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Some residents in the Sokoto village of Jabo, where the US airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) terrorists hit home, said there had been no casualties and that security forces had cordoned off the area. There have been conflicting accounts on if anyone was killed in the airstrikes, the Guardian UK reported on Friday, 26 December. Some in the village described panic and confusion as the US missiles rocked the community. “As it approached our area, the heat became intense,” Abubakar Sani told the Associated Press(AP) on Friday. “The Nigerian government should take appropriate measures to protect us as citizens. We…

*Target 35% Vote Surge By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, has commenced a 14-Federal Constituency tour—beginning in Oyo Federal Constituency—to unite party stakeholders and reinforce mobilisation structures ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The flag-off event, held at the Oba Adeyemi Stadium, Oyo town, drew massive attendance from leaders across the state. Former First Lady of Oyo State and Ambassador-designate, Dr. (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi, applauded the initiative, describing it as a unifying platform that reflects the strength, discipline, and renewed commitment of Oyo APC as the state prepares…

By Sam Tyav, Makurdi Probably, but for the quick intervention of police personnel, a man in Benue State would have been spending this year's Christmas Day in the den of kidnappers. Personnel of the State Police Command foiled a kidnap and rescued the victim unhurt in the early hours of today as many Nigerians, particularly Christians, were in Christmas celebration mood. A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Udeme Edet said the incident occurred at about 3 am at Tiortyu area, along Makurdi-Gboko road in the troubled North-Central Nigeria state. The police…

*'Don't Panic, N870Bn IGR Target Realisable' By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has signed the State's 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, restating his administration’s resolve to redouble the transformations recorded across every sector so far. Appending his signature to the document at the Executive Chamber, Government House, Enugu, on Wednesday, Mbah thanked members of the Enugu State House of Assembly for their diligent and expedited consideration of the budget. He promised to immediately commence implementation of the Appropriation Law tagged 'Budget of Renewed Momentum'. Of the N1.62 trillion budget, the sum of N1,296,092,465,000,b representing 80 per…

Adamawa farmer, Sunday Jackson, breathed the sweet air of freedom again as he had the odour of near-death taken away from him following a state pardon granted him by Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, on Tuesday. The governor undertook the action in accordance with Chapter 6, Part 2, Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Jackson, a Christian, was controversially sentenced to death after killing a herder, described as Fulani, while defending himself during an attack on his farm in the North-East State. The event occurred during the administration of the now-late President…

*'However, Report Anything Suspicious To Us'*Directs CPs On Hitch-free Celebrations*Warns Officers, Rank And File Against Extortion By Sam Tyav, Makurdi Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 4, Zacharia Fera Achinyan, has assured residents of Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa States of robust security arrangements throughout the forthcoming Yuletide season. The AIG, through a statement from the zonal Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Ayo Oluwaseun Martins, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to ensuring a safe, peaceful, and hitch-free festive celebration for all citizens in line with the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to protect…

By Rosemary Ameh, Sokoto Displaying true spirit of Christmas, a public-spirited group visited Amanawa community of Sokoto State on Tuesday, 23 December, to share love, care, and festive cheer with residents living with disabilities, including several leprosy patients. The team arrived with a wide range of relief items including foodstuffs (rice, vegetable, seasoning), clothing, and most importantly large quantities of medicated bandages and wound dressing materials specifically for leprosy patients who require regular wound care. Speaking during the distribution, one of the coordinators who simply identified herself as Rose, said Christmas is about love, compassion and remembering those who are…

By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has sworn-in two new Commissioners, saying the move was part of his government’s renewed momentum in delivering good and impactful governance. The new Commissioners are Barrister Osinachi Nnajieze and Dr. Charles Egumgbe. While Barrister Nnajieze, who was Special Adviser on Legal Matters to the Governor before his appointment, replaces Dr. Kingsley Udeh, current Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Egumgbe was designated as the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development carved out from the now split Ministry of Local Government,…

*For Registered Firms, Use Your CAC RC Number, It Adds The National Identification Number (NIN) issued by National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) now automatically serves as the Tax Identification Number (TIN) for individual Nigerians. The clarification came from Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on its X, as part of a public awareness campaign on the new tax laws. The welcome news came amid growing concern among Nigerians over details of the nation's new tax laws requiring a tax ID for certain transactions, including bank account ownership. The Service added that registered businesses will no longer need a separate Tax ID.…

By Sam Tyav, Makurdi Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has presented the state's 2026 budget estimates totalling ₦605,506,764,066.16k to the State House of Assembly, in Makurdi, for consideration and subsequent approval. Addressing the lawmakers during the budget presentation at the Assembly complex, Gov. Alia who described the budget as a practical roadmap to inclusive growth, stressed that economic progress must translate to better living conditions for ordinary households. The budget titled 'Budget of Rural Development, Livelihood Support and Sustained Growth', according to the governor, was a deliberate strategy to reposition the state’s economy and improve the living standards of people…