Category: PM News

The Nigerian Army has listed arrest of

notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP informant, killing of 17 terrorists, arrest of 85 suspects, and rescue of 10 kidnapped victims among recent achievements of its troops in the last 48 hours.

The source said the apprehended suspects included Boko Haram informants, logistics suppliers, terrorist collaborators, drug peddlers, and kidnappers, a credible source at the Nigerian Army headquarters revealed.

The source added that the rescued victims were safely evacuated and undergoing profiling and medical evaluation.

Giving a breakdown of the feats recorded across several theatres of operation nationwide, the source revealed that in the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai sustained aggressive counter-terrorism operations under Operations Desert Sanity IV and Diligent Search, leading to multiple encounters with Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Borno and Adamawa States.

The source disclosed that troops of 202 and 222 Battalions came under ambush during an operation around Goni Kurmi and Kashomri villages in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno, fought gallantly and neutralised several terrorists.

He added that troops of 195 Battalion, working with the Department of State Services (DSS), apprehended a notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP informant and ransom collector at Customs IDP Camp in Jere Local Government Area.

The suspect, he said, was tracked through monitored calls and bank transactions.

He added that in troops recovered an AK-47 rifle earlier stolen by terrorists, rescued two kidnapped escapees, and apprehended three major logistics suppliers with food items and materials meant for ISWAP cells in Alagarno.

‘Similarly, in Adamawa, troops of 144 Battalion intercepted seven vehicles and nine motorcycles conveying 368 bags of cement suspected to be heading to terrorist enclaves in Madagali Local Government Area.

‘Troops also foiled infiltration attempts in Buratai, Biu Local Government Area of Borno, with air support from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

‘Other units recovered ?4.77 million cash, six mobile phones and two bicycles abandoned by fleeing insurgents along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road,’ he said.

In the North West, the source revealed that troops under Operation Fansan Yamma conducted clearance and stabilization operations in Sokoto and Zamfara States.

According to him, 69 suspected drug peddlers were apprehended in raids on communities in Sokoto South Local Government Area, while another five terrorist collaborators were apprehended in Gudu Local Government Area.

He added that troops also rescued one civilian injured in a terrorist attack along Faru-Bagabbuzi Road in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara.

In North Central, the source said the troops of Operation Enduring Peace rescued one kidnapped victim at Dorowa in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau.

According to him, another operation at Rawaya Village, Gashish District, led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, one G3 rifle, one revolver pistol, six magazines, and over 1,200 rounds of ammunition.

He said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke also apprehended two suspected kidnappers at Idadu Town in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

He added that troops also destroyed a terrorist camp and seizing mobile phones and customized vehicle plates at Gbagir in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue.

‘In the South South, troops of Operation Delta Safe intensified operations against oil thieves. Omoku in Rivers intercepted a wooden boat carrying 840 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and arrested one suspect.

‘Another patrol in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta, seized a vehicle conveying 2,500 litres of illegal condensate.

‘Across all theatres, troops recovered no fewer than 15 assorted weapons, 21 magazines and over 1,200 rounds of ammunition, alongside cash and logistics materials.

‘The Nigerian Army remains committed to maintaining the operational momentum and will continue to deny terrorists and criminal elements any freedom of action across the country,’ the source added.

He commended the troops for their professionalism and resilience, noting that morale remains high across all formations and units. (NAN)

A former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, has appealed to God-fearing people everywhere to fast and pray for the world to overcome what she described as ‘impending disaster.

She said this in a statement she issued on Sunday ahead of her 80th birthday celebration.

Ojikutu, Nigeria’s first democratically elected female deputy governor will celebrate her 80th birthday on Thursday.

Ojikutu declared the day a moment of sobriety, urging prayers for survival and sustenance across the world.

She said the revelation she received indicated worsening global hardship unless people fasted and prayed to avert the looming crisis.

According to her, the call for fasting and prayer on her birthday was to seek divine intervention against the growing economic hardship.

Ojikutu described the current hardship as severe, urging collective prayers for relief and for divine wisdom for world leaders.

She appealed to God-fearing people everywhere to fast and pray for the world to overcome the impending disaster.

‘The message from God is strong. There’s a need to humble ourselves through fasting and prayers to ease the suffering in the land.

‘It’s not only in Nigeria; it’s happening across the world. Look at what’s happening in America now,’ she added.

She however urged friends and family to convert gifts for her 80th birthday into feeding the less privileged.

