Category: PM News

A 19-year-old Norwegian man, Johannes Kongsnes Natland, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring to carry out an assassination in the United Kingdom after travelling to the country with firearms and ammunition.

Natland was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, October 16, after being found guilty of conspiracy to murder following a trial earlier this year. He must serve a minimum of 13 years in custody.

He also received a five-year prison sentence for firearms and ammunition offences, having previously pleaded guilty to those charges. The sentence will run concurrently with his 20-year term.

According to Counter Terrorism Policing London, Natland was arrested at a hotel in the early hours of March 19, 2025, just hours before he was due to carry out the planned killing.

He had arrived at Manchester Airport two days earlier, before travelling to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, where he collected a bag containing two firearms and 19 rounds of ammunition.

Police recovered the weapons, which included a semi-automatic pistol and a revolver, from a plastic bag concealed beneath his hotel bed.

Investigators pieced together Natland’s movements using CCTV footage from the airport and hotel, alongside digital evidence recovered from his mobile phone.

Messages found on the device showed that he had received detailed instructions, including maps, photographs and videos, identifying the location of the hidden firearms.

Further analysis of his online communications revealed that he had been approached through social media while still in Norway and asked to carry out a shooting in the UK. A payment of pound 25,000 was reportedly offered for the assignment.

The individual using the username ‘Agent 47’ allegedly instructed Natland on which flight to take, where to collect money in Huddersfield and which hotel to book upon arrival.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said Natland was arrested shortly before the planned assassination could be carried out, crediting the operation to cooperation among counter-terrorism officers, West Yorkshire Police and Norwegian law enforcement authorities.

Flanagan said investigators believed Natland had been tasked by someone connected to the Foxtrot Network, an organised criminal group sanctioned by the United Kingdom and the United States over its alleged role in orchestrating violence against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe on behalf of Iran.

However, she stressed that investigators had not identified the intended target of the specific assassination and found no evidence of a direct link to Iran in Natland’s case.

She warned that hostile actors increasingly relied on criminal proxies recruited online with promises of substantial financial rewards, adding that those who accepted such assignments could be left to face the consequences alone.

During the trial, Natland denied intending to carry out the assassination, claiming he had planned instead to shoot himself in the foot to avoid repercussions for refusing the mission.

The jury rejected his account and found him guilty of conspiracy to murder.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has denied allegations that it deliberately created artificial scarcity of train tickets on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) to facilitate their resale at inflated prices through unofficial agents.

The corporation described the allegations, made by Instagram blogger Faizah Raji, who operates the handle @wearegst, as libellous, insisting that it does not buy or sell train tickets and should not be held responsible for transactions involving unauthorised third parties.

In a statement signed by its Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, on behalf of management, the NRC said Raji had acknowledged in her viral video that passengers were warned to purchase tickets only through approved electronic ticketing portals.

According to the corporation, the blogger claimed that after failing to secure a ticket through the official portal, she purchased one from an agent at twice the approved fare.

The NRC said while her account of the transaction might be accurate, her conclusion that the corporation was behind the alleged racketeering demonstrated a misunderstanding of its ticketing arrangements.

It explained that ticketing services across the standard-gauge rail corridors were operated under public-private partnership agreements, with SecureID/TPS handling the Abuja-Kaduna service, Global Software Digital Solutions managing the Lagos-Ibadan route, and Fane Warri-Itakpe Ticketing Solutions Ltd. responsible for the Warri-Itakpe service.

The corporation said the three concessionaires were approved by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Federal Executive Council before 2023.

On the persistent scarcity of tickets, the NRC attributed the situation largely to demand for rail travel exceeding the available seating capacity by more than tenfold, creating a significant imbalance between supply and demand.

The corporation also linked ticket racketeering to fraudulent practices involving the use of multiple National Identification Numbers (NINs) to purchase tickets for resale.

It said the Federal Government introduced the NIN requirement for train ticket purchases following the 2022 train bombing, as part of measures to curb ticket racketeering and strengthen passenger identification.

However, according to the NRC, some scammers devised ways to obtain multiple NINs and use them to secure tickets for unsuspecting passengers willing to pay inflated prices.

To address the problem, the corporation introduced a two-stage passenger verification system in 2025, modelled on procedures at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Under the system, passengers’ NIN details are checked against the information used to purchase their tickets, while personal identification cards are also required before boarding.

The NRC said its verification system was integrated with the National Identity Management Commission database, enabling officials at Idu and Kubwa in Abuja, as well as Rigasa in Kaduna, to retrieve the photograph associated with the NIN used for a ticket purchase.

