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 Gunmen Abduct Mother, Niece Of Kaduna Governor’s Aide, Rachael Averik, Days After Brother’s Murder In Southern Kaduna Gunmen have abducted the mother and niece of Rachael Averik, Special Assistant on Political Affairs to the Governor of Kaduna State, in Southern Kaduna, just days after her brother was killed in the same area. Rachael Averik disclosed that her mother and niece were kidnapped from their home in Hayin Gada, Arak 1, Sanga Local Government Area, while the family was still mourning the death of her brother, Kefas Habila Averik, who was buried on Saturday. She made the disclosure in a Facebook post on Tuesday, describing the abduction as devastating. "My mother and niece were been kidnapped, at home while mourning her son that was br×t×lly k×lled and buried on Saturday. Oh God unto you!," she wrote.  The abduction comes days after gunmen killed Kefas Habila Averik during a late-night attack on December 31, 2025. The assailants reportedly stormed his residence aroun...

 Court  Jails  Man Two Years for N48.9m Theft Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, January 5, 2026, convicted and sentenced one Olawale Solomon Faleti, a former employee of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, to two years and five months imprisonment for N48,992,271.73 ( Forty Eight Million,  Nine Hundred and Ninety Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy One Naira, Seventy Three kobo) theft. Investigation revealed that Faleti, who maintained several accounts with one of the new generation banks , applied for a personal loan facility in the sum of N1,100,000.00 (One Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira), which was  granted by the bank to enable him meet his “urgent financial needs.” Faleti, investigation also revealed, had subsequently applied for and obtained a credit card facility, with a withdrawal limit of N43,000.00 (Forty-Three Thousand Naira only) operated under his account  number 0819670166 domicil...

 "The child truly felt he was going to die that night." An 11-year-old Florida boy was lured by a teen to a camping area where he was str@ngled to unconsciousness and bound before being held in bondage for three days. Fortunately, Florida deputies made a dramatic rescue in the nick of time.  The traffic stop that saved the 11-year-old boy's life was intense and scary for everyone involved, with a registered S/Offender attempting to disarm a deputy and his 15-year-old accomplice ramming a patrol vehicle. The drama unfolded on the night of December 31st when a Flagler County deputy pulled over a white Ford F-150 on U.S Highway 1 after a call reporting suspicious activity. Inside of the F-150 was 60-year-old Darnell Hairston and two juveniles. After separating the three, an 11-year-old boy seemed clearly scared. He identified himself as a child reported missing from St. Johns County three days earlier. He began sharing the chilling information of his abduction. He told deput...

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS FIRST FEMALE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote as the director-general of the Nigerian Law School. The appointment takes effect on January 10, 2026, for a four-year term. Dr Odusote, 57, is currently the Deputy Director-General and Head of the Lagos Campus and will become the first woman to lead the institution since its establishment in 1962. She will succeed the current Director-General, Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, whose tenure expires on January 9, 2026, after eight years of service. Titilayo Odusote obtained her LL.B. degree from  Obafemi Awolowo University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. She holds an LL.M from the same university, specialising in company and commercial law. She later obtained a PhD in Law from the University of Surrey, in the United Kingdom, with research interests in Public Law and the admini...

Tunisian court frees NGO workers accused of aiding migrants A Tunisian court has freed a group of humanitarian workers after handing them suspended sentences for facilitating the "illegal entry and residence" of migrants, a support committee said on Tuesday. Sherifa Riahi, the former director of the NGO Terre d'Asile, and several members of her staff had already spent more than 20 months in jail by the time of their final hearing on Monday. Hours after the hearing, Riahi's support committee posted a video of her leaving prison overnight, announcing her colleagues had also been freed. Mahmoud Daoud Yaacoub, a member of Riahi's defence team, told AFP that the court had handed down a two-year suspended sentence to the defendants who were in pre-trial detention. People outside courthouse "Tomorrow we will learn the rest of the judgment regarding the defendants who are out on bail," he said, AFP reported. The NGO employees were accused alongside 17 municipal ...