Ojikutu said her birthday wish was for all intended gifts to be converted into food for the needy, with pictures of such gestures shared with her.

According to her, the occasion should reflect love and compassion towards the deprived and the less privileged in society.

Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu was deputy governor of Lagos State from 1992 to 1993.

She was running mate to late Michael Otedola who contested Lagos governorship under the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention in the 1992 election.

But they were booted out of office following the take-over of government by the military administration of General Sani Abacha.

The Presidential Coalition Committee of All Progressives Congress, APC on Sunday inaugurated Street Captains as part of mobilisation drive to boosting voter registration at the grassroots in Lagos State.

The event brought together thousands of supporters, community leaders, and volunteers for the official inauguration of structures and Street Captains.

Speaking at the launching of the initiative at the Police College Grounds in Ikeja, the state’s Coordinator of the Committee, Mr James Faleke, said more than 40,000 street captains had been inaugurated across the state, each tasked with convincing at least five people in their area to register.

Faleke, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said the committee would serve as local representatives who would move door-to-door, encouraging residents to register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The lawmaker clarified that the day was not about politics or campaign rallies, but about civic duty.

He said: ‘We are here to inaugurate the street captains to move out in streets and call out all those who have not registered.

‘Encourage them to go and register and collect their PVCs, that is the essence.’

‘Go to every home, go to your streets, and call out for people to take their PVCs,’ he urged. ‘Without a PVC, you cannot say anything.’

Also speaking, Mr Kolade Alabi, Chairman of the Planning Committee said the initiative reflected a bigger mission to reconnect governance with the people and strengthen democracy from the grassroots.

‘We are united by a shared vision of progress, development and a stronger democratic Nigeria.

‘Under President Bola Tinubu’s visionary leadership, our great party continues to redefine governance and strengthen institutions.

‘His reforms, though demanding, are helping to build a self-reliant and resilient economy,’ he said.

Alabi, speaking on government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighted the progress in infrastructure, digital growth, agriculture, and social welfare.

According to him, by empowering local councils to operate independently, President Tinubu is bringing governance closer to the people. This is the true essence of democracy.

The event also witnessed a large turnout of notable political bigwigs in the state, who goodwill messages.

At the event, inaugurated Captains were encouraged to be good ambassadors in advancing democratic values from their communities.

The newly inaugurated street captains pledged to begin work immediately – hitting the streets, knocking on doors, and ensuring that the voice of every eligible resident( counts in the next election.

Millions of people around the world were left frustrated on Monday after Canva, one of the most widely used online graphic design platforms, suffered a major service outage.

The unexpected disruption prevented users from logging into their accounts or finishing ongoing design projects.

The incident caused significant delays for business owners, marketing teams, students, and content creators, many of whom depend on Canva daily to design posters, social media graphics, logos, presentations, and business materials.

Social media quickly filled with complaints from users expressing anger and concern about losing access to important work.

In a short post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), Canva confirmed that the company was aware of the issue and that engineers were already working hard to restore normal operations.

‘Not the ideal situation right now, but we’re working on it. You can check canvastatus.com for updates. We’ll keep you posted!’ Canva said.

Reports from different parts of the world indicated that both desktop and mobile users were affected. Some users said the platform failed to load completely, while others encountered repeated error messages or very slow response times.

Founded in 2013, Canva has grown into one of the most popular digital design tools globally, with over 170 million monthly active users across more than 190 countries.

It is a go-to platform for individuals, schools, small businesses, and media organisations seeking quick and affordable design solutions.

As of the time of filing this report, Canva had not disclosed the reason for the outage, and there was no estimated time for when full service would return.

However, the company assured users that regular updates would be provided as progress continued.

The outage highlights the heavy dependence of modern professionals and businesses on online design platforms and cloud-based tools.

Many users took to social media to urge Canva to improve its system reliability and introduce better offline access options in the future.

Despite the disruption, loyal customers expressed hope that the platform would recover soon, given Canva’s strong reputation for innovation and customer service over the years.

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the leadership of Ola Olukoyede for its impressive record of asset recovery and convictions, describing the agency’s achievements as ‘a testament to strengthened accountability and renewed institutional independence.’

Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 7th EFCC-NJI Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges, held at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the anti-graft agency had achieved ‘over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets worth more than ?500 billion’ within the first two years of his administration.

‘As an administration, we have prioritised public accountability by strengthening anti-corruption agencies and granting them the independence to execute their statutory mandates,’ he stated.

