Author: Opalim Lifted

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has rejected allegations by Vincent Otse, the social media personality better known as VDM, suggesting that officers supply bandits with information. In a statement on Thursday, Ani Iniedu, the force spokesperson, said the “gravity” of Otse’s allegations requires a “corresponding standard of evidence, and that standard has not yet been met”. During the NBA conference on Tuesday, the social crusader alleged that police officers are becoming hostile to Nigerians owing to poor remuneration and welfare. “There is no welfare for them (police officers). Instead of protecting us, they turned on us. They pass information to…

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrimes Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested seven suspects over alleged money laundering, business email compromise, sextortion, blackmail, romance scams and other internet-related offences. Akaninyene Ezima, assistant inspector-general of police (AIG) in charge of the centre, disclosed the arrests on Wednesday at a news conference in Abuja. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), one of the suspects was arrested after Germany’s Federal Police, the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), requested the preservation of data linked to an internet protocol (IP) address allegedly used in a sophisticated business email compromise operation. Ezima said the investigation, codenamed “Operation Broken Mask”,…

Danjuma Shekwolo, chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has sparked controversy after telling residents they must support the All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the council. Shekwolo made the remarks in a video shared on X, saying he would not tolerate opposition from residents who, according to him, had benefited from interventions by President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. “I have said in my area council, it’s either you are doing APC or leave the area council. I am not arguing with you,” Shekwolo said. “I cannot have the minister and the president…

Nigerians may have to endure some of the inconveniences caused by ongoing road construction as the Federal Government continues its infrastructure projects across the country, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has said. Dare made the comment during an interview with Channels Television while responding to concerns over the deteriorating condition of the Benin-Abeokuta Road and the wider state of federal roads. He described the Benin-Abeokuta Road situation as an isolated case but acknowledged that both the government and contractors have responsibilities to ensure road projects are properly executed. “Government has a responsibility to…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has offered whistleblowers between 2.5 per cent and 5 per cent of recovered Nigerian assets for credible information that leads to the recovery of funds and properties allegedly taken abroad. EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made the disclosure on Wednesday while delivering a lecture at the 43rd Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime in the United Kingdom. Olukoyede urged individuals with actionable intelligence on monetary and non-monetary assets allegedly stolen from Nigeria and moved overseas to come forward. “I welcome all of you to the world of whistleblowing. If any one of you is…

WhatsApp has rolled out new security features aimed at giving users greater control over their accounts and reducing the risk of unauthorised access. The new measures include an upgraded two-step verification system, additional information for calls from unknown numbers, and expanded support for passkeys. The messaging platform said its two-step verification feature had been strengthened by moving beyond the traditional six-digit PIN to allow users to create longer passwords containing letters, numbers, and special characters. According to WhatsApp, the additional layer of protection is designed to make it more difficult for unauthorised individuals to take control of an account, even…

India’s battle over food warning labels has intensified, with the Supreme Court scrutinising a decision by the country’s food-safety regulator to abandon plans for prominent nutritional warnings on packaged foods. The dispute has put major food and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola and Nestlé, under scrutiny as health activists push for clearer information about high levels of sugar, fat and salt. A can of Fanta sold in Britain contains 63 calories, while the Indian version contains three times as much sugar and an artificial colourant that would require a prominent health warning in Europe. In India, the colourant is listed only…

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has reaffirmed his pledge to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027, distancing himself from comments by one of his media aides suggesting the policy would eventually be phased out. Atiku made the clarification in Abuja while receiving the Osun State leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that his position on subsidy had not changed. He said a previous statement by one of his press aides did not reflect his position or carry his authority. “Earlier, one of my Press Aides contradicted me in a policy statement as far as subsidy is concerned.…

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called for the immediate rescue of more than 60 worshippers reportedly abducted from a mosque during Jumu’at prayers in Dekara, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. The worshippers were  scores of residents reportedly killed, injured or abducted when terrorists attacked four camongommunities in the area on August 21. The council, in a statement signed by its Public Affairs Officer, Abbas Jimoh, condemned the attacks on Gbeji (Gidan-Zana), Kpenya, Giyan Gbasu and Dekara, describing them as a grave assault on innocent civilians. It said about 30 people were reportedly killed in…

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his promise to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027, describing the pledge as impracticable and an attempt to deceive Nigerians. Sani made the remarks while speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, questioning Atiku’s decision to reverse his previous position on fuel subsidy. “What he is saying is outright deception of Nigerians,” Sani said. The former senator argued that Atiku had previously supported subsidy removal and economic policies associated with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). He said the former vice-president’s current…