Author: Naija Daily News

Oil prices rose slightly on Wednesday as tensions between the United States and Iran kept markets on edge, a move that could provide a much-needed boost to Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy and its 2026 federal budget framework. Brent crude futures were up 6 cents at $70.83 a barrel by 0957 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 4 cents to $65.67 per barrel. A Reuters report linked the recent rallies that pushed Brent and WTI to their highest levels in months rising Middle East tension as the U.S. positioned military assets in the region to put pressure on Tehran over…

Photo: Acting IGP Olatunji Disu The Ondo State Police has confirmed another attack of worship in the same axis of Ondo State, barely hours after security agencies announced the arrest of a key suspect linked to the 2022 Owo church massacre, The Ondo State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed that six worshippers were abducted when gunmen stormed a Celestial Church along the Uso/Owo Expressway in Owo Local Government Area. The attack occurred at about 12:50 a.m. on February 25, according to police spokesperson DSP Abayomi Jimoh, who was quoted by NAN report. The assailants reportedly whisked the victims away to…

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has suggested that the recent assault on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) may be rooted in internal party disputes rather than external political hostility. Reacting to the incident on Tuesday, the governor condemned the violence but cautioned against what he described as attempts to externalise what appears to be an intra-party conflict. While expressing sympathy for affected ADC members, Okpebholo warned that political actors must resolve internal disagreements before organising public activities that could spiral into disorder. “This conflict appears rooted in internal disagreements,” the governor said, advising the party to refrain from…

High courtroom drama unfolded on Wednesday as the planned arraignment of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai was abruptly stalled, after the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to bring him to court. El-Rufai is facing allegations of illegally intercepting the phone line of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, claims that could see him charged under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. But when the case was called, the former governor was nowhere to be seen. Prosecution lawyer Oluwole Aladeloye (SAN) told the court the matter was scheduled for arraignment, yet proceedings could not go ahead because the DSS did not produce…

The presidential candidate of the the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi and fa ormer Edo Governor John Odigie-Oyegun have claimed they narrowly escaped death after gunmen stormed a political meeting in Benin City in a hail of bullets. The terrifying attack unfolded shortly after leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomed former Nigerian Bar Association president Olumide Akpata into the party. Eyewitnesses said armed men burst into the ADC secretariat on Ogbelaka Street, firing shots wildly and smashing property before heading to Odigie-Oyegun’s home on Reservation Road. Cars parked outside were riddled with bullets. Party…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery will supply between 60 million and 65 million litres of petrol daily to Nigeria’s domestic market under a structured distribution agreement aimed at stabilising nationwide fuel supply, its president Aliko Dangote said. Dangote said the refinery’s output exceeds Nigeria’s estimated daily petrol consumption of 50 million to 60 million litres, creating a potential export surplus of between 15 million and 20 million litres per day. “We have agreed an offtake framework to supply up to 65 million litres daily for the domestic market,” Dangote said in Lagos. “Any surplus will be exported.” The move marks a significant…

A serving police corporal and a civilian accomplice have been sentenced to death for abducting a secondary school principal in Akwa Ibom State, 10 years ago. Justice Nsemeke Daniel of the High Court in Uyo handed down the death penalty by hanging to Corporal Mbazigwe Chinedu Friday and Isaac Eddy Ndeesor after finding them guilty of kidnapping Elder Akara Johnson Mendie in 2015. The incident occurred on July 5, 2015, when Mendie was ambushed while returning from church with members of his family in Ukanafun Local Government Area. Armed men intercepted their vehicle, seized the principal and drove off, leaving…

A most-wanted terror suspect linked to the horrific 2022 Owo church massacre has finally been captured after nearly four years on the run. Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) swooped on Sani Yusuf, said to be a top commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in Edo State — bringing fresh hope of justice for the families of more than 40 worshippers slaughtered at St. Francis Catholic Church in Ondo State. The bloodbath stunned the nation when gunmen stormed the church during Sunday Mass, killing dozens and injuring many more in one of Nigeria’s most chilling…

By Deborah Nnamdi Former governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2024 Edo State election, Olumide Akpata, has defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Akpata was formally received into the party by the Edo State Chairman of the ADC, Kennedy Odion, alongside prominent party leaders including former Edo State governors John Odigie-Oyegun and Oserheimen Osunbor. Also present at the event were former Senate Chief Whip Roland Owie, House of Representatives member for Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency Murphy Omoruyi, and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi. Speaking after receiving his ADC membership card, Akpata said his decision to join…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Federal Government has dismissed reports alleging that it paid N10 billion and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of abducted schoolchildren in Niger State, describing the claims as false and baseless. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government’s attention had been drawn to a media publication attributed to international wire services, which claimed that a “huge” ransom was paid to facilitate the release of pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State. Idris said the allegations misrepresented the facts and undermined the…