 PRESS RELEASE IGP ORDERS DEPLOYMENT OF DIG GUMEL, 17 COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE TO STRATEGIC DEPARTMENT, COMMANDS AND FORMATIONS, HARPS ON PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY AND EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, has ordered the deployment of the newly promoted Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Mohammed Usaini Gumel and seventeen Commissioners of Police to strategic department, commands and formations across the nation. The deployments are intended to strengthen operational capacity, effective leadership, enhance public safety, and improve service delivery. In furtherance of this directive, DIG Gumel has been deployed to man the Force Intelligence Department (FID), while CP Aina Adesola is deployed to the Delta State Police Command, CP Umar Mohammed Hajedia to the Kebbi State Police Command, and CP Iyamah Daniel Edobor to the Bayelsa State Police Command. Others include CP Osagie John Agans-Irabor as Commissioner of Pol...

Actor Yomi Gold hospitalised after sudden health scare, shares message on life and gratitude Nollywood actor Yomi Gold has shared a sobering update after experiencing a sudden health scare that left him unconscious and hospitalised. The actor posted a video showing himself being wheeled on a hospital bed, revealing that a sudden headache nearly cost him his life. According to him, quick intervention by an emergency medical team in Marrakech played a key role in stabilising his condition. Yomi Gold said the experience reminded him of how fragile life is and how quickly things can change. He expressed gratitude to God for preservation, as well as appreciation to everyone who reached out, prayed, and checked on him during the incident. One more photo below. 

 Danish Prime Minister warns US takeover of Greenland would signal the end of NATO     Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Monday that any attempt by the United States to take control of Greenland would effectively bring the NATO military alliance to an end, issuing one of her strongest warnings yet amid renewed rhetoric from President Donald Trump. Frederiksen’s remarks followed Trump’s latest push for U.S. control over the vast, mineral-rich Arctic island, comments that resurfaced in the wake of a dramatic U.S. military operation in Venezuela over the weekend. Greenland is a semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and, through Denmark, a NATO member, making any threat to its sovereignty a direct challenge to the alliance itself. The overnight operation in Caracas to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife sent shockwaves across Europe and intensified concerns in Copenhagen and Nuuk about Washington’s intentions. Frederiksen and G...

Hilton, Minnesota hotel apologizes after email cancels immigration agents’ rooms A Minnesota hotel is apologizing after federal immigration agents were told they could not stay at the property, a decision the hotel and its corporate brand now say violated internal policy. The incident drew sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security, which accused the Hilton hotel chain of deliberately refusing service to its personnel in what it described as a coordinated effort to interfere with immigration enforcement. The controversy centers on the Hampton Inn Lakeville, located roughly 20 miles south of Minneapolis, where agents attempting to secure lodging were informed that their reservations had been canceled. According to DHS, the agents had booked rooms using official government email addresses and standard government rates when they received a message sent from a Hilton-associated email account stating that immigration agents would not be permitted to stay at the hotel. Screensh...

Trump administration’s seizure of Maduro fuels concerns over international legal order  From the devastation of two world wars, nations spent decades constructing a system of international rules meant to prevent raw power from overriding law. That framework, centered on the United Nations and its charter, was designed to curb unilateral military action and preserve global stability. Now, that order appears increasingly strained following the U.S. operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power and brought him to New York to face charges. As Maduro was arraigned just blocks from U.N. headquarters, concerns mounted that the long-standing norms governing the use of force between states are eroding, replaced by a doctrine in which strength, speed, and unilateral action dominate. Senior U.N. officials warned that international peace depends on all nations adhering strictly to the U.N. Charter, stressing that selective obedience risks unraveling the system entirely. Pr...

 Pope Leo XIV closes 2025 Holy Year with warning against consumerism and xenophobia   Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday formally brought the Vatican’s 2025 Holy Year to a close with a forceful critique of modern consumerism and hostility toward foreigners, concluding a rare Jubilee marked by extraordinary symbolism and historic transition. The year drew an estimated 33 million pilgrims to Rome and unfolded during an unprecedented handover between two American popes, beginning under the frail leadership of Pope Francis in December 2024 and ending under his successor one year later. Before an audience of cardinals and diplomats, Leo knelt in prayer at the threshold of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and then rose to shut its heavy doors, signaling the end of the Jubilee. Only once before, in 1700, has a Holy Year been opened by one pope and closed by another, underscoring the unusual nature of the moment. The ceremony, held at the start of a Mass for the feast of Epiphany, capped a ...

