News

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigeria’s diplomatic missions across the world and to the United Nations.

The list includes 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career appointees. The Senate had confirmed the nominees in December last year.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the postings cover several strategic countries and international organisations.

Among the non-career ambassadors, Senator Grace Bent was posted to Lome in Togo, while former presidential aide Senator Ita Enang will serve in South Africa. Former Abia State governor Victor Ikpeazu was assigned to Spain, and Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu will represent Nigeria in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Other notable appointments include former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu to Qatar, Reno Omokri to Mexico, and former Minister of Health Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole to Canada. Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode will serve in Germany, while former Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, was posted to China.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim was named Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Lateef Kayode Are was assigned to the United States, while Ambassador Joseph Sola Iji will represent Nigeria in Russia. Aminu Dalhatu was posted to the United Kingdom.

The career ambassadors were also deployed to various countries. Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka will serve in Cote d’Ivoire, while Besto Maimuna Ibrahim was assigned to Niger. Other postings include Mohammed Mahmud Lele to Algeria, Ahmed Mohammed Monguno to Egypt, and Muhammad Saidu Dahiru to India.

Additional assignments include Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal, Shehu Ilu Barde to Ghana, Aminu Nasir to Ethiopia, Abubakar Musa Musa to Chad, and Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya.

According to the statement, some host countries have already granted diplomatic approval for the appointments.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu. Similarly, France has sent the agrément for Ambassador Ayo Oke.”

The presidency added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has forwarded the nominations of the remaining envoys to their respective host countries for the necessary diplomatic clearance.

“The Ministry has also conveyed the nominations of the other 62 designated envoys to all the countries concerned, including a request for their agréments in line with standard diplomatic practice.”

President Tinubu also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin preparations for the ambassadors before they assume duty.

“President Tinubu has directed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners.”

The induction programme is expected to prepare the envoys for their diplomatic responsibilities before their deployment to various missions.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Bugun Karkanda III have forced armed terrorists out of Mansur Village and nearby settlements in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

During the operation, soldiers recovered an AK-47 rifle and re-established government control in the affected communities.

Military authorities described the development as “a major breakthrough.”

The army explained that the mission targeted locations where armed groups had attempted to establish influence. According to the military, the action weakened the fighters and disrupted their activities in the area.

Officials also said the operation forms part of a wider campaign to improve security and allow residents to return to their normal daily activities. The exercise followed the formal launch of the security initiative by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Folusho Oyinlola.

In a statement released on Thursday in Jos, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 3 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olumide Victor Olukoya, said troops moved strategically against the armed groups.

The statement said, “Following a deliberate and well-coordinated offensive, troops of 3 Division rapidly advanced into identified flash points, establishing dominance over key areas and successfully dislodging armed terrorists who had attempted to assert control over Mansur Village.”

The army added that soldiers conducted a detailed search of the area after pushing out the attackers.

“A thorough clearance of the village led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, further weakening the terrorists’ operational capacity.”

According to the statement, troops have maintained their presence in the area after the operation.

“Troops have since consolidated gains and intensified aggressive fighting patrols alongside confidence-building patrols across Alkaleri LGA to sustain presence, maintain law and order, and prevent resurgence.”

The army also said the strengthened security activities have already produced positive outcomes in the local government area.

“The renewed military posture has yielded tangible results: disrupting criminal elements, rebuilding public confidence, and creating a safer environment for citizens to resume socio-economic activities without fear,“ he added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have abducted more than 100 women and children after attacking Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, as opposed to an earlier report that stated only 9 people and an imam were abducted.

Sources said the attackers also killed several soldiers, the chief imam of the town and some community elders during the assault. The incident happened shortly after Muslims broke their fast on Wednesday.

Security and community sources told reporters that the terrorists first targeted a military base operated by the 82 Division Task Force Battalion. After confronting the troops, they moved into the community and later stormed an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp.

One of the sources said the attackers outnumbered the soldiers, which enabled them to overpower the troops before advancing into the town where the mass abduction occurred.

“The militants invaded a military base of 82 Division of TF Battalion. They also launched an assault on the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in the community,” the source said.

He added that the attackers pursued fleeing soldiers and later searched houses and nearby bushes.

