News

By Anwar Usman

The top security chief of Iran, Ali Larijani, vowed in Lebanon on Wednesday that his government would continue to provide support, after the Lebanese government ordered the army to devise a plan to disarm Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Ali Larijani’s trip to Lebanon comes after Iran expressed opposition to a government plan to disarm Hezbollah, which, before a war with Israel last year, was believed to be better armed than the Lebanese military.

“If the Lebanese people are suffering, we in Iran will also feel this pain and we will stand by the dear people of Lebanon in all circumstances,” Larijani, the head of the National Security Council, told reporters after landing in BeirutDozens of Hezbollah supporters gathered along the airport road to welcome Larijani.

He briefly stepped out of his car to greet them as they chanted slogans of support.

In Lebanon, the security chief is expected to meet with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is close to Hezbollah.

Iran has suffered a series of blows in its long-running rivalry with Israel, including during 12 days of open war between the two countries in June.

Reports show that, Hezbollah is part of Iran’s so-called “axis of resistance” — a network of armed groups in the region, including Hamas in Gaza and Yemen’s Huthi rebels, united in their opposition to Israel.

The ouster in December of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which long served as a conduit for weapons deliveries between Iran and Hezbollah, cut off the supply route to Lebanon.

Iran has declared its firm opposition to the Lebanese government’s bid to disarm Hezbollah, while the movement itself has slammed the decision as a “grave sin”.

By Uzair Adam

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is weaponizing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to target political opponents.

Atiku made the claim while reacting to the detention of former Sokoto State Governor and Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, describing it as part of a broader plan to “harass, intimidate, and decimate” members of the opposition coalition.

He stated that, “The only reason the EFCC has detained the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is because he is a member of the opposition Coalition. It is a continuation of the Tinubu-led administration’s agenda to intimidate the opposition.”

The former Vice President, who played a key role in establishing the EFCC during his tenure, accused the commission of abandoning its core anti-corruption mandate to serve political purposes.

He alleged that opposition leaders were being targeted with “phantom” corruption allegations, only to be absolved once they defect to the ruling party.

Atiku warned that such practices undermine institutional integrity and fuel corruption, pointing to what he called a “growing trend” of using anti-corruption agencies to pressure governors and political leaders into joining the ruling party.

While expressing support for a genuine anti-corruption fight, Atiku urged Nigerians, civil society groups, and the international community to resist “anti-democratic machinations” aimed at creating a one-party state.

“We will never succumb to these tactics. The use of anti-corruption agencies as a political agenda must be roundly condemned,” he added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Bauchi State Police Command has begun probing the sudden death of a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Dambam Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased, identified as 28-year-old Nwokedi Chukwuebuka, was reportedly found unconscious in the early hours of Sunday in an apartment provided for corps members in the community.

The accommodation was arranged by his colleagues and the Corps Liaison Officer (CLO).

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ahmed Waziri, confirmed the incident during a telephone interview on Monday.

He said the Commissioner of Police had ordered a preliminary investigation into the matter.

“The command received a complaint of sudden and natural death on August 10, 2025, at about 9:20am.

“The Dambam LGA Corps Liaison Officer came to the Dambam Divisional Police Headquarters and reported that on the same date at about 8:30am, all corps members who were Christians serving in the LGA were preparing for Sunday church services when they noticed that Nwokedi Chukwuebuka, with state code number BA/25A/2069, did not wake up,” Waziri stated.

According to him, “The CLO went to wake him up but discovered that he was not breathing. He reported the matter to the police station. The CP, Sani Aliu, directed the DPO to visit the scene.

“The corps member was taken to the hospital, where a medical doctor certified him dead, as enshrined in international best practices. The body was later deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, mortuary.”

Waziri further noted that the CP had instructed a thorough preliminary investigation, which is still in progress.

A similar case occurred in Adamawa State in 2023 when a corps member named Samuel reportedly slumped and died while watching a football match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

By Uzair Adam 

The Kano State Police Command has announced a ban on the operation of tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, by underage individuals within the Kano metropolis.