Paris court convicts 10 for cyberbullying, France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron   A Paris court on Monday found 10 individuals guilty of cyberbullying France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, over false online claims about her gender and sexuality, including allegations that she was born a man. One defendant was sentenced to six months in prison, while eight received suspended sentences ranging from four to eight months. All 10 were ordered to complete cyberbullying awareness training. The court condemned the comments as “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious,” noting that repeated posts had caused cumulative harm. The defendants, eight men and two women aged 41 to 65, had posted claims suggesting that Macron was born male and likened her 24-year age gap with President Emmanuel Macron to pedophilia. Some posts reached tens of thousands of views. Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October but said in a recent interview that she pursued legal action to “...

 Holocaust survivor and Anne Frank’s stepsister Eva Schloss dies at 96  Eva Schloss, an Auschwitz survivor and stepsister of Anne Frank, has died at the age of 96. She spent her life educating others about the Holocaust and combating prejudice. Schloss, who lived in London, was honorary president of the Anne Frank Trust UK. The organization announced her passing on Saturday. King Charles III praised her work, saying he felt “privileged and proud” to know her and noting that she dedicated her life to promoting kindness, courage, understanding, and resilience in the wake of unimaginable suffering. Born Eva Geiringer in Vienna in 1929, she and her family fled to Amsterdam after Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany. There, she became friends with Anne Frank. Like the Frank family, the Geiringers spent two years in hiding before being discovered and deported to Auschwitz. Schloss and her mother, Fritzi, survived the camp until its liberation by Soviet forces in 1945, while her fathe...

 California Rep. Doug LaMalfa dies, narrowing GOP House majority to 218-213   Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California, a seven-term lawmaker known for his steadfast support of President Donald Trump, has died at age 65, narrowing the GOP’s slim majority in the House to 218-213. LaMalfa’s passing was confirmed by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson. Trump expressed deep sorrow over the loss, calling LaMalfa a reliable ally who voted with him on every issue and noting that he never had to call him in the middle of the night to secure a vote. “I was really saddened by his passing,” Trump said, adding that he gave a speech in LaMalfa’s honor because “he would have wanted it that way.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York led a moment of silence for LaMalfa during a panel marking the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The circumstances of LaMalfa’s death have not been publicly di...

 PRESS RELEASE CP NAZIRU ABDULMAJID PSC GIVES SCORECARD FOR 2025, OUTLINES OPERATIONAL STRATEGY FOR 2026 The Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, CP Naziru Abdulmajid psc, presents operational scorecard of the Command for the year 2025 and outlines the strategic policing direction for the year 2026. 2. During the year under review, the Command recorded significant operational achievements through sustained crime prevention patrols, intelligence-led policing, prompt emergency response, and effective inter-agency collaboration across the twenty-seven (27) Local Government Areas of the State. 3. Within this period, a total of two thousand, six hundred and ten (2,610) suspects were arrested for various major crimes and offences, while one thousand, twenty three (1,023) cases were successfully investigated, prosecuted, and secured convictions, reflecting improved investigative capacity and diligent prosecution. 4. The Command also recorded notable recoveries, including eight (8)...

 PRESS RELEASE BORNO STATE POLICE COMMAND RECOVERS HIDDEN CACHE OF 912 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION The Borno State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Naziru Abdulmajid psc, has recorded another significant operational breakthrough in its sustained efforts to enhance public safety and security across the state. 2. On 4/01/2026, at about 1400hrs, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Lamisula Division, acting on credible intelligence, led a team of police operatives to Kumshe Jamba Mari area Maiduguri, where a hidden cache of ammunition was discovered. 3. Following standard operational procedures, the Department of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) was immediately deployed to the scene. The area was professionally cordoned off, and a total of nine hundred and twelve (912) rounds of B32 API type (7.62 x 51mm) ammunition were safely recovered. 4. The recovered exhibits have been secured, while investigations are ongoing to trace the source and intended use of the ammunition, as well as ...