It explained, however, that the Rigasa station had inadequate access-control infrastructure, which occasionally allowed associates of scammers to overwhelm security personnel. The additional identity check, it said, was introduced to strengthen enforcement.

The corporation warned passengers against purchasing tickets from third parties or using tickets bought with another person’s NIN or name, describing such practices as unacceptable and economic sabotage.

It added that the electronic ticketing concessionaires had been directed to improve access to their online platforms in line with established ticketing procedures.

Reaffirming its position against ticket racketeering, the NRC said it operated a zero-tolerance policy and that any staff member found participating in or colluding with the practice would face disciplinary action.

The corporation urged passengers and Nigerians to use approved ticketing channels, assuring them that it remained committed to protecting the railway system from criminal activities and safeguarding its reputation.

It added that its objective remained to provide safe, affordable, reliable and convenient rail services capable of making train travel a preferred option for passengers across the country.

The Senatorial Candidate of the Accord Party for Ebonyi North Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, Mr. Polycarp Nwite Jr. has said the state deserves leadership built on honesty, accountability and service, not sycophancy.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abakaliki on Thursday, Nwite commended the Governor of Ebonyi State for his openness and what he described as ‘genuine intentions to uplift the people.’

He noted that since the creation of Ebonyi State, no governor has granted the common man as much access to be heard and to have concerns addressed.

However, the Accord Party candidate expressed concern that the progress of the state is being hindered by political stakeholders around the administration.

‘The biggest obstacle to the progress of Ebonyi lies in the circle of political stakeholders around the administration. Too many are sycophants whose primary interest is personal enrichment, not the collective growth and development of our communities,’ he said.

Nwite linked the current frustration among citizens to what he called a recycling of the same political actors who surrounded past leaders, including his late father, Senator Polycarp Nwite, and former Governor Sam Egwu.

He recalled that during the creation of Ebonyi State, his father cautioned then-Governor Sam Egwu against surrounding himself with sycophants, warning that it would hinder the state’s progress.

‘Thirty years later, it is disheartening that Ebonyi still grapples with the consequences of that flawed foundation. A state cannot make meaningful progress when truth is sacrificed at the altar of flattery and constructive criticism is ignored,’ he stated.

The senatorial hopeful warned that if the trend continues, Izzi’s first and most prestigious Governor risks being remembered not for the legacy he deserves, but for a government captured by praise-singers.

‘As I seek your mandate to represent Ebonyi North in the Senate in 2027 under the Accord Party, I commit to a politics of truth, service, and inclusion, Nwite Jr. said.

‘Our people deserve representatives who will speak truth to power, defend the interests of the common man, and work for policies that deliver jobs, infrastructure, education, and healthcare to every community in Ebonyi North.’

‘The time to build a new foundation for Ebonyi is now. A foundation where the voice of the people matters more than the noise of praise-singers. Ebonyi deserves better,’ he concluded.

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has directed the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, to proceed on a six-month leave amid ongoing administrative investigations into developments within the diocese.

The directive was contained in a letter dated October 13, 2026, signed by the Primate of the Church, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, and made available to journalists on Friday.

According to the letter, the decision followed reports submitted by administrative panels established to investigate issues in the diocese, particularly a visitation team led by the Dean of the Church of Nigeria.

The Primate reportedly met with Ibezim on October 9 to consider the visitation team’s findings before issuing the directive.

Ndukuba said the leave was intended to allow a thorough investigation, restore peace and promote reconciliation within the diocese.

He clarified that the decision was an administrative measure rather than a disciplinary sanction, citing Section 29(1) of Chapter V of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), 2020.

As part of the arrangement, the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, has been appointed Supervising Bishop of Awka Diocese and Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger for the duration of Ibezim’s leave.

Ezeofor is expected to assume oversight of the diocese and province, while Ibezim has been directed to hand over his responsibilities immediately.

The letter also barred Ibezim from officiating at any activities of the Church of Nigeria, the Province of the Niger or Awka Diocese throughout the leave period.

The six-month leave, however, will be subject to review, according to the directive.

The Church’s stated objectives include facilitating the investigation and fostering peace and reconciliation within the Awka Diocese.

Former senator Ben Murray-Bruce has challenged former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke over his criticism of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, claiming that Duke once praised the vision behind the project he now considers financially unfeasible.

Murray-Bruce made the claim in a post on X on Friday, October 16, while responding to Duke’s concerns about the cost and affordability of the highway.

The former lawmaker recalled travelling with Duke along the coastline where the road is now being constructed, saying the former governor had commended the vision behind the project.

Duke, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), had argued that Nigeria lacked the financial resources to undertake the project, particularly at a time when the government was borrowing to finance infrastructure.

