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The Nigerian Army has listed killing of nine terrorists, arrest of eight suspects and rescue 37 kidnapped victims, as well recovery of a cache of weapons and logistics supply among the achievements of its troops in recent operations nationwide.

Giving a breakdown of the operational successes recorded across theaters of operation nation, a credible source at Army Headquarters said troops of 151 Task Force Battalion ambushed ISWAP/JAS terrorists at Dipchari, Bama Local Government Area of Borno, killing five insurgents.

The source also revealed that troops of 148 Battalion operating along the Ekiti-Kogi border neutralised two insurgents and seized two AK-47 rifles.

He added troops of 3 Battalion, in a separate encounter, repelled a major attack on its base, killing one terrorist and forcing others to flee with injuries.

‘Across Borno, Katsina, Imo, and Plateau States, troops apprehended eight suspects linked to terrorism, kidnapping, and arms trafficking.

‘These include an ISWAP logistics courier, a terrorist collaborator, a wanted IPOB/ESN kingpin, and a gunrunner.

‘Recovered items include firearms, ammunition, and several motorcycles used for criminal activities.

‘Ongoing clearance operations led to the rescue of 37 kidnapped victims in Kaduna, Taraba, Plateau, Delta, and Kebbi States.

‘Notably, 28 hostages, including a pregnant woman who gave birth during the operation, were freed in Sakaba, Kebbi State,’ he said.

In the South South, the source revealed that troops of 34 Artillery Brigade and Operation DELTA SAFE uncovered and destroyed multiple illegal refining sites in Imo, seizing over 20,000 litres of stolen crude and refined products.

He said the Nigerian army headquarters had commended the cooperation among security agencies and local vigilantes.

He reaffirmed the army’s commitment to securing the nation and supporting economic and agricultural stability in line with the Federal Government’s food security agenda.

Manchester United legend, Paul Scholes, has tipped Liverpool to defeat his former club when both sides clash in their highly anticipated Premier League encounter after the international break.

Liverpool, led by new manager Arne Slot, will host Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United at Anfield in what promises to be a tense and emotional battle between two of England’s fiercest rivals.

The Reds will be seeking redemption after suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in their last outing.

Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes expressed little confidence in Manchester United’s ability to turn their fortunes around, describing their current form as deeply concerning.

‘Amorim needs to try and get something from Liverpool at Anfield,’ Scholes said.

‘But honestly, I can’t remember the last time Manchester United won a big game. This group of players are in such a bad rut that you have no confidence they can get out of it. It’s almost predictable that they’ll go to Anfield and get beaten.’

The former England midfielder’s comments reflect the growing frustration among Manchester United supporters, as the team continues to struggle for consistency despite a change in management.

United’s defensive frailties and lack of creativity in midfield have raised serious questions about their ability to compete with top clubs this season.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have shown flashes of brilliance under Slot, maintaining their trademark attacking intensity and fluid passing style.

The Anfield faithful will be expecting a strong response from their team as they aim to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City.

As both teams prepare for the showdown, pundits and fans alike agree that the match could be a defining moment for Amorim’s reign at Old Trafford.

Anything short of a spirited performance could increase pressure on the Portuguese tactician, whose future has already become a topic of heated debate.

With pride, history, and crucial league points at stake, all eyes will be on Anfield where Paul Scholes believes the result is all but certain: Liverpool to beat Manchester United once again.

The Benin Traditional Council has emphasized that the concept of ‘Iyaloja’ in market leadership is alien to Benin culture’.

The Council said this while issuing a stern warning against the politicisation of market leadership in a statement signed by Mr Frank Irabor, Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, and five other top chiefs of Benin Traditional Council on Wednesday.

Recall that there have been controversies over the plan by Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Iyaloja General of Nigeria to install Iyaloja -General of Edo State.

Oba of Benin, Ewuare II had during recent visit to his palace by Tinubu-Ojo and some leaders of market women in Edo warned against the plan to install Iyaloja-General in Edo as he noted that the concept is strange to the culture of the people of the state.

The Benin Traditional Council affirmed the assertion of the Oba of Benin in its statement on Wednesday.

It also also expressed disapproval of the use of trade associations to run open markets and engage in partisan politics, describing these practices as inimical to the essence of Benin market tradition.

Breach of peace

The BTC said that contrary to the plan of the President’s daughter, the Iyeki, a traditional market leader in Benin culture, emerges among market women and is chosen by them.

The Iyeki is then brought to the palace for confirmation and installation.

The palace emphasised that every Iyeki is independent and has a direct functional relationship with the Palace.

The statement read, ‘We strongly advise that the function of Iyeki should not be politicised.

‘Any deviation from this age-old cultural system may lead to a breach of peace.’

The palace noted that it had observed the markets becoming a tool for partisan politicians and unscrupulous individuals, and appealed to market women and politicians to eschew dragging the sanctity of the Oba’s name into partisan politics.

