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South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, says his team is now depending on Nigeria to defeat the Benin Republic in the final Group C match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.

Broos made the comment after Bafana Bafana were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe in Durban on Friday. The result left South Africa second in the group with 15 points, two points behind leaders Benin Republic, while Nigeria sit in third place with 14 points.

The veteran Belgian coach admitted he was disappointed that his players could not find the net against Zimbabwe despite their strong performance. According to him, the team must now focus on winning their last match against Rwanda and hope that Nigeria can do them a favour by defeating Benin Republic.

‘This is not a good situation for us. We didn’t get the result we wanted, but I can’t be angry with my players. I’m just very disappointed that we couldn’t score the goal we needed,’ Broos told SABC Sport.

‘Now, we must prepare for the next game against Rwanda, try to win it, and see what happens. If Nigeria beat Benin, maybe the table will turn in our favour. That’s football anything can happen.’

With only one round of matches left, Group C remains wide open. Benin Republic lead with 17 points, followed by South Africa with 15, and Nigeria close behind with 14.

The final round will decide which team qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup, while the second-placed team will hope for a playoff chance.

The Super Eagles will host Benin Republic in Uyo, while South Africa face Rwanda at home two matches that could define the fate of all three nations.

Broos urged his players to stay focused and play with the same determination they showed against Zimbabwe, reminding them that hope is not lost.

‘We just need to give our best one more time,’ he said. ‘Football can be unpredictable one result can change everything.’

A middle-aged-man identified as Chukwuma Onwe has been arrested for allegedly selling his 5-day old son for N1.5million in Azugwu area of Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Onwe sold the infant to a woman identified as Chinyere Ugochukwu who has now been arrested by the police, SP Joshua Ukandu, the spokesperson for the state command said on Saturday on Saturday in Abakaliki.

The Ebonyi police spokesperson added that the baby had been recovered from the alleged buyer.

Ukandu said Onwe, a native of Nwezenyi-Igbeagu Community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state, was apprehended when his would be wife, Philomena Iroko, alerted her neighbour, who informed the police of the husband’s action.

The Police spokesperson said the father of the child was arrested alongside the alleged buyer on Friday at Azugwu area of Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state.

‘Yes, he, Onwe has been arrested and is currently in our custody. We are going to commence investigation into the matter,’ the PPRO said.

Iroko, the baby’s mother said that her proposed husband took away her son to Ugochukwu (the alleged buyer) without her knowledge.

‘The man, who is yet to be my husband, took the child and lied to me that he gave the baby to his sister for further care.

‘I did not know that the woman he gave my son to had already paid him in exchange for my 5-day-old baby.

‘Thank God, my son has been recovered and he is healthy. I commend the Nigeria Police Force,’ she added.

Iroko, however pleaded to the general public for help to enable her take care of the baby.

‘The father of my son told me that he will marry me but I didn’t know that he was deceiving me all the while.

‘Look at me, where will I run to. No husband and no one to take care of my baby.

‘I am begging the state government and individuals to come to my assistance,’ she said.

A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Dutse, Jigawa State, presided over by Abdullahi Ibrahim Aliyu, has jailed Shu’ibu Kashim Dila, a former lawmaker in the state, over a ?5 million fraud case.

The former lawmaker was convicted on three counts brought against him by the Jigawa State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (JSPCACC).

The defendant was arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and cheating.

Our correspondent reports that on 17 February 2025, one Aisha Yusuf of Hadejia Local Government Area, Jigawa State, through her legal representatives, Adamu Garba and Muhammad Alhaji, lodged a written complaint against Hon. Shu’ibu Kashim Dila of Malam Madori Local Government Area, Jigawa State.

The complainant alleged that the defendant, in conspiracy with his wife, deceitfully obtained the sum of ?5 million from her under the pretext that it would be repaid within one month.

Both parties executed a written agreement to that effect.

However, upon the expiration of the agreed period, the defendant allegedly sent his wife to an unknown location in an attempt to evade their obligation.

Following an investigation by the Commission – during which the defendant made a confessional statement – other evidence gathered by the Commission’s investigators established an intent to defraud the complainant.

The Commission arraigned the defendant before Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ibrahim Aliyu of Chief Magistrate Court II, Dutse, on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and cheating.

During the trial, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The Commission’s prosecution team, led by Barr. Zubairu Haladu, called three witnesses and tendered two exhibits in support of its case before closing its arguments.

The defense, in turn, called two witnesses, including the defendant himself, and tendered no exhibits before closing its case.

Both parties thereafter filed and adopted their final written addresses.

