Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi One of the 25 schoolgirls abducted by terrorists from a boarding school in Kebbi State has escaped from captivity and returned home, the school’s principal confirmed on Tuesday. The attack occurred in the early hours of Monday, November 17, when armed men stormed the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area. The gunmen killed a staff member before whisking away 25 students into nearby forests. According to the principal, Musa Rabi Magaji, one of the abducted girls managed to slip away from the kidnappers and made her way back home late on Monday—just…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old suspected cultist, Sulaimon Laja, for allegedly terrorising residents of the Igbesa community in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area. Laja, reportedly a member of the Aiye confraternity, was arrested after he allegedly disguised himself to evade police detection. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Tuesday. According to Odutola, officers who noticed the suspect’s unusual appearance immediately apprehended him and compelled him to lead them to the group’s hideout. A search of the location resulted in the recovery of…

By Deborah Nnamdi The wife of the slain Vice Principal of Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Gada, in Kebbi State, Amina Hassan, has recounted the terrifying moment armed bandits invaded their home, killed her husband, and abducted dozens of schoolgirls in a coordinated early-morning attack. The assault occurred at about 3:30 a.m. when heavily armed men dressed in army camouflage stormed the community. The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that at least 25 students were taken from the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area. Police spokesperson, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi, said the attackers exchanged gunfire…

By Deborah Nnamdi Nigeria has received two more Benin Bronzes following their return by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, United States, marking another significant step in the country’s efforts to reclaim looted cultural heritage. Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) confirmed the development late Monday, describing it as an important milestone in the restorative process. The commission’s Director-General, Olugbile Holloway, said the latest return represents “the return of a huge part of Nigeria’s history,” noting that the artefacts are deeply symbolic not only for the Benin Kingdom but also for Nigeria’s broader struggle to recover stolen…

By Deborah Nnamdi Heavy security presence on Tuesday engulfed the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, as two rival factions—each claiming legitimate control of the party—attempted to hold parallel meetings at the same venue, triggering violent confrontations, barricades, and police intervention. The crisis intensified shortly after the Samuel Anyanwu–led National Working Committee (NWC) arrived at Wadata Plaza. Anyanwu, who insists he remains the party’s national secretary until his tenure ends in December, settled into his office despite the escalating leadership dispute. He also confirmed that he personally invited the security operatives who had cordoned off major…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday visited Maga community in Kebbi State, where he directed troops of Operation Fasan Yamma to launch an aggressive, round-the-clock operation to rescue students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga. During an assessment briefing with frontline troops, the Army Chief warned that bandits were increasingly targeting vulnerable communities and soft civilian locations, stressing that the trend must be met with superior strategy, intelligence, and sustained military pressure. “You must continue day and night fighting. We must find these children,” Shaibu ordered. He tasked field commanders…

Nigeria’s foreign reserve has surged to over $46 billion, marking its highest level in seven years, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, announced on Tuesday. Cardoso made the disclosure during the opening session of the Monetary Policy Department’s 20th anniversary colloquium in Abuja, noting that the milestone reflects improved economic stability and strengthened external buffers. According to him, the current reserve level is significant enough to cover more than 10 months of imports — a benchmark not achieved since 2018. The CBN governor said the development was a positive signal for Nigeria’s economic outlook and…

By Deborah Nnamdi Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo has broken her silence after failing to make the final shortlist for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year Award, saying she remains focused on proving herself through performances rather than accolades. Okoronkwo, who many fans and football analysts believed deserved a top-three spot following a stellar year for club and country, shared her reaction in an Instagram post on Thursday shortly after CAF unveiled the final nominees. “I remain grateful for the support across Africa. CAF’s decision is noted, but my focus stays on the pitch. Recognition is earned, not awarded,”…

By Deborah Nnamdi Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Professor Cyril Ndifon, to five years’ imprisonment for sexually harassing a female diploma student. The sentence carries no option of fine. Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Omotosho ruled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully proved counts one and two against Ndifon beyond reasonable doubt. He handed the embattled academic a two-year sentence on count one and a five-year term on count two, to run concurrently.…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed the content of an insulting and abusive “Thank You” text message allegedly sent to him by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, following Obasanjo’s attendance at Fayose’s 65th birthday celebration in Lagos last week. The message, shared with journalists in Abeokuta on Monday by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, expressed Fayose’s gratitude for the former president’s presence at the event but harshly criticised his remarks during the celebration. In the SMS, Fayose said he deliberately refrained from responding to what he described as Obasanjo’s “irresponsible comments” at the event to show “the…