“We cannot ascertain the actual number of soldiers and civilians killed but nine bodies of soldiers have been recovered so far,” he said.

The source also alleged that the assailants destroyed military assets during the raid.

“Residents have fled Ngoshe town to the adjoining town, Pulka. The attack is very devastating considering that refugees have started returning from Cameroon,’ one other source said.

He also suggested that internal informants might have aided the attackers.

“It’s not possible to carry out such an attack without information from within us.

“The chief imam and some elders were slaughtered by the terrorists, and over 100 women and children were abducted or missing”, he said.

Residents who escaped the attack have reportedly moved to Pulka town in search of safety.

A resident, Malam Umar, described the emotional situation among survivors.

“You will see a mother crying, searching for her children and husband or children looking for their parents.

“The trauma of losing their homes and loved ones during this difficult time is quite devastating.” he said.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Nigerian military launched air strikes against the fleeing terrorists after the attack.

According to the security platform Zagazola Makama, surveillance aircraft tracked the insurgents along their escape routes. The Nigerian Air Force then carried out targeted strikes which reportedly killed more than 50 of the fighters.

Security analysts have linked the renewed attacks on military facilities to ongoing operations by troops in Sambisa Forest, the Mandara Mountains and areas around Lake Chad.

Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, condemned the attack and called for stronger military operations in the affected areas.

“I strongly condemn the attack. Let me commiserate with families of those killed and wish the injured quick recovery.

“Unfortunately, soldiers, the chief imam of Ngoshe and some elders of the community were among those slaughtered or killed during the attack.

“The military base was dislodged with some major equipment destroyed, including residential houses and property worth millions of naira set ablaze. I was informed that the General Officer Commanding 7Div, Brigadier-General Ugochukwu Unachukwu and the Brigade Commander of Gwoza are right now in Ngoshe to ensure civil authority is restored.

“We are liaising with Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Chairman of Gwoza LGA to immediately provide relief items to the displaced persons in Pulka community,” he said.

The lawmaker also noted that the absence of stationed attack helicopters or fighter jets in the Northeast has continued to limit the military’s ability to respond swiftly to attacks.

Following the incident, the Gwoza Youth Forum appealed for humanitarian support for displaced residents who fled to Pulka.

The group’s chairman, Malam Idrissa Hamman, made the appeal in a statement.

“We humbly write to seek your urgent support for our brothers and sisters who have been displaced from Ngoshe and are currently taking refuge in Pulka.

“Many of them are living under extremely difficult conditions and lack basic necessities for daily survival.

“In view of this humanitarian situation, we are earnestly appealing for your kind support, either in cash or in kind to assist these vulnerable families.

“As a matter of urgency, we are particularly soliciting the following items: clothes, shoes, blankets, buckets, food items and other essential household items.

“This humanitarian initiative is being coordinated under the platform of the Gwoza Youths Forum.

“The chairman of the committee for this initiative is Mal. Idirisa Hamman, while the secretary is Engr. Aliyu Shehu & BK Glavda as Member,” he said.

The attack adds to a series of deadly assaults carried out by terrorists and bandits across several Nigerian states since the beginning of Ramadan. Security incidents have been reported in Borno, Zamfara, Kebbi, Adamawa, Niger and Kaduna states in recent weeks.

Islamic scholars have also condemned the killings.

A Kano-based cleric, Dr Ibrahim Siraj, said Islam strongly forbids the taking of human life.

Quoting from the Qur’an, he said: “Whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein forever; and the wrath and curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful punishment is prepared for him.”

He said the offence becomes even more serious when it occurs during Ramadan.

“In addition to violating the sanctity of life, it also violates the sanctity of the month itself. Ramadan is a time when Muslims are encouraged to do good, refrain from bad behaviour, and draw closer to Allah. To take a life in this holy month is to show contempt and disrespect for its sacredness,” he said.

Another cleric, Sheikh Halliru Maraya of Kaduna, also stressed that the attacks contradict Islamic teachings.

“One of the reasons these criminal gunmen step up their atrocities against Nigerians during the holy month of Ramadan is that they are not acting in the name of Islam or based on its teachings. They are simply acting on their own whims and caprices.