On 8 October 2025, Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ibrahim Aliyu delivered judgment in favour of the JSPCACC. The defendant was convicted and sentenced after careful consideration of the evidence presented by the prosecution as follows:

A fine of ?50,000 or three months’ imprisonment for the offence of criminal breach of trust;

A fine of ?50,000 or three months’ imprisonment for the offence of cheating;

A fine of ?30,000 or two months’ imprisonment;

Payment of ?5,000,000 as restitution/compensation to the complainant, or five years’ imprisonment in default;

Payment of ?250,000 to cover prosecution expenses, or four months’ imprisonment in default.

The court ordered that all sentences shall run consecutively.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, said some mining operators whose licences were revoked had been issuing death and threats of international arbitration against him over the action..

He also said the they have been sponsoring media attacks against reforms in the sector.

According to the Minister, the threats followed recent revocation of 1,263 mineral licences for non-payment of annual fees by the Ministry.

Alake revealed this this at a news conference ahead of the 10th edition of Nigeria’s Mining Week, themed `Nigeria Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance` on Friday in Abuja.

But he affirmed that he was not deterred as sanitising the sector was necessary and would naturally attract resistance from some quarters.

According to him, the step was taken to ensure Nigeria obtained commensurate revenue from the sector for national development.

‘Some people have had licenses since former President Olusegun Obasanjo regime, but have not used it ,’ he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s solid minerals sector has increased its contribution to the nation’s GDP from less than 0.5 per cent 10 years ago to about 4.65 per cent, with higher growth projected in the coming years.

He said the progress reflected a growing mining sector and rising investment in national development.

‘In practical terms, this means more mines in operation, more companies investing and more communities being impacted by mining activity.

‘The ideas of strong data, more investment and greater beneficiation that seemed far off are now realities shaping the sector,’ he said.

He said the theme of the mining week aligned with Nigeria’s goal to boost revenue by adding value to minerals and tapping opportunities in the energy transition.

Alake said that the mining week had chronicled the sector’s transformation from a largely informal industry into one increasingly driven by structure, innovation, and private investment.

According to him, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the ministry has pursued reforms to improve transparency, de-risk the sector and unlock value across the mineral value chain.

He said Nigeria was being positioned to compete globally and be recognised as a choice mining investment destination, leveraging its vast mineral endowment, improving regulatory environment and commitment to sustainable development.

According to him, about 100 exhibitors will showcase cutting-edge mining technologies at the Mining Week, while more than 3,500 delegates and participants from within and outside Nigeria will attend.

He said several international mining delegations from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East were participating in the event, reflecting growing global interest in Nigeria’s mineral potential.

‘Together through collaborative efforts, innovation and steadfast commitment, we will reposition Nigeria as a major force in the global mining landscape,’ he said.

On his part, Mr Dele Ayankale, President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), said the 10th edition of the Mining Week marks a decade of impact, innovation, and collaboration in the solid minerals sector.

He said the platform had remained a catalyst for dialogue, reform and innovation, bridging the gap between policy and practice, operators and investors, and ideas and implementation.

According to him, Nigeria has witnessed significant strides in exploration, artisanal mining formalisation, investment inflows and the adoption of modern technologies to drive sustainability.

‘Minerals such as gold, limestone, barite, lithium and bitumen have gained renewed attention, and through enhanced collaboration, we are seeing tangible contributions to job creation, community development and economic diversification,’ he said.

The Nigeria Mining Week, holding from Oct. 13 to Oct. 15, is organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the VUKA Group.

Former Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) still owes him $26,000, representing two months of unpaid salary from his time as national team coach.

Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, the former Nigerian international said that although he could easily win a case against the NFF at FIFA, he has chosen not to pursue legal action out of patriotism and respect for his country.

Oliseh, who managed the Super Eagles between 2015 and 2016, explained that he has received several calls and advice from well-meaning Nigerians urging him to take the matter to the world football governing body. However, he insists that taking such a step would be misunderstood by the public.

‘Till today, I am the only Nigerian coach who voluntarily resigned from the national team job. The NFF still owes me two months’ salary, which is $26,000.

Many people have encouraged me to go to FIFA or court to claim what is mine, but I won’t take my fatherland to a western court. If I went to FIFA, I am sure I would win.

The sad part is that the media would twist the story and write, ‘Oliseh takes Nigeria to court,’ instead of saying, ‘Oliseh takes NFF to court.”

Oliseh’s remarks highlight the long-standing issue of unpaid wages and poor treatment of local coaches by football authorities in Nigeria. Despite his grievances, he maintained that his love for the country outweighs any personal loss.

