Author: Opalim Lifted

Governor Francis Nwifuru has declared that Ebonyi State remains one of Nigeria’s safest states, insisting that no kidnapping incident has been recorded since he assumed office. Speaking in Abakaliki while receiving more than 50 editors and journalists participating in the second phase of the Presidential Media Tour of Projects in the South-East, Nwifuru said visitors would see extensive development projects across the state. The tour, organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team, is expected to cover the five South-East states over five days. The initiative aims to showcase projects linked to President Bola Tinubu’s…

Protesters in Abuja on Saturday demanded that the administration of President Bola Tinubu rescue schoolchildren and teachers being held by kidnappers. The protesters occupied the Nyanya-Karu Bridge in Abuja, the nation’s capital, to press home their demands. The demonstration caused heavy traffic gridlock along the Nyanya-Karu Expressway and required the intervention of military personnel to restore traffic flow. The protesters chanted, “Tinubu must go, bring back our children,” while carrying placards calling for the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oyo and Borno states. Martins Vincent Otse, a social media activist popularly known as VeryDarkMan, joined the demonstration. Kwara…

Retired Major-General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, has died while in the custody of bandits, Katsina State Government disclosed. Abubakar and his wife were abducted in May while travelling through Katsina State. A video that surfaced online on June 6 showed the retired military officer and his wife appealing to the Katsina State Government to secure their release and facilitate the release of detained bandits and seized livestock. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu, said Abubakar died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while…

The Federal Government has signed an agreement with Ethiopia to repatriate more than 100 Nigerian inmates, allowing them to serve the remainder of their sentences in Nigeria. The deal was formalised in Addis Ababa on Friday by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, alongside his Ethiopian counterpart, Hanna Arayaselassie, with senior officials from both countries in attendance. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the agreement underscores both nations’ commitment to justice and rehabilitation, particularly through family and cultural support systems that aid reintegration. According to a report, Nigerian inmates currently held in…

The Edo State Government has approved the reopening of schools shut in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area (LGA) over security concerns. On Wednesday, the government ordered the closure of three secondary schools in the LGA following a security intelligence report by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a planned mass abduction of schoolchildren in Edo North Senatorial District. The report indicated that security operatives intercepted communications suggesting plans to target students, while a suspect was reportedly apprehended during surveillance activities around Makeke Secondary School. A circular issued by Enodolomwanyi Otamere, Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Education, said the…

England were victims of a theft of their training equipment before their arrival in Kansas City on Saturday. The Football Association is trying to ascertain what was stolen, with balls and boots among the items feared to have been taken, after vehicles transferring equipment to their Swope Soccer Village base in Kansas City were broken into. England boss Thomas Tuchel and his squad will arrive in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon and the equipment was due to be in place beforehand. Police officers, who are in touch with the FA, were on site on Friday night dealing with the matter.…

United States President Donald Trump has defended his remarks about rising inflation after new data showed US consumer prices climbed to their highest annual rate in three years. According to figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation rose to 4.2% in May from 3.8% in April, marking the third consecutive monthly increase. Higher energy costs, particularly fuel prices, were among the biggest drivers of the rise. Reacting to the report at the White House, Trump said: “I love it. The numbers were great. You know what I really love? I love the inflation.” The comment quickly drew attention,…

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a man in Kaduna State for allegedly impersonating a retired Major General. The suspect was apprehended by troops of the 312 Artillery Regiment deployed at the Strike Force Base in the Sabo area of Kaduna following intelligence reports. The arrest reportedly took place on June 11. Military sources disclosed that the suspect had been posing as a retired Major General and is currently in custody undergoing a preliminary investigation. The sources further revealed that the suspect will be handed over to the appropriate security authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution upon the…

The United States (US) opened their World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-1 victory against Paraguay as former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun struck twice to inspire the co-hosts to an assured start in Los Angeles. Balogun became just the second US player to score more than once in a World Cup match, after Bert Patenaude – who netted the tournament’s first-ever hat-trick in the inaugural 1930 edition, also against Paraguay. It is also the US’ joint-biggest win at a World Cup – matching the 3-0 victories against Paraguay and Belgium in 1930, when they finished third. It took the home…

Canada substitute Cyle Larin made an instant impact as his goal rescued a point for the co-hosts as they began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Southampton striker Larin had only been on the pitch for just over two minutes when he superbly spun away from Tarik Muharemovic and fired past Nikola Vasilj, aided by a slight deflection. It was the first time Canada had avoided defeat in the World Cup finals, after they had been beaten in all three games in 1986 and then again in 2022. Bosnia, who gained penalty shootout wins in the…