Author: Opalim Lifted

Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), says pupils and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Agwarra LGA of Niger State, are in good condition and will soon be reunited with their families. On November 21, armed men attacked the school and abducted 315 people — including 303 students and 12 teachers. Subsequently, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State said 50 students abducted from the school had escaped from captivity. Speaking during a solidarity visit to Bulus Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and proprietor of the school, Ribadu reportedly…

As Christmas approaches, the Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Henry Ndukuba, has called on Christians to celebrate modestly and avoid unnecessary travel amid the country’s economic strain and security concerns. Speaking at the 2025 Carnival for Christ in Abuja, Ndukuba urged Nigerians to resist the pressure of festive overspending. He reminded worshippers that responsibilities such as rent and school fees await in January, stressing the need for prudent budgeting. “Don’t spend all you have just to celebrate Christmas. If you have much, eat; if you don’t have, enjoy what you have,” he said, encouraging citizens to adopt…

D’Tigers of Nigeria defeated Rwanda 75-69 in their third qualification game for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. Nigeria left it late in an intense match to claim an overtime victory over the Rwandans at the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Radès, Tunisia, on Sunday. The victory was Nigeria’s first in three games of the qualification series after losing to Tunisia and Guinea in their previous games. D’Tigers were poor in their first two games of Group C of the qualifiers, with cheap turnovers and lacklustre defence and offence. The team initially continued the abysmal form in the opening minutes of the match…

Hundreds of protesters massed outside the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid on Saturday, denouncing a surge in attacks and kidnappings of schoolchildren back home. The demonstration followed the abduction of more than 250 students from a Catholic school in northern Nigeria last week, an incident that has reignited global concern over the country’s worsening insecurity. Christiana Wariboko, president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, urged world powers to step in. “We’re standing on behalf of Christians, representing Nigerian Christians,” she said. “Please intervene and do something about the killings of Nigerian Christians.” The rally came amid a broader wave of…

Nigeria has issued four emergency requests for oral cholera vaccines as the country battles a sharp rise in infections and deaths, according to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report. The document, obtained on Friday, reveals that Nigeria recorded 22,102 cholera cases and 500 deaths by 26 October 2025, with a Case Fatality Rate of 2.3%. In just 28 days, the country logged 1,320 new cases and 33 deaths, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Globally, cholera transmission remains widespread, with more than 565,000 cases and 7,000 deaths reported across 32 countries. The Eastern Mediterranean Region is currently the worst…

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially extended its operations to Burkina Faso, accrediting schools in the country to host both the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). In a statement on Sunday, NECO said its accreditation team visited several schools to assess their readiness, inspecting classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer rooms, workshops, examination halls, sports facilities, security arrangements and the availability of qualified teachers. After a thorough evaluation, the schools were granted full accreditation. According to the council, the move reflects NECO’s drive to deliver quality assessment services beyond Nigeria’s borders, strengthening its growing…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the federal government to account for the staggering ₦17.5 trillion reportedly spent on pipeline security in just one year. According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited’s 2024 audited financial statement, the company spent the eye-watering sum on securing petroleum pipelines. Atiku is now demanding full disclosure — and answers. In a statement issued on Sunday, the former vice-president urged the government to publish the full list of companies that received the contracts, alongside the scope, deliverables, and duration of each deal. He argued that Nigerians deserve to know how such massive…

Former Northern Elders Forum spokesperson Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has called on President Bola Tinubu to abandon his 2027 re-election bid and hand over the mantle to a younger, healthier and more focused candidate within the ruling party. Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, Baba-Ahmed, who resigned as Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Vice-President in April, said the president has failed to show the urgency needed to fix Nigeria’s deepening problems. He recalled telling close associates after leaving government that he hoped Tinubu would not seek a second term. According to him, the president has already fulfilled his long-held ambition…

Four people have been killed in a shooting during a child’s birthday party in California, US. The shooting occurred around 6pm on Saturday inside a banquet hall in Stockton, a city in California’s Central Valley. Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin county sheriff’s office, said another 10 people were injured in the incident. She said children are among the victims of the attack, which “may have been a targeted incident”. Jason Lee, vice mayor of Stockton, said it was disheartening that the shooting took place at a child’s birthday party. Kamala Harris rules out running for California gov…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told a Lagos High Court that it has no evidence to back allegations that Jude and Paul Okoye of Psquare fraudulently withdrew $800,000, claims originally made by their brother, Peter Okoye. Peter had petitioned the EFCC in 2024, accusing Jude of diverting group funds, running 47 undisclosed bank accounts and manipulating the share structure of Northside Entertainment Ltd, the company jointly owned by the brothers. The commission later charged Jude with alleged financial misconduct in managing the Psquare brand. However, during cross-examination in Ikeja, EFCC counsel M. K. Bashir told Justice Rahman…