 PLATEAU GOVERNMENT TRAINS PERSONNEL IN COMMUNITY BASED SECURITY OPERATION Governor Caleb Mutfwang says investing in the security architecture of the state is a priority that must be met towards tackling insecurity in parts of the state. He stated this during the Passing Out parade of personnel of the community based state security outfit, code named, Operation Rainbow in Jos. The community based security outfit Operation Rainbow is part of strategy by the state government to provide security structure at the community level towards enhancing intelligence support, protect communities and a rapid response to emerging security threats. It is in this regard that another batch of 1450 persons were trained. The passing out parade therefore is the formal induction of the trainees into Operation Rainbow. Governor Mutfwang says security remains the bed rock for sustainable development and urged them to adhere to rule of law, human rights and the principles of responsible engagement with ci...

 APGA Women Leader (Anambra state Chapter ) host Christmas Gift Initiative for Widows and Orphans The Office of the State Women Leader, under the leadership of Hon. Mrs Esther Onyekesi (Adaejiejemba), Anambra State APGA Women Leader, successfully hosted the Christmas Gift Initiatives for Widows and Orphans on January 4th, 2026, at Her Residence in Ikenga, Aguata LG.  The heartwarming event brought together members of the community in a beautiful display of love and compassion, as gifts were distributed to widows and orphans across Anambra State.  The gathering embodied the true spirit of the season, with beneficiaries expressing profound gratitude for the thoughtful gesture. Hon. Mrs Onyekesi emphasized the importance of sharing joy and restoring hope, particularly as families transition into the New Year.  The initiative reinforced the message that through collective effort and genuine care, we can create a sense of belonging and make a lasting difference in the liv...

 ‎Three Anambra brothers who died in GNI fire incident in Lagos, will be buried on January 14 in Ihiala, Anambra State. ‎ ‎The three Omatu brothers who died in the inferno that razed a 25-storey building known as Great Nigeria Insurance House in Lagos Island, Lagos State, will be buried on January 14. ‎ ‎the fire incident, which occurred just hours before Christmas Day, spread rapidly to neighbouring buildings, including a mosque and a nearby plaza, sending thick plumes of smoke into the skyline ‎ ‎The report revealed that one of the families deeply affected by this incident is the Omatu family from Ihiala Anambra State, who lost three siblings: Steve (40), Casmir (39) and Collins (37), after they were trapped in the building and are believed to have died in the fire. ‎ ‎A surviving twin, Camillus Omatu, was said to have narrowly escaped the incident. ‎ ‎Providing an update on Monday, a sister of the brothers, Mimi Nonyerem, disclosed that the service of songs would be held on Janu...

 MAYOR OF AGUATA LGA COMMISSIONS DOCTORS’ QUARTERS BUILT BY EJIAMATU AGE GRADE, AMANASAA, UMUCHU The Mayor of Aguata Local Government Area Council, Dr. Chibueze Ofobuike, joined Ejiamatu Age Grade, Amanasaa, Umuchu to commission the newly completed Doctors’ Quarters Building Complex at Visitation Hospital, Umuchu. While commissioning the project, Dr. Ofobuike commended the Ejiamatu Age Grade for placing Umuchu first through their selfless commitment to community development. He praised their vision, unity, and sense of responsibility, noting that the project would greatly enhance healthcare delivery by providing decent accommodation for medical personnel and encouraging doctors to live closer to their place of service. The Mayor described the initiative as a shining example of what purposeful leadership and collective effort can achieve, urging other age grades and community groups in the entire local government area to emulate the Ejiamatu Age Grade’s dedication to sustainable dev...

 843 Suspects Arrested Across Limpopo  A total of 843 suspects were arrested in Limpopo for various serious and priority crimes during the ongoing Operation Shanela. The joint, multi-disciplinary operation was conducted from Monday, 29 December 2025 to Sunday, 04 January 2026.  The operation focused on clamping down on violent crime and removing illegal firearms from communities. Police recovered three (3) unlicensed firearms and 132 rounds of ammunition. 185 undocumented foreign nationals were apprehended for contraventions of immigration laws.  Crimes detected during the operation included murder, attempted murder, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, drug-related offences, possession of dangerous weapons, illegal liquor dealing, and possession of illicit cigarettes.  Operation Shanela was executed through coordinated deployments involving various SAPS units.  The operation was supported by stakeholders including SANDF, Traffic Police, Department of Home Aff...