‘It’s just not feasible. We don’t have the kind of money to do it. We’re literally borrowing. We can’t do it,’ Duke said.

Responding, Murray-Bruce acknowledged the project’s high cost but insisted that major infrastructure development required substantial investment.

‘Yes, the Coastal Highway is expensive. We agree on that. But nothing of lasting value in this world is cheap or free,’ he stated.

He defended President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the highway, maintaining that the Federal Government had provided the necessary funding.

‘Mr President committed to funding this project, and he is keeping that commitment. There is no funding shortfall,’ he said.

Murray-Bruce also suggested that Duke’s criticism was influenced by his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 election.

‘Donald, I understand that you are running for president, and that your statement is political. That is the nature of the season, and I respect your right to make your case to Nigerians,’ he said.

‘But we must be careful never to undermine a project of national importance, or the President delivering it, simply for political advantage.’

The former senator also backed Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri’s commendation of the highway, describing it as recognition of the quality of the ongoing construction.

‘When Governor Douye Diri commended the road, he was not speaking as a local champion; he was speaking as a statesman who recognises infrastructure of international standard when he sees it,’ Murray-Bruce said.

Comparing the highway to the United States’ historic moon mission, he argued that the long-term importance of major projects should not be judged by cost alone.

‘When mankind went to the moon, it was neither cheap nor free. But it was necessary. So is this road,’ he added.

The Association of Nigerian Artisans and Technicians (ASNAT) has pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, congratulating the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council and commending the appointments of Senator Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General and former Speaker Sanusi Rikiji as Director of Artisans’ Mobilisation.

ASNAT, the umbrella body for more than 12.5 million artisans, technicians and skilled workers nationwide, said the appointments reflected recognition of the role of artisans and technicians in the country’s political and economic development.

In a statement issued by its Head of New Media, Abdulkadir Salihu (IBN), the association congratulated the APC on the inauguration of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The statement said the ceremony was chaired by President Tinubu and attended by APC governors, members of the party’s National Working Committee, serving and former lawmakers, and other political stakeholders.

ASNAT described Yari, a former Zamfara State governor and senator, as an experienced political mobiliser and grassroots politician whose leadership, it said, would be instrumental to the party’s campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The association pledged its support for Yari and said its structures across the country’s 774 local government areas were prepared to participate in the party’s mobilisation efforts.

‘Our structures in all 774 Local Government Areas are fully on ground as foot soldiers to deliver Operation 30:30 for the party,’ the statement said.

ASNAT also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Yari for the appointment of its patron, Rikiji, as Director of the Directorate of Artisans’ Mobilisation in the campaign council.

According to the association, Rikiji’s appointment offered an opportunity to strengthen the representation of artisans and technicians within the APC’s campaign structure and ensure that their concerns received greater attention.

It said the appointment demonstrated recognition of the contribution of skilled workers to the economy and expressed hope that artisans and technicians would have greater opportunities and representation under a potential second Tinubu administration.

The association wished Tinubu, Yari and other members of the campaign council success in their assignment, while reaffirming its commitment to supporting the APC’s 2027 electoral campaign.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Niger State has urged households and schools to adopt proactive safety measures to prevent disasters and mitigate their impact on lives and property.

Mr Hussaini Isah, Head of Operations, NEMA Minna Operations Office, stated this on Wednesday at an event to mark the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed annually on Oct. 13 to promote global awareness and action towards reducing disaster risks and strengthening resilience.

The theme of the day is: ‘Resilience Starts at Home.’

Isah said disaster prevention must begin at the household level by embracing simple safety practices that could reduce risks and strengthen community resilience.

He said keeping surroundings clean, clearing drains, preparing for emergencies and responding promptly to early warnings were essential measures individuals and families should adopt to mitigate disasters.

According to Isah, disaster risk reduction requires a collective commitment by the government, emergency management agencies, individuals and families to protect lives and property.

He said that while government agencies provide early warnings, public education, coordination and emergency response, citizens must complement these efforts by taking responsibility for safety in their respective environments.

The NEMA official said the day was commemorated to raise awareness and encourage practical actions towards building safe homes, schools and communities.

Isah said the event featured a road walk to sensitise residents to the importance of disaster prevention and preparedness.

He urged students to apply the safety knowledge acquired during the exercise and share it with their families, friends and communities.

Isah described students as potential agents of change whose awareness and actions could help promote a culture of safety and preparedness at the grassroots.

Dr Zainab Ndanusa, Chief Disaster Risk Reduction Officer, NEMA, said the theme was particularly relevant to students because the knowledge and skills acquired could help them identify risks and respond appropriately to emergencies.

Ndanusa urged the students to put the lessons learnt into practice, stressing that their understanding of disaster risks could contribute to safer homes, schools and communities.

