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Swift military intervention foils terrorist attack, rescues 31 hostages taken in Kaduna church assault.

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The Nigerian Army has thwarted a terrorist attack through a swift response, rescuing 31 civilians abducted during an Easter church service in Ariko Village, Kaduna State. Following a distress call regarding the abduction of worshippers at an ECWA Church, troops promptly mobilized and engaged the terrorists in a fierce battle, leveraging superior firepower and community guidance to overwhelm them. Consequently, the terrorists abandoned 31 hostages, including one injured individual receiving medical attention. Unfortunately, the remains of five victims were recovered. The troops have intensified pursuit operations to track down the fleeing terrorists and are working to rescue any remaining captives and bring perpetrators to justice. Additional troops have been deployed to reinforce operations and enhance security. The Nigerian Army reaffirms its commitment to protecting citizens and defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity in collaboration with security agencies and local stakeholders. The public is encouraged to provide timely and credible information to support these efforts. 32 Views

President Tinubu approves N3.3 trillion for stable electricity.

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the payment plan to finally settle the outstanding debts under the Presidential Power Sector Financial Reforms Programme. The debt repayment plan followed the final review of the legacy debts that have beset the power sector for more than a decade. The long-standing debts accumulated between February 2015 and March 2025. Following verification, ₦3.3 trillion has been agreed as a full and final settlement, ensuring a fair and transparent resolution. Implementation has begun, with 15 power plants signing settlement agreements totalling ₦2.3 trillion. The Federal Government has already raised ₦501 billion to fund these payments. Out of the amount, N223 billion has been disbursed, with further payments underway. What this means for Nigerians: With payments reaching the power value chain, generation will be more stable. With power plants supported, electricity reliability will improve. And as the sector stabilises, more investment, more jobs, and better service will follow. “This programme is not just about settling legacy debts. It is about restoring confidence across the power sector — ensuring gas suppliers are paid, power plants can keep running, and the system begins to work more reliably,” explained Olu Arowolo-Verheijen, Special Adviser on Energy to President Tinubu. “It is part of a broader set of reforms already underway — including better metering and service-based tariffs that link what you pay to the quality of electricity you receive. “The government is also prioritising power supply to businesses, industries, and small enterprises — because reliable electricity is critical to creating jobs, supporting livelihoods, and growing the economy. “The goal is simple: more reliable power for homes, stronger support for businesses, and a system that works better for all Nigerians,” she added. President Tinubu has commended all stakeholders who supported efforts to resolve the legacy issues in the power sector. He has also confirmed that the next phase (Series II) will begin this quarter. 71 Views

The BROADCASTSTAR of the MONTH……Flipping the Script

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It’s no longer news that the 7th edition of the supposed annual Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) is long overdue as its last edition was held 4 years ago[2016] and in Abuja to be precise. This is not unconnected to circumstances beyond the organisers, CrystalPearl Communications, control. And when it seemed the coast had cleared for the 7th edition of NBMA, the deadly Coronavirus struck! However, as the world battles the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, and all hands on deck for the 7th Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards, which is expected to be held very soon, there is a twist to the NBMA! 1,019 Views

