Year: 2025

 

The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the arrest of four collaborators aiding terrorist operations in the North-East, including two personnel from the hybrid forces who had been working alongside troops to combat insurgency.

 

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, made the disclosure in a statement on Friday.

 

He said in operations from April 26 to 29 across Bama, Kukawa, and Madagali Local Government Areas, troops intercepted four terrorist logistics suppliers, two of whom were identified as hybrid force members.

 

He expressed concern over the betrayal and warned commanders to sensitise their personnel against acts that could sabotage ongoing military efforts.

 

“In a well-coordinated operation conducted from 26 – 29 April 2025 in Bama, Kukawa and Madagali Local of Borno and Adamawa States, troops intercepted 4 terrorists’ logistics suppliers. Sadly, 2 of them were confirmed to be members of hybrid forces. Commanders are to, therefore, sensitise hybrid forces personnel to desist from colluding with or encouraging terrorists’ acts capable of sabotaging their own operations, “Kangye said.

 

In another operation, Kangye said troops in conjunction with hybrid forces carried out offensive operations—including fighting patrols, raids, and clearance missions—in Gwoza, Dikwa, Bama, Chibok, Gujba, Geidam, and Yunusari local government areas.

 

He added that several terrorists were neutralised during the operations, six kidnapped victims were rescued, and caches of arms, ammunition, motorcycles, and bicycles were recovered.

 

In the South-South, Kangye said troops also achieved significant success in curbing oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta.

He said they recovered over 86,000 litres of stolen crude oil, 72,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, and over 2,600 litres of petrol.

 

In addition, troops destroyed dozens of illegal refining sites and seized boats, storage tanks, tricycles, mobile phones, and seven vehicles.

 

“Troops recovered 86,490 litres of stolen crude oil, 72,821 litres of illegally refined AGO and 2,650 litres of PMS. Additionally, they discovered and destroyed 72 crude oil cooking ovens, 41 dugout pits, 13 boats, 2 speedboats, 29 storage tanks, 47 drums and 22 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and 7 vehicles. Furthermore, 18 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested while assorted arms and ammunition were also recovered, ” he said.

 

Kangye reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to safeguarding national security and urged citizens to remain vigilant and share credible information with security agencies.

 

He stressed that while some operational details must remain discreet for security reasons, the military remains focused on defeating terrorism, banditry, and other criminal threats to ensure the safety of Nigerians.

 

He said, “The Armed Forces will continue to be guided by clear objectives: to safeguard national security, support our allies, and maintain regional stability. We recognise the importance of transparency and accountability, and we remain committed to keeping the public informed through accurate and timely updates.

“While operational security requires discretion on certain details, we remain focused in our determination to defeat terrorism, banditry and other criminalities in the country in order to ensure the safety of all Nigerians. Against this backdrop, the Armed Forces is calling on all law-abiding citizens to continue sharing credible information with our troops in order to enhance our operations.”

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command said it arrested 1,611 suspects linked to various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, in April alone.

 

The Command also said it recovered 21 stolen vehicle, Large quantity of codeine, large quantity of Tramadol Tablets, 10 ipads/tablets, 14 laptops, 19 powerbanks, two generator sets, 10 POS machines, 15 motorcycles, 109 ATM cards, 225 tablets of Exol, 52 tablets of Diazepam, one axe, three scissors, one crusher and 149 mobile phones.

 

The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao S. Adewale, revealed these figures during a press briefing held at the Command Headquarters on Friday.

 

He said the recent upsurge in car theft and drug-related offences across the FCT prompted the command to intensify intelligence-led operations and conduct targeted raids in identified hotspots.

 

Ajao added that 15 suspects were arrested in connection with car theft, noting that six of the recovered vehicles have already been returned to their verified owners, while the remaining thirteen were displayed during the briefing.

