News

*'We're In Dire Straits, Help Us' By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna With sorrowful demeanor, leaders and residents of Kaso, a predominantly Gbagyi sub-urban community located in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, today reeled off heart-rending tales of woe of their travails at the hands of terrorists. At a protest media briefing, they revealed how attacks by the terrorists led, since 2016, to loss of lives of many of their relatives, the shutting down of the only primary healthcare centre in the area, closure of 13 primary schools and displacement of original occupants of 18 villages there. The mainly…

By Felix Durumbah, Abuja Further testament to the credibility and community spirit of newly-promoted Deputy Director, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)'s Department of Outdoor Advertising and Signage (DOAS), Mr Sunday Azaki, came as the FCT Council of Chiefs has conferred a chieftaincy title on him. In a letter by the council, dated 27 January, 2026, addressed to Mr. Azaki, with reference FCT/-TC/KWAC/Title.01/07, and signed by the Etsu Kwali, HRH Luka Nizassan 111, who is also the Chairman, Council of Chiefs, Kwali Area Council of FCT, the body spoke in glowing language of Mr Azaki's sterling qualities and unrivalled qualifications for…

By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan As part of ongoing efforts to protect residents from the dangers of unsafe foods, the Oyo State government has intercepted and seized chemically-ripened fruits during a food safety enforcement exercise at a market in Oyo town. The operation, according to the state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, was carried out yesterday by officials of the Department of Food, Water and Laboratory Services of the State Ministry of Health, following an anonymous tip-off. During the exercise, about 12 baskets of mangoes artificially ripened with chemicals were confiscated, having been prepared for sell to unsuspecting members of the…

By Sam Tyav, Makurdi Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) has unveiled its 2026 Annual Work Plan with its roadmap focused on durable solutions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), disaster preparedness, and long-term resilience. The launch held at BSEMA headquarters, Makurdi, the state capital, during a Special Thanksgiving Service to appreciate God Almighty for the journey so far and to seek His intervention in 2026. The Permanent/ Executive Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sir James Aondoakaa Iorpuu, in his speech on the occasion, expressed gratitude to God Almighty for protection, guidance, and mercies throughout the past year…

*At Int'l Day, Enugu Reaffirms Zero Tolerance For Female Genital Mutilation By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu Operatives of Enugu State Police Command attached to Awgu Division, in the early hours of 31 January 2026, recovered a Sinotruk truck along Ndeagbor Road, Awgu community, in Awgu Local Government Area (LGA) of the State. In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Enugu State Command, Daniel Ndukwe, the Command said that the recovery followed the operatives' swift response to an intelligence report that the truck had been snatched at gunpoint from its driver at Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, on 29 January 2026…

By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan The Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), Oyo State chapter, has announced plans to formally inaugurate its senatorial and Local Government Area (LGA) coordinators, as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots mobilisation, enhance coordination, and deepen engagement across the state. According to a statement by the state ambassador, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin, the inauguration would mark a strategic milestone in consolidating the RHA structure in Oyo State, in alignment with the organisational objectives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. “The newly appointed coordinators are expected to drive effective grassroots outreach, promote…

*Enugu Geographic Agency, Lands Ministry Meet Property Owners In Estates, Layout Holders to Resolve Ownership Disputes By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu The good work he is doing has attracted the attention of even the military, with Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, on Thursday, commending the pace of transformation and quality of governance in Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah. Apparently impressed by what he has seen on ground, the Air Chief described the governor as “a new sheriff in town.” Air Marshal Aneke made the remarks during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Enugu,…

To ease the burden on society's vulnerable persons, Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) and a non-governmental organization (NGO), NEAR Foundation, as part of Ramadan outreach, are to distribute 11 kilograms worth of food packages to 300 households rendered helpless by disasters in the Territory. Director, NEAR Foundation, Mr Abdul Hakem Salaudeen, made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to FEMD. Ramadan, the month-long Muslim period of fast and holiness, is expected to kick off sometime this month. According to a press statement issued on Thursday by FEMD's Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, the NGO boss added that…

*'Terrorist Jihadists Wrote Letter To Come Preach Shariah To Us, When Noone Attended Event, They Returned To Take Lives' *Red Cross Says 162 Killed, Amnesty International Cites 'Security Failure' Umar Bio Salihu, the traditional ruler of Woro village in Kwara State, where jihadists massacred residents on Tuesday, has recounted a night of terror during which the attackers killed two of his sons and kidnapped his wife and three daughters. President Bola Tinubu has condemned the “beastly attack," deployed an army battalion to the troubled region, and blamed the Islamist extremist Boko Haram movement – though the name is often used…

*Why Minister Caved In To Workers' Demands *Staff Members React To Promotions By Felix Durumbah, Abuja Apparently reeling from the effects of the now suspended 16-day indefinite strike embarked upon by workers of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), authorities of the Administration have swiftly moved to resolve the welfare and career progression demands of the staff members,which prompted the industrial action in the first place. The strike paralyzed activities in not just the office of FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, but in all FCTA's Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs). With the constitutional provision that FCT be treated as if it…