Year: 2025

 

Boko Haram terrorists have killed a Nigerian Army Captain and a soldier in a midnight attack on Izge community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

 

The Emir of Gwoza, Mohammed Shehu Timta, made this known in an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday.

 

He said the attack happened around 1 am on Wednesday when the terrorists infiltrated the farming community, shooting sporadically before the personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, with the assistance of local hunters, vigilantes and members of the civilian Joint Task Force, repelled the terrorists.

 

According to the emir, the security agencies killed three of the terrorists, and recovered several motorcycles, bicycles, an operational vehicle and a sophisticated rifle from the terrorists.

 

The traditional ruler commended the military, men of the Civilian Joint Task Force, Local hunters, vigilantes and the resilient community of Izge for their collaborative efforts in repelling the attack while praying for the repose of the souls of the departed military personnel and their families during this irreparable loss.

 

He also called for urgent steps by the Federal Government to address the renewed attacks, as people prepare for this year’s farming season.

“My people in Izge community came under Boko Haram invasion today at about 1 am. Unfortunately, a Captain and a Soldier paid the supreme price.

 

“But in a brave and swift reaction from the military, men of the Civilian Joint Task Force, Local hunters, vigilantes and the resilient community, the attack was repelled with the killing of three terrorists.

 

“As the community is still trailing the terrorists, over 10 bicycles, motorcycles, a one-sized military vehicle and one sophisticated rifle with ammunition were recovered from the terrorists.

 

“Let me commend our military forces, other security agencies, men of CJTF, local hunters and vigilantes and our resilient people for their bravery, because as I speak, many people are still in the bush combing the whereabouts of the fleeing terrorists.”

 

The monarch also commended the state governor, Professor Babagana, for his relentless efforts in providing enabling resources to the security agencies and our CJTF members in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, which has brought about relative peace and resettlement of many displaced people back to their ancestral homes.

 

“I want to equally call on the federal government to equip our security forces with technological warfare/weapons to defeat the remnants of Boko Haram members terrorising our communities almost on a daily basis”.

 

Animal welfare officers have faced the grisly task of euthanising more than 350,000 chickens by hand after they were left starving and cannibalising each other.

 

This happened when a South African state-owned poultry company ran out of money to feed them, officials said on Tuesday.

 

The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it wasn’t able to say for certain how many other chickens had already died by that time.

 

Its officers reached several neglected poultry farming sites because of the “mass cannibalism” that took place among the birds.

 

The NSPCA had managed to save more than 500,000 chickens, it said.

 

“It was a harrowing scene,” the NSPCA said in a statement.

“Skeletal chickens huddled together, chickens eating one another, feeding lines stripped bare.”

 

The chickens were owned by Daybreak Foods, a major poultry supplier owned by South Africa’s state asset management company, Public Investment Corp.

 

NSPCA officers were first alerted to a crisis at one farm on April 30.

 

The organization uncovered at least five other farms in northern South Africa with multiple sites on each farm where birds had been left to starve, it said.

 

(AP/NAN)

 

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Wednesday, urged Nigerian media professionals and editors to play a strategic role in the fight against terrorism by deliberately denying terrorist groups the publicity they seek.

 

Speaking during the seventh edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series held at the National Press Centre in Abuja, Idris noted that the media’s editorial choices could significantly impact national security and the morale of the Armed Forces.

 

He said, “The media, as gatekeepers and partners in nation-building, have a crucial role to play in supporting our military’s morale by highlighting their successes and sacrifices. Our armed forces are not only respected by global allies but also feared by those who threaten our collective peace.

 

“It is equally important to recognise that the fight against insecurity is not limited to kinetic approaches. It is also a battle for the hearts and minds of our people – one that terrorist groups are actively exploiting through propaganda, especially on social media platforms.

 

“I therefore call on our media professionals and editors to be discerning in their reportage. We must deny these groups the undue publicity they crave. ”

 

He warned editors against glamorising terrorism through sensational coverage and called for a more patriotic and security-conscious approach to reporting.

“We must take them off the front pages and accurately report them as the criminals they are, without glorifying their acts or giving credence to their false narratives. These are not freedom fighters; they are murderers, kidnappers, and destroyers, and they must be presented as such.

 

“Let us remember that responsible and patriotic journalism is essential to building a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria – one that holds promise not just for our nation, but for the stability and development of the entire West African sub-region and the African continent at large.”

 

Highlighting security as the second pillar of the administration’s agenda, the Minister noted that Nigeria’s Armed Forces have continued to gain ground against insurgents, aided by new weaponry, improved intelligence, and international cooperation.

 

“As many of you are aware, ‘Strengthening National Security for Peace and Prosperity’ is the second pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda. This emphasis on security underscores a fundamental truth: no nation can achieve sustainable development without peace and stability.

