Author: Opalim Lifted

Terror struck the Federal Polytechnic town of Oko, Anambra on Wednesday night as a violent gun battle between suspected rival cult groups left two people dead and two others abducted. The chaos unfolded around 8:40pm at Total Junction and Tipper Junction in Orumba North LGA, sending residents into panic as gunmen opened fire indiscriminately. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers – armed and riding on a motorcycle and a black Lexus 350 SUV with no number plate – unleashed gunfire before abducting two individuals near Tipper Junction and fleeing the scene. Security operatives, including the Police, Army, Navy, Civil Defence, and…

President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a 300-bed specialist hospital at Millennium Square in Kaduna state. The facility has been named the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital. The hospital consists of nine wings: maternal and child health, radiology and imaging, intensive care unit, special care unit and others. The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority is also said to have given approval for the establishment of a cancer center and nuclear facility in the complex. Speaking at the ceremony, Uba Sani, the state governor, requested Tinubu’s intervention in building the cancer centre as “that’s the only thing missing”. Responding, Tinubu commended Sani for…

Man City have been fined over £1m by the Premier League after repeatedly kicking-off or restarting matches late last season. Nine of Man City’s matches last season started or restarted late, with the longest delay coming before the second half of the Manchester derby in December 2024 which resumed two minutes and 24 seconds later than billed. The Premier League said Man City had accepted and apologised for the breaches, external, with the fines totalling £1.08m. They have 14 days to pay. Last season the club were fined £2.09m for delaying 22 matches, and manager Pep Guardiola said he would…

A pro-Israel hacking group has stolen the equivalent of $90 million from Iran’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange in a high-stakes cyberattack that’s rocking the region. The group, known as Predatory Sparrow, claimed responsibility for the breach on Wednesday, targeting the Tehran-based Nobitex platform. The hackers allege the exchange is being used by the Iranian government to bypass international sanctions. In a brazen move, the stolen crypto was reportedly sent to digital wallets the hackers can’t access—effectively burning the funds. Cybersecurity firms Elliptic and TRM Labs confirmed the funds had been redirected to crypto addresses containing a vulgar message aimed at Iran’s…

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has granted bail in the sum of N50 million to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central. In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Chizoba Orji, presiding judge, rejected the application by the federal government to remand the Natasha Akpoti in prison custody pending trial. The judge held that there was no justification to deny Natasha Akpoti bail, noting that there was “sufficient evidence” before the court showing her willingness to face trial. As part of the bail conditions, the court directed that the senator must produce one surety, who must be a…

The United States has announced it will restart processing visa applications for international students. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the State Department said as a key requirement, applicants must make their social media accounts public for vetting. The State Department added that if applicants fail to set their social media accounts to ‘public’, it could be seen as an attempt to conceal online activity and may impact their visa application. “Our overseas posts will resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications soon. Applicants should check the relevant embassy or consulate website for appointment availability,” the statement reads.…

The UK has barred Julius Malema, leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), from entering the country. In a letter dated June 17, 2025, the UK Home Office said Malema’s presence in the UK was “not conducive for public good”. According to News24, the office added that future visa applications from the politician are also unlikely to succeed. The UK government cited Malema’s “vocal support for Hamas”, including a speech delivered after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The UK also cited his call for the “slaughter of white people”. “Any future UK visa applications you make will…

Social media has erupted in outrage after multiple videos surfaced showing schoolchildren standing by the roadside in the rain to welcome President Bola Tinubu’s convoy as it passed through Makurdi, Benue on Wednesday. The children, whose faces were blurred for privacy, were seen singing the Nigerian national anthem while drenched in rainwater. The state government had declared a public holiday to mark the president’s visit, yet the pupils were still made to line the streets. Tinubu arrived in Benue following a series of brutal attacks in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area, where more than 100 residents were recently killed.…

The Tor Tiv of Benue State, His Royal Majesty James Ayatse, has declared the recent wave of violence in the region a “calculated, genocidal invasion”, dismissing claims that the attacks stem from farmer-herder disputes. Speaking during a stakeholders meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Makurdi on Wednesday, Ayatse strongly refuted the narrative that the killings were a result of communal tensions. “It is not herder-farmers clashes, it is not communal clashes, it is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes,” the monarch said. Benue State has been gripped by renewed terror, with over 100 residents reportedly slaughtered in coordinated assaults by suspected…

By Abraham Maina Joda Can you say “La Campagne Tropicana Gu Taraba” three times fast? Win or lose, you’re in for a journey to Nigeria’s best-kept natural secret –Taraba State. A place where whispering hills, sacred lakes, and untamed forests have waited patiently, Taraba is about to have its moment under the tourism spotlight. And it’s not just any spotlight—it’s the La Campagne Tropicana spotlight. Yes, the same African-themed resort experience that turned Ibeju-Lekki into a cultural playground is now heading to Ibi, Nwonyo, and the majestic hills of Ardo Kola. Welcome to the Cultural Blockbuster of the Year The…