Suspected herdsmen kill 16 persons in Benue

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Suspected herdsmen yesterday killed 16 persons in an early morning attack on Ebete community in Agatu Local Council of Benue State. The Guardian learnt that the 1.30 a.m. invasion also left scores injured. An eyewitness, Daddy Seni, whose father was slain alongside his siblings, said he was called on phone by his dad while heading for fishing in the neighboring Aloko settlement.According to him, on arriving home, he saw his father in his pool of blood screaming, “my son, do no bother about me and your siblings again. Ours have finished. We cannot survive these gunshots. Run for your dear life and tell others about this.” The council chairman, Alhaji Oyigocho, who confirmed the incident, stated that he and his entourage, including security personnel, heard the assailants speak Fulani language while fleeing the scene after perpetrating the act. Oyigocho appealed to government to urgently come to the aid of the people and contain further onslaughts.His words: “This is happening at a time Nigerians are preparing to elect new leaders in this Saturday elections. If the situation continues, it will disorganise so many things. “My people have never taken laws into their hands despite provocations from herdsmen. They had in the past taken over farmlands in most parts of Agatu.”The council boss said of the 16 casualties, three were Jukum hunters while two others are currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained. The Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major-General Adeyemi Yekini, was doubtful of the casualty figure.“I received a report this afternoon (yesterday) that some people were killed in Agatu by suspected armed bandits. We have sent a patrol team to the general area where the incident happened. “Though the location is in Benue, it can better be accessed through Loko in Nasarawa State,” he said in a statement.In a similar vein, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has neutralised dozens of terrorists when its fighter jet bombarded a Boko Haram camp at Arboko village in Borno State. Its spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, in a statement yesterday in Maiduguri, said the aerial strikes were launched after an intelligence platform established the presence of insurgents in the border town with Cameroun. He said: “The fighter jet of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has decimated a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) camp and neutralised some of their fighters at a settlement called Arboko in Borno State.” On how the terrorists were eliminated, Daramola hinted: “The operation was conducted on February 18, 2019 while a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha.Jet and an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform were providing close air support to troops of 82 Brigade, Nigerian Army.“During the operation, the ISR aircraft spotted a group of BHT fighters within Arboko village and vectored the Alpha Jet to engage their camp.” 825 Views

Why Mama Taraba resigns as minister, quits APC

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The Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan has resigned her appointment in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. Alhassan, popularly called Mama Taraba was on Thursday disqualified to run for governorship election in Taraba State in 2019 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). She stated her reasons in alleged letter below: I write with a lot of respect to inform Mr President of my decision to resign my appointment as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Your Excellency may wish to recall that I joined the APC in 2014 along with other members of the then new PDP, contested the 2015 governorship election as the flag bearer of the APC and to the Glory of God, you graciously nominated to be a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your Excellency Mr President may wish to be reminded that I went through all the screening processes (security, medical and national assembly) as required by constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after which I was cleared and approved as fit and proper for appointment as minister. Mr President, you therefore graciously appointed and swore me in as minister in November 2015. Mr President may also wish to recall that I wrote to notify you of my intention to again contest for governor of my state in forthcoming 2019 election under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and you again graciously blessed my intention and wished me well through a letter personally signed by Mr President which I appreciate and will forever cherish. Sir, I purchased the APC nomination forms and went for the party’s screening on Thursday, the 20th of September 2018 along with ten (10) other contestants for the governorship of my state, Taraba. I, with your permission, proceeded to Taraba on the 23rd of September 2018, to prepare for the presidential and governorship primaries then scheduled for the 25th and 29th of September 2018 respectively. While preparing for the primaries in Jalingo, I received with the shock and dismay that I was disqualified and not cleared to contest for the 2019 governorship by the National Working Committee of the party (APC). No reason was given for my disqualification. Mr President may wish to be also informed that I had always been a very committed and loyal party member and was at no time queried or admonished for any wrongdoing or unconstitutional behaviour. Up to the time of writing this letter, no reason is given by the party for my disqualification to contest election under the APC. It is for the above reasons sir, that I feel grave injustice was done to me by the party (APC), therefore my decision to leave the party and also resign my appointment as minister. If I am not qualified to contest election in the APC, I feel I am also not qualified to remain a minister in an APC government. May I at this point thank, appreciate and express my profound gratitude to Mr President for the honour, rare privilege and lifetime opportunity you gave me to serve under your great and credible leadership. I learnt a lot (especially patience) under your leadership. Working with you in the last almost three years was great and has immensely improved my leadership quality, I will remain forever grateful for that, sir. May I also use this opportunity to thank his Excellency, the Vice President, from whom I have also learnt a lot and my colleagues, other members of the Federal Executive Council, the SGF and cabinet office staff for their fellowship and support to me both as minister and personally. May God Almighty reward them all, Amen. While wishing Mr President continued good health and thanking you again for the opportunity given to me, please accept sir, the assurances of my best wishes  always and absolute loyalty to you as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you Sir. 1,186 Views