‘The EFCC, for example, has recorded over 7,000 convictions in the first two years of this administration and recovered assets in excess of ?500 billion,’ he said.

The President noted that proceeds of recovered assets had been channelled back into the economy to fund key social programmes such as the Students Loan Scheme and the Consumer Credit Initiative.

He urged judges to give their utmost in the fight against corruption, saying the judiciary remains the backbone of justice and accountability.

‘We have an opportunity to consolidate the efforts of the last two years to deliver an optimal anti-corruption framework that will support our peaceful growth and development. A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right and ensuring that those who deviate from the norm are not allowed to go scot-free,’ Tinubu said.

He added that the government had allowed both the judiciary and anti-graft agencies to ‘exercise their constitutional and statutory powers to dispense justice and restore sanity.’

‘Except the society has full confidence that those who pillage our resources will be subjected to the rule of law and brought to justice through a fair and transparent process, the sneers over our collective commitment to fighting corruption will only get louder,’ the President warned.

In his address, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede acknowledged the progress made but lamented persistent judicial bottlenecks that slow the pace of high-profile corruption cases.

‘The milestones we have recorded in the past two years are almost overshadowed by public concern over the progress of high-profile cases in court,’ Olukoyede said.

‘Some cases filed by the Commission 15 or 20 years ago appear in limbo, moving in circles. The longer cases last in court, the more the image of the court as the temple of justice is eroded. The only victor in the circumstance is corruption.’

He criticised what he called the ‘weaponisation of procedure’ and warned that the prioritisation of technicalities over justice undermines public confidence.

‘When cases drag in court, witnesses die, memories fade, and public interest wanes. Prioritising procedural technicalities at the expense of justice undermines our collective efforts,’ he stressed.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, in her remarks, said the judiciary has a ‘decisive and delicate’ role in ensuring that corruption does not cripple national development.

‘Economic and financial crimes have grown in scale, sophistication, and audacity,’ she observed.

‘They rob citizens of schools, hospitals, and roads, striking at the very root of good governance and social equity. Each ruling or judgment carries implications that either strengthen or weaken public faith in the rule of law.’

Also speaking, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), called for synergy between investigators, prosecutors, and judges to ensure swift and effective justice.

‘The fight against economic and financial crimes is not just a legal battle-it is a moral duty and a civic responsibility. When corruption thrives, justice withers,’ he said.

The workshop, themed ‘Enhancing Justice in the Fight against Economic and Financial Crimes,’ continues until Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Tension erupted in Abuja on Monday as security operatives fired gunshots and released tear gas to disperse protesters demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The demonstration, tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, was led by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore. The protesters had gathered early in the morning with plans to march to Aso Rock Villa to press their demands for Kanu’s release.

However, the situation quickly turned chaotic when police and military personnel stormed the protest ground around 7 a.m., taking over the area.

In a viral video shared on social media, Sowore and several others were seen fleeing as security forces fired shots into the air and used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The Nigeria Police Force had earlier warned the organizers against staging any protest near the Presidential Villa, citing security concerns.

The incident highlights renewed tensions between civil rights activists and security agencies over the prolonged detention of Nnamdi Kanu, despite repeated calls for his release from political leaders and human rights groups.

The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Anambra Nov. 8 governorship election, John Nwosu, has raised alarm over donations to the incumbent and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chukwuma Soludo (APGA) by some communities, citizens and local governments in the state.

Nwosu in a Statement in Awka on Sunday described the act of citizens purportedly making donations for the re-election of the incumbent governor as worrisome.

According to him, the practice raised a serious question in relation to the nation’s electoral laws and moral codes.

He condemned the donation to Soludo being done as a show of his endorsement ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

He said ‘I am aware of reports that some groups and towns have made humongous donations to the candidate of APGA in purported support of his campaign.

‘Such donations raise real concerns about compliance with the Electoral Act, morality, and the rule of law,’ he said.

Nwosu said that while individuals were free to support candidates of their choice, any form of quid-pro-quo arrangement, such as inflated contracts with kickbacks disguised as campaign donations would amount to corruption and criminal subterfuge.

He questioned reports that certain local governments had joined in the donations in spite of having ‘little to show for the funds received from the federal government’.

‘If cash-strapped local governments are donating millions to the governor’s campaign, that is a charade and a blatant display of official dishonesty,’ he said.

Nwosu said the APGA-led government was tacitly buying votes and deceiving the public in their campaigns.

