News

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Israel has defended its decision to launch military strikes on Iran, stating that the action complied with international law even in the absence of an imminent attack.

President Isaac Herzog said the joint US-Israeli operation constituted self-defence. He rejected suggestions that Israel needed to present proof of an “immediate use of force” by Tehran before carrying out the assault. According to him, Iran had taken steps toward developing a nuclear weapon that could threaten Israel’s existence.

The remarks place Israel’s position at odds with that of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who did not authorise direct British participation in the strikes over the weekend amid concerns about international law.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Herzog faced repeated questions about whether Israel possessed evidence of an immediate threat prior to the attack.

He said: “We are not attacking anything civilian. We are attacking places where there are launchers of huge missiles who have created havoc, death and destruction in Israel and in the entire region.”

When pressed again, he pointed to comments made earlier by Sir Keir that Iran had backed more than 20 potentially lethal plots in Britain within the past year.

He said: “If they carried out 20 attacks in Britain, or perpetrated 20 attacks in Britain, you think they didn’t attack Israel? They’ve tried to attack Israel from all corners of the earth in the last two years.”

Asked a third time to clarify the legal basis for the action, Mr Herzog responded: “But that’s not a reason in international law. In international law, you use self-defence when you know that your enemy is perpetrating and planning movement towards a bomb that wants to annihilate you, because they say: ‘This bomb is in order to annihilate you. We need to remove Israel off the map.’”

Under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, a country may act in self-defence if it suffers an armed attack. Some legal interpretations permit pre-emptive action if the threat is overwhelming and leaves no room for delay.

Sir Keir initially declined a request from Washington to use British military bases, including RAF Fairford and the base at Diego Garcia, for the operation. He later allowed limited use of British facilities after Iran launched missiles across the region. An Iranian Shahed drone struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus hours after the strikes.

In a video message posted on X, the Prime Minister said: “The United States has requested permission to use British bases for specific and limited defensive purpose.

“We have taken the decision to accept that request, to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing civilians, putting British lives at risk and hitting countries that have not been involved.”

During the BBC interview, Mr Herzog insisted Israel had evidence of a serious threat.

He said: “We have huge amount of proof, which we are sharing, of course, with our British allies and every other ally. The fact that your base in Akrotiri in Cyprus was attacked for the first time by missiles from Iran, what does it mean?

“They think you’re a friend or a foe? If you’re a foe, then everybody should get together and fight.

“Fight these evil forces and break this empire of evil once and for all, and bring different hope for the region and for the Middle East and for the future of the world. That’s exactly what we do.”

Germany also expressed support for the US action. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there was little value in debating legal interpretations at this stage.

He said: “Legal assessments under international law will achieve relatively little in this regard, and this applies all the more if they largely remain without consequences … that is why now is not the moment to lecture our partners and allies.”

Mr Merz added that Germany, the United States and Israel shared an “interest in ending this regime’s terror and stopping its dangerous nuclear and ballistic armament”.

The developments have intensified diplomatic tensions across Europe and the Middle East as the conflict widens.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended its Student Loan Application Portal to accommodate the growing nationwide interest generated by its ongoing awareness campaign.

The extension follows a reminder last week that the portal was scheduled to close on February 27, 2026. In response to feedback from students and stakeholders, NELFUND provided additional days to allow eligible applicants sufficient time to complete their submissions.

In a statement on Monday, signed by the Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND said:

“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal following a significant increase in awareness and nationwide demand generated by its ongoing sensitisation campaign.

“The Fund has approved some additional days to ensure all eligible students are given adequate opportunity to complete their applications, pending further management decisions and communications.”

The announcement targets students requiring extra time, prospective applicants informed through recent outreach, institutions that have just commenced their 2025/2026 academic session, and schools that have yet to submit verified student lists.

“Our sensitisation efforts across the six geopolitical zones have significantly increased awareness and participation. Therefore, in line with our mandate to expand access to tertiary education financing, we have approved an extension to ensure that all eligible students have a fair and equal opportunity to apply,” said NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive, Akintunde Sawyerr.

NELFUND advised institutions that have not yet started the 2025/2026 session to submit an official extension request with their approved academic calendar. Students are urged to complete their applications via the official portal before it closes permanently.

The Fund reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustainable student financing solutions designed to remove financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria.

As of the portal’s previous closure date, NELFUND had received 1.69 million applications and disbursed N183.8 billion.