“These atrocities clearly contradict the faith. Islam does not condone violence, let alone the taking of human life without a just cause. According to the Qur’an, taking a human life unjustly is like killing all of mankind. Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption in the land – it is as if he had slain all mankind,” he said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Security operatives have arrested two men suspected of supplying fuel to bandits who operate in parts of Bauchi State.

The arrest took place in neighbouring Gombe State during a security operation. Information about the incident appeared in a post shared on X by security analyst Zagazola Makama on Thursday.

Makama said security personnel carried out the operation on Wednesday at about 4:30 a.m. Officers conducted a stop-and-search exercise along the Kashere–Futuk Road in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.

He explained that the action followed intelligence about how armed groups in Bauchi obtain fuel from Gombe.

“The operation followed intelligence reports indicating that bandits terrorising parts of Bauchi were sourcing fuel from Gombe,” Makama wrote.

During the exercise, security operatives stopped a red-tinted Golf 3 vehicle with registration number GME 221 XA. The car carried 29 jerrycans filled with Premium Motor Spirit, also known as PMS.

Makama added that the driver managed to escape.

“The vehicle’s driver, 20-year-old Aliyu Usman from Futuk Village in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi, reportedly fled the scene and escaped,” he wrote.

Two passengers inside the vehicle did not escape. Security agents arrested them at the scene. Authorities identified them as Bello Abdullahi, 52, and Sulaiman Musa, 40. Both men come from Futuk Village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The suspects told investigators that they bought the fuel in Billiri town in Gombe State.

Police officers seized the vehicle and the 29 jerrycans as exhibits. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine whether the suspects supplied fuel to criminal groups.

Security agencies also continue efforts to capture the driver who escaped and to uncover other members of the suspected supply network.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The management of Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila has rusticated nine students over their involvement in examination malpractice during the first semester examinations of the 2025/2026 academic session.

The decision was announced in a Special Bulletin issued by the university’s Registry following the approval of the institution’s Senate after reviewing reported cases of examination misconduct and plagiarism.

According to the bulletin, the affected students were found guilty of violating the university’s examination regulations. As a result, the Senate approved their rustication for one academic session as part of disciplinary measures to maintain academic integrity.

The university management said the action reflects its commitment to promoting honesty, discipline, and fairness within the academic environment.

It also reiterated that examination malpractice and all forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Students were therefore urged to strictly adhere to examination rules and regulations, with the management emphasising that integrity remains central to the institution’s mission of producing morally upright and academically sound graduates.

Members of the university community were advised to take note of the Senate’s decision and continue to uphold the core values of the institution.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he must play a part in selecting Iran’s next leader following the death of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Trump made the remark during an interview with Axios on Thursday. He said Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late Iranian leader, appears to be the most likely successor. However, the U.S. president rejected the possibility of him taking over the position.

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump said. “I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela.”

Rodriguez became Venezuela’s acting president in January after U.S. forces entered Caracas, arrested then-President Nicolas Maduro and transferred him to New York to face drug-related charges. After Rodriguez assumed office, Trump described Venezuela as “our new friend and partner” and said her administration had supplied the United States with millions of barrels of oil.

Trump stressed that Washington would not accept a new Iranian leader who intends to continue the policies of the late supreme leader.

“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me,” he told Axios. “We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”

He repeated the position in a separate interview with Reuters.

“We want to be involved in the process of choosing the person who is going to lead Iran into the future. We don’t have to go back every five years and do this again and again.”

Reports from the New York Times indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei has emerged as the leading candidate for the role after several meetings of Iran’s Assembly of Experts. The cleric, who has largely stayed away from public attention, studied Islamic theology and is known for holding hardline conservative views.

The comments from Trump come days after the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran. The strikes targeted multiple locations across the country. A humanitarian organisation reported that more than 1,000 people lost their lives during the attacks.

Iran responded with missile strikes on Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and other locations in the region. According to the Pentagon, six American service members have been killed in the conflict.

Military activity has continued in recent days. Reports indicate Iranian attacks in Azerbaijan. The U.S. Navy also sank an Iranian vessel in the Indian Ocean. The Pentagon said more than 20 Iranian ships have either been damaged or destroyed.

Soon after the first strikes, the Trump administration offered several explanations for the operation, which it named “Epic Fury.”

