Nigerian

Anthony Joshua was discharged from a hospital in southwestern Nigeria after being injured in a car crash that killed two of his close friends, state officials said. The former world heavyweight boxing champion had been traveling Monday along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway when the SUV he was in struck a stationary truck in Ogun state. Joshua was accompanied by friends identified as Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, who both died in the crash, according to the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE). The agency said…

Anthony Joshua has been discharged from a Lagos hospital after surviving a car crash in southwest Nigeria that killed two of his close friends, state officials said. The former world heavyweight boxing champion, 36, was traveling Monday with friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele on the highway linking Lagos and Ibadan when their SUV slammed into a stationary truck, authorities said. The accident occurred in Ogun state. Preliminary findings by the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) in Ogun indicated the vehicle…

Nigerian state police say more children abducted last month from a Catholic school in Niger state have been released, adding to a partial liberation earlier in December but leaving key details unclear. Sister Mary T. Barron, the superior general of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, which manages St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary schools in Papiri, said she learned of the development in the evening. She said details were not immediately clear and that more information was expected in the morning. The…

In a significant shakeup within Nigeria's petroleum regulatory landscape, President Bola Tinubu has replaced the heads of two pivotal agencies following the resignation of their chief executives. The changes affect the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), marking a notable turn in the country’s oil and gas governance. The resignations of Farouk Ahmed, head of NMDPRA, and Gbenga Komolafe, head of NUPRC, come in the wake…

Opposition Accuses Nigerian Government of One-Party Drift Ahead of 2027 Elections Opposition politicians in Nigeria have sounded the alarm over what they describe as the government's drift toward a de facto one-party state. They contend this shift is being executed "through coercion," primarily by weaponizing state institutions, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In a joint statement that has drawn significant attention, key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar…

Nigerian Air Force Clarifies C-130 Landing in Burkina Faso Amid Controversy The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that the landing of its C-130 aircraft in Burkina Faso was a precautionary measure due to safety concerns stemming from a "technical issue" encountered during its operations. This clarification follows reports suggesting that the aircraft’s landing had sparked tensions between Nigeria and the Burkinabe government, raising accusations of airspace violations. The incident occurred on Monday and quickly…

Release of Abducted Schoolchildren in Niger State: A Fragile Victory Nigerian authorities announced that they have successfully secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary's Catholic boarding school in Niger state. This incident, which unfolded on November 21, saw 315 pupils and staff taken by gunmen from the co-educational facility located in north-central Nigeria. Following the chaos of the attack, around 50 students managed to escape, but the fate of another 165 children and staff remains unknown.…

Nigeria’s government has secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted last month in Niger state, local media reported, marking a partial breakthrough in one of the country’s worst mass school kidnappings in recent years. The children were among those taken on Nov. 21 when gunmen stormed St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papiri, a hamlet in Niger state. The Christian Association of Nigeria said at the time that 303 children and 12 school staff were seized in the raid. About 50 pupils managed to escape within hours,…

Nigeria's Senate Moves to Tackle Escalating Kidnapping Crisis The Nigerian Senate is taking a bold step toward combating the country's rampant kidnapping crisis. In a significant legislative push, Senators have advanced amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act that would extend the death penalty to all individuals involved in kidnapping. This includes not only the kidnappers themselves but also financiers, informants, and those providing logistical support. The proposed Bill seeks to reclassify…

Army Rescues 12 Girls Abducted by Boko Haram in Borno State In a significant operation, troops under Operation Hadin Kai have successfully rescued 12 girls abducted by Boko Haram and ISWAP militants in the Mussa District of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Borno State. The victims, aged between 15 and 20, were kidnapped on November 23 while working in their farmlands. One girl managed to escape and return home safely, leaving 12 others in captivity. Acting on actionable intelligence, the army conducted a targeted…