 

“The Tinubu administration has demonstrated this resolve not merely through words, but through concrete actions – including the acquisition of advanced platforms and armaments, enhanced intelligence gathering, intensive training and retraining of personnel, and strategic global partnerships, ” the minister said.

 

The trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, continued at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with Justice James Omotosho presiding.

 

The prosecution presented more evidence to support claims that Kanu was involved in terrorism.

 

A witness known as named BBB, led by the prosecuting lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo, resumed testimony.

 

He spoke about a letter written by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to the Department of State Services which accused Kanu of terrorism, murder and inciting violence against Nigerian security agencies.

It was dated June 17, 2021, and was admitted as Exhibit PWF after the defence, led by Kanu Agabi, raised no objection.

 

The witness read from the letter, “He instructed, through his broadcast, that police and army seen, should be brought down and their guns seized and used.”

 

The letter also listed violent acts, saying Kanu’s words caused attacks on police stations, correctional centres, and public property.

 

The court also accepted a written statement by Kanu to the DSS on July 17, 2021, where he declined to write anything new, saying he had already said all he needed to. This was marked as Exhibit PEG.

 

A flash drive that reportedly contains Kanu’s broadcasts was also admitted, despite an objection by the defence. It was marked as Exhibits PWA and PW1.

 

The court played several video and audio recordings. In one clip, dated December 12, Kanu is heard speaking from “the blessed land of Biafra” and warning against “Fulani domination.”

 

He also warned Southeast governors, saying, “No Fulani parading as herdsman shall be allowed in our land.”

 

In another video, a voice the DSS said is Kanu’s is heard saying, “Go and burn down Lagos,” “Set Murtala Mohammed Airport on fire,” “Burn down that Tinubu hotel,” “Go into the bush, collect policemen’s guns and kill them.”

In a different clip, the voice said, “Every Federal government building in Lagos should be set on fire. Any government vehicle you see, burn them. Manufacture your own weapons, ambush them.”

 

Another audio recording played in court had the same voice telling people, “Any police officer you kill, go to their station and set it on fire. Kill them. They are janjaweeds.”

The voice also said, “Tinubu is in trouble, he cannot run. Anywhere he runs to in this world, we will find him.” “If we don’t behave like mad people in this zoological republic, this revolution will not work.”

“Start killing soldiers now, set ambush for them, dig holes on the roads so that when their vehicle comes it will somersault and they will die.”

 

The court was told this audio came from the October 2020 End SARS protest with people calling in from different parts of Nigeria to update Kanu.

 

One caller from Ogbor Hill in Aba said they needed guns.

 

The voice replied, “Join the elite Biafra volunteer force and you will understand how things work.”

 

Another recording had the same voice declaring a total sit-at-home in the Southeast, “Nobody is allowed to come out no matter who you are. If you dare open your shop tomorrow, we’ll burn you inside that shop!”

 

In another clip, the voice tells someone on the phone, “There are some guns already in Edo State. Take those guns and kill some army officers. Take their guns and use them to attack others.”

 

The prosecution witness said these recordings were played to Kanu and that “he admitted that he made them.”

 

The last video showed Kanu speaking at a gathering where he said weapons were needed for the Biafran cause.

 

He said, “The Fulani ethnic group wants to take over the entire country as they took over Hausa territories. The only way to stop this is by a revolution.”

 

The Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, has banned the sale of alcoholic beverages in the state.

 

The governor made the announcement on Tuesday at the inauguration of a reconstituted committee on “revocation of illegal hotels, brothels, shanties, and criminal hideouts and curbing the menace of antisocial vices” at the council chambers of the government house in Maiduguri, the state capital.

 

Zulum also reconstituted and re-empowered the committee to purge the state of all forms of criminality and antisocial vices in the Maiduguri metropolis and surrounding environments.

 

The governor said the ban on sales and consumption of liquor and alcoholic contents stems from the rising cases of clashes among rival groups, cultism, prostitution, drug abuse, thuggery and theft, which have led to loss of lives and valuables.

He also co-opted the military, police, civil defence, and several other security agencies, including the civilian JTF, to join the committee for a holistic approach.

 

He also stated that former and current serving personnel of the Nigerian security forces have played a significant role in influencing the civilian populace into criminality, radicalism, prostitution and other vices, heightening terrorism threats in the state.

 

“I am happy to know that army officers are here, especially the military, police, and others are here because most of these activities were committed by whom? Some of them are dismissed army officers, dismissed security officers, current army officers, men and officers, including civilians.

“So, there should be no sacred cow in this matter if we want the Maiduguri metropolis and indeed the state to get rid of insurgency, terrorism and other sorts of criminalities,” Zulum said.

