The Taliban government on Friday announced they had released an elderly British couple held in detention in Afghanistan for almost eight months.
The family of Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbara, 76, had made repeated pleas about their ailing health after their arrest in February.
”Two British nationals named Peter and Barbara Reynolds, who had violated the laws of Afghanistan, were released from custody today following the judicial process,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said on social media.
He added that the government “does not view the matters of citizens from a political or transactional angle”.
The couple were handed over to the UK’s special representative Richard Lindsay, Balhki said.
A Qatari official, on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, told AFP that the couple were “safely released from detention in Afghanistan following mediation led by Qatar”.
”The Qataris had been engaged with the Afghan authorities for many months, working in close coordination with the British government,” he added.
The couple were married in Kabul in 1970, and have spent almost two decades living in Afghanistan running educational programmes after moving there. They also became official Afghan citizens.
Taliban officials have refused to detail why the couple was arrested in February as they were returning to their home in central Bamiyan province.
Local government chairmen in the Kwara South Senatorial District have ordered the immediate closure of all Kara (cattle) markets in the area over security concerns.
The decision, announced on Thursday, was taken under the aegis of the Forum of Seven Local Government Chairmen in Kwara South after what they described as “extensive stakeholders’ engagement and reviews.”
The chairmen said the shutdown, which takes effect from Friday, September 19, would remain in place until further notice.
They added that all other produce markets in the senatorial district must also close by 6pm on market days.
In a jointly signed statement, the council bosses said the measure was part of efforts to protect lives and property in the zone, which has witnessed a series of violent attacks in recent months.
“While the invading criminals have been operationally decimated in the last few weeks, clean-up operations by the military and hybrid operatives are still ongoing. Therefore, all Kara markets have been ordered to shut down with immediate effect,” the statement read in part.
They acknowledged the economic impact of the closure on residents but maintained that security must come first.
“We’ve chosen to prioritise the safety of lives and property and adhere to long-term coordinated and structured security advisement over and above short-term inconveniences,” the chairman added.
The leaders assured residents that the state government and security agencies were working with local councils to restore peace, urging communities to cooperate with security operatives.
The statement was signed by the executive chairmen of Ifelodun, Isin, Irepodun, Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Offa and Oyun Local Government Areas.
Earlier on Friday, PUNCH Online reported that the National Youth Service Corps has relocated its orientation camp in Kwara State from Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, to the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, over rising insecurity.
State Coordinator, Mr Onifade Olaoluwa Joshua, confirmed the relocation to our reporter in Ilorin, saying the approval came from the state government after concerns were raised about the safety of corps members.
He said, “We are fully prepared to host the orientation course, and the welfare of participants will be safeguarded. Soldiers and other security personnel will be deployed to guarantee the safety of corps members during the three-week exercise.”
The National Youth Service Corps has relocated its orientation camp in Kwara State from Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, to the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, over rising insecurity.
State Coordinator, Mr Onifade Olaoluwa Joshua, confirmed the relocation to The Punch on Thursday in Ilorin, saying the approval came from the state government after concerns were raised about the safety of corps members.
He said, “We are fully prepared to host the orientation course, and the welfare of participants will be safeguarded. Soldiers and other security personnel will be deployed to guarantee the safety of corps members during the three-week exercise.”
Onifade explained that corps members are expected to report between September 24 and October 14, adding that a delegation from the NYSC headquarters would inspect the temporary venue.
The decision comes amid worsening insecurity in Kwara North, especially in Edu and Patigi LGAs, which have witnessed repeated bandit attacks.
Dozens of residents have been killed, kidnapped or displaced in recent months, forcing many rural communities to flee their homes.
In August, corps members at Yikpata camp were ordered to remain indoors by soldiers after suspicious movements were noticed around the site, heightening fears among participants and their parents.
Onifade thanked the federal and state governments for their support, while appealing to parents to remain calm.
He assured that the scheme was working to deliver a safe and successful orientation programme.
Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B, born as Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, on Friday released her sophomore album Am I the Drama?, ending a seven-year wait since her Grammy-winning debut Invasion of Privacy.
The 23-track album, released via Atlantic Records, debuted at No. 1 on the US iTunes albums chart. It features guest appearances from Kehlani, Megan Thee Stallion, Selena Gomez, and Janet Jackson.
According to Rolling Stone, which rated the project 4.5 stars, the record “delivers raw energy and fearless storytelling.”