 

“In one case, a Toyota Camry, popularly known as “pencil light,” was intercepted around the Central Area after it was found to be driven suspiciously by one Hassan Bukar, who attempted to evade arrest before being apprehended. Investigations revealed the car had been stolen from the premises of the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission.

 

“The suspect confessed to planning to sell the vehicle to a regular buyer in Kaduna State and was found in possession of master keys used for stealing cars.

In another incident, a man identified as Daniel James reported that his Toyota Camry 2011, handed to a mechanic for repairs, had gone missing. Detectives traced the vehicle to a buyer in Gwarinpa and arrested the intermediary, while the mechanic, Abdulazeez Auwal Salisu, remains at large.”

 

Also, a government-issued Hilux van was recovered in Kaduna after it was taken without permission by an official driver, Abubakar Sadio, who intended to sell it. Another unregistered Hilux was also found in his possession, ” the CP added.

 

He also said five suspects were arrested in Life Camp for attempting to sell a black Mercedes Benz 4Matic E-400 that had been stolen from its original owner in Lekki, Lagos.

 

“The suspects were apprehended after a potential buyer raised suspicions and alerted the police.

 

“Perhaps the most extensive operation took place between April 30 and May 1, when a combined team of police operatives, soldiers, vigilantes, and other security agents raided several known criminal hideouts across the FCT.

 

“A total of 1,488 suspects were arrested during the raids, and a wide range of items were recovered, including cannabis, methamphetamine, tramadol, codeine, laptops, mobile phones, motorcycles, ATM cards, and other suspected stolen property, ” Ajao stated.

 

Adewale reiterated the Command’s commitment to making Abuja safer and called on residents to continue supporting the police by providing timely and useful information. He assured the public that all suspects currently in custody would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

 

An entertainment lawyer, Akinyemi Ayinoluwa, who is a partner at Hightower Solicitors and Advocate, has been named one of the most important music lawyers in the world by Billboard for 2025.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the recognition highlights Ayinoluwa’s exceptional expertise in music law and dedication to championing the rights of record producers and songwriters.

 

According to Billboard’s April edition, Hightower Solicitors, led by Ayinoluwa, recently finalised a publishing agreement with Empire Music, an international music label.

 

Also with Ragee, a prominent Afrobeats producer who co-produced Chris Brown’s “Sensational”, which earned a nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

 

This achievement showcases Hightower’s expertise in guiding clients to build valuable music catalogues.

 

In an interview with NAN, Ayinoluwa said: “I feel blessed to be recognised by Billboard as one of the most important music lawyers in the world.

 

“I’m dedicating this to my late dad for instilling in me the discipline to stay on a journey, also for introducing me to the legal profession, and then also for accommodating my love for music.”

 

Ayinoluwa said that his journey in music law began when he realised that record producers and songwriters were often marginalised and underrepresented in the industry.

 

“As a young lawyer, I saw an opportunity to make a difference, and I have since dedicated my career to advocating for their rights.

 

“For the past 13 years, I’ve been championing record producers and songwriters.

 

“I think the reason for that is because, as a young lawyer at that time, I was in my third year of being a lawyer, and the recording artists were already doing well.

“It wasn’t easy for a young lawyer to maybe represent them, and the record producers and songwriters were the underrepresented and marginalised individuals in the music industry,” he said.

 

According to Ayinoluwa’s, his music law practice focuses on representing recording artistes, songwriters, record producers, record labels, investors in music, and talent managers.

 

He said one of the reasons for building strong relationships with clients was understanding their vision and pain.

“When you understand it, it’s easy to guide them through all the legal challenges that might arise as they continue to proceed with their journey in music,” he said.

 

According to Akinyemi, the biggest challenge facing Nigerian record producers and songwriters is being compensated appropriately for their work.

 

“My recognition will inspire me to do more, to do more qualitative work, and to continue to champion the interests of our clients.

 

“I think it helps to show that, yes, there’s excellence in Africa. African lawyers can do important work,” he said.