Spokesperson of the Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, in a video he posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday, said the decision followed a disturbing increase in accidents linked to underage riders. 

He added that the practice was responsible for 16 serious but preventable crashes, resulting in injuries and damage to property.

Kiyawa further noted that the Command has observed a growing trend of road users disregarding traffic lights and other regulations, a development he described as a major cause of avoidable accidents and traffic gridlock in the state.

He warned that riding tricycles by underage persons remains prohibited under the law and poses serious risks to both the riders and other road users. 

Parents and guardians, he stressed, must stop allowing their children to operate tricycles, as offenders—both the riders and the owners—will face severe penalties.

“All road users must obey traffic lights and other traffic regulations. The Command will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone found violating traffic laws to ensure the safety and security of road users,” the statement added. 

He noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, assured residents of the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property. 

He said enforcement teams have been deployed and urged members of the public to report underage tricycle riding, reckless driving, or other traffic offences to the nearest police station or via 08032419754, 08123821575, and 09029292926.

By Anas Abbas

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has announced the immediate dissolution of the State Executive Council.

This decision was communicated through a statement released by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, on Sunday night.

As part of the transition, all affected Commissioners and Special Advisers have been instructed to hand over their responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary or the most senior civil servant within their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Governor Oyebanji expressed his gratitude to the outgoing members of the Executive Council, wishing them success in their future endeavors.

Notably, the dissolution does not extend to certain key positions.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice will remain in office, along with several other Commissioners including those overseeing Health and Human Services, Agriculture and Food Security, Education, Works, Trade, Investment, Industry and Cooperatives.

Additionally, Special Advisers on Special Education and Social Inclusion, as well as Lands, Survey, and e-GIS, will also retain their roles.

Also, all directors general who are members of the State executive council will keep their positions.

This includes the director general of the office of transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), the director general of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and project monitoring, and the director general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

This restructuring marks a new chapter in Ekiti State’s governance as it prepares for future initiatives.

By Uzair Adam

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State Strategic Command, has arrested a 23-year-old suspected notorious drug dealer, Faisal Yusuf-Umar, in Fagge Local Government Area of the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, disclosed this in a statement issued in Kano on Sunday, saying the arrest followed a targeted surveillance operation prompted by community complaints about the suspect’s alleged illicit activities.

“On July 18, NDLEA operatives attached to the Fagge Area Command carried out a strategic operation at the suspect’s residence in Dandali, Fagge Local Government Area.

“A significant quantity of controlled substances was recovered, including 40 bottles (4kg) of Benylin with Codeine and cash amounting to N204,000,” Muhammad-Maigatari said.Quoting the State Strategic Commander, Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, he noted that the arrest demonstrated NDLEA’s unwavering commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks across Kano.

“This operation is part of our broader strategy to take down drug dealers who pose a serious threat to the health and safety of our communities,” Idris-Ahmad said, adding, “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure Kano remains safe and drug-free.”

The command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to support the ongoing fight against drug abuse and trafficking in the state.

By Uzair Adam

Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has Saturday died at the age of 78.

In a statement issued the same day, the Ogbeh family said the elder statesman died peacefully.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather; Chief Audu Ogbeh. He passed away today at the fulfilled age of 78,” the family said.

They described him as a man of integrity, service, and dedication to the nation and his community, noting that his life left an enduring impact on many.

“We are comforted by the many lives he touched and the example he set,” the statement added.

The family said funeral arrangements will be announced later and expressed gratitude to friends, colleagues, and well-wishers for their prayers and support.

They also requested privacy during the mourning period.

By Uzair Adam

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has urged 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to reconsider his vow to serve only one term if elected in 2027, warning that Nigeria’s political landscape often makes such commitments difficult to fulfil.

Obi has consistently maintained that he would be content with a single term in office, but Sule cautioned that the realities of governance and the influence of vested interests could force a change in such plans.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Friday, Sule noted that while a president might begin with the intention of serving for just one term, the pressures from political stakeholders could make the plan unrealistic.