Vice President JD Vance said the campaign aims to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the action followed indications that Israel planned to attack Iran. Trump also suggested the operation could lead to political change in Iran. He wrote on Truth Social during the weekend, “This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”

During a press conference on Monday, Trump outlined four major objectives. He said the United States seeks to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, eliminate its navy, prevent the country from obtaining nuclear weapons and remove the current Iranian leadership.

It remains unclear how long the operation will last. Trump suggested it might take about four weeks but said the United States has the ability to continue longer if necessary.

The military action has drawn mixed reactions in the United States. Many Democrats oppose the campaign and have described it as illegal and strategically flawed. Several Republicans have expressed support for the president, although some have raised concerns in private.

A war powers resolution that aimed to limit the president’s authority over the Iran conflict failed in the Senate earlier this week. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are expected to vote on a similar proposal.

Public opinion also appears divided. A recent Reuters survey found that only one in four Americans support the U.S. strikes on Iran.

Iran’s government has condemned the attacks. Officials in Tehran described the strikes as illegal and urged the international community to support the country.

By Anwar Usman


The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has summoned the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, alongside former Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajia Isa and former Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Dr. Bala Wunti, over an alleged N210 trillion not properly accounted for by the company between 2017 and 2023.

The committee, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa West), issued the summons on Thursday following a review of audit queries relating to the financial records of the national oil company.

The Committee chairman said they would issue an arrest warrant against the former management team if they fail to appear before it on a date that will be communicated to them.

He added that the former officials are expected to appear before the committee alongside the current management of NNPCL led by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, as well as the external auditors who served the company during the period under review.

Wadada, while reading the committee’s resolutions to journalists, said the panel had directed the NNPCL to account for the combined sum of N210 trillion  comprising N103 trillion and N107 trillion, identified in audit reports.

“NNPCL should refund the sum of N210 trillion, being the combined sum of N103 trillion and N107 trillion, which were not properly accounted for as contained in the audit reports. NNPCL should and must account for the two figures,” he said.

The committee further  directed the company to remit to the Treasury all production costs charged against crude oil revenue for the period under review, noting that NNPC and its subsidiaries, including NAPIMS, do not directly produce crude oil.

According to Wadada, the company claimed that the N103 trillion represented cumulative expenditures by joint venture partners from JV cash calls between 2017 and 2023, an explanation the committee described as unacceptable.

He added that the company also recorded N107 trillion as subsidy receivables and sundry debts in its audited financial statements as of December 2023, which it said were owed by various banks and other entities.

“When put together, NNPCL needs to properly account for the N210 trillion,” Wadada said.

The committee also interrogate the expenditure of N5 billion which was said to have been used to facilitate the change of the company’s name from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

He further urged the Auditor-General for the Federation to conduct a forensic audit of the company’s financial statements for the period under review in line with Section 85 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

By Anwar Usman

The family members of an abducted Corp member, identified as Abba, have claimed he has been killed by his kidnappers despite paying a ransom of N10million for his release.

According to reports, the family said communication with the kidnappers suddenly stopped after the ransom was paid, deepening fears that the corps member may have been murdered.

The Daily Reality gthered that the abductors had initially demanded N10million for his release but later made fresh demands after receiving the money.

According to them, the kidnappers also requested motorcycles in addition to the ransom already paid.

“Since receiving the N10 million ransom payment, Abba’s abductors have completely cut off all communication with the family,” the sources said, according to a security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama.

The family further revealed that it had decided not to comply with any further demands following the abrupt silence from the abductors.

As a result of that, the family said it had begun preparations to conduct funeral prayers for the corps member in absentia in accordance with the Islamic traditions.

They also expressed appreciation to individuals and groups who supported them during the ordeal.

“Abba’s family wishes to express profound gratitude to everyone who offered support, prayers, donations and kind words during this difficult period.

“May the Almighty reward your generosity abundantly,” the family added.

The relatives also said they  still hope that the corps member might be alive.

“If he has passed on, may Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus,” a family member said.

Recalled that, the deceased had earlier cried out for urgent help after terrorists locally dubbed as bandits subjected him to severe torture in captivity.