 

Looking to the future, Ayinoluwa said he was excited to announce a mentorship programme to support the next generation of Nigerian entertainment lawyers.

 

The Federal Government has called on the newly decorated Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, to lead a transformation of the service, shifting its focus from punishment to rehabilitation and reforms.

 

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this appeal during the decoration ceremony held in Abuja on Friday.

 

Addressing the newly decorated CG, the minister stressed the importance of leadership, accountability, and a clear vision for the future of the correctional system.

 

“Mr. President has invested his trust in picking you as the CG. You need to understand your mandates, ambitions, and targets. You must have timelines,”

 

“You have a huge national responsibility to protect over 256 custodial centres. You must lead from the front,” Tunji-Ojo said.

 

He charged the Nwakuche to lay a solid foundation for the service within the next 19 months, stressing the need to raise operational standards and build a lasting legacy.

 

“We want stability in the NCoS. We do not want a condemnation service but a transformative one. We want custodial centres to be a place where hopes will be renewed,” he added.

 

Highlighting the humane aspect of corrections, the minister described inmates as “awaiting assets” to the nation, urging the CG to treat them with dignity.

 

“All inmates are your children. Do not maltreat your children, but correct them so they can be better,” he said.

 

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Magdalene Ajani, also addressed the CG, reiterating the weight of the expectations ahead.

 

“You have a lot to do. Nigerians and the Ministry of Interior are looking up to you. We want to change the narrative of the correctional service,” Ajani charged.

Here are three integrated paragraphs with direct quotes from CG Sylvester Nwakuche’s speech, rewritten to fit naturally into the news story:

 

During the event, Nwakuche expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Nigerian Correctional Service at what he called a “defining moment” for the institution.

 

“This honour comes not merely as a promotion, but as a renewed call to duty—a higher charge to advance the vision of a correctional system that is secure, humane, and truly reformative,” he said.

The CG outlined a seven-point agenda for reform, prioritising security, decongestion, infrastructure, staff welfare, and inmates’ rehabilitation.

 

“The safe custody of inmates is our primary responsibility,” he stated, adding that his administration would focus on expanding manpower, strengthening surveillance, and promoting non-custodial measures to ease overcrowding.

 

“With over two-thirds of our inmate population being Awaiting Trial Persons, we will aggressively pursue decongestion by engaging the judiciary, State Governments, and other stakeholders.”

 

He also pledged to invest in staff training and welfare, modernise facilities, and prioritise youth rehabilitation.

 

“Our youths must not be lost to the streets or to crime. We will revitalise and expand Borstal Institutions to provide correction, character reformation, and hope to young offenders,” Nwakuche said.

 

He called on staff and partners to support the reform agenda, adding, “Together, we can make the Nigerian Correctional Service a shining example of what purposeful leadership and dedicated teamwork can achieve.”

 

The Senate on March 25 confirmed the appointment of Nwakuche as the substantive NCoS CG.

 

Nwakuche, who replaced Haliru Nababa, was appointed in an acting capacity by President Bola Tinubu on December 13, 2024.

A political group, the Democratic Front, has said the gale of defection in the Peoples Democratic Party is more a reflection of the party’s internal affairs than a deliberate effort to emasculate the opposition.

 

Malam Danjuma Muhammad, Chairman of TDF, said this in a statement released on Friday.

 

“We are, indeed, disappointed that some opposition figures in the country have accused the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu of igniting rancour among its members.

 

“Notable in the ongoing politics of deceit and blackmail are leaders of the opposition PDP, whose selfish lust for power triggered a major crisis that led to implosion in the PDP.

 

“TDF is not oblivious of the fact that the PDP has been consistently ravaged by a self-inflicted crisis since it was defeated by the APC in the 2015 presidential election,” said the group.

 

According to the group, the party has been unable to present a credible presidential candidate since 2015, which buttresses its widely perceived image as a political party in disarray.