The 51-year-old, who captained the Super Eagles to victory at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and represented Nigeria at two FIFA World Cups, said he prefers to move forward positively rather than engage in a public dispute that could embarrass the nation.

‘For me, Nigeria gave me everything. I played for my country, captained my country, and coached my country. I would rather focus on the good memories than allow money to come between me and my fatherland,’ he added.

Oliseh remains one of Nigeria’s most respected football figures, known for his strong principles and deep sense of patriotism.

The Cheetahs of Benin Republic has arrived Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, PM News has gathered.

The Cheetahs beat Rwanda 1-0 on Friday night at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. They currently lead Group C with 17 points from nine matches.

The players and officials flew directly from Kigali to Uyo ahead of the big game.

The match will take place on Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Benin Republic are hoping to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in their history.

The match will take place on Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Benin Republic are hoping to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in their history.

Police said their operatives have rescued 18 children suspected to be stolen with arrest of 10 suspects for alleged conspiracy and child theft in two different recent operations in Abia State.

Abia Police Command spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, Abia revealed this in a statement.

According to the statement, the first incident was triggered on September 24, with report to the police division in Ohuru Isimiri a man allegedly lured a woman and her two children from Ebonyi state to Abia state under the pretext of marriage.

The man, according to the report made to the police, disappeared with the two children while the woman was not around.

‘On arrival in Aba, the man asked her to get food for herself and the children while he stayed with the children. On her return, she did not see the man and her children, and all efforts to reach him proved abortive,’ the police spokesperson said.

‘Acting on credible and actionable intelligence, officers of the command on 08/10/2025 stormed a residence where stolen children were suspected to be kept, and apprehended five suspects.’

The police spokesperson said eight stolen children were rescued during the raid.

The police, according to the spokesperson, on Thursday, operatives stormed another residence along Aba/Owerri road, where children suspected to be stolen were being housed.

The Abia police spokesperson said the operation led to the arrest of four suspects and rescue of 10 ten stolen children.

The arrested suspected were identified as Best Ndubusi, Charles Enyinnaya, Eunice Ezekiel, Nnena Kalu, Gideon Esther, Obiegbunam Von, Ezeoma Rejoice, Ngozi Owoh, Favour Ernest, and Brittney Oyemuwa Zion in the statement.

Danladi Isa, the Abia state commissioner of police, was quoted in the statement as urging the people of Abia to remain security conscious and to ensure proper supervision of their wards and children.

The Police Commissioner also urged them to promptly report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency hotlines.

The Yoruba Self-Determination Movement (YSDM) has urged Federal Government remove the name of Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, from its wanted list as part of efforts to tackle insecurity across the South-West zone.

Leaders and members of the group said this during a peaceful protest on Friday in Lagos.

Speaking during the protest, which was held under police watch at the 7Up Tollgate, Mr Opeoluwa Akinola, a leader of the group, said many farmers in rural areas still live in fear of kidnappers and bandits.

He stressed the need for urgent and decisive government action against criminal attacks, adding that the crisis between herders and farmers had persisted for too long.

‘As we speak, no fewer than 24 communities have been affected,’ Akinola said.

On Adeyemo, he described the agitator as a ‘son of the soil’ who had shown unwavering commitment to protecting the region.

According to him, Adeyemo could contribute significantly to community-led security initiatives if given institutional backing and recognition.

Mrs Funmilayo Ogunniyi, a women leader in the Ifelodun Apapo Omo Yoruba group, commended the efforts of security agencies but said more must be done to protect families and livelihoods.

‘Many kidnappings are happening around South-West borders,’ she said.

Mr ‘Loluwa Ologun, a youth leader, urged political leaders to rise above partisan divides to confront what he described as a ‘national monster.’

‘Insecurity has grown into a monster. This is not the heritage our forebears left us.

‘We refuse to accept a Nigeria where Yoruba sons and daughters live as strangers in their own land,’ he said.

The protest follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent approval of a state pardon for 175 Nigerians, an exercise described by the Presidency as part of efforts to promote national reconciliation.

Among those pardoned were the late nationalist Herbert Macaulay and former FCT Minister, Maj.-Gen. Mamman Vatsa (rtd.), who was executed in 1986.

Also granted posthumous clemency were environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight members of the Ogoni Nine executed under the Abacha regime in 1995.

In addition, 65 inmates had their sentences reduced, seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment, and 82 inmates received presidential clemency.

According to the presidency, the move reflects the government’s commitment to restorative justice and the rule of law.

Analysts say YSDM’s demand for Adeyemo’s delisting from the wanted list aligns with the spirit of forgiveness reflected in the presidential pardon.

