Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi The Ondo State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers and recovered motorcycles allegedly used in carrying out criminal operations in the state. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Akure, reaffirming the police’s commitment to protecting lives and property. According to Jimoh, operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested the suspects on February 11, 2026, following credible tracking analysis and technical intelligence. He identified the suspects as Abubakar Sindiku, 25, and Oliver Okoh, 35, who were apprehended in Sabo Sango along Ado Road and Ilado Community, respectively. The…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Federal Government on Sunday maintained that many of the terrorists responsible for killings across Nigeria are foreign nationals who infiltrated the country through its porous borders. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, made the assertion while addressing participants at the First Plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria held at St. Gabriel’s Chaplaincy, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja. Akume acknowledged that insecurity remains a major challenge in the country but stressed that the problem is not peculiar to Nigeria. According to him, insecurity is a global issue affecting even advanced nations.…

By Deborah Nnamdi Residents of Utouno community in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State are gripped by fear after suspected bandits reportedly demanded N100 million, threatening to attack the area if the money is not paid. The demand was conveyed in a letter addressed to community leaders, warning residents not to ignore the ultimatum. “This is not a joke. You must pay us N100 million. If you refuse, you will face the consequences and have no one to blame but yourselves. Even if you call soldiers, they cannot stop us,” the letter reportedly read. The threat comes amid rising…

A Nigerian aspiring fashion designer based in the United States, Sheriff Shittu, has been fatally shot following a dispute at a Brooklyn nightclub, leaving his family in mourning and calling for justice. Shittu was killed when a gunman opened fire inside Quilox Restaurant and Lounge in East Flatbush on Church Avenue near 95th Street at about 4:25 a.m. on Saturday, police said. The 28-year-old had gone to the club with his younger brother, Fawaz Shittu, to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The outing came just a day before their mother was scheduled to arrive from Nigeria for a visit. According to…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted attempts by suspected traffickers to smuggle cocaine and opioids through the Seme border in Lagos and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), arresting a woman who concealed drugs in a fake pregnancy and a real estate executive accused of leading a drug distribution network. At the Seme land border on February 16, 2026, NDLEA officers intercepted 35-year-old Rabi Muhammad, a Kano-based businesswoman, as she attempted to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic. Although she appeared heavily pregnant, a detailed search revealed the pregnancy was fake. Officers discovered 3,200 capsules…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated winners of Saturday’s elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the by-elections held in Kano and Rivers states, urging them to serve with humility and a strong sense of responsibility. In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the mandate given to the victors as a sacred trust that must be honoured with patriotism and dedication to public service. Tinubu commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for what he called remarkable achievements in the territory, noting that the strides…

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday described peace in Ukraine as “an urgent necessity,” as the country prepares to mark four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Speaking during his regular Angelus address at St Peter’s Square, the American-born pontiff called for an immediate ceasefire and renewed dialogue to end the conflict. “Peace cannot be postponed. It is an urgent necessity that must find space in hearts and be translated into responsible decisions,” he told the crowd gathered at the Vatican. “I strongly renew my appeal: may the weapons fall silent, may the bombings cease, may a ceasefire be reached without delay,…

Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have clinched victory in the Rivers State House of Assembly bye-elections, securing both contested seats in a decisive outing for the ruling party. APC Wins in Khana, Ahoada East In Khana State Constituency II, APC candidate Henrietta Bulabari emerged winner after polling 7,647 votes, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Returning Officer, Angela Briggs, declared Bulabari duly elected, stating that she “satisfied the requirements of the law.” Breakdown of the results showed that the Action Alliance (AA) secured 46 votes, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 37 votes, Young Progressives Party…

By Deborah Nnamdi Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have neutralized five terrorists belonging to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during operations at Sabsawa village in Borno State. The troops, under Sector 1 of Operation Hadin Kai, carried out offensive and aggressive operations on February 20 and 21, 2026, successfully foiling an attempted terrorist attack before engaging the insurgents in a gun battle. OPHK Media Information Officer, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri that ground troops responded with superior firepower after making contact with…

Photo: Senegal, Morocco clash during AFCON finals in Rabat The Senegalese Football Federation has condemned a Moroccan court ruling that sentenced 18 Senegalese supporters to prison terms following disturbances at last month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, describing the punishment as excessive and disproportionate. The supporters were arrested on January 18, 2026, after the AFCON final in Morocco and had remained in pre-trial detention since then. On Thursday, a court in Rabat handed them prison terms ranging from three to 12 months, along with fines. Reacting to the verdict, Bacary Cisse, president of the federation’s communications committee, expressed strong…