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Sri Lanka, India to sign three defence cooperation agreements

Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday said Sri Lanka and India are set to further strengthen their longstanding defence partnership with the signing of three agreements during Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s official visit to Sri Lanka.

Speaking on the significance of the visit at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday, Herath said the primary objective of Singh’s three-day visit was to deepen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across a range of strategic areas.

The three agreements are scheduled to be exchanged when Singh meets President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The first is a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Cadet Corps of Sri Lanka and India, aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two institutions.

The second is an MoU between Sri Lanka’s National Defence College and India’s National Defence College in New Delhi, providing a framework for greater institutional and professional cooperation in defence education.

The third agreement covers Indian assistance for the maintenance of air defence systems operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Herath said India had supplied 24 units of 40mm L70 air defence weapons to the Sri Lanka Air Force between 2000 and 2006.

India has already undertaken maintenance work, free of charge, on 18 of the systems in recent years, he said.

Under the new agreement, India will provide free maintenance support for the remaining six L70 air defence systems, further extending its technical support to Sri Lanka’s air defence capabilities.

Herath said the agreements would contribute to further consolidating military cooperation between the two countries and strengthen the longstanding defence relationship between Sri Lanka and India.

Police Bust Armed Robbery Syndicate In Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate operating around Iju-Ishaga and Oke-Aro, recovering 25 mobile phones, two laptops, gold jewellery and three cutlasses from their hideout.

The suspects – Damilare Oluwatobi, 28; Lekan Adenuga, 30; Haruna Sheriff, 22; and David Balogun, 24 – were arrested by operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) at their hideout in Idi-Oro, Mushin, following sustained intelligence gathering.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrests, saying they followed credible intelligence on the activities of the suspected gang, which allegedly operated in parts of Lagos.

She said a search of the hideout led to the recovery of 25 mobile phones, two laptop computers, a gold necklace and earrings, as well as three cutlasses.

‘The suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting investigators in unraveling their alleged criminal activities and identifying other members of the syndicate,’ she added.

The command’s spokesperson said efforts had been intensified to arrest other suspects linked to the gang.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Tijani Fatai, commended the VCRU operatives for what he described as a swift, intelligence-led operation.

Fatai reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks across the state and improving the security of residents.

He also urged Lagos residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the police.

Man Who Allegedly Shot Security Operative Arrested

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 30-year-old man, identified as Raphael Franklin, over the alleged attempted murder of a member of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC).

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the police received a distress call reporting the shooting of Oligie Prosper, 45, an operative of the ESSC, at Igbonto community in the state.

She said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly shot the victim in the waist with a locally made Dane gun.

According to her, the suspect fled the scene after the shooting, abandoning his Lifan motorcycle. Ikoedem said the victim was rushed to Agbor General Hospital in Delta State, where he is responding to treatment.

She said that following sustained surveillance and a joint operation involving the police, Edo State Security Corps, vigilantes and local hunters, the suspect was tracked down and arrested on September 6, 2026.

She added that one locally made single-barrel gun was recovered from the suspect’s residence.

The spokesperson said the case was under investigation and that the suspect would be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.

2027 Hajj: Kebbi remits N21.5bn to NAHCON, records 95% registration

The Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has remitted N21.5 billion in Hajj fares to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) ahead of the 2027 pilgrimage.

The agency’s Executive Chairman, Alhaji Faruk Aliyu Yaro-Enabo, disclosed this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by an NAHCON delegation to Governor Nasir Idris at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi.

Yaro-Enabo said the agency had registered 3,257 intending pilgrims, the highest figure recorded by any state so far.

He pledged to remit the outstanding N5 billion to NAHCON within the next few days, ahead of the September 26 deadline for registration closure set by the Saudi Arabian authorities.

According to him, Kebbi had achieved 95 per cent registration of intending pilgrims and 85 per cent remittance of Hajj fares.

He urged intending pilgrims who had paid the initial N5 million deposit to complete their payments without delay.

The chairman also disclosed that medical screening for intending pilgrims had commenced at the local government level and would proceed to the zonal and state levels to ensure compliance with Saudi health requirements.

He noted that Kebbi had the largest contingent of health professionals during last year’s Hajj operation, adding that the state’s medical team supported not only Kebbi pilgrims but also contributed to the success of the national operation.

Yaro-Enabo commended Governor Idris for his support for the agency, which he said had contributed to the achievements recorded by the state.

In his remarks, Governor Idris commended NAHCON for what he described as significant transformation under its current leadership.