 

“The recent gale of defection that hit the PDP in Delta was not as a result of any imaginary influence or interference of President Tinubu, or the APC, as alleged by the opposition.

“It is a show of protestation by some members of the party against the scheming of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to remain perpetually its presidential standard bearer, against the dictates of the party’s internal democracy.

 

“We are also of the view that the relevant section of the constitution that guarantees individual freedom of association is not exclusively limited to any individual or group,” said TDF.

 

The advocacy group said it was the inalienable right of every Nigerian to join any group or political party of his or her choice.

 

“Therefore, the defection of PDP members in Delta State to APC should be seen within the context of their legitimate rights to freely associate with any group or party of their choice.

 

“It is our belief that claims of a looming one-party state by the opposition are spurious, baseless, and unfounded.

 

“The collapse of Atiku’s political coalition against President Tinubu was not based on external interference by anyone but a direct consequence of the mischief, which the coalition represented,” said the group.

 

It also called on leaders and members of opposition parties to eschew the politics of selfishness and bitterness.

Man United head coach, Ruben Amorim, has warned against complacency ahead of his sides second leg Europa League clash against Athletic Club.

 

Speaking with TNT Sports on Thursday, Amorim said, “We had the chances to score one more, but this is not done. The same result can happen at Old Trafford, and we need to be prepared.”

 

Indeed, nobody expected the magnitude of their 3-0 Europa League semi-final first leg win at Athletic Club, but insisted the tie was still not over ahead of next week’s return match.

 

His side became only the third to win at San Mames since August and inflicted the joint-biggest defeat on their hosts at the stadium in over a decade, putting one foot in the Europa League final at the same stadium later this month, where they look likely to meet Premier League rivals Tottenham.

 

United weathered an early storm from the hosts but took the lead through Casemiro’s header, and then played much of the game with a man advantage after centre-back Dani Vivian conceded a penalty and was sent off for pulling back Rasmus Hojlund in his own box.

 

Despite scoring three goals in the final 15 minutes of the opening period, the one criticism of the visitors’ performance was that they did not manage to add to their advantage and kill off the tie as a contest.

 

Man Utd are the only remaining team unbeaten in Europe this season, in stark contrast to their Premier League campaign where they have lost 15 of 34 league games – but even so, the head coach had not been expecting such an emphatic victory in the Basque country.

“It’s the best result because nobody expected this result,” he said. “But you saw two games today – the first 25 minutes and then, after the goal and the sending-off, the game changed.

 

“In the second half, we tried to be cautious, and we created chances, but the most important thing is the opponent didn’t get many shots on our goal.

 

“In the first 30 minutes, they had chances to score. If they score, it’s a different game. When we scored, we felt freer to play.

 

“It’s hard to understand, but sometimes it’s the context. We can win this competition. In the Premier League, we are suffering game after game. We try to manage both things with some injuries. Sometimes, it’s hard, even for the players.”

 

Amorim sounded a note of caution despite the size of Man Utd’s victory and the meteoric collapse, which would be required for them to be eliminated.

 

Of 133 previous first-leg away wins by three goals in European knock-out ties, all 133 teams have progressed to the next round.

 

The City Boy Movement has denounced as a baseless claim that its Grand Patron, Mr Seyi Tinubu, mobilised thugs to disrupt the National Association of Nigerian Students executives’ inauguration.

 

Mr Francis Shoga, the Director-General of the group, disclosed this in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the City Boy Movement is a youth-driven sociopolitical and good governance advocacy organisation.

 

NAN reports that NANS factional president, Atiku Isah, on Wednesday, accused Seyi Tinubu of disrupting his inauguration in Abuja and locking down the venue.

In a statement by its PRO, Orowole Owoyemi, the group alleged Tinubu tried to hijack NANS leadership, thereby undermining its autonomy and student representation.