‘At no time in Anambra’s political history have we witnessed such open desperation to manipulate the voting public.

‘I urge the electorate to reject inducements and defend their democratic rights; those who sell their votes are selling their patrimony, freedom, and future.

‘Elections should be won by popular choice, not through purchased loyalty,’ he said.

He called on the electorate in Anambra to vote for the ADC for the restoration of honesty, fairness, and people-centered leadership in government.

Reacting to the ADC statement, Dr Law Mefor, Commissioner for Information in Anambra defended the donations, describing them as a crowd funding system and part of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s disruptive change.

Mefor said the voluntary donations which came from students, market associations, communities and senatorial districts were evidence of the acceptance Soludo’s candidacy enjoyed among the people.

‘It is different from the past when governorship candidates offered money to groups and communities in search of votes,’ he said.

A massive technical glitch at Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Monday morning has triggered a global internet disruption, taking down hundreds of popular websites and digital platforms from Snapchat and Fortnite to Duolingo and even Amazon.com itself.

According to data from DownDetector, the outage began shortly after 8am BST, with more than 6,000 reports flooding in from affected users in the United States and over 1,600 complaints from the United Kingdom.

The disruption has also affected Amazon Alexa, Ring, and Prime Video, leaving users unable to access smart home devices or stream content.

Cybersecurity expert Jake Moore from ESET told the Daily Mail that the incident is ‘highly likely due to an internal error’ within Amazon’s infrastructure.

‘AWS has about 30 percent of the global cloud infrastructure market which makes up a large proportion of the internet,’ Moore said. ‘So an outage like this can hit hard across the world.’

The issue is believed to have originated from Amazon’s data center facilities in North Virginia, one of the company’s largest and most critical hubs for hosting and networking.

On its AWS Health Dashboard, the tech giant confirmed that an ‘operational issue’ is affecting ‘multiple services,’ adding that engineers were ‘actively working to mitigate the issue and identify the root cause.’

While some outages can result from cyberattacks, Moore said this particular disruption appears to have caused a ‘cascading failure’ – where one malfunctioning system triggers others across the network.

‘Because so many apps and websites rely so heavily on AWS for cloud hosting and data processing, the disruption rapidly becomes widespread and creates a knock-on effect,’ he said.

Amazon Web Services, a backbone of the global internet, powers servers and storage for governments, universities, and companies worldwide. Monday’s outage serves as a sharp reminder of just how dependent the world has become on a handful of tech giants to keep the web running smoothly

Tottenham Hotspur’s home struggles deepened on Sunday as Aston Villa came from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Rodrigo Bentancur had given Thomas Frank’s men a dream start just five minutes in, finishing coolly from close range after Micky van de Ven’s cushioned header. The Uruguayan celebrated by tucking the ball under his shirt, a tribute to his pregnant wife.

But that early joy quickly turned sour. Morgan Rogers brought Villa level with a thunderous strike from 20 yards that flew past Guglielmo Vicario in the 37th minute, silencing the home fans.

Injuries continue to haunt Tottenham. Already without James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Destiny Udogie, and Dominic Solanke, the team lost captain Cristian Romero in the warm-up and later saw Mathys Tel limp off with a knee issue.

Villa made them pay for their frailties. In the 77th minute, substitute Emiliano Buendia struck the winner – a composed finish into the bottom corner after Lucas Digne’s clever setup.

Tottenham had chances to rescue a point late on, but debutant Randal Kolo Muani wasted a golden opportunity, skying his shot over the bar from close range in stoppage time.

The result means Spurs have now lost 11 of their last 18 home league games, a worrying record for Frank, who replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou earlier this season. The defeat also ends their seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions, leaving them sixth on the table.

For Unai Emery’s Villa, the story is quite the opposite. After their worst league start since 1964, the Midlands side have now won five straight matches in all competitions and extended their unbeaten streak to eight. The victory also marked a breakthrough – Villa’s first away win over a top-four side after collecting just one point from six such trips last season.

Nigerian media personality, Natasha Akide also known as Tacha, has declared that she will not settle down for love alone.

Tacha, in an interview with Yanga FM, stated that her views on marriage has changed since she became a celebrity.

She added that her future husband must match her financial status.

‘I can’t marry just for love. I’m looking for a billionaire. I’m a millionaire, so my potential husband should be richer than me. I’m certain I can’t marry for love,’ she said.

The media personality has been in the limelight since 2019, after participating in Big Brother Naija reality TV show.