‘Let us commend NAHCON for being alive to its responsibilities. We have seen many changes and transformations under the current leadership of the National Hajj Commission.

‘We have seen significant improvements in the airlift of pilgrims. This is a clear indication that people with the requisite knowledge and commitment to work have been appointed to leadership and administrative positions in NAHCON,’ he said.

The governor said Kebbi was leading not only in the number of pilgrims but also in other areas critical to a successful Hajj operation.

He also commended Kebbi pilgrims for their good conduct and praised Yaro-Enabo for leading the agency.

Earlier, the leader of the NAHCON delegation and Commissioner for the Northwest, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Usman, said the commission was intensifying preparations for the 2027 Hajj.

He said the visit to the geopolitical zones aimed to engage stakeholders and present the commission’s plans for the pilgrimage.

‘It is important to appreciate the efforts of the Kebbi Government towards a successful Hajj operation. Kebbi had the highest number of pilgrims last year, and you did well.

‘The success was achieved through the efforts of the energetic Executive Chairman of the agency and his colleagues in this task,’ Bin Usman said.

Busoga registers success as Kyabazinga marks 12 years

The Kyabazinga of Busoga William Nadiope Gabula IV, will on September 19, celebrate 12 years on the throne.

The celebrations will be held in Mayuge District, the home district of his wife, Ms Jovia Mutesi Nadiope, according to Busoga Kingdom prime minister Joseph Muvawala.

In the 12 years of King Nadiope’s reign, Busoga has registered some successes, which his subjects say have transformed the region.

The minister for Kyabazinga affairs, Ms Yudaya Babirye, said unity is one of the key achievements of Nadiope’s 12-year reign.

She said Busoga was previously characterised by fights, but the situation has since improved under Nadiope’s leadership.

‘Busoga Kingdom was greatly divided, but with Nadiope’s ascension to the throne, conflicts ended,’ Ms Babirye told this publication at the weekend.

Ms Babirye added that unity among residents has improved the kingdom’s image and boosted their sense of pride and self-esteem.

She observed that Busoga Kingdom now owns a modern palace, which she described as one of the achievements of Nadiope’s 12-year reign.

Ms Babirye attributed the decline in teenage pregnancies in Busoga to initiatives championed during Nadiope’s reign. She also noted that the Kyabazinga launched a campaign dubbed ‘Men are the pillars’ (Abasadha Mpango), which teaches men to avoid relationships with young girls to prevent teenage pregnancies.

‘I can confirm that teenage pregnancy figures have declined in Busoga since the Kyabazinga openly condemned men, who pursue young girls. He keeps reminding them that they are the pillars of society,’ Ms Babirye said.

She said the Kyabazinga has also encouraged parents to educate their children in order to improve literacy levels in the region.

She emphasised that the Kyabazinga pursued further studies in the US, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Global Studies, as an example to his subjects of the importance of education.

Ms Babirye said the Kyabazinga has also offered land for vocational institutions, where his subjects can acquire skills at subsidised fees, enabling many to gain qualifications and sources of livelihoods.

‘As I speak, about 40,000 people have obtained various vocational skills through the Busoga Royal Foundation, an initiative of the Kyabazinga to improve people’s livelihoods. They are using these skills to participate in the money economy,’ Ms Babirye said.

She said the programmes initiated by the Kyabazinga over the past 12 years are bridging unemployment gaps in Busoga.

The Bunya Chiefdom Lukiiko representative in Mayuge, Mr Mathias Mutatyama, said the Kyabazinga provided land for the establishment of a solar power plant in the district, which he said has generated revenue.

He added that the Kyabazinga also supported the establishment of Mayuge Sugar Factory, which has created jobs and provided livelihoods for many residents.

‘Mayuge Sugar Factory is one of the biggest employers in Mayuge District. This is one of the achievements attributed to the Kyabazinga,’ Mr Mutatyama said.

He urged government to leave landing sites under the management of cultural leaders so that local communities can continue using them as they did before soldiers were deployed to guard the sites.

Mr Mutatyama, however, said government failure to return the kingdom’s properties, has crippled cultural leaders’ ability to implement more programmes and achieve greater progress.

He appealed to government to fulfil its pledges, including the construction of the kingdom headquarters.

The former Bulamogi Chiefdom Issabalangira in Iganga, Prince James Naita, said King Nadiope’s reign had also led to rearrangement of clans across Busoga.

‘We now have proper clan structures from the village to the chiefdom level. This is one of the achievements of the Kyabazinga’s reign,’ Prince Naita said.

