Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, has announced his retirement from international football, just days after being named in the Super Eagles’ provisional 54-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to begin on December 21. Troost-Ekong, who has been a key figure in Nigeria’s national team since making his debut in 2015, revealed his decision in a video posted on his X handle on Thursday evening. “Today, I am announcing my retirement from international football,” he said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent Nigeria for nearly a decade. Born in the Netherlands to a…

By Deborah Nnamdi The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who was recently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, has filed a fresh motion before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking his immediate transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility. In a motion ex parte personally signed and presented on Thursday by his younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the IPOB leader argued that being held in Sokoto—over 700 kilometres from Abuja—makes it impossible for him to effectively pursue his appeal against his conviction. Kanu told the court that he intends to personally exercise his constitutional…

By Deborah Nnamdi Senator Ned Nwoko (APC–Delta North) has threatened legal action against what he describes as a renewed wave of online harassment, cyberstalking, and coordinated defamatory content targeted at him. In a statement issued on Thursday by his Communications Team in Abuja, the senator condemned the rise in what he termed “false narratives” aimed at smearing his reputation and distracting him from his public responsibilities. “Our attention has been drawn to a renewed pattern of online harassment, cyberstalking, and coordinated defamatory videos and publications targeted at Sen. Ned Nwoko,” the statement read. “These actions appear calculated to create a…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of 44 suspected drug traffickers and the seizure of 2,059.83 kilogrammes of illicit substances in November. State Commander, Dr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, revealed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Benin, noting that the intensified, intelligence-led operations were aimed at ensuring a safe and peaceful yuletide season across the state. Ofoyeju said the arrests — comprising 21 men and 23 women — highlight both the scale of the agency’s offensive and a disturbing rise in female involvement in drug trafficking. “This…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Rivers State Police Command has rescued five persons abducted by suspected cultists in Emuoha Local Government Area of the state. The victims — Prince London, Azubuike Kelechukwu, Elizabeth Aniete, Onyebuchi Precious, and London Sampson — were freed unhurt in the early hours of Thursday at Rumudogo 2 Community, Emuoha. Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko said the rescue operation, carried out around 1:00 a.m. on December 4 by the command’s Tactical Teams in collaboration with other security agencies and community members, followed swift intelligence action. She added that the victims were taken to the hospital for medical examination,…

By Deborah Nnamdi Operatives of the Agwa Division of the Imo State Police Command have killed two suspected kidnappers during a patrol operation along the Obudi–Mgbala Road. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, told journalists at the police headquarters in Owerri that the suspects were shot dead on Tuesday after officers led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Agwa Division engaged the gang, who were operating with a white tricycle bus. According to Okoye, while other members of the gang escaped with injuries, police recovered two pump-action rifles, seven live cartridges, two Android phones, and the body of an…

By Deborah Nnamdi Nigeria’s immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), on Thursday took the oath of office as the country’s new Minister of Defence, signalling another major step in President Bola Tinubu’s restructuring of the national security framework. The ceremony, held at the State House in Abuja, was administered by President Tinubu, who urged the new minister to deploy his vast operational experience and deep understanding of military affairs to strengthen the nation’s defence systems. Musa’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, coming at a time when the Tinubu administration is intensifying reforms…

By Deborah Nnamdi President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The nominees, unveiled during Thursday’s plenary, include former Chief of Naval Staff and immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; former Imo State First Lady, Chioma Ohakim; and former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter on the floor of the chamber, noting the President’s request for speedy consideration to enable the federal government to fill vacant diplomatic posts. Akpabio thereafter referred…

Tech giant Meta has begun removing users under the age of 16 from Instagram, Threads and Facebook in Australia as the country prepares to enforce a world-first ban on underage social media use. The move comes ahead of December 10, when a new law requiring major online platforms to block access for children under 16 formally takes effect. Other major platforms, including TikTok and YouTube, are also expected to comply. Australia has been tightening its online safety regulations for years amid growing public concern over cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, online predators and the mental-health impact of excessive social media…

The United States has announced a visa ban on individuals found to have directed, authorised, supported, or participated in violations of religious freedom, a move that may also extend to their immediate family members. The US Department of State disclosed the development on Wednesday in a statement titled “Combating Egregious Anti-Christian Violence in Nigeria and Globally.” It said the action was in response to widespread killings and attacks against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani militias, and other violent groups in Nigeria and other countries. According to the statement, a new policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and…