Established under the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, enacted by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024, NELFUND provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses. Applications opened in May 2024 to support students from low-income backgrounds. Beneficiaries repay the loans after graduation and securing employment.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced on Monday that their missile attacks targeted the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the headquarters of the Israeli air force commander.

“The office of the criminal prime minister of the Zionist regime and the headquarters of the regime’s air force commander were targeted,” the Guards said in a statement carried by Fars news agency.

The statement confirmed that Kheibar missiles were employed in the operation.

Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Revolutionary Guards General Majid Ebnelreza as acting defence minister following the death of his predecessor in Israeli-US strikes.

“By order of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Revolutionary Guards general Majid Ebnelreza has been appointed as acting defence minister,” stated Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy for presidential communications, in a post on X.

The developments come amid escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States, raising concerns over the potential for wider conflict in the region.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A fighter aircraft believed to be operated by the United States has crashed near a major American military installation in Kuwait amid Iranian missile attacks, deepening tensions across the Middle East.

Online footage that surfaced on Monday shows a military jet on fire before it descended rapidly and crashed in a desert area near the U.S. Ali Al Salem Air Base. The images show flames trailing from the aircraft as it lost altitude.

The video, later geolocated by CNN, indicates the aircraft went down roughly 10 kilometres from the facility.

Clips recorded by witnesses appear to show the jet losing stability in the air. Fire trailed from one of its engines before it entered a tailspin and fell toward the ground.

Initial reviews suggest the aircraft looks like either an F-15E Strike Eagle or an F/A-18 fighter jet. Authorities have not confirmed the exact type or ownership of the aircraft, according to CNN and The Telegraph.

Reports state that the pilot ejected safely and later received help from civilians at the crash site. There has been no official information on the condition of the weapons systems officer, who usually occupies the second seat in such jets.

Military authorities have not established the cause of the crash. Sources indicate that the aircraft may have been struck by an Iranian missile. Other possibilities include accidental fire from allied air defence systems or mechanical failure during combat operations.

The crash occurred at a time when Iran launched missile strikes against U.S. military targets in the region. The attacks marked a sharp escalation after recent confrontations involving American and Israeli forces.

U.S. officials have confirmed the first American deaths connected to the conflict. Three service members lost their lives, while five others sustained injuries in operations that started over the weekend.

President Donald Trump reacted to the fatalities and promised a response. He also warned that more casualties could occur as hostilities intensify.

Tensions increased further after Israel carried out strikes in Lebanon. Israeli authorities said the action followed cross-border attacks by Hezbollah after reports of the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Officials in Washington and Kuwait have not issued a detailed statement on the aircraft incident. Investigations into the crash are ongoing.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Young Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has reacted to the passing of Iran’s top religious figure, Ali Khamenei, with a message of condolence.

The footballer shared a brief statement in which he expressed support for the people of Iran and others affected by the loss.

“Heartfelt condolences to the Iranian people and all those grieving the loss of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Wishing you strength and peace in these sorrowful days. 🙏❤️”

The message has joined a growing number of reactions from public figures across the globe, as tributes continue to pour in following the reported death of the Iranian leader.

By Kamal Alkasim

Hauwa Salisu Fagge, a 100-level student of the Department of Mass Communication at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has passed away.

Her death was announced on Sunday by the President of the Mass Communication Students’ Association, Mustapha Ukkasha Abubakar, who described the loss as painful and heartbreaking for the department and the wider university community.

Hauwa was actively involved in campus media activities and worked with BUK FM, where she contributed to the morning news programme. She was widely regarded by her colleagues as a passionate and dedicated media enthusiast.

“Her demise is a painful loss to the Department of Mass Communication, her family, friends, and the entire university community,” the MACOSA president said while extending condolences to her loved ones.

The association prayed that Almighty Allah forgive her shortcomings, grant her Jannatul Firdaus, and give her family and friends the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully repelled a series of coordinated attacks by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on multiple military positions in Borno State, inflicting heavy casualties and recovering a significant cache of arms and ammunition.

The failed assaults, which targeted Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in the towns of Mayanti, Gajigana, and Gajiram, took place between the late hours of February 28 and the early morning of March 1, 2026. Military authorities described the wave of attacks as a sign of desperation from terrorist groups whose enclaves and supply routes are under sustained pressure from ongoing offensives.