The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, explained the authentic role of Iyeki in Benin culture, stating that every Iyeki has a spiritual function she performs for the Palace and for the well-being of the market.

The palace emphasised that there was no honorary Iyeki title in Benin culture and that every Iyeki was culturally, spiritually, and religiously tied to the Palace.

The palace also summoned all Iyekis of every market to appear before it for further clarifications, scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 12 noon.

The Palace reiterated its support for the state government’s administration and commended the governor and the president for their work, appealing to them not to allow market women politics to distract them from their divine work.

The Senate on Wednesday swore in two newly elected senators, Joseph Ikpea and Emmanuel Nwachukwu, representing Edo Central and Anambra South senatorial districts, respectively.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the ceremony while the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Ojo, administered the oath of office and allegiance to the new lawmakers.

The swearing in follows recent by elections conducted to fill two vacant Senate seats, one previously held by Monday Okpebholo, now Governor of Edoe and the other by the late Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, who died in July 2024.

Akpabio in his remarks congratulated the new senators and reminded that they have been called for national duty.

Akpabio urged them to focus their representation on the generality of Nigerians and not their political parties.

He urged them to imbibe the contents of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended and the senate standing rules to be acquainted with the workings of the senate.

Nwachukwu polled 90,408 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Azuka Okwuosa, of the All Progressives Congress, who scored 19,847 votes.

Sen. Ikpea of All Progressives on his part was declared winner of Saturday’s by-election for the Edo Central Senatorial District in Edo.

He polled 105,129 votes to defeat his closest rival, Joe Okojie of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), who scored 15,146 votes.

Uche Geoffrey Nnaji who resigned as Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology on Tuesday evening following controversies over his academic certificates has insisted that his resignation was not admission that he was guilty.

Rather, the Minister said he decided to quit the government because the unfounded allegations and media distortions are not only causing him personal distress, but distracting him from work.

Nnaji said this in a statement he signed in Abuja.

According to him, his resignation from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet is not an admission of guilt but a personal choice,

He noted that over the past week, an orchestrated, sustained campaign of falsehood, politically motivated, and malicious attacks were waged against him across print, electronic and social media platforms.

He said these unfounded allegations and media distortions not only caused personal distress, but distracted him from work.

According to him, he put in five decades building a reputation anchored on hard work, honour and service to humanity.

He said he could not, in good conscience, allow these distortions to cast a shadow over the noble objectives of the present administration.

‘My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice, not an admission of guilt. It is a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court, ‘ he said.

Nnaji expressed optimism that in the end, justice will vindicate the just.

Tinubu accepts resignation

President Tinubu had on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Nnaji, following some allegations against him.

President Tinubu appointed Nnaji as Minister in August 2023.

He resigned on Tuesday evening.

In the letter of resignation, Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents.

President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours, according to statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called for an amendment to Nigeria’s constitution that would transfer the power to appoint the chairman, commissioners, and secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the presidency to an independent body.

IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, made the appeal in Abuja during a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review. He argued that placing the appointment process in the hands of an independent panel would guarantee the neutrality of INEC and boost public confidence in the country’s electoral system.

According to Dantalle, the proposed Independent Appointment Committee (IAC) should include representatives from all registered political parties, civil society organisations, the National Judicial Council (NJC), and members of the National Assembly from both majority and minority parties in the Senate and House of Representatives.

He also called for the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), proposing that INEC should be responsible for conducting all local government elections nationwide.

‘IPAC has consistently championed local government autonomy,’ Dantalle said. ‘Politics is local, and citizens should be empowered to participate in credible grassroots elections that are free and fair.’

Additionally, the IPAC chairman urged the government to reinstate financial support for political parties to ensure a level playing field for all, regardless of size or resources.

The proposal aligns with growing calls for reforms to strengthen electoral integrity and reduce executive influence over the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

Egypt secured its spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a convincing 3-0 victory over Djibouti in Casablanca on Wednesday, booking top position in Group A with one match to spare.

In the match, Mohamed Salah scored twice while Ibrahim Adel added the third, sealing Egypt’s qualification as the third African side after Morocco and Tunisia to punch a ticket to next year’s finals in North America.

The Pharaohs, who had already dominated their group, entered the game leading comfortably. With this win, Egypt finished their qualification campaign unbeaten in Group A, amassing an unassailable 23 points.

Salah, who has been pivotal throughout the qualifiers, further cemented his status as a talisman for the national team.

The win comes amid Africa’s expanded qualifying process, in which nine CAF nations will directly qualify for the World Cup.

Egypt’s success lifts the pressure off their remaining fixtures, allowing them to approach their final group match with less urgency.

As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, Egypt now joins Morocco and Tunisia as confirmed African representatives, and will await the official draw for the global tournament.

The Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Sen. Kelvin Chukwu, has attributed his defection from Labour Party (LP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) to internal wrangling, leadership crises, lack of cohesion and direction in his former party.

Chukwu stated this in the letter of defection read by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on Wednesday.

The senator said that his decision to move to APC was reached after extensive consultations with his constituents in his senatorial district, political associates and stakeholders across various levels in Enugu State.

‘It is a reflection of my commitment to aligning with a platform that works and I believe I’ll do better and represent the collective interest of my people better.

‘I’ll bring more dividends of democracy; I’ll meet the aspirations of the good people of Enugu East Senatorial District and Nigerians at large,’ he said.

Chukwu said that recent developments, including internal wrangling, leadership crises, policy disagreements, lack of cohesion, direction and focus at both the state and national levels had made it increasingly difficult for him to effectively discharge his duties as lawmaker.

‘These challenges have undermined the core values and principles upon which the Labour Party was initially founded,’ he said.

The senator said that convinced that APC provides more stable, progressive, inclusive platform for achieving the shared goals of economic growth, good governance, national unity, national cohesion, social development and progress for Nigeria.

He expressed his renewed committed to serving the people of his senatorial district and Nigerians in general with integrity, diligence and patriotism.

Reacting to the development, the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, congratulated Akpabio as Chairman of the National Assembly, President Bola Tinubu and APC lawmakers in the National Assembly on the gale of defections across the country.

‘I am congratulating all of us because what is happening is not just by an accident of history. What is happening is in direct response to the new things happening to Nigeria.

‘The APC-led government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is working, and regardless of what anyone would have thought a year or two years ago, it is becoming obvious to Nigerians that we are making a difference.

‘The economy has risen from the floor where it had been; the economy is improving by the day, home and abroad. The prices of goods in the market are showing that this government is working,’ he said.

In his remarks, Akpabio said: ‘I have always worried about the left side of the aisle, but I’m no longer worried. If they like, let them all move here.

‘I want a strong and vibrant opposition in Nigeria but where they are not able to organise themselves and all the political parties are in tatters, then the right thing for them to do is to join me and join Mr President.

‘We are not going to have one-party system and that is why INEC is registering more parties.

‘Please put your house in order. I have been looking at the way you are getting depleted on a daily basis and I am in total sympathy with what is going on.

‘The PDP is on the ground; the umbrella is torn, the Labour Party is scattered,’ Akpabio said.

However, the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, in his reaction, said: ‘With due respect and without prejudice to some achievements that Mr President has made, I want to say that no matter the number that are here (the opposition), we are capable of holding our own.

‘You said all politics are local. Those who are gravitating towards the majority side are exercising their rights.

‘But my brother and friend, Kelvin, who has just left the third row here to go to the last row there, I wish him good luck.

‘Mr President, when it was announced that he was going, and he said he had made adequate consultations, I asked the question: who have you consulted because he didn’t talk to me.

‘And I do know that because our politics are local, my brother came here on the ‘Obedient Movement’; he came here on the sympathy vote because an accident happened. That is a story for another day,’ Moro said.

With Chukwu’s defection, APC now has 73 senators in the Red Chamber.

Former Big Brother Naija season 10 housemate, Kola, has opened up on his plans for a relationship with his love interest, Dede.

While speaking in an interview with GOTV, Kola revealed that he has no plans to pursue a relationship with Dede. He stated that he plans to focus on himself and his career.

Dede had also previously revealed that she has no romantic interest in Kola because they are incompatible. Kola echoed her words, stating that he is moving on to the next phase of his life and that his interest in Dede was only a part of the show.

‘The show is over. I’m focusing on my myself. I’m focusing on my career, work and what I’m bringing to the world. Right now, the show is over and I’m in the next phase of my life. This is where I’m currently headed,’ he explained.

The Lagos State Government has announced traffic diversions ahead of major repair works scheduled for the Adeniji Adele Interchange Junction through to CMS.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the rehabilitation exercise will commence on Sunday, 12th October, and run until Sunday, 23rd November, 2025, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily, a period of six weeks.

Osiyemi explained that, in order to reduce gridlock, only one lane would be closed at a time, while other lanes would remain open to traffic throughout the repair period.

He added that traffic management officers would be deployed strategically along the corridor to ensure a smooth flow of vehicles.

‘The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other enforcement agencies will be fully on ground to guide motorists and manage movement within the area. We appeal for patience and strict adherence to their instructions,’ the Commissioner said.

He further clarified that the temporary lane closure forms part of a broader traffic management plan designed to support the Federal Ministry of Works’ ongoing rehabilitation of the route.

Osiyemi urged motorists to plan their journeys accordingly, use alternative routes where possible, and cooperate with officers to minimise congestion.

‘The government appreciates the understanding of residents and commuters as we continue efforts to improve road infrastructure and enhance safety across the state,’ he added.