He said the Kyabazinga had also revived sports in the kingdom through the Masaza Cup. Prince Naita hailed King Nadiope for reviving the Busoga Lukiiko (parliament), saying it has strengthened the kingdom’s administration and governance over the past 12 years.

Prince Naita credited Kyabazinga for rotating coronation functions in different chiefdoms, which has increased the kingdom’s visibility.

He also praised the Kyabazinga for promoting agriculture by encouraging residents to grow food crops to improve food security and reduce poverty.

Tackling poverty

The Bugweri Chiefdom prime minister and former deputy executive director of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos), Mr Godfrey Nabongo, said the Kyabazinga’s initiatives had reduced poverty in Busoga.

‘Ubos showed that poverty levels have declined in Busoga and this can be attributed to the Kyabazinga’s encouragement of residents to engage in agriculture and other productive activities,’ Mr Nabongo said.

The Bukooli Chiefdom prime minister in Bugiri, Mr Kaawo Kawere Naay, said many children were given bursaries and scholarships by the Kyabazinga.

‘More than 15,000 children have benefited from bursaries since King Nadiope ascended to the throne,” he said.

Mr Naay welcomed government’s offer of vehicles to royal chiefs during Nadiope’s reign.

Mr Joseph Sooka, the state minister for information in Bukono Chiefdom in Namutumba, said the private palace of the Nkono Royal Chief of Bukono was constructed during Nadiope’s reign, describing it as one of his achievements on the throne.

Chinese boxing promoter in legal victory

The Appeal Court on Tuesday acquitted a Chinese boxing promoter of human trafficking charges, citing inconsistencies and doubts in the evidence against him.

Huang Tianyong, owner of Ayong boxing gym in Pattaya, was arrested in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district in October 2022. He allegedly lured people into jobs that later turned out to involve working as call scammers for a gang in Myawaddy, Myanmar.

The Criminal Court previously acquitted Mr Huang, saying the evidence raised doubts and giving him the benefit of the doubt. It sentenced Thai defendant Potjanee, who was described as a team leader responsible for training new recruits, to four years in prison.

The prosecution and Ms Potjanee have appealed the ruling.

The Appeal Court said the witness testimony contained inconsistencies and doubts. It also noted that Ms Potjanee testified that she had never seen Mr Huang in the room used by the human trafficking network.

The court therefore found reasonable doubt over whether Mr Huang had participated in the trafficking operation and acquitted him. He was released without being detained pending a further appeal.

However, it found that Ms Potjanee voluntarily joined the trafficking network and received payment for her work.

She was found guilty of conspiring in human trafficking and of being part of a human trafficking network. Because of her useful testimony, the court reduced her sentence by one-third, leaving her with eight years, and ordered her to pay compensation to the seven victims, ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 baht each.

According to the police investigation, the seven victims who were rescued told investigators that the gang created fake profiles on dating apps to lure people into applying for jobs.

After arriving, the victims were forced to make calls to potential targets, with details of the people they contacted then passed to Malaysian and Philippine members of the gang for further contact.

The victims were forced to work 12 hours a day without days off and were required to meet daily targets.

Those who failed to meet their targets were allegedly confined, had their heads shaved or were given electric shocks. Victims who wanted to leave were told they had to pay 50,000 baht to the gang.

Yellow Card secures SEC nod for ARIP, moves stablecoin infrastructure closer to Nigeria’s regulated market

Yellow Card Financial Nigeria Limited, a global stablecoin infrastructure provider, has secured conditional approval-in-principle from Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for admission into its Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP), marking a fresh step in the company’s push to deepen its regulated presence in Nigeria.

The admission places Yellow Card within the SEC’s regulatory incubation framework, allowing the company to participate in ARIP within the scope and subject to the conditions imposed by the regulator.

However, the approval does not amount to a full licence or authorisation to launch or operate any specific stablecoin, digital asset product or public-facing regulated service in Nigeria.

The distinction is significant as Nigerian regulators intensify efforts to bring the country’s rapidly expanding digital-asset ecosystem under formal regulatory oversight.

Yellow Card said its conditional approval relates solely to its admission into ARIP and remains subject to continued compliance with applicable regulatory, operational and supervisory requirements, as well as ongoing SEC review and any further written clearance or no-objection that may be required.

Lasbery Chioma Oludimu, group vice president of operations and managing director of Yellow Card Financial Nigeria Limited, described the development as an important milestone for the company in one of its most strategic markets.