 EFCC Secures Conviction of Three Fraudsters Justice Ahmad Mahmud of the Federal High Court Sokoto has convicted and sentenced the trio of Ahmad Abdullahi Buhari, Jamilu Bello and Yasir Muhammad Bala on a 5 count charge bordering on the offence of Naira Mutilation, contrary to Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007. The defendants pleaded guilty to all the charges; and prosecution counsel, ACE I Aliyu Bokani Usman Phd, asked the Court to sentence the convicts accordingly. Among other sentences, the Judge directed that all the convicts shall undertake community sensitization in any secondary school against the effects of cybercrime and other fraudulent offences within their community; which will be supervised by any designated EFCC officer.

 TRAGEDY IN ABUJA AS SUSPECTED 'ONE CHANCE' ATTACK CLAIMS WOMAN LIFE ALONG KUBWA EXPRESSWAY  6th January, 2026      Tragedy struck early Wednesday morning along the Kubwa Expressway in Abuja as the lifeless body of a woman was discovered by the roadside, sparking fresh concerns over the activities of suspected “One Chance” criminals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The deceased, identified from documents found in her possession as Princess Ochigbo, is believed to be a staff member of a High Court in the FCT. Her handbag was reportedly found flung a short distance from her body, raising suspicion that she may have been attacked and robbed by hoodlums operating in the area. The incident occurred near Dawaki, opposite the Gwarimpa Estate axis of the busy Kubwa Express Road. The Nigeria Police Force has taken over the matter, and members of the public who may know the deceased or her family are urged to contact the Dawaki Police Division, located opposite Gwa...

 AFCON 2025: AKOR ADAMS LEAVES SUPER EAGLES CAMP AFTER 4-0 WIN OVER MOZAMBIQUE  6th January, 2026     Super Eagles striker Akor Adams has temporarily left Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 camp following the team’s commanding 4–0 victory over Mozambique in the round of 16. The Nigerian Football Federation confirmed the development, stating that Adams was excused to attend to a family emergency after his mother was hospitalised. “Akor Adams has been granted permission to leave camp to be with his mum, who was hospitalised yesterday. We’re sending prayers and strength to him and wishing his mum a quick recovery,” the NFF said. Adams, however, still featured in the match against the Mambas and capped Nigeria’s dominant performance by scoring the fourth goal. Questions now loom over his availability for the Super Eagles’ quarter-final clash against DR Congo or Algeria, with the Sevilla forward’s return to camp uncertain.

 Israeli FM arrives in Somaliland after controversial recognition and global backlash Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar arrived in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, almost two weeks after Tel Aviv recognised the region amid international outrage, Israeli media reported. Saar is expected to meet with Somaliland’s self-declared President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi during the visit, a Somaliland diplomatic source told Israeli channel i24NEWS. The two officials are scheduled to hold a joint news conference later in the day, the source said on Wednesday. The diplomatic source said the visit aims to advance meaningful political and strategic cooperation between Israel and Somaliland, TRT Afrika reported. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has not issued any comment on the trip. Israel’s military footprint in the Horn of Africa Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland has drawn sharp criticism at the United Nations, where Pakistan, members of the Arab League and several Security C...

 TROOPS OF  OPERATION FANSAN YAMMA RESCUES SIX KIDNAP VICTIMS IN KAJURU Troops of Sector 1 Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY) have recorded another operational success with the rescue of six kidnapped victims in the Kajuru/Kujama general area of Kaduna State. The rescue operation was conducted on 5 January 2026 as part of a wider, coordinated series of operations across multiple axes within Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia and Kagarko Local Government Areas, including the fringes of Kauru border communities.  The operations were deliberately designed to further suffocate the freedom of action of violent extremists within the Joint Operations Area (JOA) and, by implication, the wider Sector 1 OPFY JOA. Following a distress alert on the activities of violent extremists around the Kasso adjoining hills, troops of Sub-Sector 5, who were already conducting clearance operations in the Kujeni general area, swiftly mobilised to the location. On arrival, troops made contact with the criminals an...