Also, Audu Yohana of the Niger State Fire Service said disasters could not be completely eliminated, but their impact could be reduced through effective prevention and preparedness.

Yohana warned that failure to prevent or mitigate disasters could result in huge expenditure on emergency response and recovery, in addition to the potential loss of lives and property.

He stressed the need for individuals and communities to take preventive measures seriously rather than wait for disasters to occur before seeking intervention.

The event was attended by representatives of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Fire Service, Niger State Fire Service, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Red Cross Society, among others.

A Finnish Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of Biafran separatist leader Simon Ekpa from six years to four years.

Finnish newspaper Yle reported the development on Thursday.

However, the court upheld Ekpa’s conviction for terrorism related offences, which was handed down by the Päijät-Häme District Court last year.

The charges were linked to his alleged activities aimed at establishing an independent Biafran state in southeastern Nigeria.

In its earlier judgment, the district court said Ekpa used his large social media following to increase tensions in the region between August 2021 and November 2024.

Ekpa appealed the judgment, asking the court to overturn his conviction and prison sentence.

However, the Court of Appeal upheld his conviction but reduced his jail term after considering the circumstances surrounding his actions.

The court noted that the situation in the Biafran region was similar to a civil war but did not meet the legal definition of one.

During the proceedings, Ekpa argued that his actions were not motivated by terrorist intentions. He pointed to the political crisis in the Biafran region as part of his defence.

The prosecutor also appealed the district court’s judgment, arguing that the six year sentence was not severe enough considering the seriousness of Ekpa’s offences.

Despite the prosecutor’s appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced Ekpa’s prison term to four years while maintaining his conviction.

The Senate on Thursday called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a corps member, Etimbuk Daniel, at an NYSC orientation camp in Enugu.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Sen. Aniekan Bassey (APC-Akwa Ibom North-East) during plenary.

Bassey said the Senate received with shock and profound grief the news of Daniel’s death while undergoing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Enugu.

He described the deceased as an outstanding student leader and former Students’ Union Government (SUG) president of Akwa Ibom State University who had embarked on national service.

Bassey expressed concern over reports that Daniel died following complications from a minor headache after allegedly experiencing delays in receiving adequate medical attention at the camp’s clinic.

He said the incident raised concerns about healthcare services in NYSC orientation camps, particularly the availability of qualified medical personnel, functional facilities and effective emergency referral systems.

The senator said the reported lapses highlighted the need to review healthcare delivery in orientation camps to prevent similar tragedies and protect corps members.

He emphasised that the government had a constitutional responsibility to safeguard citizens’ welfare, adding that young graduates mobilised for national service deserved adequate medical care throughout their service.

Bassey said Daniel’s death had plunged his family, the Akwa Ibom State University community and the entire state into mourning.

Seconding the motion, Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North) supported the call for an investigation, emphasising the importance of establishing the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death and ensuring accountability.

The Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of the deceased and prayed that God would grant his family the strength to bear the loss.

It also called for a thorough investigation to establish the facts surrounding Daniel’s death and determine whether negligence contributed to the incident.

The Senate directed its committees on Police, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Youth Development, and Health to investigate the matter alongside the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the proceedings, thanked Bassey for bringing the matter before the Senate and urged the relevant committees to conduct a thorough investigation.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political and Other Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, has pledged massive votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, charging members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council to prioritise grassroots mobilisation, discipline and measurable results.

Speaking at the council’s inauguration on Wednesday, Masari assured the President that the votes secured by opposition parties combined would not match what the council intends to deliver.

He described the assignment as a sacred trust, urging members to take the campaign to polling units, wards, local governments and communities nationwide.

‘Stop talking to yourselves and start talking to the people,’ he declared, warning against excessive meetings, inflated electoral claims and promises unsupported by verifiable grassroots results.

Masari said performance would be assessed based on actual delivery, stressing that political influence must translate into tangible electoral outcomes.

He also urged members to shun internal divisions, hate speech and personal grievances, while calling on Director-General, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, to ensure unity, coordination and consistent messaging across the council.

The campaign, he said, must communicate the administration’s policies and interventions in economic reform, education, healthcare and infrastructure, while addressing Nigerians’ concerns with facts.

Masari also emphasised responsible democratic participation, urging political parties to respect electoral laws, reject misinformation and conduct issue-based campaigns. He called on citizens to scrutinise campaign promises and participate peacefully in the electoral process.

‘The task before us is clear: to turn our convictions into action, our organisation into mobilisation, and our mobilisation into votes,’ he said, urging members to demonstrate discipline, accountability and commitment as the 2027 elections approach.