Author: Naija Daily News

An Air Peace aircraft was grounded after it struck an antelope while taxiing on the runway at Asaba International Airport. The impact killed the animal and led to the aircraft being declared Aircraft on Ground (AOG), disrupting scheduled flight operations. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), through its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the incident via a post on his X (formerly Twitter) page. He noted that unexpected events like this are among the challenges that can lead to flight delays and disruptions. Achimugu said, “Monitoring reports yesterday indicated that an Air Peace aircraft ran…

By Deborah Nnamdi A wave of fear has engulfed Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto State as terrified residents flee their homes following menacing threats from notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, who remains one of Nigeria’s most wanted criminals. In the past 72 hours, communities in Bafarawa, Arume, Gebe, and Kamarawa have emptied, with residents abandoning their homes en masse. Locals say Turji issued a stark ultimatum to the villages of Kamara, Arume, and Kagara: vacate by 4:00 p.m. Sunday or face deadly consequences. “This isn’t an idle warning. We know what Turji has done before. We fled with nothing…

By Deborah Nnamdi Governors and top figures within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are holding a closed-door meeting in Abuja to confront the party’s growing internal turmoil and wave of defections. The strategic session, convened by the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, is seen as a critical step in charting the party’s course ahead of the 2027 general elections. Hosted at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, the meeting brings together current and former governors as well as influential stakeholders within the PDP. Among those in attendance are Acting National Chairman…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in a joint operation with the Nigerian Army and Navy, has discovered an illegal artisanal refinery and unlicensed petrol station in Anambra State. The illicit facility was located at Y-Junction, Nkwelle Ezunaka, in the Oyi Local Government Area of the State. In a statement released on Sunday in Awka by SC Edwin Okadigbo, Head of Media, NSCDC State Commandant Mr. Olatunde Maku confirmed the operation, stating it was based on credible intelligence about illegal petroleum activities in the area. “At approximately 1:35 p.m. on Saturday, our team raided the…

By Deborah Nnamdi The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a woman, Ihensekhien Miracle Obehi, at the Port Harcourt International Airport for attempting to smuggle cocaine to Iran. The suspect, who disguised herself in a hijab to evade security, was intercepted on Sunday, May 3, 2025, while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to Iran via Doha. According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Obehi was caught with three wraps of cocaine hidden in her private parts, two parcels concealed in the false bottom of her handbag, and had also ingested 67 pellets of the illicit drug. The…

By Deborah Nnamdi Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted an oil tanker with a concealed compartment used to transport drugs along the Suleja-Kaduna road in Niger state. According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, officers uncovered the drug consignment hidden in a specially constructed compartment at the belly of the oil tanker for the sole purpose of transporting illicit substances across the country. The post reads, “Narco-trend: Fuel tanker on top but drug tanker beneath! Please watch how #ndlea_nigeria officers discovered a large storage created in the belly of this oil tanker for the sole purpose…

Former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has ruled out a return to the Aso Rock Villa, instead pledging her support for First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections. Known for her forthright opinions, Jonathan expressed strong support for rotational leadership, emphasizing the importance of the “turn-by-turn” system in promoting national unity. She made these remarks while acknowledging the presence of President Tinubu’s daughter and Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, during an event in Abuja on Saturday night, where she was honored with the Women Icon Leader of the Year award by Accolade Dynamics Limited.…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, has arrested an apprentice and his accomplice for allegedly diverting building materials worth over N250 million from a construction supply company to fund gambling activities. According to a statement released on Saturday by the PSFU spokesperson, Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects—identified as Ezekiel Taiwo and Rahman Airat—have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on five counts, including conspiracy, stealing, fraudulent conversion, embezzlement, and money laundering. The arrest followed a petition filed by businessman Jimoh Atofolaki, who alleged that Taiwo, an apprentice stationed at the Osogbo branch…

By Deborah Nnamdi Authorities in northern Afghanistan have arrested 14 individuals for playing music and singing — activities banned under the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law — according to provincial police on Saturday. Since reclaiming power in 2021, the Taliban has progressively enforced restrictions that align with their conservative religious values, including a broad crackdown on music in both public and private settings. This includes banning live performances and music at social gatherings, in vehicles, restaurants, and across broadcast media. Police reported that the arrests occurred Thursday night in Takhar province’s capital, where the group had gathered at a…

By Deborah Nnamdi A two-year-old girl who was trafficked from Abuja to Aba for N100,000 has been rescued, and efforts are now underway to locate her parents. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) reported on Friday that a suspect connected involved in her trafficking has been apprehended by the Department of State Services (DSS). The statement read: “A two-year-old girl, renamed Chiamaka Favor (alias), who was trafficked from Abuja to Aba in February 2025, has been rescued by NAPTIP Abia Command on May 8, 2025. “The suspected trafficker, arrested by DSS Abia and handed over…