They note that extending clemency to the Yoruba agitator could strengthen trust between the government and communities seeking greater security and autonomy.

For many protesters, such a gesture would combine justice with compassion and reinforce Tinubu’s image as a leader committed to peace and inclusion.

As insecurity continues to challenge the region, YSDM says only decisive leadership and reconciliation can guarantee lasting safety for the people of the South-West.

ARISE News has announced the burial arrangements for its late anchor, correspondent, and producer, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, who was tragically killed during an armed robbery at her Abuja residence on September 29, 2025

According to the station, an evening of tributes will hold on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at the THISDAY Dome, Central Business District, Abuja. This will be followed by a service of songs on Wednesday, October 15, at Corpus Christi Cathedral, Kaduna Street, Port Harcourt.

Her funeral mass will take place at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Agulu, Anambra State, on Saturday, October 18, after which she will be laid to rest.

The 29-year-old broadcaster was also a trained lawyer and model before joining ARISE News, where she built a reputation for her brilliance and poise on air.

Maduagwu’s death, which also claimed the life of a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, has sparked outrage and calls for justice across the country.

Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command says it has arrested 12 suspects linked to the brutal attack.

Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh confirmed in a statement on Friday that the gang allegedly sourced their weapons from a supplier in the Niger Republic.

‘Preliminary investigations showed that the syndicate procured its firearms – including a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, and a pistol – from an arms dealer operating across the Nigeria-Niger border,’ Adeh said.

She added that all suspects, who hail from Kaduna and Katsina States, have confessed to obtaining their weapons from a yet-to-be-identified supplier.

The Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, reportedly deployed a special investigation team led by DCP Aliyu Abubakar and ACP Victor Godfrey, who tracked and dismantled the network responsible for the attack.

At least, 17 houses have been demolished by the Lagos State Government for encroaching on the Right of Way (RoW) of the Ikota River alignment.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, led a monitoring and enforcement team, accompanied by journalists, to the site on Saturday.

Wahab cautioned residents against actions that threaten the environment, warning that nature inevitably retaliates against human negligence and unlawful reclamation of wetlands.

He disclosed that the ministry had received reports months earlier about illegal reclamation activities aimed at narrowing the river’s natural path.

‘We stopped them then, but we were alerted again recently that the encroachment had resumed aggressively, with attempts to sell land to unsuspecting buyers,’ Wahab said.

The commissioner said the government had now taken decisive action to halt the encroachment and clear all illegal structures along the alignment.

He added that those behind the unlawful activity would be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Speaking on the perennial challenge of flooding, Wahab noted that while it is impossible to completely prevent flooding in a coastal state like Lagos, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, lagoons, and rivers, the government continues to invest in infrastructure to mitigate its impact.

‘What we can do is reduce its effects through resilient infrastructure, which Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has consistently provided and maintained,’ he said.

Despite ongoing efforts to desilt and maintain drainage systems daily, Wahab lamented that some individuals persist in obstructing waterways for personal gain.

He cited property number 156 as an example, saying it blocked the coastal road alignment and disrupted the natural flow of water.

‘That property will be cleared to allow the Ikota channel to discharge freely into the Lagos Lagoon,’ he added.

Wahab stressed that demolition was not always the state’s first option, as the government often explored corrective measures.

‘Sometimes we ask developers to produce practical designs for stormwater discharge, but they must bear the cost, not taxpayers,’ he said, describing it as irresponsible for government to fix problems created by private developers who profit from violating environmental regulations.

During an inspection tour of the Lekki-Epe corridor, Wahab also decried the massive encroachment on wetlands originally designed to retain excess rainwater.

He said drone surveillance had exposed extensive damage to the wetland corridor, including the destruction of coconut trees planted for soil stability.

According to him, violators were issued demolition notices on 26 September, ahead of planned transport infrastructure works on the same route.

He explained that the inspection was intended to align environmental preservation with the Ministry of Transport’s Green Line Rail project.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the Green Line Rail project, which will run from Marina to Epe, is expected to begin in December following stakeholder consultations and feasibility studies.

Osiyemi said some car dealers who were granted temporary approval to use power line spaces had violated terms by constructing permanent structures on wetlands.

‘As a state, we must enforce compliance and protect the environment while advancing our transport development agenda,’ Osiyemi said.

He added that the Green Line project, which would last about three years, forms part of Lagos State’s integrated transport solution to ease mobility across the metropolis.

Other areas visited during the inspection included Chevron Gate off Orchid Road, Partibon Homes, Oral Extension Phase 2, and Park View in Ikoyi.