By Uzair Adam

A Nigerian researcher working in France has developed a new biological concept that could help cereal crops obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere without genetic modification, potentially reducing reliance on costly synthetic fertilizers.

Dr. Mubarak Mahmud, a researcher at French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) and affiliated with Université Bourgogne Europe under its Agroecology research unit, disclosed this in an interview on Thursday.

Mahmud said the study focuses on improving nitrogen nutrition in cereal crops such as maize, wheat and rice by strengthening naturally occurring interactions between plants and soil organisms.

The Daily Reality reports that Nitrogen is widely considered the most limiting nutrient in cereal production globally. Although nitrogen gas constitutes nearly 78 percent of the earth’s atmosphere, major cereal crops cannot directly use it in its gaseous form.

As a result, farmers depend heavily on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers to maintain crop yields. However, the fertilizers are expensive and are associated with environmental challenges including greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation and water pollution.

Mahmud explained that while leguminous crops such as beans can access atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria, cereals lack this biological mechanism.

According to him, the research explores whether cereal crops can indirectly benefit from atmospheric nitrogen by strengthening existing soil symbiotic relationships.

The study centres on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, microscopic soil organisms that colonize plant roots and form underground networks capable of transporting nutrients to plants.

These fungi are already known to assist plants in absorbing nutrients such as phosphorus in exchange for sugars produced by the plant.

Mahmud said the research hypothesizes that nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil could be linked to these fungal networks, allowing biologically fixed nitrogen to move through the fungal pathway into the plant.

“In practical terms, nitrogen-fixing microbes convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable compounds, while the fungal network serves as a biological bridge between the soil and plant roots,” he explained.

“This allows the plant to receive nitrogen through the fungus’s existing nutrient exchange pathway.”

He emphasized that the approach does not involve genetic modification but instead builds on natural biological partnerships already present in agricultural soils.

Unlike conventional microbial biofertilizers that rely on bacteria operating freely in the soil, Mahmud said the concept aims to improve how biologically fixed nitrogen is directed toward the plant through the already efficient plant–fungus nutrient delivery system.

The research is still in its early stages and is currently being tested under controlled experimental conditions. Scientists involved in the study are examining how nitrogen moves within the system and how plants respond when synthetic fertilizer inputs are reduced.

Mahmud said if validated through greenhouse and field trials, the concept could improve nitrogen-use efficiency in cereal production, reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and lower production costs for farmers.

“This approach builds on biological partnerships that already exist in nature. The goal is to enhance how crops access nitrogen in a more efficient and sustainable way,” he stated.

He added that the research team is seeking collaboration with research institutions, soil microbiologists, agronomists and biotechnology partners interested in advancing sustainable nitrogen solutions for cereal farming systems.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigerian troops under Operation Eastern Sanity have intensified their offensive against the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in parts of the South-East.

The military said the ongoing operations are aimed at dismantling insurgent camps and restoring security in the region.

According to a statement, troops carried out a coordinated operation on March 3, 2026, at Camp Gbadoanya in Orsumoghu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. The operation involved other security agencies and received close air support from the Nigerian Air Force.

The joint team moved into the area to flush out suspected IPOB and ESN fighters operating within the camp and nearby locations.

During the raid, security forces discovered several camps used by the insurgents. The camps were searched and later destroyed.

Items recovered from the location included pump-action guns, locally made Dane guns, rifle magazines, rifle components, belts of ammunition and cutting machines. Troops also found Biafran currencies, materials suspected to be used for making improvised explosive devices, as well as musical instruments believed to belong to a Biafran Army band.

Security forces also recovered a Biafran flag and a Biafran Army Headquarters flag. The troops destroyed the flags and raised the Nigerian flag at the camp.

The military said the operation continued the following day. On March 4, 2026, troops destroyed additional camps within the same area.

During the follow-up operation, soldiers located a site used for assembling improvised explosive devices. The facility was dismantled and destroyed after it was examined.

Recovered equipment from the site included welding machines, drilling machines and filling machines. Troops also seized several car batteries, one electrode welding handle, twelve locally fabricated guns and rifle components, along with other materials suspected to be used for producing explosive devices.

The military said operations against IPOB and ESN fighters will continue across the region as part of efforts to maintain security and stability.