‘We are pleased to receive the SEC’s conditional approval for admission into the Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme. Nigeria isn’t just one of our markets; it is where Yellow Card started and remains one of the most important markets we operate in today,’ Oludimu said.

She added that the company would maintain a compliance-first approach throughout the programme, with customer protection and regulatory compliance remaining central to its operations.

The SEC’s conditional nod comes at a time when stablecoins are becoming increasingly important to Africa’s digital payments and financial infrastructure, particularly for cross-border transactions, treasury management and access to dollar-linked digital assets.

For Yellow Card, Nigeria carries particular strategic weight. The company registered its first African entity in Nigeria in 2019 and has since built the country into one of its major operational hubs. It now has its largest team in Nigeria, alongside members of its senior leadership.

From that Nigerian base, Yellow Card has expanded to more than 60 global markets and established relationships with major financial and payments companies including Visa, Mastercard, Western Union and MoneyGram.

Chris Maurice, co-founder and chief executive officer of Yellow Card, said the company’s objective is to build stablecoin infrastructure globally while meeting regulatory standards in each market in which it operates.

‘As a company, we set out to build stablecoin infrastructure for the world, not just for one region. That means meeting the highest compliance standards in every market rather than cutting corners anywhere,’ Maurice said.

He described admission into ARIP as an important step in Yellow Card’s regulatory engagement with Nigeria and said the company would continue working with the regulator as it progresses through the programme.

The regulatory development also comes shortly after Yellow Card announced a $40 million strategic funding round, taking its total funding raised to more than $120 million.

For Nigeria, Yellow Card’s ARIP admission could therefore have implications beyond the company itself.

The move potentially provides a regulatory pathway for infrastructure providers seeking to participate in the country’s emerging digital-asset economy while giving the SEC greater visibility into how such businesses operate, manage risk and protect customers.

Man, Stepmother In Court Over Alleged Plot To Kill Father

The accused, Nura Usman, and his stepmother, Izzatu Aliyu, were arraigned before Magistrate Sakina Aminu Yusuf on charges of conspiracy to commit an offence and attempted murder.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court ordered that the accused persons be remanded in a correctional facility pending their next appearance.

At yesterday’s sitting, the prosecution counsel, A. I. Buhari, asked the court to adjourn the case to enable the government conclude consultations on the next step to take.

The magistrate granted the request and adjourned the case until October 5, 2026, for the accused persons to be brought before the court again.

The prosecution alleged that Nura and Izzatu contacted some people and offered them money to kill Nura’s father.

However, the people allegedly approached to carry out the killing informed the intended victim about the plan.

They subsequently devised a plan to deceive the accused persons, telling Nura that they had carried out the killing.

As the alleged target was engaged in business in southern Nigeria, the accused persons were reportedly informed that he had been killed. This allegedly prompted members of the family to begin mourning rites at his residence in Dantsinke, Rimin Hamza, Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State.

The alleged plot was foiled when the man reportedly turned up at the mourning gathering accompanied by security personnel, leading to the arrest of Nura and Izzatu.

INEC Fixes Sept 19 For By-Elections In 4 States

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed September 19 for the conduct of five by-elections in four states; Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr Tunde Oketola, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Oketola said that the by-elections comprised one federal and four state constituencies. According to Oketola, the by-elections will take place at Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe, while the state constituencies shall take place at Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies in Bauchi State; Udu and Dawakin Kudu in Delta and Kano State Constituencies respectively.((NAN)

Okpebholo rewards Edo Queens N50m for championship double

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has hosted Edo Queens at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, where the players presented their 2025/26 Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) and 2026 WAFU-B Women’s Champions League trophies.

To celebrate their victories, the governor announced a N50 million cash reward for the team and officials.

Okpebholo highlighted the national and state significance of the victory, commending the players, coaching crew, and officials for their determination during the tournament in Burkina Faso. He noted that he felt confident during the critical penalty shootout after watching the goalkeeper’s calm composure and strategy.

He said: ‘For me, this cup matters to Edo people and it matters to the country.

‘I must commend the players for their doggedness. I also want to thank the coaching crew and other officials.I want to reward the team with the sum of N50 million.’

Amadin Enabulele, Chairman of the Edo Sports Commission, praised the squad’s unity and resilience for securing two major titles in a single season. He credited the new management team for raising performance standards and keeping momentum high.

Bendel Insurance FC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe commended the team’s fighting spirit, stating that Governor Okpebholo’s strong support positions them to dominate continental football. Tenebe added that meaningfully engaging young people through initiatives like sports addresses up to 85 percent of security challenges in the state.