 

India launched military strikes on Pakistan on Wednesday and Pakistan claimed it shot down five Indian Air Force jets, in an escalation that has pushed the two nations to the brink of a wider conflict.

 

The escalation puts India and Pakistan, two neighbors with a long history of conflict, in dangerous territory, with Islamabad vowing to retaliate against India’s strikes and the international community calling for restraint.

 

New Delhi said the strikes are in response to the massacre of 26 people – mostly Indian tourists – who died in April when gunmen stormed a scenic mountain spot in the India-administered part of Kashmir, a disputed border region. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, which Islamabad denies.

 

-What happened with India’s strikes?-

 

India launched “Operation Sindoor” in the early hours of Wednesday morning local time (Tuesday night ET) in both Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

 

Indian officials said nine sites were targeted, but claimed no Pakistani civilian, economic or military sites were struck. They said the 25-minute operation targeted “terrorist infrastructure” belonging to two militant groups – Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

 

The name ‘Sindoor’ appears to be a reference to the red vermilion, or powder, many Hindu women wear on their foreheads after marriage. The April tourist massacre – which singled out men as victims – left several Indian women widowed.

 

But Pakistan is painting a different picture of the strikes – saying civilians were killed and mosques were hit. CNN has yet to verify those claims.

 

A Pakistani military spokesperson said six locations were hit with 24 strikes. Some of those strikes hit the densely populated province of Punjab, Pakistan’s military said, and were the deepest India has struck inside Pakistan since 1971, when the two countries fought one of their four wars.

 

-How did Pakistan respond?-

 

Pakistani security sources claimed they had shot down five Indian Air Force jets and one drone during India’s attack.

They did not say exactly where, or how, the jets were downed – but said three Rafale jets were among those planes. India’s Rafale fighter jets are prized military assets that it bought from France only a few years ago.

 

India has not confirmed any planes were lost. CNN has not been able to verify the claim and has reached out to India’s government and military for comment.

 

An eyewitness and local government official said an unidentified aircraft crashed in the village of Wuyan in Indian-administered Kashmir. Photos published by the AFP news agency showed aircraft wreckage lying in a field next to a red-brick building.

It was not immediately clear from the photos who the aircraft belonged to.

 

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday the country “has every right” to respond, calling India’s actions an “act of war.”

 

-How many casualties are there?-

 

At least 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured by India’s strikes, a Pakistan military spokesperson said, according to the news agency Reuters.

 

Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s military, said those killed include teenagers and children – the youngest of whom was three years old.

 

Eight civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir were also killed by shelling by Pakistani troops from across the border, a senior Indian defense source told CNN.

 

CNN/Reuters

 

Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has shared his thoughts on his career trajectory while celebrating a significant accomplishment in his music career after surpassing 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify for the first time.

 

This achievement follows the release of his fifth studio album, 5ive, which has continued to garner widespread attention.

 

In a moment of reflection, Davido expressed pride in how far he has come, emphasising that his success was not the result of industry endorsements or influential mentors.

 

Unlike many of his contemporaries who had early backing from key figures in the music industry, he built his career independently through perseverance and dedication.

Nonetheless, Davido was quick to attribute much of his success to divine grace and the unwavering support of his fans.

 

He wrote, “No co-sign, built from the ground up! Just God, good music and the best fans! I Appreciate you guys fr [for real]!

 

“Who wan even CO-SIGN big man like me ?? Hmmm another angle sha 5️⃣”

 

5ive, Davido’s April 18, 2025 release, includes 17 tracks and has become a runaway success, amassing millions of streams and sitting comfortably at the top of Afrobeats charts.

 

The National Association of Polytechnic Students has issued a five-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Education Loan Fund board to provide a detailed breakdown of fund disbursement.

 

The student loan scheme has come under intense scrutiny following allegations by the National Orientation Agency that some institutions, in collaboration with banks, have been making fraudulent deductions from student loan disbursements.

 

Last week, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission said its preliminary probe revealed that while NELFUND had released N100bn as students loan, N71bn is accounted for.

 

These allegations triggered a wave of outrage, culminating in a protest on Monday by members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, who blocked the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

 

In a communique issued on Wednesday, which was signed by the President, Eshiofune Oghayan and Senate President, Oyewumi Ayomide, NAPS said it would mobilise protests nationwide should the NELFUND fail to reveal breakdown of how polytechnics received funds.

 

“We issue a five-day ultimatum to the NELFUND board to publicly provide detailed breakdown of how funds were disbursed. Specific figures showing how polytechnic students benefited.”

 

The association further threatened to take actions should their demands not be met.

“Organise a mass protest with 0.9% of Nigeria’s 28.1 million students; File petitions with the DSS and EFCC for a full-scale investigation; Pursue democratic means, use all democratic means to seek justice”, the statement partly reads.