Cardi B also premiered a music video for the single Safe and appeared at an Apple Music event in New York City to promote the release. A world tour is planned for 2026.
The album’s arrival follows recent personal announcements. On September 17, PUNCH Online reported that Cardi B confirmed she is expecting a child with New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs after weeks of speculation. In an interview with CBS, she said, “I’m excited. I’m happy.”
It also comes after a legal victory earlier this month. On September 3, PUNCH Online reported that a Los Angeles jury cleared her of assault charges in a $24 million civil lawsuit filed by security guard Emani Ellis, who alleged Cardi B cut her cheek with a fingernail and spat on her outside an obstetrician’s office in 2018. After a week-long trial in Alhambra, the jury ruled in her favour.
With the new album topping charts, a cleared legal battle, and confirmation of her pregnancy, Cardi B’s career enters a fresh chapter marked by both professional and personal milestones.
The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Lagos State, Shamsideen Adio, for allegedly beating a dispatch rider to death in the Tapa Street, Lagos Island area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt on Thursday that a scuffle had ensued between Adio and the dispatch rider over allegations that the latter had scratched the former’s vehicle.
A journalist and Facebook user, Chris Nwandu, who shared a video of the incident on Thursday, disclosed that it happened on Wednesday.
According to Nwandu, the situation degenerated when Adio, joined by his colleagues, descended on the dispatch rider and allegedly beat him to a pulp.
He said, “A popular Lagos Island NURTW top official by the name Shamsideen Adio mercilessly beat a dispatch rider to a pulp on Wednesday in Tapa Street, Lagos Island, for obstructing his way while driving on the road.
“He was joined by his other friends and colleagues, battering the poor guy as they liked. We are reliably informed that he’s notorious for beating Marwa (tricycle) operators to a pulp whenever they offend him.
“It was reported that a few days ago, he also dealt deadly blows to a Marwa operator who ended up in the general hospital.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached for comment on the matter on Thursday as her number was unreachable as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, a police officer in the area, privy to the incident, confirmed that the victim died from injuries sustained from the beating.
The source disclosed that the suspect was, however, arrested following the incident.
“The victim died from the injuries and the suspect has been arrested. He is now at the State Criminal Investigation Department,” the source said.
PUNCH Metro reported in February that the Ogun State Police Command arraigned the suspended traditional ruler of Orile Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, before a magistrates’ court sitting in the Ifo area of the state on three counts bordering on conspiracy, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
Ogunjobi had become an Internet sensation after he assaulted a 70-year-old chief.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Power and its agencies, said it is prepared to partner with the government of Akwa Ibom State to realise its resolve of delivering a reliable and affordable electricity to its people.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made the pledge during his opening remarks at the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Summit 2025 held in Ikot-Ekpene Local Government Area on Thursday.
The minister, who was represented at the occasion by his chief Technical Adviser, Adedayo Olowoniyi, said only through collaboration can such an ambition be realised.
” As Akwa Ibom State embarks on the development of the electricity market, let me reaffirm that the federal government, through the Ministry of Power and its agencies, stand ready to partner with the state government to realise its resolve of delivering reliable and affordable power supply to its people.
”We believed such ambition can only be achieved through a strong partnership, cooperation between the federal, state and local government levels.
While noting the constitutional rights of the government of Akwa Ibom State to fully determine the trajectory of its electricity market, Adelabu emphasised the importance of effective coordination with the federal government
He said as custodian of the national grid and wholesale market, such coordination is necessary to ensure state-level initiatives align with national frameworks to safeguard stability, reliability and efficiency of the entire electricity value chain.
In his remarks, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, expressed delight with the hosting of the summit, emphasising that it should not be another talk shop but must chart a roadmap and be seen as a call to action, with clear timelines and expectations outlined.
Eno said that only through this can the state successfully said to be ready to move forward on the journey to achieving electricity for all.
The governor, who noted that the state is blessed with abundant resources, lamented that many homes, hospitals and schools are still grappling with epileptic power supply, adding that the question must be asked on why the state-owned power plant with an installed capacity of 191 megawatts, is not working optimally for the benefit of the people since it was established in 2001?
‘Eno said, ‘We are blessed with abundant gas, a State-owned power plant, yet too many of our homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals are grappling with epileptic power supply. The question then becomes: Why is our State-owned Ibom Power Plant, which has an installed capacity of 191 megawatts, not working optimally for the benefit of our people since it was established in 2001?
