, Nyikwagh Benjamin Aondokator, Iornav Ngukulan, Gbile Ngutor Daniel, Akor Jessica, Buter Agatha, Ukaha Tersoo John, Orih Raphael Sylvester, Kim Timothy, and Simon Friday.

An 18-year-old UTME candidate, Gbenda Daniels, said the abductors took his money and subjected them to beatings without food.

“They collected my N8,000. They beat us, and we didn’t eat anything; we only drank dirty water,” he said.

Another UTME candidate, 18-year-old Ngukulan Iornav, said the captors gave them very limited food during their stay.

“They gave us garri and salt. I was thoroughly beaten,” she said.

Orih Raphael Sylvester, a medical student who had completed his final examinations at the University of Maiduguri, described how the incident unfolded during the journey back to Otukpo.

He said the vehicle left the motor park around 6 pm and reached Taraku at about 8:26 pm after mechanical problems slowed it down.

He said the abductors moved the victims from one location to another inside the forest to avoid detection.

“We were taken into the bush and moved from one place to another. We didn’t eat anything on the first night because we were constantly on the move.

“On the second day, we survived on muddy water. On the third day, they gave us garri and forced us to start calling our families while beating us,” he said.

He also said the abductors increased pressure on the victims on the fourth day and demanded ransom from their families.

He said they were later gathered in one location, given phones, and forced to make further calls for payment.

“We were later brought together in another location, given our phones and instructed to make more calls for our release.

“Early Sunday, around 4am, they eventually gave us directions to follow towards the express road, where we later encountered military personnel. It was a horrible experience. We eventually came out around Okete,” he said.

Another victim, Sunday Augustine, a 100-level Accounting student of the Federal University of Lafia, said he was on his way home when the attack happened. He said he sustained an elbow injury due to beatings.

Akor Jessica described the experience as traumatic. She said the attackers used sticks and machetes on the victims.

“It was a nightmare. What we went through was too much. We were on our way to write our exams. They beat me with big sticks and machetes at will, but God saw us through,” she said.

A relative of two of the victims, Ochadgwuba Alexander, said Emmanuel and Austin were among those abducted. He said the incident caused deep distress for the family.

“It was a nightmare for us. The kidnappers demanded N10 million for each victim,” he said.

He said he delivered N3.4 million in cash along with food items worth about N33,000 to the abductors in the forest.

“After handing over the ransom, I contacted the military to help convey them from the point they emerged from the bush. I waited for about 40 minutes at Okete village before they were brought out,” he said.

Governor Alia urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to allow the rescued UTME candidates who missed their examinations to retake them.

He spoke during a press briefing in Makurdi where the State Police Commissioner, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, handed over the victims.

He said the victims would undergo medical checks before reuniting with their families. He also directed education authorities to make arrangements for the affected students.

He praised security agencies for the rescue operation and assured residents of improved security measures.

“We will support their education and ensure such incidents do not recur,” he said.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, said the rescue followed coordinated security operations.

He said the attack happened on Wednesday when armed men stopped a Benue Links bus carrying 18 passengers.

He said five victims were first rescued, while 13 remained in captivity until Sunday when security pressure led to their release.

He said 18 passengers, including the driver, were on board. He said one person escaped and another was rescued earlier.

He said all 18 passengers eventually regained freedom. He also said eight suspects were in custody.

“We already have eight suspects in custody, with sufficient evidence against seven identified as suspected bandits who participated in the attack.

“The victims have identified some of them. We are working closely with military intelligence in this joint operation, particularly with OPWS and the Agro Rangers of the NSCDC,” he said.

However, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) denied that the victims were UTME candidates.

JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin said findings showed the victims were participants in a police recruitment exercise who were returning to Otukpo when they were abducted.

He said UTME candidates are assigned different centres and do not travel together in groups.

By Uzair Adam

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has welcomed former governor and senator, Ibrahim Shekarau, into the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his return as a major boost to the party’s strength in the state.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, who said the development reflects the party’s growing appeal and consolidation in Kano.

Governor Yusuf said a date would soon be announced, in consultation with the party’s national secretariat, for the formal reception of Shekarau into the APC.

He noted that the party “continues to witness increasing support and consolidation,” positioning it as a dominant force in the state.

According to the statement, the governor expressed confidence in the party’s readiness for future elections, stressing that unity and strategic political alignments are key to its rising strength.

He added that the APC is “battle-ready to win all elective positions” in the forthcoming polls.

Yusuf further assured members that the leadership remains committed to strengthening internal cohesion and expanding its grassroots base across Kano.

He urged party loyalists to remain steadfast and intensify mobilisation efforts.