 

PUNCH Online had reported that on Sunday, NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr in an interview on Channels Tv’s Politics Today debunked the allegation of missing N71 billion students’ loan.

 

He said, “We are all looking for this so-called money. First of all, let me be very clear. No money has been stolen.

 

“The President, in his wisdom and well-intentioned programme, decided that he was going to set up the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.

 

“So the funds that we’ve been given is to bridge the gap for those who don’t have the money to be able to attain the education.

 

“No money is missing. No money has been stolen. There had been some issues with what happened at the phase of this where human intervention comes in.”

 

Inter Milan on Tuesday night edged Barcelona 7–6 on aggregate after a pulsating 4–3 extra-time win at San Siro.

 

The result sees Inter book their place in the final following a 13-goal tie that now ranks among the highest-scoring knockout fixtures in the competition’s history.

 

The first leg ended 3–3 at Camp Nou, and with the second leg mirroring that scoreline after 90 minutes, Francesco Acerbi’s stoppage-time equalizer forced extra time.

 

Substitute Davide Frattesi then sealed the winner to send the San Siro into raptures and eliminate a devastated Barcelona.

 

According to a curated list shared on the official UEFA Champions League website early Wednesday morning, the Inter–Barça clash now shares the record for most goals in a knockout tie with two other epic encounters:

 

The 13-goal thriller now joins an elite club of Champions League knockout ties with the most goals ever scored — equalling the joint-record held by Liverpool vs Roma (2017/18) and Bayern vs Sporting CP (2008/09).

 

Here is a full list of 18 games with most goals in a UCL knockout tie:

 

Most Goals in a Champions League Knockout Tie (13 goals)

Inter Milan 7–6 Barcelona (2024/25 Semi-finals)

 

Liverpool 7–6 Roma (2017/18 Semi-finals)

 

Bayern Munich 12–1 Sporting CP (2008/09 Round of 16)

 

Other High-Scoring Knockout Ties (12 Goals)

Lyon 10–2 Werder Bremen (2004/05)

 

Chelsea 7–5 Liverpool (2008/09)

 

Barcelona 10–2 Bayer Leverkusen (2011/12)

Arsenal 2–10 Bayern Munich (2016/17)

 

Man City 10–2 Schalke (2018/19)

 

Atalanta 8–4 Valencia (2019/20)

 

Arsenal 9–3 PSV (2024/25)

 

(*Monaco advanced on away goals)

 

11 Goals — Legendary Ties

Real Madrid 6–5 Manchester United (2002/03 Quarter-finals)

 

Chelsea 6–5 Bayern Munich (2004/05 Quarter-finals)

 

Manchester United 8–3 Roma (2006/07 Quarter-finals)

 

Real Madrid 9–2 Schalke (2013/14 Round of 16)

 

Bayern Munich 7–4 Porto (2014/15 Quarter-finals)

 

Barcelona 6–5 Paris Saint-Germain (2016/17 Round of 16)

 

Real Madrid 6–5 Manchester City (2021/22 Semi-finals)

 

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said the high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is clear evidence that the government’s anti-malpractice measures are yielding results, especially within the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board system.

 

His remarks come amid nationwide concern following JAMB’s release of results showing that out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, only about 420,000 scored above 200 — meaning more than 78 percent failed to meet the 200-mark threshold.

 

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Alausa said the drop in performance reflects a significant decline in examination malpractice due to JAMB’s tightened security protocols.

 

“That’s a big concern, and it’s a reflection of exams being done the proper way,” the minister said. “JAMB conducts its exam using a computer-based testing system. They’ve implemented strong security measures, and as a result, fraud or cheating has been completely eliminated. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for WAEC and NECO.”

 

Alausa disclosed that upon assumption of office, the education ministry conducted a full review of the country’s examination systems.

 

As part of broader reforms, he announced that both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council will begin transitioning to computer-based testing by November 2025, starting with objective papers.

The full CBT model — including essay sections — will be adopted by the May/June 2026 examination cycle.

 

“We have to use technology to fight this fraud,” Alausa said. “There are so many ‘miracle centres’, and that is simply unacceptable. People cheat during WAEC and NECO exams and then face JAMB, where cheating is nearly impossible. That’s the disparity we’re seeing now. It’s sad,” the minister said.

 

He also warned that exam malpractice undermines academic integrity and demoralizes diligent students.

 

Alausa said,“The worst part of cheating is that it disincentivises the hard-working ones,” he said. “If I’m preparing for WAEC or NECO and I know some classmates already have access to the questions, do you think I’ll still study hard? No, I’ll be tempted to join them. That’s how good students are corrupted, and that’s exactly what we must stop.”

 

Alausa stressed that the ministry remains committed to using technology-driven solutions to restore credibility in Nigeria’s examination and admissions processes.