VP Osinbajo orders IGP Idris to reform notorious Police unit

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Since last year, numerous Nigerians have taken to social media to accuse officers of the unit of several misconducts ranging from harassment, extortion, assault to extra-judicial killings. This has led to relentless calls for the unit to be completely scrapped to ease the fears of Nigerians who live in dread of the unit. In a statement issued by Osinbajo\’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande, the Acting President ordered the IGP to shut down the unit \”with immediate effect\”. The statement read, \”Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Acting-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more. \”The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Humanitarian Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects. The operatives should also bear proper identification any time they are on duty. \”In the meantime, the Acting President has directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Committee that will conduct nation-wide investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.\” While speaking at a town hall meeting at the launch of National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, Clinics in Ibadan, Oyo State on June 26, 2018, Osinbajo had disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari was concerned with the operations of SARS and had already ordered a review of the unit. The vice president further said the unit cannot be scrapped but be rehabilitated to curb the atrocities of the bad eggs. End SARS campaign When the earlier calls for the scrapping of the unit grew in December 2017, IGP Idris ordered the reorganisation of SARS\’ operational roles and activities. Under the reviewed arrangement, state Commissioners of Police were installed as overall heads of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide. The IGP also ordered for all SARS personnel nationwide to undergo a new training program to be organized in collaboration with some civil society organisations, local and international NGOs, and other human rights organisations. Despite the reorganisation, the calls to scrap the unit resurfaced again this year with the unit still operating with impunity that mostly targeted Nigerian youths. 833 Views

You are part of the challenges we are facing now – Tinubu fires at Obasanjo

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The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday said that he was confident President Muhammadu Buhari would win the 2019 elections. Tinubu made the statement in Lagos while addressing party members at a stakeholders meeting of the state chapter. He said that the president had acquitted himself as a leader so far inspite of the challenges of governance. The APC leader condemned what he called the frequent attacks on Buhari-led administration by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He said that the criticisms of Obasanjo were in bad faith, pointing out that he could not stop Nigerians from re-electing the president. “Our president, President Muhammadu Buhari has done well, he deserves another term, and we will support him to win because he is our man. “Forget about Obasanjo’s letter and his frequent attacks on our president, he cannot stop the president because Nigerians would re-elect him. “Obasanjo has spent his own time; he should leave Buhari alone and face his business because he cannot tell us who to vote for. “He is part of some of the challenges we are facing in the country today, because he did not lay the right foundation when he was president,” he said. Tinubu added that the exit of some members from the APC would also not stop the re-election of President Buhari. The chieftain said that the party was unshaken by the defections and was on course to recording victories in the 2019 election. Tinubu said that the results of the Kogi, Katsina and Bauchi bye elections, in which the APC was victorious, were a precursor to the pattern of the general elections. “I congratulate the winners in the election and their victory is proof that our party is getting more popular by the day. “Those who want to defect can defect, that is their problem. APC remains unshaken and these people will know the reality in the election,” he said. He commended the National Chairman of the party, Mr Adams Oshiomole, saying members were pleased with what he was doing in the party. He said that the direct primary system was good for democracy, and the party would adopt it to conduct its primaries. Tinubu urged members to play by the rules in electing candidates at the primaries. He urged the members to mobilse others to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards as that was necessary for victory in 2019. 830 Views

Rivalry between government and lawmakers hampering Nigeria\’s progress – Rep

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A member of the House of Representatives, Sunday Katung (PDP-Zangon Kataf/Jaba), has blamed undue rivalry between the executive and National Assembly for the slow pace of development in the country. Katung made this known on Wednesday, August 15, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Zonkwa, Kaduna state. The lawmaker attributed the rivalry between the two arms of government to “selfish interests” thereby depriving the larger society the opportunity to reap dividends of democracy. He expressed regret that the two arms of government were not paying enough attention to germane issues bordering on the collective interests of Nigerians, but more with matters that only benefit them. Katung called on stakeholders come together to tackle the problem including the security situation in the country in the overall interest of the Nigerian people yearning for progress. The lawmaker assured his constituents of quality representation at all times and urged them to support him with suggestions and ideas that would make his work more relevant to their yearnings and aspirations. He said his priorities for the constituency included skills acquisition for the teeming unemployed youth, computer literacy and sports development among others. The Presidency has denied reports that the Electoral Act amendment bill passed by the National Assembly was rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari. The senior special adviser to the president on National Assembly matters, Ita Enang, said the bill which was passed by the lawmakers on on July 24 and transmitted to President Buhari on August 3 is still awaiting the President’s assent. 847 Views