“Peter Obi might say he wants to do one term, but it is not up to him,” Sule said. “Once he assumes office, powerful interests will pressure him, saying, ‘It’s our turn; you cannot do that to us,’ or even threaten legal action.”

Turning to the current administration’s performance, Sule commended President Bola Tinubu for economic reforms and efforts to bolster national security.

He highlighted the rise of Nigeria’s foreign reserves to about $40 billion and an increase in oil production from around 1.1 million to 1.8 million barrels per day as notable achievements.

“This government is indeed going in the right direction,” he said, while acknowledging that insecurity remains a challenge.

Sule called on governors and local government chairmen to use improved revenues to directly address the hardships citizens face.

By Anas Abbas

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Nigeria has announced the release of revised results for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, following the identification of grading errors that impacted performance statistics.

During a press briefing held at WAEC’s national office in Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Amos Dangut, the Head of WAEC Nigeria, expressed regret over the discrepancies, particularly in the marking of serialised papers.

Dr. Dangut revealed that a new security feature known as paper serialisation, which had been successfully implemented by another national examination body, led to errors in scoring the English Language Objective Test (Paper 3).

This was due to the use of an incorrect serialised code file during the marking process. Other affected subjects included Mathematics, Biology, and Economics.

He clarified that candidates who took the exams via computer-based testing were not impacted by these issues.After correcting the errors, WAEC reported that 1,794,821 candidates 91.14% achieved credit or higher in at least five subjects, regardless of whether they included English and Mathematics.

Specifically, 1,239,884 candidates (62.96%) obtained five credits including both English and Mathematics, a significant increase from the previously reported figure of 38.32%. Among those who achieved this milestone, 53.05% were female and 46.95% were male.

Despite these improvements, there was still a decline in overall performance compared to the previous year, with a 9.16% drop from the 72.12% success rate recorded in 2024.

A total of 1,969,313 candidates sat for the examination, including students from neighboring countries like Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea.

WAEC also highlighted its commitment to inclusivity by processing results for 12,178 special needs candidates.

“While 1,763,470 candidates (89.55%) had their results fully processed, 205,916 (10.45%) still had pending subjects due to technical issues. The council is actively working to finalize these outstanding results”.

Additionally, results for 191,053 candidates (9.7%) have been withheld due to allegations of examination malpractice, a reduction from the previous year’s rate of 11.92%.

Investigations are ongoing, and affected candidates can seek redress through WAEC’s official complaints portal.

Dr. Dangut also explained that WAEC’s commitment to tackling examination malpractice and encouraged candidates to access their results via the official website.

He also noted that candidates sponsored by state governments with outstanding debts would not have access to their results until payments are made.

By Uzair Adam

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a stern warning to party members openly supporting President Bola Tinubu, urging them to withdraw their stance or face tougher disciplinary measures.

In a statement on Friday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described such actions as anti-party and a direct violation of the party’s constitution.

He stressed that the NWC, acting under Section 59 (1) of the PDP constitution, had reprimanded those involved and cautioned them to retrace their steps to protect the party’s unity and electoral chances.

The NWC expressed concern over the growing trend of public statements from prominent PDP figures declaring their support for Tinubu and even pledging to work for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to the committee, these actions breach Section 10 (6) of the PDP constitution, which prohibits members from aligning with other parties in ways that undermine the PDP or its elected governments.

“These anti-party activities have caused division, disaffection, and significant loss of members, posing a serious threat to the party’s stability and electoral fortunes if left unchecked,” the statement warned.

The party leadership urged members to remain loyal, stay focused, and work towards the successful conduct of the PDP National Convention slated for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The warning comes amid ongoing internal crises within the PDP, as several high-profile members have openly endorsed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

On July 28, 2025, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose publicly declared support for Tinubu’s second term and also endorsed Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his deputy for re-election at an APC event in Ado Ekiti.

Similarly, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the PDP in Osun State announced their endorsement of Tinubu for the 2027 elections.

Adeleke, while affirming his loyalty to the PDP and announcing his own second-term endorsement for 2026, described Tinubu as a “proud son” of Osun State.