 

Responding, Shoga said the allegations were malicious, unfounded, and intended to damage Seyi Tinubu’s character through a desperate act of character assassination without credible evidence.

 

He urged those behind the smear campaign to cease their defamatory acts or face legal action for attempting to defame Tinubu’s reputation.

 

Shoga affirmed that Seyi Tinubu remains committed to youth empowerment, constructive dialogue and impactful development, not meddling in student organisations’ internal matters.

 

“The City Boy Movement is aware of false claims that our Grand Patron, Seyi Tinubu, mobilised thugs to disrupt unauthorised NANS inauguration events.

“As Director-General, I firmly reject these groundless accusations, which aim solely to smear the good name of Seyi Tinubu.

 

“The outlandish claims of being stripped and filmed under duress are nothing more than staged theatrics seeking undue public sympathy,” he said.

 

He emphasised Tinubu’s calm demeanour and consistent focus on youth advancement, not organisational interference.

 

“The group will not remain silent while opportunists exploit the President’s son’s name for publicity,” he added.

 

Shoga encouraged Nigerian youth to ignore the theatrics and stay focused on meaningful progress and collaboration.

He added that such disorganised antics, regardless of backing, will not succeed in misleading the public

 

Social media was set abuzz on Thursday when Nigerian music stars Michael Ajereh, aka Don Jazzy, and Crown Uzama aka Shallipopi, surprised fans with millions of naira in spontaneous giveaways following viral online interactions.

 

Don Jazzy gifted a woman, Adeyemi Adejoke Abidemi, a total of ₦6 million after noticing that her account balance was “not healthy.”

 

It all started with a trending post on X.com that encouraged users to tag one celebrity to gift them ₦1 million.

 

Adeyemi who tweets as #PopoolaJoke4 tagged #DONJAZZY, writing, “Make I tag #DONJAZZY. I dey always dream about him. Happy new month sir.”

The Mavin Records boss replied, “Akant namba,” prompting her to drop her GTBank details.

 

Minutes later, she posted a screenshot showing a ₦1 million credit alert. “Jesuuuuuusssssssss, this is huge,” she wrote. “Thank you so much for your incredible generosity. Receiving 1 million naira is beyond anything I expected, and I’m truly grateful. Your support means the world to me. God bless you abundantly sir.”

 

The surprise didn’t end there as Don Jazzy, moved by her previous balance of just ₦67.29, responded, “Amen ooo. That your akant balance is not healthy. I don add another 5 million. More blessings ma.”

 

Adeyemi confirmed the receipt of the additional N5m with a screenshot of her account balance with N6m.

 

Excited about the massive top-up, she wrote, “Oluwa oo. I am deeply grateful for this extraordinary blessing. May the Almighty who used you to lift me reward you beyond measure. May your hands never lack, your heart always be at peace, and your generations forever enjoy divine favour. Thank you #DONJAZZY. May God continue to enlarge your coast.”

 

In response to a critic who questioned her previously low balance, she said, “None of my accounts get 1 naira, I can screenshot all for you, only GTBank get 67 naira.”

Meanwhile, Shallipopi also gifted a million naira each to two of his fans while promoting his song.

 

“Summer is coming, ready your shorts and bikinis. Don’t forget to take a lil speaker with you in case you wanna jam da Album,” he posted on X on Thursday.

 

A fan, Samuel Uchechukwu Ifesinachi who tweets #teslime_dmw replied, “Summer is coming, still broke as hell. Money to buy speaker no dey.”

 

Shallipopi responded, “Imma send u a million if you promise to get yourself a very big JBL.” Ifesinachi eagerly promised to do so, as he shared his account details afterwards.

The artist confirmed the transfer of N1 million to the fan by sharing a receipt of the transaction on his X page.

 

Another fan, Anirah Gabriel who tweets as #gabe_the_menace, reminded Shallipopi of a prior conversation they had in March where the singer had asked, “How much you fit chop?” and Gabriel had replied, “Shock me papi.”