The most intense fighting occurred at FOB Mayanti late on February 28, where a large number of terrorists armed with heavy weapons attempted to overrun the position. Troops held their ground under heavy fire, and reinforcements successfully fought their way through ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to rout the attackers. A subsequent sweep of the area revealed the bodies of five terrorists. Troops also recovered three PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, two RPG-7 tubes, four AK-47 rifles, two FN rifles, and a large quantity of ammunition. Military sources confirmed blood trails indicated more terrorists were wounded and evacuated. One officer was killed in action during the fierce encounter.

Hours later, at approximately 1:15 a.m. on March 1, terrorists armed with PKT machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, and armed drones launched a coordinated assault on FOB Gajiram. The attack was repelled by determined troops supported by Nigerian Air Force assets. Three terrorist bodies were recovered along their withdrawal route. Items abandoned by the fleeing fighters included four AK-47 rifles, five anti-tank bombs, three locally made mortar bombs, and one armed drone. Other recovered items ranged from barbed wire cutters and specialized ammunition to poisoned arrows. One wounded soldier was airlifted by a Nigerian Army Aviation helicopter for advanced medical care.

In related offensive operations under Sector 2, troops ambushed terrorist elements around Bulturam Corner and Dadingel in Gujba Local Government Area, neutralizing two fighters and recovering two AK-47 rifles. Separate patrols also led to the destruction of terrorist life-support structures in Kayawa Village and the arrest of two confessed ISWAP logistics suppliers. Items seized in those operations included motorcycles, drugs, and medical supplies intended for treating wounded terrorists.

Military authorities confirmed that all locations are firmly under control. The large scale of weapons recovered and the number of confirmed enemy losses are seen as further evidence of the degrading combat capability of ISWAP in the region.

By Uzair Adam

The Ummah Movement has condemned what it described as an unprovoked and premeditated joint military attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran by the United States and Israel, warning that the action could trigger a wider regional and global conflict.

In a statement signed by its National Amir, Prof. Muhammad Babangida, on Sunday, the group expressed shock over the reported simultaneous strikes carried out on Saturday, 28th February 2026.

The movement said it was saddened that U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly chose the holy month of Ramadan to launch what it termed “criminal aggression” against Iran.

It also referenced the ongoing war in Gaza, claiming that more than 70,000 lives had been lost in previous joint military actions.

According to the group, the attack on Iran was launched despite what it described as ongoing negotiations in Geneva, which it alleged were used as a cover for regime change.

The Ummah Movement said the action was capable of igniting a broader regional confrontation with “unlimited disastrous consequences.”

The statement further condemned what it called the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Kharana’i, and other senior officials.

“This is a cowardly act which sets a dangerous precedence in conflicts between nations,” the group stated, accusing the United States and Israel of disregarding international laws and conventions in pursuit of expansionist goals.

The movement called on the Nigerian Federal Government to publicly denounce the strikes and review any existing military agreements with the United States and Israel.

It also urged Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East to shut down U.S. military bases within their territories and expel American troops as a step toward restoring peace in the region.

The group warned that failure by Muslim countries to act promptly could lead to a wider global confrontation, potentially drawing in Russia and China on the side of Iran, particularly if the conflict disrupts global fuel supplies in the Gulf.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The presidency has dismissed reports circulating online that kitchen workers at the Presidential Villa attempted to poison Bola Ahmed Tinubu or were arrested over such an incident.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, rejected the allegation in a post shared on his X account on Sunday. He described the report as false and urged the public to disregard it.

The claim had alleged that some staff working in the kitchen at Aso Rock were involved in a poisoning attempt targeting the president.

Reacting to the development, Onanuga said:
“No Aso Rock kitchen staff arrested. No Aso Rock kitchen staff attempted to poison President Tinubu. Please ignore this fake news being disseminated by this video,”

He maintained that the story lacked any basis and should not be taken seriously.

Further details are expected as the situation develops.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The presidency has dismissed reports circulating online that kitchen workers at the Presidential Villa attempted to poison Bola Ahmed Tinubu or were arrested over such an incident.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, rejected the allegation in a post shared on his X account on Sunday. He described the report as false and urged the public to disregard it.

The claim had alleged that some staff working in the kitchen at Aso Rock were involved in a poisoning attempt targeting the president.

Reacting to the development, Onanuga said:
“No Aso Rock kitchen staff arrested. No Aso Rock kitchen staff attempted to poison President Tinubu. Please ignore this fake news being disseminated by this video,”

He maintained that the story lacked any basis and should not be taken seriously.

Further details are expected as the situation develops.