”What clear path can we adopt to make it work despite the huge resources that have been sunk into its operations, of which we, today, are repaying the Afreximbank loan of 9m USD? Do we undertake an overhaul or institute a PPP arrangement?
”Therefore, this Electricity Summit, even though it holds great promise to us, should not just be another talk shop. It should chart a Roadmap and be seen as a call to action, with clear timelines on who should do what, when such should be completed, and clear expectations outlined. Only then can we successfully tell ourselves we are ready to move forward on our journey to achieving electricity for all.”
The governor said the state’s vision for electricity access is anchored on the principle that electricity is not a luxury but a fundamental enabler for modern life.
He said, ‘Our vision in Akwa Ibom for total electricity access is anchored on a simple principle: electricity is not a luxury; it is a fundamental enabler of modern life. When a rural health clinic has steady power, lives are saved. When our farmers can process and store their produce, incomes rise.
”When our artisans have reliable energy, productivity soars. When our children can study under good lighting, the future becomes brighter, both literally and figuratively. Electricity is the basic and most important resource to give our people the opportunities to live longer and to live better.”
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has debunked rumours that he travelled abroad for medical treatment.
Speaking on Thursday at the flag-off of a road construction project in the Wuye District of Abuja, Wike said those speculating about his health were engaging in unnecessary politics.
“You see, the level of this country where we are, we play politics with everything. How can somebody sit down and just say all kinds of things? Where the people saw me, I don’t know. The hospital you saw me in, I do not know,” he said.
The minister explained that since his appointment in June, he had not taken time off without carrying work along.
The former Governor of Rivers State added that his recent trip was deliberately used as an opportunity to rest.
“This time, I said, whatever it is, I must travel without any file. So, if the whole place will crumble, let it crumble. Because one has to be alive before one can satisfy other people. The day you drop, they will announce another person. So, you must make sure while you are working, you also take time out and relax,” Wike stated.
He further took a swipe at those spreading the rumours, cursing them to suffer ill health instead.
“God will continue to help them have a heart attack. It is my prayer. I will sign the condolences. Very soon, I will tell them that we are sorry. We love them. But, take heart,” he said jokingly.
PUNCH Online reports that Wike recently travelled to the United Kingdom, but it was rumoured that he went abroad for medical treatment
The rumours come amid heightened public interest in the health of high-profile public office holders in Nigeria, particularly when they make foreign trips or are out of sight for periods.
Three royal families of Adeberu, Olufadi and Ayora/Tunwase of Fusengbuwa ruling house, Ile Nla, Agunsebi, Ijebu Ode have dragged the Ogun State Government, the former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, Dr Kunle Hassan, the founder of Eye Foundation Hospital and two others before an Ogun State High Court sitting at Ijebu Ode over the leadership crisis rocking the ruling house.
According to the court filings dated September 17 and made available to journalists on Thursday, the representatives of the three royal families, Adedokun Ajidagba, Adeleke Adeyemi and Ademola Sonaya, specifically urged the court to stop Owoyemi from parading himself as the head (Olori Ebi) of the Fusengbuwa ruling house.
The Fusengbuwa ruling house is the next to produce the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land after the demise of 91-year-old Oba Sikiru Adetona on July 13, after reigning for 65 years.
Adedokun, according to the documents filed before the court, asserted that Owoyemi has no ancestral link to the Ile-Nla compound in Agunsebi, the historic family house of Fusengbuwa.
He listed the ruling house’s eight recognised branches as Olufadi, Ayora/Tunwase, Shenowo, Okuyandewo, Oshinuga, Adekenu, Adebiyi, and Adeberu.
The oil and gas businessman further claimed that Owoyemi hails from Ikoro-Ekiti and not Ijebu-Ode, a position he affirmed was corroborated by the late Awujale of Ijebuland, during a court proceeding at Ijebu-Ode in 2018.
Adedokun said his appointment as Olori-Ebi of Fusengbuwa was ratified on November 23, 2023, with official notification sent to the Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and to the late Adetona.
He declared that he remains the authentic head of the Fusengbuwa ruling house and that the court should accede to the request of the three royal families and stop Owoyemi from parading himself henceforth as the head of the ruling house.
The court is, however, yet to fix a date for the hearing of the suit
Recall that the former ICAN President had insisted that he remains the legitimate head of the Fusengbuwa ruling house by virtue of the Ibadan Court of Appeal judgement of 2024, which ruled in his favour and confirmed the fact that he had been the ruling house head appointed since 2013 after the death of Prince Fasasi Adeyemi
He stated that in 2011, he was appointed as the Deputy to the then head of the family, Adeyemi and by 2013, he was appointed as the Olori Ebi after the death of Adeyemi.