“We call on all party faithful to remain committed and continue mobilising support as we prepare for future political contests,” the governor said.

By Uzair Adam

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has apologised for failing to release the second batch of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results as earlier scheduled, assuring candidates that the results would be made available before the end of Sunday.

The board had initially fixed Saturday for the release of the results for candidates who sat for the examination on Friday, April 17, but missed the deadline, sparking frustration among candidates across the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, attributed the delay to the absence of the board’s Chief Executive, who was away on official duty.

He said the board regretted the inconvenience caused, noting that the situation was beyond its control.

“We sincerely apologise for the delay in releasing the results for Friday, April 17, which is the second batch in the series as earlier promised,” he said.

Benjamin explained that the Chief Executive had now returned and would oversee the release process.

According to him, the results would be made public later in the day, “surely before nightfall.”

He also acknowledged the anxiety among candidates who had waited late into the night for the results, thanking them for their patience and understanding.

The delay comes shortly after JAMB released the first batch of results for candidates who wrote the examination on Thursday, April 16, with a total of 632,788 results already published.

A prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi, has restated his claim that he emerged winner of the 2023 presidential election, despite the official results announced by electoral authorities.

Obi spoke on Saturday during the Naija Unfiltered podcast. He said the declared outcome did not match what he believes to be the true result of the poll.

“I can show you today, as far as I’m concerned, I have run election for the office of the President of Nigeria and won. But the system decided otherwise and they know it,” he said.

He stressed the point again, adding: “And we won. I can show you today as far as I’m concerned. I have run election for the office of the President of Nigeria and won. But the system decided otherwise and they know it.”

Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election. He polled about six million votes in the contest.

The Katsina State Police Command has apprehended 26 suspected miscreants during a late-night operation aimed at improving security in the state capital.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, made this known in a statement released on Friday in Katsina. He said the arrests took place in the early hours of April 14 after officers carried out an intelligence-led raid on identified criminal hideouts and black spots across the metropolis.

“The operation, led by the Officer-in-Charge of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, focused on dismantling gangs linked to public disturbances and unlawful activities,” he explained.

According to the police, the suspects are linked to offences that include gang-related activities and acts that disturb public peace.

Sadiq-Aliyu said officers recovered several items during the operation. These include live ammunition, a sword, two cutlasses, a knife, sticks, a saw, and six mobile phones suspected to be stolen. Other items include substances believed to be Indian hemp, 500 Exol tablets, and a pair of military camouflage shirts.

“All the 26 suspects have been charged to court following the conclusion of investigations,” Sadiq-Aliyu stated.

The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, commended the officers involved in the raid. He also reaffirmed the command’s resolve to continue actions against criminal elements in the state.

He called on residents to support the police with timely and useful information to help prevent crime and improve public safety.

Reports indicate that on the same day, April 14, Governor Dikko Radda signed an executive order that bans thuggery, known locally as Kauraye and Sara-suka, across the Katsina metropolis.

Plans by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) have broken down after both sides failed to agree on how to share control within the party.

Talks between the governor, his Turaki-led PDP faction, and leaders of the APC ended without resolution. The disagreement centred on a proposed 60–40 arrangement for control of the party structure in Bauchi State, which the APC was said to have rejected.

Despite the setback, the governor’s camp has indicated that it may still pursue political realignment. His supporters said they are open to working with other parties and are already considering new options for possible defection from the ward level up to the state.

Speaking with newsmen on Saturday, the Chairman of the Turaki-led PDP faction in Bauchi, Sama’ila Burga, said the outcome of the talks showed the APC was not prepared to integrate the existing PDP structure or accommodate the state government.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has rejected reports that it has withdrawn support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition, describing the claim as untrue.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Auwalu Abdullahi, said the report was attributed to a group identified as the Arewa APC Forum, Kano State Chapter. He said the claim does not reflect the position of the party.

The APC said the statement was false and intended to damage its reputation. It added that no recognised organ of the party in Kano had taken such a decision.

“The APC in Kano is aware of attempts by certain individuals and faceless groups to create confusion and disunity within the party.

“We wish to state categorically that this so-called forum is not known to the party structure and does not represent the views of APC members in Kano State.”

The party restated its backing for Tinubu and his administration. It said the Kano chapter remains committed to the President’s leadership and policies.

The statement also noted that the administration is focused on governance, economic reforms, and national development.

Under the leadership of Umar Doguwa, the Kano APC urged members of the party and the public to ignore the report. It described those behind it as individuals seeking to create tension.

“The so-called signatory of the purported withdrawal is faceless and not a stakeholder of the party at any level in Kano,” the statement read.

The party concluded by affirming its unity and continued support for Tinubu’s plans for the country.