 

Responding to the screenshot of their previous conversation, Shallipopi teased him back, saying, “Lol u nor talk how much u fit chop nah. You dey do yanga for presido, talk jorr.”

 

Gabriel replied, “Make I see 1 meter from u preside jare,” to which Shallipopi responded, “Now u are talking,” and asked him to send his account details.

 

The singer afterwards shared the receipt of a transfer of N1m to Gabriel’s account.

 

No fewer than three shops were razed by fire in the early hours of Friday in Sango, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

 

The incident, which occurred behind the Fart Oil filling station around 4:30 am, reportedly began after an electrical spark from a plugged-in freezer ignited nearby combustible materials.

 

Investigations by PUNCH Online revealed that three out of a row of ten prefabricated shops were completely engulfed in flames before the arrival of fire service officials.

 

Though no casualties were recorded, goods including freezers, drinks, and other valuables worth several million naira were destroyed in the inferno.

 

When contacted on Friday, the State General Manager of the Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Ibadan.

He said, “The emergency was reported at exactly 04:41 hours on the morning of Friday, May 2, 2025, via a telephone call from CSP Adesina, concerning shops on fire behind the Fart Oil Filling Station, Sango, Ibadan.

 

“The agency’s personnel, led by ACFS Adedeji (Mrs), were promptly deployed to the scene. On arrival, it was discovered that three shops out of a row of ten prefabricated shops were well alight.

 

“We swiftly swung into action and prevented the fire from spreading to other shops. The blaze was completely extinguished.

 

“No casualty was recorded. The fire affected three shops, freezers, and drinks. All nearby shops and property worth millions of naira were saved by officers of the fire service.”

 

He added that preliminary investigations revealed the fire was caused by sparks from a freezer that had been plugged in overnight and left unattended.

The Bauchi State Police Command has disclosed the successful interception of a truck transporting refined iodised salt, which was suspected of being diverted.

 

According to a press release issued on Thursday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, the operation equally resulted in the apprehension of two individuals.

 

He explained, “On 30th April 2025, at about 1700 hours, operatives from the Alkeleri Divisional Police Headquarters acted on reliable intelligence, conducting a stop-and-search operation that led to the interception of a flat-topped truck trailer (registration number BAG 283 XF) carrying over one thousand bags of 25 kilograms each of iodised salt.

 

“The total estimated value of the confiscated salt amounts to approximately ten million two hundred thousand Naira (₦10,200,000). While the driver escaped the scene, the two suspects—Sadik Jidda, aged 20 years old, from Borno State, and Ibrahim Ahmad, aged 19 years old, from Kaduna State—were apprehended within the vehicle.”

 

Wakil stated that initial investigations indicated that the suspects were identified as conductors and were informed by the driver, who remains at large, about their destination in Alkeleri, Bauchi State.

 

He noted that the command is currently undertaking additional measures to locate and apprehend the driver and uncover further details surrounding the incident.

In the same vein, the command also disclosed a separate operation conducted on the same day where a 28-year-old individual, Jibrin Ali from Zandar, Niger Republic, was arrested in the Yankari Game Reserve, Alkeleri LGA, Bauchi State.

 

The PPRO revealed that Jibrin was found impersonating military personnel and displaying suspicious behaviour in an area known for bandit activity.

 

“Detectives from the Alkeleri Divisional Police Headquarters intervened during a routine patrol in collaboration with local security outfits and facilitated his arrest, which was met with some resistance.

 

“Upon interrogation, he could not satisfactorily explain his presence in the forest, raising concerns regarding his potential involvement with local criminal elements,” the statement added.

 

Wakil hinted that the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, while commending the diligence and professionalism demonstrated by the officers involved, has directed that both cases be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for more comprehensive investigations.

 

He stated that Bauchi State Command remains committed to prioritising our communities’ safety and security and appreciates the support of local security forces in these endeavours.