Owoyemi explained that after his appointment as the Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa in March 2013, a splinter group had also appointed the late billionaire banker and founder of First City Monument Bank, Otunba Subomi Balogun, as the head of the same family.
He disclosed that he had challenged this anomaly at a High Court sitting at Ijebu Ode and that while giving his judgment in 2018, Justice Asenuga resolved two of the issues brought before the court in his favour but failed to declare him as the Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa.
Owoyemi explained, “I approached the Court of Appeal sitting at Ibadan and on November 28, 2024, in a judgment delivered by Justice Binta Fatima Zubairu, resolved all seven issues brought before the court in my favour.”
In a Certified True Copy of the judgment, which was made available to journalists, the three Justices of the Court of Appeal agreed that the defendants failed to prove the allegation of fraud upon which the High Court of Ijebu Ode in 2018 had failed to recognise Owoyemi as the duly appointed head of the ruling family.
He said that according to a letter dated November 22, 2023 and sent to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogun State, Ajidagba was appointed as the acting head of the ruling house pending the determination of the suit he filed against the 2018 court judgment.
Owoyemi disclosed, “As the Almighty God will have it, the Appeal Court upheld all my pleas, affirming my leadership of the ruling house since 2013.”
He revealed further that having been confronted with this immutable truth as dispensed by the Ibadan Court of Appeal, the other part of the ruling house, being led formerly by the renowned Ophthalmologist and founder of Eye Foundation Hospital, Dr Kunle Hassan after dialogue submitted to the decision of the court on Sunday, August 31, 2025, affirming his leadership of the ruling house.
The renowned accountant said that even the late Awujale, before his demise, called him back to the palace in February 2025 to mend fences with him, urging him to keep in touch constantly as one of the senior title holders in his government and a trusted ally.
He added that he remains a bonafide son of Ijebu land from Idowa Ijebu and that past attempts to distort history had been quashed by the November 2024 Ibadan Court of Appeal judgement
The Octogenarian urged every member of the ruling house to shun division, strife and avarice but cooperate with the leadership of the family for a rancour-free selection process for the next Awujale.
The Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State has urged reinstated Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers not to dump the party, but to do his best to make the state great again.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that President Bola Tinubu had on March 18 proclaimed an emergency rule in Rivers, following a lingering political crisis in the state.
The crisis, caused by a power tussle between Fubara and his predecessor,now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, created political tension in the state,paralysing governance.
Tinubu, on proclamation of the emergency rule, suspended Fubara and the state’s lawmakers for six months ,and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator.
Meanwhile, the President on Wednesday announced an end to the emergency rule and directed all elected officials to resume their offices effective from Thursday.
Reacting, the PDP Vice-Chairman (Lagos Central), Mr Hakeem Olalemi, in an interview with NAN urged Fubara not to entertain fear, but be “very courageous” to govern the state.
“The governor should not muster any fear, the deed has been done. He should continue strong and be faithful in doing what is expected of him as the governor of the state.
“Fubara must make Rivers great again. The governor should nurture the party that brought him to power into a bigger platform, he should not jettison that party. He should ensure the party becomes stronger in the state and region,” Olalemi said.
Olalemi also urged all Rivers political gladiators to consider the people and allow peace and harmony to reign.
“There is no need for us to clap, dance, jump, or celebrate that Gov. Fubara has been reinstated. He has gotten back the mandate freely given to him at the ballot but now weakened.
“Our advice to the legislative and executive arms is to work together and in harmony for the betterment of the good people of Rivers.
“These are the people that voted them and their interest should supercede all politics and politicking,” the PDP chieftain added.
Olalemi said that the electorate deserves to enjoy the dividends of democracy, saying “they should reap the fruit of their labour”.
The chieftain advised all lawmakers, especially those who had initially pledged allegiance to the All Progressives Congress, following the crisis, to return to PDP.
“I will advise those 27 lawmakers who initially pledged loyalty to APC, to retrace their steps back and come back to PDP fully to develop the party,” he said.
NAN reports that Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and members of the state assembly on Thursday returned to office after the lifting of the emergency rule
The Nigeria Immigration Service has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said this on Thursday while inspecting Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
He said the centralised production system aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for better service delivery.
